“As a strong cold front moves through, the jet stream will quickly sink out of Canada and well south of the region, allowing polar air to spill southward and eastward,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike LeSeney explained.
AccuWeather Global Weather Center – October 24, 2022 –A potent storm has started a big change for many in the western United States, bringing cold air and the first accumulating snow of the season for many spots.
In recent days, much of the Northwest and northern Rockies have felt more like late summer rather than autumn. This past Thursday, temperatures reached the 70s Fahrenheit in Spokane, Washington and soared to around 80 degrees in cities like Bend, Oregon, and Reno, Nevada, temperatures that are more than 15 degrees above normal for October.
Following the warmth, chill has swept the area.
The arrival of this storm sent temperatures plunging for the start of the past weekend across the Northwest. High temperatures were in the 40s and 50s through Sunday. Conditions deteriorated Saturday night and, by Sunday morning, snow stretched from Canada to Utah and Colorado.
“The storm is forecast to strengthen early week, allowing for snow to fill in and for strong winds to develop,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
As colder air packed with this moisture from the Pacific rolls southeastward over the Rockies and helps to fuel the storm over the Plains, freezing levels will lower over the mountainous terrain. This drop in temperature will allow rain to change to snow over the ridges and peaks and intermediate elevations through Monday.
As of Sunday evening, the highest snow total came from the mountains around Alta, Utah, which recorded 20 inches. Several other mountain locations reported over a foot of snow including Brighton, Utah, and Big Sky, Montana.
The stormy weather will come with some notable hazards, especially for travel. Motorists should expect delays along with the possibility of road closures, including portions of interstates 70, 80, 90 and 94 and possibly along a stretch of Canada’s Highway 1 in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan due to the snow.
This could be especially true across the lower elevations of the northern Plains. While the amount of snow may be limited, a narrow area of heavy snow is likely. Blizzard conditions may occur in a part of this region where high winds combine with snow to reduce the visibility to 1/4 mile or less.
DENVER –The Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) is urging the community to be vigilant regarding another telephone impersonation scam. The impersonator in the most recent cases is using real names and ranks of current DSD sworn personnel. It has been reported that the impersonator will tell the victim they were served a subpoena and failed to appear in court resulting in a fine, and they are subject to arrest if they do not comply and send money via Venmo or CashApp. The victim is then instructed not to speak about the case as there is a gag order issued from the judge. They additionally demanded a signature and a “signature verification fee” from the victim.
A Denver Deputy Sheriff will never request payment for not appearing in court, nor make contact by phone. A Deputy Sheriff would never suggest a member of the public meet someone on the street to pay cash or send money via Venmo or CashApp for not appearing in court. We encourage the community to be aware of these recent fraudulent activities and alert family members and friends.
If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be a Denver Deputy Sheriff, please report the information to your local police department and use the link following to notify the Colorado State Attorney General’s Office of the activity: https://www.stopfraudcolorado.gov/, or call the Denver DA’s Fraud Hotline 720-913-9179.
DENVER (Oct. 19, 2022) — The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime and report negative impacts such as injury, fear, concern for safety, and needing services.
Two of the most common uncertainties survivors face are regarding finances and animal companions. The Domestic Violence Program (DVP) under CDHS’s Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) is working on two new initiatives, the Flex Funds Project and the Animal Companion Support Project, to help address these challenges. Both programs are funded by State And Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) as a result of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
“Domestic violence doesn’t always leave visible injury. It can also harm the survivor’s credit and financial security, as well as their mental and emotional state,” said OCYF Director Minna Castillo Cohen. “We know that financial and housing support are essential to harm reduction.”
The Flex Funds Project, launched on Sept. 1, helps assist survivors with immediate financial needs such as rent, mortgage assistance and transportation. In the first month of the project, 41 applications were approved for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The average amount of assistance per application was $728.45, distributed by 38 participating crisis intervention organizations statewide.
The Animal Companion Support Project, which also kicked off in September, uses SLFRF dollars in partnership with RedRover organizations to help equip anti-domestic violence organizations to tend to the safety needs of survivors’ pets. DVP is also partnering with Violence Free Coloradoand the founder of Saf-T to further help support survivors’ animal companions. The program also includes outreach with the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection.
“The pets of domestic violence survivors are all too often secondary targets for abuse, and we want to keep survivors and their pets safe,” said Castillo Cohen. “If we can remove one more logistical barrier, survivors can better navigate their safety.”
Domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence (IPV), can take on many forms. It is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse (using money and financial tools to exert control). Domestic violence can affect and impact a survivor’s thoughts, behaviors and mental stability. Ripple effects commonly observed among survivors of domestic violence include increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression.
Free and confidential help is available 24/7 for individuals experiencing domestic violence. Those seeking help may contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at TheHotline.org or 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or access Colorado information from Violence Free Colorado.
If you or someone you know is using abusive behavior, you can call the A Call for Change Helpline at 877.898.3411 to talk to someone about the behavior and local resources.
The Office of Children, Youth and Families is responsible for the coordination of quality and effective services for Colorado’s most vulnerable children, youth and their families. The office supervises the Division of Community Programs, which includes the Domestic Violence Program.
Weeklong Celebration Chock Full of Virtual Learning and Fun Activities for All Families, Volunteers and Professionals Who Support Youth Sports
National Youth Sports Week Will Culminate with an In-Person ‘Play Day’ in Atlanta, Hosted by
Olympic Champion Sanya Richards-Ross
Oct. 21, 2022 – Honoring young athletes and the organizations that serve them, the National Council of Youth Sports – through a collaboration with youth sports technology leader, SportsEngine – will host National Youth Sports Week, Oct. 24-29, dedicated to educating and inspiring parents, coaches, volunteers, and administrators.
The six-day celebration will incorporate both virtual and live events, which will promote topics including the importance of child safety, excellence in coaching, and health & wellness. Each day will be themed with content and activities presented in partnership with NBC Sports Next’s SportsEngine, TrueSport, Positive Coaching Alliance, National Center for Safety Initiatives, and LakePoint Sports. The event is free and open to the public.
“National Youth Sports Week is an unprecedented initiative to Mobilize our country in collective impact, Engage more young people physically, and Communicate youth sports benefits and how they help to create a healthier society,” said Wayne Moss, National Council of Youth Sports Executive Director. “Safety is foundational to the youth sports experience and protecting young people should be our collective top priority.”
National Youth Sports Week agenda includes both virtual and live events, including learning webinars, award nominations, tip sessions for coaches & administrators, ideas & checklists for families, and participation activities. Additionally, SportsEngine will host a special edition of For the Love of Sport podcast focusing on information and resources about keeping young athletes safe.
Monday, Oct. 24
NCYS will kick off the week’s activities by sharing insight and information about the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports. Attendees will be encouraged to share what they have learned on social media, using the hashtag #nationalyouthsportsweek.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Coaches Day by Positive Coaching Alliance will provide tips about how to be an effective coach, as well as opportunities to sign up as a volunteer. Also offered will be a coaching webinar, titled “Develop Winners in Life Through Sports,” as well as access to select courses within the PCA’s curriculum. Training also will be made available courtesy of the CoachSafely Foundation.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Athlete Health & Wellness Day by TrueSport will highlight tools, resources and content that support a healthy athlete in body and mind. Learn about nutrition and habits that promote good mental health.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Sport Safety Day by NCSI (National Center for Safety Initiatives) will promote the importance of safety on and off the field through background screening, abuse prevention and training, concussion awareness, and more. The day will culminate with a live webinar, bringing industry leaders from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, USA Lacrosse, and USA Artistic Swimming to discuss The Future of Safety (in youth sports). The panel will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Registration is open to all organizations, administrators, volunteers, coaches, and parents.
Friday, Oct. 28
Spirit Day by SportsEngine provides an opportunity for athletes, coaches and parents to win prizes by showing their team pride by wearing their team jerseys or spirit wear and sharing it on social media. Also, they can learn about some of sports’ greatest traditions and how to create their own.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Play Day by NCYS invites youth sports enthusiasts in the greater Atlanta area for an in-person experience at the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus in Emerson, Ga. The day will be hosted by Olympic Champion sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross and will offer participation activities for young athletes and their families in basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and futsol. Joining Richards-Ross will be members from the Harlem Globetrotters and Freddie Falcon from the Atlanta Falcons NFL team. Richards-Ross also will host an autograph session.
For more information on National Youth Sports Week and to register for various activities throughout the week, visit the event schedule on the SportsEngine website.
About National Council for Youth Sports
The mission of NCYS is to improve the safety and quality of all youth sports organizations through curating and disseminating credible resources. NCYS members comprise many of the Who’s Who in the youth sports industry. The NCYS membership includes national community-based organizations, local unaffiliated community-based organizations, National Governing Bodies, Parks & Recreation Departments and Destination Marketing Organizations. NCYS member organizations serve some 60 million youth registered in organized sports programs in every state and U.S. Territory. Learn more at https://www.ncys.org.
About NBC Sports Next
NBC Sports Next is a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming. NBC Sports Next, known for its sports technology product innovation, equips more than 30MM players, coaches, athletes, sports administrators and fans in 40 countries with more than 25 sports solution products, including SportsEngine, a youth sports club, league and team management platform; GolfNow, the leading online tee time marketplace and provider of golf course operations technology and services; GolfPass the ultimate golf membership that connects golfers to exclusive content, tee time credits, coaching, tips and other benefits; TeamUnify, swim team management services; GoMotion, sports and fitness business software solutions; and NBC Sports Edge, a leading platform for fantasy sports information and betting-focused tools. NBC Sports Next is fueled by its mission to innovate, create larger-than-life events and connect with sports fans through technology to provide the ultimate in immersive experiences.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO—Oct. 21, 2022—Kids and families are in for a day of safe trick-or-treating, games and activities as part of Treat Street presented by Orchard at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Attendees wearing a Halloween costume get in free; otherwise, tickets are $10 per person. Kids 2 and under get in free.
In addition to trick-or-treating stations, the Fairgrounds will offer an animal petting farm, live entertainment, costume contests, pumpkin painting, and food trucks. Also on deck are Hallo-weenie Races, where Dachshunds will race for a chance to win prizes for themselves and their owners.
Who: Arapahoe County
What: Treat Street presented by Orchard
When: Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Hallo-Weenie Races begin at 2:30 p.m.
Where: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center
25690 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora, CO 80016
Photo
Opportunities: Kids and adults in Halloween costumes (all day)
Hallo-Weenie Races (dogs and owners may be in costume) @ 2:30 p.m.
As cold air and surging warmth collide, a whopper of a storm system will unleash a variety of travel-disrupting weather impacts such as heavy snow, severe weather and winds up to 90 mph across the nation’s midsection.
AccuWeather Global Weather Center – October 20, 2022 – A substantial flip-flop in the weather pattern will allow a major storm to unfold smack dab in the middle of the United States this weekend and persist into early next week. The storm’s variety of adverse weather conditions could lead to a multitude of travel problems and will pose some risk to lives and property from the Rockies to the Great Plains, AccuWeather meteorologists warn.
Everything from strong, dry winds to severe thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain, hail and even tornadoes will erupt in the southeastern zone of the developing storm where warmer air will be in place. However, on the storm’s northwestern flank, the combination of plunging temperatures, heavy snow and gusty winds may produce localized blizzard conditions.
A strong warming trend will accelerate well ahead of the developing storm over the Plains and Midwest into this weekend and in the wake of abnormally cold weather that made it feel like winter this week. A temperature rise of 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit will occur over a matter of a few days.
Strong winds to roar from Arizona to Minnesota
“The warmup will be accompanied by gusty south-to-southwest winds that will raise the risk of wildfire ignition and rapid spread,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. “The winds can also kick up dust from the deserts and blow it hundreds of miles to the Great Plains.”
The strongest winds will develop as colder air from the Northwest begins to catch up with the warmth from the Southwest states to portions of the central and southern Plains by Sunday and Sunday night.
“In the zone from northeastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas to southeastern Colorado and central Kansas, frequent gusts will range from 60-80 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 90 mph,” Anderson said. At this intensity, trucks can be flipped over, property damage can occur and power lines may come down.
Violent thunderstorms to strike at night
The same clash of warm and cold air combined with surging moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and a strong jet stream overhead will trigger severe thunderstorms from portions of the central Plains to the Upper Midwest late Sunday afternoon to Sunday night.
“The thunderstorm threat includes the full spectrum of severe weather ranging from localized flash flooding and large hail to the likelihood of powerful wind gusts and the potential for a few tornadoes,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said.
High winds will be the most common threat from the storms, and gusts could approach 100 mph in some cases. Forecasters say there is a heightened risk with this incoming storm system because the majority of the storms may occur toward sunset and after dark Sunday night when they may be difficult to spot in advance.
The zone AccuWeather meteorologists have outlined as the greatest risk for severe weather extends from northeastern Kansas and northern Missouri to southern Minnesota.
Winds, snow could create blizzard conditions
As colder air packed with moisture from the Pacific rolls southeastward over the Rockies and helps to fuel the storm over the Plains, freezing levels will lower over the mountainous terrain to the point where snow works its way down from the ridges and peaks to intermediate levels from Saturday night to Monday.
Enough cold air and moisture are likely to be present to bring a general 6-12 inches of snow with local amounts to 30 inches in portions of the Wasatch in Utah, the Rockies in Colorado, the Tetons in Wyoming and the Sawtooth Range in Idaho.
Denver, Colo. – This week, Colorado County Clerks will begin mailing ballots to active eligible voters for the November 8 General Election.
“Colorado voters should start checking their mailboxes for their 2022 General Election Ballot,” said Secretary Griswold. “I encourage every eligible Coloradan who has not yet registered to vote do so, there is still time!”
County Clerks must mail ballots to voters by October 21st for the General Election. Registered voters who do not receive a ballot should contact their County Clerk.
Eligible Coloradans can still register to vote and update their voter registration at GoVoteColorado.gov through October 31st in order to receive a ballot in the mail. After October 31st, Coloradans can still register to vote, receive a ballot, and vote in person at a voting center until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Important information for Colorado voters:
All Colorado voters can sign up to track their ballot from sent to counted using BallotTrax.
Eligible voters who wish to mail back their voted ballot should do so by October 31st to ensure it is received by their county election official by November 8th. After October 31st voters should return their ballot to a drop box or voting center.
Early voting begins on October 24th. Some locations will open earlier, with 411 drop boxes and over 350 voting centers available this year, voters can look up the closest locations, opening date, and hours at GoVoteColorado.gov.
In person voting on Election Day, Tuesday November 8th, will be available from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Eligible voters must have returned their ballot to a drop box or voting center by 7 p.m. on Election Day, or be in line to vote by 7 p.m. on Election Day for their ballot to be counted. Ballots cast by military and overseas voters must be sent no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by close of business on the 8th day after the election (November 16).
It’s the time of year when we’re layering on sweaters and blankets, and to celebrate the winter season, the dating reviews website MyDatingAdviser.com has ranked the coziest small towns in the USA.
These Colorado towns are considered the coziest: Breckenridge (ranked No. 5 coziest in the nation), Leadville (12th), Silverton (13th), Telluride (17th), Snowmass (26th), Steamboat Springs (63rd), Mancos (83rd), Aspen (86th) and Salida (103).
To determine the coziest small towns in America, MyDatingAdviser compared 170 well-known small towns across the country on ten key metrics.
They looked into winter temperature, average snowfall, cafes, bakeries, crafts, and bookshops, among other indicators of a cozy small town. By analyzing the data points, each town has been given a ‘Cozy Town Index Score,’ representing the level of coziness you might experience in that small town.
If you’re in the mood for cozy towns to get into the winter spirit, here are some of the best small towns across the country to visit for some serious winter comfort.
Here are the 9 coziest towns in Colorado:
Breckenridge
You’ll find stunning Colorado mountain vistas year-round in this former gold rush town. In winter, powder hounds flock to Breckenridge’s ski resorts to shred powder. Once the weather warms up, outdoor pursuits like hiking and biking the Vail Pass Path and Boreas Pass Road become the main things to do. Regardless of the visit, you’ll discover plenty of breweries and distilleries to unwind after a busy day.
Rank: #5 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 24.5 °F, Winter Season: 4.1 months, Snowfall: 300 inches, Days Below Freezing: 252.8
Leadville
At around 10,000 feet, the country’s highest-elevation incorporated city—a former mining town that during the late 19th century had Colorado’s second largest population behind Denver—boasts all the goods for foodies and beverage snobs (including a brewery) and is a popular training spot for runners.
Rank: #12 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 17.5 °F, Winter Season: 4 months, Snowfall: 142.7 inches, Days Below Freezing: 254.9
Silverton
When prospectors headed west in search of precious minerals in the mountains, Silverton was established in 1874. As its name implies, silver was plentiful in the San Juan Mountains, where the small town is found. Although the mining camps are long gone, and the last mines closed in the 1990s, 630 people remain in the city, filled with its original architectural combination of saloons and churches—fun fact: Silverton is 9,318 feet above sea level.
Rank: #13 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 16 °F, Winter Season: 3.1 months, Snowfall: 173 inches, Days Below Freezing: 263.1
Telluride
With its pristine snow and quirky mountain town vibe, it’s no secret that Telluride is a cold-weather paradise for downhill skiing and other winter adventures. But the mountain town also shines during the spring and summer, whether you’re looking for bluegrass and film festivals or vibrant wildflower hikes. In addition to outdoor recreation, downtown Telluride is home to art galleries and independently owned shops selling perfect souvenirs, like belts and wallets at Crossbow Leather and your next favorite plane read at Between the Covers Bookstore.
Rank: #17 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 21 °F, Winter Season: 3.5 months, Snowfall: 167.2 inches, Days Below Freezing: 259.7
Snowmass
Skiers and mountain bikers love this tiny town but so do spa and dining enthusiasts, who can be kept busy for days thanks to resorts like the Westin Snowmass Resort and Viceroy Snowmass. In addition, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is an enclave for artists through its artist-in-residence program and hosts workshops, programs, and events.
Rank: #26 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 21.5 °F, Winter Season: 3.5 months, Snowfall: 191.3 inches, Days Below Freezing: 210.3
Steamboat Springs
Situated along the banks of the Yampa River, this northern Colorado town offers excellent skiing conditions, a community of friendly locals, and geothermal hot springs that are perfect after a long day spent on the slopes. Travel to Steamboat in the fall for brilliant foliage in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, or visit in the spring to see the cascades at Fish Creek Falls. Meanwhile, the whole family will enjoy rafting down the Yampa River.
Rank: #63 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 17.5 °F, Winter Season: 3.3 months, Snowfall: 184.5 inches, Days Below Freezing: 216
Mancos
Ranches, artist workshops, and nature coexist perfectly in beautiful Mancos. Stay at a ranch, enjoy outdoor activities at Mesa Verde National Park, or stroll through the town’s Creative District. Fun fact: Mancos has several Ancient Puebloan archaeological sites.
Rank: #83 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 27 °F, Winter Season: 3.1 months, Snowfall: 66.9 inches, Days Below Freezing: 174.2
Aspen
Aspen’s ski slopes bring in the masses as soon as the snow starts falling, a small town with a giant reputation. However, Aspen’s charm is seasonless, as its location in the Rocky Mountains guarantees year-round trails and hikes. Although the town had an affair with counter-culture back in the day, it now draws in those seeking pampering in the form of sophisticated cuisine and luxe lodging.
Rank: #86 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 23 °F, Winter Season: 3.5 months, Snowfall: 179 inches, Days Below Freezing: 14
Salida
What do you get when your town is home to FIBArk, the country’s oldest and biggest white water festival? A bunch of former river guides are running things. “We’re everywhere,” jokes Mike “Diesel” Post, Salida’s Director of Parks and Recreation, who says the Arkansas River is central to town life. “You can ski Monarch Mountain, then kayak, and have time left for mountain biking,” adds mayor emeritus P.T. Wood, who is—you guessed it—also a former guide. More of an artsy soul? Salida is also home to Colorado’s first Creative District, with many artist-owned galleries to visit.
Rank: #103 out of 170 cities
Average Winter Temperature: 27.5 °F, Winter Season: 3.2 months, Snowfall: 43 inches, Days Below Freezing: 204.6
“We’ve swept the country to find some of the coziest towns in America for a winter weekend escape. Whether you’re looking for a ski lover’s paradise, a historic spot that’s still near a major metropolis, or a remote waterfront retreat, you’ll find it on this list.
Winter can seem like a never-ending season dampened by drizzly weather, cold temperatures, and dark nights that can leave you in a miserable mood to match. Combat the seasonal blues by visiting some of the coziest small towns on this list, which can provide sanctuary and warmth while winter rages on outside.
I encourage everyone to indulge in some cozy things. Drink hot chocolate, sit by a fireplace, read a book, enjoy warm meals, and curl up with someone special under a warm blanket.”
What is Hygge?
Interestingly, the act of taking pleasure and contentment from a cozy environment is known as ‘hygge’ – a term coined by the Danes. Hygge is a central part of Danish culture, which perhaps explains why the Danes are some of the happiest people in the world.
5 ways to stay cozy this winter
1. Get your hygge on. Hygge is a Danish term that describes a general feeling of coziness, comfort, familiarity, and well-being. Danes embrace hygge all year and appreciate life’s simple pleasures like a scented candle, a good book, and a blanket.
2. Cook up some comfort food. Warming yourself from the inside out is a great excuse to whip up some winter classics. Soups, casseroles, and curries are hearty favorites for a reason and are sure to be a hit with the whole family.
3. Heat the hub. If you live in a place that’s cold enough to run a heater, think about the areas of the house that need to be kept warm and set the space up to capture the heat. Close the doors to rooms you’re not using and, if you’re able to, install unique purpose-built windows and door seals to stop the hot air escaping.
4. Out with the old. With the weather so uninviting outside, take advantage of the warmth inside and use your extra time indoors to do a spring clean of your wardrobe. Pull out any clothes that don’t fit well or that you haven’t worn in a while.
5. Soak those winter blues away. If all else fails, retreat to the bathroom and run yourself a warm bath. It may not quite get you through to September, but it’ll help warm you up!
Methodology:
To determine the coziest small towns in the nation, MyDatingAdviser.com compared 170 well-known small towns across the following categories: 1) Weather, 2) Food, and 3) Activities.
They then evaluated each area using 10 data points of cozy town friendliness—like average winter temperature, snowfall, cafes, bakeries, and craft shops.
For more information, please contact Amy Pritchett ().
MyDatingAdviser.com is a US dating website committed to offering singles advice and reviews. Amy Pritchett started her website in March 2019 and is passionate about providing people with love and relationship advice.
We compared the 200 biggest cities based on 18 metrics. We looked for cities with plenty of candy, cookie, chocolate, and dessert shops. We also considered the number of baking classes, and local winners of national and global pastry, pie, and baking competitions.
Check out the 10 sweetest (and 10 least sweet) cities below, followed by key insights from our report. (See where your city ranks.)
Best Cities for Sweet Tooths
Rank
City
1
Miami, FL
2
Garden Grove, CA
3
San Francisco, CA
4
Jersey City, NJ
5
New York, NY
6
Alexandria, VA
7
Seattle, WA
8
Pasadena, CA
9
Fullerton, CA
10
Las Vegas, NV
Worst Cities for Sweet Tooths
Rank
City
1
Macon, GA
2
Columbus, GA
3
Clarksville, TN
4
Fayetteville, NC
5
Sioux Falls, SD
6
Midland, TX
7
Port St. Lucie, FL
8
Brownsville, TX
9
Lubbock, TX
10
Surprise, AZ
Key insights:
Florida fare: Miami takes the cake at No. 1 overall, with the most dessert, ice cream, and gelato shops per square mile in our ranking. The Magic City has plenty of other magical treats to try, with a top-three ranking in half of all the Access factors and a second-place rank for recent National Pie Championships.
Other Sunshine State cities landed in the top 20, including Fort Lauderdale (No. 16), Hollywood (No. 18), Hialeah (No. 19), and Pembroke Pines (No. 20). Abundant ice cream and gelato shops help keep folks in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale cool. Meanwhile, cakes and cupcakes are more popular fare in Hialeah and Pembroke Pines.
California sugar rush: Four Cali cities rose into the top 10, starting with Garden Grove at No. 2. You don’t have to travel far for sweets in Garden Grove, which has the most cupcake, cake, and candy shops per square mile.
If you’re after high quality, our bronze medalist (and home to Ghirardelli), San Francisco, is the place to be. San Fran brings home first place in Quality, with multiple nationally recognized chocolatiers, bakers, and pastry chefs working in the city. Los Angeles (No. 15) also impresses in Quality (No. 8) and Community (No. 6). LA suburbs Pasadena (No. 8) and Fullerton (No. 9) delight dessert lovers with plenty of doughnut shops, cake shops, and pâtisseries.
Southern sweets: Spread-out Southern cities like Atlanta (No. 29), Dallas (No. 37), and Austin (No. 40) deserve a shout-out. With these cities’ sprawl, you might need to drive across town for dessert — but it’s probably worth it. The James Beard Foundation recently awarded several dessert makers in these cities, and The International Chocolate Salon recognized chocolatiers in Austin and Dallas.
Unfortunately, some Southern cities crumbled in our ranking, with Georgia cities Macon and Columbus dropping to the very bottom. These smaller cities have little access to and demand for delicious desserts, as demonstrated by low Google search interest for sweets-related terms.
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,614 bear reports from April 1 through Oct. 1, 2022, an increase from the 3,155 reports over the same timeframe the previous year. That number is growing as bears are now in hyperphagia, the period when they are preparing to den for winter and spend up to 20 hours a day on the hunt for 20,000 or more daily calories.
Most of the reports involve bears trying to access human food sources and CPW is calling on residents to remove attractants to reduce conflicts and keep you and the bears safe.
“Bears are biologically driven to pack on calories in preparation for winter and they spend increasing amounts of time looking for the most efficient way to get food,” said Area 8 Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita, whose region includes Eagle and Pitkin counties. “Residents must realize it is their responsibility to secure their trash, remove other food attractants such as bird feeders, and protect backyard livestock with appropriate electric fencing to avoid conflicts that arise from attracting bears to homes.”
Bear reports are up statewide in 2022, and there are some areas of concern. CPW’s bear report numbers since the start of hyperphagia indicate the Aspen area is seeing more bear calls this year compared to the last two.
Bear reports received, Aug. 1 – Sept. 30: 2020: 1,698 statewide | 242 for Area 8 (Includes Aspen) 2021: 887 statewide | 224 for Area 8 2022: 1,571 statewide | 403 for Area 8
“As usual, trash continues to be the number one attractant leading to reports this year,” Yamashita said. “The solution to controlling these artificial food sources is simple and the ability lies within the decision space of local residents and visitors. Without a change in human behaviors there is not likely to be a significant reduction in conflicts.”
CPW promotes Bear Aware principles all year long, aiming to minimize interactions that put both humans and bears at risk. Being “Bear Aware” includes easy-to-execute behaviors such as securing trash cans and dumpsters, removing bird feeders, closing garages, cleaning and locking your car and house doors and calling CPW when bears become a nuisance. When you call to report a bear coming near your home, CPW can give you tips tailored to your situation to prevent them from coming around in the future.
Drought conditions and other factors that may influence the availability of natural food crops for bears varies across the state, as does the behavior of people when it relates to human-bear interactions. Those all play a role in the bear activity that we see annually. Below is a localized perspective on current bear activity across the state.
Area 1 – Clear Creek, Gilpin, Park and west side of Jefferson counties “In Area 1, we had a good spring with moisture, and didn’t have the hard freeze other places had. Summer was good and had ample precipitation and the vegetation responded favorably. There were places with bumper crops of chokecherries and you would think bear-human conflicts would be down, but unfortunately that was not the case.
“We continue to have issues with hobby livestock operations, mostly chickens, ducks and turkeys left unprotected. A lack of Bear Aware knowledge led to most of the conflicts we saw this year and continuing to spread awareness of best practices in bear country is vital to reducing conflicts. A few people were cited for intentionally luring bears (aka feeding). This is probably one of the most selfish acts people can do to bears. It impacts their neighbors and, most importantly, influences and changes bear behavior.
“Break-ins to unoccupied cabins and houses were way up in Area 1 and wildlife managers are trying to figure out why. It seems some rural/foothills bears have been habituated to living near humans who are not bear-wise. These bears’ behavior has progressed from wandering near homes, getting into trash/bird feeders, then going on decks to find more bird feeders/pet food, to becoming more habituated and entering houses. Fortunately, most houses that they have broken into have been unoccupied, but it is still a concerning trend.” ~ Mark Lamb, Area 1 Wildlife Manager
Area 2 – Boulder County, Broomfield, the southern portion of Larimer County including Loveland, portions of southwestern Weld County “Human-bear interactions have been high this year in Area 2. Trash, bird seed, beehives, livestock, tents, homes/garages, vacation cabins, vehicles and pet food have all been targets. The public should haze bears using whatever methods they are comfortable with (noise, bear spray, water hose, etc.) Make sure to call CPW during business hours, or State Patrol Dispatch after hours (303-239-4501), to report any bear incidents so that we can respond appropriately.” ~ Jason Duetsch, Area 2 Wildlife Manager
Area 3 – No reported bear activity in northeast Colorado
Area 4 – Larimer and Weld counties “The natural forage for bears in Area 4 was fairly productive this year. Despite that, we did see more bear conflicts with automobiles and houses this year than we were expecting. The communities northwest of Fort Collins and the communities in the foothills experienced a high number of bears entering homes, automobiles, travel trailers and RVs. Fortunately, we did not have a large number of conflicts at campgrounds in the Poudre Canyon. This may be due in part to the U.S. Forest Service instituting regulations pertaining to bear-resistant containers as well as the installation of containers at some campgrounds. We did have several bears in the city of Fort Collins this year. We relocated several bears that were highly visible in neighborhoods and also removed a bear from CSU’s campus. Most of these were younger bears and they were getting into trash cans. Fortunately, we did not have any major issues in terms of conflicts within the city.”~ Jason Surface, Area 4 Wildlife Manager
Area 5 – Denver Metro Area counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson and portions of Broomfield County) “Bear activity and human conflict continues to be an issue. Residents should be reminded to secure their trash and not put it out until the morning of trash pickup. Residents are also reminded to close their garage doors, lock their cars and remove bird feeders/hummingbird feeders to prevent bears from becoming habituated to human provided food sources. Drought conditions exist in most of Area 5 and natural food sources for bears remain inconsistent across the area. Residents are also reminded that feeding bears is illegal and creates a public safety issue.” ~ Matt Martinez, Area 5 Wildlife Manager
Area 6 – Rio Blanco and Moffat counties “Area 6 has seen a higher number of human-bear interactions this year than in the past. The conflicts involve mostly younger bears looking for food and getting into the urban interface of their habitat. There was a late, hard freeze in May that has caused a loss of most of the berries and acorns so bears are looking for alternative food sources. Game damage claims with bears killing domestic sheep appears to be high this summer.” ~Bill de Vergie, Area 6 Wildlife Manager
Area 7 – Grand Junction; Mesa and Garfield counties “This year from Fruita to New Castle we have seen more conflicts within town limits. Much of this activity is related to the food failure early this summer. We are seeing bears move into areas that we normally do not have them reported. We’re encouraging everyone to make sure that attractants like trash, bird feeders, and barbecue grills are properly stored to not attract bears. Additionally, residents should secure doors and close garages. If residents see bears in urban areas or have bears creating issues in the rural areas, please reach out to the local CPW office so we can prevent serious problems before they happen.” ~Kirk Oldham, Area 7 Wildlife Manager
Area 8 – Aspen, Glenwood Springs; Eagle and Pitkin counties “Overall, the continued drought cycle has resulted in poor natural food production in most of Area 8. Natural berry and acorn crops were almost non-existent in many areas, similar to the past few couple years. However, bear litter sizes continued to remain high with several sows in the area having three or even four cubs. Considering the lack of natural foods, this indicates to local wildlife managers that supplementary food sources are helping bears circumvent natural control measures that mother nature employs to maintain sustainable populations. It’s no surprise that these supplementary sources continue to be unsecured trash, bird seed and residential fruit trees. As a result, there continues to be a high number of bears inhabiting municipalities across both valleys and a subsequently high number of human-black bear conflicts.” ~ Matt Yamashita, Area 8 Wildlife Manager
Area 9 – Breckenridge, Hot Sulphur Springs and Granby; Grand and Summit counties “In Area 9, conflicts are up slightly from last year. We’ve seen a significant increase in unnecessary conflicts with bears in Grand County as result of poor trash management and bird feeding activities despite a decent natural food year. We are thankful that some residents are being responsible and have taken action to live with wildlife, but it ultimately takes a community effort. We continue to ask residents and guests to remove attractants, secure your homes, camp responsibly, and remember to lock your vehicles. It takes everyone doing their part to care for Colorado’s wildlife.” ~ Jeromy Huntington, Area 9 Wildlife Manager
Area 10 – Steamboat Springs; Jackson and Routt counties “In Routt and Jackson counties, we have had fewer reported human-bear interactions, but bear activity has remained steady within the city limits of Steamboat Springs. We are seeing more compliance with people having bear-resistant trash receptacles, but proper use still seems to be an issue. With bears continuing to get an easy meal at many places in town, it is not uncommon to see bears daily in most of our neighborhoods. These habituated bears have not learned a healthy fear of people, which has led to an uptick in bears entering unsecured homes. It is important that CPW is notified as soon as possible when conflicts arise so that we can help with the situation before a bear becomes habituated. In partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a new community Bear Aware program was initiated last winter that has reached several thousand visitors and locals to help spread the message about the importance of proper etiquette when living and visiting bear country.” ~ Kris Middledorf, Area 10 Wildlife Manager
Area 11 – Pueblo, Trinidad, South-Central Colorado “Area 11 is having fewer human-bear interactions this year compared to last even with a significant freeze that occurred throughout the foothills and higher elevations. The late spring snow/freeze impacted acorn production but these impacts seemed to be sporadic and elevation dependent. Great summer precipitation has led to abundant fruit and grass production throughout the area. With bears having an increased utilization of fruit across the landscape, portions of Area 11 have seen an increase in bears being killed by vehicles as they travel to seek out those food sources. The majority of human-bear interactions within the area have been a result of unnecessary conflict due to poor trash management, storage of pet food, and unprotected beehives. Additional conflicts have arisen from leaving doors and windows open in addition to irresponsibly camping in bear country. We ask residents of southern Colorado to secure their trash by utilizing a bear-resistant dumpster. We also ask residents and visitors to lock their cars, secure their homes and remove any attractants to prevent any conflicts with bears. For advice and tips, folks can reach out to local district wildlife managers to help bear-proof their residence.” ~Mike Brown, Area 11 Wildlife Manager
Area 12 – Las Animas, Baca and Otero counties “There have only been a few bear reports in southeast Colorado coming from Las Animas, Baca and Otero County.” ~ Todd Marriott, Area 12 Wildlife Manager.
Area 13 – Chaffee, Fremont and Lake Counties “The Upper Arkansas Valley, including the area around Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida and Cañon City, had a late cold snap in the spring. Unfortunately, the cold snap was right when many fruit trees and shrubs were flowering, leading to very little fruit and acorn production as their flowers were lost to the freezing temperatures. The Upper Arkansas Valley did have regular rain throughout the summer and there are pockets of fruit and acorn production, but it is inconsistent. Bear activity has been steady throughout the area and there are still reports of bear issues around homes. We continue to encourage people to remove and minimize attractants around their homes. Attractants include bird feeders, any fallen fruit, and, of course, trash. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommendations to reduce conflicts with wildlife, including bears, only work if homeowners and visitors consistently follow the suggestions. We have had success educating residents that have had bear problems and have been able to avoid trapping bears this fall.” ~ Sean Shepherd, Area 13 Wildlife Manager
Area 14 – Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs; El Paso and Teller Counties “In the Colorado Springs area, we started out with a lot of conflicts due to the drought. Fortunately in mid-June, we received a lot of rain and have been getting plenty of moisture ever since. This improved the availability of natural food sources and led to a relatively mild year for bear conflicts. The city trash ordinance on the west side of town has helped reduce conflicts over the last few years. We did receive a late freeze in May that may reduce some of the mast crop in the area, so conflicts may go up again as we move into the fall, but only time will tell. We continue to encourage people to keep their garage doors closed and secure all food and scent attractants.” ~ Tim Kroening, Area 14 Wildlife Manager
Area 15 – Durango “Area 15 had an average year for bear conflicts area-wide. Southwest Colorado received good moisture this summer and the availability of natural food sources has been good. The majority of conflicts reported were due to unsecured trash and other outdoor food sources. We would like to remind people to do their part in removing or securing all possible attractants and to work with neighbors or guests in doing the same. A couple of our communities received CPW bear grant funds this year and we are looking forward to these bear conflict mitigation resources being applied to help reduce conflicts in the future. Please continue to report bear conflicts to the local CPW Durango office in a timely manner so that we and other partners can provide assistance in mitigating conflicts before bears become habituated.” ~Adrian Archuleta, Area 15 Wildlife Manager
Area 16 – Gunnison Basin, North Fork Valley “This year in Area 16, our bear conflicts are up compared to 2021. Mast production in the Gunnison Basin was good, but more spotty than last year, and we have continued to experience some bear conflict throughout September. In the North Fork Valley, a late freeze contributed to what appears to be a significant decline in mast crop production, particularly acorns in oakbrush habitats. Other mast species such as chokecherry and serviceberry may have also been impacted by spring cold snaps, and significant bear activity has been reported in and around the communities of Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Cedaredge. Bears will continue to be very active until hibernation, so we strongly encourage all of our local residents to assess their properties and remove potential bear attractants. These include trash, bird feeders, pet food, fruit trees and fruit waste. Homeowners can also help avoid bear conflicts by locking their car doors at night and securing lower-level windows and doors. CPW continues to seek long-term solutions for mitigating bear conflicts across our communities, but in the short-term we ask that the public continue to work with us to ensure that bears stay wild.” ~ Brandon Diamond, Area 16 Wildlife Manager
Area 17 – San Luis Valley “It has been a pretty normal year for bear activity in our area. We did have really variable conditions this year. Early on, we had drought conditions. But once we started getting rain, there were available food sources for our bears. Our conflict areas have been the normal areas we usually see in Creede, South Fork and Crestone. We will always have some human-bear issues in those areas because the food is easy to get there and it’s been hard to dissuade those bears in those areas. But once the rains kicked in, it really seemed to help in most places. We’ve had a few problems, but it has been a manageable year and we haven’t had to handle many bears.” ~ Rick Basagoitia, Area 17 Wildlife Manager
Area 18 – Incorporating Montrose, Delta, Mesa Ouray and San Miguel counties “Unfortunately, a late frost impacted many of our natural fruit and mast crops across the area. A long monsoon season brought much-needed moisture during the growing season so grasses and forbs grew well. However, berries, acorns, and nuts are very spotty this year. As fall progresses, we ask for increased diligence in keeping human and bird food sources put away so we don’t lure bears with high-calorie treats they want in preparation for winter.” ~ Rachel Sralla, Area 18 Wildlife Manager
Become Bear Aware Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a reminder that by taking some simple precautions, you can avoid human/wildlife conflicts and help to keep bears wild.
Bearproofing your home:
Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
Keep garage doors closed.
Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.
Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
Clean the grill after each use, clean-up thoroughly after cookouts.
If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
Talk to your neighbors and kids about being Bear Aware.
Cars, traveling and campsites:
Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
Keep the bottom floor windows of your house closed when you’re not at home.
Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.
Protecting your chickens, bees, livestock:
Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure, especially at night.
Construct electric fencing when possible.
Don’t store livestock feed outside.
Keep enclosures clean to minimize animal odors.
Hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure as a scent deterrent.
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