If you get some time off of work, but don't have the ability and/or the desire to travel a long distance, it's good to know that one of the best 'staycations' in America is right here in our part of Iowa.

If you're not familiar with the concept of a 'staycation', here's how Wikipedia defines it:

A staycation (a portmanteau of "stay" and "vacation"), or holistay (a portmanteau of "holiday" and "stay"), is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within day trip distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation.

With that out of the way, Tripsavvy recently ranked all of the places in America where you can get away from it all without really traveling a great distance. Perched near the top at #15 in the US is none other than good ole Iowa City.

What's so grand about Iowa City which the article refers to as "Athens of the Midwest"? It's near both Des Moines and Cedar Rapids they note and is "buzzing with its own distinctive brand of intellectual energy". I've never buzzed with intellectual energy which is why I probably don't understand. They're saying that Iowa is great for bookworms and literary people I suppose.

Tripsavvy is also a big fan of the many biking trails and fossils. Maybe this is why.

Or, maybe not.

Congrats Iowa City. You've made the list that includes such vacation/staycation heavyweights like Boulder, Colorado, etc. Perhaps I've just taken the city for granted since it's right here in our own backyard more or less.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Iowa using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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