Michigan Claims Top Spot Among Best States to Visit in the Fall
As summer transitions to fall, many people eagerly look forward to the offerings of the fall season. The vibrant fall foliage, scenic drives, festive events, and visits to pumpkin patches and apple orchards. But which states are the best for a fall visit? LawnStarter has compiled a ranking of the best states to visit in the fall.
Their Methodology
They identified the key factors for ranking the best states to visit in the fall. Afterward, they assigned weights to these factors, considering their relative importance, these criteria and organized them into four distinct categories: fall scenery, outdoor recreation, entertainment offerings, and safety considerations. Data pertaining to these factors was then collected from various sources for all 50 states. Hawaii and Alaska were excluded from the analysis due to insufficient data in a single category. Ultimately, scores were calculated for each state on a scale of 100 points to determine their rankings within each factor, category, and overall. The overall score for a state represents the average of its scores across all factors and categories, with the highest score earning the title of “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest being labeled as “Worst” (No. 48).
Where Michigan Ranks
Michigan secured the fourth position in the ranking. It stood out for having one of the longest projected fall foliage periods. Additionally, the state received recognition for its high density of hayrides and cideries per 100,000 residents.
The top spots in the ranking were predominantly claimed by states in the West Coast and Northeastern regions, such as California (No. 1), New York (No. 2), and Washington (No. 3), due to their abundant state parks, extensive forest trails, and an extended season of vibrant foliage. A total of 14 states shared the distinction of having the longest projected period of fall foliage, lasting for 12 weeks.
Delaware (No. 46) found itself towards the lower end of the list, alongside Southern states such as Texas (No. 44), Florida (No. 45), and Louisiana (No. 48), which occupied the last position. According to the study, the South typically experiences shorter windows for leaf peeping, with Florida and Louisiana tied for the shortest duration at just five weeks of fall colors.
See how other states ranked with the full study here.
Places with the Best Apple Cider in the U.S.
Apple cider season is here. There’s just something special about having apple cider in the fall. You can have it any season, but it just tastes better in the fall. What’s more, if it’s chilly out, it’s extra delicious to have hot apple cider with a dash of cinnamon. So, what are some spots with the best apple cider in the U.S.?
Before we get to today’s apple cider, let’s look at some of the interesting history of apple cider. According to Washington State University, the very “first recorded references to cider date back to Roman times,” and, “in 55 BCE Julius Caesar found the Celtic Britons fermenting cider from native crabapples. The people of northern Spain were making sidra before the birth of Christ.” That’s so wild to think about.
Moreover, according to SmithsonianMag.com, “Evidence of apple trees growing along the banks to the Nile River can be found dating back to about 1300 B.C., but there’s no evidence that ancient Egyptians ever used them for cider. However, considering how much the Egyptians enjoyed beer (and that they were one of the first cultures to brew it), they did have some notion of the joys of fermenting alcoholic beverages.”
In other words, apple cider dates back a long, long time. In fact, apples are as old as time, really. Remember the Biblical story where Eve at the apple? There you have it. Even though apples are very ancient, the way that we eat them today is not. There are so many different ways to enjoy apples and apple cider in the fall. With that in mind, let’s get into the best apple cider in the U.S. What’s your favorite spot to get local apple cider? Reach out to us on social media and give us your picks.
Spots with the Best Apple Cider in the U.S.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.
