New Jersey Ranks Near the top of the “Happiest States” List
If you’re like me and you had no idea that Utah was the Beehive State, now we’re both better educated on state nicknames. If you want to be happy, a…
If you’re like me and you had no idea that Utah was the Beehive State, now we’re both better educated on state nicknames. If you want to be happy, a new survey says take a trip to the Beehive State.
Why can traveling there make you happy? Utah has topped the list of the Happiest States in the United States for 2023, according to a survey from the folks at WalletHub.
The site's financial experts crunched the numbers on "Emotional and Physical Well-Being," "Work Environment," and "Community and Environment." They looked at each state and analyzed several factors including depression rates, unemployment statistics, the rate of divorce, and which states get the most sleep. After all the math was completed, Utah ranked as number one for this year. One factor that helped them reach the top spot is that they have the fewest work hours.
But, what about New Jersey? Overall, New Jersey ranked an impressive 5th out of all 50 states. Even better, we came in third in the “Emotional and Physical Well-Being” category. We also scored 14th in “Work Environment” and 29th in “Community and Environment.” The latter is what kept us from scoring closer to the top of the list. One more positive finding is that New Jersey has the lowest suicide rate followed by New York.
New York landed 16th on the list overall. They scored admirably in “Emotional and Physical Well-Being” with a seven but got 39s in the other two categories.
Pennsylvania was in the top half of the list but barely. PA notched a 25 on the list of 50. Their best score was a 17 for “Emotional and Physical Well-Being.”
Last year's #1, Hawaii, slipped to second place, with Maryland and Minnesota coming in third and fourth, respectively.
At the bottom of the list are Tennessee, Louisiana, and West Virginia respectively. West Virginia had the highest rate of adult depression.
10 Most Beautiful Areas in America for Fall Colors
The fall season is a glorious time in America. From coast to coast, many different areas off beautiful fall colors in radiant reds, oranges and yellows. So, what are the most beautiful spots in America for fall colors?
Peak fall foliage season is different based on where you are located. Some areas of the U.S. see fall colors as early as September, while others peak later on, such as in October or even November. Generally speaking, areas with longer winters will have earlies fall colors, and areas with longer summers will have later fall colors. Most of America hits peak fall foliage season in the month of October. Of course, areas bordering Canada will be the first to see those colors.
If you're wondering the science behind the fall colors, the color that the leaves become depends on a few factors. Those include the chlorophyll and weather conditions during the summer or fall. Chlorophyll is a pigment that aids in giving leaves their color. In general, big changes from the norm in precipitation, whether it's getting way too much rain or not enough, can really impact the fall foliage season.
Also, I remember last year, the radiant colors in my area fell off the trees early. The reason was that we had a wind storm come through, so the leaves fell prematurely. I was pretty upset about it, because not only do I like to see beautiful fall colors, I also like to paint fall colors. So, my muse was gone.
That said, if you are in the mood to view fall colors this year, here are some great places to do it. Read on for 10 Beautiful spots in America for fall colors. What are your favorite areas to see fall foliage? Reach out to me on social media here and let me know.
Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia and North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it's a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.
Vogel State Park in Georgia
If you're looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It's a great late-season trip.
Cape May - New Jersey
Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don't miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.
Traverse City - Michigan
The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.
Lamoille Canyon - Nevada
Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.
Torreya State Park - Florida
I know what you're thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn't known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It's worth the road trip, if you live south of there.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Michigan
Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It's beautiful in the fall.
Washington Crossing - Pennsylvania
The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it's the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.
The Great Smoky Mountains - Tennessee and North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.
Lenox - Massachusetts
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It's a nice area if you don't want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it's a bit more off the radar.
