Florida Among Top 20 States To Vacation This Summer
There are many places to visit and vacation throughout the U.S. With Summer on its way, you can explore anything from scenic areas to heading away to catch a sports game. But what is the best state to vacation this Summer?
Recently, the research team at Gambling.com ranked the top U.S. states to vacation this summer. They analyzed five different data points which include accommodation availability, accommodation affordability, crime rates, average sunshine, and number of attractions.
Florida falls in the top three.
Overall, Florida ranked as the number two top state to vacation this summer with a final Summer Vacation Score of 66.9. One of its standout scores is its “Accommodation Availability Score” which was 100.00. The site used the number of two-room accommodation options on Booking.com for two adults and two children (aged 10 & 12 years old), from June 11 to June 18 of 2023. It had over 11,000 different accommodation options available for the analyzed week period in the peak June season. Florida also has one of the best sunlight scores in the nation, according to the study.
One of the main reasons people vacation in Florida is for the beaches. It has more than 7,700 lakes, 11,000 miles of rivers, 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline, and has more than 700 freshwater springs. Obviously, another reason for a Florida vacation is the abundance of family entertainment. thanks to options such as Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and the Busch Gardens.
Who made number one?
When all the different factors are considered, Gambling.com named Virginia as the best state to vacation in this summer.
In all five of the categories analyzed, it performed well. Particularly in terms of crime rate, accommodation availability, and number of attractions. This all culminated in a Summer Vacation Score of 68.6 out of 100.
See where other states ranked by checking out the full list here.
2 Florida Locations Have the Bluest Water in America
Travel and Leisure recently published a report that details 10 of the most stunning bodies of water in country. From sunny ocean spots, to lakes, to waterfalls these locations are simply breathtaking. Included in the list were two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America.
Dry Tortugas National Park
This is one of the most unique spots in the country. Dry Tortugas National Park lies west of Key West, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. It is made up of seven small islands and that are surrounded by coral reef. The park enclosed is roughly 47,000 acres. To arrive here, you must either take a boat or a seaplane. Therefore, it is not accessible by car.
Describing its blue waters, Travel and Leisure says, “Most of it is placid, turquoise, and filled with colorful marine life, making for some of the best snorkeling in the Sunshine State.”
Devil’s Den
Another destination recognized in the report was Devil’s Den. This spring is situated in Willston, about 20 miles south of Gainesville. It is a natural cave that is privately owned. The water has been known to consistently register around 72 degrees regardless of season. One of its main attractions is scuba diving. In fact, it is also a scuba training center where diving is available seven days a week. However, you must have proper certification as it the water has a maximum depth of 54 feet. Their are four lodging cabins at Devil’s Den. The property contains 120 feet of surface diameter.
Also mentioned on Travel and Leisure’s list was Crater Lake in Oregon, Jenny Lake in Wyoming, and Tenaya Lake and Lake Tahoe in California. Havasu Falls in Arizona was the spotlighted waterfall. Finally, as for beaches with the brightest blues, Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico and Lanikai Beach in Hawaii were among the best.
These two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America were the only east coast spots to make this feature.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.
