Everyone at some point in life wants to travel and complete their bucket lists. Seeing all 50 states is usually on the list near the top. For me it definitely is, but sometimes I do not even know many places in each state besides what I grew up knowing.
This list will help you come up with ideas to maybe travel to in your own life. They may not be the most "obvious" destinations you normally hear about. While you visit them, make sure to enjoy all the touristy areas, observe the locals themselves, eat some good food, and take lots and lots of pictures. Good luck in your travels!
1. Alabama: Battles Wharf, Fairhope
Flickr
It is located right off the Alabama Gulf Coast, and the sunsets are spectacular to watch here.
2. Alaska: Kenai Fjords National Park
https://imgur.com/gallery/ola2Q
Located near many surrounding tourist areas, this park shows the Harding Icefield full of many glaciers and is home to large brown bears.
3. Arizona: Sedona
http://lrbandassociates.com/girls-week-getaway-sedona-arizona/
Sedona is a nice town considered sacred by the Native Americans and is surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land. There are many art galleries, spas, and other tourist locations.
4. Arkansas: The Old Mill Park, North Little Rock
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-old-mill
Used in the opening scene of the classic film Gone with the Wind, this park otherwise known as T.R. Pugh Memorial Park is a very beautiful place to use as a perfect backdrop for all your pictures.
5. California: McWay Falls
https://www.expedia.com/McWay-Falls-Monterey.d6327636.Vacation-Attraction
Found in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, this waterfall is aesthetically pleasing and even has a nice beach to soak in the sun.
6. Colorado: Vail
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/colorado-usco.htm
The ski resort town is a popular center full of hotels, shops, high-end dining, and tons of other sights. The nearby smaller towns are also very nice (and more affordable) for those who might want to branch out a bit.
7. Connecticut: Stonington
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/connecticut/tiny-beach-town-ct/
This historic city is full of huge Victorian mansions, the Old Lighthouse Museum, Dubois Beach, and many boats on the colorful harbor.
8. Delaware: Fenwick Island
https://vacationrentalrehoboth.com/attractions-in-rehoboth/fenwick-island-lighthouse/
This family-friendly town offers fun activities such as miniature golf, waterslides, windsurfing, hiking, go-kart rides, and many other places to go and things to try. It also has a nice beach to take in all that sun.
9. Florida: Destin
https://vacationidea.com/florida/best-places-to-go-in-florida.html
Located on the Florida Panhandle, it is famous for its beautiful beaches. You can also enjoy the city by taking a walk on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk or visit the Big Kahuna water park.
10. Georgia: Callaway Botanical Gardens
https://vacationidea.com/destinations/best-places-to-visit-in-georgia.html
This huge outdoor area features rare azaleas, zip lining and obstacle courses, two golf courses, Robin Lake Beach, and more than 1000 butterflies.
11. Hawaii: Makena Beach State Park, Maui
https://www.tripstodiscover.com/18-of-the-best-places-to-visit-in-the-hawaiian-islands/
These golden sands are the ideal place to watch a sunset, try body surfing, enjoy the company of fire dancers, and just to relax.
12. Idaho: Coeur d' Alene
http://www.travelingspud.com/2015/08/25/12-best-places-to-visit-in-idaho/
Located on a massive lake, there are great places downtown to visit or to shop around. During the winter, the ski mountain Schweitzer is nearby, and during the rest of the seasons, there are many water sports on the lake.
13. Illinois: Matthiessen State Park
https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/Matthiessen.aspx
With stunning rock formations, waterfalls, white-tail deer, forest streams, and more, this park is a top destination.
14. Indiana: Cataract State Park
https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-most-beautiful-places-to-visit-in-indiana/
The many trails lead to the Cataract Falls which cascade in different places to make a stunning image to see.
15. Iowa: Pella
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38nnxmV70rU
This popular destination is a great place to visit (especially in the spring) for those who love antiques, Dutch heritage, festivals, and Lake Red Rock.
16. Kansas: Dodge City
http://www.dodgecitydays.com
The historic town was the highlight of the Wild West along the Santa Fe Trail. There are many places to explore and many museums and reenactments to visit.
17. Kentucky: Mammoth Cave National Park
https://www.touretown.com/listing/mammoth-cave-national-park/170/
Visitors can see the world's longest cave system with its massive caverns and formations. They can also witness the dripstone and prehistoric cave drawings.
18. Louisiana: Lafayette
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv8458.php
This is a perfect starting point for one of the famous Louisiana swamp tours to see all the alligators, wildlife, and the stunning natural habitats.
19. Maine: Bath
https://vacationidea.com/destinations/best-places-to-visit-in-maine.html
This small town is a popular tourist center known as the "City of Ships". Visitors can enjoy the skate park, museums, beautiful parks, and great hiking spots.
20. Maryland: Brookside Gardens, Montgomery County
https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-places-to-visit-in-maryland-1038398
It features a variety of different types of gardens such as a Japanese style, a formal, and a rose garden. They are all great picture-taking locations.
21. Massachusetts: Cape Cod Bay
http://www.spews.org/traveling/3-simple-ideas-to-keep-you-entertained-if-youre-traveling-to-cape-cod-on-business/
These long white-sand beaches, dunes of sea grass, and tons of people are a popular destination. These beaches are among the most beautiful places in the entire state.
22. Michigan: Ypsilanti
https://livability.com/mi/ypsilanti/things-to-do/8-things-to-do-in-ypsilanti-mi
Home of the Eastern Michigan University Eagles, this small town is full of many different shops and places to eat. Located not that far from Detroit and Ann Arbor, this is a nice place to stay while enjoying all that Depot Town has to offer.
23. Minnesota: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
https://publicgardens.org/about-public-gardens/gardens/minnesota-landscape-arboretum
Over 1,200 acres of gardens with over 12 miles of walking paths makes some nice exercise while seeing amazing nature.
24. Mississippi: Petrified Forest, Flora
http://www.florams.com/petrified-forest/
The trees are nearly 35 million years old after being petrified with time. The museum here exhibits a large collection of fossils, rocks, dinosaur footprints, and many other ancient items.
25. Missouri: Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ha-Ha-Tonka.jpg
There are different interesting sights located here such as a large natural bridge over 100 feet high, a steep sinkhole called The Colosseum, two caves, a clear blue lake, and even the ruins of a castle.
26. Montana: Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Whitehall
https://montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/lewis-and-clark-caverns-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=MT&parkId=630315
It features one of the most elaborate and beautiful limestone caverns with a slightly cooler temperature out of the sun. The park also has campgrounds, cabin rentals, and places to hike that are very outdoorsy.
27. Nebraska: Holy Family Shrine, Gretna
http://www.lambrechtglassstudio.com/holyfamilyshrine/
For anyone who wants to see something a bit more religious, this shrine and church features many beautiful sights as well as a surrounding walking path.
28. Nevada: Sand Harbor, Incline Village
https://spotlight.it-notes.ru/images/9ae15b8d879402df564d68277ce2d785
These dazzling white beaches, shaded forest areas, and various coves create a nice picture along the shores of the famous Lake Tahoe.
29. New Hampshire: Mt. Washington Valley
http://www.gottagoitsnows.com/trailmaps/1361trailmap.html
There are six mountain skiing resorts located here that are very popular in the winter. They also offer a variety of summer activities such as zip lining, horseback riding, and mountain bike trails.
30. New Jersey: Wildwoods
http://www.isleofpalmsmotel.com/PromWeekends/
This very popular destination has an iconic boardwalk of 38 blocks of everything you could imagine. Live entertainment, water parks, amusement attractions, places to eat, and many other sights.
31. New Mexico: Carlsbad Caverns National Park
https://roadtrippers.com/us/carlsbad-nm/nature/carlsbad-caverns-national-park
With about 120 known caves, this limestone trail is mostly found underground and is sure to attract visitors to see the bat tours and more.
32. New York: Thousand Islands
https://www.visit1000islands.com/getaway/
Located on the border next to Ontario, Canada, these islands make for a lovely vacation time. There are many sights to see such as lighthouses, castles, museums, golf courses, boat tours, and more along the peaceful shores.
33. North Carolina: Sunset Beach
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g49582-Sunset_Beach_North_Carolina-Vacations.html
Stay in a nice beach house while soaking in the sun, walking along the shores finding seashells, or enjoying all that the town itself has to offer.
34. North Dakota: International Peace Garden
https://www.wpmea.org/international-peace-garden/north-dakota-summer-bucket-list-grand-forks-herald-in-international-peace-garden-prepare-18/
These large trails and vast gardens are shared between the U.S. and Canada to show the peace between the two countries. These gardens will provide an amazing picture background for anyone looking to get good shots with nature.
35. Ohio: Cedar Point, Sandusky
https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/cleveland/best-cedar-point-roller-coasters-rides
This world-famous amusement park attracts many visitors with its various thrilling rollercoasters and other rides. It also has many other additions such as live shows, two children areas full of smaller rides, and Peanut characters walking around to meet guests.
36. Oklahoma: Turner Falls
http://jamesjohnston.info/turner-falls-park-davis-oklahoma/
With camp sites, caves, streams, and a waterfall, this location is a great place year round for people who love being outdoors and exploring.
37. Oregon: Cannon Beach
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/haystack-rock-niels-nielsen.html
This popular seaside village offers a variety of hiking and biking trails, galleries and art studios, museums, and even a zip lining course. You can also check out the marine life around the beach.
38. Pennsylvania: Hershey
https://roadtrippers.com/us/hershey-pa/attractions/hersheypark-place
This amusement park, located in the town of Hershey, is named exactly after what you think it is. This chocolate-themed place attracts visitors to come and sample the treat as well as to ride the rollercoasters. Try not to overeat here or you will get sick!
39. Rhode Island: Ocean Drive, Newport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__8sVJtTOD8
This Ten Mile Drive is a good way to take in the town while seeing museums, the public sailing center, and the enormous mansions.
40. South Carolina: Aiken
http://www.topix.com/album/detail/aiken-sc/AL3UVR8BBPABIUPF
This city is best known for its equestrian culture from fox hunts and polo matches galore. It also has the largest urban forest in the country. This extends to downtown which is shaded by all the trees lining the streets alongside museums, art galleries, and other sights.
41. South Dakota: Teddy Bear Town, Hill City
http://dailynewsdig.com/worlds-largest-winnie-the-pooh-collection/
This museum hold the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Teddy Bear Collection" with over 9,000 different bears to look at while reliving childhood years.
42. Tennessee: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge
http://www.themeparkguide.org/tag/dollywood/
Located in the Knoxville-Smoky Mountains, this amusement theme park was created by the famous entertainer Dolly Parton. It features multiple thrill rides as well as traditional Smoky Mountain crafts and music.
43. Texas: Padre Island
https://www.travelchannel.com/destinations/us/tx/articles/your-guide-to-south-padre-island-texas
Located on the southern coast, this island allows visitors to really relax whether swimming, surfing, sunbathing on the beach, or enjoying spas and restaurants.
44. Utah: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
https://utah.com/grand-staircase-escalante
Covering 1.9 million acres of land, this is the largest national monument in the entire U.S. You can explore the various canyons, hills, forests, and waterfalls along the hiking trails or by driving along the many dirt roads.
45. Vermont: Woodstock
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-woodstock-vermont-brian-jannsen.html
This small quiet town is a nice place to get away from the business of life to just relax here. They offer horseback riding, fishing, biking, golfing, and even winter activities such as skiing and skating.
46. Virginia: Norfolk
https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/5-things-that-make-norfolk-virginia-a-hidden-gem
Located on the shores of Chesapeake Bay and the Elizabeth River, this holds the largest navy base in the world. It also features many museums as well as its great beaches.
47. Washington: Spokane
https://www.visitspokane.com/media/photo-gallery/
This outdoor park is the perfect place for any nature lovers out there who also might want to be a little bit adventurous. There is white-water rafting, zip lining, an amazing Skyride, conservatories, and picturesque gardens.
48. West Virginia: New River Gorge
https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/23084/Raft-Hike-and-Zip-Line-in-the-New-River-Gorge
This national park has some of the best whitewater rafting in the U.S. as well as many hiking trails along the vast protected wilderness area. There is also canoeing, camping, hunting, and other fun activities to try outdoors.
49. Wisconsin: Devil's Lake State Park
https://wisconsin-explorer.blogspot.com/2016/10/hiking-ice-age-trail-devils-lake-segment.html
Here is the perfect campground where you can park you can enjoy activities such as kayaks, canoes, paddle-boards, rock climbing, biking, fishing, and scuba diving. You can also just enjoy the refreshing water with a swim.
50. Wyoming: Thermopolis
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/road-trips/thermopolis
This hot spring town stays at a constant 104 degrees and is free to walk around to take in the sights. There are also water parks nearby where you can cool off from time to time while having some fun.
