First let me state that New York is disqualified for me, or that would be my #1. Just want to clear that up. Now the list:
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Massachusetts
Those three are for the history.
Washington, DC.
I’m not sure if this is disqualified for me or not, because I was there for one year for school, and because it really isn’t a state, but it would have made the list for the same reason the other three did, before I ever went to school there, plus, for the National Zoo setting the example to the rest of the country by being the first zoo with habitats instead of cages.
Illinois
It has the best museums close to Indiana, and Chicago is nice for other reasons.
Alternate in case 4 doesn’t count: California, for the weather and Disneyland. Yes, I know Disney World is supposed to be better, but there are a lot of things about Florida I can’t get past, and besides, I like movies, and the Redwood Forest. Actually, there are plenty of things about California I don’t like, but it is the last on the list, and we start to get to states I either actively dislike, or don’t know anything about; for example, I think I would like Washington State, when it isn’t raining, but I’ve never been there, and it does rain a lot. I refuse to list any state that doesn’t have a single abortion provider, or has tried to outlaw Pit Bulls (otherwise, I would have put Missouri). And yes, I know practically every state has counties that have or have tried to outlaw Pit Bulls, but not many have tried on a state-wide level. At least, when I took my Pit Bull to Missouri, I was told by a kennel manager that I was lucky resolution X wasn’t carried, or I couldn’t bring her into the state.
New York for the City and Upstate NY.
I love visiting New Orleans so I guess **Louisiana **but I don’t love the state so tricky.
**Connecticut **is a cool state, all of the built of rt 95 cities and town on the shore but go 30 minutes inland and rural empty spaces.
Chicago is another favorite city so **Illinois **but no real opinion on the state.
I have favorite cities and places, not states I guess. So no 5th state for me.
New Jersey is my home state and I love living here overall, warts and all are far outweighed by its good points.
*California *and *Florida *are the states I have been to the most outside of the North East and I don’t really like either but I do really like San Fransisco.
I’d seem to have too much time on my hands today: have been following this thread and looking at the hapless states which seem to get nobody’s vote – going strictly by people’s permitted “non-home-state” choices, and keeping to the Lower 48. El Kabong, as above, humorously lists a “the pits” fivesome; though one observes that out of same, Ohio and Oklahoma have received someone’s approval.
If I count rightly, ten states have so far not been nominated by anybody – alphabetically: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Rhode Island. I feel that it would be presumptuous of me, a foreigner acquainted with the USA only at second hand, to pass adverse judgment on any part of the country; will just say that I have heard some good stuff, and some not so good, about all of those ten states – likewise, about the other 38. Am surprised to see a few states featuring in the “despised ten”; re others therein, not so surprised. (And I’m aware of the running joke according to which it’s greatly doubted that the state of Delaware exists at all – no offence meant to any Delaware inhabitants !)
I recall hearing of a competition some time ago, for young people in the UK: there were fifty prizes, each of which was a spell staying with a family, each in a different state of the USA. While having no doubt that it would be a positive and interesting experience for all of the winners: I couldn’t help feeling that in terms of sheer attractiveness and inherent interest of the destination state, some prizewinners were going to be luckier than others.
Oh, I’ve been to Delaware, so I can certify it exists. I should mention, however, that the “Welcome to Delaware” sign at the state border says the same thing on both sides.
True, but I don’t think there is a state I’d absolutely refuse to live in. Every one has at least somewhere that’s pretty. OTOH, once I reach retirement age in a few years, I’m going to have to decide whether I really want to ‘enjoy’ any more East Texas summers.
Lived most of my life in PA. Right now my list would be:
Indiana
Virginia
Washington
Montana
And I hate to admit it but I really can’t come up with a #5 I could justify. If I’m throwing one in just to fill out the list I would say maybe New Hampshire.
I can empathise: I don’t enjoy a high degree of heat. If I were American, I think I’d want to live – or look forward to retiring to – somewhere nice and cold, far up north.
Vermont - nice small towns and scenery, friendly but not obnoxious people.
Colorado - mountains anyone?
New Mexico - Nice place to visit but I don’t think I would enjoy the “whenever I get around to it” service culture.
Virginia - Well, Alexandria in particular. The opposite of New Mexico, VA has prettier neighbors but the DC area at least has great customer service.
Pennsylvania - I love the way their towns look at night from atop a hill. Plus, the Wissahickon in the Philly City Park.
I have lived in Ohio all my life. A few years ago my hometown of Toledo ran a contest to come up with a new civic motto, and my tongue-in-cheek entries could serve for the state as a whole: “Better Than You’d Think” and “A Great Place to Live but You Wouldn’t Want to Visit There”.
I’m a big fan of track and field, so that means Oregon, Massachusetts and New York are on my list.
I live almost literally within spitting distance of Michigan, so maybe it’s cheating to pick the Great Lakes state, but it’s outdoor recreation opportunities are vastly underrated.
North Carolina is a fairly diverse state. It has plenty of ignorant hicks (no state has a shortage) but then it has the research triangle and a bona fide hippie haven in Asheville. The same goes for a diversity of weather and terrain.
But if I could, I’d put Ontario on my list. If I have enough money I plan to retire to downtown Toronto.
California - Went to university there and enjoyed such a wide range of climates. We already have our retirement house ready.
Utah - Love the scenery at Arches and Canyonlands.
Virginia - With Miss DrumBum attending university we have seen much of the state and enjoy it all.
South Dakota - Headed there on our next home leave. Looking forward to Mt Rushmore and Badlands.
** Massachusetts** - My brother went to university in Cambridge so I got to go there several times and enjoyed it. Saw the historic sites and went to a game at Fenway.
Illinois. I lived there for a few years. I haven’t been south of Peoria, but I love Chicago and Chicagoland, as well as the western part of the state with all its farm and small towns. Antiques! Being able to see for miles and miles! One time after a storm I saw so many rainbows I couldn’t count them! The winters, though, holy crap.
California. The north and south are like two different states. San Francisco with its character and the lovely mountainous areas in the north. LA with its traffic, people, pollution, glorious culture and flea markets. I wouldn’t live there, but I love visiting. The beauty of the San Diego area and its beaches.
Vermont/New Hampshire. So green and I love the architecture that’s completely foreign to what I’m used to. Flea markets and antiques (do you see a theme emerging?). I’ve never been there in winter, though.
New York, both NYC and the rest of the state. I have friends in BFE upstate NY (Lisbon) not far from the St. Lawrence river and it’s lovely there, so rural. Antiques. Horrible winters.
Arizona for its stunning natural beauty. I’m not crazy about the cookie cutter cities I’ve seen. No idea about the antiques scene.
I haven’t been to either Alaska or Hawaii, but I’m pretty sure my list would be different if I had.
Colorado - the ideal state for me. Beautiful mountains and plenty of outdoor activities if you’re in the mood, but also includes urban areas with great shopping and restaurants.
New Mexico - landscape and food.
Oregon/Washington - climate and political/social atmosphere.
Tennessee - music and landscape.
Maine/Vermont/NH - pretty, pretty leaves and landscape.
