10 U.S. States Surprising Travelers
While New York City, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are America’s most visited cities, there are 50 glorious states to explore across America. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next adventure, why not consider a state you haven’t visitedbefore?
Here are ten U.S. states that surprised recent travelers in a good way.
1. South Dakota
“Driving through South Dakota, there was a point where all the way to the horizon was grass in every direction. The sky was blue, and the grass was green. The only sign of civilization was the road,” said one traveler.
“It felt like being in this weird kind of pleasant void space. Like a loading screen for life?” Another added, “The Black Hills are stunningly beautiful.”
2. New Mexico
“New Mexico is gorgeous. Santa Fe was a huge surprise. The history and culture there are fascinating. All the art is influenced by the Spanish, Anglo, and Native Americans,” replied one. Another agreed, “The sunrises! It’s like another planet.”
3. Idaho
“Idaho. I never realized how much of it was desert,” someone confessed. Another confessed, “I’m surprised to read it. I wasn’t aware that ANY of it was desert.”
“Oh yeah. Boise goes from foresty mountains to quite scrubby with some trees around the city and green neighborhoods to hundreds of miles of dirt and brush-filled desert. Not a lot of sand except in a few places, though,” the original poster responded.
4. Arizona
“I didn’t know there were evergreen forests in Arizona until I saw them firsthand while driving in from New Mexico on the 40 in a blizzard. There were at least two feet of snow on the ground. So my idea of the southwest looked like Phoenix, Tucson, Vegas, Albuquerque, with the open desert as far as the eye can see,” shared one traveler.
“But that region is shockingly diverse. I honestly had no idea places like Flagstaff existed. I stayed a few nights in Williams in Arizona, and it genuinely felt like I was in Upstate New York again.”
5. Kansas
“I woke up in a small town in Kansas and immediately felt like I traveled back in time 20-30 years. It almost felt like a movie set,” replied another.
6. Florida
The state of Florida is so much more than Orlando and Disney amusement parks. From three national parks to beaches so sublime you think you’re in the Caribbean, to the abundance of diving or snorkeling spots in Florida’s freshwater springs to even piney woodlands.
If you’re looking for a warm weather adventure, odds are you can find it in Florida.
7. Oregon
“After moving to Oregon for work, I quickly realized it was one of America’s best-kept secrets,” one stated. “After a few years, I learned that Oregonians prefer it that way. Everywhere you look, it’s pretty much a National Geographic photo.”
Another agreed, “Yup. It’s stunning, and we have a wide variety of ecosystems. Ocean, mountains, plains, Forests, deserts. We got it all in one state.”
8. Alaska
“Alaska is mouth-watering gorgeous. We went on a couple of cruises there, and I loved to sit outside and watch the magnificent scenery go by,” another agreed. “I think it’s the most beautiful state in the union.”
One person shared, “Alaska. I was born there but moved away as a toddler. I heard about it from family all my life, pictures, and videos. So I was perfectly prepared for what to expect, but the actual experience of seeing Alaska can never be replicated.”
9. Washington
“Washington State,’ another suggested. “With Cascade Mountains, Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier, Leavenworth, Steven Pass. Washington has things to do all year round, even though it is expensive to live there and raining a lot.”
10. Utah
“Utah,” shared one. “It’s incredible! I moved out of state, and I miss it so much. Those mountains are something else.” “I went to Salt Lake City for the first time a few years ago, and I was astonished at how beautiful the area is,” another confessed.
Source: Reddit
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