• A few years ago, my partner and I drove 6,036 miles from New York to San Diego and back.
• On our road trip, we stopped for regional cuisine, beautiful parks, and quirky roadside attractions.
• If I drove cross-country again, I'd return to spots like the Ozark National Forest but skip others.

Driving cross-country is an ambitious journey that always sounded a bit more romantic to me in theory than in practice.

But when my partner convinced me to expand my horizons a few years ago, we started planning with the Ralph Waldo Emerson adage "it's not the destination, it's the journey," as our guiding principle.

We drove a total of 6,036 miles cross-country from New York to my hometown of San Diego and back — and I figured we might as well see as many cool and quirky things along the way as possible.

Here are the places we stopped that I would go to again and the spots I'd skip next time.

After leaving New York, our first stop was in Pittsburgh, where we ate pizza and visited The Andy Warhol Museum.

I married a Pittsburgher and have visited the Steel City many times.

So, first, we made a requisite stop at the Strip District to try Pizzeria Davide, then headed over to the Andy Warhol Museum.

After touring the exhibits, I thought it was an absolute must-visit for anyone in Pittsburgh to witness more than seven stories of some of Warhol's (a Pittsburgh native) most seminal works of art.

The museum was also well-placed to follow with a stroll to The Point downtown where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers merge into the Ohio River.

We left Pittsburgh en route to Cincinnati, stopping at Buckeye Lake State Park to stretch and grab lunch.

A halfway point between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, Buckeye Lake State Park is touted as Ohio's oldest state park.

It's also home to a local winery, brewery, and beer pier, which sounded intriguing and looked to be an ideal spot to stop and refuel.

We didn't find a wide range of food options in the area and weren't particularly impressed, although we did enjoy getting out here and stretching our legs.

Next time, we'd try stopping at a different park.

From Cincinnati, we drove to Nashville, where we had drinks at a Dolly Parton-themed restaurant.

The road to Nashville was peppered with many cool pit stops, but due to bad weather, we bypassed places we'd been looking forward to, like Louisville and Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Instead, we went straight for Nashville, arriving hungry and ready for a drink at White Limozeen, a Dolly Parton-themed rooftop restaurant located just off the Vanderbilt University campus.

We sat alfresco overlooking a giant Dolly Parton bust and didn't miss a chance to try the signature champagne Jell-O shots, which come topped with sprinkles. We also had Nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

Along with the pink décor and convivial rooftop vibes, the stop was a pleasant and completely unexpected surprise.

It was definitely worth a visit, but next time, I'd come here just for drinks and save dinner for The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden, where we ate the best burger of our trip.

Next, we stopped at one of my favorite barbecue joints in Memphis before driving through Ozark National Forest to a memorable hotel.

After a quick stop at one of my all-time favorite barbecue joints, The Rendezvous in Memphis, we headed through the wilds of Arkansas' Ozark National Forest — one of the greenest and most scenic stretches of our drive.

Along the way, we paid a last-minute visit to Fayetteville, a charming college town tucked away in the northwest pocket of the state.

There, we enjoyed a casual dinner on the patio of a former post office called Cheers at the OPO (for Old Post Office) and decided to tuck in for the night next door at a quirky local hotel, the Graduate.

The Fayetteville-themed lobby, complete with camouflage carpets and Arkansas ephemera displayed all over the walls, was a fun touch. We loved the hometown pride that this place had to offer.

We continued along Route 66 and spotted an unusual roadside attraction on the way to Oklahoma City.

The ride through the plains of Oklahoma provided a stark contrast to the lush and wild landscapes in Arkansas.

We made our way through Tulsa, home to architectural marvels such as The Philbrook Museum of Art and one of the largest collections of Art Deco architecture in the country.

However, our stop at The Blue Whale of Catoosa off of Route 66 was a tiny bit underwhelming.

We learned that this giant 80-foot sperm whale was built as a diving platform and slide for kids in the early '70s and has been basically marooned ever since.

Though I can see the appeal if you have young kids in tow — and we did see several families with children who could not have been more delighted by this unique sculpture — it wasn't a must-stop spot for us.

Just off Interstate 40, Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo, Texas, was an Instagram-worthy surprise.

It was windy and dusty the day we visited Cadillac Ranch, a free public art display that's well worth a quick visit to walk around and snap some photos.

It's comprised of a colorful collection of upended Cadillacs covered in paint. You can bring your own spray paint or buy some from one of the local vendors just outside the entry point to tag the cars if you're so inclined.

Though we didn't partake, I'm glad we stopped to check it out for the photos alone. For us, a single visit was sufficient. We didn't feel the need to return on our way back to New York.

When we drove through Texas on our return, we stopped in Odessa to see a replica of Stonehenge.

Set on the University of Texas at the Permian Basin Stonehenge campus, the Stonehenge replica is made up of 19-foot-tall slabs of limestone and was assembled in the early 2000s.

It's designed to serve as a teachable moment for students and visitors here, but because I've visited the original Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back some 5,000 years, when I was traveling across the UK, I would skip this next time.

Nothing can truly compare to the original.

We skipped Dallas in favor of Fort Worth, Texas, where we saw dozens of longhorn cattle walking through town.

The daily cattle drive in Fort Worth happens twice a day and was one of the coolest things we witnessed on our trip.

It also made us feel like we were front and center in an old Texas Western, as Fort Worth is full of honky-tonk restaurants and old-timey boutiques, plus Stockyard Station, which is lined with fun shops.

There's also the Cowtown Coliseum, which is home to the country's only year-round rodeo. Although we didn't get to visit it on this trip, we would definitely check it out in the future.

After Texas, we continued west to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where we stopped at a thermal spa.

Tucked in the foothills just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, Ojo Santa Fe Spa is known as one of the country's oldest natural health spas, dating back to 1868.

Between its spa and spring-fed thermal pools, it was a much-needed stop for a little rest and relaxation.

The spa was closed during our visit, but we still enjoyed soaking in the geothermal mineral water, which is said to have healing properties. After spending a full day here, I'm a believer in the healing powers of that water and would definitely stop here again.

In Santa Fe, we also paid homage to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum before checking out the galleries and boutiques found along Canyon Road, both of which were worthwhile stops.

Along Route 66, Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona was a last-minute stop that I wouldn't hesitate to visit again.

Driving into the Petrified Forest National Park felt like driving through one of Georgia O'Keeffe's abstract paintings.

The Mars-like landscapes, featuring red and beige sandstone rock formations, were utterly surreal and one of the best unplanned stops we made along the way.

Said to be more than 200 million years old, the park offers numerous places to stop and explore throughout its grounds.

We decided on The Painted Desert Inn, an adobe building dating back to the 1930s, and Newspaper Rock, which features the park's largest concentration of petroglyphs carved into boulders by the ancestral Puebloan population that dates back thousands of years.

The carvings at Newspaper Rock can best be seen through binoculars or a telephoto lens, the latter of which I was glad to have on hand.

It's definitely worth a visit to witness this awe-inspiring landscape.

On the home stretch, we couldn't leave Arizona without seeing the Pillar at Cathedral Rock in Sedona up close.

There's no shortage of ways to see and experience Sedona's vast landscapes, but one place we couldn't leave without seeing was the view of Sedona from the summit of Cathedral Rock.

I will admit, we were not well-prepared for the intensity of this 1.2-mile out-and-back hike. It's labeled as "moderate-to difficult" by AllTrails.com and "popular for hikers of all ages," but the nearly vertical climb and slippery rocks were challenging for a lot of people on the trail that day, ourselves included.

However, the views from the top were out of this world. I would definitely stop here again, although I would plan accordingly and bring more water and better shoes next time.

On our way out of Sedona, we stopped at Yavapai Apache Fry Bread & Jewelry.

Yavapai Apache Fry Bread & Jewelry is just off Route 17 outside Sedona. Its selection of Native American jewelry, crafts, crystals, and sweet and savory fry bread made this a great place for a quick break.

Located outdoors under a tent, there were tons of unique souvenirs, including a dream catcher that I now have hanging above my bed.

The made-to-order fry bread topped with powdered sugar that we got was delicious, and an added bonus.

The final stop of our road trip was in Temecula, California, to try chocolate wine.

The Temecula Valley is a burgeoning wine region in Southern California.

Although it's often overlooked in favor of the wineries to the north in Napa and Paso Robles, its Italian and French grape varietals and tasting experiences are definitely worth checking out.

We stopped by Thornton Winery for a very special case of wine and a quick tasting.

Considered "the original champagne house," Thornton is known for its old-world champenoise method of winemaking, along with its coffee and chocolate wine flights.

After driving more than 3,000 miles across the country, my horizons had been broadened, and a case of wine called Milk Chocolate Kiss was the very sweet cherry on top.

This story was originally published on January 22, 2022, and most recently updated on December 1, 2025.

• Second-screen viewing, where audiences scroll while watching the TV, is common.
• Advertisers could shift spending away from streamers if they think their ads are being ignored.
• Tubi is adjusting to multitasking with shoppable ads, which ad industry observers are bullish on.

TVs no longer have the audience's undivided attention.

Nearly 70% of US social media users scroll their feeds while consuming other media like TV, the market research firm YouGov found in a spring 2025 survey. Millennials were most likely to multitask, followed by Gen Zers.

The popularity of "second-screen" scrolling may sound like trouble for Tubi, the free streaming service that's especially popular with young audiences.

However, Tubi marketing chief Nicole Parlapiano said she views it as an "additive" opportunity rather than something "disruptive" to the business.

One way Tubi is trying to capitalize is with shoppable ads. The free streamer has interactive spots with call-to-actions like QR codes that allow viewers to point their phone camera at their TV screen to learn more about an ad. Other streamers have implemented similar ad tech, including Disney+ and Hulu.

"When someone's watching something, they're able to tap into their phones and access and shop," Parlapiano said.

About 42% of marketers use interactive ads in their connected TV or social media ad strategies, Business Insider sister company EMARKETER found in October. Ads with QR codes or gamified elements were 36% more likely to be remembered unprompted by audiences. Interactive ads also significantly improved brand affinity, or the emotional bond that viewers have with a brand, according to data from the ad research firm BrightLine cited by EMARKETER.

Shoppable ads are a benefit of second-screen viewing

Parlapiano isn't alone in her optimism about shoppable ads in the age of second-screen scrolling.

"Advertisers shouldn't see Gen Z's second-screen behavior as a threat," said Ian Sharpe, the chief operating officer of media at travel tech company NextTrip. Instead, Sharpe called shoppable ads "one of the biggest opportunities in modern media."

Why?

"This generation is uniquely comfortable watching TV while browsing, searching, and buying on their phone, which means the ad experience naturally becomes shoppable," Sharpe said. "Rather than hoping a viewer remembers an ad later, brands can now trigger immediate action through QR codes, social extensions, and direct commerce hooks."

Shoppable ads are a broad opportunity, since it's not just teenagers who scroll while they watch, said Alicia Weaver, the vice president of media activation at media buying firm Mediassociates.

"This isn't an issue unique to Gen Z," Weaver said. She said she can find herself on her phone during commercials, sports games, or while texting friends during a reality show.

Weaver said that besides shoppable ads, another way to take advantage of second-screen viewing is cross-device retargeting data that lets marketers put ads on other devices or platforms.

"With this kind of usage likely here to stay, it becomes a matter of being savvy and innovative in how we reach audiences," Weaver said. "We're not going to change consumer behavior, but we can absolutely innovate around it."

• While some states' coldest temperatures were recorded recently, others were documented decades ago.
• Hawaii remains the only state in the US yet to report a temperature below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
• The coldest temperature ever recorded in the US was -80 degrees in Alaska in 1971.

Despite record-breaking temperature drops across the US over the last century, the world continues to get hotter. In fact, only three states have recorded their lowest-ever temperatures in the 21st century.

It doesn't mean, however, that the US hasn't experienced some excruciatingly low temperatures in recent years. This week, a winter storm is barreling across states, dumping snow and ice, and potentially inflicting daily record lows in the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast, The Weather Channel reported on Tuesday.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in the US was -80 degrees in Alaska in 1971. And since records began, all but one of the 50 states has reported a temperature below zero. What's the holdout? Hawaii, which recorded its lowest temperature of 12 degrees Fahrenheit at the Mauna Kea Observatory on May 17, 1979.

According to data compiled by NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee, the coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state are listed below.

Melissa Wells contributed to a prior version of this story.

Alabama's lowest recorded temperature was -27 degrees Fahrenheit at New Market on January 30, 1966.

On this snowy January day, it was Lucille Hereford, the postmaster and town volunteer weather observer, who recorded the -27-degree temperature, calling it a "terribly cold" morning in a 1988 interview with an Alabama State climatologist.

Per a 2021 news report by WHNT, a local news outlet, the official story comes with a caveat: The temperature was initially erroneously recorded as warmer than the -24 degrees Fahrenheit reported at Russellville the same day. It wasn't until years later that a Birmingham reporter uncovered the truth, and the National Climatic Data Center finally issued a correction in its records.

Alaska's lowest recorded temperature was -80 degrees Fahrenheit at Prospect Creek Camp on January 23, 1971.

The Anchorage Daily News reported in 2013 that there have been unofficial measurements of even lower temperatures. On the National Weather Service Alaska website, Phil Schaefer said it hit -84 degrees Fahrenheit in Coldfoot in 1989, and Joe Cochran said the temperature in Hughes dropped to -85 degrees Fahrenheit in the '90s, The Daily News reported.

However, the Prospect Creek Camp temperature is the only one that's been verified.

This is the lowest temperature ever recorded in the US.

Arizona's lowest recorded temperature was -40 degrees Fahrenheit at Hawley Lake on January 7, 1971.

Hawley Lake isn't a town so much as a remote weather station, but it's important in Arizona's meteorological history. In addition to setting a state record for 91 inches of snow in 1968, the overseer of Hawley Lake, Stan Bryte, recorded the state's lowest temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit in 1971, per AZCentral.

In fact, on the morning of January 7, 1971, Bryte's chief meteorologist told him, "You need to get up to Hawley Lake. I have a suspicion this is going to be a real record."

Arkansas' lowest recorded temperature was -29 degrees Fahrenheit in Brook Farm Pond near Gravette on February 13, 1905.

Brook Farm Pond is near the town of Gravette, which has just over 3,500 residents, according to census data.

It is located in Benton County, which has the motto "The Heart of Hometown America." At one time, it also bore the name of "Gate Community" for serving as a gateway to northwest Arkansas from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 

California's lowest recorded temperature was -45 degrees Fahrenheit in Boca on January 20, 1937.

The Los Angeles Times reported in 1937 that the low temperatures had brought "influenza, frozen toes, broken water pipes and automobile radiators, icy streets and traffic disruption."

Colorado's lowest recorded temperature was -61 degrees Fahrenheit in Maybell on February 1, 1985.

CBS News reported in January 2023 that Maybell, located 25 miles west of Craig, is home to just 76 people.

 Maybell resident of 56 years Georgia McIntyre told 9News in 2015, "You don't think about how cold it is. You just put all the clothes you've got on, and we even put newspapers in our shoes because we didn't have all these fancy things you have now."

Connecticut has recorded temperatures of -32 degrees Fahrenheit twice: First in Falls Village on February 16, 1943, and then again in Coventry on January 22, 1961.

In 1943, a National Weather Service observer noted February was a "relatively mild month" in Connecticut, only for the state to record its coldest temperature in the state's history 16 days into the month, per a 2023 CT Insider article.

A freezing day in January just 18 years later would hit that same low temperature.

Delaware's lowest recorded temperature was -17 degrees Fahrenheit in Millsboro on January 17, 1893.

Thirty-seven years later, a Millsboro weather station recorded a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit on a scorching July day, according to the National Weather Service.

Florida's lowest recorded temperature was -2 degrees Fahrenheit in Tallahassee on February 13, 1899.

WTXL Tallahassee reported in 2020 that in Tallahassee 124 years ago, an inch of snow coated the city (its third biggest snowfall ever), and a record low of -2 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.

Headlines at the time read "All Previous Records Broken," and editors were calling the storm, "The Snow King," "The Ice King," and "the Great Blizzard of 1899," Tallahassee Democrat reported in 2018.

Georgia's lowest recorded temperature was -17 degrees Fahrenheit in CCC Fire Camp F-16 near Beatum on January 27, 1940.

Not even 12 years later, on July 24, 1952, Georgia recorded its highest temperature at 112 degrees Fahrenheit in Louisville and again on August 20, 1983, in Greenville, according to NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee.

Hawaii's lowest recorded temperature was 12 degrees Fahrenheit at the Mauna Kea Observatory on May 17, 1979.

Forecasters think this record may have changed because, on February 11, 2019, several sensors at the Mauna Kea Observatory reported temperatures between 8 and 11 degrees Fahrenheit, Khon2 reported in 2022, but it has yet to be confirmed.

Idaho's lowest recorded temperature was -60 degrees Fahrenheit in Island Park Dam on January 18, 1943.

Island Park Dam is located in the Targhee National Forest in the northeast corner of the state. It's tied for the eighth coldest temperature ever recorded in the US.

Illinois' lowest recorded temperature was -38 degrees Fahrenheit in Mount Carroll on January 31, 2019.

Frigid temperatures across Illinois in late January 2019 led to a startling discovery: On the morning of January 31, the weather observer at Mount Carroll in Carroll County recorded a temperature drop to -38 degrees Fahrenheit.

Only after an extensive review did the State Climate Extremes Committee collectively validate the reading as the new state record low temperature, The State Journal-Register reported in 2019.

Indiana's lowest recorded temperature was -36 degrees Fahrenheit in New Whiteland on January 19, 1994.

ABC57 reported in 2020 that all temperatures across Indiana dropped below zero on the morning of January 19, 1994.

In a newscast from 1994 for WRTV Indianapolis, a mail carrier told former Channel 6 meteorologist David James, "Well, I'll tell you, it's better today than it was yesterday, 'cuz there's not that wind. So, I don't mind this at all."

Iowa's lowest recorded temperature was -47 degrees Fahrenheit in Elkader on February 3, 1996. Previously, it was in Washta on January 12, 1912.

Iowa was one of many states in the Midwest that experienced the "1996 Cold Wave," as KCRG-TV9 described it in 2016.

Kansas' lowest recorded temperature was -40 degrees Fahrenheit in Lebanon on February 13, 1905.

The winter of 1905 was reportedly so bitterly cold that "it was impossible for one to face the storm," according to "Reno County Kansas, Its People, Industries, and Institutions," by B.F. Bowen & Co. Inc. of Indianapolis, published in 1917 and reported in 2014 by The Kansas City Star.

Kentucky's lowest recorded temperature was -37 degrees Fahrenheit in Shelbyville on January 19, 1994.

According to meteorologist John Belski, January 19, 1994, "was certainly a day for the history books." 

"Those who were not around in 1994, it was the only time I can remember when grocery stores in parts of Louisville ran out of food and gas stations ran out of gas that week since no deliveries were able to be made for several days. It was so strange to see people walking in the middle of Bardstown Road and also Broadway," he recalled for WLKY News in 2020.

Louisiana's lowest recorded temperature was -16 degrees Fahrenheit in Minden on February 13, 1899.

Over two weeks in February 1899, freezing weather swept over the US, with record-low minimum temperatures recorded in 12 states. According to weather historian David Ludlum in "The Great Arctic Outbreak and East Coast Blizzard of February 1899," this was "the greatest arctic outbreak in history" at the time.

Maine's lowest recorded temperature was -50 degrees Fahrenheit in Big Black River on January 16, 2009.

After a month of scrutinizing weather data, scientists said in February 2009 that Maine had reached a record low: 50 below freezing.

After much evaluation by the State Climate Extreme Committee, "It turned out [the -50 reading] was spot on," Bob Lent, Maine director of the US Geological Survey, said, as reported by NBC News in 2009.

Maryland's lowest recorded temperature was -40 degrees Fahrenheit in Oakland on January 13, 1912.

Oakland, Maryland, is home to 1,851 people, according to census data. It was established in 1849 and became a well-known tourist spot when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built a rail line that traveled through the town, according to Britannica.

Massachusetts's lowest recorded temperature was -35 degrees Fahrenheit in Chester on January 12, 1981; in Coldbrook on February 15, 1943; and in Taunton on January 5, 1904.

The same temperature was previously recorded in Coldbrook on February 15, 1943, and in Taunton on January 5, 1904.

Michigan's lowest recorded temperature was -51 degrees Fahrenheit in Vanderbilt on February 9, 1934.

Only 11 states have recorded colder temperatures than Michigan: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Minnesota's lowest recorded temperature was -60 degrees Fahrenheit in Tower on February 2, 1996.

The average low in this sparsely populated former mining town is usually around 4 degrees Fahrenheit in February, according to WorldClimate.com.

Mississippi's lowest recorded temperature was -19 degrees Fahrenheit in Corinth on January 30, 1966.

By contrast, Mississippi's highest recorded temperature was recorded 36 years prior on July 29, 1930, when the mercury in Holly Springs hit 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Missouri's lowest recorded temperature was -40 degrees Fahrenheit in Warsaw on February 13, 1905.

Interestingly enough, the coldest and hottest temperatures recorded in Missouri have both been in Warsaw, according to the University of Missouri Climate Center. The hottest temperature was a whopping 118 degrees Fahrenheit on July 14, 1954.

Montana's lowest recorded temperature was -70 degrees Fahrenheit in Rogers Pass on January 20, 1954.

"It's a day that will probably live in American history forever," Corby Dickerson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said of the record, NBC Montana reported in February 2023. "It was the coldest day ever observed in the lower 48 states."

Nebraska's lowest recorded temperature was -47 degrees Fahrenheit in Oshkosh on December 22, 1989. Previously, it was in Bridgeport on February 12, 1899.

The biggest snowstorm on the southeast US coast was known as the "Christmas Snowstorm of 1989," according to The National Weather Service, and it was felt all the way to Nebraska. It broke snowfall records in several states, and unheard-of temperatures followed.

Nevada's lowest recorded temperature was -50 degrees Fahrenheit in San Jacinto on January 8, 1937.

Fifty-seven years after the state's cold temperature, a weather station in Laughlin recorded a temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit in June, per data from NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee.

New Hampshire's lowest recorded temperature was -50 degrees Fahrenheit in Mount Washington on January 22, 1885.

More recently, sensors on Mount Washington logged the US' coldest windchill on record: -108. The Weather Service office serving Mount Washington posted in February 2023 that its recording software refused to log the reported low number.

New Jersey's lowest recorded temperature was -34 degrees Fahrenheit in River Vale on January 5, 1904.

"That was a very cold morning in northeastern New Jersey," David Robinson, a New Jersey State Climatologist, told NJ.com in 2019.

"A deep fresh snow cover, the valley location, adjacent to a pond that was used to make ice, and a generally treeless landscape near the station all helped contribute to the excessive cold."

New Mexico's lowest recorded temperature was -50 degrees Fahrenheit in Gavilan on February 1, 1951.

Conversely, the hottest temperature in New Mexico was recorded on June 27, 1994, at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Loving, where it reached a blazing 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

New York's lowest recorded temperature was -52 degrees Fahrenheit in Old Forge on February 18, 1979.

Jane Tormey, the official weather watcher for Old Forge for CNY Central, recalled in 2013, "People were saying their milk froze on the way home from the store to home. A lot of cars obviously couldn't get started. My car window driver's side was shattered."

North Carolina's lowest recorded temperature was -34 degrees Fahrenheit in Mount Mitchell on January 21, 1985.

One of the past century's most extreme arctic outbreaks occurred between January 18 and January 22, 1985. According to the National Weather Service, newspapers at the time reported at least 165 deaths related to the weather.

North Dakota's lowest recorded temperature was -60 degrees Fahrenheit in Parshall on February 15, 1936.

Coincidentally, both the hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in North Dakota's history happened in the same year, with Steele hitting 121 degrees Fahrenheit on July 6, 1936, KYFR-TV reported in 2023.

Ohio's lowest recorded temperature was -39 degrees Fahrenheit in Milligan on February 10, 1899.

Ohio was another state affected by the unprecedented cold of February 1899. The US Weather Bureau reported 105 fatalities between January 29 and February 13 from the arctic temperatures and avalanches brought on by "the Great Arctic Outbreak."

Oklahoma's lowest recorded temperature was -31 degrees Fahrenheit in Nowata on February 10, 2011.

2011 was reportedly Oklahoma's third snowiest year, and the state's record for most snowfall in 24 hours was reached in Spavinaw, with 27 inches, FOX23 News reported in 2020.

Oregon's lowest recorded temperature was -54 degrees Fahrenheit in Ukiah on February 9, 1933, and in Seneca on February 10, 1933.

Ukiah and Seneca are occasionally known as "Oregon's Icebox" due to their icy winter conditions. That said, Meacham residents have said the temperature once plummeted to -62 degrees Fahrenheit, but it has never been proven officially, The Oregonian wrote in 2010.

Pennsylvania's lowest recorded temperature was -42 degrees Fahrenheit in Smethport on January 5, 1904.

By contrast, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, two consecutive days of 111 degrees Fahrenheit were recorded on July 9, 1936 and July 10, 1936, in the hottest temperature ever recorded in the state.

Phoenixville is five hours from Smethport, where the coldest temperature was recorded 32 years prior.

Rhode Island's lowest recorded temperature was -28 degrees Fahrenheit in Wood River Junction on January 11, 1942.

According to NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee, -25 degrees Fahrenheit was previously reported at Greene, Rhode Island, on February 5, 1996, but it could not be verified.

South Carolina's lowest recorded temperature was -19 degrees Fahrenheit in Caesar's Head on January 21, 1985.

In 1985, in the Carolinas, the coldest temperatures ever recorded were dubbed "The Coldest Day," WMBF News reported in 2020.

South Dakota's lowest recorded temperature was -58 degrees Fahrenheit in McIntosh on February 17, 1936.

McIntosh was home to just 111 people in 2020. It is the county seat of Corson County.

Tennessee's lowest recorded temperature was -32 degrees Fahrenheit in Mountain City on December 30, 1917.

The two days of 113 degrees Fahrenheit were recorded in Perryville on July 29, 1930, and August 9, 1930, making them the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Tennessee.

Texas' lowest recorded temperature was -23 degrees Fahrenheit in Seminole on February 8, 1933. The same temperature was also recorded in Tulia 6NE on February 12, 1899.

Texas is known for its heat, but even this state has seen severe drops in temperatures — the best known was during the Great Blizzard of 1899.

Some unofficial reports even claim temperatures reached -30 degrees Fahrenheit in February 1899 at Wolf Creek, Texas. Either way, the Concho Valley Homepage reported in 2022 that newspapers in 1899 described the temperatures as "the worst freeze ever known in the state."

Utah's lowest recorded temperature was -50 degrees Fahrenheit in Strawberry Tunnel (East) on January 5, 1913.

By contrast, the city of St. George has been home to the state's record for hottest temperature — twice. A temperature of 117 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in July 1985 and again in July 2021.

Vermont's lowest recorded temperature was -50 degrees Fahrenheit in Bloomfield on December 30, 1933.

Bloomfield, a town in Essex County, had a population of 217 in the 2020 US census. The weather station existed from 1906 to 1968, according to Century 21 Farm & Forest.

Virginia's lowest recorded temperature was -30 degrees Fahrenheit in Mountain Lake Biological Station on January 21, 1985.

Centered in the Allegheny Mountains is Mountain Lake, one of only two freshwater lakes in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Just a year after this temperature was recorded in 1985, Mountain Lake was made famous again for "Dirty Dancing," which is where the movie was filmed.

Washington's lowest recorded temperature was -48 degrees Fahrenheit on December 30, 1968, in two different towns: Mazama and Winthrop.

On June 29, 2021, Hanford, Washington, reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest recorded temperature in that state. 

West Virginia's lowest recorded temperature was -37 degrees Fahrenheit in Lewisburg on December 30, 1917.

Just 13 years later, the highest temperature recorded was 112 degrees Fahrenheit in Moorefield, West Virginia, on August 4, 1930.

Wisconsin recorded the lowest temperature in the state's history on February 2, 1996, in Couderay. Two days later, it broke its own record at -55 degrees.

The coldest temperature recorded in Wisconsin ranks ninth in the nation.

Wyoming's lowest recorded temperature was -66 degrees Fahrenheit in Riverside Ranger Station in Yellowstone National Park on February 9, 1933.

Although Yellowstone's temperatures in Wyoming haven't plummeted to the levels they once did in 1933, "since most of the park lies at an elevation of 6,000 feet above sea level or higher, unpredictability characterizes Yellowstone's weather," the National Park Service has said.

Correction: January 9, 2024 — An earlier version of this story included an image that was mislabeled as Minden, Louisiana. The photo has been replaced with one of Minden.

• New AI-driven jobs like decision designer and AI Experience Officer are emerging rapidly.
• These roles blend AI expertise with psychology, ethics, and organizational design skills.
• This article is part of "How AI is Changing Talent", a series exploring how AI is reshaping hiring, development, and retention.

Decision designer. Digital ethics advisor. AI experience officer.

The titles might sound futuristic, and for now, they mostly are. But in the Age of AI, new categories of jobs are emerging that don't fit neatly into existing org charts. They center on human-AI collaboration, and combine machine learning expertise with psychology, organizational design, and workflow management.

For most companies, figuring out just how people and AI should work together is a key challenge, says Sabari Raja, a managing partner at JFFVentures, an early-stage fund that invests in startups focused on low- and mid-wage workers.

"These new roles involve designing that collaboration — training teams for it, and determining where human judgment comes in," Raja says.

The individuals who will excel in these roles understand how humans work: their cognitive limits, where trust breaks down, and how people make decisions under pressure. They also understand how AI models reason, where they fail, and how they handle uncertainty.

The key is designing around both, she says. "It's about seeing AI as a teammate and collaborator," Raja adds. "AI is powerful, but it needs direction."

Roles built for the native AI era

For the past few years, organizations have primarily approached AI adoption by adding tools to existing roles or expanding what workers were already doing. Often, new positions were simply repackaged engineering or technical roles.

However, as companies move from pilot to production, the focus is starting to shift, says Marinela Profi, global AI and generative AI market strategy lead at SAS, an AI and software analytics company.

"We've moved beyond retrofitting AI into existing roles," Profi says. "Now we're seeing signs of companies building them for a native AI Era."

Some jobs center on governance to manage AI safely and strategically. Take, for instance, the role of AI decision designer.

As companies get more comfortable letting AI make high-stakes calls, like detecting fraud, approving loans, and determining credit scores, they'll need someone to shape how those decisions get made, Profi says.

Right now, data scientists and engineers typically handle that work as part of building the systems, but in the near future, someone will need to sit between the algorithms and the outcome. Enter the AI decision designer.

They'd create the frameworks and maintain accountability as automation scales. "This role would be a way to keep the human in the loop and at the center," she says.

Meanwhile, other roles focus on ensuring the company's AI aligns with its stated values and business goals. To address that need, Profi says we're likely to see more C-suite positions focused on AI strategy. Behold: the AI experience officer.

Unlike the chief AI officer, who tends to focus on product development, governance, and implementation, the AI experience officer is "explicitly responsible for how AI feels and behaves in the human moment," she says. "It shifts the conversation from, 'Are we using AI?' to 'How are people living and working with AI?'"

Profi says that while few organizations have publicly posted for such roles, certain types of companies and industries are prime candidates for introducing them.

For instance, in healthcare, where AI health assistants and wellness bots frequently interact with patients, an AI experience officer would ensure the technology feels empathetic, trustworthy, and safe.

Education tech companies are another example. "AI will redefine how humans learn and how educators teach," she says. "Education is emotional: It's social and deeply human. That's exactly why how AI shows up — not just what it does — needs to be designed with care."

'A complete reconfiguration'

Companies will also need workers focused on creating AI ethics frameworks and setting guardrails. It's no small task.

Building ethical AI is messy and complicated, says Shahab Samimi, chief executive officer of Humanoid Global, a holding company that invests in robotics and AI businesses.

That's why he predicts roles like digital ethics advisor will become more common. These jobs would build safety systems for AI and robotics with enough checkpoints and feedback loops to catch issues early on. They'd also be responsible for staying on top of industry standards and regulatory requirements.

There's no governing body yet for AI safety standards, he notes. Until there is, companies look to groups like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which sets widely used safety and quality guidelines for machines that operate in human environments. But even then, the ISO can't prevent every issue.

"When you have machines interacting with humans, something is bound to go wrong," he adds. "Companies need someone focused on safety."

Of course, these emerging roles represent just a small slice of the broader changes AI is bringing to the workplace. Beyond eliminating some jobs and creating others, AI is redesigning how organizations get work done.

But experts say that even as AI takes on more tasks, human-in-the-loop oversight will remain critical. "Many companies think of AI adoption as an IT project, but it's a workforce transformation," says Raja, of JFFVentures.

"Most don't yet realize the scale of what's coming and the changes we'll see to workflows, skill sets, and management structures. It's a complete reconfiguration," Raja says.

• My husband and I recently left our daughter with someone who wasn't family for the first time.
• As a former nanny, I've been on the other end of this scenario.
• I thought it would be harder to leave her with a babysitter, but I relished the parental milestone.

"Have fun, we'll be home by 11. Help yourself to anything in the fridge," I said to the babysitter as I sauntered out the door for a rare, long-awaited date night. An hour later, I clinked glasses with my husband and sipped Prosecco before the Philharmonic. I'd left my 16-month-old baby with another woman for the first time and was overcome with emotion.

"Are you OK?" My husband asked.

"No —" I started, as I ate a French fry soaked in ketchup. "I'm…great!"

I thought it would be harder to leave my daughter with a babysitter

I expected that my first experience leaving my daughter with someone who wasn't a family member would be difficult, accompanied by a range of feelings. I hadn't expected joy to be one of them.

But after six years of infertility, greeting my child's caregiver for a night out, a typical scene most would take for granted, was surreal and exciting. Not because of what I got in return (a few special hours with my husband), but because of what it provided emotionally — fulfillment.

Growing up a movie buff, films informed a lot of what I knew about life. I'd watched countless scenes where parents interacted with a babysitter before leaving for the evening. "Adventures in Babysitting," "Baby Boom," "When A Stranger Calls," even "Mary Poppins." When I became a nanny, I acted out that same moment hundreds of times. Saying goodbye to the mom or dad as they shuffled off to events. Dressing their child in pajamas laid out on the bed. Whispering to the returning parents, "How was it?"

Motherhood was hard-won for me, and I wanted to celebrate this milestone

I enjoyed the profession of childcare for a long time. Until my miscarriage in 2018. After that, being a 38-year-old full-time babysitter came with an indelible sting. Beneath each jovial playdate, dinner, or bath, I felt the quiet weight of my loss.

"Always a nanny, never a mom," I muttered to myself on my way to the school pick up, after my second pregnancy loss. I wondered if I'd ever be a parent, destined to care for other people's children.

Eventually, I pivoted from watching kids to walking dogs. Then, after many IVF cycles, I finally gave birth to my miracle baby in the summer of 2024, at the age of 43.

Almost a year and a half later, when I found myself on the other side of the parent-sitter exchange, it was poignant. I'd feared the moment might never arrive. Now I felt grown up, and somehow, more confident as a new mother. I realized there's so much focus on highlighting baby's moments, we often overlook that parents should find joy in celebrating their milestones too, however small.

A survey conducted earlier this year found that parents experience 50 milestones with their babies in the first year of parenthood. Since having a baby, I've marked down, praised, and filmed every single act of growth she's experienced. From tummy time as a newborn, to her saying "mama." Observing her changes through the months has brought immeasurable joy.

But on our night out at dinner, knowing she was home with someone I trusted, I admit it — I wasn't worried about my daughter. I was having fun, and noting my own milestone this time. Noting milestones like this as a parent is a typically overlooked practice. Yet, celebrating adult achievements, of any size, can be good for one's health. From something as simple as taking intentional enjoyment in the post-birth meal to the first time feeling accomplished as a parent, adults should acknowledge their own transformations.

When we got home from the concert, I hugged the babysitter goodbye and hit send on her payment. Changing into my sweatpants, I basked in the glow of my full circle night and felt comfort in my small moment of growth.

• This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

The government shutdown ended a while ago, but there's been at least one lingering effect: a lack of inflation data.

The last CPI report was for September and released way back on October 24. November's inflation report — sorry October, we'll catch you next year — was scheduled to drop December 10, but got bumped to December 18.

But who wants to wait another two-plus weeks?

Business Insider took matters into its own hands, surveying readers about how prices have changed. We heard from roughly 200 of you, and BI's Madison Hoff has the results, along with some personal anecdotes from readers about what they are seeing.

Unfortunately, one area readers feel prices keep climbing is something they can't skip: Food. Whether it's groceries (90%) or dining out (87%), the vast majority said those prices have gone up.

The data shows the affordability issue that many Americans say they're facing.

Despite a stock market that continues to rise, people are finding themselves stretching their budgets. And unlike luxury items that one can hold off on purchasing, groceries are a day-to-day expense that Americans continue to feel the pain of.

"It's so frustrating that people like us who are financially responsible, who are doing everything right, are still just feeling like we're stretched every step of the way," one reader told Madison.

That puts the Fed in an interesting position when it comes to rate cuts.

Central bankers will convene next week for their final meeting of the year. As always, Jerome Powell and co. aim to strike a balance between keeping inflation in check and maintaining a robust job market.

While our survey is far from scientific, the main takeaway is clear: most people feel prices keep going up. If you're looking to address those concerns, cutting interest rates risks pushing inflation (and prices) even higher.

On the other hand, the job market remains largely frozen. And the best way to kickstart things on that front would be to continue easing up the policy.

So what will the Fed do? Wall Street seems bullish on another cut, with 87.6% of interest-rate traders betting on one next week, according to CME FedWatch.

• Michael and Susan Dell have pledged to invest $6.25 billion to support the futures of American children.
• "Susan and I believe the smartest investment we can make is in children," Michael Dell wrote in a post on X.
• Here's who's eligible for the money.

Michael and Susan Dell have committed to paying $250 into the accounts of 25 million American children.

The $6.25 billion donation, which comes from the Dells' charitable fund and was announced on Tuesday, is designed to "help families feel supported from the start and encourage them to keep saving as their children grow," Michael Dell told CNBC in an interview.

The Dells have partnered with the Invest America initiative, a federal program that aims to help families and employers put children on a stronger financial path into adulthood. The program is better known as "Trump Accounts."

In order to qualify for the money the Dells are pledging, the child must:

• Be 10 years or younger
• Have been born before January 1, 2025
• Live in a ZIP code where the median income is $150,000 or less

Parents with children who meet the criteria will simply have to open a Trump Account to automatically receive a grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the couple told CNBC.

"Susan and I believe the smartest investment we can make is in children," Michael Dell wrote in a post on X. In a video accompanying the post, the couple encouraged US citizens to contribute to the accounts.

"The real power of these accounts is that anyone can contribute, parents, friends, relatives. Everyone can help shape a child's future," said Susan Dell in the video.

"To parents and caregivers, stay tuned and get ready to activate your child's account," she said. "Every contribution can grow over the years, just like your child."

"Together we can make possibility something that every child can count on," added Michael Dell.

The Dells' donation will sit alongside the broader "Trump Accounts" investment initiative being run by Invest America. The program is part of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Trump Accounts is the administration's plan to give a federal grant of $1,000 to US citizens born from the beginning of 2025 through 2028 and allow parents to contribute up to $5,000 a year. The initiative will begin on July 4, 2026.

Michael Dell, the founder and chairman of the computer company Dell, is the eleventh-richest person in the world. As of Monday's market close, his fortune was worth $148 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

• I was laid off from my software development job in September 2024.
• Months later, at the age of 37, I was diagnosed with lymphoma.
• After months of treatment while parenting eight children ages 4 to 19, I rang the cancer-free bell.

In September 2024, I lost my job as a software developer. After nearly two years with the company, I was let go due to "reduction of workforce." My husband still worked full time, but losing half of our household income hit hard, especially with eight kids ranging from 4 to 19 years old.

I told myself we'd be OK. I thought it would be easy to find another job. We'd tighten our belts. Then I got sick.

I blamed stress for symptoms that were actually cancer

After Christmas, I started to feel off. I caught the flu and was sick for about six weeks, and then I developed shingles right after. I could not catch a break. I kept thinking it was just stress.

Things took a turn in late March. I found a lump in my groin the size of a grape overnight. My adductor muscle also felt tight, so I thought it was a pulled muscle at the time, likely from working out at the gym. A month later, I finally saw a doctor who was able to feel the lump and told me it was most likely an inguinal hernia and sent me to a surgeon.

During the waiting period for the appointment, the lump grew to the size of a plum, and it became increasingly difficult to walk. The pain worsened by the day until May 4th, when I finally went to the emergency room.

I was diagnosed with cancer at 37

When the doctor finally came in to tell me the results of the CT scan, he told me it wasn't a hernia, but that it was several swollen lymph nodes. The ER doctor dropped the "C" word — cancer. That night, I spent alone overnight in the hospital, 37 years old, convinced my life was ending. All I could think about was my eight children and husband.

When I came home the next evening to tell our kids, our car ended up getting repossessed in the driveway because we had fallen behind in payments. I lost all my medication from the hospital that I had been sent home with. I was able to recover them the next morning, but talk about bad luck.

That moment hit so hard. The job loss, the diagnosis, the financial freefall. It felt like the absolute bottom.

I had to keep going

May became a blur of medical appointments. Each test mapped the location of the cancer's spread. The biopsy confirmed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, and the PET scan revealed where it had spread.

After getting my port installed, I started chemotherapy on June 5th, with eight children still needing to be fed, homework checked and reassured that their mom would be OK.

During all of this, my husband became everything. He was juggling full time work while managing our household when I was undergoing active treatment.

Asking for help was harder than chemotherapy

We had to swallow our pride and use every available resource. Food banks, school district assistance programs, we were going anywhere that could help.

For someone who had always worked and provided, it felt like a failure at first. I realized that these safety nets are put in place for those who truly need assistance.

On September 18th, 2025, I got to ring the bell that I was cancer-free. On October 21st, my PET scan came back clean with no evidence of disease. I'm still processing what happened to me over the past year. I'm not the same person I was in September 2024.

I learned that symptoms dismissed as "just stress" need to be taken seriously. That pride can literally kill you if it keeps you from seeking help. That our children are more resilient than we give them credit for, but also more aware than we'd like to admit.

I learned that in today's world, you can do everything right — work hard, support your family — and still end up having one layoff or one diagnosis away from your life changing drastically.

• As Florida locals, we've been on many staycations, but our trip to Rosemary Beach is our favorite.
• The walkable town has beautiful architecture, plus great beaches, restaurants, and boutiques.
• Our whole family had a great time visiting Florida's 30A area and would happily return.

Living in Florida means planning a solid staycation is pretty easy.

When friends or family would visit us in Tallahassee in the spring, we'd plan an easy local trip to any number of nearby beach towns or cities just a short drive from our house.

For a long time, our go-to trip was heading south and joining countless other tourists in popular cities, like Fort Lauderdale or Miami. This year, for my in-laws' annual visit in March, we decided to try something different and head west.

I was sold on checking out 30A, a charming stretch along Florida's Emerald Coast between Destin and Panama City Beach, after seeing tons of videos on my social feeds about it.

From there, we settled on a little town in 30A called Rosemary Beach — and we ended up having one of the best vacations of our lives.

Rosemary Beach is beautiful, walkable, and laid-back

Rosemary Beach is one of several charming communities in 30A.

It stands out for its architecture, which feels distinctly European-inspired, from the gas lanterns to the cobblestone streets. However, the many palm trees ensure it still feels like Florida.

I'd describe Rosemary Beach's vibe as relaxed, a far cry from the hustle and bustle typically found in bigger cities like Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

The small town is very walkable, making it especially convenient for families. We were traveling with our then-2-year-old and were easily able to get around to playgrounds, boutiques, restaurants, and the beach without ever needing to get in our car.

There are dozens of rental properties just a short distance from the main downtown area, and we stayed in a villa by the Amphitheater at St. Augustine Green.

Though we seemed far from the beach, it still only took us about a 15-minute walk to get from our spot to the water. We were also able to access private beaches available only to those staying in a Rosemary Beach property.

During the earlier part of the day, we often found the beach moderately empty, allowing us to quietly take in the stunning white sand and crisp blue water.

Our villa's prime location also provided us with easy access to tons of entertainment options at the Amphitheater, ranging from magic shows and movies to live stage productions and concerts.

We had a lot of great bites in the area

Rosemary Beach has several great dining spots, and one of my favorites was La Crema, a Spanish restaurant known for its tapas and chocolate desserts.

Our group has varying food preferences, so this was a great place to pick up a few different dishes to share. My daughter especially loved La Crema's chocolate fondue, served with marshmallows, cake, and strawberries.

We all enjoyed Cowgirl Kitchen, a more laid-back option we could visit after spending time at the beach. Its family-friendly menu features tacos, sandwiches, and salads — and we especially loved the queso.

When it was just my husband and me, we headed to Gallion's, which is adults-only during dinner service. It felt like an old-school supper club with a more modern aesthetic, and I loved the coastal cuisine, as well as the selection of cocktails and mocktails.

The two of us also went to the seafood restaurant Pescado for dinner and drinks. Its rooftop bar is the place to head to for prime sunset viewing since it overlooks the beach.

Lastly, we stopped at Amavida Coffee Roasters every morning. Though there are a few places to grab a cup of joe in Rosemary Beach, this local Florida café was my favorite for iced coffee and baked goods.

There are some great shops in Rosemary Beach, too

There are endless shopping spots in the area, but my top pick is The Hidden Lantern Bookshop. It's the perfect cutesy place to find a beach read.

We spotted a lot of brand-new releases for adults and enjoyed exploring the massive kids' section with my daughter.

Patchouli's is also a must-visit boutique in the area. I loved its huge selection of popular makeup and skincare brands, like Ilia Beauty and Maya Chia, plus its own line of handmade soaps, essential oils, and candles.

I also enjoyed stopping by Rosemary Beach Trading Co. to pick up some especially cute souvenirs and merchandise.

All in all, we'd happily return to this area

Fort Lauderdale and Miami are still great travel destinations for those who want buzzy nightlife, big hotels, and a more typical "spring break" experience with other adults.

However, Rosemary Beach feels like the ideal spot for a more relaxed multigenerational family trip.

It was hard to beat the convenience of being able to walk just about anywhere, which also contributed to the town's pleasantly relaxed pace. We also enjoyed the quiet mornings on the beach, leisurely strolls downtown, and dinners with a view of the sunset.

Our trip was great, and I'm glad we found a new place that I could picture our family visiting again and again for years to come.

It wasn't our typical Florida staycation — it was better.

• A slow cooker or Crock-Pot can be a valuable yet underutilized tool in your kitchen.
• A slow cooker can make many cozy comfort foods, from stews to simple soups and roasted meats.
• Meats like brisket and short ribs become tender when made in a slow cooker.

There's nothing better than coming home to the comforting aroma of beef stew or pasta sauce simmering in a Crock-Pot, especially on cozy days in the fall and winter.

As the weather turns even cooler, it's the perfect time to bring out your Crock-Pot or slow cooker to prepare hearty meals that cook on their own during the workday.

Business Insider spoke with chefs and cookbook authors about their favorite comforting slow-cooker meals, from hearty beef stews and chowders to brisket, and researched celebrity chefs' go-to Crock-Pot dishes. 

Here are 17 cozy comfort-food dishes you can make in a slow cooker, according to chefs.

Short ribs become extra tender when slow-cooked.

Short ribs are one of cookbook author Kim Laidlaw's favorite things to make in a Crock-Pot, and they're a go-to on a chilly day.

In her cookbook, "Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals," Laidlaw gives multiple different recipes for short ribs, and she recommends trying them for a meal featuring other sides.

"If you do them in a slow cooker, then the meat is out of the way," she told Business Insider. "Then, you can focus on other side dishes like polenta or risotto."

Stew is one of those slow-cooker meals where you can practically toss in the ingredients and walk away.

Beef, turkey, or chicken stew is a perfect stick-to-your-bones meal during the fall or winter months.

"Beef stew is really nice in the slow cooker," Laidlaw said. "That's something I grew up on with the slow cooker, and it's just as good today."

But stew is also hassle-free.

"Slow cookers are perfect in the winter for soups and stews," Laidlaw said. "The best part is that you can set it in the morning and walk away."

Corn chowder is another simple meal you can make with a few inexpensive ingredients.

If you make this chowder in the fall, you can use in-season fresh corn as is suggested in this celebrity chef-approved Martha Stewart recipe, found on the chef's website.

However, you can also take the easy route by choosing canned corn from the store. The chowder is flavorful yet light and uses heartwarming ingredients like heavy cream, bacon, and baby red potatoes.

Brisket is another meat that becomes super tender in a slow cooker.

Laidlaw's recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket includes garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrot, and chicken or beef stock, with a chimichurri sauce.

"Brisket is a natural partner for the slow cooker, as a gentle braise renders it meltingly tender," Laidlaw writes in "Everyday Slow Cooking."

Ribs can also be made in a Crock-Pot.

"Ribs do really well in the slow cooker, and you can always stick them under the broiler in the end to crisp them up," Laidlaw said.

Bolognese sauce is another great way to utilize your Crock-Pot.

"Bolognese is great because you can cook it for a long time," Laidlaw said. "You just have to remember that the sauce doesn't evaporate the same as it would if you were doing it on the stove. You definitely need to compensate and put less liquid in the pot if you're using a slow cooker."

You can also make mac and cheese in a slow cooker.

Celebrity chef Martha Stewart's recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese is not only easy to make but super delicious and perfect for the fall and winter seasons.

"It is important to use pungent cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, mixed with a little Gruyere or pecorino Romano for extra bite, since the white sauce and pasta will absorb a lot of flavor," Stewart writes.

Chicken stock and broth are two kitchen staples you can make in a Crock-Pot.

Hugh Acheson's slow-cooker chicken broth is pretty simple — all you'll need is a whole chicken, salt, garlic cloves, white onions, carrots, celery, and a few seasonings to taste. 

You can find the full recipe for Acheson's chicken broth in his book, "The Chef and the Slow Cooker."

You can also make chicken soup in a slow cooker.

"A simple soup with Thai chilis, coconut milk, and lime is just wickedly good," Acheson said.

The recipe for Acheson's slow cooker chicken soup with chiles, coconut milk, and lime can be found here on Garden & Gun. Or, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, Acheson also said a slow cooker is a perfect way to make delicious chicken and dumplings.

Meatballs are another warming meal to make in a slow cooker.

Acheson points out that not only are meatballs, like the veal meatballs he includes in his book, easy and delicious to make, but they're a comforting, kid-friendly option you can make in a slow cooker.

"Slow cookers are not necessarily the best tool for cooking for one — they work so much better for nourishing an entire family," he said.

Acheson said his go-to slow-cooker meal on a cool day is lentil soup with a little sour cream.

"I usually go for something that won't take too long," Acheson said. "Usually, I go for a lentil soup with Tuscan kale and a little sour cream and herbs on top. To me, that's the type of food you want as you're watching the snow fall down."

The recipe for Acheson's lentil soup with Tuscan kale can be found here on Cup of Jo.

Acheson also points out that large batches of soup are great for the next day.

Braised and pulled chicken is another great way to use your Crock-Pot.

One of the benefits of using a slow cooker is starting with a basic protein and jazzing it up.

From Mexican food-inspired spices to Indian simmer sauces, there are tons of ways to transform simple braised or pulled chicken dishes into something show-stopping.

This recipe from Delish tells you how to make slow-cooker barbecue pulled chicken.

Pork shoulder is a slow-cooker staple you can use in a number of dishes.

"One dish I think is so versatile is pork shoulder in a slow cooker with broth and a little salt and pepper," Laidlaw said. "I just braise that and then you can turn into so many different things."

Laidlaw said that using a pork shoulder, you can make everything from pulled-pork sliders to carnitas tacos or burritos.

You can also prepare a leg of lamb in the slow cooker, but you might want to sear it first.

"Leg of lamb is so good as it breaks down in the slow cooker," Acheson said. "Cooking in the slow cooker and then finishing another way is going to make sure your meat is at its best. Whether that means re-searing the meat or throwing it under the broiler, you might want to think about other steps to really finish off your meal."

Laidlaw added, "Recipes that have you throw everything in without any prep ahead are not nearly as good or as flavorful as the ones that do. Taking ten minutes to brown the meat before you put it in or getting the onions started goes a long way to making your meals more delicious."

You can also make poached or braised fish in the slow cooker.

"It's really about rethinking recipes and figuring out how to do it in the slow cooker," Acheson said.

One of the "best recipes" Acheson said he uses from his book is one for a braised catfish stew, the recipe for which can be found on Garden & Gun.

"It's got this long-cooking, beautiful broth that's just a vision at the end," he told Business Insider. "It's got chilies, peppers, and mace — big flavors. It just works perfectly. When slow cooking, you really want to choose a dish that works well simmering potentially all day."

Goat shoulder is another delicious meal you can make in a Crock-Pot.

"These days, goat shoulder doesn't have that gamey taste it might have had before," Acheson said. "When you're talking about cooking a large piece of meat, a slow cooker is a great place to start."

You can even make a comforting dessert like cheesecake in a Crock-Pot.

One of the desserts Laidlaw includes in her book "Everyday Slow Cooking" is for gingersnap-brandy cheesecake, which would be perfect as a treat on a cold day or even a holiday dessert.