I've been to all 50 states. These 8 are the most underrated.

Cassandra BrooklynJan 14, 2024, 01:56 IST

Idaho and its rafting scene are underrated.Cassandra Brooklyn

I've been to all 50 states — underrated ones often have hidden gems and lesser-known attractions.
Explore South Carolina beyond Charleston and New York beyond Manhattan.

In 2021, I reached my goal of visiting all 50 states.

For me, "visiting" a state meant spending at least a day or two there to get to know it a bit. In most cases, I spent at least three days in each state or multiple weeks, working from my laptop during the day and exploring at night and on weekends.

Here are the states I think are the most underrated and why I recommend checking them out.

I love Idaho so much that their tourism board should hire me as their official spokesperson.

I've taken a break to soak in a hot spring during a rafting trip on Idaho's Salmon River.Cassandra Brooklyn

Arkansas really surprised me, and I'm grateful that I got to spend a full week there.

I loved mountain biking in Hot Springs, Arkansas.Cassandra Brooklyn

Wisconsin actually has a bit of everything.

Wisconsin has some beautiful views. Christopher J. Franklin Photography/Getty Images

New York City is definitely not underrated, but the broader state definitely seems to be.

Hiking in the Adirondacks in upstate New York is so beautiful. Cassandra Brooklyn

Minnesota is great, even when its temperatures drop in the winter.

Minnesota has some excellent fall foliage. Dan Thornberg/Shutterstock

There's a lot more to South Carolina than Charleston.

South Carolina is more than just Charleston. Robert Loe/Getty Images

West Virginia has come a long way from the days when it was known for little more than mining.

Try an airboat tour in West Virginia. Cassandra Brooklyn

Indiana has much more than racing.

Indiana may be best known for being the racing capital of the world, but this great Midwestern state is so much more.larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images

10 smaller US cities with booming tech scenes

Cookies on the Business Insider India website