Doesn't have to be where you grew up. Doesn't have to be where you live. Doesn't necessarily have to be somewhere you've been. Just looking for more travel ideas, since travel has become a primary hobby of mine. Depth is appreciated; apologies to non-Americans are offered. (But you can still chime in!)
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I'm personally partial to Wyoming. It's got about 90 percent of my favorite parts of nature, and cumulatively has the best water features in the world. It's easy to get to and relatively well-traveled, but it still seems wild in a sort of unattainable way. Wyoming mixes the best parts of the west with something better, something idyllic. At times it even looks a bit like New Zealand.
Wyoming also has a good mix of incredibly famous landmarks and forgotten back trails. Interesting history, varied, majestic wildlife -- the story of the Yellowstone gray wolves is as wonderful as it gets -- a feel of the old wild west in parts ... there's nothing not to like.
What about you?
Michigan -because of friends and family. But if they all moved anywhere else it would cease being my favorite. I've lived in Montana, Michigan and North Carolina but no where else for any period longer than a month. I can tell you the states I wouldn't want to live in. The Dakotas, Florida or Ohio. I like NC quite a bit. My wife and I talk about moving to the Pacific NW someday. We'll see.
I am going to vouch for one very specific part of Michigan here: Isle Royale. This isn't so much for just visiting but it is for camping/hiking. For those of you unfamiliar with Isle Royale, it is the largest island on Lake Superior located in sort of the Northwest quadrant of the lake. Once upon a time people tried to mine on it but since the 1940s it has been a national park. Since it is located in the middle of Lake Superior it never really gets overflowed with people visiting the island so you can very easily hike into the island and disappear into the wilderness. At the same time it isn't completely barren and if you stay near the shore there are even small shelters you can stay in. It also holds one of my favorite distinctions (from wikipedia):Siskiwit Lake is the largest lake on the island. It has cold, clear water which is relatively low in nutrients. Siskiwit Lake contains several islands, including Ryan Island, the largest, which contains Moose Flats, a seasonal pond, which contains Moose Boulder. When Moose Flats is a pond, Moose Boulder becomes the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the world
I have a friend that worked for the parks department studying the wolf population on Isle Royale. He claims it to be one of the best experiences of his life. Apparently the wolf population there is quite unique as it hasn't been exposed to outside influences etc.
Yeah. What up with Ohio? Besides the fact that it has the most boring landscape in the union.
Flat is at least something. It's consistent. It knows who it is. Ohio is a combination of pastoral farmland, vaguely rolling hills, and the occasional confused river. There is nothing remotely remarkable about Ohio's landscape, it is forgettable in every sense of the word. One can't say that about Kansas. The ONE thing Ohio has going for it is that it isn't Gary, Indiana - aka The Armpit of America. Oh snap!
Well, that and the fact that an Ohio State fan sucker punched me outside of the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, breaking my nose. By the time I was seen by a doctor they said I had to let it heal, then re-break it to set it. Because of one asshole from Ohio's punch I have had this nose broken 3 times. (two of them procedures to reset and repair my breathing). Fuck Ohio.
Man, I remember that. You were ugly for a long time after that. Now you're beautiful again! Welcome back buddy. And Fuck Ohio.
I'm from Ohio- born and raised. I'm an Ohio State student too, and I love it here. I admit that the weather is a bummer a lot of the time, but Ohio has some gorgeous places. See Ohio caverns and Hocking Hills if you're curious! Columbus is also a great city. I don't plan on leaving anytime soon. Sorry about your bad experience with a rabid OSU fan; we're not all bad!
Oh, I know. I have some good friends that attended OSU. I think Colombus is a fine town, as is Cleveland. When you grow up in MI, you are pretty much obligated to hate on Ohio though :)
mitzy re all the hate for Florida: A lot of Florida is highway and mall, but do not include Key West in Florida. Key West would secede from the union in a heartbeat if they could. 1) If driving or cycling you go down a long winding highway three or four hours southwest of Miami Explore It's an island Water, fish, windsurfing, if you like that sort of thing Art, literature, and music, music, music, and dance if you like that sort of thing Park the car if you have one and cycle everywhere. It feels very safe any hour of day or night People gay, retired, Cuban, military, and everyone else. Very accepting. I believe I will move there one day somehow, but not during hurricane season
I've never been to Key West but I've heard great things. In fact, I hear great things about Florida all the time. Where I grew up (MI) people always went to Florida for spring break or vacations or their 2nd homes etc. I just never found it all that appealing. I'd rather go to Mexico, spend less money, eat better food, and avoid rednecks. But then there's that whole drug cartel, kidnapping thing.
I actually think Cleveland is a fine town. I've spent time in Cinci too and enjoyed it. The Toledo Mudhens are great. -just not a fan of Ohio State.
Happy to hear that! I'm from Cleveland area, but I somehow avoided the OSU bug that got most of my friends - I've just ended up a general Big 10 fan, which amuses my Michigan and Wisconsin graduate roommates a little. Maybe I'll end up moving back to the midwest eventually - I really like it there.
Colorado. The people are generally kind, fit, and welcoming. Denver is big enough to feel urban, but 60 minutes away from wilderness that could kill you. The weather is a crazy mix - we have everything BUT humidity (which has become almost a prerequisite if I were to ever move). The landscapes are varied: deserts and dunes? got em. Mountains? check. Rivers and Lakes? you betcha. Rolling planes? yes indeed. The only thing Colorado really suffers from is lack of beaches. The Denver metro area suffers from some of the ugliest home architecture I've ever seen - almost to a tragic level.
I really want to explore the west coast (only been as far as a Indio, CA for a few days), but for now I think my favorite state has to be Wisconsin. I live pretty close to the IL/WI border, so I have been there quite a few times. The smaller towns I have been to have been very welcoming and friendly. Madison and Milwaukee always have something going on, not to mention how pleasing they are to the eye (although I do live a pretty ugly place). Best of all, Wisconsin is pretty big in cheese and beer, two of my favorite things in life. Everyone there has had a DUI at some point. EVERYONE. Ok, not everyone. There is a place in Monroe, WI, called Baumgartner's where they have locally brewed beer and delicious cheese sandwiches. Besides that, there are some pretty sweet campsites to explore and canoe around too. I guess the only thing I have against Wisconsin are the harsh winters and the Packer fans, but I'm pretty used to both. I can also say with complete confidence that Tennessee is the worst state I've ever been to.
Haha that's exactly where I've been. I went in 2007 for the Rage Against the Machine reunion and am still curious as to why I am alive. It was worth it.
1) It's small 2) It's infected by nature 3) It's an hour and a half from both Seattle and Vancouver by some of the prettiest roads in the country 4) Hiking. Everywhere. 5) The uneasy detente between the oil workers, the loggers, the fishermen and the college provides an awesomely eclectic culture It's the "City of Subdued Excitement." What's not to like?
Rhode Island- that state is small, probably one of the most picked on, and people still I've there. Although I've never been there, imagine how great it must be there for people to stay regardless of stereotypes? Must be pretty awesome.
like Arizona quite a bit. Arizona is kind of boring and I probably wouldn't want to live there, but there's something about the desert and the mountains that is just beautiful, and at higher altitudes like Prescott and Flagstaff it's even prettier when you start seeing more vegetation. I'm also a big fan of North Dakota, as that's where a lot of my family is from and I spent a lot of time up there for college. It's flat, there's not a lot to do, but the people are great, and the stargazing is amazing. There's something about the rolling planes of wheat and silence that is very relaxing and soothing. There's nothing really notable or "worth seeing there", but the western part of the state is almost a step back in time in a very good way. My family comes from a small town of around 1,000 people in way NW Nodak, and it's one of my favorite trips every year. Life just moves at a slower pace up there, and it's a good change. I also really enjoy Montana just for the scenery. Mountains, forrests, untouched wilderness, what's not to love!? Also really biased to Minnesota (where I live) for the same reason. No mountains, but tons of trees, lakes, rivers, and it's just beautiful way up North near the Canadian border.
I love the pleasant Peninsulas. The Great Lakes are without equal, and the Upper Michigan shoreline is rugged and serene. The weather is unpredictable, and the people are generally humble and quirky. If we were to relocate, it would probably be Oregon or Washington.
Living there makes me partial to Oregon, (It's where all my stuff is after all.) but there's also the lack of sales tax, and the fact that people pump my gas for me, which is also nice. Also it's pretty progressive, but not so far out there that we get all the hyperliberals.
Favorite state to visit? Either South Dakota (badlands, hiking, stargazing) Washington (fucking beautiful), Utah, (Zion, Arches, Monument Valley), Wyoming (yellowstone, wounded knee) or California (food, weather, beaches, boys (or girls or you're into) san francisco, san diego) Favorite state to live? Either Arizona because I love dry heat, the landscape and hiking, Phoenix, Tucson, the wildlife, and the cultural pluralism, or Pennsylvania because of the distinct four seasons and lack of any natural disasters, Pittsburgh (where I live now), history, relatively stable economy, nice people (in my experience), relatively close to a bunch of places, really pleasant countryside. Hawaii to visit and live.