The great thing about the USA is that every state has something unique to offer – whether it’s its bustling cities, rich history, dramatic mountains, rolling hills, or pristine beaches. Whatever you look for in a vacation, you just know you can get it in at least one of the states!
If you’re considering a staycation but aren’t sure where to go, then read on; as we’ve created mini travel guides for six of our favorite states: Washington, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Georgia, and Illinois!
Top Cities to Visit in the US in our Favourite States
By analyzing factors like the number of restaurants and activities, as well as the cost of going on a night out, the weather and more; we’ve uncovered the top cities in each state to visit. So, have a read, and once you’ve booked your next vacation, don’t forget to reserve your airport parking too.
Washington
From the rolling mountains of Rainier and Saint Helens to the bustling city of Seattle, these are our pick of the best vacation destinations in Washington State.
1. Seattle
The largest city in Washington, Seattle comes top for culture, restaurants, and activities; as well as having the second-best weather.
From sampling food at Pike Place Market, to admiring the views at the top of the Space Needle, and sailing across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island, there are so many things to see and do here, that make it a great place for a vacation.
2. Spokane
Scoring the best for weather, and the second best for culture and restaurants; the city of Spokane comes in second place for a vacation in Washington.
Home to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, and numerous galleries, including New Moon, Marmot Art Space, and Avenue West Gallery; it’s easy to see why it’s rated so highly for culture.
3. Tacoma
Coming in third place is Tacoma, which scores best for the cost of an evening out, and third for culture. Just 35 minutes south of Seattle, there are tons of things to do in Tacoma on your vacation, including a visit to Point Defiance Park, the Car Museum, and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.
However, there are so many more spots to vacation in Washington. For activities, Bellevue scores second best, whereas if you’re looking for an affordable trip, try Everett or Federal Way. Alternatively for culture, Vancouver and Everett make up the top five.
A recent survey conducted by us found that 23% of Washington residents love to travel in state when booking a vacation, So don’t forget to reserve your SEATAC airport parking with us, to secure the best deal.
New York
Home to the Big Apple, the American Niagara Falls and much more, here’s where to go if you’re vacationing in New York State.
1. New York City
Of course, the best place to vacation in New York state was always going to be New York City, and for good reason – it scored top for culture, restaurants, activities and weather!
Whether it’s your first time or you fiftieth, there’s always something new to do – whether it’s visiting classic tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State or Central Park; or bar and restaurant hopping around the different districts.
2. Buffalo
Situated right on the Canadian border, Buffalo comes in second place, with it being the most affordable city in New York, as well as the second best for culture.
With its close proximity to Niagara Falls, it also scores highly for activities and restaurants. The waterfront is the place to be, with lots of bike paths and marinas to explore; and you can also rent pedalos or go kayaking.
3. Hempstead
Just 30 miles east of New York City, Hempstead is officially the third best city in the state to vacation; coming second for activities and third for its weather.
Head to Jonas Beach for a dip in the ocean, or a game of beach volleyball, or spend a few hours at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, where you can discover more than 70 different types of aircrafts.
Other cities that are worth visiting when in New York include Rochester, which scores well for culture, restaurants, and affordability; as well as Albany (also scoring well for culture and affordability), and Islip, which has the better weather.
if you’re one of the 28% of New Yorkers travelling in New York for vacations, we offer plenty of parking options, including our affordable parking at JFK.
New Jersey
Want to vacation in New Jersey? Here’s our pick of the best three cities to try out.
1. Newark
The most populated city in New Jersey, located right on the border with New York; Newark is officially the best city in New Jersey for a staycation.
Not only did it score best for its variety of restaurants, but it also scored second best for culture, affordability, and weather. Things to do in Newark include the planetarium, Newark Museum of Art, and All Points West Distillery.
2. Jersey City
Coming a close second for vacationing is Jersey City, which scored top for culture, second for restaurants, and third for affordability and weather.
Known as the unofficial sixth borough of New York City, here, you can indulge in the great coffee culture the city has to offer, as well as visit the Liberty Science Center, or go for a scenic walk along the Hudson River Waterfront.
3. Camden
Coming in third place is Camden, which scores well due to its affordability for a night out – whether you prefer a gourmet meal in a restaurant or bowling and a few beers.
In terms of things to do during the day in Camden, you can visit the aquarium, which has been named one of the top 10 aquariums in the country by USA Today, or Battleship New Jersey, which is the largest battleship in the world.
Other places to vacation in New Jersey include Cherry Hill, which scored well for affordability and weather; and Trenton and Elizabeth, which scored well for culture and restaurants.
With 25% of New Jersey residents planning holidays in state, if you’re flying, make sure you reserve Newark airport parking, to secure the best deal.
Michigan
Home to both beautiful scenery, and impressive automotive history, here’s where to visit on your Michigan vacation.
1. Detroit
Michigan’s largest city comes in top place for a vacation, with Detroit scoring best for culture, second for activities, and third for restaurants.
Detroit’s history is firmly in car manufacturing, so make sure you pay a visit to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, which has more than 100 vehicles on display; and the Automotive Hall of Fame, where you can discover the contributions of the likes of Walter P. Chrysler, Eiji Toyoda, and more.
2. Grand Rapids
Located in the west of Michigan, the 200,000-strong population of Grand Rapids makes it into second place for a Michigan vacation; with the city scoring top for its restaurants and activities, and second for its culture.
There are tons of museums to visit while you’re here, including the Public Museum on Pearl Street, as well as the Children’s Museum, which is the perfect place to visit if you’re vacationing as a family.
3. Lansing
Rounding off our top three vacation destinations in Michigan is its capital, Lansing. Scoring the best for the cost of a night out, and the second best for restaurants; Lansing is a great place to enjoy in the evenings.
From classic American designers to Italian, Thai, Japanese and more; whatever cuisine you’re feeling, rest assured Lansing has got you covered.
If its activities and culture you’re after, Ann Arbor and Dearborn also score well; whereas Troy, Warren and Farmington have the best weather, and Troy and Dearborn are amongst the most affordable.
If you’re in the 20% of Michigan residents planning holidays in Michigan, make sure you take a look at our Detroit airport parking deals, guaranteed to save you some money.
Georgia
Get a taste of the deep south on your next vacation to Georgia – here are our three favorite destinations.
1. Atlanta
For a vacation in Georgia, you can’t beat Atlanta, which scored top for culture, restaurants, and activities.
Georgia’s capital has so many things to see and do, including the aquarium, botanical gardens, and the World of Coca-Cola, where you can learn all about the history of the brand, and even sample some of the beverages sold around the world.
2. Savannah
In second place is Savannah, scoring top for the weather, and second best for culture and activities.
One of the most historic cities in the US, make sure you visit the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, who created Girl Scouts in the US; and immerse yourself in the arts at Davenport House Museum, which is home to tons of artefacts that date back to the 19th century.
3. Columbus
With the second-best weather, and third best affordability for nights out, Columbus comes in the third place.
Situated right on the border with Alabama, go for a stroll along the Chattahoochee RiverWalk, which spans 15 miles of green space, or the Dragonfly Trail, which was constructed on abandoned train tracks.
If you want to make the most of your time in Georgia and visit some additional destinations; then Albany and Marietta score highly for culture and restaurants; with Alpharetta third for activities.
Warner Robins and Macon are the most affordable cities in the state, and Augusta scored third for weather, showing just how many great places to visit. And, if you currently live in Georgia and are part of the 18% staying in state for vacations, make sure you discover our deals on airport parking at Atlanta airport.
Illinois
Rounding off our travel guides, it’s Illinois! Here’s where we’d recommend visiting on your next vacation.
1. Chicago
Scoring best for culture, activities, and restaurants; Chicago very firmly comes in top place as a vacation in Illinois.
There are tons of craft brewery tours you can join if that’s your thing; but you should also visit classic attractions like The Bean and the Riverwalk. If you like to be on water, then why not kayak down Chicago River, or visit the nearby beaches, which offer pristine coastlines?
2. Springfield
Illinois’ capital comes in second place, scoring best for weather, second for culture and affordability, and third for activities.
The burial place of Abraham Lincoln, here, you can visit his old home, visit the Presidential Library which holds some of his most key artefacts; or visit the Lincoln Memorial Garden, which is also a nature center and has lots of trails for you to discover.
3. Elgin
In third place is Elgin, scoring second for weather and third for its variety of restaurants, making it another great vacation option.
A green and tranquil city, spend your time wandering the trails at the 44-acre Trout Park, which is also home to a fairground, go pumpkin picking at Goebbert’s Farm if you’re here in the fall, and ride the trams at Fox River Trolley Museum.
Other vacation destinations in Illinois include Schaumburg, which is hailed for its activities, Bloomington and Aurora for affordability, and Champaign for the weather.
If you’re from Illinois and are one of the 24% of Illinois residents who travel in state for vacations, then discover our Chicago O’Hare airport parking deals, to lock in the best price.
So, if you’ve been wondering where to go on your next staycation, hopefully we’ve inspired you! Alternatively, make sure you head on over to our blog for more travel destination inspiration and tips.
Photo by:
Leif Christoph Gottwald – Unsplash
Methodology
This dataset ranks 60 locations across 6 states in the US. To do this, 20 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalized, to provide each factor with a score of between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalized values were then summed, to give each location a total score out of 20. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
- Museums – The number of museums in each city, as listed on TripAdvisor.
- Art Galleries – The number of art galleries in each city, as listed on TripAdvisor.
- Libraries – The number of libraries in each city omitting school libraries, as listed on librarytechnology.
- Landmarks – The number of landmarks and points of interest, as listed on TripAdvisor.
- Chinese Restaurants – The number of results on Google Maps for “Chinese Restaurants in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “Chinese”.
- Indian Restaurants – The number of results on Google Maps for “Indian Restaurants in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “Indian”.
- Pizza Restaurants – The number of results on Google Maps for “Pizza Restaurants in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “pizza”.
- Italian Restaurants – The number of results on Google Maps for “Italian Restaurants in X, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “Italian”.
- Fast Food Restaurants – The number of results on Google Maps for “Fast Food Restaurants in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “fast” and “food”.
- Beaches – The number of results on Google Maps for “Beaches in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “beach”.
- Bars – The number of results on Google Maps for “Bars in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “bar” or “pub”.
- Cinemas – The number of results on Google Maps for “Cinemas in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “movie_theater” or “cinema”.
- Theaters – The number of results on Google Maps for “Theaters in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered, excluding those with a business category containing “movie_theater” and then keeping those containing “theater”.
- Nightclubs – The number of results on Google Maps for “Nightclubs in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “night_club”.
- Music Venues – The number of results on Google Maps for “Music Venues in X”, where X is the city. Results were filtered for business category containing “music_venue” or “event_venue”.
- Beer Cost – The cost, in USD, of a domestic beer in each city, according to Numbeo.
- Cappuccino Cost – The cost, in USD, of a cappuccino in each city, according to Numbeo.
- Meal for 2 Cost – The cost, in USD, of a mid-range, 3 course meal for 2 in each city, according to Numbeo.
- Cinema Tickets for 2 Cost – The cost, in USD, of 2 cinema tickets in each city, according to Numbeo.
- Public Transport Cost – The cost, in USD, of a one-way public transport ticket in each city, according to Numbeo.
The factors were indexed as follows:
- All Number of X Factors – High values get a high score. Low values get a low score.
- All Cost Factors – Low values get a high score. High values get a low score.
All data is correct as of 26/06/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.
