Thinking staycation, Pembroke Pines? Here’s where city landed in national study
As temperatures climb and travel costs remain high, many Pembroke Pines residents may be looking closer to home for their summer vacation plans.
Yet a new study found Pembroke Pines trails many other U.S. cities when it comes to local getaway appeal.
Pines ranked No. 118 overall in WalletHub’s latest study, the best and worst cities for staycations, which compared 182 cities — including the nation’s 150 most-populated cities — on recreation, entertainment and relaxation opportunities.
A staycation, or a vacation taken in the comfort of your own home or zip code, is a form of tourism that appeals to residents drawn to keeping summer plans simple, saving money or not having to plan at all.
Researchers evaluated each city across three categories:
- Recreation
- Food and entertainment
- Rest and relaxation
The rankings were based on 41 metrics with varying weights.
Pembroke Pines ranked No. 67 for recreation, No. 155 for food and entertainment, and No. 107 for rest and relaxation.
The personal finance and research platform has previously ranked Pembroke Pines among the country’s healthiest, happiest and most family-friendly cities.
The city that topped WalletHub’s list was Orlando, Florida’s fourth most-populated city.
Home to many theme parks, restaurants, entertainment venues and nightlife, Orlando is one of the country’s most-popular tourism spots and a prime location for residents who want to have a staycation.
Cincinnati came in second followed by Las Vegas, St. Louis and Honolulu.
“It’s fun to visit an exotic location on vacation, but during rougher economic times, a staycation can save you a lot of money while being just as memorable,” WalletHub analyst said Chip Lupo said in a news release.
“Not only do you avoid the cost of overnight accommodations and minimize travel costs, but you can also discover all kinds of fun activities close to home that you might not have tried out otherwise.”
Other Florida cities on the list: Tampa (8), Fort Lauderdale (23), Miami (31), St. Petersburg (42), Jacksonville (67), Cape Coral (101), Tallahassee (141), Port St. Lucie (157) and Hialeah (176).
