There's a common misconception that going on vacation leads to unhealthy eating and weight gain, but your summer trip doesn't have to cost you hours in the gym or pricey post-vacation cleanses. A new study examined the 50 largest cities in the U.S. to find the best budget-friendly vacation spots for the health conscious, considering the following:
- Is the weather nice enough to spend your time outside, while avoiding harmful UV rays? This measure included average days of rain in July (based on past years) and percent chance of sun exposure from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cities with fewer days of rain and lower sun exposures received higher scores.
- Is it easy to purchase fresh foods? This data point incorporated the number of farmers markets within 10 miles.
- Will you be able to get around the city on foot, or will you need to rely on cars or public transportation? This was based on the Walk Score for each city.
- Are hotels affordable? Average hotel prices in July were determined according to Expedia.
For our full rundown of each city, check out the full study. You can also take a quiz to see which destination is perfect for you.
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