My Top Ten States

Not counting the eight states I have not graced, here's my top ten--plus my bottom five U.S. states. For those offended by my opinions, be encouraged--I can be bought. If you would like to see your state's ranking improve, may I suggest an all-expense paid trip for seven to your favorite destination so that I can acheive a fresh perspective.

The Top Ten

10. Louisiana -- I have not traveled it much, but once spent 5 days in Baton Rogue. I love the low-lands, the speech, and the "different-ness" of this area. I am very intrigued by the swamps and beautiful murkiness of the Louisiana I have seen in pictures.

9. Colorado -- Everywhere you look in Colorado, the scenery takes your breath away. Traveling up over a mountain in the summer and stopping for a snowball fight--Priceless.

8. Maine -- You gotta love the drawl of the people and the smell of the sea. Have you ever people-watched and tried to guess where each was from? Maine-ers are pretty easy to recognize. I love the ports of Maine, and the deep shadows of the woods. Like La. and Co., my experience here is far too scant.

7. New York -- You've got Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes region, and the Adirondacks (top photo)--and few things are as blissful as a lazy boat drift among the mountains. Beautiful country. Troy is a town in disarray, but it's architecture moves me for some reason. NY was my home state from 1985-95.

6. South Carolina -- This state could move further up the list, if the SC visitor's bureau wanted to send me that trip. From what I've seen--and read--I really love the place. Great mood and story--plus I love the marshes and Charleston.

5. Georgia -- My current home state (2000-present), and full of a little bit of everything: Mountains, oceans, small towns, history, and the big city. The state that brought us Coca- Cola (hooray!). They've got great gorges and falls and vistas. I can't wait to see the Little Grand Canyon--hopefully this year. The little towns in the mountains and the villages with town "squares" steal my heart. And you can't beat the winding roads--'nothing I like better then trying to get lost while driving aimlessly around. I'm just not sure why the beaches are made of mud.

4. Massachusetts -- I must admit that more than finding beauty here, what I find is my own nostalgia, and that's always hard to beat. I spent my college days here (1987-91) and many times have I traveled back. I love the turnabouts and the touches of New England--the road signs, the accents, the way they pronounce towns in the most made-up way so every visitor gets it wrong... I love the coastal towns, particularly Marblehead. And Boston... I don't think I'll ever love another city more.

3. Vermont -- Like Colorado, you'll never spend an ugly moment in Vermont. It's gorgeous everywhere you look--and quintessentially American. Cows, covered bridges, and old red barns dot the landscape everywhere, and the sky gets SO blue when it's about to rain. Extra points for: Home to Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

2. Minnesota -- Born and raised (1969-85). While I was there, I was completely indoctrinated to love Minnesota and no place else. It was like a cult, and I was drinking the Kool-Aid. I never wanted to leave. And I bleed Vikings' purple--prick me and see! Anoka is one of the best small towns a boy could grow up in (home to a couple of Miss America's and Garrison Keillor, too)--I should know. And I loved living a bike ride away from Como Zoo when I was a teenager. Hiking in Duluth and cruising Lake Superior are also highs from back in the day.

1. Florida -- I never would have thought I'd put anything above Minnesota, but Florida inches to the top. I'm a northerner at heart--but I never want to leave the warmth of the south (and the charm). Florida has nothing on Georgia and the Carolinas for charm, but I sure love seeing water, water everywhere. If not for the Keys: Biscayne, Marathon, West, etc... I think Florida would be further down the list, but the south of Florida just takes the cake. The caveat here is that I think if I had lived in South Carolina or Louisiana, or off the coast of Georiga as long as I lived in Fort Lauderdale (1995-2000), any one of those states would likely top the list. But when I moved to Florida, it was just exotic for me--no snow, palm trees, ocean, don't check the weather-put on shorts!, I was single and thousands of miles from home--so all of that puts it #1 for me. Though I still hate Florida's grid system of streets--Boring!

The Bottom 5

38. Delaware -- Smells like chicken everywhere you go, and I'm not talking about fried chicken--I'm talking chicken parts. This is thanks to the Perdue Chicken plant. Though we were in Wilmington last year for an evening, and that helped move DE a few rungs up the list.

39. Kansas -- I want to like Kansas, but it is just so BORING. I like the sensibilities of Kansas, and the Jayhawks--but have you ever traveled east-to-west there? YAWN.

40. Virginia -- I know there are many undiscovered charms to Virginia--Washington and Jefferson's homes for instance--but I despise driving through VA. And the traffic up around the northern part or the state is horrid. Virigina Beach, however, provided me with several oceanic memories at a time in my life when trips to the ocean were rare.

41. Pennsylvania -- I know it's one of the cradles of liberty, and second-home to my beloved Benjamin Franklin, but I've never seen this part of Penn. All I've seen are the terrible interstates, and the not-much-to-look-at sights between Philly and Pittsburgh. I'm always driving THROUGH PA, never TO--so it continually is an obstacle to my journey, rather an indulgence. Have to admit though, I do find myself pulling for the Phillies, Pirates, and Steelers when they're not playing anyone I cheer for.

42. Oklahoma -- Long dubbed by me, "the armpit of America," Oklahoma has little to offer. The place is a dustbowl. It may be a family-thing--my aunt's hatred for Oklahoma was so deep that she'd rather drive AROUND the state, than through it on her commutes from Texas to Minnesota. She was convinced that the OK cops had it in for her. I even lived in OK as a toddler, and one of my sisters was born there--so I'm objective.

Comments

[Micah]

top 5 --
Minnesota, Washington, Idaho, Florida, South Dakota

bottom 5 --
Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Georgia, North Dakota

[Candace]

So what's wrong with Kansas?!!

You should drive through Nebraska, that's boring. Kansas is beautiful.

[johnvano]

Micah-- I understand hating Iowa and Wisconsin (a Minnesotan's natural inclination), heck, Iowa was one spot from being in my "bottom" list.

But what's wrong with Georgia?

[steve]

Is it OK to defend a state here? You're missing the history and earthiness of PA. OK, the highways are long and boring, but off the highways are Gettysburg, Amish Country, History of Philly, Hershey Chocolate, the Poconos, and my favorite, some of the craziest sports fans around for Steelers, Phillies, Penn State, and especially the E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!

[johnvano]

Steve- Defend away! You make some great points. Other than a college visit to the outskirts of Pitt, I have never DONE anything in PA. I know I'd love the history.

I also love small towns--and there was a great one just north of Hershey that I drove through last summer. And I was very tempted to fly up to Philly this past spring for the Ben Franklin festivities surrounding his 300th birthday.