#10 Virginia is for Historians (and Lovers too)
We start off very reminiscent in this list, and there is no better place than VA to bear witness to the historical escapades on memory lane. The commonwealth "is a historical icon", keeping its dense past in an unbreakable amber, burning for eyes that are new to its nostalgic mien (virginia.org). Inside its wondrous gates are places like the house of the first president ever, to the civil war memorial: Shenandoah Valley, to impressionistic remakes such as the famed Williamsburg; the past never felt so real! For those few throats that are quenched still, let Old Dominion speak for itself, being the gateway to the entire nation in that year 1607, back when the New World was just starting to be realized by Europeans who were determined to escape tyrannical rule (virginia.org). Whose feet do not wish to tread on the ground of their predecessors, to travel through the dense heritage that is being held still, or to walk in the footsteps of the founding fathers? Virginia is more than qualified to be a place sought highly after in the aspects of visitation, for a relic of such magnitude has not been kept in a condition so pristine and lively before.
#9 Tennessee – The King of Rock & Roll's Home
For those who do not understand the importance of this great state, in the domain of music alone, it will be further explained. The state of Tennessee continues our historical trend well, but in a different, more rhythmic, fashion. Holding the home of the rock and roll revolutionary himself, Elvis Presley, this location effortlessly deters itself off of the beating path, following the drum of the late great American rock star (Arnold). Graceland, located in Memphis, Tennessee, follows its owner in its almost abrasively overwhelming persona, with tours comprising of tours of Mr. Presley's " two custom airplanes" and even a grand look inside the "the Elvis Automobile Museum" (Arnold). Imagine, a chance to breathe the same air as an individual whose realm was infinitely influential to American music culture, to see inside the dwelling place of the pelvis bobbing, rootin' tooting, musician, truly the first of his kind. But do not be fooled, Tennessee not only houses the fandemonium of one of the greats, no, its edge is that this is but a SMIDGE of the entirety of the state, yet it so much is packed into the likes of a house. Tennessee is so compact in its attractions, that, whether you know whose mouth spoke the words or not, you'll be thanking the state, thanking it very much.
#8 Nevada – SIN CITY …. And those other places
Everyone and their dogs know about Nevada's rich back story, being a helping hand in the economy of the America of the latter days. Clearly pictured below (its just really small that's all), the Hoover Dam's reach was and is a continuous benefactor towards the U.S. job facilitation, which was undeniably huge among those strung in the arms of poverty. The assistance it provided could not verify Nevada more for the spot of - forgive us historians, but let's get to the point here: Las Vegas! The city whose stature was fortified by pure popularity! Shed the skin of societal norms and all etiquette and venture out into the luxurious, top rated night life and after hour activities (lasvegas.net). The city known for its long suffering "party lifestyle" beckons those who desire to know debauchery's name, even if only for one night, which will inevitably run longer than one night (lasvegas.net). Let the home of the daredevils, the unashamed risk takers, the emphatic bet makers, seduce its place on the list of the must see locations, free of judgment. Every dog has its day, right? God knows – though the use of his name is laughably dichotomous in this setting – that this spot is mere perfection to those with bad intentions in mind.
#7 Wyoming – Nature in its Purest Form
Ending our overtly sufficient, yet one dimensional or one-stop based locations, is the natural wonder of Wyoming's own Yellow Stone National Park. The picture alone could drive the mileage off of mere curiosity. The park was the first of many, becoming sectioned off in 1872 because of the magnitude of its unchecked and unmatched beauty (nps.gov). The "Wonderland" has a myriad of spots within itself, from the flighty visuals of feral animals, to the amalgam of archaebacteria that bask in their own aesthetic victory, to the possible view of the spew of the geyser Old Faithful (nps.gov). The park is encased in an amber of its own (sorry Virginia), the amber this time being a reverence of some sort, an utter appreciation for the park's landscape that is clearly untouched, but resembles the mark of a paintbrush nonetheless. The park is "a mountain of wilderness", transcendental oxycontin, Mother Nature's dopamine; Yellow Stone is Wyoming's gift to tourists attractions, without a doubt ensuring its place, if not surpassing the others in its enrapturing visuals (nps.gov).
#6 Washington – A lot to See-atle
Moving us on to more multilateral destinations is the state of Washington. Washington is almost unheard of by the East Coast, almost becoming a territory yet again to those who know only of the big cities and landmarks around them. Nevertheless, this actually adds to its value of being a sleeper hit among the list, being a coalition of the technological icons like the 360° angle Space Needle, and 1980s volcanic sleeping dragon, Mt, Helens (interexchange.org). Washington's benefactor is also its cohesiveness, with the Space Needle allowing the eyes to meander all the way to the mountains, connecting the industrial awe and the natural skyline in one fell swoop, just as they were meant to be seen (interexchange.org). The thrills getting a 605 foot trek up into Seattle's heavens reverberate just as much as the sight of Mt. Helens' volcanic "evidence" intertwined with the its genesis of wildlife (interexchange.org). Washington's quietness is its greatest bonus, elevating its spot on the list by becoming the Mt. Helens of sight-seeing locations; being patient until its glory smokes out all others seen.
#5 Arizona – If Yellow Stone Was a State
The scenery, the scenery, the scenery! Arizona, the Maury-verified father of Wyoming, embodies nature in its adult form, fully matured. An array of scrumptious, yet sometimes traversable, eye candy permeates all who glimpse its lands. The history here is homo-sapien absent, a cataloging of the information of "ancient ruins" all hidden within the sedimentary rock that shapes its distinct reddish-brown terrain (americansouthwest.net). This location is a raw look at the heart of Gaia itself, being possibly one of the most renown among other hotspots ever, dwarfing its landscape competitors with just one whisper of the very familiar Grand Canyon, which is, but one natural resort inside the earthy solution Arizona holds (americansouthwest.net). The "great gorge" has been said to be too vast for new comers, and let this be a warning to the green travelers who have yet to be shaken by high-altitude rocks: the Grand Canyon is unlike the rest (americansouthwest.net). Not to mention Lake Mead, a magnificent body of water that flooded over previous arid land and became an attraction like no other, as well as a diverse recreational destination, besides the fact that it's over look is entertaining enough (americansouthwest.net). Arizona, when it comes to nature, holds its own ranking with its enthralling community of terrain and picturesque quality.
#4 Florida – Don't Make Up Your Mind
Another chip off of the variety chain, we have the multi-sided Florida, the state with more range than Miss Carey herself (this of course referring to her past self). The state phonates with a warm, high pitch on one end, starting with the perennial family favorite Walt Disney: the amusement park that instills gripping ties between family members through personified "enchanting fairytales" that are as embraceable as they are thrilling rollercoaster rides (go-florida.net). Then Florida switches to its baritone voice, the euphonious melody here previously dissipates, and we are surrounded by the correctly over-hyped Everglades. The proclaimed Hollywood nightmare come to life, the swamp contains both of the gothicized wildlife associated with murky waters: insatiable alligators and menacing crocodiles (go-florida.net). Though it'd be unfair to put the water dragons on a pedestal and undermine the Everglades' vast ecosystem of ferns, orchids, river otters, and even egrets that line the rivers of this unique habitat (go-florida.net). The two juxtaposing counterparts mentioned here provide an adventure for Jekyll and Hyde, so sight-seeing at the big orange is effortlessly a trip for each eye.
#3 California – The Golden Gates
We see now the first of the holy trinity: California State. The state already dominates the western half of America in its size, but the degree of diversity here is what makes this spot a force to be reckoned with. Starting with from the left of the pictures, there is Death Valley, a little Arizona in itself, "a below sea-level basin" famous for its record breaching "summer heat" and its surprisingly sundry supply of life (nps.gov). On the far right we have the lush natural setting of the rumored Redwood trees, thought by most to be the skyscrapers of vascular world, and still there is a mosaic of habitats among the surroundings, so the Redwoods become a complete foil of the arduous Death Valley (nps.gov). In the middle there is the Golden Gate Bridge, a merger between the peoples who reside today and the lives of those who came before, a chronicle of the life of California as it was a fetus up until now (nps.gov). California manages to implement qualities from various states into its one state to transform into a land of many terrains, of biological habitats, and of peoples, and more of course then mentioned here, further ensuring that no matter what the scene is, California's wing span will reach with ease.
#2 Texas – The Lone Star
The final two states possess qualities that are inverse to each other, so, though this is a list, there placeholders should not be taken with extreme validity, as they are foils of each other that have no downside visible. Texas, though it is smaller than the sundry land of Cali, its power is the paradoxical small aurora it creates, betraying its size almost laughably. What other state has a southern Mexican cuisine like "Tex Mex", a completely synthesized and downright scrumptious genre of food, which, is unanimously known to all under its infinite like borders (keranews.org)? What other runner up contains a mascot, not for a school, not for a national football team, no, but for the likes of an entire state? His name is "Big Tex" and his appearance is seldom seen beyond the days of, wait for, the state wide celebratory fair (keranew.org)! We are talking about a state here! Magnitude of any degree has not deterred the minds of those who dwell inside its magnificence from keeping its humble nature. The cumulus emotion that is stuffed into the pan-fried, southern-hospitality based treatment feels only a micron thick, and it more than manages to downsize its formidable walls into something more personal. The sheer pride that is showered during its grandiose celebrations is one of pure authenticity, and no new comer should cloud themselves from getting ray of light from the Lone Star state. The very nature of Texas is a state dedicated to an individualist aroma that is sweet smelling to those all of its residents. One trip will not suffice, y'all gone' come back now, you hear?
#1 New York City – Apples to None
We've now come full circle to the one dimensional aspects of hot spots. "America's town square" or Times Square, defeats all else for a sole reason: density (timessquarenyc.org). Bright lights shown by the countless Jumbotrons that decorate the already sky piercing buildings, the universally acclaimed and sought after Broadway theatre that houses celebrities and everymen alike, the Ball Drop that spurs the high tide emotions of the New Year into a cheerful frenzy, and, this ALL happening in one zone (timessquarenyc.org). If it were a star – which it is, undeniably, compared to the other state must-sees – it'd be a neutron star: a celestial body with a noticeably small radius, but a gravitational force so massive that if a mere teaspoon of its stature was taken, its weight in terms of tons would be a billion. This is the punch of not a city in NYC, but a neighborhood (sorry Tennessee)! This place has no issue with cultivating an experience so big, so illustrious and captivating, so grand yet simultaneously so miniscule, into a fraction of a fraction of the state. To name this as the others, a "must-see", like the visual sense is the only sense stimulated, like the neighborhood is just some compact eye candy, would be a complete and utter dismissal of the architecture and the oxymoronic scale it holds for itself. No, this pebble to Grand Canyons, this fern to Redwoods, this pond to Everglades', this hill to Mt. Helens', this shack to Gracelands, creates for all whose eyes have not seen and ears not heard a mandate to do so like no other. Don't be one who misses out.
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