WalletHub is a personal finance website that analyzes and compares various financial products and services, and they also conduct studies and rankings.  They recently  compared all 50 US states based on many metrics to find the most fun, most scenic, many activities and most affordable.   The next four at the top of this list were New York, Ohio, Utah and Louisiana!   Montana, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware were at the bottom.

I haven’t lived in Minnesota for over 40 years but I do go back occasionally.  I was born there, attended school from kindegarten through college there as well. Luckily I also spent many summers at one of the 10,000 lakes.   I left for awhile, once a summer in Europe and another time for a stint in New Mexico.  Each time I returned.  Life changes had me spend 10 years in North Dakota, then 15 years in CA, a little more than a year in Panama and a similar stint on Whidbey Island, WA and then back to California, which ranks quite a ways behind Minnesota, when it comes to affordable and pleasant road trips.  

A friend just back from a visit to the North Shore in MN and multiple State Parks was delighted by how well kept they were.  I lived in Wadena, St. Joseph, St. Paul and Rochester.  I remember the parks, rest-stops and toilets were all pristine even back then.  Not only that but strangers say hello with a smile and are sincere in offers to help when needed!

Pictures featured are from my trip back to MN for my 60th high school reunion.  After a few days in Wadena, I went to Lake Melissa near Detroit Lakes and visited sisters who have cottages there.  What great fun!