Staycations in 2020 will focus on the “stay”: Stay away from crowds; stay away from touching things; stay safe and healthy.
Delta and other airlines are starting to add more flights back into their lineups, but many people will still opt to vacation close to home this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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With that in mind, financial website WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 15 key metrics to determine the best in the country for a staycation.
"Our data set ranges from parks per capita to the average home square footage and the idealness of summer weather," WalletHub wrote.
Each of the 15 metrics was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for staycationers.
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Plano, Texas, with a score of 66.88, finished in first place. In last place was Pearl City, Hawaii, with a score of 22.11.
Atlanta ranked in the top quarter overall, coming in at No. 40 with a score of 53.52. But the city was No. 3 for most parks per capita and No. 5 for highest average beer and wine prices.
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WalletHub’s experts recommend sticking to open spaces, like parks and trails, for your staycation.
And to make it feel more like a real vacation, check out places you’ve not been to, like a nearby city’s outdoor attractions or a hiking trail in another part of Georgia.
For example, just north of Atlanta, up Interstate 75 in Cartersville, is the Booth Western Art Museum. The Booth now holds USA Today's title of best art museum in the United States.
Or you can kayak through an abandoned mine tunnel via the Etowah River. It's easy to stay 6 feet apart on the water.
Whatever you decide to do, remember to wear your mask and wash your hands.
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