Experts ranked U.S. states by which is the most fun. Here's where Kansas ranks.

Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal

People define fun differently.

That's why the WalletHub personal finance website looked at the variety of enjoyable experiences available in each of the 50 U.S. states as it ranked them in order of which are the most fun.

The states that topped the rankings offer various diverse activities considered likely as a whole to excite everyone, from film buffs to those who love athletics and the outdoors, WalletHub said in an article announcing its rankings.

WalletHub outlined 26 metrics it used to determine its rankings as being "key indicators of a jolly good time that won’t break the bank."

Kansas finished 39th in WalletHub's rankings in terms of entertainment and recreation, and 30th in its separate "nightlife" category.

What did the study take into account?

WalletHub said it used 18 metrics to determine its entertainment and recreation rankings.

Those were the following:

  • The presence per capita of restaurants, amusement parks, golf courses and country clubs, movie theaters, arcades, fitness centers, skiing facilities and marinas.

  • The number of attractions.

  • Variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments.

  • Weather.

  • Shoreline mileage.

  • Beach quality.

  • Access to scenic byways.

  • Number of state fairs and events per capita.

  • Access to national parks.

  • Personal spending on recreation services per capita.

  • And state and local direct general expenditures on parks and recreation per capita.

Eight metrics were used to determine nightlife rankings. Those were as follows:

  • Average beer and wine price.

  • Movie costs.

  • Nightlife options per capita.

  • Access to bars.

  • Time of "last call."

  • Music festivals per capita.

  • Performing arts theaters per capita.

  • Casinos per capita.

Which states finished at the top and the bottom overall?

  • The top spot in the rankings went to Florida, which WalletHub said leads the nation in restaurants, amusement parks, arcades and music festivals per capita and has the sixth-best variety of arts, entertainment and recreation options.

  • Finishing second was California, which WalletHub said offers the best beach access, the most scenic byways per capita, the fourth-best weather and a "very high" number of performing-arts establishments and music festivals per capita.

  • Finishing third through 10th respectively, were Nevada, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Minnesota and Louisiana.

  • At the bottom, West Virginia finished 50th while Minnesota ranked 49th, Delaware 48th, Rhode Island 47th and Arkansas 46th.

WalletHub didn't go into detail as to why those states finished at or near the bottom.

Why did Kansas finish 39th in entertainment and recreation?

The information WalletHub released accompanying the rankings shed little light on why Kansas finished the way it did.

WalletHub revealed the top five finishers and bottom five finishers for 11 of the individual metrics it looked at.

Kansas didn't finish in the top five or the bottom five in any of those 11 metrics.

They were as follows:

  • Variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments.

  • Personal expenditures on recreation services per capita.

  • State and local expenditures on parks and recreation per capita.

  • Access to national parks.

  • Presence per capita of restaurants, golf courses and country clubs, movie theaters, fitness centers, skiing facilities, marinas and performing arts theaters.

Kansas appeared to have been among 13 states that didn't receive a ranking in the "skiing facilities per capita" metric.

The bottom state in that category, Kentucky, finished 37th.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here's where Kansas finished in a ranking of which states are most fun

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