If you’re looking for a way to take a break from everyday life but don’t want to break the bank, look no further than your own backyard. Staycations, vacations close to home, are a creative and affordable way to do just that. The website WalletHub ranked Buffalo 42nd on its list of the best cities in which to take a staycation. Buffalo also ranked 17th in recreational activities and the 6th highest number of parks per capita.
“Nearly two thirds of Americans plan to stay local this year for their summer vacation, so we wanted to compare the 150 largest cities based on 28 different metrics so basically everything under the sun here for the most enjoyable and wallet friendly staycation spots in the US,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez said.
When WBFO asked locals about where their favorite staycation spots are, Theresa Rinaldo of Orchard Park said she enjoys outdoor activities.
“If it’s the summer time I’ve gone to Bisons games. I like going with my younger brother so we can find things to do around the city or with my parents too. Especially with the new waterfront in Buffalo, it’s beautiful to walk, especially in the summer,” Rinaldo said.
Jeanette of Buffalo enjoys spending time in the local artistic community.
“Art museums and things like that (are) more educational. Art museums (are) good for stress relief and (are) motivational, and keep you out of trouble,” Jeanette said.
To get the vacation experience while staying local, Gonzalez recommends hiring a cleaning service or getting a hotel so you don’t have to worry about chores, and doing plenty of research before you go.
“Staycations are a lot more affordable than other types of vacations, especially when you factor in that there’s no airfare. We have seen that gas prices are falling so even if you’re not exactly in your own backyard, if you still stay around your metro area you can easily drive to a lot of these facilities. You can also stay in hotels. You can really make it seem like a vacation,” Gonzalez said.