LAST UPDATED: 2/11/24 – Top Travel Ideas for All 50 States

The United States is a big and beautiful country with a wide variety of amazing landscapes.  Scattered throughout the country there is a mix of bustling big cities and laid-back rural towns that add to the country’s diversity.  Many people who visit the United States for the first time, or live here and haven’t traveled that extensively, don’t realize just how big and diverse the United States really is.

The fifty states that make up the United States are different, and in some respects, they can be very different.  In this five-part series of articles, I am going to help you get acquainted with the fifty states that make up the United States of America. 

By outlining the top travel destination or event in each state, I hope to teach you a little bit about that state and perhaps give you some ideas for future travel plans.  I will go in alphabetical order, highlighting ten states in each article.  In this article, I am focusing on Alabama through Georgia.  You can find links to the other articles below.  I hope you enjoy!

• Part 1 – Alabama to Georgia
• Part 2 – Hawaii to Maryland
• Part 3 – Massachusetts to New Jersey – Coming Soon!
• Part 4 – New Mexico to South Carolina – Coming Soon!
• Part 5 – South Dakota to Wyoming – Coming Soon!

Alabama

The Gulf Coast

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is a beautiful area that has an abundance of great activities for tourists to enjoy.  If you are looking to spend some time outside, visitors can enjoy some water sports, guided boat trips, golfing, deep-sea fishing, and even some amazing adventure zip lines in the area. 

One of the prettiest areas in the Gulf Coast region is undoubtedly the Gulf State Park, which has beautiful fine sand beaches, backwoods trails, abundant wildlife, and a beautiful freshwater lake.  For those that are looking for additional entertainment, the Gulf Coast Zoo and the Waterville USA water park are also fun options.

Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park

When most people think of Alaska, they think of mountains and glaciers.  There is no better place to see the beauty of Alaska’s glaciers than at Glacier Bay National Park.  Covering 3.3 million acres of pristine wilderness, Glacier Bay National Park has some of the most beautiful mountains, jaw-dropping glaciers, and rugged coastline that you will find in Alaska.

Visitors to the park can take a guided boat ride up to the glaciers, try sea kayaking, go rafting, do some whale watching, or even try their hand at mountaineering. No matter what draws you to Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park will keep you wanting to come back for more.

Arizona

Antelope Canyon

Up until about a few decades ago, very few people knew much about Antelope Canyon.  The canyon sits on private tribal land and social media didn’t exist to plaster pictures of this epic slot canyon all over the Internet.  Now that pictures of the canyon have started to spread like wildfire, it is hard to find an opening on a tour to see this amazing work of Mother Nature.  If you want to visit, I recommend that you book your tour well in advance as spots fill up really fast.

Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park

Known as “the American spa”, Hot Springs National Park are one of the best-kept secrets of the US National Park System and one of the best places to visit when you are in the state of Arkansas.  The park lies approximately 55 miles (or 89 kilometers) west of the state capital and is nestled in the foothills of the heavinly Ouachita Mountains. 

The 47 natural hot springs release approximately a million gallons of naturally heated water each day.  In addition to being able to take a hot bath, the park also offers countless miles of beautiful hiking trails, beautiful scenic drives through the mountains, and plenty of picnic spots.

California

Big Sur

This rugged stretch of coastline between the cities of Carmel and San Simeon has some of the most beautiful coastlines in the state of California.  The winding and scenic Highway 1 takes you along a coast that has an abundance of state parkland, seaside cliffs, beautiful cypress trees, and an abundance of wildlife.

On the north end of Big Sur, there are plenty of world-class golf courses, including the infamous Pebble Beach golf course, as well as plenty of great shops and restaurants in the town of Carmel.  Just to the South of Big Sur, you can see a popular Northern Elephant Seal rookery that is typically filled with giant elephant seals.

Colorado

Go Skiing in the Rockies

If the state of Colorado is known for anything above all else, it is known for its mountains.  With the heart of the Southern Rocky Mountains located inside the state, Colorado is one of the most mountainous states in the continental United States.  One of the byproducts of having so many beautiful mountains is an abundance of amazing ski resorts.  Colorado has those in abundance.  With world-renowned ski resorts like Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone, Steamboat, and countless others, Colorado is the epicenter of the American ski scene.

Connecticut

Long Island Sound

With its rolling hills and beautiful coastline, the state of Connecticut is a gem of the Eastern seaboard of the United States.  There are many amazing things to see and do in Connecticut, but one of my favorites is to check out the Long Island Sound.  This tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean is home to some of Connecticut’s most vibrant cities including Bridgeport, New London, Stamford, Norwalk, and New Haven.  On the other side of Long Island Sound lies the Bronx in New York City.

When you visit the Long Island Sound, make sure you take the time to explore the many islands in the Sound.  You will find some amazing opportunities to do some sea kayaking, eat some fresh lobster at the Guilford Lobster Pound, take a guided boat cruise, take a lighthouse tour, and even find a pirate adventure.

Delaware

Bethany Beach

With the distinction of being the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, you can say that Delaware is the oldest state in the United States.  However, that isn’t the limit of the state’s charm.  There are countless things to see and do in the state of Delaware.  My favorite happens to be Bethany Beach.

This small coastal town has everything you would ever want in a quiet beach vacation destination and more.  A wide beach boardwalk is perfect for evening strolls along the beach and nearby Delaware Seashore State Park has some outstanding windsurfing, horseback riding, beach volleyball, and clamming and fishing opportunities.  To the south, Fenwick Island State Park has some great surf-fishing spots, some amazing sand dunes to explore, and lots of places to lay on the beach or go swimming.

Florida

Disney World

While there is an endless number of things to see and do in the state of Florida, it would be almost criminal not to highlight Disney World as my top attraction for the state.  With a total of nine destinations, including six theme parks, the Disney World complex in Florida is one of the premier family vacation destinations in the entire world. 

In addition to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom theme parks, Disneyworld also includes the Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks.  When you aren’t spending time in the parks, you can also enjoy the Disney Springs shopping area, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and the Disney Boardwalk for additional entertainment.

Georgia

Okefenokee Swamp

The state of Georgia is blessed with an abundance of beautiful landscapes, amazing cities, and friendly people.  Like most of the states in the United States, there are many fun and amazing things to see and do in the state.  However, when it came time to pick the location or event I would highlight in Georgia, my mind went right to the Okefenokee Swamp.  It is such a unique and interesting landscape and something that you won’t find in my other states in the United States.  It is the most ecologically intact swamp in North America, which makes it a special place.

There is also no shortage of things to do in Okefenokee.  In addition to taking a walk on the Chesser Island Homestead/Boardwalk and taking a drive on the scenic Swamp Island Drive, canoeing, kayaking, and wildlife watching are popular activities inside the swamp.

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