Outdoor dining season is upon us!

Sun-starved New Yorkers flock to alfresco bars and restaurants as soon as the weather starts to heat up, and even though they are shivering on some cooler nights, city restaurants are happy to oblige with heat lamps, special menus and even a Ping-Pong table or two.

Click through the slide show to see some of NYC's hippest outdoor spaces that are sure to be as hot as the Big Apple's quickly rising temperature.

The Standard Plaza

848 Washington St.

The Standard Hotel is your one-stop-shop for outdoor revelry this season, with at least four alfresco areas to choose from (all of which are as hip as the last).

Of course, you can hit the old standards and hang with the cool kids at Le Bain, grab a table and nosh outdoors at The Standard Grill or play a game of Ping-Pong at the Biergarten (assuming the lines aren't too long).

This year an attractive new option is The Plaza in front of the hotel, which is operating as a first-come, first-served pizza restaurant with wood-fired pies from Frank Pinello of Best Pizza in Williamsburg. On Fridays and Saturdays, the eatery stays open until 1 AM if you're jonesing for a bite post bar-hop.

ReiOpen at the Refinery Hotel

63 W. 39th St.

Opening in June, the roof deck at the Fashion District's spankin' new Refinery Hotel promises to be one of the season's biggest draws, with 3,500 ft. of space, views of the skyline (notably the Empire State building) and a retractable glass roof that will keep the venue open rain or shine.

The building used to house a hat factory, which is reflected in the industrial-chic vibe, and cocktails come from mixologist Alex Ott. Though it wasn't open for a peek at press time, this is the outdoor imbibing space that most intrigues us.

The High Line

Everyone's favorite elevated park is elevating its culinary options this year with the addition of SmokeLine, a standalone barbecue stand from BrisketTown founder Daniel Delaney that you'll find at 15th Street.

Just be warned that the fare you'll get here isn't exactly bathing-suit friendly - one of the options is a sandwich called The Mess, which is a combo of grilled Vermont cheese, brisket, pork, pickled onions and chile sauce served on a buttered roll (we're already full just writing that).

Adjacent to the barbecue stand is Terroir on the Porch, which is back for another season and will be open seven days a week until 9:30 PM starting today, May 15.

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Despite reports that the New York Four Seasons Restaurant could face a massive rent hike, we doubt the landmark eatery is going anywhere.

The Four Seasons continues to make headlines, from co-owner Julian Niccolini's wry comments ("If you haven’t been insulted by Julian, you are nobody," says one admirer) to reports of naked women swimming in its white marble pool for $5,000.

In fact, ever since it first opened in 1959, the Four Seasons has set the bar for fine dining among New York City's elite, and served as the backdrop for some their most memorable moments.

Here are some the most glorious moments in Four Seasons history:

• When Norman Mailer threw himself a 50th birthday there in 1973. He charged couples $50 for admission, had over 600 guests, and made a poorly-received speech with obscene jokes, according to the Village Voice
• When the term "power lunch" was coined by Esquire to describe the Four Seasons' vibrant business lunch scene. Then-editor-in-chief Lee Eisenberg reportedly came up with the term for a 1979 article.
• When John F. Kennedy had his 45th birthday party there, right before heading to Madison Square Garden where Marilyn Monroe sang her breathy "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." The restaurant still has a copy of the President's birthday menu bound into the wine list.
• When the owners of rival football teams the Patriots and the Jets put their differences aside there after the Boston Marathon attack. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson greeted each other in the dining room, according to the New York Post. 
• When Martha Stewart and Barbara Walters had Thanksgiving there in 2009. Martha and her daughter reportedly drank Hennessy with the co-owner, Julian Niccolini, the Post reported.
• When the Dalai Lama had lunch there in 2009. His meal was prepared by head chef Christian Albin, who died of cancer shortly after cooking for the high-profile guest.
• When a very pregnant Bethenny Frankel got married there in 2010. The cocktail mogul-turned TV show host exchanged vows with Jason Hoppy in the Pool Room, and two guys from the groom's side jumped in the water during dinner.
• When Aretha Franklin serenaded Bill White and Bryan Eure at their 2011 wedding. The NY society couple invited 670 of New York's most influential names, including former governor David Paterson, Barbara Walters, Gayle King, and Victoria's Secret model Karolina Kurkova.
• When Princess Margaret ate there in 1965. She attended a midnight buffet party with her husband Lord Snowdon after a 20-day tour of the United States, according to the AP.
• When co-owner Alex Von Bidder wrote a children's book about table manners. The book — titled "Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant" — follows a Chocolate Labrador puppy who "just can't seem to mind his manners."
• When President Obama ate there in 2010. The President was there for a fundraiser, but ate alone after the event — steak with sides of mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, according to the Post.
• When Prince Harry hosted a dinner there during his 2013 tour of America. He invited select members of New York society to the fundraiser, which aided the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
• When Johnny Depp came for a movie premiere with seven body guards. The movie star was one of co-owner Julian Niccolini's favorite customers, according to the New York Observer.
• When Elton John threw his husband's 49th birthday party there. 60 friends — including Barbara Walters, Calvin Klein, and Billie Jean King — had dinner in a private room with three cakes from Magnolia Bakery, the Post reported.
• When Richard Gere ate there in the movie "Arbitrage." Gere played a cutthroat New York money manager, and in one scene he was escorted into the Four Seasons Pool Room by co-owner Julian Niccolini for a power lunch.

Can you think of any other momentous Four Seasons events or references in pop culture? Let us know in the comments.

SEE ALSO: The 20 Most Expensive Hotels In New York City

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Data group Marchex has examined more than 600,000 phone calls from the past 12 months to find the most polite and vulgar states in the country.  (via Peter Nidzgorski)

The calls were placed by consumers to businesses across 30 industries, including cable and satellite companies, auto dealerships, pest control centers and more. 

Interestingly, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire somehow managed to be described as both "sailors" and "very courteous."

SEE ALSO: The Riskiest Places In The World >

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At a time when college costs more than ever and we're facing a $1 trillion student debt bubble, it's no surprise the whole "Is College Even Worth It?" debate is still going strong. 

Take it from us –– you won't get far without a college degree and those who have managed to do so are the exceptions, not the rule.

Choosing between public or private institutions is the first step on that journey. Here, we take a look at the pros and cons of both: 

TUITION

Tuition and fees for a public four-year institution cost $20,823 for the 2011-12 school year –– about $8,000 less than private institutions. 

Hands down, public universities are the better buy by definition alone. Because their funding is subsidized by the state, public schools can pass on those savings to students. Private institutions rely almost entirely on tuition and the generosity of donors, which is why students wind up paying more. However, since private college oft have pretty robust financial aid offerings, it's possible for some students to pay less than they would elsewhere. 

Winner: Public

STUDENT DEBT LOAD

Tuition is rising at both public and private universities alike, which means more students will be forced to take on student debt to pay their way. 

For the 2010-11 school year, 57% of public four-year college students graduated with student loan debt, according to the College Board –– an average of $23,800. Private students were worse off, with about two-thirds of alumnus leaving school nearly $30,000 in debt. 

Winner: Public

PRESTIGE

Even if you've never set foot on a private campus, just the word alone –– private –– lends an allure of exclusivity and prestige. The top 20 schools on U.S. News & World Report's annual  Best College rankings consistently go to private institutions for a reason. Class sizes are smaller, admission is selective, individual student attention is valued, and the curriculum is tough enough to attract top talent from around the world.

Still, it's a myth that all public universities offer subpar educations. There are public universities with enough prestige to rival private institutions, and they arguably boast an even higher roster of successful alumni based on the attractiveness of their ubiquitousness and low cost alone. 

Winner: By reputation alone, private institutions are more prestigious.

SOCIAL SCENE

Thanks to their affordability and proximity to home for most students, state schools are like flames attracting moths in the night. That makes for a pretty healthy social scene.

But if you're interested in mingling with students from outside your home state, pursuing a degree at private institutions may be appealing. They often attract a wider variety of students from around the country (and the world), which means that although the party scene may not be  as hot as public schools, you'll get exposure to people who aren't all from the same geographic background. That in and of itself is pretty priceless. 

Winner: You can't argue with the Princeton Review. Public schools are where the party's at. 

JOB PROSPECTS: 

There's no doubt that college graduates –– regardless of their alma mater –– fare better in the job world. For the first three months of 2013, the unemployment rate for consumers holding a bachelor's degree was between 3.7% and 4.1% –– high school graduates saw unemployment rates twice as high.

Winner: Tie

THE VERDICT:

Public is the way to go for undergraduates. 

Public or private, your chances of making it in the job world are higher the minute you graduate from college. But whether you're willing to shell out tens of thousands of more dollars to pay for the prestige of a private 4-year degree is the question you'll have to answer. For undergrads, there isn't much a private college can offer in the way of curriculum and social life that a public institution can't. True, public classes are larger and make it more difficult for one-on-one attention, but that's why professors hold office hours, after all. 

Our advice: If your state schools offer the area of study and the social vibe you're looking for, do your future self a favor and cut costs now. Pursue a graduate degree at a private university, where you'll benefit more from academic rigor and more specialized areas of study.

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Fans of the epic fantasy series Game of Thrones can visit sites made famous by the television drama on one of two new walking tours around Dubrovnik and Northern Ireland.

The tours visit some of the most popular filming locations and will be launched this summer by the company Viator. Guides will be up-to-date on the latest gossip and stories as the drama reaches the end of its third series on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

The plot follows the fortunes of various warring dynasties and the tours will take in the castles, fortifications, caves and sections of countryside that formed the backdrop to some of the most memorable scenes.

A four-hour walking tour of Dubrovnik’s picturesque old town, set besides the Adriatic, features stops at the city parks used by film crews and gives visitors the chance to climb the same walls that were attacked by the Baratheons in the first series.

There is also the opportunity to hear about the dastardly exploits of King Joffrey and admire the castle used as King’s Landing, capital of the Seven Kingdom’s realm, in the television series. The 11th-century Lovrijenac Fortress has been used for many of the Game of Thrones battle scenes.

The second private tour will take place around Belfast, which is the series’ most permanent base. Many scenes were set along the Causeway Coastal Route. From here, fans can walk from the village of Cushendun to the caves where Melisandre of Asshai gave birth.

From Ballycastle, visitors can also walk through the “The Dark Hedges” near Armoy (pictured below), a path lined with gnarled, foreboding trees, which young Ayra Stark passed through on her escape from King’s Landing.

There is also a chance to see Ballintoy Harbour, used as Lordsport Harbour in the series, and Downhill Strand, a location that doubled as “Dragonstone” during the burning of the Seven Idols of Westeros.

All these sites are found near the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO-heritage site, which visitors can also explore.

The Dubrovnik tour costs from £46.93 per person, the Belfast tour, from £72 per person. Book at viator.com .

• Read our Dubrovnik city guide

SEE ALSO: 'Game Of Thrones' Fans Will Love This NYC Exhibit >

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There is no word more evocative in the urban vernacular than "suburb." For most of us, those two syllables conjure a very specific type of place, with a specific kind of people comfortably living there.

"We think about suburbs in one way," says Elizabeth Kneebone, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program. "We have a very stereotypical view of suburbs as middle-class, affluent, Leave-It-To-Beaver type places."

And yet, over the last decade, suburbs have increasingly become home to America's poor. Between 2000 and 2011, the population living in American cities below the poverty line increased by 29 percent. During that same time, across the country in the suburbs of metropolitan areas as diverse as Atlanta and Detroit and Salt Lake City, the ranks of the poor grew by 64 percent. Today, more poor people live in the suburbs (16.4 million of them) than in U.S. cities (13.4 million), despite the perception that poverty remains a uniquely urban problem.

As Kneebone and colleague Alan Berube have writtenbefore for Cities, this geographic shift has been no quirk of the recession. It began before the housing market crashed, and will inevitably tax communities unaccustomed to housing the poor well into and beyond the recovery. The changing shape of poverty is more systemic than an economic downturn, as Kneebone and Berube document in a new book that corrals several years of research on the topic, Confronting Suburban Poverty in America.

"Often when we talk about rising suburban poverty, people automatically think about, 'Well, who’s moving into these neighborhoods?'" Kneebone says. "But it’s not just people moving in. There have been two downturns in the last decade, and long-running structural changes in the economy, finding a lot of long-time suburban residents growing poorer, slipping down the economic ladder."

The pattern does vary, though, across the country: El Paso, Texas, has a suburban poverty rate of 34.6 percent; Des Moines, Iowa has the lowest among America's 100 largest metros, at 5.7 percent. These cities have seen some of the most dramatic changes in a decade:

Kneebone and Berube have built individual profiles of suburban poverty for each of the country's 100 largest metros, underscoring that a problem many keep at arm's reach is closer than people expect.

"These are really shared challenges," Kneebone says. "The more people can recognize that their community is a part of this trend, that maybe their neighbor is affected by growing poverty, that hopefully would help galvanize some action around this."

Until now, though, elected officials, service providers and federal programs have yet to catch up to this new picture. And regions will swiftly realize that poverty programs designed for dense urban neighborhoods transplant poorly onto suburbia. "We’ve seen that the suburban safety net – it’s much thinner, it’s much patchier, and it’s spread over greater distances," Kneebone says.

Many suburbs, for instance, don't have the kinds of public transit networks that can connect impoverished neighborhoods to job opportunities. And it's significantly harder to address poverty through transportation when low-income households in need of it live dispersed over larger areas. Suburbs also simply lack the built-in networks of service providers that have grown up over decades in inner-city communities.

All of this means that if the geography of poverty has dramatically changed over the last decade, we'll have to spend the next decade (and likely more) thinking about how to address it in its newest forms.

"This really isn’t about shifting resources away form cities to suburbs, or saying 'Oh look here, now the problem is in suburban communities,'" Kneebone says. "It is understanding that this is a regional issue, that suburbs face the same challenges that cities have been facing for decades. But we have an opportunity now to change the way we tackle these challenges so we don’t create the same mistakes in the suburbs that have led to concentrations of poverty in cities."

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More from The Atlantic Cities:

• The Economic Geography of America's Abortion Wars
• Into the Water Tower, With Flair
• A Visual History of Michigan's Outsize Influence on American Modernism

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The ivy-covered historic Chicago townhouse that belonged to a late Merrill Lynch vice president is on the market for $9.95 million, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The home located in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood was built in 1896, according to a listing from Rubloff Properties. 

The most recent occupants were late Merrill VP John C. Shelton and his wife Sandy Shelton lived there.  Sandy is still the owner, according to the Journal. 

"One of the most coveted properties on the Gold Coast. House has 35 rooms, 14 bedrooms, 10 fireplaces and 10 baths, 3 decks plus beautiful brick patio," the listing states.  

It sounds like a dream home.  Now we're going to take a photo tour. 

The house is located 1508 North State Parkway in Chicago.

The home is about 10,000 square feet.

There's plenty of living space.

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TripAdvisor just released the results of its 2013 Travelers’ Choice Destinations winners.

Millions of TripAdvisor users voted on their favorite destinations around the world, as well as their favorite destinations in the U.S.

Paris took the top spot on the World Destinations list, trumping New York City (#2) and London (#3).

Unsurprisingly, New York City topped the list of American destinations for the second year in a row.

“New York City continues to be an attractive draw for people from all around the world," NYC& Company’s CEO George Fertitta said. "The city’s unique energy, excitement and diversity are all reasons why visitors are continually drawn to the five boroughs year after year.”

See what other American cities made the list.

#25 Houston, TX

#24 Naples, FL

#23 Palm Springs, CA

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A waitress who mentioned to a first-time customer that it was her dream to go to Italy was left with a surprise $1,000 tip on Monday.

According to Tumblr blogger Casual Cynic, her mother has been working as a waitress for years and, after mentioning to the customer that she had an Italian family and eight years of art education but had never been to Italy, she got a big surprise.

More from GlobalPost: Kentucky man carries out brother's pay-it-forward dying wish (VIDEO)

"This man who we have never seen before tipped her 1000 dollars for a trip to Italy. Walked out, not another word," Casual Cynic wrote.

The unidentified blogger's mother isn't the first waitress to get a more than generous tip from a very kind customer. CeCe Bruce, who works at a Steak 'n Shake restaurant in Indianapolis, got a $446 tip on a $5.97 bill from one of her regulars, known only as Miss Jo.

And Casual Cynic's mother comes in second for the biggest tip to a Houston waiter who was handed $5,000 in cash from a couple — his regulars — who told him, "Go buy yourself a car."

SEE ALSO: 19 Lottery Winners Who Blew It All

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Early reviews indicate that "Fast and Furious 6" may be the best film of the summer, and based on the cars that appear in the latest installment of the franchise, that's not surprising.

Usually heavy on American and Japanese rides, this Fast/Furious brings us classics from the continent, including the work of Ferrari and Pagani, and some British classics, like the Ginetta G60 and Jensen Interceptor.

Throw in a Mercedes SLS AMG and a tank, and "Fast and Furious 6" is guaranteed to be a whole lot of destructive driving fun.

Vin Diesel will be behind the wheel of a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.

[Source: BBC America]

Dwayne Johnson is back in the Gurkha, the armored car he drove in 'Fast Five.'

The movie's villain will be piloting a 2010 BMW M5, which gets pretty banged up.

[Source: Motor Authority]

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"Skinny" cocktails are popping up in restaurants like T.G.I. Friday's, Chili's, and the Cheesecake Factory.

Of the more than 400 chain restaurants that serve alcohol, 150 use the phrase "skinny" on their menu — a 44% increase from the previous year, according to Ad Age.

And though the share of "skinny"-branded drinks remains tiny, sales growth has more than doubled in each of the past three quarters, Ad Age's EJ Schultz and Maureen Morrison report.

You can thank Bethenny Frankel for the trend.

The reality TV-star-turned-beverage-mogul started it all with Skinnygirl Cocktails, a low-calorie liquor line she launched in 2009. Frankel sold the brand to Beam Inc. in 2011 for a reported $100 million; it's since expanded into wines and flavored vodkas.

Now other liquor brands are cashing in on the trend, too. There's a new Malibu Island Spiced rum with 70 calories per shot that uses Truvia as a sweetener, and Smirnoff's Sorbet Light flavored vodkas with 78 calories per 1.5-ounce serving.

One drawback noted by Ad Age: By giving up calories, you are giving up alcohol content — a shot of Skinnygirl vodka may only have 76 calories (compared to regular vodka's 100), but it also is only 60 proof, compared to the standard 80 proof for most vodkas.

And though some restaurants are using the popular "skinny" spirits, most are simply lowering the calorie count with low-cal mixers to keep alcohol content high.

Either way, expect to see a whole lot more "skinny" cocktails in your future.

DON'T MISS: The 12 Best Margaritas In New York City

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Winter basically decided to bypass Spring and move directly to Summer in New York City this year, and while it's been jarring, we'll take it — anything to see the temperature above 60 degrees.

Unfortunately in this town, it doesn't just stay in that calm, cool 70 degree range. Oh no, summer means humidity and temperatures above 85 or 90 degrees. For Wall Streeters, that means sweating in your suit.

It's time to get prepared.

And no, "prepared" doesn't mean that we can't wait to see you bust out your Lilly Pulitzer whale shorts or green cargo pants from college (if that's what you're into...). It means you'll still need to look good and feel comfortable while socializing with colleagues and clients.

It's best if you do all that without sweating, and since one of Wall Street's favorite drinks (Scotch) tends to be a warm one, it's time to consider other options.

Business Insider reached out to some of the most badass, nationally recognized bartenders in the game to get a few recommendations on what a professional gentleman (or gentlewoman) should drink when it's too hot for scotch.

Here's what we got:

Our first cocktail comes from Jeff Bell, the head bartender from one of NYC's best speakeasy cocktails bars,  Please Don't Tell (PDT). He mixed this new spring recipe with his colleagues as a spin-off from the traditional Tom Collins.

Tomr’s Collins

By Jeff Bell, Jim Meehan and Edixon Caridad of PDT

1.5 oz. Plymouth Gin

.75 oz. Tomr’s Tonic Syrup

.5 oz. Grapefruit Juice

.25 oz. Lemon Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice

Top with 1.5 oz. Moët Imperial Champagne

Garnish with half a lemon wheel

Another riff on the Tom Collins comes to us from Trevor Easter. After working in some of the best bars in the country, he took a sort-of day job as the Brand Ambassador for English Gins. Now he basically travels around the country teaching people how to drink cocktails (awesome, we know).

Lavender Collins

2oz beefeater 24

1oz fresh lemon juice

.75oz lavender syrup

Combine ingredients, shake, and strain into a Collins glass. Fill with ice and top with soda. Garnish with a lavender sprig.

If those citrusy, flowery drinks are too... citrusy and flowery for you, consider this recommendation from Erick Castro,the proprietor and bartender at San Diego cocktail club, Polite Provisions. He created the Statesman to provide a more modern, spring variation of a classic martini. 

The Statesman

2oz beefeater 24

.75oz dry vermouth

.25oz apricot liqueur

2 dashes orange bitters

That's it. If you have recommendations leave them in the comments. If you want to see more, shoot us an e-mail. Stay cool.

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Retailers are clamoring for their share of the men's wear market. 

Men are shopping more than ever, thanks to the convenience of the Internet and stores working to tailor to their needs. 

We've compiled a list of some of the best and brightest men's fashion offerings, and we want to know your favorites. 

Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey below. Thanks in advance for your time and cooperation. We'll publish the results in a couple of weeks.

SEE ALSO: 51 Companies That Are Changing The Way We Shop >

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It's no surprise that huge numbers of Americans joined the ranks of the poor over the last decade. What's more interesting is where poverty is growing.

The poor population in the nation's suburbs has grown faster than anywhere else in the country, at a rate of 64% since 2000, according to "Confronting Suburban Poverty in America," a new book by the Brookings Institute. 

"For the first time, the number of poor people in major metropolitan suburbs surpassed the number in cities, making suburbia home to the largest and fastest growing poor population in the country," the authors write. 

Check out the shocking growth in suburban poverty in the illustration below: 

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On Monday, a mile-wide tornado tore through an Oklahoma City suburb and left a nearly 20-mile path of destruction in its wake.

The death toll has reached 24, including several children. Entire neighborhoods were flattened and hundreds of homes were destroyed. Rescuers are still searching the area.

Oklahoma is in "Tornado Alley," a region of the Midwest that is especially prone to twisters. When a tornado hits, the best place to seek shelter is underground. Unfortunately, as Oklahoma news anchors noted Monday, most homes in the state don't have basements.

In some areas of Oklahoma, bedrock lying beneath soil presents an obstacle. To create a basement in an area where bedrock is prevalent, explosives would be required. The cost is too much for most people.

Another problem is the damp soil and high water table in the state. Water seeping into basements could lead to dampness and mold, creating a safety hazard. There are methods for waterproofing basements, but those procedures are also expensive.

The number of homes with basements vary widely by region. Overall in the U.S., 30 percent of new single-family homes in 2011 had full or partial basements, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But the West South Central region, where Oklahoma is located, has the lowest share of basements in the U.S., according to a National Association of Home Builders data analysis from 2005. Of new homes built that year in the West South Central region, only 0.5 percent had basements.

Here's a chart showing the foundation type of new homes in 2005:

The best bet for someone who lives in Tornado Alley is building a storm shelter. These shelters can withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour. Monday's tornado in Moore, Oklahoma had winds of about 200 miles per hour at its peak, according to initial figures from the National Weather Service.

Moore, an Oklahoma City suburb of about 56,000 people, was hit with another massive tornado in 1999. The May 3 tornado had incredible wind speeds of more than 300 miles per hour.

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There's an elephant in the room... and it's pink! Alert the Hampsters! The Patrick Bateman worshiping hedgies are back to reclaim their Hamptons territory!

Before closing in 2009 amidst debt and debauchery, Pink Elephant was a favorite Hamptons nightlife spot for the bottle service type crowds, (not to mention a favorite of ours for the vibrant photo ops it provided), and this summer, it's back - scent machines, pink confetti, sparkling champagne, and all!

Keep reading at Guest of a Guest>

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NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy website, analyzed the fifty largest U.S. metropolitan areas to find out which ones were the healthiest.

To come up with the list, NerdWallet looked at overall fitness, air cleanliness, health insurance coverage and access to physicians (You can read the full methodology here).

All of the cities that made the top 15 ranked highly across all categories, and most also had citywide public programs in effect to help their residents stay fit.

Boston took home the top spot this year. But cities in Colorado, Minnesota, and California also made it into the rankings.

#15 — Buffalo, NY

Overall Health Score: 59.4

Buffalo has one of the highest rates of health insurance coverage in the country at 92.4% of residents insured.

Its Green and Healthy Homes Initiative is also reducing lead poisoning and mold exposure for residents by repairing old homes.

NerdWallet looked at data from the American Fitness Index, the American Lung Association’s 2013 State of the Air report, and census data on health insurance coverage and the number of physicians per 100,000 residents. The 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. were included in the analysis.

#14 — Salt Lake City, UT

Overall Health Score: 59.7

The people of Salt Lake City have ample access to ski resorts, hiking trails, and fishing spots in their beloved hometown.

Residents tend to be insured and in shape, plus the clean air makes being outdoors all the more enjoyable.

NerdWallet looked at data from the American Fitness Index, the American Lung Association’s 2013 State of the Air report, and census data on health insurance coverage and the number of physicians per 100,000 residents. The 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. were included in the analysis.

#13 — Virginia Beach, VA

Overall Health Score: 61.5

The population of Virginia Beach benefits from clean air and ample health care.

There are also organizations like the Virginia Business Coalition on Health that encourages businesses to prioritize the health of their workers.

NerdWallet looked at data from the American Fitness Index, the American Lung Association’s 2013 State of the Air report, and census data on health insurance coverage and the number of physicians per 100,000 residents. The 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. were included in the analysis.

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