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Each U.S. State has a plethora of things to do and see... but, if you had to recommend just one thing a visitor should do in your state, what would it be? Without a doubt, there's plenty more that we could add to our list below, but, for anyone looking to travel back to their American roots, this bucket list is a great place to start! |
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Alabama: Spend a day at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center |
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Source: Flickr.com, Charles Atkeison Suitable for ages 7 to 99, this will be your chance to sleep in bunks and handle a crisis on simulated missions in space. |
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Alaska: See polar bears at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge |
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For a chance to watch polar bears live wild and freely, spend a night in the villages of Kaktovic and Barrow, located on Alaska's 19 million-acre wildlife refuge. |
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Arizona: Hike to Havasu Falls, the Grand Canyon's Hidden Jewel |
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Source: Flickr.com, Trail Sherpa The 10-mile hike into Havasu Canyon starts at Hualapai Hilltop, and isn't an especially hard walk. |
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Arkansas: Visit Anthony Chapel in Garvan Woodland Gardens |
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Source: Flickr.com, Ed Uthman This chapel, made of pine beams and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, is surrounded by 210 acres of flowers, streams and waterfalls. |
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California: Drive State Route 1 through Big Sur |
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Source: Flickr.com, Sarah TZ To experience the best of California, nothing is better than a coastal trip for some spectacular views. |
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Colorado: Go sandboarding at the Sand Dunes National Park |
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Get the best of the national park's sand dunes by speeding down some of the tallest dunes in North America. |
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Connecticut: Order the white clam pizza at Frank Pepe Pizzeria |
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Source: Flickr.com, Krista Frank Pepe Pizzeria is one of the oldest pizzeria's in the country, and his white clam has been called the best pizza in America. |
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Washington D.C.: Go paddle boating in the Tidal Basin |
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This has got to be one of the best ways to see D.C's biggest monuments. |
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Delaware: Walk along the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk |
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Source: Flickr.com, Ralphnuss For a U.S. boardwalk with a vintage vibe, your search ends here. |
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Florida: Climb the shark valley tower |
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Source: Flickr.com, Lisa Andres About halfway through the Everglades National Park, climb up the observation tower to get a good view of the alligators lurking in the swamps below. |
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Georgia: Eat at the Olde Pink House, Savannah |
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Source: Flickr.com, Ron Cogswell A refined Southern restaurant that had originally served as a residence, then a bank and also an army headquarters. |
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Hawaii: Climb the Stairway to Heaven |
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Source: Flickr.com, Alex Ulanov The view from up here is stunning. |
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Idaho: Drive through Interstate 90 across Panhandle |
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Source: Flickr.com, Ken Lund This scenic route will remind you why driving is an American pastime. |
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Illinois: Have a drink at the top of the Hancock Building |
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Source: Flickr.com, Roger W Be it at sunset, or late at night, this has got to be one of the best ways to see Chicago. |
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Indiana: Order the tenderloin sandwich at Ivanhoe |
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Source: Flickr.com, Dustin Batt This family-run restaurant serves 100 shakes and sundaes to choose from. Complement it with their delicious tenderloin sandwich. |
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Iowa: Visit the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair |
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Source: Flickr.com, Bradley Newman Five master artists sculpted the Butter Cow and it has been a State Fair tradition since 1911. Weighing at 600 pounds, the Butter Cow could butter 19,200 slices of toast. |
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Kansas: Order the No6 Oatmeal Stout at Gella's Diner & Lb. Brewing Co. |
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This charming yet modern storefront, won a Gold World Beer Cup Award for their Oatmeal Stout. |
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Kentucky: Stop for a drink along the Bourbon Trail |
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Source: Flickr.com, Anthony Pre-plan your route to lead you past eight of Kentucky's distilleries, from Jim Beam to Marker's Mark. |
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Louisiana: Visit the French Quarter Festival |
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Source: Flickr.com, Vincent Escudero This free, three-day music festival is held every spring. |
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Maine: Watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain |
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One of the most famous hikes in beautiful Acadia National Park. |
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Maryland: Order crab at Cantler's |
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Just drive your boat directly up to its riverside inn. |
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Massachusetts: Dance at the Beachcomber on Cape Cod |
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Source: Flickr.com, Georgia An old-school dance bar right on the beach, complete with live raggae and rock. |
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Michigan: Visit the Shinola Store |
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Source: Flickr.com, Manuela Oprea Shinola manufactures quality watches, bikes and leather goods in Detroit. |
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Minnesota: Canoe the Boundary Waters |
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Source: Flickr.com, Jake Stimpson This superior National Forest has over one thousand individual lakes. |
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Mississippi: Listen to the blues at The Lyric, in Oxford |
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Source: Flickr.com, Brandon When you need a break from the beer bars, head to this movie-theater-turned-concert-hall. |
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Missouri: Explore the Ozark Caverns |
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Source: Flickr.com, Jena Fuller Missouri is home to thousands of caves, its most famous feature being Angel Showers, where water constantly flows from the ceiling like a waterfall. |
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Montana: Drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road |
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Source: Flickr.com, Glacier NPS This 50-mile drive through Glacier National Park is stunning. |
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Nebraska: Throw horseshoes during Popcorn Days in North Loup |
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Source: Flickr.com, Diana Robinson This three-day festival is packed with polka dancing, turtle racing, bull riding and unlimited free popcorn. |
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Nevada: Order a late-night Awful Awful Burger at The Nugget |
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Source: Flickr.com, Reno Tahoe This world-famous burger is served with a mountain of fries. |
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New Hampshire: Add your pumpkin to the wall at the Keene Pumpkin Festival |
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Source: Flickr.com, Jeff Dell Every year, people hed to Keene to either defend or win back the official world record for most jack-o-lanterns in one place. |
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New Jersey: Climb Barnegat Lighthouse on Long Island Beach |
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Source: Flickr.com, thisisbossi These 217 steps are well worth it. |
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New Mexico: Visit the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta |
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Source: Flickr.com, littlemoresunshine This is the biggest balloon rally in the world! |
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New York: Go wine tasting on Long Island's North Fork |
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You've got 30 picture-perfect wineries to choose from - and they are insanely cheap to tour. |
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North Carolina: Tour the Biltmore Estate |
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Source: Flickr.com, Jennifer Boyer Explore the largest private residence in the United States on bikes! |
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North Dakota: Climb White Butte |
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Source: Flickr.com, Jonathan Kotta At 3,507 feet above sea level, this massive hill outside the town of Amidon, is the highest point in the whole state. |
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Ohio: Order a scoop of black raspberry chocolate chip at Graeter's Ice cream |
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Source: Flickr.com, stu_spivak This place has been selling its ultra-thick ice cream for well over a hundred years... and it's delicious! |
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Oklahoma: Go to the Norman Music Festival |
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Source: Flickr.com, Xian Pitt Originally, this festival complete with multiple stages, art walks and local food tastings, started off as a one-day music fest. |
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Oregon: Get lost in Powell's City Of Books |
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Source: Flickr.com, LWYang This book store in Portland is the largest in the world. |
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Pennsylvania: Go to a mud sale in Lancaster City |
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This live auction and craft sale happens every year in Amish country. |
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Rhode Island: Take the Cliff Walk in Newport |
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Source: Flickr.com, Eric Savage The only problem here is deciding which view to look at - the ocean or the mansions. |
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South Carolina: Sink your teeth into the barbeque hash at Sweatman's BBQ |
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The long drive to get to this place is totally worth it. |
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South Dakota: Visit the Mitchell Corn Palace |
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Source: Flickr.com, Liz Lawley A sight to behold on the outside! |
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Tennessee: Spend a day in Dollywood |
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Source: Flickr.com, Jim R Rogers A fabulous experience in all of Tennessee - think food, waterslides and all things Dolly! |
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Texas: Drift along the Guadalupe River |
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Source: Flickr.com, Nicolas Henderson What can be more relaxing than floating along a river? |
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Utah: Hike to Delicate Arch |
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Source: Flickr.com, Mike Nielson This has got to be the most famous sandstone formation in Arches National Park. |
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Vermont: Take a brewery tour |
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Source: Flickr.com, Shannon Visit as many breweries as possible, Vermont has the most breweries per capita of any state! |
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Virginia: Watch a movie at the Byrd Theater in Carytown |
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Source: freedigitalphotos.net, ponsulak A big, glamorous old-time movie palace that has been showing films since 1928. |
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Washington: Hike the Ape Caves |
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Source: Flickr.com, Abhinaba Basu Wander through the dark, cold tubes with a headlamp till you arrive at a sunny forest on the other side. |
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West Virginia: Eat a pepperoni roll from Country Club Bakery |
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These delicious rolls only exist in West Virginia! |
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Wisconsin: Shop at the Dane County Farmer's Market |
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Best place to pick up some classic Wisconsin cheese curds. |
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Wyoming: Go to Cheyenne Frontier Days |
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A 10-day rodeo meets small town bonanza complete with free pancakes for breakfast and concerts. |
