The Top 20 Most Underrated Cities in the US

Below is a list of my personal top 20 most underrated cities in the United States: cities that often get overlooked, overshadowed, and not enough people visit. However, all of these cities are hidden gems and are worth checking out. This is not a list of the best cities in the country, this is simply a list of the most underrated. Hopefully you will visit some of these places on your next trip:

20.) Billings, Montana

 I have only been to Billings once, but it completely exceeded my expectations when I went there, because first off, I didn’t expect to see any skyscrapers when I went to Montana, and second, it actually had a lot to do for a mid size city in the middle of nowhere. After driving all day through boring Wyoming, Billings seemed like New York City to me once I finally arrived there shortly after crossing the Montana border. Billings makes my list at number 20, because for being very remote and in a state no one ever talks about, it has a lot to offer and is definitely a great pit stop city to spend a night or two in. I had one of the best cuts of filet mignon in my life at a very nice restaurant downtown called Jake’s steakhouse, then had some amazing beer right around the corner at Montana Brewery company. Montana as a state is one of the best kept secrets in the country, because it has amazing scenery, great bars and restaurants, and pretty much no crime or bad areas. Also nearby worth checking out is the college town of Bozeman, and make sure to take a ride on the Beartooth Highway, which is one of the most incredibly scenic drives I have ever taken in my life, and will lead you into Yellowstone National Park. I’m sure I will like Missoula more than Billings once I go there, but for now Billings squeezes in at #20 on my list.



19.) Reno, Nevada

Sure, Las Vegas is a fun city, but it’s little brother to the north can be just as much fun, for a fraction of the price. Nicknamed “the biggest little city in the world”, Reno has all of the lights, casinos, parities, clubs, and sloppiness of Sin City, just with a smaller skyline and price tag. Many people don’t take the time to explore other parts of Nevada besides Sin City, but the state does have more to offer. When you are coming from east to west along route 80, you will be driving for about 500 miles through absolute nothingness, so once you finally arrive to Reno, you will be very relieved, excited, and ready to get out of the car and have some fun. By no means is Reno one of my favorite cities, but I acknowledge is as a very underrated place, because Vegas gets all the attention in Nevada, and Reno often gets forgotten. Reno actually is in an excellent location too, because it is just a very short drive to Lake Tahoe, the California border, and Yosemite National Park. So, if you ever find yourself on the most boring drive in the country (I-80 across Nevada), fear not, because at the end of the state, Reno will rescue you.



18.) Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is another city, Just like Billings, Montana, that I have only been to once but it completely blew me away and exceeded my expectations when I arrived there, because it’s another city and state that no one ever talks about or bothers to visit. Iowa is one of my least favorite states in the country, so it’s fitting that Omaha lies right on the border of Nebraska and Iowa, because as soon as you drive across awful Iowa, you reach a really fun city the second you cross into Nebraska. There is a really neat area downtown called Old Market, which has many good restaurants, art galleries, shops, and the area has a unique, historic feel to it, with brick paved streets and horse-drawn carriages. Also within an hour’s drive away is the capitol, Lincoln, which is an equally fun college town and worth checking out. There isn’t much to get excited about in the middle of the country, so Omaha is one of your best options of a city to check out if you are planning on driving cross country.


17.) Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is one of the best small cities I have ever visited in my travels. It has a very fun downtown full of excellent restaurants, bars, and shops, the Tennessee aquarium, a river walk, and many other attractions. It’s a very walkable city, and definitely one that I like to visit anytime i’m in that part of the country. Most importantly, the city has scenery so beautiful that it should be a national park. “Rock City” which includes Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway, is some of the most amazing scenery I have seen in the eastern half of the country. A trip to Lookout Mountain is worth the visit to Chattanooga alone, because it is claimed that you can see 7 states from the top. Lookout Mountain is technically in 3 states itself (Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama). Definitely put Chattanooga on your list of a city to check out during your next road trip in the southeast, you will not be disappointed.



16.) Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth is the perfect quintessential, picturesque New England maritime town. It’s a perfect small city to take a stroll downtown and marvel at the old, historic architecture, or to enjoy views of the ocean, or for whale watching as well. There’s not much to say about this town other than it’s probably my favorite small city in New England, because it represents everything New England is supposed to represent. It’s only an hour north from Boston, so take a day trip there next time you visit Beantown, to escape the city and witness what real New England feels like.



15.) Providence, Rhode Island

A lot of the smaller cities in New England get overlooked and overshadowed since they are crammed between New York City and Boston. Providence is a perfect example of this, and is definitely a city worth checking out next time you’re in New England. The capitol of Rhode Island has a lot to offer; you can take a gondola ride on the river through downtown, or in the summer time, enjoy “Water Fire”, which is an event where 100 bonfires are lit up in the rivers through downtown, and music and other festivities are downtown as well. In addition to all of that, Providence also is home to the ivy league college Brown University, which is a beautiful campus and has a fun section near it on the top of the hill with lots of good coffee shops, stores, and restaurants. Since Rhode Island is such a tiny state, everything else is nearby, including Newport, which is definitely worth checking out as well. Next time you plan on coming to the northeast, make sure to add Rhode Island on your itinerary.


14.) Portland, Maine

I personally like to consider Maine the “Alaska of the East Coast”, because of it’s raw beauty, untouched wilderness, diverse wildlife, and because overall it’s a pretty badass state. Portland is different than the rest of Maine north of the coast, but it’s still a beautiful, fun seaside city. The Old Port district is known for its cobblestone streets, 19th century brick buildings, and fishing piers. Portland has the second highest number of restaurants per capita in the country, second to Seattle. I like Portland for a lot of the same reasons why I like Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and that’s why both made this list. It’s a shame that when most people hear the name “Portland” they automatically think about Oregon and forget about this hidden gem of a city in Maine. Portland, Oregon has plenty of reasons to go visit as well in it’s own right, but Portland, Maine deserves more attention and recognition as well, because it is an incredibly unique city worth spending some time in.


13.) Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis isn’t exactly an “unknown” city or a hidden gem, but it’s still underrated. It’s probably most famous for Elvis’s home “Graceland”, which is definitely neat and worth checking out, but that’s not why Memphis made my list. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the country, and Memphis is kind of like a much smaller version of NOLA. The Beale Street area in Memphis can definitely be comparable to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, and that entire area has fun nightlife, some excellent street performers, as well as live Blues music pouring out of nearly every bar on the street. For those of you looking for the excitement and party like atmosphere of the French Quarter without going to New Orleans, then Memphis is the place for you.


12.) Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, the capitol of Wisconsin, is one of the nicest college towns I have ever been to in the country, yet not many people bother to check out Madison, and go to the much less impressive Milwaukee instead. It is one of the most beautifully set cities in the US, and one of only two cities in North America situated on an isthmus (the other is Seattle), Madison is defined by its five lakes. Through a combination of factors, including the state capital and the University of Wisconsin–Madison has more to offer than might be expected from a metropolitan area of about 500,000. There are many excellent restaurants, an active theater community, lots of music, and good shopping, yet Madison is just minutes from the beautiful rural countryside. National groups and magazines rank Madison highly for being a very bike-friendly city, a great place to raise a family, having a healthy and fit population, and an overall quality of life. Madison is a melting pot of the Midwest. You’ll find professionals, students, families, hippies, musicians and everything in between. It has a vibrant nightlife scene with lots of live
music and pubs. It shares many qualities of other well-known college towns like Berkeley and Austin, a creative and educated population, but retains a small-town feel. This is one of the best cities in the midwest to both visit and live in, and yet sadly, most people never think to come here.

11.) San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is definitely a touristy city and is well known, but it’s still underrated because it is often overshadowed by the bigger cities in Texas, such as Dallas, Houston, and Austin. There is a lot to do in San Antonio besides just the Alamo and the river walk though. The 750 foot tall Tower of the Americas has a really nice restaurant and lounge at the top, with fantastic happy hour deals. Every time I am in this city, I always go up there for a few tasty 5 dollar mango mojitos while enjoying amazing views of the skyline below. Definitely one of the best deals for any upscale lounge I have ever been to. Market Square / El Mercado has some excellent authentic Mexican restaurants as well as plenty of Mexican themed shops full of souvenirs. San Antonio is a very unique city, and no other city in Texas reflects the state’s Spanish and Mexican heritage better.


10.) Fort Worth, Texas

Everyone knows about Dallas, but the only reason why most people know about Fort Worth is because it shares it’s name with the airport. Since Dallas is so close to Forth Worth, it often gets overlooked and not many people bother to check it out. However, Fort Worth happens to be one of my most favorite small cities in the country, and has nearly just as much to offer as Dallas does. The downtown area is full of great restaurants and bars, but the real attraction to Fort Worth is the Stock Yards, a really neat section of the city a couple miles away from downtown, which has an authentic Texas cowboy feel to it. This section is full of cowboy bars, steakhouses, and shops, and has a wild wild west feel to it. Everyone here is wearing cowboy boots and hats, which is something you don’t see much of in the other big cities in Texas. They also let a few dozen cattle out on the streets in a parade of sorts twice a day, which is neat to check out. Next time you’re thinking about visiting Dallas, make sure to spend a day in Fort Worth also, it’s a completely different feel from Dallas, yet is right n its backyard.


9.) Fort Collins, Colorado

Everyone goes nuts over Boulder, and Boulder deservingly gets a lot of attention and credit because it’s a great college town in it’s own right, but the other college town about 45 minutes north barely gets any attention. Fort Collins has just as much to offer as Boulder does, and has a really fun downtown area full of excellent craft beer bars, restaurants, and shops, as well as beautiful scenery  with the mountains right nearby since it’s on the foothills just like Boulder is. Many excellent breweries are located in Fort Collins also, including New Belgium, Odell, Equinox, and Pateros Creek. The people in Fort Collins tend to be friendlier than in Boulder also. Overall, I have grown to like Fort Collins more than Boulder, and next time you’re in Colorado, make sure to visit this city and you’ll also see why.


8.) Louisville, Kentucky

The Kentucky Derby may be its claim to fame, but the famous horse race isn’t all Louisville has to offer. Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River, this Southern underrated city has loads of small-town charm, a cosmopolitan riverfront district, a diverse art scene—thanks to the Kentucky Center for the Arts—and a growing foodie market with its own Restaurant Row. Sports lovers should make a stop at the Louisville Slugger Museum, while history lovers can sip mint juleps on a river cruise aboard the Belle of Louisville, a National Historic Landmark. Downtown also has a really neat area called 4th Street Live! which gives Louisville a big city feel, and kind of resembles Times Square a little bit, just not as obnoxious or tacky. Overall, Louisville is one of the best hidden gems in the county, and a city I always love coming back to visit.


7.) Washington D.C.

There’s a lot more to D.C. than just monuments, museums, and statues. Sure those are all fun and worth checking out, but definitely take some time to enjoy the other parts of the city as well. The Georgetown area has a historic feel to it and is the perfect place to take a stroll alongside the canal and shops, The Adams Morgan section is a lot of fun for nightlife, and Dupont Circle is an excellent place to relax in the park and to people watch. Also, make sure to stop by Ben’s Chili Bowl to enjoy some Chili Dogs and a half smoke, it’s one of the yummiest places to eat in the country. Nearby, Alexandria, Virginia and Annapolis, Maryland are both very beautiful, old, fun historic towns worth spending a day in. Washington D.C. is very underrated because it is famous for it’s tourist attractions and politics, but not for the things that truly make it a fun and special place to visit.


6.) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I struggled to put Philly on this list, because a part of me doesn’t think it’s underrated, but at the same time, I feel it is, because most people rightfully and justifiably think the city is, for lack of a better word, a shithole. And most of the city is, in fact, a dumpy ghetto, and I used to hate Philly as well. But the more times I kept coming back here, the more I fell in love with it. This city has a lot of bad parts, but it also has some really fun sections if you know where to look. First off, it is one of the best food cities in the country, no stop in Philly is complete without a trip to Geno’s for a Cheesesteak. Also, the Reading Terminal Market downtown is one of the best city markets I have been to, and definitely better than the more famous Quincy Market in Boston. In addition to the food, Philly has some fun nightlife as well. A stroll up and down South Street is always fun, and one of my favorite bars, the Darkhorse Bar, is right around the corner from there. Other fun sections include Penn’s Landing and Northern Liberties. The Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall are definitely worth checking out (because they are free), but there’s much more to do in Philly than the tourist attractions. Just make sure to stay in the good areas, and you’ll learn to enjoy this city as much as I have.


5.) Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is a well known city, but still not enough people care to visit it. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, and with a beautiful Spanish moss tree lined park nearly every block, it has more parks than any other city in the country. Savannah is one of the best examples of southern architecture and charm. River Street is a popular cobblestone street worth checking out along the bank of the Savannah River, and Chippewa Square is where the famous scenes of Forrest Gump were filmed where he’s sitting at the bench waiting for the bus. The best thing about Savannah is just to walk up and down its streets and enjoy the beautiful architecture and trees all around. Nearby is Tybee Island which is a perfect beach getaway to spend the day in. If you’re stressed out or need a break from a big city, come to Savannah and all of your problems will ease away.


4.) New Haven, Connecticut

I know I’m being a little hometown biased here, but my home city definitely deserves more recognition than it gets. It gets almost no attention since it’s in between New York and Boston, yet New Haven is honestly one of my favorite cities in the country. New Haven is so underrated, that a lot of people even in Connecticut do not bother to go to it! The entire area downtown near the Yale University campus is full of amazing restaurants, fun bars, beautiful gothic style architecture, unique shops, and impressive museums. In addition to all of this, New Haven is one of the best food cities in the country, and has so many good restaurants, that I feel it can compete with cities 10 times its size in that department. It’s right up there with San Francisco, Chicago, and Philly in terms of good eats. The best pizza in the country can be enjoyed after waiting in a long line at Pepe’s, and the first burger was invited at Louis Lunch, which is also very delicious and is in a neat, historic little building. One of my favorite mexican restaurants, Viva Zapata, is also here and has amazing cheese enchiladas. Mamouns is also a great place for a late night snack and has fantastic falafels and fresh mango juice. Since Yale is here, there is a ton of diversity and culture in the city. These are just a few of the dozens of amazing and unique restaurants New Haven has to offer. There’s also great Asian, Ethiopian, and Italian food, as well as a couple great steakhouses and burger joints. Also, New Haven is on the coast, so you’re just a short drive to some great beaches and views of the Long Island sound, or enjoy a view of the skyline from the top of East Rock park. I’m proud to call New Haven my home, and I’m kind of happy that it is a hidden gem that more people don’t know about, because that means I get to enjoy it more without it being overcrowded.


3.) Indianapolis, Indiana

Peyton Manning may have put Indianapolis on the map, but Indiana is still far from a tourist destination that people think to come visit. Both Forbes and Livability.com rank Indianapolis as one of the best downtowns in the United States citing “more than 200 retail shops, more than 35 hotels, nearly 300 restaurants and food options, movie theaters, sports venues, museums, art galleries and parks” as attractions. The Mass Ave. area is a great area full of nightlife, and is home to a great jazz bar called Chatterbox. The Broad-ripple section is also full of fun bars and nightlife, and less than an hour away is the town of Bloomington, one of my favorite college towns in the country and the home of the University of Indiana. Indiana is one of the last states people ever think about taking a trip to, but if you’re going to road trip to Chicago, Indianapolis is only a few hours away and definitely worth spending a day or two in.


2.) Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is the perfect mid size city in my opinion. Most people think of Cleveland or Cincinnati when they think of Ohio, but Columbus is actually the best and most fun city in this state. It has several different sections, all of which are equally fun. It is home to Ohio State University, which has one of the biggest campuses in the country, and a very fun college town area next to the campus. The city also has a German section which has cobblestone streets and some of the best German food I have had in the country. And of course the downtown area has tons of great restaurants and bars also, and has the feel of a big city. Columbus is one of the best cities in the midwest, and one that hardly anyone ever talks about or visits.


1.) Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City makes my list as the most underrated city in the country for many reasons. Like many other small cities that I had visited for the first time, I had zero expectations for SLC when before arriving, but once I got there, I was completely blown away with how much I fell in love with the city. To me, it is the perfect city to settle down and raise a family in. It has the perfect mix of everything. If you’re looking for the best nightlife in the country, then Salt Lake City probably isn’t the city for you, but if you’re looking for a nice balance of everything, then this place is perfect. For being a pretty small city, it has a big city feel downtown, and has some amazing modern shopping and dining areas, plus the best bars and nightlife you’ll find anywhere in Utah. It is one of the safest cities I have ever been to, and I can walk around downtown any time of night by myself without feeling in danger at all. It is also one of the most scenic cities in the country, and is surrounded by beautiful mountains as well as the nearby Great Salt Lake. Some of the best skiing in the country is just minutes away from downtown, including the very beautiful ski town of Park City. Unlike the rest of the state, the Mormon religion is not really as in your face here, since half of the population isn’t Mormon, and that is clearly evident by the presence of bars, breweries, and nightlife. And you’re just a short weekend trip away from all of the beautiful National Parks southern Utah has to offer, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Canyonlands. Salt Lake City is one of the cleanest, safest, scenic, and most fun small cities I have ever been to. When I was in my late teens or early 20’s, I probably wouldn’t have appreciated SLC as much as I do now, but I think Salt Lake City would be an excellent choice of a city to settle down in, because it’s the best of all worlds, you get the city feel and life without the price tag or traffic of being in a big city, you get the incredibly scenery and nature all around you, and you get the safety and security of being in great neighborhoods. For all of these reasons, SLC is the best hidden gem in the country.

The Top 10 States That I Have Been To

I have been to 43 out of the 50 states in the US, and I always wanted to sit down and figure out my list of the top 10 that i’ve been to so far. So I finally did that, and here it is. I didn’t count my home state of Connecticut because i’ve lived here my whole life, so I cant really count that as a state i’ve traveled to, and once I have gone to all 50 states, I am sure that this list will look a little different and include at least 4 or 5 new states being replaced by some of the ones on here, but for now, here is the best of what my eyes have seen in this country and why:

10.) New Jersey:

Ah….New Jersey…the “Garden” state…AKA the BIGGEST misnomer in this country…comparing New Jersey to anything as beautiful and non-polluted as a garden would be quite similar to calling Seattle “The Sunshine City” or labeling Florida “The Snowshoe State”. I have had a viscous grudge with New Jersey for pretty much my entire life, and literally have nearly vomited and cried at the same time every time i pass through that part of state right on the other side of the river from Manhattan. I always thought to myself that this must be the worst place in t he entire country…that nothing could possibly look worse than this, and that I never want to come back here again.  However, what I failed to realize all those years is that New Jersey does have other parts of the state that look like a completely different country compared to the Newark area. There are parts that people from better states actually come to to vacation at, and recently, I had gone to these places for the first time, and it completely changed my mind about the “armpit” of America. Once you are out of the mess of the Newark area and start to head south, you notice a drastic change almost immediately. Get off the NJ turnpike and the Garden State Parkway because you’ll never see the hidden gems this state has to offer while driving on the highway. As you head further down the coast, you go through many cute towns, but the main reason why NJ has slipped into my top 10 is because of its boardwalks. I have never had as much fun of a time somewhere and have felt like a kid again as much as when I vacationed in the south Jersey shore the past two summers. Seaside Heights, Wildwood, and Ocean City are now 3 of my favorite places in the entire country, and they all happen to be about within an hour of one another. Cape May, down at the southern tip of the shore, is a perfect example of how some things simply just get better with age. The entire town is a National Historic District, and showcases almost 600 preserved Victorian buildings, which line nearly every street, with rocking chairs ready for tired tourists to relax on their front porches.  I will gladly fist pump my way up and down these boardwalks anytime, and every single night I’m sitting at home with nothing to do, I secretly wish I was still on the Jersey shore in the midst of all the hype. Although I have seen some beautiful beaches, great people watching hot-spots, and historic towns, I have still yet to see one thing anywhere in the “garden” state….a garden.

9.) Pennsylvania:

The keystone state overall is what i like to call “shitty cute”. Most of the towns in Pennsylvania are nothing special, just simple small towns with a main street and some antique stores and coffee shops and things of that nature, but that is exactly why I like this state, because in other states that I don’t like as much, such as it’s neighbor Ohio, these same type of towns can be found but they are a lot more run down and much more unappealing. Somehow, Pennsylvania manages to make it’s “shitty”….”cute”, and I definitely appreciate it. These types of towns that I love can be found all over the state, but in addition to that, PA has an impressive college town in State College (where Penn State University is) and beautiful scenery and hills throughout its entire state. PA fails to reach higher on my list for a few reasons: 1.) it’s a very long, boring drive to drive through from east to west and it never seems to end. 2.) its big cities (Philly and Pittsburgh) are decent but nothing special and 3.) most of the state smells like cow shit from all the farms. However, I enjoy many things about this state, from its funny town names (such as Intercourse, Blue Ball, Bird-in-Hand, and Virginville), to seeing Amish people drive their horse n buggies right along side cars on the road. My favorite beer’s brewery, Yuengling, also happens to be here, and it is the oldest brewery in the country. One of my favorite bars, The Darkhorse, is in Philly, and even though Philly has a lot of sketchy, terrible sections, it does have some pretty fantastic places to eat and drink. So overall, PA deserves a spot on my top 10 because it is what it is and doesn’t pretend to be anything that it’s not, and I respect it for that.

8.) Massachusetts:

MA definitely deserves a spot on my top 10 for the simple reason that is one of the only places in the country where you can walk down a major city and still feel like you’re 400 years in the past. Boston is one of the most unique and amazing cities in the country for this reason alone, because somehow one of the biggest cities in the northeast doesn’t even really feel like a city at all, but more of a mix of a huge college town and a lot of beautiful, colonial buildings on cobblestone streets. While a city like New York City just destroys the old to keep building new bigger and better things, Boston cherishes its past and does whatever it can to keep it in tact. This can be seen all over the city, from Fenway Park to the North End to Beacon Street. Massachusetts is more than just Boston though, and the other parts of the state have much to offer. Western MA is very woodsy and scenic and a drive along the Mohawk Trail is one of the prettiest drives you can take in all of New England. Cape Cod has perhaps some of the most breathtaking coastline on the Atlantic and many small, cute coastal towns to accompany it. Massachusetts makes me proud to be from the northeast, and everything that New York City lacks in, Boston showcases proudly, which is why MA is number 8 on my list and New York never even had a chance of being close.

7.) Michigan:

This is another state, much like New Jersey, that I shit on and made fun of constantly until I actually checked out the nice areas instead of just the bad ones. The “mitten” is very unique in many ways, especially for its geographic location. Nothing compares to it anywhere in the midwest; in an area of the country that is mostly just farms, Michigan manages to have more coastline that probably California even does, since it borders 4 of the 5 great lakes. Fittingly called “the great lake state”, some of the most beautiful beaches I have been to are found along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, and best of all, they don’t smell half as bad as the ocean does, but are still just as pretty! Michigan is broken into two different parts, and the upper peninsula (known as the UP) is a whole different world than the southern part. The UP is one of the most rustic and naturally beautiful places I’ve been to, and reminds me more of a place I would find in Alaska or Canada or really north upstate New York than anywhere in the midwest. In addition to all the natural beauty, Michigan also has many very cute towns, such as Holland and Saugatuck, and one of my favorite college towns in the country, Ann Arbor, which is just a very impressive and fun place overall, perfect for anyone in their 20s. Sure, Michigan has gotten a bad rep in the news, and Detroit is…well, Detroit, and is probably the worst, most run down city in the country, but I am willing to overlook that major eyesore to take in the entire picture, and Michigan, when I ignore the fact that the motor city is in your state, I realize that your state is not so bad after all, and especially for being in the midwest, you have the most beautiful scenery by far in that area of the country. The people of Michigan are tough and are hard workers, times are rough there but if anyone can bounce back, I know Michigan can and will, and I wish them all the best.

6.) North Carolina:

North Carolina is pretty much a western state that somehow got misplaced and put on the east coast. No state on the eastern half of the country should have mountains as beautiful as NC, yet somehow western North Carolina does an amazing job at pretending it is part of the Rocky Mountains and borders Montana and Wyoming and Colorado, because it parallels the beauty of those types of states. The Blue Ridge Parkway is by far one of the most scenic drive in all of America, and goes through some of the most picturesque parts of the state, then drops you off right into the neat little mountain town of Asheville. Even more impressive though, is that NC is a very diverse state. Not only does it have these beautiful mountains and woods, it also has pretty much every other type of landscape you can imagine except for a desert. NC has tons of beautiful coastline, and also a area known as the triangle, which includes Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh, which is an area full of fun college towns, nightlife, and things to do. There are also many other unique towns such as Southern Pines, Wilmington, and Greensboro, all worth checking out. Not too many states have mountains and scenery this impressive but also are on a coast, it’s not even too far fetched to say that in some ways, North Carolina can be compared to a California of the East coast, so this special reason is why North Carolina will always hold a special place in my heart, and is the true gem of the Atlantic.

5.) Arizona:

Dry…Hot…Silence…Serenity…Unworldly…Perfection. What I have experienced in my travels in the deserts and mountains of Arizona are beyond words, ergo, whatever is written in this blog will do my experiences no justice, because even a published poet and writer such as myself cannot describe the beautiful mix of tranquility and madness, the perfect blend of calm and chaos, the equilibrium of ugly and utopia, that I encountered in this state. In a nutshell, one must experience what I have for themselves in order to fully appreciate it, but I can only hope that these words will offer enough evidence to prove to you that some of the most amazing natural places in the entire world can be found right in the grand canyon state. With one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of over 200-million-year-old fossils, petrified forest national park is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science. This place is called “the painted desert” for a reason; the hills look like someone took a paintbrush and went over them with various shades of reds, oranges, blues, and grays. I said to myself that this was the most beautiful place I have ever been to, and that was true until I drove a little up north to the Grand Canyon. When I walked to the cliff’s edge and saw the canyon spread out before my eyes for the first time, my jaw literally drop and I shook my head in disbelief as a tear of joy fell from my eye, because nothing this beautiful should even exist on this planet, it’s simply just not fair. Honestly, the Grand Canyon is probably just as big as or maybe even bigger than my entire home state of Connecticut, and it by far was one of the most beautiful places my eyes have ever laid upon. I was amazed at how drastically different the climate, scenery, and landscape alters in Arizona by just driving a little over an hour up north. In southern and central Arizona, there are many cactuses and sand covered mountains, yet up north, in Flagstaff and above, I felt like I was right back at home in New England or upstate New York, because of all the pine trees, greenery, snow covered mountains (yes, in June), and quaint little mountain towns. The beauty and diversity of Arizona impressed me a lot and I can definitely see why many people come here to live after they retire. My only complaint about Arizona was that while I was in Phoenix, it seemed to me that most of the people there were really rude and mean, and they honestly reminded me a lot like new yorkers, so that was a big turn off for me, and the city of Phoenix wasn’t anything special anyways, so that thorn in the state’s side is the reason why it lands at number 5 in my spot, because honestly it would probably be in the top 3 if it wasn’t for my bad experiences in the state’s capitol. But putting that aside and looking at the state as a whole, it’s natural beauty and uniqueness are unparalleled to anywhere else in this country. Out here, I was able to clear my head, but it was only filled with more questions about the origins of the planet, because I do not think that things this beautiful were made by accident over time; I think that some sort of a God out there must be an amazing artist, and He used the southwest, especially Arizona, as His canvas.

4.) Utah:

Utah is much like Arizona, which makes sense since they border each other both on the map as well as on my list of my ten favorite states i’ve been to. What makes Utah a tad more appealing to me over Arizona though, is that it’s even more diverse and has even more of a “wow” factor to it. Coming to Utah for the first time, you quickly notice that they have the most beautiful of all the state welcome signs, with an awesome license plate to match it, a stunning picture of the Delicate Arch, which happens to be the reason why I went to go visit Utah in the first place. Utah may not be a destination for many, but it was for me, because I have always wanted to visit Arches National Park, perhaps more than any other place in this country. On the drive into Moab, as well as around Arches National Park, the scenery looks more like something you’d find on Mars than on our own planet, with all of the red rocks, mountains, and sand surrounding the area. The 1.5 mile hike to the delicate arch was well worth it in the 90 degree heat, after nearly passing out and thinking you’re not going to make it, all of a sudden as soon as you turn a corner it is right there in full display right in front of you in all of its glory. It is by far the most beautiful thing I’ve seen on this planet, even more-so that the grand canyon. The word “delicate” is appropriate for it because it’s a miracle how this thing is even standing, and I don’t want to admit it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this thing crumbled to the ground during my lifetime. Utah is a state I have only been to for a few days out of my entire life, and I have only been to one corner of it, so there is still 75 percent of the state I have yet to explore, yet Utah is number 4 on my list, shouldn’t that tell you something? This state is amazing, unique, epic, and not like anywhere else on this planet.

3.) Maine:

Maine deserves a spot on my top 3 because of how rugged and badass the state is, while still managing to be “cute” at the same time. I have no idea how something can be both intimidating yet adorable, but Maine manages to do it. I like to call Maine the Alaska of the east coast, and I believe that to be a pretty accurate assessment. Maine makes me proud to be a New Englander, and this is definitely a state I will live in for awhile at some point later in life. The whole coastline of the state along the shore is filled with cute little towns and fishing villages, the type of places you see on postcards. There’s a reason why Maine is called “Vacationland.” It possesses a unique natural setting, which is comprised of a spectacular coast and a woodsy, mountainous interior, and is by far one of the most diverse states in this country. Southern Maine, has beaches, resort communities, and cosmopolitan cities, which is poles apart from the northern part, where forests and farms are plentiful. All within one day, one can hike the White Mountains, then have dinner in Portland, which is known as the “most-livable city.” and the “foodiest small town in America”. One can also shop in the nationally known outlets of Freeport and then go for a whale watch right afterwards, or visit a fine art museum in Rockland right after watching painters create masterpieces on a rugged mountain. Maine has the largest bear population in the lower 48 states, yet also has an inn that was called one of the best in the world. The state is home to some of the best skiing in the East, the finest sailing waters this side of the Mediterranean, world-renowned parks, two of America’s best art museums, internationally known shopping areas, award-winning restaurants, dozens of National Historic Landmarks, extraordinary beaches, exceptional kayaking, antique stores, nationally ranked golf courses, moose safaris and whale watching trips, and the best National Park in the eastern half of the country, Acaida National Park, in Bar Harbor, which is a cute little town right on an island with amazing scenery surrounding it. To sum things up, this state has it all, which makes it impossible not to like it, because it has something for everyone, and makes me proud to be from the north east.

2.) Colorado:

Colorful Colorado possesses a stunning, unique, and diverse natural landscape and some of the most impressive scenic beauty in the country, including the highest sand dunes in North America, to 54 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet. All in one day’s drive, one can pass through emerald green forests, fields of vibrant wildflowers, picturesque mountain lakes, abundant grasslands and rich red rock formations. There are four national parks, five national monuments and 42 state parks, and also 25 scenic and historic byways, including going through ghost towns, ancient ruins, alpine tundra, and mountain passages. Whether you’re looking for big cities or small mountain towns, Colorado offers many unique experiences. Boulder is one of my favorite college towns in the country and definitely a place I can picture settling down someday, Denver is a solid big city with lots of entertaining things to do, Estes Park is a cute mountain town at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park, and Aspen and Breckenridge are beautiful little skiing towns. Also a side note, the first ever Quiznos is located in Denver, and that happens to be one of my favorite places to eat, so bonus points for Colorado giving birth to such an amazing sandwich shop. This state almost has it all and is 99 percent perfect, the only reason why it is not number 1 on my list is because it is not near an ocean, so the top spot on my list goes to a state that has an incredible amount of some of the most beautiful coastline in the country.

1.) California:

What makes a place good enough to be labeled “perfect”; is it the scenery, the people, the cities, the nightlife, the location, all of the above? Well, there is no such thing as “perfect”, but the closest thing to it that I have ever seen is California. I have been “California Dreaming” since I was a kid, and finally at 22 years old, my dreams became true. San Francisco is by far the most beautiful and amazing city I have ever been to and I would definitely love living there someday, no place has ever felt like home to me as much as the Bay Area has. California has 3 of the best and most impressive cities in the country, along with many national parks, close to 1,000 miles of beautiful coastline, impressive mountains, and much more. In fact, California is the only place I have been to where the landscape drastically changes so often. California has the ocean and beaches, it has the desert, it has snow covered mountains, forests, it has big cities, small rustic towns, pretty much any type of environment you can think of can be found here, so with everything imaginable within the golden state’s borders, why ever leave? A very interesting thing happened to me while I was coming into California from Nevada; the state sign was missing so there was no official “Welcome to California” sign when I arrived! Obviously, this made me upset at first because my goal is to get my picture next to all 50 state signs, but California would have to wait till the day I actually left the state. But then I thought of the symbolism behind this; I will be seeing “welcome to California” the moment I am actually leaving the state, which to me shows that even though I am leaving for now, I am truly welcome back there whenever I wish, and that I never have to really say “goodbye” to the Golden State, just like how the line in the famous Eagles “Hotel California” song goes…”you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave” and I would be just fine with that. The beaches, the mountains, the forest, the hills, the big cities, the little towns, the food, the climate, the location…all these things make California amazing…but especially the people, their personalities and laid back attitudes, is what truly makes this state as close to perfect as one will ever find. I’ve been an East coast resident my entire life, and even though I have only been to California  for a total of 15 days or so, the Atlantic has nothing on the Pacific; the west coast is where it’s truly at, and California makes it hard to come back home and have it truly feel like home here anymore. California, I will be back soon, but until then, I’ll miss you and you’ll be in my dreams until I can make you become a reality again.

1California
2Colorado
3Maine
4Utah
5Arizona
6North Carolina
7 Michigan
8 Massachusetts
9 Pennsylvania
10 New Jersey

honorable mentions: texas, georgia, indiana, florida, south dakota
thanks for reading everyone, feel free to comment on your favorite states and why too!

Days 44-52: Midwest Mini Tour (Chicago, Philadelphia, Indiana, Ohio, and more!)

After just taking a 6 week long trip around the entire country, doing an 8 day trip with my cousin Steve to the Midwest feels merely like a ten minute drive to the mall to me. However, this is the first time my cousin and I have done a trip like this together before, so I was more excited about sharing the experiences of the next week with him more than I was excited to see several new places along the way. Our first stop was to a city I have been to a handful of times but never truly had a great experience at or really appreciated at all: Philadelphia. The city of brotherly love has always left an impression on me quite the opposite of its nickname, and I visit it frequently since my brother lives only an hour away near Reading, Pennsylvania. Almost all of the major cities in the northeast (with the exception of Boston), seem to usually have a negative tone and aura to me, but I am always willing to give things another chance, so I was happy to see Philly with more optimistic eyes on this trip. On the drive there, we sadly had to drive through New Jersey, but as soon as we crossed the Delaware River into PA, we arrived into a town called New Hope, which proved to be a symbolic name for the town since we were introduced to massive amounts of “new hope” after happily leaving the “garden” state (one of the biggest misnomers I’ve ever heard). Anyways…back to topic…New Hope was a very impressive town with a “true” main street (something you don’t see too often in many towns anymore), and I definitely want to come back sometime in the near future to explore the shops, restaurants, parks, and people of this wonderful little town.

We arrived into Philly around 7 PM, and from the highway we saw some of the worst projects and ghettos our eyes have ever laid upon. A smokestack in one neighborhood had “nice town” or “nice ville” written on it, and for about 20 seconds I thought that was the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard, but then I saw the surrounding neighborhoods nearby, which made the awful looking “nice town” look like Beverly Hills. We then got off the highway and instantly were brought back about 300 years in time. Directly in front of us were the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Seeing these two landmarks right next to each other definitely makes you appreciate the heritage and history that the former capitol of our country possesses. Just a week before this trip, I was in Philly with my nephew and took him to the Chesnut Hill area of Philly, which is very pretty, as well as the famous Mutter Museum, which has a lot of anomalous things, such as skeletons with abnormalities, and so on, which was one of the most amazing museums I have ever been to. Philly is famous for its cheese steaks, so we went to the two most famous places in the city to get them: Geno's and Pats. The two are completely opposite in appearance; Geno's looks like something that belongs on the Vegas strip or in Times Square, and Pats looks like someone’s house, but they both serve generally the same thing and are both right across the street from each other, constantly staring at each other face to face. After tasting both of them, Geno's won the taste test even though the place was too gaudy for my taste and the people who work there were pretty ignorant and rude (they have signs that say “speak English or leave” right on their window). We then washed down our food with some brews at the Darkhorse Bar (that’s right, I have a bar named after me in Philly!), and took a stroll down South Street before retiring for the night. Going to Philadelphia for the night definitely made me realize that I have a love / hate relationship with the city, it’s a place I don’t particularly enjoy that much, but something about it…maybe the history…maybe the cobblestone streets…or maybe the asshole-ish “I don’t give a shit attitude the people there possess…keeps bringing me back there time and time again.

The next day we stopped in Gettysburg, PA, which was a place I have never been to but have always wanted to check out. Now that I have checked it out, I never have a need to go back there again. It’s basically just a bunch of fields with cannons and statues, something that is probably important to see once in your life to pay your dues there, but no one should ever go there more than once in a lifetime. We then drove through western Maryland and made our way to Morgantown, West Virginia, where UWV is. It was truly a beautiful college town and university, and we went to a couple bars there and walked around the campus. I was truly impressed with the area, because even though I have been to West Virginia before, it was mainly just to drive through it and I never really stopped there to do anything, so I am glad that I finally did now and can’t wait to explore more of the state again soon.

After leaving there, we briefly went through Wheeling, West Virginia, which was a nice little town right on the Ohio border and we finally ended up in Columbus, Ohio at night time. Columbus is a little known city that I’ve been eager to explore for a long time, so I wasted no time and went right out on the town. We first checked out an area called Short North, which is a street lined with restaurants and bars. After barhopping there for an hour or so, we went to the Brewery District to barhop some more, and then stumbled on over to the German Village, which was a very nice, older part of town, with brick streets and beautiful older homes. Early the next morning, we walked around the campus of THE Ohio State University, which is the biggest college in the country. I was truly impressed with this area near the campus, as well as the entire city as a whole, and I’m glad we decided to make this city a pit stop on our trip.

After leaving Ohio, we were on our way to Chicago, the one big city in America that I have yet to investigate. My first impressions of the Windy City were very good; the night we got there, we walked around the Navy Pier, which is an area right on Lake Michigan that is very similar to Coney Island or Santa Monica, California. Usually I avoid tourist traps as much as possible when I go places, but since this was my first time in Chicago, I wanted to do and see the things here you’re “supposed” to see and do, just as a first timer in NYC would have to see the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and Times Square. So, we decided to go the original Pizzeria Uno’s for some famous deep dish pizza for lunch, which was amazing, and then we went to Wrigley Field to catch a Cubs game, because I’ve always wanted to see their stadium. It is truly a beautiful and historic stadium and I was in awe to see it in person, and was shocked that it is practically in a neighborhood surrounded by apartments and bars. It was a hot day outside, so my cousin and I pounded down 6 beers a piece at the game, which probably cost over 100 bucks, and then went to a bar after the game to celebrate the Cubs 4-2 victory over the Pirates. At the bar, a random couple started talking to us and bought us drinks and shots, which of course we accepted, and when we told them we were from Connecticut, the girl had no idea where our home state even was, which was funny yet sad at the same time. After talking to them for about an hour, we all stumbled out of the bar and said goodbye to our new friends. At this moment, my cousin and I both got extremely sick and puked out our approximately 200 dollars worth of alcohol we had consumed in the past few hours. I passed out under someone’s staircase to the front of their apartment on a street, and my cousin passed out in an alley way nearby. We blacked out for about 3 hours before picking ourselves up off the ground and finding a random sketchy motel to randomly pass out in for the night. I was extremely thankful that the citizens of Wrigleyville just let us rest there in our own regret in peace, and we weren’t taken away in an ambulance or cop car instead. Of course, there was only one bed that we had to share at the motel, but it was still one of the most comfortable night’s sleeps I’ve ever had since I was so happy to be in a bed after a sloppy, embarrassing moment such as that. The next day we tried to get rid of our massive hangovers by walking along a couple beaches and Millennium Park and getting some fresh air. We capped off our time in Chicago by going to the Sky Deck of the Sears Tower (which is now called the Willis Tower), which is the tallest building in the country. The view from the top of the tower was breathtaking, and we watched the sunset 103 stories up from the ground, as well as walked on the glass floor where you can look straight down to the city streets, which was a great ending to a very interesting time in the city.

After leaving Chicago, we went to Indiana for 2 days, which is one of my favorite states in the entire country. We first went to West Lafayette to check out Purdue University, and then went to Indianapolis and walked around for a couple hours, which was a city I have never been to and was really impressed with. Lastly, we went to Bloomington, which is a town I fell in love with last year on my summer tour in 2008. I performed a show there the first night in town, at the same place I performed last year, and then we went to a couple of my favorite bars in town for an after party with some of my friends from the town, because apparently we hadn’t learned our lesson about booze in Chicago just a couple days earlier. The next day we walked around the campus of Indiana University, which is a place I might consider going to for my masters in Creative Writing / Poetry in the future, because I love the town and campus so much. We then spent the night with more friends at the local bars and restaurants that I wish I had the opportunity to go to every week instead of just once a year. Sadly the next morning, we left Bloomington and headed up to South Bend to check out the University of Notre Dame, which was a very beautiful campus that reminded me of an Ivy League school somewhat, and then spent the night in Grand Rapids, Michigan to visit a long time friend. Unfortunately, it rained out while we were there, so we couldn’t go check out my favorite beaches along the lake, but I did have time to visit the Meijer Sculpture Gardens in Grand Rapids, which is pretty much an outdoor art museum in a park, and it was very beautiful. We made our way to Cleveland, Ohio at night to watch an Indians game versus my favorite team, the Angels, which was fun since my cousin is a Tribe fan. We had great seats right behind the Halo’s dugout and I caught a foul ball, but sadly the Angels lost 11-3. Not to worry though, because my team is still in first place and his is in last place, so I didn’t mind that he got to enjoy a rare Indians win. That game concluded our trip, because we decided to just drive the 9 hours straight home instead of getting a hotel for the night, so we arrived back in Connecticut around 8 AM.

Even though this trip was really short compared to my previous one, we still managed to do and see a lot in a short period of time. I saw a lot of new places that I enjoyed and want to explore again soon, and if nothing else, it was a great bonding experience with someone who is both a family member and one of my best friends. Even though we literally managed to be both in the clouds and hit rock bottom within a 24 hour span in Chicago, they are experiences we will be able to look back on, laugh about, cherish, and tell our kids someday. With the conclusion of this trip though, comes the realization that my summer tour has also come to an end now, and my travel bug will have to be tamed for awhile until the open road calls my name again.

Days 39-43: A Week Back in New England (there’s no place like home...or is there?)

I have a disease. That disease is called the travel bug. It’s been affecting me my entire life, but now it is controlling me full force. And the best part is, there are no signs of a cure anytime soon, and even if there was, I would want nothing to do with the remedy.

I finally arrived back to Connecticut after traveling around the country for 6 weeks, and before I even had time to do my laundry or check my mail, I was preparing to go back on the road again. However, this time, I was going to stay in my home area of New England, to see more of the area I grew up in, and attempt to gain a higher appreciation of my roots. The night of my first full day back in CT, a handful of my close friends and I met up in New Haven for a “welcome back home” gathering to go barhopping and people watching, two of our most favorite things to do. Before going on my trip to the west coast, I used to pride myself on being from the New Haven area, and was always excited to inform people of the true beauty, diversity, cleanliness, and nightlife of the city. However, after coming back “home”, it simply did not feel like home anymore…something was different to me…New Haven felt just like another city and not like a place I still belonged in; it’s special charm that used to light my eyes with excitement…now gone. Perhaps that bulb had burnt out because I have just recently discovered better, perhaps I have overstayed my welcome; perhaps this was a calling for me to pack my bags and find a new home. I have spent so much time in New Haven that I could close my eyes and name every restaurant, store, bar, and club on every street and probably even know a person or two in each place without seeing them. This is not the type of place I wish to still live in; I yearn for a bigger city where I can get lost and then try to find my way back home, while discovering new things and places along the way. So although New Haven did not feel the same to me after seeing the entire country, I was still happy to see familiar places with familiar faces for the time being. Before meeting up with my friends, my cousin Steve and I walked around the Yale campus and admired the beauty of the buildings, which never fail to amaze me no matter how many times I see them. We then grabbed some hamburgers at the world famous Louis Lunch, where the hamburger was claimed to be invented. The night was perfectly finished by washing our dinner down with some half yards of Molson at Richter’s Bar near the city’s green while sharing stories of my travels amongst my comrades, and then parading over to an Irish pub called The Playwright to have some more brews for dessert.

Early the next morning I was back in the car again and off to Maine. Believe it or not, I have not been to Maine in about 11 years or so, even though it is only roughly 4 hours from my home, ergo, I was excited to finally be able to go back to “vacationland” to see it through adult eyes for the first time. Luckily, on my huge trip out west, I only saw rain for one night in a 6 week span, but on this mini trip around New England, Mother Nature was not so kind to me. I briefly walked around Old Orchard beach, which I can vaguely remember going to as a kid, and then arrived in Portland, where I had a show that night at the North Star Café. Before going to my show, I walked around the town in the pouring rain and had some clam chowder for dinner to warm me up, which New England, and especially Maine, is known for having the best of in the country. With soaked shoes, shirt, and all, I arrived at the venue for my show, and it actually turned out to be one of the best of my entire tour thus far; the crowd was pretty big and supportive, and I met some very interesting and kind people there, including a fellow poet all the way from Nicaragua. The next day I had really amazing Lobster Rolls (or Lobsta as we say it up in the northeast) at the famous Red’s Eats in Wicasset. I actually heard about this place originally because it is one of Andrew Zimmern’s most favorite places to eat in Maine, and of course I had to go there since I’m one of his biggest fans. I’m usually not a huge fan of lobster, but I guess that’s because I’ve never had lobster in Maine until now….wow was it amazing! The highlight of my time in Maine was still to come though, with the arrival to Bar Harbor to visit Acadia National Park. I have been to about a half dozen national parks this summer around the country, including Grand Canyon, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Carlsbad Caverns, and Petrified Forrest, and although Acadia may not have matched up to some of those other parks in the “awe and admiration” factor, it did possess some other attributes and characteristics that the other parks may have lacked a bit; a scenic drive along a beautiful ocean for one, beaches, and an breathtaking view on top of one of the highest points on the entire east coast. It is actually said that if you are on top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park during the sunrise, you will be one of the first people in the entire country to see the sun’s first rays in the morning…now isn’t that something neat? Unfortunately, I couldn’t be one of those lucky people since it was raining out again the next morning, but I was able to enjoy some sunlight both the evening before while on top of Cadillac Mountain, and later on the next day while driving along the coastline, going to the beach, and hiking on some of the trails in the park. After being in Maine for only 3 days, I cannot understand why it took me over a decade to come back here after my initial visit, but I can assure one thing…It will definitely be much sooner than that until I come back here again.

Subsequently, I made my way over to New Hampshire, where I had lunch in the scenic seaport town of Portsmouth, and then drove up to Mount Washington. I was really looking forward to being able to see the spectacular views from atop the summit, but once again, Mother Nature decided to punish me. I still decided to make the drive up since I came all the way there, and I’m glad I chose to do so. Even though I could not see more than 50 feet in front of me at any given time, the 8 mile drive up the mountain was still something very exciting to do. When I finally reached the summit over 6,000 feet from the Earth’s surface, I truly felt one with the clouds and gained a greater appreciation for the natural elements surrounding me. The cold rain beating down on my face and the angry wind pushing me back in my tracks was refreshing to me after almost melting alive in the deserts of southern Arizona just a couple weeks earlier. As I stood next to the “Mount Washington summit” sign and a red fox crossed my path only several feet away from me, I realized why New England is home sweet home to me, and how I love the fact that I can still be able to wear a jacket and freeze my balls off in July. Even though my reasons may sound crazy to some, I guess it’s one of those things that only Natives of the area would appreciate and enjoy. So although I was not able to see the views from atop the pinnacle, I was able to enjoy and appreciate the mountain in other aspects, and will definitely return to it again sometime during Autumn to see the views I missed this time.

Lastly, I drove down to Cape Cod, which, believe it or not, was one place I have never been to. On the way there, I quickly passed through Boston, which brought a smile to my face, because I plan on moving there in September for roughly 8 months or so, and it was the first time I have seen my future home since March. On the way down the cape, it was pouring again, but I guess my prayers to the rain Gods were finally answered, because the sun finally started to peek out from behind the stratus clouds once I arrived in Provincetown. I was very excited to finally be able to visit P-Town, because as I stated earlier, I love people watching, and what better place to do it than one of the largest homosexual communities in the country? I just got back from San Francisco, so I figured this would be a similar scene except in a smaller scale, but I must say, to my surprise, the people of Provincetown are a lot more open even than the people of San Fran. Both cities have the gay pride flags swinging off of every lamppost and street sign in the city, but I saw things in abundance in Cape Cod that was almost unapparent in the Bay Area, such as drag queens walking the streets and advertising shows they were putting on later that night, over flamboyant individuals eager to spark spontaneous conversations with unexpected (and possibly homophobic) tourists, and hundreds of couples holding hands and making out with no regards for PDA. Coming to places like this always makes me happy and gives me some faith in the world, because it’s great to see that cities such as Provincetown exist where people of any orientation or background can come and be accepted with no discrimination. It’s a shame more places like this couldn’t exist…but hey…when extreme right wing conservative jerks run and reside in the majority of the country, what else do you expect? So after my observations, Cape Cod was more enjoyable for people watching than San Francisco, because of the fact that P-Town is more condensed and "in your face" since it's a much smaller area, even though San Fran by far is my top choice for favorite city, because the beaches and scenery and personalities and lifestyles of the people of the west coast are on a completely different plateau than on the east coast…sorry New England, the truth hurts sometimes : )

When deciding to take a trip around New England after just being around the rest of the country, I honestly had no idea what to expect, and now after arriving back to Connecticut, I’m still not quite sure how to process what I just saw. Did I just drive around my home area, or was it just another place on the map? Sure…New England allows me to relive the years of my youth and appreciate the area I grew up in…but at 22, do I really want to be rekindling the old flames of my past…or starting the new fires of my future? At this point in my life, I obviously have more questions than answers, and I think that many of these will never find a true answer until my final moments on this planet, but in a way, that’s the beauty of life, and these very questions are what keep me on the open road, searching for new places, for new homes, and for new pieces of myself. In just a couple weeks, I will be off to the Midwest to explore Chicago for the first time, as well as go back to Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, but until then (even though I’m not quite sure in the validity of my next statement), I will attempt my best impression of Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz” and whisper to myself that “there is no place like home”.