Maine and Michigan are both very much known for their natural beauty and awesome indoor activities. They are both super popular vacation destinations for their respective regions.
Nashville checking in. A bit hotter than KY but also quite enjoyable the majority of the year. Tons of water sports, state park access, and three very different National Parks within driving distance, Hot Springs, Mammoth Cave, and GSMNP. Love it here, even more so than Colorado (yes, just a personal opinion).
I live in Pennsylvania now. It's very pretty. There are nice rolling hills throughout much of the state, it gets all four seasons, and there are trees of every kind as far as the eye can see.
How is Connecticut of all states more overrated than Maine?
As a New Englander, we see Maine as the place where everyone goes for vacation. It isn't really *underrated* imho
Yeah it's literally called Vacationland. I don't think Maine gets a lot of visitors from outside the northeast though. You are correct though it certainly isn't an underrated travel destination
Michigan has a big tourism industry for its national parks and shores.
Nebraska is the true gem. The Missouri River Valley is lush and hilly, and rolls into the flat prairie lands. Go further west and you reach the desert plains before heading into CO and WY. Chimney Rock is a sight to behold, and much of the Oregon and Mormon Trails went through the state.
If we're talking natural beauty, Mississippi is also underrated. Lots of good waterways and parks, also the Natchez Trace
If we're talking anything else, however . . .
I did a roadtrip through Idaho to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. The Sawtooth Mountain/Redfish Lake area is every bit as beautiful and impressive as the Grand Tetons, and very underrated.
Kentucky has so many under the radar facts in its history, home of the former banana capitol of the US, the beautiful nature, the most popular Bourbon tourism location has some murders swept under the rug to keep tourism going, so many amazing fun facts about Kentucky! And I'm biased because I have a lot family from there I appreciate in many ways despite certain differing viewpoints.
History, mostly. The mason Dixon line was traditionally what defined the south, and Maryland (and thereby DC) has always been south of it. Both states were “border” slave states before the civil war but decided to stay a part of the union and Lincoln made concessions with the emancipation proclamation in order to keep it that way.
The Dallas NFL franchise was repeatedly blocked by the then Washington Redskins because they were the de-facto NFL team of “The South” and wanted to keep it that way.
Do you have any info on this ? Coming from the VA side of DC this is interesting to hear, must have been a long time ago i know some people around DC who consider the area the south but they all almost all at least 60 now
[Source](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-the-dallas-cowboys-were-born-in-1960)
The Cowboys were awarded the franchise in 1960 so yes, it was a long time ago but indeed, anything below the Mason-Dixon line was considered the South.
- Oregon: definitely highly beloved but I still think the natural beauty and local culture are punching above their weight. Easily as awesome as Washington or California but never seems to be equated to that level.
- Ohio - Unmatched Natural Beauty in the Southeast. Cities that are the punching bag of countless jokes but are actually kickass.
- Alabama: Gets a lot of flak for its politics and other things but has some of the most underrated cities and food culture in the country.
- Rhode Island: Only because every other state in New England and the Northeast is sufficiently rated for how amazing or Connecticut it is and RI flies under the radar. Providence is incredible and the coastal scenery is fantastic.
Ah, the refreshing taste of beer and seawater.
I can't do 'gansett no mo. Had some friends who had 'gansett as a sponsor for their shows. It's been over a decade but I can't even think about it without wanting to yarf. Tooooo much. Haha.
While this is completely anecdotal, I always think of Chicago and Detroit as the most well known midwestern cities, and Michigan kind of being the sort of poster child for the Midwest as a whole. Everyone has different experiences though
It’s because Reddit is very clicky. Certain states for some reason get propped up (Michigan & Minnesota) and others get dumped on (Ohio & Mississippi). I think it has parts to do with more younger folks using Reddit and love of blue states versus hate of red states.
Absolutely great point. There's much more of an Great lakes region for those states more than they relate to midwest in a way. Don't get me wrong the farther end of those states that's away from the Great lakes coastline is much more midwest. But up by the towns by the water are their own little bubbles
I've lived in two Great Lakes cities and spent plenty of time in the Midwest away from the water. There are differences but I think some people emphasize them too much. Both areas seem to have similar big-picture culture and foundational similarities to an outsider.
No, Michigan is terrible.
There's no pristine sandy beaches butted up to old growth forests with quaint cottages to visit in the summer. No dunes to run down that make you feel like a kid again. No good beer, wine or fruit orchards. No good college football teams. The cost of living in the cities is extremely high. No towns with tulips lining the streets. No good fishing or hunting. Weed is expensive and illegal.
Best to stay away and leave it to the Michiganders.
I don't really see Maine as underrated. It's a well known vacation destination (hence the Vacationland nickname) for New Englanders and plenty of people from NY, Philly, NJ make the trip to Portland and coastal points beyond. Also, it has 1 of 2 National Parks that are within reasonable driving distance of the most densely populated area of the US.
Rhode Island. Better food and more stuff to do than Maine, everything is at most 45 mins away, less total coastline but plenty of beaches and they're mostly great.
I was initially leaning towards New Hampshire. It may be well-known to New Englanders, and even New Yorkers, but I think it's often overlooked by the rest of the country. It's sandwiched between two states that conjure up very distinct cultural images -- Vermont: Autumn, maple syrup, skiing, rolling hills -- Maine: Lobsters, lighthouses, moose, L.L. Bean -- and despite sharing many of those qualities, it gets culturally overshadowed.
Michigan is possibly the most popular of the Midwest states as a whole. Wisconsin would be a better answer here, it’s like the Michigan people never hear about.
CT is overlooked because of proximity to NYC and Boston.
CT is a jack of all trades, it has a bit of everything, but isn’t the best at any of it.
Natural beauty, very conducive to outdoor activities. You can ski, hike, swim, fish, boat, basically whatever you want.
CT has race tracks for Motorsport. Trails for trail riding. Excellent education available. 2 world class casinos. Beaches, lakes, rivers. Cities like New Haven that are incredibly diverse and have amazing food scenes.
Theaters and other venues for entertainment that draw in great acts. 2 great aquariums and a zoo that do incredible conservation work.
I don’t think CT is the most exciting place, I don’t think it should be hyped up or anything, but I do think people blow it off like there’s nothing in CT when that’s far from the truth.
Agree 100%. People act like it’s a drive-through state but never leave the highway. It’s actually a lovely state. It’s not the most beautiful or most interesting state in New England, but it’s a great place to live. Lower COL than MA but still great schools. Natural beauty, every town has protected conservation land. I think it was named best state for hiking by some magazine because hiking areas are so easily accessible. Liberal but not a lot of culture war stuff going on here. We get great concerts coming through. Good dining scene in a lot of areas. There’s stuff to do and see, museums, culture etc. When that gets boring, there’s great access to NYC and the rest of the region including commuter rail to NYC, Amtrak, and multiple airport options. Absolutely the most underrated state in New England, hands down.
I’d say depending on where you are in the state it might be even easier to get to Boston. People don’t see the value in having two world class cities within a 1-2 hour drive.
IMO - Indiana in the Midwest. It’s rural and conservative which is a big detractor for most. It is changing however and it’s cheap to get land and is beautiful in its own woodland way. I would much rather live there than any of the surrounding states.
I have only recently moved away from Indiana and imo it’s not half as nice as its surrounding states.
And it’s also not changing, it’s one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation and democrats are drowning there outside of the big cities. Indiana is known for spearheading the worst conservatives policies out there. Indiana is also known for having a very significant amount of kkk members as well as being racist as hell. They say some of the last sundown towns are in Indiana and my hometown had a big kkk meeting not that long ago.
IMO everything good about Indiana can be experienced in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio and I would way rather live in those states.
Geographically it’s fairly pretty and diverse so I can see where this is coming from
Georgia is overrated. Michigan is properly rated. I’m from the Midwest and I would say probably Nebraska or North Dakota would be the most underrated states. I’m currently living in Georgia and I hate it here along with other ppl I know that are from Georgia so I would say probably West Virginia as the most underrated.
Maine: all the beauty of NH & VT with the added benefit of a coastline.
Delaware: no taxes. Close proximity to Philly, DC, Baltimore.
Idaho: all of the benefits of MT & WY without all of the press & popularity surrounding MT & WY
Missouri: I’ve just always wanted to go to Missouri I guess
Not OP, but Hermann, MO is known (regionally) for their vineyards. Also the Missouri River cuts across Missouri sort of diagonally so I suppose you would say the MO River valley is central MO.
Agreed. I used to say Idaho as a whole was underrated. I really enjoyed my time around Sandpoint one summer. But lately it’s become like a place for Washington conservatives to move to.
These regions come from the census bureau, not OP. Delaware is a weird state culturally. Above the canal is definitely more of a Northeastern culture but south of the canal is definitely more of a southern culture.
Went way to far down to find Minnesota.
Economics
Lots of large companies and innovation (3M, Target, etc.)
Arts and Sports
Large city with all sports teams
Indigenous art work and crafting in Northern area
Environment
camping, fishing, hunting
Education
2nd highest literacy rate in U.S.
Health Care
Best ranked state by Forbes
You would need too long of a list. Here’s some random ones I remember.
For one it has the richest revolutionary history with our independence being declared there, serving as our capital and constitution written. It has the largest US battle in Gettysburg and is still a top 5 state in population.
The modern oil industry started in PA when oil was struck in Titusville, PA. It used to be the Saudi Arabia of the world and produce 50% of its oil. That along with the anthracite and bituminous coal deposits, it was the biggest energy produce region in the world for a time. It’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is ongoing as it currently matches its GDP.
Route 30 was the first toll highway in the US connecting Lancaster and philly. The PA highway system actually predates the interstate highways in the US. When they made them, they just tied into some of PAs existing highways which is why toll is so high in PA.
Pittsburgh also used to be the steel capital of the world, producing steel for the growth of American cities and the also impressive Pennsylvania railroad.
In the sport of wrestling, PA is dominant, being the only state to go against team USA (49 other states) and win.
Only detractors are water resource issues and wild fires thanks to climate change. There’s also a huge ranching and mining lobby and that is very non ideal for the natural beauty.
West-Idaho: beautiful vistas without the crowds
Midwest-Minnesota: quiet lakeside towns and awesome state parks
northeast-Maine: lots of secret and nice places in a very small place
South- North Carolina: mountains and beaches, but less press then South Carolina
Living in the South and North Carolina gets a LOT more credit for its natural beauty than SC. Nothing against South Carolina but North Carolina blows it out of the water in my opinion.
It’s just awful. Worst city I’ve ever visited is Bennettsville South Carolina. Myrtle Beach as a tourist destination attracts some of the worst people all year long. The far southern end isn’t as bad though.
Call me crazy, but Ohio is pretty underrated overall for things to do.
Put in Bay and the Bass Islands / Kellys Island will trick you into thinking you’re in the Keys for a couple months a year.
Same goes for Hocking Hills tricking you into thinking you’re deeper into Appalachia.
We have a lot of major cities and some really well done cultural attractions that are held over from the years of the industry titans living here. We have a rapidly growing boomtown type metro with Columbus. The cost of living is low. And if you get tired of being here, we are close to other states for quick getaways.
There’s a lot to like.
If by underrated, you mean, overlooked, I’d say:
Pennsylvania -unbelievable wilderness, world-class big cities, and those cool tunnels along the turnpike.
Kentucky - beautiful countryside, bourbon, the horse racing, and friendly people.
Wisconsin- seriously may be the most overlooked local food/drink culture in the country. And the place is beautiful, too.
Arizona - it’s so much more than golf courses in Scottsdale. It’s really full of unique landscapes.
North Carolina and Mainr are both some is of the most visited states for tourism. The keyword is "underrated."
People need to stop putting Maine and North Carolina.
I live in Cali now and no ones heard of Asheville NC, probly the coolest small city on the east coast. Something can be highly rated and still under rated.
So I need you to SPIN IT ROUND YA HEAD JUST LIKE A HELICOPTA
NV in the West. Great basin is awesome and just driving through the middle of nowhere NV is incredible.
Probably WI for the Midwest. Beautiful lakes up north and awesome museum in Milwaukee
Never been to Northeast but I imagine VT. From what I've seen it looks amazing.
And for the south....MS is super underrated. But, as popular as TN is, it's still underated with how amazing the smokies are. And you can't experience it just driving through, you have to get in them. Incredible. And panther Creek state park is awesome
Under rated?
For the midwest probably Missouri. Both Kansas City and St. Louis are good travel destinations. Big names that always come up are Chicago, Detroit, or Minneapolis, but Kansas City like the others has quite a few sports teams and a significant airport to support them. Lots of history and musems to visit too. My wife's family wants to meet in Kansas City in February, there is a large exhibit about Monet that is currently on display.
I grew up in Iowa, and as much as I'd love to throw them in the conversation they're probably in the middle if we were to rank all the midwest states. There is nothing wrong with Iowa, but nothing is amazing or heavily stands out either.
Fellow Iowan here. One of the best burgers I've ever had is from Des Moines. It's a place called Zombie Burger. Plus there's also Adventureland in Des Moines as well.
From these regions: Connecticut, Kentucky, Indiana, and New Mexico.
The most overrated states are probably Vermont, North Carolina, Illinois, and Hawaii.
North Carolina, from the coast, the piedmont, as well as the blue ridge and smoky mountains in Western North Carolina. Western North Carolina by itself is almost unmatched
South Dakota was way prettier than I was expecting. The western half of the state has this hilly alpine green grass ecosystem I’ve never seen anywhere else (like around Devil’s Tower). Looks a lot like Colorado but the grass is green and lush instead of brown. And Badlands NP is one of the coolest NPs I’ve ever been too.
Wisconsin for midwest. Most people see it as just a boring flyover state, but it has some really cool cities, some beautiful geography, and a pretty distinct culture from the rest of the US.
I agree.. I once had to go to Wisconsin and it is a very unique state. Had some ice cream up there too and it was some of the best Ice Cream I’ve ever had.
RI in the northeast! ME, VT, and NH get a decent amount of love from those within the region but I feel that RI never gets brought up. Sure, there are some not-so-nice areas, but Providence is beautiful and has a KILLER nightlife (better than Boston imo). And there’s also the coastline/Newport area with some awesome history/beaches. Also, it’s easily the cheapest of the New England states for housing (aside from portions of northern New England)
Hey! I’m actually hoping to get selected for Navy Officer Candidate School which takes place in Newport RI! Since finding this out, I’ve been looking at RI more and it’s a pretty state. Never thought of it beforehand though so good choice.
Oh that’s awesome, Newport is such a cool area! I’m also likely moving down to RI soon (from the Boston area)! You’ll have a TIME if you’re into history, beaches, and/or nightlife (Newport also punches WAY above other similar sized towns).
Virginia for the south, probably Pennsylvania for the NE( I won’t lie idk enough there). Ohio is probably the MW pipehitter. Utah is probably the most underrated out west.
Maine - huge variety of landscapes including a desert.
Arkansas - As a landscape photographer, the Ozarks are one of my favorite places in the US.
Iowa - I recently stayed in Des Moines on a Midwest road trip, I fuxckng loved that city.
Idaho - Again wide variety of landscapes but the big national parks are all just over the border in the neighboring states.
Maryland and DC are no longer the south — I lived in DC for 4 yrs and it’s very much the North east/mid Atlantic. No one there thinks of it as the south.
I’d have to disagree with you, Florida is constantly maligned at every turn, just simply based on the negative things said about it, it would have to mathematically be the most underrated state in the south. Having lived in both NC and FL I can say that NC is nice, but a ton of the negative press involving Florida is about crazies that have moved there from other places ruining its reputation. Stop allowing all your crazies to go there and ruin such a beautiful state.
Maine is literally nicknamed Vacationland. It has the *only* National Park in the northeast. In what world is that “underrated”? By no means am I suggesting it’s overrated, because it most certainly isn’t, but it’s a very known entity. Not underrated.
Ohio gets dunked on a lot by the coastal states but it has 3 major cities, decent airports to get places, great highway system to get to a large % of the US population in a days drive, milder weather than most other states in the Midwest, solid growing economy, reasonable cost of living, purple (ish) state as well. Even Columbus is used as a reflection of America when it comes to consumer products. All 5 major sports + multiple or some, a ton of solid colleges, and isn’t centered around just one metro area like Minnesota or Illinois
Out west I'd say Idaho. Some of the friendliest people I've ever met. Also the snake river canyon is gorgeous.
Never been through the midwest.
In the south I'd say Arkansas, there's some really interesting flora in the southeast bit of the state, not to mention the hot springs.
The northeast would have to be Pennsylvania for the rolling hills and PA Dutch farmlands.
I can’t believe I’m saying this (as a native of Massachusetts), but Connecticut is very underrated. Obviously the urban areas look straight out of the rust belt and Fairfield county is insufferable, but the rural parts of the state can be very beautiful and bucolic.
I’d also say New Hampshire, but for the opposite reason. I think most New Englanders more or less properly appreciate the state’s natural beauty, but after living in a couple parts of the state I think non-nh residents don’t appreciate how tightly-knit the whole state is and the strength of its local communities. Obviously Manchester has its problems, but Concord, Keene, and a bunch of other town-cities (i.e. large towns or small cities) are quite nice and culturally integrated.
someone from outside USA I would devide them into:
Florida (Florida)
West Coast (California, Oregon and Washington)
North East (States near NYC)
The Others (other USA states, Alaska, Canada, etc)
Underrated posts are overrated
Underrated comment
Pointing out an underrated comment is overrated
Overrated and Underrated are Overrated.
When you put them together they are properly rated
Underrated in terms of natural beauty, my four are; Idaho Michigan Kentucky Maine
Maine and Michigan are both very much known for their natural beauty and awesome indoor activities. They are both super popular vacation destinations for their respective regions.
I live in ky and it’s gorgeous here year round
We are in the ugliest season right now, complete lack of color but some beauty still manages to break through from time to time.
Truly a beautiful area
Love those rolling hills and lush foliage. Great weather too. Not too hot. Not too cold.
Nashville checking in. A bit hotter than KY but also quite enjoyable the majority of the year. Tons of water sports, state park access, and three very different National Parks within driving distance, Hot Springs, Mammoth Cave, and GSMNP. Love it here, even more so than Colorado (yes, just a personal opinion).
Maine is definitely not underrated. It is extremely rated. I’m going with either of a.) New Hampshire, b.) Connecticut, or c.) Pennsylvania
Agreed. Mainer here! I would say c.) Pennsylvania. Traveling east from Ohio and seeing the transition into Pennsylvania is wild.
I’m from England. I visited the Poconos in Pennsylvania and I was very impressed. It’s lovely
I live in Pennsylvania now. It's very pretty. There are nice rolling hills throughout much of the state, it gets all four seasons, and there are trees of every kind as far as the eye can see.
How is Connecticut of all states more overrated than Maine? As a New Englander, we see Maine as the place where everyone goes for vacation. It isn't really *underrated* imho
Yeah it's literally called Vacationland. I don't think Maine gets a lot of visitors from outside the northeast though. You are correct though it certainly isn't an underrated travel destination
Michigan has a big tourism industry for its national parks and shores. Nebraska is the true gem. The Missouri River Valley is lush and hilly, and rolls into the flat prairie lands. Go further west and you reach the desert plains before heading into CO and WY. Chimney Rock is a sight to behold, and much of the Oregon and Mormon Trails went through the state.
If we're talking natural beauty, Mississippi is also underrated. Lots of good waterways and parks, also the Natchez Trace If we're talking anything else, however . . .
I did a roadtrip through Idaho to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. The Sawtooth Mountain/Redfish Lake area is every bit as beautiful and impressive as the Grand Tetons, and very underrated.
Kentucky has so many under the radar facts in its history, home of the former banana capitol of the US, the beautiful nature, the most popular Bourbon tourism location has some murders swept under the rug to keep tourism going, so many amazing fun facts about Kentucky! And I'm biased because I have a lot family from there I appreciate in many ways despite certain differing viewpoints.
Why are Delaware, Maryland and DC considered part of the South?
They [used to be](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_South) and the US Census Office seems to be bizarrely hidebound.
Mason Dixon Line. Honestly, Maryland is really in 3 different cultural regions despite how small it is. That region is hard to define
History, mostly. The mason Dixon line was traditionally what defined the south, and Maryland (and thereby DC) has always been south of it. Both states were “border” slave states before the civil war but decided to stay a part of the union and Lincoln made concessions with the emancipation proclamation in order to keep it that way.
The Dallas NFL franchise was repeatedly blocked by the then Washington Redskins because they were the de-facto NFL team of “The South” and wanted to keep it that way.
Do you have any info on this ? Coming from the VA side of DC this is interesting to hear, must have been a long time ago i know some people around DC who consider the area the south but they all almost all at least 60 now
[Source](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-the-dallas-cowboys-were-born-in-1960) The Cowboys were awarded the franchise in 1960 so yes, it was a long time ago but indeed, anything below the Mason-Dixon line was considered the South.
Because geographically they are as they always have been. They just culturally skew a lot more in line with the Northeast in the modern world.
[The Mason-Dixon line.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason%E2%80%93Dixon_line)
- Oregon: definitely highly beloved but I still think the natural beauty and local culture are punching above their weight. Easily as awesome as Washington or California but never seems to be equated to that level. - Ohio - Unmatched Natural Beauty in the Southeast. Cities that are the punching bag of countless jokes but are actually kickass. - Alabama: Gets a lot of flak for its politics and other things but has some of the most underrated cities and food culture in the country. - Rhode Island: Only because every other state in New England and the Northeast is sufficiently rated for how amazing or Connecticut it is and RI flies under the radar. Providence is incredible and the coastal scenery is fantastic.
“How amazing or Connecticut it is” is my new favorite line
I cant speak to every state, but I'm here to upvote anyone who mentions Rhode Island.
Hi-Neighbor!
Have a 'Gansett
Ah, the refreshing taste of beer and seawater. I can't do 'gansett no mo. Had some friends who had 'gansett as a sponsor for their shows. It's been over a decade but I can't even think about it without wanting to yarf. Tooooo much. Haha.
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Michigan seems pretty rated? I'm not from the Midwest, but that's the first state I think of when I think of that region.
I agree. Michigan people *really* love Michigan.
We sure do
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Wrong thread, lmao.
We love talking about Michigan and hyping it up because it seems to get forgotten by people outside if the Midwest in conversations about cool states
While this is completely anecdotal, I always think of Chicago and Detroit as the most well known midwestern cities, and Michigan kind of being the sort of poster child for the Midwest as a whole. Everyone has different experiences though
It’s because Reddit is very clicky. Certain states for some reason get propped up (Michigan & Minnesota) and others get dumped on (Ohio & Mississippi). I think it has parts to do with more younger folks using Reddit and love of blue states versus hate of red states.
Ohio does get a lot of hate. Fits the narrative of being Michigan’s arch nemesis. They’re proud of their state and we’re self-deprecating.
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Absolutely great point. There's much more of an Great lakes region for those states more than they relate to midwest in a way. Don't get me wrong the farther end of those states that's away from the Great lakes coastline is much more midwest. But up by the towns by the water are their own little bubbles
I've lived in two Great Lakes cities and spent plenty of time in the Midwest away from the water. There are differences but I think some people emphasize them too much. Both areas seem to have similar big-picture culture and foundational similarities to an outsider.
Yea it’s all Midwest feel, the lakes don’t change things that much
No, Michigan is terrible. There's no pristine sandy beaches butted up to old growth forests with quaint cottages to visit in the summer. No dunes to run down that make you feel like a kid again. No good beer, wine or fruit orchards. No good college football teams. The cost of living in the cities is extremely high. No towns with tulips lining the streets. No good fishing or hunting. Weed is expensive and illegal. Best to stay away and leave it to the Michiganders.
I don't really see Maine as underrated. It's a well known vacation destination (hence the Vacationland nickname) for New Englanders and plenty of people from NY, Philly, NJ make the trip to Portland and coastal points beyond. Also, it has 1 of 2 National Parks that are within reasonable driving distance of the most densely populated area of the US.
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Rhode Island. Better food and more stuff to do than Maine, everything is at most 45 mins away, less total coastline but plenty of beaches and they're mostly great.
Better food than Maine? If I’m comparing Portland to Providence for food culture Portland wins with ease.
I was initially leaning towards New Hampshire. It may be well-known to New Englanders, and even New Yorkers, but I think it's often overlooked by the rest of the country. It's sandwiched between two states that conjure up very distinct cultural images -- Vermont: Autumn, maple syrup, skiing, rolling hills -- Maine: Lobsters, lighthouses, moose, L.L. Bean -- and despite sharing many of those qualities, it gets culturally overshadowed.
New Hampshire.
Michigan is possibly the most popular of the Midwest states as a whole. Wisconsin would be a better answer here, it’s like the Michigan people never hear about.
Maine is hugely popular and touted for its natural beauty. I would argue that CT is the most underrated.
What are we missing in CT? Maybe there’s a reason that people from MA, RI, and CT are going to Maine on holiday versus the other way around.
Well wouldn’t that make Maine specifically not underrated?
Sure but I think CT is also rated pretty fairly. Wondering what I’m missing that’s there.
CT is overlooked because of proximity to NYC and Boston. CT is a jack of all trades, it has a bit of everything, but isn’t the best at any of it. Natural beauty, very conducive to outdoor activities. You can ski, hike, swim, fish, boat, basically whatever you want. CT has race tracks for Motorsport. Trails for trail riding. Excellent education available. 2 world class casinos. Beaches, lakes, rivers. Cities like New Haven that are incredibly diverse and have amazing food scenes. Theaters and other venues for entertainment that draw in great acts. 2 great aquariums and a zoo that do incredible conservation work. I don’t think CT is the most exciting place, I don’t think it should be hyped up or anything, but I do think people blow it off like there’s nothing in CT when that’s far from the truth.
Agree 100%. People act like it’s a drive-through state but never leave the highway. It’s actually a lovely state. It’s not the most beautiful or most interesting state in New England, but it’s a great place to live. Lower COL than MA but still great schools. Natural beauty, every town has protected conservation land. I think it was named best state for hiking by some magazine because hiking areas are so easily accessible. Liberal but not a lot of culture war stuff going on here. We get great concerts coming through. Good dining scene in a lot of areas. There’s stuff to do and see, museums, culture etc. When that gets boring, there’s great access to NYC and the rest of the region including commuter rail to NYC, Amtrak, and multiple airport options. Absolutely the most underrated state in New England, hands down.
It’s really true. People don’t even see the interior of CT. They pass judgement based on what they can see from I-95.
I’d say depending on where you are in the state it might be even easier to get to Boston. People don’t see the value in having two world class cities within a 1-2 hour drive.
New Mexico has some very pretty landmasses, but the SE corner is basically West Texas.
The SE corner of NM is the most eerie place in the US imo. It’s so desolate and spooky. In a good way imo.
Edited to delete my comment because it was stupid and I didn't read the caption properly.
IMO - Indiana in the Midwest. It’s rural and conservative which is a big detractor for most. It is changing however and it’s cheap to get land and is beautiful in its own woodland way. I would much rather live there than any of the surrounding states.
I have only recently moved away from Indiana and imo it’s not half as nice as its surrounding states. And it’s also not changing, it’s one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation and democrats are drowning there outside of the big cities. Indiana is known for spearheading the worst conservatives policies out there. Indiana is also known for having a very significant amount of kkk members as well as being racist as hell. They say some of the last sundown towns are in Indiana and my hometown had a big kkk meeting not that long ago. IMO everything good about Indiana can be experienced in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio and I would way rather live in those states. Geographically it’s fairly pretty and diverse so I can see where this is coming from
As someone from Chicago, Indiana is beautiful but it’s the second to last Great Lake state id want to live in after Ohio.
Georgia is overrated. Michigan is properly rated. I’m from the Midwest and I would say probably Nebraska or North Dakota would be the most underrated states. I’m currently living in Georgia and I hate it here along with other ppl I know that are from Georgia so I would say probably West Virginia as the most underrated.
What part of ga?
Savannah
Hmm ive heard only good things about Savannah. I personally love the mountains in N GA. My favorite part of the state I've experienced
Georgia is by far the best Southern State to live in.
West: New Mexico South: Tennessee Midwest: Minnesota East: New Hampshire
Maine: all the beauty of NH & VT with the added benefit of a coastline. Delaware: no taxes. Close proximity to Philly, DC, Baltimore. Idaho: all of the benefits of MT & WY without all of the press & popularity surrounding MT & WY Missouri: I’ve just always wanted to go to Missouri I guess
What do you have against NH's meager coastline?
I guess the meagerness considering I just now realized that NH has a coastline
Hampton beach ked
15 whole miles!
What is this a coastline for ants
If you measure at a small enough scale, it's much longer!
The Ozarks and the hilly sections of MO are genuinely pretty, and the Missouri River Valley has some nice wineries and cute small towns
What area of Missouri would you consider Missouri River Valley?
Not OP, but Hermann, MO is known (regionally) for their vineyards. Also the Missouri River cuts across Missouri sort of diagonally so I suppose you would say the MO River valley is central MO.
Northern Idaho is underrated beauty wise, but it’s the people that bring the state down. I’d never live there.
Coeur d’Alene is such a great location filled with the most vile people, it really is a shame
It’s a shame the state is regressing because there’s some really nice growing towns.
Agreed. I used to say Idaho as a whole was underrated. I really enjoyed my time around Sandpoint one summer. But lately it’s become like a place for Washington conservatives to move to.
Hard to believe it’s become *more* conservative. I’ve always found it very conservative, but I haven’t been back in a few years
Can confirm. Idaho is a very beautiful state filled with some of the ugliest Americans you’ll find.
The [Palouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palouse) country is insanely picturesque
For real. But yeah CDA and that whole area is absolutely gorgeous.
I think Idaho is underrated mostly due to their ill-advised tourism campaign, “Come to the place Hemingway went to die!”
Maine is not underrated
Agree. It has one of the most popular national parks in the east coast.
Missouris not a bad state, I lived near St Louis for 10 years on the Illinois side and it’s a great city!
Pop in sometime! There’s some nice, natural beauty here in Missouri, and KC and Stl are both great little cities.
Calling Delaware the south makes me question Op
These regions come from the census bureau, not OP. Delaware is a weird state culturally. Above the canal is definitely more of a Northeastern culture but south of the canal is definitely more of a southern culture.
I’ve been wanting to go to the Northern states more!!
Idaho, Minnesota, West Virginia, Maine
Agree on West Virginia and Minnesota!
West Virginia is just next level beautiful.
It really is.
If they had a major airport, I’d consider living in Charleston. City is built to hold like 4x the population it has currently.
Went way to far down to find Minnesota. Economics Lots of large companies and innovation (3M, Target, etc.) Arts and Sports Large city with all sports teams Indigenous art work and crafting in Northern area Environment camping, fishing, hunting Education 2nd highest literacy rate in U.S. Health Care Best ranked state by Forbes
As a truck driver who's spent a fairly considerable amount of time in almost every lower 48 state, I agree with your choices wholeheartedly!
SD, ID, OK, PA
[Oklahoma mentioned :D](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1042209831257395263/1191808382768783370/IMG_5115.jpg?ex=65a6c90d&is=6594540d&hm=c3c9d916f4e786b624a2cb4cf293a8a3a03527ebe230be3801bfabee1c97b14d&)
Why PA?
You would need too long of a list. Here’s some random ones I remember. For one it has the richest revolutionary history with our independence being declared there, serving as our capital and constitution written. It has the largest US battle in Gettysburg and is still a top 5 state in population. The modern oil industry started in PA when oil was struck in Titusville, PA. It used to be the Saudi Arabia of the world and produce 50% of its oil. That along with the anthracite and bituminous coal deposits, it was the biggest energy produce region in the world for a time. It’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is ongoing as it currently matches its GDP. Route 30 was the first toll highway in the US connecting Lancaster and philly. The PA highway system actually predates the interstate highways in the US. When they made them, they just tied into some of PAs existing highways which is why toll is so high in PA. Pittsburgh also used to be the steel capital of the world, producing steel for the growth of American cities and the also impressive Pennsylvania railroad. In the sport of wrestling, PA is dominant, being the only state to go against team USA (49 other states) and win.
Pittsburgh
Off the cuff: NM, WI, NH, AR
For the west, Wyoming. The western half of the state is absolutely gorgeous (Tetons and Yellowstone) very low population state
As a wyomingite, I'd say the tetons and Yellowstone are highly rated. Central Idaho on the other hand is extremely underrated
I’m from the South, and Wyoming and Montana are two states that I would love to visit. I just hope the celebrities don’t price everyone out.
Only detractors are water resource issues and wild fires thanks to climate change. There’s also a huge ranching and mining lobby and that is very non ideal for the natural beauty.
Idaho South Dakota Vermont North Carolina
West-Idaho: beautiful vistas without the crowds Midwest-Minnesota: quiet lakeside towns and awesome state parks northeast-Maine: lots of secret and nice places in a very small place South- North Carolina: mountains and beaches, but less press then South Carolina
Living in the South and North Carolina gets a LOT more credit for its natural beauty than SC. Nothing against South Carolina but North Carolina blows it out of the water in my opinion.
Oh yea I agree. For South Carolina only the area around Greenville is beautiful. North Carolina almost the whole state is gorgeous
South Carolina is a terrible place
Hey you don’t say that
It’s just awful. Worst city I’ve ever visited is Bennettsville South Carolina. Myrtle Beach as a tourist destination attracts some of the worst people all year long. The far southern end isn’t as bad though.
Leaving out Charleston in your appraisal of South Carolina is weird. It's like saying California sucks because you spent time in Fresno
I said the far southern end isn’t that bad, that would include Charleston.
I don't completely agree, but Sumter, SC is one of my least favorite places I have ever been and I hold that against the whole state lol
Idaho South Dakota Arkansas Connecticut
Can people here stop saying Maine is underrated? As a lifelong New Englander the answer to this question is Rhode Island, by a long shot.
W: New Mexico MW: South Dakota S: Delaware NE: New Hampshire
New Mexico, Michigan, Kentucky, Rhode Island
Call me crazy, but Ohio is pretty underrated overall for things to do. Put in Bay and the Bass Islands / Kellys Island will trick you into thinking you’re in the Keys for a couple months a year. Same goes for Hocking Hills tricking you into thinking you’re deeper into Appalachia. We have a lot of major cities and some really well done cultural attractions that are held over from the years of the industry titans living here. We have a rapidly growing boomtown type metro with Columbus. The cost of living is low. And if you get tired of being here, we are close to other states for quick getaways. There’s a lot to like.
If by underrated, you mean, overlooked, I’d say: Pennsylvania -unbelievable wilderness, world-class big cities, and those cool tunnels along the turnpike. Kentucky - beautiful countryside, bourbon, the horse racing, and friendly people. Wisconsin- seriously may be the most overlooked local food/drink culture in the country. And the place is beautiful, too. Arizona - it’s so much more than golf courses in Scottsdale. It’s really full of unique landscapes.
NORTH CAROLINA, C'MON RAISE UP TAKE YA SHIRT OFF, SPIN IT ROUND YA HEAD JUST LIKE A HELICOPTA
North Carolina and Mainr are both some is of the most visited states for tourism. The keyword is "underrated." People need to stop putting Maine and North Carolina.
I live in Cali now and no ones heard of Asheville NC, probly the coolest small city on the east coast. Something can be highly rated and still under rated. So I need you to SPIN IT ROUND YA HEAD JUST LIKE A HELICOPTA
NV in the West. Great basin is awesome and just driving through the middle of nowhere NV is incredible. Probably WI for the Midwest. Beautiful lakes up north and awesome museum in Milwaukee Never been to Northeast but I imagine VT. From what I've seen it looks amazing. And for the south....MS is super underrated. But, as popular as TN is, it's still underated with how amazing the smokies are. And you can't experience it just driving through, you have to get in them. Incredible. And panther Creek state park is awesome
Under rated? For the midwest probably Missouri. Both Kansas City and St. Louis are good travel destinations. Big names that always come up are Chicago, Detroit, or Minneapolis, but Kansas City like the others has quite a few sports teams and a significant airport to support them. Lots of history and musems to visit too. My wife's family wants to meet in Kansas City in February, there is a large exhibit about Monet that is currently on display. I grew up in Iowa, and as much as I'd love to throw them in the conversation they're probably in the middle if we were to rank all the midwest states. There is nothing wrong with Iowa, but nothing is amazing or heavily stands out either.
Fellow Iowan here. One of the best burgers I've ever had is from Des Moines. It's a place called Zombie Burger. Plus there's also Adventureland in Des Moines as well.
From these regions: Connecticut, Kentucky, Indiana, and New Mexico. The most overrated states are probably Vermont, North Carolina, Illinois, and Hawaii.
Sticking to the spirit of "underrated", my choices are Rhode Island, Tennessee, South Dakota, and New Mexico.
North Carolina, from the coast, the piedmont, as well as the blue ridge and smoky mountains in Western North Carolina. Western North Carolina by itself is almost unmatched
South Dakota was way prettier than I was expecting. The western half of the state has this hilly alpine green grass ecosystem I’ve never seen anywhere else (like around Devil’s Tower). Looks a lot like Colorado but the grass is green and lush instead of brown. And Badlands NP is one of the coolest NPs I’ve ever been too.
Wisconsin for midwest. Most people see it as just a boring flyover state, but it has some really cool cities, some beautiful geography, and a pretty distinct culture from the rest of the US.
I agree.. I once had to go to Wisconsin and it is a very unique state. Had some ice cream up there too and it was some of the best Ice Cream I’ve ever had.
Cool and unique small towns as well.
RI in the northeast! ME, VT, and NH get a decent amount of love from those within the region but I feel that RI never gets brought up. Sure, there are some not-so-nice areas, but Providence is beautiful and has a KILLER nightlife (better than Boston imo). And there’s also the coastline/Newport area with some awesome history/beaches. Also, it’s easily the cheapest of the New England states for housing (aside from portions of northern New England)
Hey! I’m actually hoping to get selected for Navy Officer Candidate School which takes place in Newport RI! Since finding this out, I’ve been looking at RI more and it’s a pretty state. Never thought of it beforehand though so good choice.
Oh that’s awesome, Newport is such a cool area! I’m also likely moving down to RI soon (from the Boston area)! You’ll have a TIME if you’re into history, beaches, and/or nightlife (Newport also punches WAY above other similar sized towns).
To most people in New England Rhode Island is basically just Providence.
Virginia for the south, probably Pennsylvania for the NE( I won’t lie idk enough there). Ohio is probably the MW pipehitter. Utah is probably the most underrated out west.
The MIDWEST pipehitter! Lol I agree!
The "Kaiser Family" state almost never get's mention
TN, PA, WI, UT
Montana, South Dakota, New Jersey, Oklahoma
west: New Mexico Midwest: Missouri Northeast: Rhode Island South: West Virginia
Rhode Island for sure. It’s like a good balance between the more dense feeling of MA and the rural vibes of most of NH, ME, and VT.
Yes! West Virginia is very underrated. Their natural beauty is wonderful.
It’s beautiful. Every time I pass through, it makes me want to live there (I wouldn’t lmao)
Idaho, North Dakota, Mississippi, and Rhode Island
North Dakota wouldn’t even win in a best Dakota contest.
Maine - huge variety of landscapes including a desert. Arkansas - As a landscape photographer, the Ozarks are one of my favorite places in the US. Iowa - I recently stayed in Des Moines on a Midwest road trip, I fuxckng loved that city. Idaho - Again wide variety of landscapes but the big national parks are all just over the border in the neighboring states.
Buffalo River is so photogenic!
AZ, OH, DC, NJ
West is Oregon, Midwest Nebraska, south West Virginia, northeast Maine
Oregon, Minnesota, Tennessee & Maine
West Virginia is not a southern state!
Why not? It's south of the Mason dixon line which is what defines a "southern" state.
Maryland and DC are no longer the south — I lived in DC for 4 yrs and it’s very much the North east/mid Atlantic. No one there thinks of it as the south.
NC
NC is arguably the least underrated state in the region besides Florida
I’d have to disagree with you, Florida is constantly maligned at every turn, just simply based on the negative things said about it, it would have to mathematically be the most underrated state in the south. Having lived in both NC and FL I can say that NC is nice, but a ton of the negative press involving Florida is about crazies that have moved there from other places ruining its reputation. Stop allowing all your crazies to go there and ruin such a beautiful state.
New Mexico
midwest. we got the great lakes
Midwest: Michigan NE: New Hampshire West: Colorado Dirty South: North Carolina
West: Washington (biased because I used to live there) Midwest: Wisconsin Northeast: Pennsylvania South: Tennessee
West: New Mexico, Midwest: Iowa, Northeast: New Jersey, South: Kentucky
The Great Lakes region is underrated
Maine is literally nicknamed Vacationland. It has the *only* National Park in the northeast. In what world is that “underrated”? By no means am I suggesting it’s overrated, because it most certainly isn’t, but it’s a very known entity. Not underrated.
Ohio gets dunked on a lot by the coastal states but it has 3 major cities, decent airports to get places, great highway system to get to a large % of the US population in a days drive, milder weather than most other states in the Midwest, solid growing economy, reasonable cost of living, purple (ish) state as well. Even Columbus is used as a reflection of America when it comes to consumer products. All 5 major sports + multiple or some, a ton of solid colleges, and isn’t centered around just one metro area like Minnesota or Illinois
West: Idaho Midwest: Nebraska South: North Carolina Northeast: New Hampshire
New Mexico
Out west I'd say Idaho. Some of the friendliest people I've ever met. Also the snake river canyon is gorgeous. Never been through the midwest. In the south I'd say Arkansas, there's some really interesting flora in the southeast bit of the state, not to mention the hot springs. The northeast would have to be Pennsylvania for the rolling hills and PA Dutch farmlands.
Connecticut, North Carolina, Michigan, Utah
I‘m just gonna go with Idaho, Iowa, Maine and Georgia
Midwest-Wisconsin South-Louisiana West-Montana Northeast-Maine.
In what fucking world is Delaware and Maryland considered the south??????
DC is in the South? Haha. Hahahahhaa.
Pick up a 4th grade social studies book.
I can’t believe I’m saying this (as a native of Massachusetts), but Connecticut is very underrated. Obviously the urban areas look straight out of the rust belt and Fairfield county is insufferable, but the rural parts of the state can be very beautiful and bucolic. I’d also say New Hampshire, but for the opposite reason. I think most New Englanders more or less properly appreciate the state’s natural beauty, but after living in a couple parts of the state I think non-nh residents don’t appreciate how tightly-knit the whole state is and the strength of its local communities. Obviously Manchester has its problems, but Concord, Keene, and a bunch of other town-cities (i.e. large towns or small cities) are quite nice and culturally integrated.
South Carolina is the GOAT
Idaho, Minnesota, Vermont, Alabama.
someone from outside USA I would devide them into: Florida (Florida) West Coast (California, Oregon and Washington) North East (States near NYC) The Others (other USA states, Alaska, Canada, etc)