This Is the Happiest State in the U.S. — and It Has Amazing Beaches, Too

If all goes according to plan, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) may soon go from worst to first in nationwide rankings.

Oct 17, 2024 • 5 min read

Hawaii recently took the top spot in a ranking of the happiest states in the US to live in — and it's also long been a favorite vacation spot for my family.

Since earning AAdvantage Executive Platinum status with American Airlines AAdvantage in 2016, I've continued to qualify for AAdvantage Platinum Pro or higher status with the program each year. After all, I enjoy selecting Main Cabin Extra seating at booking, believe American miles still hold excellent value, appreciate earning miles through Bask Bank and love having Oneworld Emerald status. I also occasionally get a complimentary upgrade when flying within North America, although these have dwindled in frequency over the years.

Delta Air Lines has announced that its newest premium lounge will be located at its Mountain West hub, where the carrier is boosting international service over the next year.  Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is slated to receive a Delta One lounge, as confirmed by an airline spokesperson to T+L. While the exact opening date hasn’t been shared just yet, this marks the airline's fifth Delta One lounge in the country. A step above the existing network of Delta Sky Clubs, the Delta One lounges are exclusively available to long-haul business or first-class passengers.

Airbnb compiled its report of the most wish-listed stays in every US state so it’s time for a road trip with some epic accommodations. This road trip that connects the most wish-listed Midwest Airbnbs starts in North Dakota and heads south before turning north again and then back south, a rollercoaster of a road trip that’s even better than the crazy rides at Cedar Point.

My dad is from a small town in Massachusetts and has never been much for travel, but his eyes lit up like a child’s when I told him I was headed to Stuttgart, the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg in the Swabian region of southwestern Germany. A lifelong car buff, pop knew Stuttgart as the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Driving me to the airport, he gushed about the legendary car museums in his coarse Boston accent: “Christalmighty, Johnny Boy, you’ll see the most gawgeous Muhcedes and Pawsches evah made!” I could only imagine otherwise-polite Germans shuddering at his pronunciation of their cherished automobile brands (but I kept that to myself).

While loyalty program changes are often synonymous with devaluations, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan plans to reward its most loyal members in the new year by adding more ways to earn perks than ever before. 

Alaska Airlines is planning a major overhaul to its Mileage Plan program for 2025.

American Cruise Lines is building two new coastal ships: American Maverick and American Ranger.

One of the challenges of living in a prominent transit hub like New York City can be navigating your way to and from its airports.

I pulled my suitcase through the elegant front doors of The Inn at St. John, weary from hours of travel from Connecticut to Portland, Maine.