Most Fun States and the Search for Lasting Joy

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Key Points

• Adventure and recreation are good gifts, but geography cannot provide lasting joy or contentment.
• Psalm 16 reminds us that lasting joy is rooted in God’s presence rather than the places we visit.
• God invites us to enjoy His gifts without expecting experiences, possessions, or entertainment to give us ultimate fulfillment.
• Gratitude helps us recognize God’s goodness in ordinary life rather than constantly waiting for the next trip or experience.
• Philippians 4 teaches that contentment can be learned in both abundance and need because our strength comes from Christ.

I have visited 39 states, and my husband has visited 42. We are adventurers, almost nomads, he would say. We like being in new places, trying new foods, seeing new landscapes, and experiencing as much of the world as possible. 

Needless to say, we have only been married eight years and have already lived in three different states. 

I’ve always said that God gives us one life on this earth, so why would I want to stay in one place the entire time? My husband feels the same way. Naturally, this way of life has us quite familiar with the art of finding fun things to do. We are no strangers to visiting a random spot on the map, but we still make lasting memories and experience things unique to that state or region. 

In Burlington, Vermont, we visited the world’s tallest filing cabinet. In Oklahoma City, we ate steak at a commercial stockyard. In Northern Colorado, we went moose-chasing. We’ve visited geysers in Wyoming, a breathtaking apple orchard in New Hampshire, and the finest authentic Italian restaurant in New York City. 

I’ve been to Vegas, Dallas, Orlando, Nashville, Chicago, and the list goes on. 

But I still know what it means to be discontent. To be anxious. To feel trapped. 

What Do America’s Most Fun States Reveal about Our Search for Joy?

WalletHub recently released its 2026 list of top states to live in for entertainment, recreation, and nightlife, called “Most Fun States” (top five: California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and New York). This list is evidence of the human need for adventure, laughter, and joy, but is our joy limited by a short-term destination? Are we to survive the everyday life until we reach the five-day vacation, only to start the same cycle over again?

Let’s look at four key scriptures to discover what it means to receive joy as a gift from God, practice gratitude for the place we live, build community beyond paid experiences, and remember that true gladness is not limited by geography, income, or a state ranking:

1. It’s Not Where, But with Whom – Psalm 16:11

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV) 

Our Scripture here makes it evident that Christ longs for us to find joy and life. The Christian life isn’t easy, but it’s also the path to fulfillment. When your soul has an eternal resting place in the shelter of the Almighty, anywhere you go on this earth can be both an adventure and a place to rest. 

Here, thrills and peace can coexist even when your path, no matter the literal or spiritual terrain, is rough and winding. This is because it’s less about where you go and more about with whom you journey. 

Just as my favorite travel memories always capture the moments spent with my husband and our sons, our grandest adventures, the ones we will hold onto as we grow gray, are the ones God infused with His presence and eternal promises. 

2. It’s Not Where, But Why – Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV)

I come from an unhealthy fundamentalist background, where “fun” and “God” couldn’t be in the same sentence. I sometimes wonder if that’s why so many young people from a similar religious story chase the world hard once they are out from under the church’s rules. 

But I’ve learned, by God’s grace, that the Holy Spirit doesn’t delve out more patience than joy, or more faithfulness than joy. Joy is given in equal abundance to all of the fruits He shares. So when we chase joy because we long to savor God’s blessings, we find—no matter where we are—the contentment our souls were designed to live within. Where we go will never fulfill us. Rather, the why behind our going, doing, and adventuring is what will grant us meaning. 

No matter where we go in life, our baggage follows us. Vacationing or buying more things won’t fix our problems. The nightlife fun must come to an end. We eventually must return to a quiet house, look at ourselves in the mirror, and determine what defines our worth, purpose, and spiritual sustenance. 

3. It’s Not How Much, But How Meaningful

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)

People sacrifice financial stability for their families to pursue lavish lifestyles. While we are quick to judge men at the slot machines or women who excessively buy name-brand clothes for their families year-round, we forget that their poor financial choices often reflect something much deeper than surface-level greed. It’s a search for meaning. 

But anything that can be replaced will never replace the fulfillment that comes from heavenly things, like family, friends, serving others, and finding our God-given gifts and exploring those creative outlets. 

Unknowingly, we chase Eden, the perfection that left Adam and Eve lacking nothing, but just as unknowingly, we chase the things in the garden rather than its Creator, Cultivator, and Sustainer. 

The Creator doesn’t change His nature. His goodness and generosity are at our disposal regardless of our understanding of what fulfillment should be. Joy that sustains us lies not in where we go, what we buy, or how fun the night is. It all lies within the One whose loving nature never shifts or shies away from defeating our darkest nights. 

4. It’s Not the Grandiosity, But the Gratefulness  

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

It’s easy to misinterpret this Scripture. We isolate verse 13 and neglect the big picture. It’s not so much that we can do these big, lavish things, but that we can do the mundane or miserably hard things with contentment—which, for the unbeliever, might seem impossible. 

We don’t need entertainment or an overflowing bank account to do hard things. We need the one who walks with us through those things, no matter our socioeconomic standing or even our spiritual situation. 

We don’t need seasonal situations to satisfy

Our souls that require eternal sustenance for meaning, joy, and even fun. 

Where Can We Find Joy When the Adventure Ends?

Trust me, I have been on the fancy trips, flown first class (pros of being married to a pilot), and stayed at the fancy hotels. The views are breathtaking, and the fine dining is lovely. But I just always return home. I must always accept that these fleeting things don’t heal relationships, offer eternal promises, or gift me with a purpose far richer than the “high life.”

I want to share a Psalm that my mom has always clung to that means more to me as I navigate more and more of life:

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.” Psalm 37:25-27 (NIV)

This land is promised to God’s beloved, and it’s a land brimming with joy and fulfillment.  

Frequently Asked Questions about Joy, Contentment, and the Most Fun States

• What are the most fun states in America in 2026?
  WalletHub ranked California first, followed by Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and New York based on measures involving entertainment, recreation, nightlife, and affordability.
• Is it wrong for Christians to pursue fun and adventure?
  No. Travel, recreation, food, beauty, laughter, and adventure can be good gifts from God. The danger comes when we expect those gifts to provide the lasting fulfillment only God can give.
• Where does lasting joy come from according to the Bible?
  Psalm 16:11 points to God’s presence as the source of fullness of joy, reminding believers that lasting gladness is ultimately rooted in Him rather than circumstances.
• What is biblical contentment?
  Biblical contentment means learning to rest in God’s presence and provision in both abundance and need rather than depending on changing circumstances for satisfaction.
• How can Christians practice contentment in everyday life?
  Christians can practice contentment by noticing God’s gifts, cultivating gratitude, investing in relationships, serving others, enjoying ordinary moments, and remembering that Christ is present in every season.

For Further Reading

Photo Credit: Getty/mstroz

Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.

Originally published September 30, 2026.