NOT every state is a swimmer's paradise; some are just built differently. A new study has revealed that for all your water sports travels , Florida is the place to go. Vacation rental platform Lake.
com identified The Sunshine State as the best place to go swimming and diving, with Florida coming in first with a water sports score of 62.88 out of 100. “The United States is blessed with an abundance of stunning bodies of water, including millions of lakes and access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans, as well as their surrounding beaches," said David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.
com. "Water sports have become a popular way for people to stay active, bond with family, and connect with this part of nature. “Activities such as swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, fishing, diving, rowing, and sailing are enjoyed by many across the country.
Read More on Travel "This research provides a useful guide to the best states in the country to visit for water sports this spring and summer.” The platform analyzed each state using 22 factors, including its total coastal area and the number of public beaches, lakes, boat yards, and waterparks. The site also averaged each state's average weather conditions for those interested in outdoor water sports, like surfing.
Florida, they determined, has the most public beaches. Most read in Travel "[It came in first] with 909 miles of public beachfront in the state, as well as the most water parks (18), online boat rentals (2,879), marine stores (5,283), and boat yards (8,132)," they said. Not only that, but Florida also ranked near the top in other categories, including the second-best weather in terms of sunshine and average temperature.
The state also had the seventh-highest number of lakes in the country and the lowest rate of accidents, deaths, and property damage in and around its waters. While some may expect coastal-dense California to take second place, Texas was the runner-up, with a score of 58.57.
"The state has the fourth-best access to lakes and the third-best access to public beaches and water vessels available to rent," the site explained. In third with a score of 57.55, Michigan has the seventh-highest number of marine and boating events.
California came in fourth, with a score of 55.20. Unsurprisingly, the state has plentiful access to open water like public beaches, boat yards, and lakes.
"California ranks as the fourth best state for a water sports vacation, with the second-best access to public beaches, waterparks, online boat rentals and boat yards, and marine stores," the site said. "The state also has the second lowest water-related accident and death rate." Read More on The US Sun In fifth is New York, with a score of 54.
14, thanks to its third-largest coastal area, fifth-highest access to public beaches, waterparks, boat yards, and marine stores, and fifth-lowest water-related injuries. Others who made the top ten list include Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, and Massachusetts..
