Best, Worst Cities For Staycations: Phoenix Ranking, Things To Do

PHOENIX, AZ — We know from published research that Americans don’t always leave their homes when they take time off from work, whether they don’t like to travel or can’t afford to — a reality for about one-third of U.S. workers. If you’re staying home, Phoenix is a fairly good place to spend a “staycation,” according to a new analysis that ranked it the 80th best metro area in the country to live if you don't plan to travel for your vacation.

The personal finance website WalletHub took a look at affordable options for entertainment and relaxation in more than 180 cities. The results? If you live in Orlando, Florida; Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Oregon; or Seattle, Washington, you’re pretty well situated.

Among those cities, Orlando got the top food and entertainment ranking, Chicago was No. 1 for recreation opportunities and Honolulu ranked fourth for rest and relaxation.

But good luck if you live in Oxnard, New Jersey; Bridgeport, Connecticut; San Bernardino or Fremont, California; or Yonkers, New York. Those five cities bottomed out the ranking of WalletHub’s 2018 list of the Best and Worst Cities For Staycations.

For the study, the personal finance website compared the cities across three main areas — recreation, food and entertainment, and rest and relaxation — and then looked at amenities based on the number per capita and their affordability. Read more about the methodology.

Earlier this year, a Project: Time Off study found that U.S. workers left 705 million vacation days on the table in 2017. Among them, 212 million days did not roll over to the next benefit year and were sacrificed, resulting in $62 billion in lost benefits. If those vacation days had been used for travel, the study found, the travel industry would get a $236 billion boost.

You don’t have to travel far to “get away.”

Debbie MacInnis, a professor of business administration and marketing at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, said the most important thing for people planning staycations is to settle on activities that will bring them the most happiness.

“For many people, it’s a mixture of things,” she wrote in a statement accompanying the WalletHub study. A good balance, she said, is to divide time off between things you need to get done, things you want to do and things that inspire you. She also advised keeping the family budget in mind.

“Look for free activities in the community or in the communities adjacent to yours,” she wrote.

Here are three great options within driving distance of Phoenix:

The Heard Museum is a great option if you’re sticking around home. At this internationally acclaimed museum, you’ll be able to learn more about the region’s American Indian culture. And the best part? Admission is free from 6-10 p.m. on the first Friday of every month (except March) and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of every month, June through September.

The Phoenix Art Museum boasts the Southwest’s largest collection of classic and contemporary art. It offers free admission days, too — from 3-9 p.m. every Wednesday, from 6-10 p.m. the first Friday of every month and from 12-5 p.m. on the second Sunday of every month.

A trip to the Phoenix Zoo. It’s one of the largest non-profit zoos in the country and has more than 1,400 animals, including Sumatran tigers that roam a savanna-like habitat and giraffes. You can also go fishing on seven acres of stocked lagoons, or play a few rounds on the scenic Papago Golf Course, set at the base of Papago’s buttes.

Don’t leave out a hike or bike ride on Camelback Mountain, located just 20 minutes from downtown. It’s popular for residents and visitors alike. But be warned, the trailheads are difficult, ascending 1,420 feet to the summit that resembles the hump of a camel’s back. But it will be worth it: It offers 360-degree views of the city.

See Also: Phoenix Summer Concerts: Who’s Playing, When Tickets Go On Sale

Some other findings from the study:

• Cleveland, Ohio, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, tied for first in the number of swimming pools per capita. Chicago, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., rounded out the top five.
• The cities with the most tennis courts per capita were Chicago; Richmond, Virginia; Norfolk, Virginia; Omaha, Nebraska; and New York, New York, respectively.
• Four cities in Arizona — Gilbert, Tempe, Scottsdale and Peoria — tied with Warwick, Rhode Island, for the most golf courses per capita.
• Five cities tied for the most zoos and aquariums per capita. They are North Las Vegas and Las Vegas in Nevada, Orlando and Miami in Florida, and Vancouver, Washington.
• Five cities tied for the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita. They are Orlando and Miami, Las Vegas, New York City and San Antonio, Texas.
• The most beer gardens per capita ranking saw another five-way tie among Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; and Washington, D.C.
• New York City; San Francisco, California; Portland; Seattle; and Las Vegas all tied in the ranking of the most coffee and tea shops per capita.
• The ranking of the most museums per capita saw a five-way tie between Yonkers; Jersey City, New Jersey; Glendale, California; Columbia, Maryland; and New Orleans, Louisiana.
• The ranking of the most spas per capita saw a five-way tie between North Las Vegas and Henderson in Nevada, Honolulu, New York City, and San Francisco.

Photo by Globe Guide Media Inc / Shutterstock