I ranked my top 10 favorite states after visiting the 48 contiguous United States but there were 3 states I didn't care for

New York City is incredible, but it's a shame people seem to visit this state for that alone. Upstate New York is a completely different world. The mountains and lakes are some of the greatest I've ever seen, including White Face Mountain and Lake Placid. The people outside NYC were such a pleasure to be around. Oh, and this state has amazing sandwiches and bagels.

Wyoming is a state that's almost unmentioned in the UK, but everyone seems to know about Yellowstone National Park. The park is huge, awesome, and basically a volcano. I'm an avid photographer, and Wyoming was great in the wildlife photography department. We camped on the border and had the best view of the Milky Way. I also visited towns like Cody and Cheyenne and the people were so friendly and chatty.

North Carolina is a state of perfection. Not only does it have a fantastic coast, but the drive through the mountains are stunning. The Blue Ridge Parkway, known as America's favorite drive according to the US National Parks Service, is something everyone must do once. Asheville is a great little town worth checking out, and Chimney Rock State Park is a true gem.

Colorado is every hiker's paradise. The trails and climbs out there are breathtaking, and the drive through Rocky Mountain National Park is a must. I swam outdoors near a steamboat, which will be a core memory for the rest of my life.

Denver is a little crazy when the sun goes down, but in all the fun ways. Boulder was also super fun, but nothing beats the fact that Colorado has a town called Dinosaur.

Utah is another state that's great for trails and hikes. Zion and Bryce Canyon are two places worth checking out. I also thought Salt Lake City had a lot going on. I saw lots of history, including the largest Mormon Temple, which was pretty special.

Post Malone also lives in Utah and he designed a Raising Cane's (a fried chicken chain) near his home, which I enjoyed going to. I even bought a T-shirt from the restaurant and it's a great souvenir.

I love the Pacific Northwest and want to live there one day. More specifically, I love Seattle. I visited the first-ever Starbucks and bought merchandise from the store. It was a big, touristy moment, but it's a must. Mount Rainier is magnificent and we hiked up to one of the fire towers in the park. Spokane is another town that I spent a bit of time in and it was quite picturesque. The Evergreen state truly lives up to its name.

New Hampshire will always hold a special place in my heart. Although New England is a masterpiece and Vermont and Maine are equally as pretty, New Hampshire has the small-town vibes. The whole state feels like a Hallmark movie, and the drive on the 112 (Kancamagus Highway) is one of my favorites.

While the Grand Canyon is a true wonder — it's one of the few places that truly made me stop and stare — there is more to the state. Arizona has it all, including great forests, deserts, and mountains. Flagstaff is one of my favorite towns in the country and is worth checking out. And, not too far from Monument Valley, there's also the Four Corners Monument which allows you to stand in four states at once.

I love this state so much, it felt like home to me. The coastline and beaches are just beautiful. I love the aesthetic and mood of the state, especially with the iconic mist of the Pacific Northwest. Springfield was a fun visit if you love The Simpsons, and this state is the home of Dutch Bros coffee! I consumed unhealthy amounts of it and don't regret it.

In the UK, America doesn't have the best reputation, especially the South. But Texas shocked me. I've never felt so welcomed by a group of people anywhere else in the world. This state has great food, history, scenery, and fantastic sport teams. It also has great cities like Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio. I had so much fun here; it's nothing like the UK. Texas felt like a real American experience to me.

• The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is in Kansas, which is cool, but I didn't see anything else but a sea of corn fields.
• I had high hopes for Oklahoma, but I felt there was nothing much going on other than panhandle-shaped merchandise.
• Nebraska and I have a love-hate relationship. Like in Kansas, I only saw corn fields, but it somehow felt even more flat. I did buy a T-shirt that says, "Honestly, it's not for everyone" and I'm currently wearing it while writing this, so it gets some love for having self-awareness.

I traveled nearly 15,000 miles and loved every minute of my journey across the states. I can't wait to return and revisit these places. My list may even change, especially because I've yet to visit Hawaii and Alaska.

Chris Tollerfield is a student anaesthesia associate for the National Health Service from Sheffield, UK.