• Tampa, Florida has been named as the most relaxing city to visit, scoring 74.2 out of 100
• The city ranked highly for its good average temperature, number of daylight hours and walkability score. 
• New Orleans was named the second most relaxing place to visit and live, followed by San Francisco. 

Summer vacation is just around the corner, and for many, it’s a time to decompress and relax. The environment you’re in plays a massive part in how successful this is.

Luckily, online marketplace for timeshares SellMyTimeshareNow.com, has discovered the most relaxing US cities to visit.

Seven different metrics were analyzed: The percentage of green space around each city, walkability, average hours of daylight, temperature difference from an ideal 66 degrees Fahrenheit, traffic congestion, crime rate per 100,000 residents and the number of attractions rated 4-stars and above on Tripadvisor.  

The seven metrics were gathered for 50 of the most populated cities across America and weighted to determine the most to least relaxing big cities to visit. 

The most relaxing US cities

Rank	City	State	Index – Overall (/100)
1.	Tampa, FL	Florida	74.20
2.	New Orleans, LA	Louisiana	70.90
3.	San Francisco, CA	California	67.40
4.	Miami, FL	Florida	67.20
5.	San Diego, CA	California	63.40
6.	Austin, TX	Texas	60.50
7.	Washington D.C.	District of Columbia	59.20
8.	Tucson, AZ	Arizona	58.40
9.	Oakland, CA	California	58.10
10.	Atlanta, GA	Georgia	57.28
11.	Jacksonville, FL	Florida	57.24
12.	Las Vegas, NV	Nevada	57.16
13.	Long Beach, CA	California	57.11
14.	Raleigh, NC	North Carolina	56.20
15.	Portland, OR	Oregon	55.30

Tampa, Florida ranked first, with a score of 74.20 out of 100.

This is Florida’s third largest city and ranked highly thanks to it having the second highest number of daylight hours (on average, over 10 hours and 37 minutes), the ninth lowest number of crimes per 100,000 residents (5,584), and has the closest average temperature to 66 Fahrenheit at 70 degrees throughout the year.

While the city does have a higher-than average number of hours lost due to traffic congestion at 34, a walkability score of 50 (out of 100) means there are plenty of things to reach on foot. 

In second place is New Orleans, Louisiana, with a score of 70.90 out of 100.

The city ranked first for the number of highest-rated things to do, having over 300 attractions on Tripadvisor. Additionally, New Orleans has the fifth longest hours of daylight at approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes, and also is the 19^th most walkable city out of the 50 states analyzed. 

In third place is San Francisco in California, with a score of 67.40 out of 100.

The city is ranked as the second most walkable out of the list with a score of 89 out of 100 and is also eleventh best in terms of temperature. Additionally, the state also has over 180 four-star or higher rated attractions, so there’s plenty to do. 

Another Floridian city, Miami ranks in fourth place with a score of 67.20 out of 100.

Florida’s Southern position means all its cities rank highly for temperature and daylight hours, though Miami fares the best in the ranking in terms of daylight hours at 10 hours and 46 minutes. The city has a temperature difference of 5.45 degrees compared to the ideal 66 degrees.

In fifth place is San Diego in California, gaining a score of 63.50. At the bottom of California, the city is home to around 1.3 million people, making it the eighth most populated city in the US. It currently has the lowest crime rate out of the 50 cities assessed, at 4,088 incidents per 100,000 residents. 

Austin in Texas placed sixth with a score of 60.50 out of 100, followed by Washington D.C. (59.20), Tucson, Arizona (58.40), Oakland, California (58.10) and Atlanta, Georgia (57.28).  

Commenting on the study, an expert from SellMyTimeshareNow.com said: “Whether you’re choosing a new city to move to or planning a vacation, this list highlights some of the best places to visit if you’re looking for a relaxed break at one of the most popular US cities. 

“Most of the cities in the top 10 are from the Southern or Western states, which are renowned for their sunny climates. Getting your vitamin D from spending time outdoors is vital for overall well-being, and having access to green spaces is a key part of that. Whether it’s for exercise, socializing, or simply taking a stroll in the park, spending time in nature has been shown time and time again to help reduce stress and improve mental health. 

“Overall, more states should consider how they can improve access to such spaces. In the meantime, this list highlights some of the best locations to find your ideal vibe. Of course, cities are diverse, and some may argue that certain destinations on the list are far from relaxing given their large population. However, when you factor in access to green spaces, safety, climate, and the range of activities available, these cities stand out as top choices for unwinding and recharging.”