North Carolina Ranked As One Of The Most Fun States In America
A recent study ranked North Carolina as one of the most fun states in America. But that begs the question- What makes a place “fun”? As a kid, I would have answered that question with things like theme parks (hello Florida and Disney World), great playgrounds, and things to explore.
Heck, I even asked my parents one time why Charlotte had an airport because who would come here on vacation? In my defense, I wasn’t familiar with the concept of traveling for work or to see family.
As an adult, I’d say great bars and restaurants, gorgeous beaches, entertainment options like concerts and shows, and places where my friends live better serve my definition of fun. Though I think I’d still rank Disney pretty high (as long as I’m not paying).
But which states are the most fun states in America? Of course, we have that answer for you! It comes to us from our friends at WalletHub. They recently compared each of the 50 states across “26 key indicators of a jolly good time that won’t break the bank”.
Factors included things like the cost of seeing a movie, national parks to visit, nightlife, and more. In these states “fun is not just an option but a way of life”. So what are the most fun states and where did the Carolinas rank?
Wallet Hub Ranks The Most Fun States In America
One and two overall are exactly what I would have guessed (and how I would have answered as a child). Florida took the top spot followed by California. Both are states that have countless entertainment options and consequently draw huge crowds of tourists. If you can’t find it in one of those states does it even exist?
As for the Carolinas, I actually thought South Carolina might outrank North Carolina. But I was wrong. Both states ranked pretty close to one another. NC ranked 14th overall with SC at 18th.
Here is a breakout of North Carolina’s score:
Fun in North Carolina (1=Most Fun; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 14th
- 8th – Restaurants per Capita
- 17th – Movie Theaters per Capita
- 10th – Golf Courses & Country Clubs per Capita
- 19th – Amusement Parks per Capita
- 21st – Performing-Arts Theaters per Capita
- 9th – Fitness Centers per Capita
Thanks to our friends at WalletHub for sharing their research with us. You can view the full study here.