Is North Dakota a Romantic Hotspot? The Rankings May Surprise You!

Ah, February—the month of love, overpriced chocolates, and last-minute flower purchases. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you might be wondering just how romantic we are in our neck of the woods. Well, thanks to Booking.com’s annual ranking of the most romantic states, we now have the answer!

North Dakota holds a respectable 18th place, proving that we know a thing or two about love. Maybe it’s the breathtaking sunsets over the prairie or the way we can still look cute while bundled up in five layers of clothing. Either way, we’re doing alright in the romance department!

South Dakota, our friendly neighbor, landed at 20th place—not bad, but maybe they need to step up their candlelit dinner game.

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And then there’s Montana… bless their hearts. They came in at 45th place, which means romance is as scarce as a warm day in February. But don’t feel too bad for them—at least they beat Minnesota, which landed at 47th place! Maybe it’s all those lakes cooling off their passion?

The most romantic state in the entire country? West Virginia! Apparently, their residents take Valentine’s Day VERY seriously. Meanwhile, Oregon finished dead last at 50th place, proving that their love language is NOT heart-shaped candies and roses.

So how did these rankings come about? The fine folks at Booking.com analyzed Google Trends data from the past five years, specifically looking at searches for "Valentine’s Day" in the 30 days leading up to February 14th. The more people searching for Valentine’s Day-related things, the higher the romance score.

So, North Dakota, let's give ourselves a pat on the back! We may not have taken the top spot, but at least we’re not Montana. And hey, there’s always next year—maybe just Google “romantic date ideas” a few more times to help us climb the rankings! Menwhile, I need to buy tickets and head over to West Virginia!

Happy Valentine’s Day!