Study Says Massachusetts Is One Of The Top 20 States For...What?

Planning on taking the family on a summer getaway this year? Traveling abroad sounds nice, but who can afford that? I know I can't. If you can't afford it either, there's good news! There are plenty of great places to visit right here in the good old USA.

Recently, the betting experts at Gambling.com conducted a study on the "Best US States To Vacation This Summer" and if you haven't made your summer vacation plans yet, it's definitely worth a look.

First off, to come up with the results for the study, the Gambling.com team looked at 5 key metrics such as the availability and affordability of accommodations, the number of historical landmarks and state parks, the average amount of sunlight, and more.

Guess what? Not surprisingly (to those of us who live here anyway), Massachusetts made the top 20 - just barely - at #20! However, what was surprising (to me at least) was that Massachusetts was the only New England state to make it on the list! I can't tell you how many GREAT summer vacations I've had in Ogunquit, Maine, or at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. Plenty.

Anyway, as I stated above, if you haven't made your summer vacation plans yet, check these out: Gambling.com's Top 20 US States To Vacation This Summer:

Virginia
Florida
Illinois
Georgia
Ohio
Indiana
Kentucky
Iowa/New Jersey (tie)
New Jersey/Iowa (tie)
California/Pennsylvania (tie)
Pennsylvania/California (tie)
Maryland
New York
Texas
Arizona
North Carolina
Mississippi
Michigan
Kansas
Massachusetts

Don't get me wrong, I love to travel and I feel every state has as least one thing of great interest worth checking out, but some of the states above that ranked higher than Massachusetts??? I mean, COME ON!

Check out the rankings in full and find out why each state ranked where they did by visiting Gambling.com's website here. And wherever you head to this summer, I hope the weather's perfect during your visit and you don't forget something at home.

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

Source: Study Says Massachusetts Is One Of The Top 20 States For…What?