Traveling is great for the soul. You can see some places you’ve never visited before and experience cultural opportunities that don’t exist elsewhere. You can take pictures and make some memories you’ll look back on fondly in the years to come.
With that in mind, let’s talk about a few states that you should visit if you’ve never been through them before. These states all have a lot to offer, and you’ll find them hard to resist.
Tennessee
Tennessee, the Volunteer State, is first on our list. You might not immediately think of it when you consider states where you’d want to travel, but it has some features that you simply must see at least once during your life.
The thrilling show experiences in Pigeon Forge attract many visitors every year. Dollywood is directly adjacent to Pigeon Forge. You can go on the many roller coasters there and visit the Dolly Parton Museum with all of her costumes and other fun memorabilia.
You might also go for a trek in the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s beautiful in the summer, and if you go quietly, you may spot some of the animals that live there, like white-tailed deer, foxes, black bears, and more.
Maybe you’d prefer to visit Nashville. You can catch a show at the world-renowned Ryman Auditorium. You can get some BBQ and listen to some live country music on Beale Street.
You might head to Graceland and check out the place where the king, Elvis Presley, lived when he wasn’t touring the world and making his young admirers lose their minds with his sultry voice and hip swivels.
California
California is a huge state, so you can have all kinds of experiences when you go there. You might head to LA and go for a stroll along Sunset Boulevard. You can see a movie at the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater or take a picture with the costumed characters that line the sidewalks.
You might head to San Francisco, where you can take an Alcatraz tour. See what it feels like to sit in an actual jail cell, where you can almost sense the ghostly presence of the inmates that once spent their days behind bars on the infamous island penitentiary. You can ride one of the trolley cars up and down the incredibly steep hills or talk to one of the few surviving original hippies that came to the West Coast looking for free love in the 60s.
New York
New York City is world-famous, and you can certainly spend some time there. You can saunter across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and see the Statue of Liberty gleaming in the sunlight. Once you get to Canal Street, you can haggle with the vendors who offer knockoff Chanel or Dolce and Gabbana purses.
You might go to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and catch a game there, or maybe you’d prefer to take the 7 train out to Willet’s Point if you’re more of a Mets fan. You can walk through Times Square and feel like an ant underneath all of the massive billboards.
However, New York offers more than just NYC. You can go upstate and spend time in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. You might go for a walk in the Catskill Mountains or try whitewater rafting down one of the many rivers. You’ll find a ton of great breweries and wineries that love giving out-of-town guests tours.
Pennsylvania
If you visit Pennsylvania, you might want to drive through Dutch Country. There, the Amish live in much the same way today that they did a couple of hundred years ago. They often welcome visitors, though, and the pies from their roadside stands are well worth the drive.
You can visit Pittsburgh and see where the three rivers converge in the downtown area. You might ride the incline up Mount Washington to see an astounding view of the city spread out below you. Maybe you’ll see the Steelers if it’s football season, but be sure to wear your black and gold, or the fans might very well boo you out of the building.
Maybe Philadelphia is more your speed. You can see this nation’s original capital and the Liberty Bell. You can enjoy a cheesesteak while strolling along Broad Street.
Every state in this great nation has something to recommend it, but you should certainly check these ones out if you haven’t done so yet.
Yogi wanderer. Solitude searcher. Book worm and chill out music tripper.
