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The Happiest Place to Live 2009

Gr8List — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:42:56 +0000

Hawaii was the happiest place to live in the U.S. in 2009, according to a newly released national survey. Hawaii also topped the charts for life evaluation, emotional health and physical health. Nine of the top 10 well-being states reside in the Midwest and the West. The results come from interviews with more than 350,000 American adults who took part in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index in 2009. This is the second year of the survey. View the complete list of the happiest states on LiveScience.com.

The well-being score for each state is an average of six sub-categories, including: life evaluation (self-evaluation about your present life situation and anticipated one in five years); emotional health; work environment (such as job satisfaction); physical health; healthy behavior; basic access (access to healthcare, a doctor, a safe place to exercise and walk, as well as community satisfaction).

The top 10 states and their average well-being scores (out of a possible 100 points):

* Hawaii: 70.2
* Utah: 68.3
* Montana: 68.3
* Minnesota: 67.8
* Iowa: 67.6
* Vermont: 67.4
* Colorado: 67.3
* Alaska: 67.3
* North Dakota: 67.3
* Kansas: 67.2

NYTimes Top 10 Travel Stories of 2009

Gr8List — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:15:34 +0000

Chic hostels in London, the remote wilderness of southern Utah and luxurious getaways in Costa Rica — these are just a few of the year’s most viewed stories from The New York Times Travel section. Read the full article…

1. Frugal Paris
Even for those on a budget, the City of Light can offer unexpected pleasures.

2. Frugal Portland
The good life comes cheap in this city of artisanal cafes and funky neighborhoods.

3. Hiking to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon
In winter, this national park is a peaceful and awe-inspiring retreat for its few visitors.

4. The Crab Houses of Maryland’s Eastern Shore
To get a real taste of the state’s tidewater region, grab a mallet.

5. Finding the Charm of Cross-Country Rail Travel
For one traveler, a cross-country trip was a way to reconnect with America.

6. Costa Rica Any Way You Want It
Explore challenging adventure spots, pioneering eco-retreats and luxurious getaways.

7. Europe’s Hostels Grow Up
Hostels are leaving their backpacker image behind with upscale locations and stylish furnishings.

8. America’s Outback
Southern Utah offers 1.9 million acres of natural wonders.

9. Top 10 Travel Gadgets Under $50
Travel space bags and a flexible camera tripod make the list of useful and affordable gadgets.

10. Staying in Touch Internationally
The Frugal Traveler shares recommendations for making and receiving cheap long-distance calls.

Kiplinger’s Best Cities 2009

Gr8List — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:58:39 +0000

For the 2009 list, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance kept their focus on the best places to live, but also wanted to emphasize the best cities for work. They selected cities that have stable employment rates in key job areas as well as provide new career opportunities. A premium was put on places that will lead the country in employment growth when the recovery takes off. Read the report or view the full rankings for 361 U.S. metropolitan areas. Then use the tool to find your best city.

No. 1: Huntsville, Alabama
No. 2: Albuquerque, New Mexico
No. 3: Washington D.C.
No. 4: Charlottesville, Virginia
No. 5: Athens, Georgia
No. 6: Olympia, Washington
No. 7: Madison, Wisconsin
No. 8: Austin, Texas
No. 9: Flagstaff, Arizona
No. 10: Raleigh, North Carolina

States Ranked by Top Colleges

Gr8List — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:53:18 +0000

The Global Language Monitor ranked the top U.S. colleges and universities according their appearance in global print and electronic media for a 2009 report. States were ranked by the number of the top 225 colleges and universities located in each state. See the list of Top Colleges and Universities as ranked by state…

The Top Ten States, with the number of Top Colleges represented:

1. New York (29)
2. California (22)
3. Pennsylvania (19)
4. Massachusetts (19)
5. Virginia (9)
6. Texas (9)
7. Ohio (8)
8. Illinois (8)
10. Georgia (6) tie
10. Indiana (6) tie

The Top 30 Fashion Capitals of 2009

Gr8List — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:24:35 +0000

Milan has upended New York after a five year reign as the Top Fashion Capital in the Global Language Monitor’s annual global survey. This exclusive ranking is based upon GLM’s Predictive Quantities Index, a proprietary algorithm that tracks words and phrases in print and electronic media, on the Internet and throughout the blogosphere. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets. View the top thirty fashion capitals…

1. Milano (+3) – Not only overtakes New York but also Rome and Paris.
2. New York (-1) – Knocked out of Top Spot by Milano after a five-year run.
3. Paris (0) – No 1. in our hearts but No. 3 in the media.
4. Rome (-2) — The Eternal City still reigns strong.
5. London (0) – London remains the laggard of the Fashion Elite.
6. Los Angeles (0) – Holding its own at No. 6.
7. Hong Kong (+4) – Leaps over Sydney and Tokyo to seize the lead in Asia/Pacific.
8. Sao Paulo (+25) – A remarkable rise, now dominating Latin-America.
9. Sydney (-2) – Solidly in the Top 10 while Melbourne sinks.
10. Las Vegas (-2) – Intense media spotlight ensures a top ranking.

CNN Money’s Best Places to Live 2009

Gr8List — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:12:21 +0000

Which small towns in America have weathered the economic storm and continued to provide residents with affordable living, great educations, low crime and more? CNN Money outlined the top 100 in the 2009 Best Places to Live list powered by Onboard Informatics data. See the top 100…

1. Louisville, CO

2. Chanhassen, MN

3. Papillion, NE

4. Middleton, WI

5. Milton, MA

6. Warren, NJ

7. Keller, TX

8. Peachtree City, GA

9. Lake St. Louis, MO

10. Mukilteo, WA

US News Best Places to Live 2009

Gr8List — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:53:44 +0000

The “Best Places to Live,” selected by U.S. News editors, were chosen from 2,000 locations by examining factors including an area’s economy, cost of living, population, crime rate, and access to educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. All cities offer strong economies, low living costs and ample, affordable recreational activities. Read the full article on USNews.com…

KAYAK’s Top 10 Travel Lists

Gr8List — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:13:17 +0000

KAYAK’S Traveler blog features dozens of travel-related top 10 lists. A recent sampling includes best airports, ten top haunted hotels, top bed & breakfast inns, best green hotels, best kids pools, best rooftop hotel pools, best new hotels of 2009, best big city bargains, and more. Visit Kayak.com Traveler for the lists…

The 50 Best Blocks in New York

Gr8List — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 06:50:04 +0000

Time Out New York’s first-ever ranking of the 50 best residential blocks in the city. View the full results…

1. South Portland Ave. between DeKalb and Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn
2. Gramercy Park South between Park Ave. South and Irving Place, Gramercy Park
3. West 20th St. between Ninth and Tenth Ave., Chelsea
4. 45th Ave. between 21st and 23rd St., Long Island City, Queens
5. Convent Ave. between 143rd and 144th St., Sugar Hill
6. Montgomery Place bet. Prospect Park West & Eighth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn
7. Beck St. between Longwood Avenue and East 156th St., Longwood, Bronx
8. Coffey St. between Conover and Ferris St., Red Hook, Brooklyn
9. Charlton St. between Sixth Ave. and Varick St., Soho
10. West 78th St. between Columbus and Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side

Expedia.com’s Top Travel Destinations

Gr8List — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:26:47 +0000

10 Great Culinary Adventures

Gr8List — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 06:56:27 +0000

Love food, will travel. If experimenting with regional foods is your favorite part of international travel, check out the Food Network’s list of ten gourmet getaways…

1. Barcelona, Spain
2. Biarritz, France
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Edinburgh, Scotland
6. Ko Samui, Thailand
7. Maui, Hawaii
8. Oaxaca, Mexico
9. San Juan, Puerto Rico
10. Vancouver, British Columbia

The Best Spas in the World

Gr8List — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:48:11 +0000

Readers of Spa Finder publications and the Spafinder.com Web site have chosen Arizona’s Miraval, Life in Balance as their “favorite spa” in North America for 2006. Other favorites around the world were Sante Winelands Hotel and Wellness Center in Paarl, South Africa; Chiva-Som in Hua Hin, Thailand; Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa in Baaden-Baaden, Germany, and the Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa in Gramado, Brazil. View all the award winners, by country or category…

100 Best Events in North America 2007

Gr8List — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 03:16:45 +0000

The American Bus Association’s Top 100 Events in North America is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada. Each spring, a committee of ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators selects the top 100 events for the subsequent year; the list is unveiled in September. Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events, and more that have been nominated by state tourism offices and local and regional CVBs. Check out the 2007 list…

America’s Top 25 Smartest Cities

Gr8List — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:27:01 +0000

Education rankings were released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau. CNNMoney.com took a look at American cities with the highest concentration of college degrees. If you equate education with intelligence, then the smartest city in the United States is Seattle – 52.7% of its residents age 25 or older have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. The 10 smartest cities in the U.S. are listed below. Check out CNNMoney.com for the full top 25 list and key stats on each city…

1. Seattle, WA
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Raleigh, NC
4. Washington, DC
5. Austin, TX
6. Minneapolis, MN
7. Atlanta, GA
8. Boston, MA
9. San Diego, CA
10. Lexington-Fayette, KY

The 5 Best Airports for Business Travelers

Gr8List — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:02:30 +0000

Thanks to terminal makeovers executed with business travelers in mind, layovers are becoming a less hellish experience. To find out which airports are the most business-friendly, Business 2.0 quizzed travelers, analyzed stats, and cross-checked passenger polls. Read the full story…

* Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP)
* Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
* Denver International (DIA)
* San Francisco International (SFO)
* Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW)

The Ultimate NYC Celebrity Homes Map

Gr8List — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 23:20:23 +0000

NewYorkMag.com recently researched and compiled their first-ever Star Map. The addresses were culled from publicly available real-estate records, selected published reports, and widely used Internet directories as well as the occasional in-the-know friend or well-placed source. NY mag opted not to print specific addresses. But you can still see, generally to within a block, where Drew Barrymore and Fabrizio Moretti live, that Uma Thurman and Julia Roberts could easily buy their lottery tickets at the same corner deli, where Kim Cattrall shares an elevator with Neil Sedaka, and that Herman Melville and Joey Ramone were practically neighbors (albeit in different centuries)…

10 Perfect Places to Live in America

Gr8List — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:05:48 +0000

The Fine Living Cable Network has selected the Ten Perfect Places to Live in America. Check them out…

1. Downtown, New York City
2. Grand Marais, Minnesota
3. Austin, Texas
4. Portland, Maine
5. Santa Barbara, California
6. Sedona, Arizona
7. Seattle, Washington
8. Saratoga Springs, New York
9. Jupiter, Florida
10. Salida, Colorado

The Best U.S. Cities to Find a Job

Gr8List — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:24:30 +0000

College grads often flock to New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago to start their careers. But they’d be far better off in Washington D.C., Phoenix and Las Vegas. Forbes.com ranked the largest 100 metropolitan areas according to their unemployment rates, cost of living, median household income, job growth and income growth. View the full story…

Top 10 cities for job hunting
1. Washington D.C.
2. Phoenix, AZ
3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Orlando, FL
5. Bethesda, MD
6. Richmond, VA
7. Raleigh, NC
8. Jacksonville, FL
9. Oklahoma City, OK
10. Virginia Beach, VA

The Best Blue Sky in the World

Gr8List — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 02:30:58 +0000

The blue skies over Rio de Janeiro have been voted the best in the world, according to a new survey from travel site Expedia.com. The company made a list of the world’s top 20 blue skies, taking into account factors such as colour and density. The analysis was compiled by Anya Hohnbaum, of Expedia, who visited 20 countries in 72 days, covering 64,000 miles. Rio de Janeiro boasted the bluest sky in the world, followed by the Bay of Islands in New Zealand and Australia’s Ayers Rock. View the full report…

TOP 20 BLUE SKIES
1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Bay of Islands, New Zealand
3. Ayers Rock, Australia
4. Denarau Island, Fiji
5. Cape Town, South Africa
6. Antananarivo, Madagascar
7. Karumba, The Maldives
8. Tokyo, Japan
9. Castell Dinas Bran, Wales
10. Long Beach, LA, USA
11. St Lucia, Caribbean
12. Dublin, Ireland
13. Marrakech, Morocco
14. Juneau, Alaska
15. Phnom-Penh, Cambodia
16. Amalfi Coast, Italy
17. Koh Samui, Thailand
18. Edinburgh, Scotland
19. Giza, Egypt
20. Cornwall, England

40 Best Cities For Singles

Gr8List — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 03:57:08 +0000

Denver-Boulder defends its No. 1 spot on Forbes.com’s sixth annual ranking of America’s “Best Cities For Singles.” This marks the third consecutive year in first place for the Denver-Boulder metro area. Boston is still hot at No. 2, garnering top scores for “coolness” and online dating, a new measure this year. New York City and Phoenix make their debut in the Top Five, at No. 5 and No. 3, respectively. The list covers 40 of the largest metropolitan areas in the continental U.S. as defined by the U.S. Census. View the full report…

Cities were ranked in seven different areas to determine the best. In addition to online dating and coolness, criteria included job growth, the cost of living alone, culture per capita, nightlife per capita and the number of singles. The top 10 cities for singles on this year’s list are:

1. Denver-Boulder, CO
2. Boston, MA
3. Phoenix, AZ
4. San Francisco-Oakland, CA
5. New York City, NY
6. Raleigh-Durham, NC
7. Seattle, WA
8. Austin, TX
9. Washington, DC-Baltimore, MD
10. Miami, FL

America’s Best Places to Live 2006

Gr8List — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:45:56 +0000

Fort Collins, Colorado is the best place to live in America, according to the editors of Money magazine. Why? Great schools, low crime, good jobs in a high-tech economy and a fantastic outdoor life. See Money’s full list of winners, including detailed city stats and maps…

1. Fort Collins, CO
2. Naperville, IL
3. Sugar Land, TX
4. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD
5. Cary, NC
6. Overland Park, KS
7. Scottsdale, AZ
8. Boise, ID
9. Fairfield, CT
10. Eden Prairie, MN

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2006

Gr8List — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 02:00:27 +0000

In Travel + Leisure’s 11th annual poll, readers name the very best in travel: hotels, cities, islands, spas, cruises, airlines, tour operators, business hotels, and more. A questionnaire was made available to Travel + Leisure subscribers during the first quarter of 2006. Respondents reported where they had traveled worldwide and how, and rated the destinations, properties, and companies that were relevant to their recent travel experiences. Check out the winners…

The Most Courteous City in the World

Gr8List — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:32:46 +0000

Reader’s Digest recently tested good manners around the globe. RD sent reporters to major cities in 35 countries where the magazine is published — from Auckland, New Zealand, to Zagreb, Croatia. The reporters performed three experiments: “door tests” (would anyone hold one open for them?); “document drops” (who would help them retrieve a pile of “accidentally” dropped papers?); and “service tests” (which salesclerks would thank them for a purchase?). New York won as the most polite city in the world. View the ranking of 35 major cities included in RD’s Global Courtesy Test…

The World’s Best Travel Destinations

Gr8List — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:41:56 +0000

The Travel Channel has collected 85 lists of the world’s best destinations for beaches & islands, casinos & resorts, culture & attractions, family travel, luxury & budget, outdoors & parks, romance, sports & leisure, and theme parks.

The Best of Conde Nast Traveler

Gr8List — Tue, 30 May 2006 08:23:34 +0000

America’s Best Beaches 2006

Gr8List — Thu, 25 May 2006 02:18:54 +0000

“Doctor Beach” has released his top-ten list of the best beaches in North America. The winner for 2006 is Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii. Stephen Leatherman is director of Florida International University’s coastal research lab, and has studied beaches for years. Leatherman looks at 50 criteria in his annual survey, which he’s done since 1991.

50 Smart Places to Live

Gr8List — Tue, 09 May 2006 03:07:05 +0000

Kiplinger’s looked for cities with good value in home prices and a reasonable cost of living, combined with a great quality of life. Places where you could buy an attractive house for $300,000 to $400,000 or less. Access to quality health care was also a must, as was a strong economy. Next, they traveled to the cities that bubbled to the top of the list, to speak with residents and savor the flavor of their neighborhoods.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Gr8List — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 10:59:50 +0000

…is Venezuela, not Disneyland. View the proportion of people across the globe who answered the survey question: “Taking all things together, would you say you are: very happy, quite happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?” by stating that they were “Very happy”. Source: the World Values Survey…

Village Voice Best of NYC 2005

Gr8List — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 13:46:43 +0000

Every year, scores of Voice writers cast votes about the top shelf of New York city, in categories they themselves invent. All awards thereby wind up being both entirely subjective and (since nobody votes against them) completely unanimous.

Best Surf Spots Around the World

Gr8List — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:23:30 +0000

Travelocity editors have released the latest list of top wave-catching spots from the U.S. to Europe, while offering beginners the basics of the beach.

Best Places to Retire 2005

Gr8List — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 23:03:18 +0000

With their diversity, thriving street life and plentiful housing, college towns are drawing an increasing number of retirees for whom culture is at least as important as golf. View key retirement stats on more than 1,300 towns in this state by state breakout from CNN/Money.

Conde Nast Traveler Top Cities 2005

Gr8List — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:38:45 +0000

The best cities in the world, as selected by nearly 28,000 Conde Nast Traveler voters. Sydney earns the highest overall rating. Italian cities scored big for Culture/Sites, while ultramodern Dubai dominates for Lodgings. In America, travelers head to Carmel for Ambience, New York for Shopping, and San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and New Orleans for Restaurants.

Best Beaches 2005

Gr8List — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:15:29 +0000

The Travel Channel’s Beach Week expert panel, which consisted of Tim Jarrell of Fodor’s, Dana Dickey of Condé Nast Traveler and Veronica Stoddart of USA Today, combed the globe to pick the best of the best when it comes to U.S. and international beaches.

Outside Online’s Trips of a Lifetime 2006

Gr8List — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 21:44:52 +0000

All it takes is one trip to change your life—and Outside Magazine has 40 of ‘em. Dreaming of close encounters with cheetahs or penguins? Want to climb a mountain in Peru? Experience an epic trek in China? From ancient-trail walking in Utah to jaguar tracking in the Yucatán to elephant trekking in Botswana, there’s a trip of a lifetime here for you.

Top 10 Fiscally Fit Cities

Gr8List — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:30:29 +0000

State Farm Insurance and Sperling’s BestPlaces have released a report of the Top Fiscally Fit Cities. To measure the Fiscal Fitness of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas, BestPlaces used criteria divided into three overarching categories of investment, life insurance coverage and quality of life.

The full report measures citizens in 50 metro areas on total Fiscal Fitness with Salt Lake City topping the list. Fiscal Fitness was defined by investments, quality of life and life insurance coverage. Twenty-seven criteria were analyzed that demonstrate the steps Americans are taking today to prepare for tomorrow.