best in each state
 

What is the one 'must see' sight in your state? What is your favorite 'undiscovered gem'

For Arizona, the must see is the Grand Canyon

For an undiscovered gem, I select Chiracahua National Monument

For Maine, the "must see" is definitely Acadia National Park.

My pick for "undiscovered gem" is the Skolfield-Whittier House in Brunswick.

"A time-capsule like home of three generations of a prominent Brunswick family with careers in seafaring, medicine and education...Closed and unheated for sixty years, the house remains exactly as it was in 1925 when it was last occupied on a full time basis..."

Read more about it and take a virtual tour here: http://www.curtislibrary.com/pejepsc...hours.htm#skol

In Florida the "must see" is the Sugar White Beaches of the Gulf Coast.

The "undiscovered gem" would have to be Blue Springs State Park, in the winter. All the Manatees come for the warm water.

The must see in California is Yosemite National Park.

An undiscovered gem is Calaverers Big Trees State Park near Arnold, California

Utahtea...I don't live in Utah;)

A Colorado must-see is Rocky Mountain National Park. The San Juan Mountains are less known gems.

For Indiana the "must see" is the Indianapolis 500. For undiscovered gem try Clifty Falls State Park and Madison, IN.

www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/parks/cliftyfalls.html

ttt

Picking a "Best of North Carolina" would be too difficult, but I can certainly name our undiscovered gem, and that would be Winston-Salem.

More authentic colonial buildings than Williamsburg, most of which are still serving their original purposes of commerce or homes.

A fascinating history that blends the search for religious freedom with the industrial revolution with the civil rights movement with urban decline with urban rebirth.

An arts community that even a an artistic powerhouse like Asheville respects, with performing and visual arts that are the envy of cities two and three times as large.

Beautiful architecture and a big-city skyline that includes a skyscraper that served as a first draft for the Empire State Building.

Beautiful neighborhoods of rowhouses, and beautiful historic neighborhoods of colonial brick and clapboard houses.

Art EVERYWHERE -- murals and sculptures, opera, ballet, theatre!

Museums of outstanding quality, including the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the Children's Museum at Old Salem, the Gallery at Old Salem, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, a science musem, a toy museum, and the Wake Forest Museum of Anthropology.

If Winston-Salem could gather its assets under one banner and promote them the way Asheville does, it would be a tourism force to be reckoned with, but as a city, Winston-Salem is still finding its stride as a vibrant and thriving city after a long period of decline. Although more people discover it every day, it's still a destination that's off the beaten path... though if word got out that it's actually one of the most pleasant and interesting cities in the South if not the country, that wouldn't be the case for long.

Truth be told, Winston-Salem is a lot like Asheville, but bigger and a little grittier -- and comparing any city to Asheville is indeed quite a heck of a compliment!

Big tyke, must agree with Chiracahua NP, we were surprised about how great it was. As for Arkansas, must see is........can't think of one, undiscovered gem........nope drawing a blank here too.

New Jersey:
Must see Jersey Shore areas

Undiscovered Gem: Highpoint State Park.
Gives Vermont a run for its money in Fall Foiliage!
JOHN

New York State ...

Must see: Niagara Falls
Undiscovered Gem: Adirondack High Peaks

Connecticut:

Must See is Mystic, Great area that Cronicles the states Whaling Industry and Seafaring lifestyle. Still a working village with boat yards and river trips. Also great information on Ct.'s involvement in the abolishanist movement and African American history. Amistad is often docked there.

Undiscovered: Perhaps the Clinton Essex area. Beautiful small towns which most think of a an outlet center on the way to the Indian Casinos. The Essex Steam train is great and the boat ride on the Connecticut River is a must see.

Can I do two states? I grew up in Iowa, but have lived in Minnesota for the past 15 years, so feel somewhat qualified on both.

Minnesota: The must see sight is Duluth and the North Shore of Lake Superior - BEAUTIFUL! The undiscovered gem is southern MN. All the focus in MN is on the Twin Cities and the lakes up north, but southern MN is very nice also - from the bluffs country of SW MN (Red Wing, Winona) to the valleys of Mankato and LeSueur.

Iowa: The must see sight is Des Moines, with must see destinations that include the gold-leaf topped capital building, Valley Junction stores, Living History Farms and more.

The undiscovered gem is Winterset, IA - the county seat of Madison County and the home of the covered bridges of Madison County. Most people would say that Winterset doesn't qualify as an "undiscovered" gem, and yes, they do get a fair amount of tourists to see the bridges. But most tourists come, see a few bridges, the house where the movie was filmed, maybe tour the town square and leave. But in addition, they could also have seen: the John Wayne birthplace and museum, a very large city park (hiking trails and a wonderful view from the highest spot in the county), a restored stone one-room schoolhouse, and a historical complex which includes a nice small museum and a restored 1880's mansion. If you are into natural beauty and history, Winterset is a great place to go.

JOHN Where on the Jersey shore is this park? I will be in the area in Oct want to see it. Sounds like a great stop for a picnic lunch. i will be leaving from Raritan.

Well, New Hampshire's Must See USED to be the Old Man of the Mountain. But, alas, he's reduced to rubble. Fellow Granite Staters, do we have a Must See anymore?
IMHO, we do have many undiscovered gems. Well, not truly "undiscovered," but not really big draws, either. I nominate Lost River, Kearsarge Indian Museum, St. Gaudens, Fuller Gardens, and Odiorne Point!
This is a great post to print once complete and save for future reference! Thanks, Bigtyke!

California must see: Lake Tahoe
Undiscovered gem: Jenner/Goat Rock State Park.

One of Arkansas' must sees is the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. Designed by Fay Jones, the American Institute of Architects designated it the 4th most important building of the 20th century.

For Washington it's the gorgeous scenery, but it would be very difficult to pick just one. Offhand I can narrow it to 3--Olympic Penninsula, Mt. Rainer, and the San Juan Islands.

I agree that the must see in New York state is Niagara Falls - the Canadian Niagara Falls !!

To arkansasnurse:

The Highpoint State Park is not near the shore! It is nestled in the far northwest corner of the state in Sussex County. You can reach it in 1.5 hours from Raritan. Drop me an email at [email protected] if you need info about what to do in this State!

Michigan

Must See: Probably Mackinac Island. Very touristy in the Summer, but a beautiful, natural island with no motorized vehicles allowed and a quaint, turn-of-the-century (as in the 20th century) feel. Plenty of historic sites and a gorgeous, and easy, six mile or so bike path around the perimeter of the island. Rent a bike!

Undiscovered Gem: I've probably not yet discovered it, but perhaps the breath-taking Lake Michigan bluff drive known as the 'Tunnel of Trees' (M119) North of Harbor Springs to Wilderness State Park.

What most people think of in Kentucky is the Blue Grass region around Lexington with its beautiful horse farms, and, secondly, Mammoth Cave National Park.

We also have beautiful state parks all across the Commonwealth. I particularly like Pleasant Hill Shaker Village near Harrodsburg (wonderful food) and then Fort Harrod in the town. Then there is the drive to Natural Bridge and the Red River Gorge. And Cumberland Falls, and Bowling Green with the Corvette Museum, and Louisville with Churchill Downs and the Derby Museum, and Bardstown, and Pine Mountain State Park at Cumberland Gap, and Land Between the Lakes. Shall I go on?

In Ohio, the Lake Erie Shoreline, South Bass Island, Amish country, Hocking Hills and any of the state parks. Hidden gem I would have to say would be Kelley's Island.

In Tennessee, the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg. Others will say Graceland, but you can see tackily decorated homes in any state.

I live in Orlando and will not say Disney World but take a boat trip up the St. Johns river or canoe trip on the wekiva river and you will see the real Florida. Not theme parks and tacky tourist shops but natural beauty, and possibly some amazing wildlife (Gators, herons, eagles, otters, maybe even a bear). Very relaxing

Must see sight in Texas to me would be -San Antonio (the riverwalk)with all it's lodging, restaurants, shops.

My fav gem would be Carmel, the ocean lines beauty.

In South Carolina, the must see is Charleston. The undiscovered gem is the Ninety Six National Historic Site.

"Must See" in New Hampshire - Mt. Washington, by auto or cog railway. Let's face it, the "Old Man" was W...ayy past his prime!

Oops - an ommision! Let's not forget legging it up the mountain!

For Illinois, it's Chicago's lakefront--on a nice day, can't beat it. The undiscovered gem would have to be Starved Rock State Park.

For NH it has to be the entire White Mountain National Forest. This covers Franconia, Crawford and Pinkham Notches.

Undiscovered gem: Peterborough/Jaffery area

Chime in with Carolyn for Kentucky...

The Must-do is the "Horse stuff" which encompasses both Louisville and Lexington

The Undiscovered Gems include a lot of the things that Carolyn mentioned including Mammoth Cave, the Corvette city...Bowling Green, as well as the rugged beauty of Eastern KY

ttt

Thorncrown Chapel is a must. The whole Eureka Springs, AR area is quite unique unless you can't stand mountains. Petit Jean State Park is not really undiscovered but doesn't get the publicity that Eureka Springs gets. It's definitely rural, gorgeous mountain scenery.

In New York:

Must-see: tie between Manhattan and the Ithaca/Finger Lakes region.

Undiscovered gem: north fork of Long Island.

Massachusetts -

must see: can't decide... Boston? Nantucket? Berkshires? Martha's Vineyard?

undiscovered gem: probably Cape Ann north of Boston... it gets much less press than Cape Cod, but is full of history and scenery and beaches and beautiful rolling horse country...