Exploring America State by State

Under Montana's genuinely enormous sky, the nickname stops feeling like marketing and starts feeling like simple fact. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore Big Sky Country — home to Glacier National Park's ancient ice-carved peaks, some of the best fly fishing rivers in the world, and a ranching culture that still shapes small towns across the state. We drive the legend...

North Dakota rewards travelers willing to slow down and see a landscape most people simply drive past. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Peace Garden State — the badlands that shaped Theodore Roosevelt's conservation legacy, wild bison and horses roaming free, and a genuine frontier spirit found in every small town. We drive the sculpture-lined Enchanted Highway,...

South Dakota holds dramatic badlands, sacred Black Hills, and one of the most recognizable monuments in the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Mount Rushmore State's dramatic natural landscapes alongside its deep, complicated history. We drive the Needles Highway past granite spires and narrow tunnels, Iron Mountain Road's pigtail bridges framing Mount Ru...

Nebraska quietly reveals more the longer you spend in it — endless sandhills, pioneer history, and a genuine heartland spirit in every small town. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Cornhusker State, home to the largest sand dune formation in the Western Hemisphere and the landmarks that guided thousands of Oregon Trail pioneers west. We drive the Sandhills Journe...

Kansas reveals its beauty gradually — endless golden wheat fields, quiet prairie sunsets, and genuine small town charm most travelers never expect to find in the middle of the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Sunflower State, home to Dorothy's Kansas, some of the last true tallgrass prairie in North America, and a living Wild West heritage. We drive the...

Oklahoma sits at a genuine crossroads — red dirt plains, mountain forests, and one of the richest, most visible Native American cultural landscapes in the country, home to 39 federally recognized tribal nations. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Sooner State from prairie wilderness to pine-covered mountains. We drive the Talimena Scenic Byway into the Ouachita Na...

Texas is so massive it holds deserts, beaches, big cities, and genuine cowboy country all inside one enormous state. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Lone Star State — birthplace of Texas independence at the Alamo, home to a legendary barbecue tradition, and a national park bigger than some states. We drive the bluebonnet-covered Hill Country wine trail, Big Ben...

Louisiana blends French, Spanish, African, and Native American traditions into something genuinely unlike anywhere else in America. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Pelican State — birthplace of jazz, home to the richest food culture in the country, and a musical heritage running through every corner of the state. We drive the Great River Road through plantation...

Arkansas earns its nickname as the Natural State — hot springs, mountain wilderness, and the only place in the country where you can dig for real diamonds and keep whatever you find. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore this often-overlooked gem in the middle of the country. We drive the ridge-top Talimena Scenic Byway through the Ouachita National Forest, the switchbac...

Missouri holds the historic gateway to the American West alongside genuine Ozark hill-country charm. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Show-Me State — birthplace of the Lewis and Clark expedition, home to Kansas City jazz and blues, and some of the best float trips in the country. We drive the Great River Road along the Mississippi, the rugged Ozark Scenic Byway,...

Iowa quietly anchors the heart of the Midwest with rolling farmland, covered bridges, and genuine small town charm. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Hawkeye State — home to Field of Dreams, the Bridges of Madison County, and one of the most beloved state fairs in the country. We drive the Great River Road along the Mississippi, the wind-sculpted Loess Hills Scen...

Minnesota holds ten thousand lakes, wilderness canoe country, and genuine Scandinavian charm all in one wonderfully varied state. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the North Star State — where the Mississippi River begins as a walkable stream and the largest mall in the country somehow shares the map with untouched wilderness. We drive the North Shore Scenic Drive al...

Wisconsin holds dairy farms, deep forest lakes, and a genuinely welcoming Midwestern charm in every small town. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore America's Dairyland — home to the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee's brewing heritage, and a peninsula up north that feels more like coastal New England. We drive Door County's Route 42 along its shoreline of cherry orchards an...

Illinois stretches from Chicago's soaring skyline all the way down through prairie farmland and historic river towns along the Mississippi. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Prairie State — birthplace of Route 66, adopted home of Abraham Lincoln, and home to deep dish pizza and world-class architecture. We drive the Great River Road along the Mississippi, the his...

Mississippi runs on Delta blues, riverboat history, and a genuine Southern soul found in every small town. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Magnolia State — birthplace of the blues, childhood home of Elvis Presley, and home to deep literary roots through Faulkner and Welty. We drive the peaceful, billboard-free Natchez Trace Parkway, the Great River Road along t...

Florida holds theme park magic, subtropical wilderness, and tropical island charm all inside one sun-soaked state. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we go beyond the parks into the Sunshine State's genuinely wild, watery interior — from the Everglades to the Florida Keys. We drive the Overseas Highway across the legendary Seven Mile Bridge, coastal Route A1A, the Tamiami Trail...

Alabama holds civil rights history, rocket science, and Gulf Coast beach life all inside the same set of borders. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Yellowhammer State — where NASA once tested rockets bound for the moon, where some of the most important moments in American civil rights history unfolded, and where warm Gulf water laps against genuinely beautiful wh...

Georgia somehow holds Spanish moss-draped squares, coastal barrier islands, and a food and music culture all its own. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Peach State — birthplace of Coca-Cola, home to one of the South's most beautifully preserved historic districts, and a state stretching from Blue Ridge foothills to golden Atlantic barrier islands. We drive Savann...

South Carolina carries its own distinct Southern rhythm from the moment you cross the border. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Palmetto State — birthplace of Lowcountry cuisine, home to some of the best preserved historic architecture in the country, and a coastline stretching from quiet Gullah island communities to Myrtle Beach's boardwalk energy. We drive Ashl...

North Carolina stretches from Appalachian peaks all the way to a barrier island coastline unlike anywhere else in the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we cross the Tar Heel State, birthplace of powered flight at Kitty Hawk and home to a barbecue rivalry that runs genuinely deep. We drive the Blue Ridge Parkway's most scenic western stretch, the remote Cherohala Skyway...

In Tennessee, music pours out of every doorway and mountains rise straight up out of the mist. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Volunteer State — birthplace of country music in Nashville, home of the blues on Beale Street, and location of the most visited national park in the country. We drive the Foothills Parkway's sweeping overlooks, the historic Cades Cove L...

Kentucky manages to be refined and rugged at the same time — home to roughly 95% of the world's bourbon, the Kentucky Derby, and the longest cave system on the planet. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Bluegrass State's horse farms, mountain wilderness, and small distillery towns. We drive the Bourbon Trail through Lexington and Bardstown's white-fenced horse far...

Indiana carries real Midwestern heart in every small town and cornfield — and for RV travelers specifically, this episode hits close to home. In this stop on Exploring America State by State , we explore the Hoosier State, home to the legendary Indy 500 and the town of Elkhart, proudly known as the RV Capital of the World. We drive the Indiana Dunes Lakeshore Drive, Brown County's "Little Smokies"...

Michigan touches four of the five Great Lakes and holds more freshwater coastline than any other state in the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore a state that feels like two completely different places — Detroit's industrial and musical energy down south, and the wild forested wilderness of the Upper Peninsula way up north. We drive M-22 around the Leelanau Pe...

Ohio quietly shaped more of modern American history than most travelers realize. In this episode of Exploring America State by State , we explore the Buckeye State — birthplace of aviation, home to more astronauts than almost any other state, and the town where rock and roll earned its official hall of fame. We drive the Ohio River Scenic Byway, wind through the sandstone gorges of Hocking Hills,...