Betty's Bests

We've all heard how hard it is to find Mr. Right in New York City (hey, wasn't there a whole show dedicated to that?), so we decided to find out the best places to be a single gal in America. And - at the very top of our list - ALASKA!

In a nutshell, here's why: Alaska has 114 men for every 100 single women, according to the U.S. Census. Now those are odds we like!

Elissa Olin currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, but she and Bill Hauser, her boyfriend of three years, have an Alaskan love story. They met years ago in Anchorage, where Elissa, fresh out of grad school, had started a theater conservatory with a group of friends. Bill was one of her favorite students - and years later, they met by chance again at an event in New York. "I know you from Alaska," he declared. And the rest is history ...

Elissa laughs when she says that it "seems like there are about nine men for every one woman in Alaska." She adds, "There are definitely a lot of guys. And they're on the prowl from very early in life!"

Bill, himself an native of Alaska, moved out of the state after high-school, but returned often to visit friends and family. He recalls about his dating prospects: "On a given weeknight, zero attractive and available women were to be found at any establishment serving booze ... As far as I could tell, all the attractive women in Anchorage were either already taken or under the age of 18, which wasn't an option."

Not convinced? Bill continues: "A normal night meeting women in Anchorage (if not at the strip joint), was going to a lounge, ale house, or meat market on a weekend, and then trying to swim upstream against the current of other men already hitting on her. It seemed as though the seemingly available woman was more amused than anything, since she either already had a boyfriend or just liked taking her time to pick the best man out of the five already surrounding her."

Of course it takes a certain kind of woman to brave the unknown territory of Alaska. (After all, it is right next door to Russia, right, Governor Palin?) According to Elissa, the old joke is that people move to Alaska for two reasons - because they love the wilderness or because they can't survive life in the Lower 48.

Writer Maria Finn, who lived in Homer, Alaska, for several years, concurs. "The old saying about men in Alaska is ‘The odds are good, but the goods are odd.'" She warns that though there are plenty of men, they may be a bit more rough around the edges than us wimpy Lower 48 ladies might be used to.

However, as Elissa points out, "there's a full fountain of men" ... so you'll have plenty to choose from. And who doesn't like a little variety in life?

Granted, there has to be more than a bounty of available men to make a place attractive. Ruth Rosewarne of the Alaska Railroad  traveled to Alaska fifteen years ago for a summer job ... she loved it so much, she never left! Ruth says people may be surprised to hear there's a lot of culture and art in Alaska, not to mention the great job market, unsurpassable natural beauty, and a never-ending supply of outdoor activities and groups.

According to Ruth, Alaska "attracts a certain type of person." She explains, "There's not as much fakeness ... You tend to find a more sincere person here." Ruth has met people from all over the world who have come to Alaska because they all share a sense of adventure and excitement about being off the grid. Ruth uses the word "magical" to describe her adopted homeland - it certainly sounds that way.

So, where to start? There's the "cool" town of Homer, the big city of Anchorage, and who could forget Wasilla? If you'd like to browse through the collection of available guys before you head north, there's even a magazine called Alaska Men - sort of a Boys-R-Us catalog. Enjoy!

Betty's Runner-Up Best Places to Be a Single Gal:

#2: San Francisco

As a San Francisco native, Betty writer Jill Jordan knows how fabulous the dating life is in the city by the Bay. Forbes agrees and ranked San Francisco as the second best spot for singles. It's a city full of possibilities, Jill says.

"One day can find you clinging to an artsy boho type as you speed through the city on his Vespa, and the next might see you sipping a Bordeaux at Chez Panisse with a rumpled but cute tech millionaire. And if you've ever pondered dabbling in same-sex experimentation, this is your city. There's an array of diversity and acceptance here, so there's little chance of a strike out."

#3: Honolulu

Surfers, cocktails that come dressed in umbrellas, and of course that romantic island sunset - who doesn't want to take a trip to Hawaii at least once in her life? Sperling's BestPlaces researched the best dating cities, and Honolulu made in into the top 10. Sunny beaches and half-naked surfer boys. What more could a girl ask for?

#4: Las Vegas

They don't say, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" for nothing. If you're looking to spice up your love life - if only for one night - Vegas is your kind of town. Check out the hotties on Sunday afternoon at ReHab, then relax with a manicure and a martini at Beauty Bar, or kick it old school with flaming drinks and dudes as old as your dad at the tried-and-true Peppermill Lounge. You might not meet Mr. Right in Vegas, but chances are, you'll stumble across plenty of Mr. Right Nows.

#5: Atlanta

Forbes ranked Atlanta - or Hotlanta, as the natives call it - number one in coolness, the cost of living single, culture, job growth, online dating, nightlife, and sheer number of singles. Add those sexy stats to those sexy southern accents and you've got one hotbed of hotties!

So for all you sexy singles looking for adventure, it's time to hit the road!

Previous Betty's Best articles:

• Want to Meet a Sexy Guy? Try a Tri!
• The Best Place to Meet Your Second Hubby: The Playground!
• The Best Place to Find a Date: Whole Foods
• The Best Place to Meet Hot Guys: Chipotle