I've been to all 50 states, but 12 of them stand out to me as the best.
I've visited every state in the US multiple times, and I have favorites.
Hawaii and Alaska are the two best states to visit.
The American West has Wyoming and Montana as must-visits. Maine is a part of New England.
I visited all 50 states by the time I turned 13 and have been to many of them.
A photo of me jumping into a lake.
I visited my 50th state at the age of 13 because of family trips from New Jersey to California.
I remember watching as the US unfolded outside my window, from East Coast suburbs to heartland prairies, snow-capped mountains to arid deserts, before we reached the Pacific.
I have been to these places many times since I became a travel writer.
Some states are better to visit than others. I like to visit 12 of my favorite states.
Hawaii is a beautiful state.
I am surfing in Hawaii.
America's 50th state is my first choice, as well as the 50th US state I visited.
I remember being entranced by the beauty of Maui and Oahu when I first went to Hawaii.
I've returned to Lanai, Kauai, and the Island of Hawaii, and am more convinced than ever that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet, with its tropical flowers and lush green mountains overlooking an aquamarine sea.
Hawaii is the most remote island chain in the world, and I feel like I'm in another planet when I'm in Honolulu.
Lanai is a great place for honeymooners to visit. Both Hawaii Island and Kauai are for nature lovers. nightlife aficionados should stay in Oahu and culture vultures should consider Molokai.
You're in paradise on any island you choose.
One of the last truly wild places is Alaska.
The Inside Passage is seen from a boat.
The locals referred to me as "bear meat" when I was 14 months old.
One of the last great wild places on the planet is Alaska, and to truly venture into the wild is to head north to the Last Frontier.
A few years ago, I went to hunt king salmon at the Waterfall Resort. I would hear whales and watch storms roll across distant islands if I dropped a line into the dark waters off Prince of Wales Island.
Since the island is only accessible via seaplane, I embarked on a 48 hour journey home, crossing the Inside Passage on tiny fishing boats, taking rickety shuttle buses to remote ferry landings, and waiting for hours in the hope that the captain would arrive from the mainland.
Next on my bucket list? One of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the wintertime is at the luxury resort of Sheldon Chalet, which is located in the Denali National Park.
Wyoming is my top mainland choice.
Jackson Hole has a horseback riding area.
Wyoming is third on my list and it's the closest state to my heart and the place that my family returns to year after year.
The Cowboy State is home to both the first National Park in the US, and the most photographed one, Grand Teton. You have not visited Jackson Hole if you question my last assertion.
The peaks of the Tetons are not yet worn down by time and erosion, unlike the "middle-aged" mountaintops in nearby Colorado.
I've trekked in the Himalayas, the Andes, and the Alps, and I've never seen a mountain range like the Tetons.
"America's Matterhorn" is the name of the towering Grand Teton. The views in Wyoming are more dramatic than those in the Swiss Alps because of the contrast with the high desert valley.
California is the most visited state in America.
Malibu is a great place to visit.
California has a lot of gorgeous wilderness areas, like Joshua Tree, Big Sur, and the Redwood Forest.
The question isn't whether to travel to California but where to visit.
Whether I prefer NorCal or SoCal is dependent on which part of the state was the site of my most recent trip.
I'm convinced that I have left my heart in the Golden City whenever I leave San Francisco, and I'm convinced that I'm meant to live in a bungalow on Santa Monica.
If you're going to follow Cheryl Strayed's footsteps along the Pacific Coast Trail, the best way to explore California is on wheels for a week or two.
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway allows you to experience both NorCal and SoCal. The highlights of this road trip are Carmel and Big sur.
Maine is a state of mind that is very similar to the US location.
Little Deer Isle is a great place to visit.
Maine made my list because of the nickname "Vacationland" and the slogan "The way life should be." Who wouldn't like a life of bonfires, sailing lessons, foliage, lobster bakes, rope swings, and blizzards?
The mountains and lakes of inland Maine are beautiful, but I recommend the coastal towns of Penobscot Bay, Bar Habor, Portland, and Kennebunkport.
I've been to Maine for as long as I can remember, and it's still as enchanting as ever. I recently embarked on a leisurely journey along the Maine coast during peak foliage and realized that Maine is as beautiful in autumn as it is in summer.
I was in Portland for four days last month, and I was amazed at how much the city had to offer, from the amazing restaurants and boutiques to the waterfront cocktails at Luke's Lobster.
Regardless of the season or destination, a visit to the L.L. Bean headquarters is mandatory.
Wherever you look, Texas has amazing views.
There is a view from La Cantera resort.
The Lone Star State has a feeling of wild independence that's impossible to ignore, so much so that you need to purchase a cowboy hat to match your all-denim outfit in an ill-advised attempt to go native. It's from experience.
I've found my travels across Texas to be liberating, whether I'm in a remote town in West Texas or in San Antonio. Texas is the largest state on the mainland US, so perhaps this is due to the sheer size and scale of my surroundings.
The views of the Great Plains, vast deserts, and rolling hills are huge in Texas.
Whether it's the art scene of MarFA, the live music of Austin, or the beaches of South Padre Island, there's something for every traveler. You can catch a Cowboys game in the stadium or at a local bar if you order Tex-Mex.
New York is not like any other city.
A photo of me having a drink.
I have spent most of my life in New York City, but nothing compares to the energy and excitement of this place.
I learned a lot about New York as a college student in the Finger Lakes, now an increasingly popular tourist destination upstate.
I like to go to the beaches of Long Island on a weekend and enjoy the sunsets.
The cocktails at Bemelmans on the Upper East Side are enjoyable because they are slightly overpriced. There is something that is out of reach in New York.
Florida is the closest thing to America's Caribbean.
There are palm trees in Islamorada.
I traveled from Miami to the Gulf Coast via road trip in April of this year, and it made me appreciate the diversity and variety of vacation spots.
I can't help but sympathize with the burden of a bad reputation, as a native of New Jersey, Florida often gets dismissed as a retiree's spot or a gator-infested backwater. The state's appeal as a heavenly travel spot is obscured by the cultural coverage.
I grew up biking through the jungle trails of Vero Beach every year as a child, and I think many regular visitors to Florida do as well.
The Florida Keys is the closest mainland America has come to a taste of the Caribbean, and is on this list. It's called the Conch Republic.
You don't need a passport or a T-shirt when you book a vacation and watch the days float by on a happy haze of rum cocktails, live music, and island vibes.
The Hemingway Home in Key West is an American landmark and the only one to house a cat cemetery.
Michigan is my top choice in the Midwest.
We are on the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Northern Michigan is one of Hemingway's favorite places.
Michigan is my favorite state to visit because of the diversity of landscape available to explore.
Although I'd traveled to Michigan with my family over the years, it wasn't until I befriended two devoted Michigan-lovers in college that I fully appreciated how utterly transporting northern Michigan is.
The turquoise waters of Glen Lake and the golden sands of Sleeping Bear Dunes are more reminiscent of the Caribbean than North America.
A visit in the summer is to experience a paradise of quaint Americana. Horse-drawn carriages are the primary mode of transportation on Mackinac Island.
Louisiana is my favorite state to visit in the American South.
An alligator is in Louisiana.
Whether I'm making myself sick by overindulging in crawfish boil, or taking it too easy on a night out in the Big Easy, a trip to Louisiana is pure happiness.
New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the US because of its many influences. The Garden District, the French Quarter, and Mid-City are some of the places I recommend to visit.
The line is always worth it at my favorite restaurants in the city, whether it's a beignet at the Cafe Du Monde or a jazz brunch at Commodore's Palace.
The state of Montana has big skies and big views.
My travel partner and I are riding horses.
If you're looking for a taste of the American West, Montana is a great place to visit.
The state is home to the biggest ski area in the US and the best fly-fishing in the nation, as described in Norman Maclean's classic "A River Runs Through It."
I'd always considered Montana to be among the most romantic states in the US, but my trip to Lone Mountain Ranch last fall felt like a revelation. I booked a cabin at a luxury ranch in Big Sky with a couple of friends in order to cure our growing wanderlust while also respecting Pandemic Protocol.
I credit the entire experience with restoring my sanity, as social distancing comes naturally on a dude ranch.
Try to leave the West as wild as you found it, even though I highly recommend booking the same experience for yourself.
Montana is one of the least populated states. There is a vested interest in preserving Big Sky Country. Leave nothing but footprints, which are the safest options for humans and animals. You don't want a grifter at your campsite.
Rhode Island is a great place to go for a weekend trip.
There are tons of boats in Newport, Rhode Island.
Rhode Island is the best state in the world for a weekend trip because I've been there since I was a kid.
America's smallest state has an endless array of idyllic beach towns.
Newport is a historic seaside town on Aquidneck Island that is famous for being America's sailing capital.
My ideal day in Newport is spent on the water. The America's Cup Charter is located in downtown Thames.
I used to get mudslides at Black Pearl patio when I was on dry land. I'd drink and catch the sunset from the Adirondack chairs on the lawn of Castle Hill Inn before heading to the Clarke Cooke House for seafood and espresso martinis. I'd end the night dancing to the hit song "Motown" at the Sky Bar.
The navy blazers and cocktail dresses are the nightly uniforms.
The original article is on Insider.
