What are New Jersey’s 2 Favorite Locations to Celebrate Their Wedding?
I recently attended the wedding of my nephew Michael, and his wife, Rhiannon over the weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by an unbelievable reception at The Madison in…
The newly married Mr. and Mrs. Michael Donahue celebrate their wedding in Riverside, NJ
Photo: C. HustonI recently attended the wedding of my nephew Michael, and his wife, Rhiannon over the weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by an unbelievable reception at The Madison in Riverside, NJ. I thought everything was perfect, and while we did stay the night, it was close enough to drive home after the reception.
While many prefer tying the knot locally, the desire to have a destination wedding seems to be a very popular choice recently.
The engagement ring company, Shane Co., wanted to find out Americans’ views on destination weddings. They polled over 3,000 people from 44 states over a two-week period in April of this year. The survey asked them about the domestic and international destinations where they’d be most interested in getting married, what the most important considerations were when planning a destination wedding, and the barriers they expect to face when invited.
The survey found that New Jersey's most popular U.S. destination is Honolulu, HI and the most popular international destination is Paris, France. I have never been to Paris but we did spend two weeks in Hawaii for our honeymoon. I caught up with a couple of friends at the aforementioned wedding who just moved to the Aloha state, and they absolutely love it there. Actually, I don't think I've ever heard anybody say anything but great things about Hawaii. The survey also found that 70% of residents in New Jersey prefer a destination wedding and ranked 31st across the country for wanting a destination wedding.
Pennsylvania's grooms and brides mimic New Jersey's preferences with Honolulu, HI, and Paris, France.
The survey also found that New York's most popular U.S. location for a wedding is New York itself. New Yorkers, like New Jerseyans, are partial to Paris for an international destination wedding.
Honolulu was chosen as the most popular U.S. destination overall with more than 60% of respondents preferring a beach. So what do Hawaiians choose? When it comes to destination weddings, almost 85% of Hawaiians never fly eastward. They opt for either a Tokyo destination wedding or a Honolulu wedding in the U.S.
11 Most Beautiful Lakes in America
America is known for many good things, from fast food to NFL football to land as far as the eye can see. Of course, you'll also find many beautiful lakes in America.
With so many lakes across the United States, you're probably within driving distance of a fantastic lake of some sort. So, which lakes are the absolutely best in America? It's a tough question. I mean, everyone looks for something different in a lake. Some people love large lakes that look almost like the ocean, while other thrive at small, inland lakes where you can always see the shore. But, there are some lakes that stand above the rest when it comes to beauty and popularity.
I've put together a list of the "11 Most Beautiful Lakes in America," offering a little bit of something for everyone. These lakes are found all across America, so wherever you live, one of these probably is relatively close to you. We're heading into the perfect season to visit a lake, too. For those who aren't lucky enough to live near the ocean, going to a lake is the next best thing. So, get your sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and bikini or trunks and check out 11 lakes to visit. Find a USA travel guide here.
Seneca Lake, New York
Seneca Lake is the biggest of the 11 glacial Finger Lakes. It's 38 miles long and more than 618 feet deep, making it one of the deepest lakes in America. What's extra cool is that the U.S. Navy even does some testing for submarines in this lake, because of its depth.
Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming
If you've ever been to Yellowstone Park, you've probably visited Yellowstone Lake. The massive lake is a part of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It's actually the biggest lake in the park and one of the biggest highly elevated freshwater lakes in North America.
Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
The famous Lake Tahoe is located right on the state line between California and Nevada. It's stunning, as it is surrounded by the glorious Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is the largest alpine lake in North America, making it a must-see lake.
Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina
Here's a special lake located within the Nantahala National Forest and surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. This is also a very pure lake, as its shoreline is mostly protected from development. It's a beautiful destination for fishing, jumping in a canoe or kayak or a picnic.
Hanging Lake, Colorado
Hanging Lake is so glorious. It's located in the middle of Glenwood Canyon in the White River National Forest, and it's actually part of the Southern Rocky Mountains. This lake "was formed by a geologic fault which caused the lake bed to drop away from the valley floor above," according to the USDA Forest Service, and is a designated National Natural Landmark.
Lake Superior, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
The Great Lakes are, of course, some of the most famous lakes in the world. One that's often left of best-of lists is Lake Superior. It's the largest freshwater lake in the world and has a whopping 10% of the world's surface freshwater. Drink up.
Lake Michigan, Wisconsin/Michigan/Illinois
Lake Michigan is simply a landmark. It's actually the most deadly lake in America, due to the high volume of drownings. But, aside from the scary, it's a beautiful and large lake. The lake is spread over more than 307 miles, and there are many beach towns across those miles.
Lake Lanier, Georgia
Located in the northern part of Georgia, Lake Lanier runs nearly 40,000 acres. It stems from the construction of the Buford Dam. This lake is known for its super clear water. The water is actually crystal blue. How beautiful, right?
Lake Jocassee, South Carolina
Lake Jocassee is in the Appalachian Mountains, and it's actually a man-made reservoir. Its water flows from the mountains. This is another lake known for its very clear water, so you get to see all the fish and underwater creatures when you look down into the water flow.
Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Lake Okeechobee is the biggest freshwater lake in Florida. It's a very popular spot for largemouth bass fishing. Those who visit the lake get to learn the history and today's experience of the Seminole community at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, which is a bonus.
Lake Erie, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York
The Lake Erie shoreline touches Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. The body of water offers some of the warmest waters you'll find in the Great Lakes. Lake Erie also offers some fantastic areas to swim, making it a popular vacation lake.
