Traveling is a big part of summer just as much as cookouts, the beach, and getting sunshine.
And one metro area in Pennsylvania has been ranked among the best spots to hit up during the season.
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WalletHub researchers took a look at 100 of the U.S.’s most populated metro areas to create a study titled “2023′s Best Summer Travel Destinations.”
Each metro was graded across six key dimensions — “Travel Costs & Hassles;” “Local Costs;” “Attractions;” “Weather;” “Activities;” and “Safety” — as well as relevant metrics including “Cost of Cheapest Flight,” “Average Gas Prices,” and “Number of Attractions.” The data used was from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa., N.J.,De-Md., region got a spot among the top 20 metros with the 15th overall ranking. Scranton also got an honorable mention in the study for getting third overall with regards to the “Safety” category.
“I believe this is really the first summer since 2019 that people are going to want to travel, and despite economics, those who want to travel will prioritize it,” says Susan Weismann, Ph.D. and assistant professor at Appalachian State University.
“Coming out of COVID, I think many people have taken these last few years to really evaluate what they want out o life, and for those that love travel, I think they have probably put it at the top of their list of things to do.”
The metro area that topped the list was Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Ga.