1. Maine
I grew up in Maine so it holds a special place in my heart. Maine really shines on the coast, tide pools filled with creatures, beautiful beaches, forests that hug the ocean-so much to explore. Acadia National Park on Mt. Dessert Island has all of it, even a mountain you can drive to the top for absolutely stunning views. Bar Harbor is on the island as well, a quaint town with many interesting shops and restaurants. I’ve even visited in the winter and found an entirely new kind of magic.
Helpful links: https://visitmaine.com/
2. Utah
I visited my friend Luke in Utah and he did a spectacular job of showing me his state. We went snowboarding in Park City, my first time in 10 years! It was painful but so fun! We met with some friends in Eden and went snowmobiling with Club Rec to the top of a snowing mountain! It was indescribably scenic. You’ll never regret booking flights to Utah. We also spent several days hiking in Arches National Park in Moab. It’s such a unique landscape, it looks like Mars with all of the red rocks. They even have a Grand Canyon look-a-like canyon at Dead Horse Point State Park.
Helpful Links: https://www.visitutah.com/
3. Colorado
Where do I even begin with Colorado. I’ve been visiting Colorado since as was 10 years old as my grandparents lived in Wyoming. I love camping and hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Bear Lake trails is an amazing hike, you get to see three different lakes with stunning views along the way. I love shopping in Boulder, visiting restaurants in Denver and doing road trips around Estes Park. Aspen is a great places to camp, make sure to visit Maroon Bells. Hanging Lake in Glenwood springs is not to be missed. Glenwood Springs also has some of the best rock climbing in the nation.
Helpful links: www.colorado.com/
4. New York
New is a truly diverse state. From the rustic stores in Millerton, to Times Square in New York City. I absolutely love New York City. Some of my favorite things are the views from the Staten Island Ferry, food in Chinatown, ice skating in Bryant Park, the view of Columbus Circle from the Mandarin Oriental and really anything in Central Park. To save tons of money, I always use Uber for rides around the city and even from the airport. With this Uber estimator you can save a ton of money comparing fares. For a relaxing trip out of the city you can visit Storm King sculpture park. I went in the fall and it was magical.
Helpful links: www.nyc.gov
5. Florida
I lived in Naples for five years. Florida isn’t just a great place to retire. With sunshine year round it’s the perfect place to explore. I love kayaking in Collier Seminole State Park, biking in the Everglades and you can even try alligator in the everglades! If you are into bird watching or wildlife the boardwalk in Corkscrew Sanctuary is the place to go. Florida’s best beaches include Fort Myers beach, Naples beach and St. Augustine was one of the most serene beaches I have ever been to. Don’t forget to do all you can eat crab legs and snorkeling in the Florida Keys.
Helpful Links: www.visitflorida.org/
6. Washington
Washington State is an absolute gem. It’s rumored to be the most instagrammable state for good reason. Hiking among the clouds in the Cascade Mountains was an absolute highlight of my trip. Picking blackberries and visiting waterfalls are great reasons to visit Bellingham. Seattle is a really interesting city. They have some of the tastiest sushi in the US, the ocean is peaceful and the sculpture park is phenomenal. Also don’t miss a visit to Pikes Market, you can buy the freshest salmon there and even have it shipped to you.
Helpful Links: www.experiencewa.com/
7. California
Last be certainly not least is California. San Diego features Ocean Beach and the beautiful Balboa Park. Los Angeles has so many of my favorite things, live music at Piano Bar, hiking in Runyon Canyon park, The Griffith Observatory and The Getty is one of my all time favorite art museum. When you visit The Getty it’s always a great idea to bring a blanket and have a picnic. San Francisco has the most epic entry to a city, the Golden Gate Bridge. I really enjoyed my time exploring Muir Woods to experience the giant redwood trees.
Helpful Links: www.visitcalifornia.com/