Pennsylvania, New Jersey ‘Burbs Named the Best in America

If you're thinking of starting a life in a new city and want to know of some fantastic Pennsylvania and New Jersey 'burbs to set up shop, you're likely going to want a welcoming town with a reasonable cost of living and, of course, a high level of safety. Thankfully, there are plenty of welcoming areas across America, so whether you want to live close to where you're from or venture out, you have options. Now, some Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas and 'burbs have been named the best in America for starting a life by experts.

The experts at Money have put together a tally of the finest places to live in America. "This year's Best Places to Live list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life," they state, adding that, "Instead of using a predetermined dataset to whittle thousands of American cities down to a 'winning' 50, we crafted our list from the ground up through meticulous research and in-depth reporting — paying special attention to those deeply invested in the livability, equity and sustainability of their communities. We asked readers for suggestions, too, in a newsletter poll that produced hundreds of responses."

During the vetting process, Money did their research and compared each city, town and neighborhood on their roster of contenders against various metrics, including the health of the local job market; the average housing costs borne by homeowners and renters; the quality of public schools; and more. So, if you're looking for places that are projected to be great areas to live in the future, this is the tally for you. They also said they used a "holistic" approach, because they know some wonderful benefits of living in certain places can't be counted on metrics.

The Pennsylvania areas that made the cut include Media, which they describes as a walkable 'burb, and Lancaster, which they call a "suddenly hip city" that "still has a timeless charm." For New Jersey, they rave about Metuchen, which they boast has easy access to New York City, good schools and a vibrant main street. "We envision a welcoming, walkable, and inclusive downtown. Engaging public art, entertainment, and recreation abound throughout our historic and vibrant downtown," the Meutchen folks state on their city site. Those are the Pennsylvania and New Jersey cities that made the cut.

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don't have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It's pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it's "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it's, "a vacation spent at home or nearby." I think it's a stretch to call any vacation that's spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a "staycation." It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have "be a tourist in your own town" activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren't allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the "staycation phenomenon" that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed "Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes," is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you're at your destination. What's more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you've never experienced before. I've had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it'll be cozy and comfy.

If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don't have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you've never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

If you've driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it's like inside, why not book it for a night? You don't have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It'll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you're saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It's not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It'll make for a day of bliss.