Hello everyone, I’ve visited 45 of the 50 states. Currently living in California and am wanting to visit one of the last remaining 5 states this summer.
I haven’t been to these states:
-Alaska
-Arkansas
-Delaware
-Virginia
-Kentucky
Wondering what there is to see and here. I know there’s a lot of stuff in Alaska however I won’t be able to make a trip up there this summer. So what about the other 4 states? If you’re from any of these states, sell me on why I should visit!
Thank you!
32 comments
Colonial Williamsburg is fun for like a day trip. Then you can go to Busch Gardens!
Virginia is a fun state. Lots of historical stuff, pretty beaches, you can find a lot to do during the summer.
Have you been to DC? There are things you can do in DC and VA in one trip.
-Arkansas: Great camping and hiking. Try either the Hot Springs or Eureka Springs area
-Virginia: NOVA has a lot of spillover from DC. You can see the Smithsonian’s large aircraft collection, Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg and Appomattox Court House among other things
Delaware has a nice shore. Alaska has sights like you haven’t seen. Virginia has the National Air and Space Museum Udvar Hazy Center (and easy access to DC)
I don’t know where to point you for Kentucky or Arkansas, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do.
Hiking, hiking, hiking, hiking, and hiking.
But seriously, you can hit a distillery in Kentucky to see the “real home” of Bourbon, and Virginia has a ton of historical sites and some beautiful scenery. Delaware has some nice beaches and touristy places. I’ve never been to Alaska but there are a ton of parks and open areas to visit if you’re in to that. I’ve never been to Arkansas, but you should be fine if you don’t upset Bill or Hillary.
Here’s what I’d personally do in each:
Alaska: Denali National Park.
Arkansas: Maybe Hot Springs National Park?
Delaware: Visit ~~a screen door factory~~ Rehoboth Beach.
Virginia: *Tons* to do here. Williamsburg or Virginia Beach, maybe?
Kentucky: Bourbon distilleries.
Kentucky is just a neighbor, but there’s Mammoth Cave National Park Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest. Also, there’s the [Kentucky Bourbon Trail](https://www.kybourbontrail.com/)
Delaware has some nice beach towns like Rehoboth and Dewey. The rest of the state has, um, chicken farms.
The other 4 not much, but went to Alaska with my mom a few years ago because it was the last state she needed for 50 too. Really weird place, unlike anywhere else I’ve ever experienced really.
Nonexhaustive list-Historic triangle, Arlington Cemetery, Monticello, Natural Bridge, Luray Caverns, Shenandoah National Park, Mount Vernon, Busch Gardens, King’s Dominion, VMFA
Virginia is actually pretty cool. If you like history, you can find a lot of historical sites related to the founding fathers. There’s also Shenandoah National Park, which is beautiful for camping, hiking, etc. Virginia Beach is a beautiful vacation spot, as well.
Oh I love Virginia! So much history, and it’s also a beautiful state.
If youre into bourbon, the Bourbon trail in Kentucky is a lot of fun.
If youre into College Basketball Kentucky and Virginia both have good mens programs, and Rupp is a must see for any fan
Virginia: Mount Vernon, Montecello, Yorktown, Jamestown, The Mainer’s Museum in Newport News has parts of the USS Monitor
Arkansas: Crater of Diamonds State Park
Alaska: the Denali Star on the Alaska RR is on my bucket list
Arkansas or Kentucky if you like the outdoors, Virginia too though it depends on which parts you visit. Delaware certainly exists, it’s been established.
Alaska has a lot of stunning landscapes over a massive area. Some of the National Parks there which I would highly recommend include Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords, and Denali. There are also a lot of other spectacular wilderness areas, as well as opportunities to see the northern lights.
Virginia has places such as Shenandoah National Park, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Vernon, Monticello, and colonial Williamsburg.
Kentucky has Mammoth Cave and lots of bourbon.
We just went to Arkansas on a 5 day road trip with the kids and loved it (surprisingly). We went to Blancherd Springs state park (half day trip), Petit Jean State Park (full day), Hot Springs (I would SKIP unless you try to collect NPs – it is a depressed/half boarded up town and the park is nothing special, which I say as a history buff), Eureka Springs for a cute town, Buffalo National River (we should have explored this more!). Northwest Arkansas also has lots of mountain biking but we had to skip because of little kids. Next time we go back we want to go to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch and do some rock climbing.
Alaska:
* Fly into Anchorage
* Eat at Mooses Tooth pizza
* Take the train and travel south to Kenai Fjords and do a boat tour, hike up to and on the ice flows (or even do some rappelling into the ice!)
* Travel north to Denali and so some hiking/sightseeing
* Go in the summer and eat some ice cream at 11:30pm when the sun “kind of” sets.
Louisville, Kentucky is supposed to be a pretty cool city and you’ve got the whole “bourbon trail” there is you’re into bourbon…
Virigina has Richmond, coastal beach towns, DC metro area
Delaware you basically pass through to say you’ve been
Lots of Civil War and earlier historical stuff in VA. Nice nature. DC may not be part of VA, but it’s close to a lot of the population. I’d live in VA.
Not from there, but went to college in the DC area and spent lots of time in Delaware over the course of a few years. Very small state, but there is stuff to do! Nemours Estate is pretty cool, the beaches are actually quite nice and generally less crowded than others in the region because people tend to opt for the Jersey Shore or go further south to Ocean City or the Southeast, and, this one is odd especially since I’m not a museum guy, but I actually really enjoyed the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington. Bonus, Wilmington is very close to Philadelphia, although you have been to PA it seems.
Too much to list in Virginia, but I’m personally biased towards visiting Old Town Alexandia. I lived there for a few years and it’s still one of my favorite places in the country. Lots and lots of history, monuments, sailing classes if you’re into that, the list could go on forever. If you’re into hiking, the Shenandoah valley has some amazing hikes and mountain climbs that you’ll be bragging to your grandchildren about.
For Kentucky? Definitely Bourbon Country. Even if you’re not much of a drinker, you’re pretty much guaranteed to walk away with a bottle of the “really good stuff” that you can pop open for friends on a special occasion. The tastings are nice too: you can learn to talk about the characterists of whiskey without sounding like a total idiot. Great opportunity to make yourself look really classy on special occasions.
Delware? Eh … they’re mainly famous for that one damn toll booth. Their legislators successfully argued to have I-95 veer away from the logical path just a little bit, so it can pass through Delaware for a few miles. Where of course they set up a ridiculously priced toll booth. I’m sure the rest of Delaware is perfectly nice, but many people, myself included, end up cursing the name Delaware as they pass through.
Go to shenandoah!
VA has a lotnof historical sites and has by far the best state park system on that side of Mississippi. Kentucky has the Boubon trail and has a decent art tourism scene in Central KY, especially Madison County. If you’re into paranormal West KY has your fix.
As a person who lives in NoVA, you should check out Great Falls once you’re in VA. There’s also Jamestown, which was England’s first permanent colony and now a historical site if you’re interested in that type of stuff.
Did 48 states in 48 days a few years ago so we had to pick some activities for states that aren’t well known for having lots of activities. So heres a few things that were discovered.
People will tell you to go to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. Unless you like digging holes in the hot sun for no reward at all, I’d skip it. Try the biscuits and chocolate gravy, though. It’s like they took chocolate pudding and put it on a buttermilk biscuit. You may or may not like it (I did), but you should try it.
Delaware, tax free shopping or something to do with Revolutionary or Civil War times, like Fort Delaware. I chose Ft DE because I’d run out of other things to do in the state. I did see the Fabrege eggs there about 20 years ago, but that was a roving exhibit.
Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg.
Kentucky, what are you into? Horses, go to Churchill Downs. Go to the Brown Hotel and get a Kentucky Hot Brown for a meal. Bluegrass, go to the HoF in Owensboro.
Charlottesville is a must-visit
Alaska: Denali, I also really enjoyed the day cruise through Kenai Fjord out of Seward when I visited. I also did a day horseback trip from Wasilla that was breathtaking.
Kentucky: Churchill downs/Kentucky derby museum, Kentucky horse park, Louisville slugger museum, my sister likes the Corvette museum too. And of course all the bourbon.
Virginia: Shenandoah is beautiful, I did a three day horseback trip through the park (booked out of Luray) and stayed in the Skyland lodge. It was wonderful.
I also find Richmond to be really really charming, a wonderful place to kill a few days.
Go to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s a great historical museum about the time period. Also, go to the treasury department at the state capital building. They will show you a safe with the state’s money and you can get your photo taken holding $500,000 in cash.
Kentucky…if you’re into spooky things Waverly Hills Sanatorium and Bobby Mackeys are pretty famously “haunted” and definitely worth a visit. They’re near Louisville which is just an overall gorgeous city with a ton to do in general.
You could combine Kentucky and Virginia, depending on how much time you have.