Massachusetts Edges Out Hawaii as Healthiest State in US

Did you know Planet Fitness has 75 locations in Massachusetts? (At least as far as the latest data I can find states.) Obviously there are many other franchise and mom and pop gyms out there in the Bay State as well. All these gyms, coupled with a high percentage of Mass residents who walk, run, hike, and bike for exercise (and enjoyment) demonstrates the fact that health is important to us here in Massachusetts. And now a new survey has named Massachusetts the healthiest state in the country in 2023.

The survey, released Tuesday by the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Sharecare, a digital health company, assessed the well-being of nearly a half million Americans surveyed. Factors considered include things like access to health care, food, resources, housing, and transportation among others.

Overall, America as a whole scored a 60.7 on a scale of 100 in this year's report. This is very close to last year's overall score for the U.S.: a 60.9 out of 10.

State by state, Massachusetts was named healthiest followed by Hawaii in second place and New Jersey coming in strong at #3 healthiest.

Does it help Massachusetts' showing that the survey was done by Boston University? No, obviously not. We're just temples and glowing beacons of good health, thank you.

That's not the only good news we've gotten lately by the way. Massachusetts also made a countdown of the best locations for leaf-peeping in the entire world!!

The worldly jet-setting staff at The Travel are out with the Top 10 Best Places for Best Fall Foliage in the entire world and Massachusetts made the Top 10! It would be one thing if we made the Top 10 in America – duh, of course! – but the entire globe?? Woah. That’s some high praise. And not only that, New England got three states in the Top 10 *high five*! And those 3 states are the only 3 states that made the World’s Top 10.

Comfy warm sweaters, and festive Pumpkin Spice, and tangy orange leaves, oh my! If you're a Fall fanatic, you likely live in the right place! (You are reading this from Massachusetts or New Hampshire or Connecticut, right?)

The worldly jet-setting staff at The Travel are out with the Top 10 Best Places for Best Fall Foliage in the entire world and Massachusetts made the Top 10! It would be one thing if we made the Top 10 in America - duh, of course! - but the entire globe?? Woah. That's some high praise. And not only that, New England got three states in the Top 10 *high five*! And those 3 states are the only 3 states that made the World's Top 10.

The Travel picked Hitachinaka, Japan as having the best fall foliage. It's pretty easy to see why. All that pink is enough to turn Barbie into Where's Waldo. Have a look, it sure is purdy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZXBvoADoJ4

Loire Valley, France took second place then it's our first New England/United States entry at #3!

So my fellow leaf-peepers (I'm assuming you're at least somewhat of a leaf-peeper too since you clicked on this article), let me give you 3 of the Top 10 Best Places for Fall Foliage in the Entire World... all of which you can get to in a tank or two of gas. (Much cheaper than a ticket to Japan - though I'd love to do that too!)

So according to this report, Massachusetts: GREAT for Fall foliage. But according to another new study, Massachusetts: WORST for rooftop drinking. See just how bad it is RIGHT HERE.

And now on with our regularly scheduled good leaf-peeping news. I'll give you the three New England states that made the world's top 10, I'll let you know where they ranked, then I'll give you a small taste of their Fall foliage beauty.

#3 Best Foliage in the World!
The Travel singled out both Quinnipiac River State Park in North Haven and West Rock Ridge State Park in New Haven as great places for foliage.

#8 Best Foliage in the World!
New Hampshire is full of red maple (red), dogwood (red), northern red oak (red) during the Fall.

#10 Best Fall Foliage in the World! (We just made it! LOL)
The Travel says what makes leaf-peeping so special is our sugar maple trees which give off amazing red and purple hues.

BY CLICKING RIGHT HERE! Definitely cool to check out - some beautiful pictures and surprising locations.