Everyone likes to have a little fun, but if you’re looking for a vacation that’s a lot of fun, WalletHub has some ideas. The personal finance website revealed its list of the most fun — and budget-friendly — cities in the U.S. and Las Vegas came out on top.
For its study, the WalletHub team compared 182 destinations across the country and analyzed each across three key areas: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and costs. It then further evaluated each city across 65 metrics including things like the cost of movie tickets, the number of fitness centers per capita, as well as entertainment and recreation options. It then ranked each city’s weighted average across all categories.
“Las Vegas is the most fun city overall, boasting an extremely large number of attractions and restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars,” WalletHub reported. “Some of the venues that are especially prevalent include spas, shopping centers, sports stadiums, festivals, and arcades. There are also plenty of things to do for exercise, as Las Vegas has a ton of bowling alleys, basketball courts, and hiking trails per capita.”
Naturally, the study noted that “Sin City is known for partying” and that it’s one of the only places included in the analysis (and in the U.S.) where public drinking is allowed in most areas. However, there’s still plenty to do in Las Vegas even if you are a teetotaler. In addition to a high number of casinos, it also has a wealth of music venues, comedy clubs, shopping centers, and hiking trails. WalletHub also notes that while Vegas isn’t exactly cheap, it’s still relatively affordable when it comes to the cost of food and recreational activities.
As for other fun cities in the U.S., Orlando, Florida, came in second place and was followed by Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and New York City.
“The most fun cities naturally include some of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Miami, but these cities are far more than tourist traps,” Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said in the report. “They provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities for all types of interests, from sports to theaters to arcades, and they have plenty of diverse restaurants to try. The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health.”
