With so many museums, parks, trails, landmarks and more that you can visit for free, it's no wonder Wichita is on Travel Pulse's 2021 list of "America's Most Budget-Friendly Summer Travel Destinations," ranking 7th nationwide in terms of local costs and 12th for travel costs, based on WalletHub's latest research.

"The famous 44-foot-tall Keeper of the Plains sculpture is completely free to visit, of course, and the Wichita Art Museum is free on Saturdays," Clarke says. "Visitors can also stretch their budget by opting for any one of the city's dozens of parks and trails, which include a focus on art, history and culture."

Clarke says the stage is set for a surge of long-awaited summer vacations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t wallet-friendly options.

Other cities included in the list: Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Orlando, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, San Antonio and Augusta (GA).

TravelPulse has operated since 2002 and provides supplier and destination information for travel agencies.