Growing up in the UK, I always had a fascination with America. It was probably from watching American movies, TV shows, and music videos, but it was also from watching nature documentaries with my Grandad and seeing the Rockies, Death Valley, and the Everglades.
My first visit to the US was of course Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort in Florida as a child. I don't remember much other than the humid weather and having a small crush on Ariel.
I eventually became obsessed with American football and researched the cities that my favorite team, the Chicago Bears, were playing in. I fell into a rabbit hole of researching not just cities, but other states and national parks — I wanted to see them all.
So in early 2019, my best friend and I planned a road trip from New York to Nashville. The trip sparked my obsession of visiting all 50 states. Five years later, I've visited all 48 contiguous states and have found every state is like an individual country, each with its own charm and individuality.
Here are my top 10 favorite states. Of course, this is my personal opinion. I based my list on factors such as scenery, things to do as a tourist, culture, fun factor, and how welcoming the state felt.