We are two weeks into college football season and already it feels like fandom is at an all-time high. USA Today's 10Best recently ranked the top 10 colleges for sports fans and two Florida schools made the list.
"For athletes and non-athletes alike, the college experience — with its mascots, marching bands, and longstanding traditions — often breeds lifelong loyalty in fans," 10Best says.
Typically, colleges recognized in such a fashion are Division 1 schools with passionate sports draws. Their campus has its own massive stadium (or there is one nearby), and various sports programs bring in an extraordinary amount of revenue. Nowadays, with college athletes able to market themselves, star athletes are even more valuable to a college program.
Many of the schools that made 10Best's ranking have key attributes in common. Their football programs draw fans from all over the country. In fact, in some cases, it's standard to see campers, RVs and tents out in their tailgating lots 24 hours before the game starts. In addition, many of these schools have won a national championship within a major sporting program in the past ten years. Furthermore, they've sent countless athletes to the next level to play professionally.
In the states that do not have a professional team within one of the major sports, oftentimes times the major college or university gets all the attention and fandom. It's a way of life.
Florida College Sports Fans
Florida certainly does not have a shortage of great college sports schools. However, the two that made this ranking are rivals in many cases.
University of Florida ranked #4
10Best notes the school's great golf and baseball programs that regularly draw enthusiastic fans to the swamp. Their football program had one of the top players selected in last season's NFL draft, with Anthony Richardson going to the Colts. It doesn't hurt that the Gators are also three-time national champions.
Florida State University ranked #2
Heading north to Tallahassee, Florida State ranked #2 by 10Best in their top colleges for sports fans. "Sports is a way of life on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, particularly during fall football season when thousands of students come out to cheer on the Seminoles," they said. Their football history also includes three national championships. In addition, their softball team has been seeing much success. They recently won a national championship in 2018. The team finished second in 2021 and 2023.
Florida Has One of Most Beautiful Spots for Fall Colors in America
The fall season is a glorious time in America. From coast to coast, many different areas off beautiful fall colors in radiant reds, oranges and yellows. So, what are the most beautiful spots for fall colors in America?
Peak fall foliage season is different based on where you are located. Some areas of the U.S. see fall colors as early as September, while others peak later on, such as in October or even November. Generally speaking, areas with longer winters will have earlies fall colors, and areas with longer summers will have later fall colors. Most of America hits peak fall foliage season in the month of October. Of course, areas bordering Canada will be the first to see those colors.
If you're wondering the science behind the fall colors, the color that the leaves become depends on a few factors. Those include the chlorophyll and weather conditions during the summer or fall. Chlorophyll is a pigment that aids in giving leaves their color. In general, big changes from the norm in precipitation, whether it's getting way too much rain or not enough, can really impact the fall foliage season.
Also, I remember last year, the radiant colors in my area fell off the trees early. The reason was that we had a wind storm come through, so the leaves fell prematurely. I was pretty upset about it, because not only do I like to see beautiful fall colors, I also like to paint fall colors. So, my muse was gone.
That said, if you are in the mood to view fall colors this year, here are some great places to do it. Read on for 10 Beautiful spots in America for fall colors. What are your favorite areas to see fall foliage? Reach out to me on social media here and let me know.
Florida Has One of Most Beautiful Areas in America for Fall Colors
Vogel State Park- Georgia
If you're looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It's a great late-season trip.
Cape May - New Jersey
Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don't miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.
Lamoille Canyon - Nevada
Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.
Traverse City - Michigan
The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.
Torreya State Park - Florida
I know what you're thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn't known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It's worth the road trip, if you live south of there.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Michigan
Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It's beautiful in the fall.
Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia and North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it's a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.
Washington Crossing - Pennsylvania
The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it's the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.
The Great Smoky Mountains - Tennessee and North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.
Lenox - Massachusetts
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It's a nice area if you don't want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it's a bit more off the radar.
