Why Staying in Idaho this Summer Might be the Best Vacation

With school out, many of us are beginning to make summer plans and think ahead about vacation and where to go. You can go to a big city you have never been to and explore, you can go to the beach and relax and play in the waves, or perhaps to an amusement park like Disneyland or Disney World. For many Idahoans, a nice camping and fishing trip is the best way to escape in the summer. While all of these are great options, sometimes the best one and the most affordable is the simplest and that is a staycation. Where you live can dictate if a staycation is enjoyable or not. Where is the best place to enjoy a staycation, where is the worst, and how does Idaho fare against them all?

Best and Worst Places for a Staycation

Staycations can be better than vacations many times. You save money, you don't have to travel, and you don't deal with as many people. WalletHub recently released a list of the best and worst cities for staycations and used three main categories, such as recreation, food and entertainment, and rest and relaxation. Using these criteria, it was determined that Honolulu is the best place for a staycation, which isn't that surprising. When you already live in a vacation spot and it is paradise, why would you leave? Coming in second is Orlando, which again is a popular vacation spot and isn't surprising. Rounding out the top three is Las Vegas. Out of 182 possible cities, the worst place for a staycation is Chula Vista, California, with Pearl City, Hawaii being the second worst and Freemont, California rounding out the bottom three. 

Is Idaho a Great Place for a Vacation or Staycation? 

Idaho has two cities that made the list, with Boise coming in at 26 and Nampa coming in at 75. Boise is 60 in recreation, 73 in food and entertainment, and 14 in relaxation. Nampa ranks 117 in recreation, 175 in food and entertainment, but is 5 in relaxation. If you want to relax, Idaho is the place to be, with Boise and Nampa ranking high, but if you are looking for fun and entertainment, then going elsewhere is the better option. While both are a little bit of a drive from the Magic Valley, they are close enough to still be considered a staycation, as you could drive up for the day or a couple of days, and always be home within a few hours. 

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While knowing these cities are nearby to supply options for a staycation is nice, most in the Magic Valley would likely prefer a nice quiet spot somewhere in their trailer fishing or going to a bigger city with more entertainment. If you are on a budget this year though, it is worth considering a staycation, as it isn't always where you go, as much as it is just nice to not have to get up early or go to work. To check out the full list, make sure to click the link above.