I've traveled to all 50 states, but there's only one I'd choose to live in every time

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 07:07

Emily, wearing a long-sleeved black shirt, a backpack, and a statement necklace, smiles in front of mountains surrounded by grass and trees. — I've been living in Colorado for 10 years.
Emily Hart

I've traveled to all 50 states solo, but Colorado is the place I chose to live.
I love the diversity of Colorado's landscapes and the opportunities for outdoor activities.
I've also found I have the best quality of life in Colorado.

As a kid growing up in rural Illinois, I dreamed of moving out of the cornfields that I knew and into a big city or far-flung locale. I moved out of state right after grad school, first to Louisiana — which I loved — but with a pull to the West that I couldn't ignore.