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Like many measurements such as safety or quality of life, it can be difficult to determine how to measure health. To create this article, we looked at CountyHealthRankings.org, which takes into account over 15 measures to determine what are the most and least healthy parishes in Louisiana. The categories included health outcomes, health factors, clinical care, social & economic factors, and physical environment. Here are their rankings. Avoyelles FamilySearch.org In Avoyelles Parish, 26% of adults are in poor or fair health and 22% of residents are uninsured....

When I think of cozy, several things come to mind: small, comfortable, warm, friendly and pleasant. This one small mountain town in Wyoming embodies all of those attributes. The nearby mountains cradle this little town and keep it safe and sound. The town of Dubois is tucked away and protected by the Wind River Mountain Range to the south and the Absaroka Mountains to the north. Flickr/Alex Proimos This quaint little community lies right along the Wind River....

Do you crave a little more adventure in your life? Maybe you feel overworked and just need to get away for a night or two? If you answered yes to either of these — or are just looking to stay at a beautiful and secluded location — you are going to go crazy for this gorgeous lodge in Colorado that is only accessible by foot: Nestled between Telluride and Silverton lies the serene OPUS Hut; a Alpine Eco-Lodge that promises guests an experience like no other....

One of the most stunningly beautiful buildings in all of Wisconsin is located in Oshkosh. It’s the Grand Opera House. This opera house was built way back in 1883, and its performances have been delighting people ever since. The building did undergo a large restoration back in 2009. But just because it has been restored, it doesn’t mean that it has wiped out its history. You see, this opera house has phantoms....

There are restaurants…and then there’s The Laurel Tree. If you want a place that turns a meal into an experience, look no further. Between a treehouse dining room, acres of beautiful gardens, and amazing Southern-French fusion cuisine, you’ll be kicking yourself for not discovering this gem years ago. It may look like an ordinary restaurant, but The Laurel Tree in the tiny town of Utopia is hiding something amazing… Facebook/The Laurel Tree...

Summer is here and so is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad! Flickr / jpmueller99 This Western Maryland gem has had a rough year due to a landslide that occurred in 2016. It made the usual route to Frostburg impassable, and therefore, had to reroute to a shorter distance. It was recently announced that the landslides are fixed and the full route is once again available, just in time for summer....

Everyone looks for something different when they decide to spend the day outside. Some of us want challenging hikes and rugged cliffs to climb. Others prefer a hot and sandy day at the beach. However, if you’re looking to escape somewhere that feels ripped from a storybook, this spot is just the thing. You can expect beautiful waterfalls and magical meadows at this Massachusetts state park. TripAdvisor/redeco TripAdvisor/A TripAdvisor Member Moore State Park is a 400-acre slice of heaven in the Central Massachusetts....

King Island is a small chunk of land in the Bering Sea just off the western shores of Alaska. The island is only a mile wide with steep cliff faces on all sides. It is just 40 miles off shore from Cape Douglas and only 90 miles from Nome. The history of the village crumbling with the cliffs of this island into the sea is a unique and culturally rich tale....

On this hike, you’ll cross paths with some of the most beautiful architecture in Massachusetts. The Keystone Arches Bridges trail is an easy hike with amazing views of several 19th-century bridges. Located between Chester and Middlefield, this trail is full of gorgeous natural scenery, as well as plenty of photo-worthy vistas and stunning fall foliage. Now is the perfect time to pull your boots on and explore this hidden hiking gem....

If you have ever wanted to experience a great meal while on a train, head to Hood River and take a ride on the Mt. Hood Railroad. This heritage train trip offers several different fun excursions, including The Pullman Table Dinner Trains and Champagne Brunch trips. Running throughout the summer and fall, these trips take you on a scenic journey paired with fine dining for a unique experience that you will not forget....

Virginia’s trails offer some of the best views of the state’s natural landscape. Winding through forests, mountains and valleys, these hikes are unparalleled in beauty. And just like the trails offer diverse views of the state, the trails themselves have wonderful variety. In fact, there’s a fantastic boardwalk trek in Sandbridge that’s perfect just about any time of year. Here’s more on this unique trail: Tucked away on the very southeastern point of Virginia, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a true gem within the greater Virginia Beach Area....

The Ouachita National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in southeastern Oklahoma and into central Arkansas. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Oklahoma and is a must-see destination. You’ll encounter stunning mountain views, picturesque scenery and the perfect setting for outdoor activities. The Ouachita National Forest is located mostly in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Chris Zuniga/Flickr The forest houses the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area located in LeFlore County, Oklahoma....

Nashville has proven to be quite a malleable city in recent years – it’s a space that has held on to its history while welcoming change and millennial rejuvenation with open arms. We have our biscuit houses and our tech start-ups, honkytonks and hit bands at the Ryman. It’s a city that changes well, one that moves forward without forgetting where it’s been. We love Nashville, we love exploring Nashville and came across this EPIC drone tour that not only gives you a birds eye view of Nashville, but also tells you the kinds of places worth visiting, the stunning parts of the city that deserve a bit of extra attention....

Beauty is all around us in Illinois, and most of us are too busy to really notice it. But while you can find beauty pretty much anywhere in Illinois, here are ten spots where the scenery is just gorgeous: Lake Bluff Lucy Gray/Flickr Coastal towns? In Illinois. Well, yeah. This town borders Lake Michigan from the top of a bluff. Herod Anthony George/Flickr Any town that is home to the Shawnee National Forest (Garden of the Gods, specifically) is drop-dead gorgeous....

Sadly, there are many abandoned places in Nevada that nature is reclaiming. Because everything we own came from this earth, it’s only a matter of time before it’ll go back to it. Listed below are 11 photos of abandoned places in Nevada that nature is reclaiming. And even though some of these abandoned places may no longer exist, we’re lucky to have these photos that remind us of how they once looked....

Iowa is such a beautiful state and very underrated. We have so much more than cornfields! These 12 photos taken in Iowa perfectly capture the beauty of our great state. In fact, they are so beautiful, it’s hard to believe they’re real – but they are! This photo of Dubuque captures the charming city and scenic river in one wonderful shot. toddandd/Flickr The vivid colors and perfect contrast make this photo of the pedestrian bridge in Des Moines look almost unreal....

Some of the first thoughts when thinking about Rhode Island involve nature. It is called the Ocean State, after all. Yet for some reason, the wildlife inhabiting this great state is not always at the forefront of discussion. Here are 14 pictures of the amazing wildlife Rhode Island has to offer. This beautiful snow owl was enjoying a beach day when photographed. Flickr/Alicia heane This red fox was photographed at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge....

The Great Depression began in October 1929 with the largest stock market crash America had ever seen. In three days, investors lost $5 billion, and by the end of the year, losses reached $11 billion. By 1933, as many as 13 to 15 million Americans were without work and almost half of the nation’s banks had gone under. For Iowans, the hard times started about 10 years earlier when prices for crops and land dropped, and machinery costs rose to very high levels....

Portlanders may lead the country in recycling, food culture, and keeping things weird, but these are 5 things that residents of our great city were actually the first in the world to create. While the list is not long, the mark on society is significant and lasting. Chainsaw Chains Flickr / Ewen Roberts Portlanders know a thing or two about trees. Back in the heyday of logging, Portland inventor and businessman Joseph Buford Cox invented the chipper type chain for chain saws....

Have you been looking for a fun family oriented activity in New Orleans? Consider a trip out to Coconut Beach. Now located in Kenner, it’s one of the most fun hidden gems in New Orleans when you’re looking to have an exciting night out. Coconut Beach has been a fixture in New Orleans since 1988, when it was located in the West End neighborhood of Lakeview. Facebook.com / coconutbeachla The location was destroyed during Katrina, and initially rebuilt on a much smaller scale....