Vacationers looking for a good time hit the jackpot with Las Vegas.
WalletHub looked at more than 180 cities in America to find the ones with the most fun yet cost-effective activities based on 65 relevant metrics across three dimensions: entertainment and recreation, nightlight and parties, and costs.
According to the findings, Las Vegas, Nevada, was named the most fun city overall in the US. The city was the only one in the study where public drinking is allowed in most or all places as well as the largest number of casinos in the country.
Vegas is known for its performers, especially when it comes to music, such as festivals, music venues, dance clubs and comedy clubs.
Sin City has an “extremely large” number of attractions and restaurants with at least 4.5-star rating. And though it has a reputation for partying, it has a wide range of activities for people who prefer a different kind of fun, including spas, shopping centers, sports stadiums, festivals and arcades, as well as many exercise options such as bowling alleys, basketball courts and hiking trails.
The second-most fun city is Orlando, Florida, home to the most amusement parks in the nation such as Disney World and Universal Studios.
Orlando also ranked fifth as one of the best cities for soccer fans, and if you’re not into touristy attractions, the city also ranks as one of the top cities for spas, performing arts theaters, arcades, pool halls and lounges.
Miami, Florida, is the third-most fun city, known for its beaches and water activities, leading the country in fishing facilities, marinas, boat tours and water sports. It was also ranked one of the best cities with affordable restaurants available with at least a 4.5-star rating.
Sports is a huge aspect of Miami culture, with their beloved Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat helping the city rank as the sixth-best for football fans and fifth-best for basketball fans, respectively. And It’s also a great city for staying fit yourself, with 88% of residents living within half a mile of a park and having the fourth-most fitness centers per capita.
“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,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement.
“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.”
Top 15 Most Fun Cities in America
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Orlando, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Austin, Texas
- San Francisco, California
- Chicago, Illinois
- Houston, Texas
- New York, New York
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Denver, Colorado
- Portland, Oregon
- Cincinnati, Ohio
