These Are The Best And Worst Cities For ‘Staycations’

lake-eola-in-orlando-florida-with-fountain — Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida. Orlando is the best city in the United States for a staycation, according to WalletHub. Public domain photo

Travel can be transcendental -- and also pricey. That’s why a “staycation” could be the next best thing. Of course, some cities are better suited for living it up at home than others. A new study by WalletHub ranks which cities in the U.S. are best and worst for taking a vacation without taking a flight.

Staycations are "an excellent money-saving idea," said Philip F. Xie, professor of tourism at Bowling Green State University. "When everything from food to hotel rooms has become more expensive, staycation is an alternative solution to enjoy vacation without breaking the bank."

WalletHub studied the 100 most populated cities in the United States in 17 metrics across three areas: recreation activities, food and entertainment, and rest and relaxation. These metrics included things like the number of golf and tennis courts in an area, the cost of activities like movies and bowling, the number of spa and wellness centers and even the cost of maid services.

Orlando, Florida, came out on top as the best city for a staycation in the United States, followed by Atlanta, in second place and Cincinnati in third place. The three cities on the bottom of the list are all in California -- Chula Vista was dead last, preceded by Santa Ana and Anaheim. See the top 10 and the bottom 10 below. For the full list, visit WalletHub.com.

Ten Best Cities For Staycations: