I've been to all 50 states. Here are 5 I can't wait to visit again and the 5 I probably won't return to.

I was enthralled by New Mexico and its charms after my very first visit as a child.

Since then, I've spent time exploring the adobe homes of Albuquerque and have witnessed the spectacular sunsets over the Chihuahuan Desert.

Still, there's so much else in the state I'd love to discover or see again, from gallery-hopping and appreciating the art scene in Santa Fe to skiing in Taos.

I've visited Hawaii many times over the years, and finally visited my sixth island last winter on a trip to Molokai (the least-visited of the major islands).

Each return visit to Hawaii leaves me more inspired by the varied beauty and the rich culture and history of the islands.

Plus, each island offers a unique experience — whether you're interested in Maui's luxurious Wailea coast, a five-star romance on Lanai, a nature retreat in the lush countryside of Kauai, or a surf getaway to Oahu's North Shore.

When you visit, be respectful and leave your all-inclusive resort — there's more to explore beyond the confines of your hotel.

I first noticed Oklahoma's diverse landscapes — rolling foothills, tallgrass prairies, cypress swamps — from the backseat window on cross-country family road trips.

Located at the juncture of the Midwest and the Rocky Mountains, Oklahoma is rich in Native American history, with one of the highest indigenous populations in the US.

It has an array of museums and festivals that provide opportunities to engage with the culture and support local initiatives.

Top of my list for my next visit is the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, which hosts an annual summer solstice celebration, and the Living Village at the Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant.

Each trip to Alaska leaves me with an even deeper yearning to return to America's largest state.

My most recent visit was for a weeklong immersive fishing trip along the Inside Passage in the summertime. During my trip, I visited Saxman Native Village to learn about indigenous history in Ketchikan.

For my next visit, I want to go heli-skiing or watch the Northern Lights.

I love visiting Louisiana, especially New Orleans.

Although many travelers are familiar with Mardi Gras in February, there's no shortage of events and festivities in New Orleans all year.

My previous visits have always been in the spring — I highly recommend the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in May — and I look forward to scheduling my next visit.

In a city this lively, it's impossible to be bored.

If you're journeying through the mid-South, I recommend allocating more days of your trip to Tennessee than to neighboring Arkansas.

Though I've enjoyed visiting friends in Little Rock, from a travel perspective, it's not as accessible or as exciting as a trip to Memphis or Nashville, where you needn't know a local to have a fabulous time.

Plus, the live music in both cities is superb.

I've always loved spending my summers in New England — the lobster is in season, the ocean isn't freezing, and the vivid beauty of the rocky coastlines and dense forests are once again revealed after months spent blanketed in snow.

But, of all the New England states, there's only one I'm less inclined to visit: New Hampshire.

The Atlantic coastline is tiny and unpleasantly crowded (you can find better beaches on Cape Cod), and the lake region is unimpressive compared to Vermont, which also boasts charming mountain towns at every turn.

If you're on an East Coast road trip, I recommend continuing your drive north to Maine, which embodies its slogan: "The way life should be."

When it comes to the Dakotas, I'd skip a visit to North Dakota and spend my time in South Dakota instead.

South Dakota has double the national parks (six to North Dakota's three), and I think the quality of those parks is higher.

The striking geological formations of Badlands National Park must be seen to be believed, while Mount Rushmore, carved on the Black Hills of South Dakota, is on many travelers' bucket lists.

While there, be sure to visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, a massive carved mountain that pays tribute to Native American history in the US.

Once you enter the Great Lakes region of the US, the best decision is always to head north — either to Wisconsin or Michigan, though I'm partial to the latter.

Though Ohio has some lake access, with Lake Erie on Ohio's North Coast, the views are less dramatic. The scenery is less sweeping than in Harbor Springs, Michigan, and the beaches are less beautiful than in Madeline Island, Wisconsin.

Furthermore, Ohio's cities are exciting and having a renaissance — Cincinnati and Cleveland, to be specific — but I'd still rather head to the birthplace of Motown: Detroit.

As a New Jersey native, the coastlines of the mid-Atlantic have always been relatively accessible — especially in high school, when I had a driver's license and a dream (making it to a house party at Rehoboth Beach).

And although Delaware has always been closer, I've found it's worth adding an extra hour or two to your trip to visit Maryland instead.

The bars and restaurants of Annapolis are a sailor's delight, and Gibson Island is a beautiful oasis along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

And if you want to experience magic, head to Assateague Island, where wild horses still roam the seashore.