If You're Looking For A Summer Travel Destination, Experts Say Visit These FL Metros

FLORIDA — The Orlando metro should be on your summer travel list, according to WalletHub's latest ranking released this month.

Orlando jumped two spots from last year, when it was named the third best summer travel destination. This year, the personal finance website WalletHub says the Orlando metro is above former No. 1 victor metro Atlanta, Georgia.

Experts examined 100 U.S. destinations likely for summer travel based on travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, activities and safety.

In the end, the Orlando metro landed in first place.

Here is how the Orlando metro ranked:

• Total Score: 68.34
• Travel costs and hassles: 24
• Local costs: 10
• Attractions: 11
• Weather: 62
• Activities: 1
• Safety: 50

"Orlando, Florida is the best metro area for summer travel, known for attractions like its huge theme parks. The shortest flights to Orlando from other major cities have zero connections and cost as little as $322," WalletHub said in its annual report.

"Surprisingly, the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room in Orlando is only $42, which is very reasonable. The metro area has plenty of affordable, high-quality restaurants to choose from, too.
Orlando also ranks highly when it comes to the prevalence of water parks, boat tours, ice cream shops, coffee shops, shopping centers and spas, providing venues to both get thrills and relax."

Miami, another Florida metro, improved its score and ranked ninth overall. Tampa slid down seven spots to be named the 12th best summer town.

Anyone searching for low travels costs and hassles may not find it in Cape Coral, which has one of the highest in the bunch, WalletHub reported.

The Lee County town also has fewer attractions than most, along with Palm Bay, North Port and Deltona.

Floridians looking to get a little bit of sun this summer can visit places like Lake Kissimmee, Miami, the Florida Keys, the Everglades National Park or St. George Island.

Also, beaches are plentiful in the Sunshine State, such as in Pensacola, Jacksonville, Destin, Panama City and Fort Walton.

Thrill-seekers can feel the adrenaline of racing at the Daytona International Speedway's NASCAR Racing Experience summer events.

Still want more to do this summer? You can visit the Legoland Florida Resort, Bonnet Springs Park, Camp Margaritaville Auburndale, the Florida Children's Museum, the Watermelon Festival, Orlando Seafood Festival, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens or SeaWorld.

See the full methodology used in the scorings here.