My 10 Favorite States I’ve Visited So Far

The more of the United States I see, the more amazed I am by how beautiful and completely different each part of the country can be. Our journey to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks have taken us through so many states, but I’ve learned that some of my favorite travel memories happen outside the park boundaries, too. Sometimes it’s a mountain view or a beautiful stretch of coastline. Sometimes it’s a charming little town, flowers growing along the road, or a place that just has a feeling I can’t quite explain. This isn’t necessarily a list of the “best” states to visit. These are simply my favorites so far! These are the places that have stuck with me and that I’d happily visit again and again. And because we still have so much of the country left to explore, I’m reserving the right to change this list. 

1. Montana

Montana is one of those places that almost doesn’t look real. The mountains, lakes, wide-open spaces and endless views are absolutely beautiful. Glacier National Park alone would be enough to put Montana high on my list, but I loved so much about the state outside the park, too. This park is definitely top on the list though! There’s something about Montana that feels wild and peaceful at the same time. Driving past beautiful Flathead Lake and seeing all the cherry orchards scattered throughout the area was such an unexpected favorite.  

What I loved: Glacier National Park, the mountain scenery, lakes, small towns and those incredible wide-open views.

2. Alaska

Alaska will always be special to me because it’s where our national park journey really began. It’s hard to describe the scale of Alaska until you’ve experienced it. The mountains feel bigger, the landscapes seem endless, and there is wilderness everywhere you look. Denali and Kenai Fjords were unforgettable, but it was the entire experience of Alaska that made me fall in love with it. The glaciers, wildlife, wildflowers and feeling of being somewhere truly wild. Some of my favorite memories were the unexpected ones, too like visiting a peony farm in Homer. Seeing rows and rows of beautiful peony bushes against the backdrop of Alaska was something I'll never forget! The flowers weren't blooming quite yet while we were there, but I can only imagine the beauty! 

What I loved: Denali, Kenai Fjords, glaciers, wildlife, mountains and untouched landscapes.

3. Wyoming

If you love dramatic landscapes and wildlife, Wyoming is hard to beat. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are two places that make you stop and stare. Between the mountains, lakes, geysers, wildlife and huge open spaces, there is something beautiful around practically every corner. Grand Teton especially has some of those views that I could sit and look at all day.

What I loved: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, wildlife, mountains and wide-open Western scenery.

4. Virginia

Virginia surprised me with just how beautiful it is. I loved the rolling hills, mountains, countryside and all the history woven throughout the state. Shenandoah National Park was beautiful, but so were the drives and landscapes surrounding it. I couldn’t get over how green it was! Virginia has this softer kind of beauty that feels peaceful and timeless.

What I loved: Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Mountains, countryside, historic areas and scenic drives.

5. Maine

Maine feels like its own little world. The rocky coastline, charming coastal towns, lighthouses and Acadia National Park made this one an easy addition to my favorites. There’s something about Maine that feels cozy even in the summer. Give me a little seaside town, hydrangeas, an antique store and an ocean view, and I’m pretty happy. Oh and all the amazing lobster to eat! A hot lobster roll soaking in butter? Yes, please! 

What I loved: Acadia National Park, rocky coastline, coastal towns, lighthouses and quintessential New England scenery.

6. North Carolina

North Carolina has such a beautiful mix of landscapes. The mountains are gorgeous, but I also love the greenery, charming towns and slower pace in so many parts of the state. It’s one of those places where I find myself noticing houses, gardens and landscapes just as much as the bigger attractions. There’s so much natural beauty here, and it feels like a place I could return to over and over again.

What I loved: Mountains, Blue Ridge scenery, charming towns, gardens and lush landscapes.

7. Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be tiny, but it made a big impression on me. Newport alone completely won me over. The historic homes, beautiful gardens, hydrangeas, sailboats and coastal scenery felt like something out of a movie. It was quite beautiful! This was one of those places where I wanted to photograph everything.

What I loved: Newport, historic homes, gardens, hydrangeas and coastal New England charm.

8. Florida

Florida is completely different from many of the other states on this list, but that’s exactly why I love it. The water, palm trees, tropical plants and wildlife make it feel like an instant escape. And visiting the national parks here has shown me a completely different side of Florida than the beaches and vacation towns most of us picture first. From the Everglades to taking a seaplane over that unbelievably blue water to Dry Tortugas, Florida has given us some pretty unforgettable adventures.

What I loved: Dry Tortugas, the Everglades, tropical landscapes, wildlife, beaches and beautiful water.

9. Georgia

Georgia has so much of the kind of beauty I’m naturally drawn to. Huge old trees, Spanish moss, historic homes, gardens and charming Southern streets, especially around Savannah, make it feel romantic and timeless. It’s not necessarily about one big attraction for me. I simply love the atmosphere and scenery.

What I loved: Savannah, Spanish moss, historic architecture, gardens and Southern charm.

10. Washington

Washington is absolutely stunning. Mountains, forests, coastline, lakes and wildflowers. It seems to have a little bit of everything. Between Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks, we saw some incredible landscapes here. But I also loved the areas outside the parks, especially the small towns, farms and beautiful scenery we found along the way. If you ever get the chance to visit the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, I promise it’ll be one of your favorite places! It’s so green and lush. It’ll be some of the cleanest, purest air you will ever breathe!

What I loved: Mount Rainier, Olympic, North Cascades, mountains, wildflowers, coastline and lush forests.

So Many Places Left to See

Choosing only ten was harder than I expected, and I already know this list will probably change as we continue traveling. That’s one of my favorite parts about this whole adventure. Every trip gives me a new appreciation for just how much beauty there is throughout the United States. From the huge landscapes inside our national parks to the little towns and unexpected places we find along the way, I love it all! 

I’ll have to come back and update this list as our travels continue. Something tells me choosing only ten isn’t going to get any easier.