Table of Contents:
NORTHEAST
SOUTHEAST.
MIDWEST.
WEST.
SOUTHWEST.
The United States is its own little world. States come in all sizes, shapes, and their unique quirks.
It is a little bit like Europe. The United States and Europe are similar in size. Where Europe has 44 countries, The U.S.A. has 50 states. English is the common language, but it comes in different accents. And each state has its history, customs, traditions, and cuisine. No two are identical.
It would be best if you visited them all.
North East United States (11)
Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Massachusetts
Maryland
N. Hampshire,
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont.
Southeast United States (12)
Alabama
Arkansas
Georgia
Kentucky
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
Midwest United States (13)
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Western United States (8)
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Oregon
Washington
Wyoming
Southwest United States (6)
Arizona
California
New Mexico
Texas
Utah
See the U.S.A.
A great way to visit the United States is to break it up into sections. Visit one region at a time. This way, you can see similarities and differences. Travel times are less between places, leaving more time to explore.
Another great benefit is you can pack for only one climate. You do not need snow skiing and beach-going attire. By the fourth day of dragging multiple suitcases, you will understand the gift in this.
Trains, planes, and highways tie so many of them together. Buying two one-way flights to/from America costs about the same as round-trip tickets many times. Multiple destination tickets are sometimes less.
Other Thoughts
Start in the north of a country or region and end in the south. Saving you a day (or longer) to loop back to your original starting point.
Technology is making our world smaller, but remember, you’re not a nano-second. Plan enough time to smell the rose wine.
Air travel continues to deteriorate. I never fly within the United States without building in the rest of the day for the delay coming. I travel with only carry-on luggage. Fashion is not my forte. I can forgo style to make sure everything stays with me and arrives in the same place.
So many flights within the United States “stop” somewhere en route. Is it somewhere you might like to see more of than the inside of terminal two? If the flight arrives early, book an overnight stay and your connecting flight the following afternoon. In 24 hours, you can at least get a feel for the connection city. Maybe next time, it will be the destination.
You are the Only Reason.
Throw out the “I’ll only go to _______ once” mentality. Or worse, “I will never get to ________”.
Start planning and saving NOW!
Write it on paper. I am going to Alaska, Hawaii, Jackson. Tape it next to the computer or the bathroom sink.
Gather all the loose change in the house and put it in a jar. You are already $1.43 closer to that trip.
It is getting less expensive to get there every year. Maybe your bank account is not ready for the Grande Tour. But in the off-season, round-trip fares are less. Why not love Paris (Texas) in the springtime?
Bon Voyage, happy trails to you, ya’all.