Recreation Paradise: 2 Florida Cities Takes the Crown as the Best
Who doesn’t love a good recreational activity? They’re a fantastic way to relax, have fun, and take a break from the daily grind. But let’s be honest, finding the right…
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MargaretW/ Getty ImagesWho doesn't love a good recreational activity? They're a fantastic way to relax, have fun, and take a break from the daily grind. But let's be honest, finding the right recreational activities can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially in cities with limited options. Even if you do manage to find a recreational space, the costs can be sky-high. Private gyms, fancy sports clubs, and exclusive recreational classes often come with hefty price tags.
July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and WalletHub compiled a list of the best and worst cities for recreation. To determine the places where recreation is a high priority, they compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 48 key metrics that speak to the benefits of recreational activities. In each city, they examined basic living costs, the quality of parks, the accessibility of entertainment and recreational facilities, and the weather.
Orlando and Tampa ranked No. 2 and 3 on the list of best cities for recreation.
Of the 100 cities ranked, Durham, North Carolina, Newark, NJ, and Chula Vista, California, fell at the bottom of the list among the worst. Among all the states, Florida stood out as the only one with multiple cities making it into the Top 10. The rankings were led by Las Vegas and featured other cities such as Cincinnati, Atlanta, San Diego, Honolulu, St. Louis, Chicago, and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The list also featured other Florida cities, such as St. Petersburg, ranking at No. 19, Jacksonville at No. 33, and Miami at No. 54. However, Hialeah didn't fare as well and found itself in the bottom 10, landing at No. 93. Hialeah was specifically noted for having the fewest playgrounds per capita, according to the financial site’s findings.
In addition to the overall rankings, the financial site also dived into specific metrics to assess how cities performed. For instance, Nashville, Tennessee, emerged as the city with the most affordable bowling costs, while St. Paul, Minnesota, topped the list for the highest bowling costs. Their findings revealed that Corpus Christi, Texas, had the lowest movie costs, while Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, shared the distinction of having the highest movie costs.
Regarding tennis courts per capita, Norfolk, Virginia, and Omaha, Nebraska, took the lead, while Bakersfield, California, had the fewest. As for coffee shops per capita, three cities – Orlando, Florida, Pittsburgh, and Honolulu – tied for the highest number, while Laredo, Texas, ranked lowest in this category.
On the other hand, Anchorage, Alaska; Fremont, California; and Irvine, California, proudly claimed the highest percentage of parkland, highlighting their commitment to green spaces. In contrast, Hialeah, Florida, had the lowest percentage of parkland, indicating a lower availability of such recreational areas.
17 Florida Restaurants Make List Of Best For Outdoor Dining
When it comes to doing things outside, we're lucky here in Florida that we can do those things year-round and 17 restaurants in The Sunshine State have made a list of the best for outdoor dining.
Unless it's 87,000 degrees outside like it has been the last week, I will always choose to sit outside. Especially if it's waterfront, I'll never skip out on a good view. When it comes to outdoor dining in Florida, the sky truly is the limit. From cute sidewalk cafes in Naples to breathtaking rooftop restaurants in Miami, the options are endless. Nothing better than sipping a cocktail under the hot sun or a romantic dinner under the stars.
It seems that most places that serve food have an outdoor dining option. So it makes perfect sense that restaurants here in Florida have made OpenTable's list of the best restaurants for outdoor dining in the country. In fact, a few right here in Southwest Florida have made the list! So if you're looking for a new spot to enjoy as a local, or somewhere to take family & friends when they come to visit, you have plenty of options.
You can check out the full list here, but below are the Florida restaurants that have made the list.
Alberto's on Fifth- Naples
Chef Alberto Varetto serves up Northern Italian cuisine with dishes like Agnolotti di Ricotta e Spinaci con la Salsa di Mascarpone e Parmigiano, Risotto, allo Zafferano con Ossobuco Brasato and Chilean Sea Bass con Funghi Selvatici, Polenta e Vincotto.
Campiello- Naples
Not only does Campiello offer Italian cuisine inspired by traditional Tuscan country cooking, but also pizza from a wood-burning oven. Good for outdoor dining and special occasions.
Connors Steak & Seafood- Fort Myers
Located in Gulf Coast Town Center, Connors Fort Myers location is a AAA three-diamond rated restaurant. Enjoy fresh seafood, premium aged steaks, gourmet salads and pastas.
Del Mar- Naples
Located on Fifth Avenue South, chefs at Del Mar use flavors from Greece, Southern Spain, Morocco, France, Italy & Turkey. Happy Hour runs Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm with half-off Turkish Flatbreads, Dips & Spreads and specially priced cocktails, beer & wine.
The Claw Bar- Naples
The Claw Bar is inside Bellasera Resort in downtown Naples. Popular dishes include miso-glazed sea bass, shrimp & grits and brunch beignets.
The Rosemary & Thyme- Sarasota
Located in downtown Sarasota, enjoy made-from-scratch selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared with fresh ingredients from Florida farms. Popular dishes include sea scallops and pork osso buco.
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill- Longboat Key
The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill is a beautiful spot overlooking Sarasota Bay and known for local fresh grouper and red snapper.
Louie Bossi Ristorante- Fort Lauderdale
Louie Bossi's Ristorante is located on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Everything on the menu is made from scratch like house made pastas, wood-burning pizzas and home cooked Sicilian comfort food.
Takato Restaurant- Fort Lauderdale
Takato is a Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant located oceanfront at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach. Popular dishes include grilled branzino, Wagyu skirt steak and shrimp fried rice.
DOYA- Miami
DOYA is an Aegean Meze + Bar restaurant located in the Wynwood neighborhood offering plates to share with outdoor seating set in a garden oasis.
Ulele- Tampa
Ulele is located on the Hillsborough River offering outdoor waterfront dining. Popular dishes include seafood risotto, charbroiled oysters and coconut ice cream.
Ocean Prime- Tampa
Located at International Plaza, Ocean Prime features an impressive menu of seafood & steaks. Popular dishes include Chilean sea bass, lobster bisque and lobster linguine.
Raglan Road Irish Pub- Lake Buena Vista
Located at Disney Springs, Raglan Road offers the very best Irish cuisine, beers and spirits. Enjoy live Irish entertainment 7 nights a week.
Columbia Restaurant- Celebration
Columbia has been family-owned and operated for more than 116 years. Popular dishes include Paella a la Valenciana, Roast Pork a la Cubana and their famous 1905 salad.
Latitudes- Key West
Latitudes is located on the private island of Sunset Key. Popular dishes include grouper, Key West fish tacos and lobster benedict.
The Grand Marlin of Pensacola Beach- Pensacola
The Grand Marlin Restaurant overlooks the beautiful Santa Rosa Sound and features the freshest local seafood featured. Popular restaurants include TGM grouper piccata, baked oysters rockefeller and BBQ baked oysters.
Kyle G's Prime Seafood- Stuart
Kyle G’s Prime Seafood is all bout "Eat Local, Be Coastal" with a seafood-centric menu. Kyle G’s Prime Seafood is open seven days a week, serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.
