While “fun” may look different for everyone, some common factors are good weather and an array of affordable, entertaining activities almost always create a fun environment.
Summer is upon us, and people will fill their calendars with outdoor concerts, vacations, and other celebrations. If you have the time to spare from work, you may be wondering where to go or what you can do to make the most of your summer. Just check if is there any chance of visiting these funniest American states this time.
According to a new report by WalletHub that identifies the most enjoyable states in America, some places make it easier to have fun.
The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia in two dimensions to determine the list: entertainment, recreation, and nightlife.
There were more than 25 metrics used. These included restaurants and amusement parks per head, shoreline mileage, access, and national parks. Each metric was weighted differently. The weighted average of all metrics across each state was used to calculate the overall score.
According to WalletHub’s survey, these are America’s ten most enjoyable states.
1. California
Total score 63.60
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 1.
Nightlife Ranking: 3
2. Florida
Total score 61.26
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 2.
Nightlife Ranking: 8
3. Nevada
Total score 59.84
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 4.
Nightlife Ranking: 1
4. New York
Total score 56.11
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 3.
Nightlife Ranking: 7
5. Illinois
Total score 55.33
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 5.
Nightlife Ranking: 4
6. Colorado
Total score 51.38
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 6.
Nightlife Ranking: 10
7. Washington
Total score 50.64
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 8.
Nightlife Ranking: 9
8. Texas
Total score 50.27
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 7.
Nightlife Ranking: 13
9. Minnesota
Total score 45.21
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 11.
Nightlife Ranking: 6
10. Louisiana
Total score 44.53
Entertainment and recreation ranking: 14.
Nightlife Ranking: 2
It is no surprise that the top destinations in the U.S. are coastal states with thriving tourist industries like California, Florida, and New York. Travel blogs and reports have consistently ranked these destinations.
Other states did well in other metrics to earn a spot among the top 10. Louisiana, home to New Orleans, was recognized for its nightlife. Texas, the birthplace of Six Flags, was also tops for having the most amusement parks per head.
WalletHub considered, among others, accessibility to scenic byways and the number of state fairs.
According to Tom Lehman, an Indiana Wesleyan University economics professor, some states, such as Florida, Colorado, and California, spend “a lot” to promote local tourism. It is hard to quantify the direct effect of state-sponsored tourism promotion campaigns. Still, such campaigns have a “minor positive impact on out-of-state visitors to the area and revenue,” he said.
