It may come as a surprise to Chicagoans used to braving the Windy City’s legendary winters, but Chicago was named the best cold-weather winter travel destination by WalletHub. 

The personal-finance site ranked almost 70 of the largest U.S. metro areas that are both cheap and easy to reach. These destinations were grouped as “warm” or “cold” based on 37 key metrics, including two weeks of flight data, safety indicators and weather predictions. 

Whereas other rankings typically focus on the scenic quality of a destination, WalletHub looked at traveling cost and convenience, as well as number and variety of activities. 

Chicago scored high when it comes to airfare: It had the cheapest flights from major cities with no connections. It also has plenty of attractions for winter vacationers. For example, the metro area has the 10th-most ice-skating rinks per capita in the United States, as well as a high number of music venues, spas and affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 stars. 

WalletHub also noted Chicagoland has the lowest property-crime rate among the 32 metro areas for cold destinations in the study. 

After Chicago, the top five cold-weather winter destinations included Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis; and Cincinnati, while the top five winter destinations for those who prefer to stay warm were Las Vegas; San Diego; Austin, Texas; Dallas; and Phoenix. 

“Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates.”