What is your favourite US state and why please?

[NatureOverNightclubs]

Looking for inspiration. Done New York, planning Chicago next then Boston. I absolutely love America and would honestly love to do every state except Florida...

Thank you!

Another vote for New Mexico. Loved it. Although I also liked Maine, and the other New England states.

I lived in Texas so got to travel a bit. I could find charm in many places but Santa Fe and Taos were big favourites.

Hawaii, I loved it so much. The traffic is terrible though.
it is just gorgeous, volcanos and wild coast lines, rain forests and warm tropical rain. I’d move there in a heartbeat if I won the lottery.

Yes I googled which state has the highest crime rates and Alaska came up, I was very surprised and disappointed. I assumed it would be the lowest, probably because I imagined it to be quite remote with not many people and lots of bears!

I would have said California this time last year - we've travelled extensively throughout the state and love San Diego.

However, last October we went to Utah for the first time, ans visited Arches National Park, Canyonlands NP and Zion NP - they were stunning and all so different from each other.

Moab and Springdale, the nearest towns to thse parks were fun too - as far away from big town USA as you can imagine, we did see not a single chain store or chain fast food outlet whilst we were there. October climate was fantastic too

What a great advert for America
NOT
And people wonder why americans get a reputation as arrogant, ignorant arsewipes?

California inmparticular San Francisco for me. Not sure what’s its line now tho with all the homelessness and crime but it’s is a beautiful city. Colorado is amazing stunning landscapes with the Rockies looming in the horizon as you leave the airport and approach Denver. I love doing road trips in the USA. The landscapes are stunning and each very different.

Michigan has soooo much to offer.
Detroit/ Motown
Sandy beaches to die for on both the sunrise and sunset sides.
Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Orchards, fruit themed festivals, hayrides.
Quaint little Victorian towns with ice cream parlours, friendly cafes and diners.
Lovely harbors, lighthouses.
Mackinac Island.
The UP - a world unto itself:
Dark night skies.
Wild and unspoiled, superb nature and bird watching, hiking.

It's an all season destination, with snow in winter and lovely summer weather.

A lot of people wash up in Alaska when they've run out of anywhere else to go, and everyone has a gun because of wildlife and also because of the macho culture.

@mathanxiety What time of year would you recommend visiting Mackinac Island (preferably avoiding crowded tourist season)?

I'm in the States but that's one place I've never gotten around to visiting!

Unfortunately there is a lot of poverty amd alcohol problems in the villages and they end up in town and homeless. Alaska gets the highest amount of federal dollars but they certainly don't like to use them to help the homeless. It's a really amazing place to visit and the crime and violence is usually not directed towards visitors but most stay downtown and you'd have to 1. Rent a car to get to amazing places like Whittier (take a cruise) and Seward (whale/glacier watching) and just be aware what you'll see in Anchorage. There are trains but they aren't like the UK and are for sightseeing mainly, thus expensive. An Alaskan cruise is an option but I just don't feel you get the full Alaskan experience.

Utah at least has fun food to try, gorgeous mountains of all types, Canyons National Park, Arches National Park etc etc etc. Especially if you have kids there's a LOT to do and see here.

This is true. It takes a certain type of person to thrive there. I've not often felt more unsafe there than in the UK even when I had to side step homeless doing meth in the snow next to my work all winter. But I think people should be aware how has its become because by the time I left 2 years ago it had spilled to every corner (literally begging on most street corners) of Anchorage. Its not gang violence and shoot outs on the streets just some very sad situations more and more people are finding themselves in in a quite small population.

I spent 7 years in Central Oregon and loved it. Beautiful mountains, fascinating high desert, great weather. A few hours drive to the coast or to Portland which is a great city. Friendly locals. Totally not doable without a car.

Forgot about Utah with it's powder snow and stunning national parks. No wonder many Americans don't have passports. A lot of what you want to see is in the 50 states

Oregon. I have family in Portland, but the whole state is amazing, and no-one goes there! Forests and coasts and mountains. Beautiful.

Go there!

Having just come back from two weeks travelling from Colorado through Utah, Arizona and New Mexico and then back up to Denver; I could easily see myself living in Utah or New Mexico. An earlier post mentioned Moab and Taos- both of which I loved. I liked the space, the long wide open roads, the big shops with so much choice and that not many of the places we visited had chains- eg: rarely saw a Starbucks. Although there did seem to be a McDonald’s everywhere 😂

I had been a bit apprehensive as am South Asian, but can hand on heart say that apart from one unpleasant individual, everybody I met was so open and friendly. Service was always spot on and appeared genuine.

Hawaii ☺️ perfection!!

Alaska is amazing but you need a fair bit of time and an adventurous spirit. I spent 3 weeks there and would love to return though due to present political climate British Columbia and the Yukon would be my preference!!!

I love Utah, especially Moab and the national parks, South Dakota for the state park and needles highway, and Colorado for Rocky Mountain NP. I love an American road trip

They aren't detaining people "willy nilly". They are detaining those who are either inadmissible or deportable through violations/misconduct or misrepresentation of their visa/visa waiver.

If you are either a law abiding tourist or law abiding LPR, you will have no issues.

If you dig deeper than the key information omitting supreme that is The Guardian, you'll find that Mooney had her original TN visa rescinded by the US in Nov 24 (The Biden Administration), she tried to apply at the CAN/US border and was rejected and then travelled to the MEX/US border in an attempt to try apply and get through again and was once again rejected and detained there. Furthermore, she was trying to move hemp products into the US without the correct certification in her possession.

To summarise a few others:
. UK citizen: Unauthorised work on her tourist visa (illegal), misrepresentation of her intentions on her tourist visa. This only came to US attention after Canada acted as the whistle-blower and denied her entry because they were worried she would work.
. German tourist: Detained at MEX/US border with full tattoo equipment on suspicion of working unauthorised and illegally on her Esta. Proof from Instagram and SM dms showed intent to work and be paid for it.
. German LPR: Detained on re-entry into the US. Had a current drugs charge that he'd skipped his court day for by leaving the country
. LPR deported to Laos: Incarcerated for 2 years on drugs charges and after that remained involved in criminal gang activity with human trafficking, firearms trafficking and drugs trafficking to include Cannibis, Meth and Heroin
. Doctor LPR: Detained on returning to the country. Was previously on a J visa and had gone through the H1B visa process. Her H1B was flagged for potentially residency issues (time spent in the US compared to outside the US) and was flagged further after attending the funeral of terrorist Hezbollah leader Nasrullah and concealing evidence by prior deleting photos (left in deleted items folder)
. French academic: The media are focusing on the phone searching (only happens if you have red flags and pulled into secondary) whilst omitting and glossing over the fact he had security classified information on his possession, no official paperwork or documentation that provides a waiver for carriage (anything classified S or above have special carriage instructions that usually involve the need for 2 people being present) and attempted to conceal/hide it.
. Numerous other smaller detentions not making mainstream media involve LPRs violating the residency requirements of a green card and essentially attempting to cheat the system with living abroad but "visiting" the US to try keep it ticking over.

Again any law-abiding tourist following thr requirements set out for an Esta or B1/B2 or law-abiding LPR will have no issues travelling.

The media have an agenda and unfortunately revel in causing fear and panic.

California.. beautiful coastline

I wasn’t that excited by Alaska

Sorry got sidetracked.

To answer your original post.

Indiana: Indianpolis is a nice city and home of the Indy 500. Head down towards Nashville and you have Brown County State park. Up north you have Michigan City that is fun.

Ohio: Columbus is meant to be nice and Hocking Hills is picturesque

Kentucky: If you like Bourbon then the Whiskey/Bourbon trail is a good thing to do.

Louisiana: I've not been yet but I would love to do New Orleans

Tennesee: JD brewery, Nashville for country music

Arizona: Yuma, Tucson (biosphere and Pima), big crater, Winslow (Take it easy) and parts of Route 66. Best side to do the Grand Canyon

Nevada: Las Vegas

California: San Diego (old town, new town, gas lamp district), Long Beach with the Queen Mary and LA.

Another vote for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Wyoming also, if you've never been to Yellowstone.

Alaska and the northeast (Maine, Vermont etc) are generally wonderful, especially in the spring and autumn where you avoid the extreme winter weather 😍

I’m currently living in the southwest, and it’s great if you like living on what feels like the surface of the sun 🫠🫠🫠🫠

Favorite state? I guess California.

where would I send a tourist? Pick a national park. They are all
worthy of a visit and showcase what makes this country a special place.