What State do you Appreciate?

[nyyfanatic85]

I started this thread as a "favorite state" thread but decided that would be much too difficult. So I thought it would be a good idea to have a thread that commemorates our states in a sort. The goal here is to hopefully get a wide variety of travel experiences, what you found unique, different places you've been, etc. so we get to know our states better.

Things you can take into account:

- geography
- climate
- culture
- restaurants
- cost of living
- people

I'll start with my home state of Illinois. I enjoy the endless miles of cornfields, the sheer beauty of Chicago (Navy Pier, Shakespeare Theater, Lake Shore Drive), interstates that we don't really need, and a whole bunch of little-known secrets. I'm drawing a big blank right now but I'll post more as it comes to mind.

So how 'bout it? What state do you appreciate?

[xenadanielle]

I appreciate my home state of New Jersey for many things but mostly because people think the worst of us whereas I can smugly know the truth. And I like the mythology/mentality of "only the strong survive." Or something.

I appreciate the state of Florida for its warm weather and crazy crap that seems to happen there.

I appreciate the state of Wisconsin because in the 4 years or so I lived there I had many good times, saw lots of pretty places, and met tons of awesome and nice local folks.

[TheYankee]

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming - No income tax.

[YanksFan1992]

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming - No income tax.

Sorry for going all Political Soapbox on this thread, but the lack of an income tax here in Washington is slowly but surely running the state into the ground.

I appreciate Washington for the beauty and overall awesomeness of Seattle, and I appreciate New York for the beauty of the Adirondacks and most importantly, being the home of the Yankees.

[xxltaco]

iowa for being open minded enough to allow gay people to marry (each other), and a black man to be president of the united states.

plus i went to college there. iowa city is a beautiful place to visit, especially during home football games.

[Hitman23]

I have to say CT. it's a beautiful state and gambling is legal. I kinda regret moving back to NY I lived there for a couple of years.

[Sam18]

New York for being the home of the world class Sam18.

[TheYankee]

iowa for being open minded enough to allow gay people to marry (each other), and a black man to be president of the united states.

plus i went to college there. iowa city is a beautiful place to visit, especially during home football games.

The Iowa Hawkeyes suck. Just sayin'.

[Ram Man]

Sorry for going all Political Soapbox on this thread, but the lack of an income tax here in Washington is slowly but surely running the state into the ground.

That isn't why it is going into the ground. That is at least one of the reasons why it isn't in the ground yet.

Take a look at the list of states without income taxes and compare their relative economic conditions to those with the highest income taxes. There is a correlation.

Now ... back to the subject at hand. I appreciate Texas for the aforementioned lack of income tax, the great weather (most of the time, especially if you like long, hot summers) and for the fact that it is big.

[TheYankee]

Sorry for going all Political Soapbox on this thread, but the lack of an income tax here in Washington is slowly but surely running the state into the ground.

Or, it could be that the state government is spending more than they have.

[Bub]

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming - No income tax.

I haven't been to Alaska or Washington, but I've been to South Dakota. Even if they paid me I wouldn't live there. I'd rather pay a high tax to live in a nice area with culture and versatility than live in some creepy place that has no tax.

[Bub]

That being said, and considering most would just rather live where they are, me included, I'd have to pick Hawaii as a state I could appreciate being in full time. It's a very soothing place, consistent warm weather, not humid, not buggy, equal amounts of light and darkness, and very scenic. Not a lot of diverse culture and no change of seasons there, but I could deal with that, especially as I get older.

[chanman7483]

New Jersey

/endthread

[SalingerNY]

Denial.

[TheYankee]

Denial.

You're going to have to show me where that is on a map.

[SalingerNY]

You're going to have to show me where that is on a map.

Look just North of Oklahoma.

[TheYankee]

Look just North of Oklahoma.

Get out.

[Ssacco08]

South County of Rhode Island. Absolutely love it. Cannot wait to move back to RI.

[CptCrunch]

You're going to have to show me where that is on a map.

Pretty sure it's in Egypt.

[nyyfanatic85]

I haven't been to Alaska or Washington, but I've been to South Dakota. Even if they paid me I wouldn't live there. I'd rather pay a high tax to live in a nice area with culture and versatility than live in some creepy place that has no tax.

Hmm I have to disagree with you here, Bub! I went to South Dakota last summer to go prairie dog hunting with my dad and cousin and loved it. The Black Hills are amazing, Mt. Rushmore was cool, and SD was full of great, down-to-earth folks who made us feel like we were at home.

I didn't think it was creepy either, and the cool part was how space did not limit relationships that people had with each other. Granted, your nearest neighbor in northwest South Dakota might be 10 miles away, but the people that we stayed with in bed and breakfasts seemed to know everyone from every town within a 100 mile radius. I wouldn't mind going back.

[Yankee Tripper]

Inebriation

[TheYankee]

I haven't been to Alaska or Washington, but I've been to South Dakota. Even if they paid me I wouldn't live there. I'd rather pay a high tax to live in a nice area with culture and versatility than live in some creepy place that has no tax.

"Creepy?" I actually thought South Dakota was a nice place.

[Steve Dalkowski]

I haven't been to Alaska or Washington, but I've been to South Dakota. Even if they paid me I wouldn't live there. I'd rather pay a high tax to live in a nice area with culture and versatility than live in some creepy place that has no tax.

South Dakota is a beautiful state.

[Maynerd]

I haven't been to Alaska or Washington, but I've been to South Dakota. Even if they paid me I wouldn't live there. I'd rather pay a high tax to live in a nice area with culture and versatility than live in some creepy place that has no tax.

I lived in North Dakota for five years. When we wanted culture and versatility, we went to South Dakota. Just sayin'.

[BxBomber44]

Born in NY (Love the diversity, and ALL of my family is there)

Moved to CA when I was 10, grew up there. Very fake society, beautiful though (weather/climate/geography)

Go to school in CO now (have for two years) and the people are genuine, the weather is better than it gets credit for, and the geography is special. I appreciate Colorado, although am not sure it is where I want to spend the rest of my life.

[montrealer]

Charleston, South Carolina and Isle of Palms ....of course.

[Maynerd]

Climate -- Colorado (four seasons, none too harsh).
Skiing -- Utah (by just a whisker over CO).
Beaches -- Hawaii.
Food and Drink -- Louisiana.
Nostalgia -- New Jersey.
Pizza --New Jersey.
Seafood -- New Hampshire.
Scenery -- Hawaii.
Cultural opportunities -- New York.
Baseball -- New York.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

New Jersey.

That's all.

[Retire21]

The great state of Nebraska. As the state motto goes, Nebraska is "The Good Life." People in in the Midwest tend to be more plain-spoken than the rest of the country. No spin here.

My hometown of Omaha is home to the College World Series, Creighton Blue Jay basketball, the AAA Omaha Royals, the Qwest Center brings in a plethora of huge name concerts (Springsteen, Sting, etc.) not to mention the Men's NCAA basketball 1st round regionals as well as US Olympic swim trials, a world-class zoo, and good old-fashioned Midwest values. And we're 45 minutes away from Nebraska football- the greatest football fans in the country. A city of 500,000 that plays with the big boys.

[BxBomber44]

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming - No income tax.

What about Tenn?

[xxltaco]

The Iowa Hawkeyes suck. Just sayin'.

that's cold, yo!

[xxltaco]

Climate -- Colorado (four seasons, none too harsh).
Skiing -- Utah (by just a whisker over CO).
Beaches -- Hawaii.
Food and Drink -- Louisiana.
Nostalgia -- New Jersey.
Pizza --New Jersey.
Seafood -- New Hampshire.
Scenery -- Hawaii.
Cultural opportunities -- New York.
Baseball -- New York.

utah's champagne powder and proximity of mountains to each other make it my choice for skiing any day over CO...however, utah is also the site of my skiing injury, which led to back surgery, which led to me not skiing ever since...breaking a 35-year stretch of hitting the slopes every season.

[JL25and3]

I lived in North Dakota for five years. When we wanted culture and versatility, we went to South Dakota. Just sayin'.

I've driven all the way across North Dakota, and I believe you.

[jlw1980]

Maine. Mountains, forests, and ocean. Beautiful beaches. Lighthouses. Quaint little towns with dozens of antique shops.

New Hampshire and Vermont. Every kind of beautiful tree imaginable. Houses with white picket fences. Really old churches with steeples. American flags on almost every porch (and this was the month before 9/11).

California. San Diego. Great beaches and beach towns. Ocean breezes. Palm trees. Disneyland.

Wisconsin. Beautiful scenery: trees, lakes, strawberry fields. Friendliest, most generous and down-to-earth people I've ever met.

New York. The Yankees. Museums. Broadway shows. Times Square. Rockefeller Center. Statue of Liberty. Baseball Hall of Fame (though I've yet to visit that).

Colorado. Gorgeous scenery and not too far from family. The Rocky Mountains. Four seasons.

[xenadanielle]

New Jersey.

That's all.

I knew you would say this.

[fredgmuggs]

I have to say CT. it's a beautiful state and gambling is legal. I kinda regret moving back to NY I lived there for a couple of years.

The residents of CT are the highest taxed citizens in the US. Still want to move here?

[fredgmuggs]

I'm partial to New Hampshire. I think that's where me and the mrs. will end up in our twilight years.

[YanksFan1992]

That isn't why it is going into the ground. That is at least one of the reasons why it isn't in the ground yet.

Take a look at the list of states without income taxes and compare their relative economic conditions to those with the highest income taxes. There is a correlation.

Now ... back to the subject at hand. I appreciate Texas for the aforementioned lack of income tax, the great weather (most of the time, especially if you like long, hot summers) and for the fact that it is big.

Sorry, but to say that a lack of an income tax is improving the economic condition in Washington is a bit of a reach. Yes, state spending could be reduced, but the state doesn't bring in enough money to properly-fund many needed things, especially education.

[Steve Dalkowski]

Climate -- Colorado (four seasons, none too harsh).
Skiing -- Utah (by just a whisker over CO).
Beaches -- Hawaii.
Food and Drink -- Louisiana.
Nostalgia -- New Jersey.
Pizza --New Jersey.
Seafood -- New Hampshire.
Scenery -- Hawaii.
Cultural opportunities -- New York.
Baseball -- New York.

Is this a joke?

New Hampshire has 18 miles of coastline. There's a good chance any seafood you ate there was imported from Maine or Massachusetts.

[TheYankee]

What about Tenn?

They tax dividends and interest income.

[TheYankee]

that's cold, yo!

Here's something else for ya. Go Cyclones.

[YankeePride1967]

In the summer, Maine and New Hampshire, Florida all year and Yankee Stadium and Cooperstown I appreciate in NY.

[West Texas]

I appreciate Wyoming.

[fredgmuggs]

I appreciate Wyoming.

Is that where Jenn is starting her militia to overthrow the government?

[YankeePride1967]

Also Las Vegas in Nevada, Colorado and Myrtyle Beach in SC.

[Barb51850]

I love my state of NY. There are big cities, small cities, big towns & small towns, mountains, lakes, rivers and beautiful forests. I live just outside of Manhattan, however, in 3 hours or less I can be in the mountains or at the ocean.

PS - IMO, all of our states are beautiful in their own unique way.

[Ram Man]

The great state of Nebraska. As the state motto goes, Nebraska is "The Good Life."

As a native Nebraskan, I have to agree.

(Although I don't miss the tornadoes, 100+ degree summers with 25-30 mph winds, the howling winter snowstorms, etc.)

[fredgmuggs]

I love my state of NY. There are big cities, small cities, big towns & small towns, mountains, lakes, rivers and beautiful forests. I live just outside of Manhattan, however, in 3 hours or less I can be in the mountains or at the ocean.

PS - IMO, all of our states are beautiful in their own unique way.

New York is a wonderful state, it has such a variety to offer. (fredgmuggs was raised in Western NY))

[jlw1980]

Is that where Jenn is starting her militia to overthrow the government?

Wow, not nice.

[JL25and3]

Wow, not nice.

Put muggs at the top of the list.