Summer vacation season is beginning and WalletHub's ranking of the U.S. states based on how well they can host a summer vacation puts Connecticut near the bottom of the list.
Connecticut came 49th, Only Rhode Island comes behind to take last place on the 2018’s Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips, which takes into account attractions, safety, gas prices and other costs.
Connecticut came in 46th for cost and the study pointed out the highest costs of car repairs and camping. We came in 26th for safety and 42nd for activities.
Wyoming scored the top spot as the overall best, followed by North Carolina, then Minnesota. New York came in 8th.
WalletHub also offered advice for travelers from university officials.
Central Connecticut State University Director of Tourism and Hospitality Studies, Jeffrey Kreeger, suggested national parks as a great vacation spot. More affordable than theme parks but less visited, national parks make a great alternative for many, according to Kreeger.
Local
While fast food restaurants might be a convenient and tempting stop for long distance drivers, packing a cooler is a better choice, according to Gabriella Petrick of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. The cooler allows healthier items to be stored during timely trips and can also be used to store local goods from farmer’s markets, according to Petrick.
While WalletHub might not place Connecticut high on the list, the Connecticut Office of Tourism highlights many of the reasons to spend time in Connecticut this summer, including waterside attractions, good seafood, the parks, the natural beauty and more.
What is you favorite thing about Connecticut in the summer?
