Six New York towns and cities were named among the healthiest locations to spend time outdoors this fall, according to a new study.
Trimi, an online weight loss care program, analyzed 60 popular fall destinations across the United States using 12 measures grouped into seven categories, including fall foliage, weather, trail walkability, air quality, outdoor recreation and access to health care.
New York City, Ithaca, Saratoga Springs, New Paltz, Lake Placid and Cooperstown were the six New York locations included in the study. New York City ranked No. 3 overall, while Ithaca landed at No. 17.
Here's a look at the New York locations that made the list.
What are the six healthiest locations to visit in New York this fall?
- New York City: No. 3, with a health score of 62.5, 196 trail miles and 71.9% of adults active.
- Ithaca: No. 17, with a health score of 55.0, 230 trail miles and 82.6% of adults active.
- Saratoga Springs: No. 27, with a health score of 52.2, 243 trail miles and 81.8% of adults active.
- New Paltz: No. 29, with a health score of 51.6, 152 trail miles and 78.5% of adults active.
- Lake Placid: No. 35, with a health score of 50.1, 655 trail miles and 77.4% of adults active.
- Cooperstown: No. 41, with a health score of 47.8, 34 trail miles and 79% of adults active.
Major metropolitan areas made up just six of the top 25 destinations. The other 19 were small cities
and towns, with 13 having populations of fewer than 50,000 people.
New York City had more mapped parks within 15 miles of its center than any other destination in the study, with 2,537 parks. According to Trimi, the city's crispest and coolest fall days typically occur between Oct. 2 and Nov. 20.
In Cooperstown, 41% of adults walk or bike to work, according to the study, which used U.S. Census and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
How did Trimi rank the fall destinations?
Trimi's rankings were based on 12 measures grouped into seven weighted categories to create a Healthy Fall Score from 0 to 100.
Fall color and season length accounted for 25% of the score, while trails, parks and outdoor recreation accounted for another 25%. The remaining categories — everyday wellness amenities, walkability and active commuting, air quality, resident physical activity, and preventive and primary care access — each accounted for 10%.
The study used data from sources including the U.S. Census, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, OpenStreetMap, CDC PLACES and Yelp.
Trimi measured trail, bike-path and park access within 15 miles of each destination's center. Fall foliage was based on the share of land within that area covered by deciduous or mixed forest.
The measures were combined into an overall Healthy Fall Score. Trimi said a destination would receive a score of 100 only if it led every category.
The ranking is limited to the 60 destinations selected for the study and is intended to measure factors that can make it easier to spend time outdoors during the fall, rather than the overall health of residents.
How to pick the ideal fall destination
The study recommends considering several factors when choosing a destination for outdoor activities this fall:
- Locations with more days of better air quality and longer stretches of mild temperatures may offer more opportunities to comfortably walk or explore outdoors. Air quality and temperature can change daily, so check conditions before heading outside.
- Walkable streets, nearby parks, bike paths and accessible trails can make physical activity part of your day without requiring a scheduled workout.
- Look for amenities such as healthy food options, fitness facilities and access to medical care when choosing a destination.
Top 20 healthiest fall locations to visit in the U.S.
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Washington, D.C.
- New York, New York
- Denver, Colorado
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Burlington, Vermont
- Salem, Massachusetts
- Boone, North Carolina
- Marquette, Michigan
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Aspen, Colorado
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Traverse City, Michigan
- Park City, Utah
- Stowe, Vermont
- Portland, Maine
- Ithaca, New York
- Hanover, New Hampshire
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Salt Lake City, Utah
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 6 New York destinations named healthiest fall getaways
