Most underrated states.
Cheeks' comments on New Mexico put me in mind of this.
1. Idaho: Gorgeous state without the crowds of Colorado.
2. New Mexico: Roughly 500 times better than Arizona. See Idaho comments, plus few snowbirds, high desert beauty, Santa Fe, Taos, highways on which you can travel very fast without interference.
3. Alabama: Possibly a controversial choice. Yes, Birmingham is a hole, but Montgomery is surprisingly nice. If you're into the whole water thing, Gulf Shores is nice. Northern Alabama looks remarkably similar to the Upper Midwest: wooded, hilly, pleasant. Friendly people.
4. North Dakota: Typically rated low, mostly because no one has visited it. The only state I've ever spent time where perfect strangers will indeed give you the shirts off their backs if you need it. The Badlands and Medora are gorgeous. Exceptionally clean. Fantastic small cities in Bismarck and Grand Forks, along with the growing Fargo. NE corner of the state is a hidden gem, right on the border with Manitoba. Frankly, though, most North Dakotans are fine if you don't know how nice it really is.
5. Cheeks' own Iowa, which is far more scenic than usually given credit.
Replies to: Most underrated states.
I would list S Dakota as well for "under rated".
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Outside of Wall Drug.
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Kept away from that. But Sylvan Lake....heaven.
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A memory of a tourist bus full of seniors, all croaking, "Where's my free coffee," as they unloaded
at Wall Drug remains in my memory many decades later. Personally, I'd rather spend time with Cousin Eddie than spend a minute at Wall Drug.
I think it would be my own private hell.
And it starts with the endless signs.
I haven't been to Idaho, yet.
West Virginia might deserve a spot on your list. The Ozarks of MO and The Boston Mountains of Arkansas. Tupelo area of MS.
I actually have plans to live in NM at some point in my life.
But one thing that stands out is the lack of carjacking fears in these places.
Idaho is fantastic.
I went to a wedding in Stanley a few years ago. It was on Redfish Lake. Absolutely pristine alpine lake with the Sawtooth Range peaks just plunging into it. Hot springs all over the place and a great river for white water rafting.
The sign said population 250 or something. I asked someone how it was possible that only 250 people live in this summer wonderland. They said it regularly gets to 50 below zero in winter.
Totally different microclimate than Sun Valley, which is like an hour away.
Yellowstone gets an average of 50' of snow a year due to the volcano created funnel in the rockies.
Awe is an underrated human emotion.