It’s that time again: time to plan that warm-weather getaway. So what are the best summer vacation states?
If you’re reading this in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you won’t have to travel far this summer if you don’t want to. That’s because, according to Gambling.com, the Bay State landed just inside their Best States To Vacation In Summer 2023. Of course, if you’re a Massachusetts native, this should come as no surprise. Summer vacations in some way, shape, or form will inevitably involve swimming. And Massachusetts beaches are some of the most beautiful in the nation, no matter if you’re on the coast or at a lake.
The Gambling.com research crew analyzed five different data points in order to determine which states states are best when it comes to choosing your summer vacation destination. The criteria are as follows: accommodation availability, accommodation affordability, crime rates, average sunshine, and number of available attractions. Once the numbers were crunched and the data was sorted, each state received a “Summer Vacation Score,” with the highest possible score being 100. Strangely enough, the top-ranked state only scored a 68.6 total. That’s research for you.
Best Summer Vacation States: Mass. Makes the Top 20
Before we take a deep dive into the data (and the water), an interesting note: Massachusetts was the only New England state to make the Top 20 in this particular ranking. I don’t know if that surprises you, but it surprised the hell out of me. I can’t think of a better summer vacation destination than Maine. I’ve been going to Wells Beach for a week every summer since I was a kid, and my family has spent many a happy summer in the Lake Region for the last 20 years. Alas, Maine just doesn’t measure up according to the criteria in this study. See which states do.
