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Orlando & The Freakshow

These Florida Cities Were Voted The Best For Staycations

Author Richie Ortiz

We hear the phrase or see it on Instagram posts all the time. “I live where you vacation”. It’s so common to say, but is it actually true? Turns out it is if you are talking about certain cities the Sunshine State. So the next time you see someone use or say it, make sure they have the right to. These Florida cities were voted the best for staycations.

Best Places To Staycation

According to WalletHub, around 82% of Americans are planning to travel this summer. However, with the way the economy is right now many of them might have to cut back on some expenses or make even worse not go at all. So WalletHub went further and did everyone a favor by creating a list of the best and worse places to staycation.

There were several factors they took into consideration when coming up with the staycation list. WalletHub compared 150 of the most populated U.S. cities along with at least two of the most populated cities in each state. After that, they ranked them across three key dimensions. Recreation, Food & Entertainment and Rest & Relaxation. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for staycationers.

Top 10 Best Cities To Staycation – According To WalletHub

  1. Orlando, Florida
  2. Honolulu, Hawaii
  3. Cincinnati, Ohio
  4. Las Vegas, Nevada
  5. Tampa, Florida
  6. Chicago, Illinois
  7. San Diego, California
  8. Atlanta, Georgia
  9. New Orleans, Louisiana
  10. Tucson, Arizona

When looking at the Top 10, you can see there is only one state the is listed more than once on the list. That’s right! it’s Florida. First we have to give a shout out to our hometown of Tampa for making the top 5. Ranking 13 in the food & entertainment department would definitely put them on them on everyone’s radar, but their 3 rank in rest & relaxation is what put them above most of the other cities. An even bigger shout out has to go out to Orlando though. Not just for ranking 1st overall, but ranking as the best staycation city in Florida. You think we should change our name from the “Sunshine State” to the “Staycation State”?

Check out the rest of the best and the worst Staycation cities on WalletHub.

Source: WalletHub

Rich grew up in the Bronx, NY but moved to Tampa in 2006 to attend the University of Tampa. Even though he completed 4 years at the University for Sports Management, Ortiz realized his true passion for radio after taking a couple of classes to fulfill his communications minor and volunteering at UT's WUTT radio station as a sports director. Rich also worked at several clubs in Tampa as a host/promoter where he would meet and work alongside Davy Rolando, who would be the one who would help him get a job at WiLD 94.1. From there, Rich worked his way up from Promotions assistant to promotions coordinator, to eventually full-time on-air. Rich loves to write about his favorite Tampa food spots, concert reviews, and the WiLDest Florida man/woman stories.

Free Or Cheap Beach Parking In Tampa Bay

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can’t find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there’s a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn’t seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming “Are we there yet?” However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Where To Find Free Or Cheap Beach Parking:

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you’re traveling from far away but trust us, it’s worth it. You’re not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you’ll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you’re not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you’ll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We’ve seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother’s Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, “Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous.” Again, you can find free parking but that’s first come first serve so if you don’t want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

  • Fort Desoto Beach

    Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that’s a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that’s a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

    Best Spots To Paddleboard In Tampa Bay

  • Sand Key Park

    Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

    A car parked on the beach enjoying the view. Florida's Cutest Beach Town

  • Honeymoon Island

    Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

    Beach summer couple on island vacation holiday relax in the sun on their deck chairs under a yellow umbrella. Idyllic travel background. 3 Things To Know About Three Rooker Island

  • St Pete Beach

    Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

    luxury swimming pool on the beach, tranquil scene of exotic tropical landscape with copy space, summer background for vacation holidays

  • Clearwater Beach

    There’s several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.

    Clearwater Beach Tampa Bay Sun Exposure

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Author Richie Ortiz
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