Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma State Flag

"Land of the Red Man", "Native America" and "Sooner State"

Why visit Oklahoma?

Travelers interested in rich Native American Heritage & Old West in relaxed environment to enjoy boating, camping, culture, equestrian farms, fishing, golf, history, horse racing, hunting, museums, prairie land and wildlife.  

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma City, OK. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Oklahoma City
• State Bird: Scissor Tailed Flycatcher
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Oklahoma Rose
• State Gemstone: None
• State Mammal: Buffalo
• State Rock: Rose Rock (Barite)

Fun Facts

• There are Viking carvings (Heavener) to mark their arrival even before Columbus.
  
• During 1930, after suffering from high temperatures, long periods of little rainfall and strong winds farming practices hendored earning them the "Dust Bowl".
• In 1933, Carl Magee (Oklahoma City) invented the parking meter installed during 1935.
  
• On November 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt established Oklahoma as the 46th state.
  
• Ranked among the best in pre-kindergarten education for access, standards and quality.
• Under the direction of George Armstrong Custer a massacre of 200 Cheyenne children, men and women died.
  
• Top manufacturer of tires in North America.
  
• A major producer of agricultural products, natural gas and oil.
• Geographically is a part of the "Bible Belt" for Evangelical Christianity. 
• Tulsa is known as "Buckle of the Bible Belt".
• Has the highest incarceration rate of any state earning its nickname, "the world's prison capital".
• Aerospace generates the state $11 billion annually.
  
• The Cherokee Preservation Foundation has invested millions into community gatherings, opening schools and training teachers in efforts to keep the native language widely spoken for generations to come.
  
• There are 67 Native American tribes represented amongst the state.
• Features 2 National Forests, 6 National Parks and 50 State Parks. 

Fort Reno, El Reno, OK. Photo Credit: 15299/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Bill Goldberg (Athlete), Blake Griffin (Athlete), Blake Shelton (Musician), Brad Pitt (Actor), Carrie Underwood (Musician), Chuck Norris (Actor), Garth Brooks (Musician), Hoda Kotb (TV Host), James Marsden (Actor), Kristin Chenoweth (Actress), Reba McEntire (Musician), Tisha Campbell-Martin (Actress) and Woody Guthrie (Musician), just to name a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: Bringing Up Bobby (2011), Oklahoma! (1955), Rain Man (1988), Rumble Fish (1983), The Killer Inside of Me (2010), The Outsiders (1983), To the Wonder (2012) and Twister (1996), just to name a few.
• Reads Set in Oklahoma: Cimarron (written by Edna Ferber), Harpsong (written by Rilla Askew),  Route 66—The Mother Road (written by Michael Wallace), Shoot the Moon (written by Billie Letts), The Grapes of Wrath (written by John Steinbeck),The Real Wild West (written by Michael Wallis) and Where the Heart Is (written by Billie Letts), just to name a few.

Antelope Hills (oger Mills County), OK. Photo Credit: Raychel Sanner/Unsplash 

Good to Know

• Avoid contact with bisons as they're known to charge at people.
• Without permission do not photograph Native American Ceremonies or Dances due to religious beliefs and sacredness.
• Over 300 museums throughout the state.
• There are 25 Native American Languages spoken throughout the state, the most being Cherokee and Choctaw. Spanish is also widely spoken.
  

Subject to damaging winds, humidity, large hail, severe thunderstorms, snow storms and tornadoes.

• Best Time to Visit: September - November
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Months: July - August
• Peak Season: June - August

Arcadia Round Barn, Arcadia, OK. Photo Credit: RevDP/Pixabay

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: 101 Ranch Historic District, Bizzell Library, Boley Historic District, Boston Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church South, Camp Nichols, Cherokee National Capitol, Creek National Capitol, Deer Creek Site, Ernest Whitworth Marland Mansion, Fort Gibson, Fort Sill, Fort Washita, Guthrie Historic District, Honey Springs Battlefield, McLemore Site, Murrell Home, Platt National Park Historic District, Price Tower, Sequoyah's Cabin, Stamper Site, Washita Battlefield and Wheelock Academy.
• Museums: 45th Infantry Division Museum, 99's Museum of Women Pilots, American Banjo Museum, Charles B Hall Airpark at Tinker Air Force Base, Edmond Historical Society & Museum, First Americans Museum, Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art, Gilcrease Museum, Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Harn Homestead, Henry Overholser Mansion, Moore-Lindsay Historic House Museum, Museum of Horseshoeing, Museum of Osteology, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, National Weather Museum and Science Center, OKCMOA Museum, OKC Rattlesnake Museum, Oklahoma Black Museum & Performing Arts Center, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma Firefighters Museum, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Museum of Flying, Oklahoma Museum of Telephone History, Oklahoma Railway Museum, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, National Weather Museum & Science Center, Science Museum Oklahoma, Spencer Historical Society, The American Pigeon Museum & Library and Yukon's Best Railroad Museum.
• Popular Attractions: Alabaster Caverns State Park, Alfred P Murrah Federal Building, Andy Alligator's Fun Park & Water Park, Arbuckle Mountains, Arcadia Round Barn, Beavers Bend State Park, Braums Family Farm, Bricktown, Centennial Land Run Monument, Childrens Garden, Crystal Bridge, Devon Tower, Eagle Roost Nature Trail, Factory Obscura Mix Tape, Frontier City Theme Park, Great Salt Plains State Park, Har-Ber Village, Heavener Runestone State Park, Henry Overholser Mansion, Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City, Lake Hefner, Lake Texoma State Park, Lake Thunderbird State Park, Martin Park Nature Center, Medicine Park, Mount Scott, Myriad Botanical Gardens, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Newcastle Casino, Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma State Capitol, Old North Tower, Ouachita Mountains,  Ozark Mountains, Paseo Arts District, Pelican Bay Aquatic Center, Plaza Walls, Red Earth, Riversport Adventures, Riversport Drive, Robbers Cave State Park, Route U.S. 66, Route 66 Park Ampitheater, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Scissortail Park, Saint Joseph's Old Cathedral, Talimena Scenic Drive, Talimena Skyline Drive, Talimena State Park, The Gold Dome, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Wheeler Ferris Wheel, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and Will Rogers Gardens.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Broken Arrow, Broken Bow, Cherokee, Edmond, Enid, Freedom, Grove, Kingston, Lawton, Midwest City, Moore, Norman, Oklahoma City, Prague, Stillwater, Tishomingo, Tulsa and Wilburton.
• Special Events: (March) Park Stomp Music Festival, (April) KM Music Festival, Medieval Fair, Metro Music Fest, Oklahoma Renaissance Festival,(May) Chuck Wagon Festival,Czech Heritage, Italian Festival, Mayfest Festival, Mayor’s Red Dirt Ball, Rocklahoma, Rooster Days Festival, Stone River Music Festival, Tulsa International Mayfest, (June) American Heritage Music Festival, Charlie Christian International Music Festival, deadCENTER Film Festival, Jazz in June, Juneteenth, Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen, Oklahoma City Pride Parade, Totem Pole BBQ & Music Fest, (July) Rockin’ the Park, Tokyo in Tulsa, Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, (August) Norman Music Festival, Prix de West, Norman Music Festival, (September) Downtown Edmond Arts Festival, Kolachee Festival, Oktoberfest, Oklahoma City's Festival of the Arts, Oklahoma Mozart Festival, Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival, State Fair of Oklahoma, Tulsa State Fair, (October) An Affair of the Heart, Chuck Wagon Gathering, Hallowfest, OKC Memorial Marathon, Oklahoma Regatta Festival, Plaza District Festival and Tallgrass Music Festival.

Photo Credit: Natalie B/Pixabay 

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Ohio (OH)

Ohio State Flag

 

"Birthplace of Aviation", "The Buckeye State" and "The Heart of It All"

Why visit Ohio?

Travelers seeking birdwatching, biking, boating, camping, farmlands, festivals, history, horse riding, theme parks and zoos.

At a Glance

• Capital: Columbus
• State Bird: Cardinal
• State Dessert: Pecan Pie
• State Flower: Scarlet Carnation
• State Gemstone: Ohio Flint 
• State Mammal: White Tailed Deer
• State Rock: None

Columbus, OH. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• In 1669, Robert Cavelier LaSalle, Explorer arrived to claim the land for France.
• In 1763, British won control of France's North American territory.
  
• In 1803, became a state.
• In 1970, four anti-Vietnam War protestors were killed by National Guardsmen at Kent State University.
• The State's natural resources are coal, iron ore and petroleum.
• Home to world renowned Cleveland Clinic for their heart science.
  
• Birthplace to the world's first cash register, ice-cube tray, traffic light and vacuum cleaner. Our country's first with a concrete skyscraper, ice-cream sundae, hot air balloon airmail delivery, kindergarten, outdoor telephone booth and strip mall shopping center.
  
• Headquarters to the popular Longaberger Basket Company (Newark) signature baskets during 1973-2018.
• Features 1 National Forest, 20 State Forests and 73 State Parks.

The Arcade, Cleveland, OH. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Halle Berry (Actress), John Glenn (Astronaut), John Legend (Musician), LeBron James (Athlete), Luke Perry (Actor), Neil Armstrong (Astronaut), Stephen Curry (Athlete) and Ulysses S Grant (Late President), just to name a few. 
• Movies to Inspire You: A Christmas Story (1983), Alex Cross (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Lost in Yonkers (1993), Mischief (1985), Rain Man (1981), The Avengers (2012), The Pride of Jesse Hallam (1981), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Traffic (2000) and Unstoppable (2010), just to name a few.
• Reads Set in Ohio: How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky: A Novel (written by Lydia Netzer), Little Fires Everywhere (written by Celeste Ng), The Spirit of the Border (written by Zane Grey), The Visiting Physician (written by Susan Shreve) and Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small Town Life (written by Sherwood Anderson), just to name a few.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH. Photo Credit: Rusty Campbell/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Never photograph Amish given their religious beliefs.
• "Prairie Oysters" are cooked testicles.
• The JC Penney Catalog Outlet Store (Columbus) offers catalog returns, overstocked items and used store displays.
  
• Host the world's largest chicken dance during Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati (Cincinnati).
• The nation's largest Amish community.
  
• "Goetta" is German inspired consisting of a meat and grain sausage or mush with a scrapple appearance and texture.
  
• Wood areas watchout for poisonous berries, mushrooms and toadstools.
• Suggestions for bars, nightclubs or restaurants cab drivers are known to steer visitors to commission venues or those furthest from your current location.
  
• Foliage colors are best in October, peaking around mid month.

Subject to humidity, snowstorms, thunderstorms and tornadoes.

• Best Time to Visit: April - October
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Month: July 
• Peak Season: June - August

Loveland Castle Museum, Loveland, OH. Photo Credit: Jennifer Romer/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Adena, Alphonso Taft Home, Baum-Taft House, Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey, Benjamin Lundy House, Captain Edward V Rickenbacker House, Carew Tower-Netherland Plaza Hotel, Central Branch-National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Charles F Kettering House, Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati Observatory, Cincinnati Union Terminal, Cincinnati Zoo Historic Structures, Cleveland Arcade, Colonel Charles Young House, Covington & Cincinnati Suspension Bridge, DONALD B (Towboat), Dr Robert & Anne Smith House, Edward D. Libbey House, Eldean Covered Bridge, Fallen Timbers Battlefield, Fort Ancient, Fort Meigs, Glendale Historic District, George Hunt Pendleton House, Greenhills Historic District, Harriet Taylor Upton House, Hawthorn Hill, Hopeton Earthworks,Huffman Prairie Flying Field, James A Garfield Home, Jay Cooke Home, John B Tytus House, John Mercer Langston House, John P Parker House, Johnson's Island Civil War Prison, John Rankin House, Joshua R Giddings Law Office, Kent State Shootings Site, Kirtland Temple, Langstroth Cottage, Miami & Erie Canal Deep Historic Cut, Majestic Showboat, Manasseh Cutler Hall-Ohio University, Mount Pleasant Historic District, Newark Earthworks, Oberlin College, Ohio & Erie Canal, Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Theatre, Paul Laurence Dunbar House, Pennsylvania Railroad Depot & Baggage Room, People's Federal Savings & Loan Association, Plum Street Temple, S Bridge National Road, Serpent Mound, Sherman Birthplace, Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility (B-2), Spiegel Grove, Spring Grove Cemetery, Stan Hywet Hall, Sunwatch Site, Thomas A Edison Birthplace, U.S. Grant Boyhood Home, USS COD (Submarine), Village of Mariemont, Warren G Harding Home, William H McGuffey Boyhood Home Site, William McKinley Tomb, Wilson Bruce Evans House, W.P. SNYDER, JR. (Towboat), Wright Cycle Company & Wright Printing Shop, Wright Flyer III, Zero Gravity Research Facility and Zoar Historic District.
• Museums: A Christmas Story House, Akron Art Museum, Allen County Museum, Allen Memorial Art Museum, American Sign Museum, America's Packard Museum, Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center, Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Campus Martius Museum, Canton Classic Car Museum, Canton Museum of Art, Center of Science and Industry, Central Ohio Fire Museum, Champaign Aviation Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Fire Museum, Cincinnati Museum Center, Cleveland Grays Armory Museum,
  Cleveland History Center, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Police Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Dayton International Peace Museum, Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, Dunham Tavern Museum, Fairport Marine Museum & Lighthouse, Garst Museum, Great Lakes Science Center, Hancock Historical Museum, Heritage Village Museum, Imagination Station, International Women’s Air & Space Museum, Jack Nicklaus Museum, Kelton House Museum & Garden, Kennedy Museum of Art, Liberty Aviation Museum, Loveland Castle Museum, Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, MAPS Air Museum, Maritime Museum of Sandusky, Massillon Museum, McDonough Museum of Art, McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, Merry-Go-Round Museum, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, Motts Military Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center, National Heisey Glass Museum, National Museum of Cambridge Glass, National Museum of the Great Lakes, National Museum of the US Air Force, National Road-Zane Grey Museum, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Ohio Craft Museum, Ohio Glass Museum, Ohio History Connection, Ohio Craft Museum, Ohio History Connection, Ohio River Museum, Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Village, Paul A Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Robbins Hunter Museum, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Southern Ohio Museum & Cultural Center, Taft Museum of Art, The Bicycle Museum of America, The Butler Institute of American Art, The Children's Museum of Cleveland, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Dayton Art Institute, The Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens, The Jubilee Museum, The Museum of Divine Statues, The Troll Hole Museum, Thomas A Edison Birthplace Museum, Toledo Museum of Art, Toy & Plastic Brick Museum,Tri State Warbird Museum, Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum, Wexner Center for the Arts, Wood County Museum, University of Findlay's Mazza Museum, Johnny Appleseed Museum, Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, Early Television Museum, WACO Air Museum & Aviation Learning Center and Wyandot Popcorn Museum.
• Popular Attractions: African Safari Wildlife Park, Akron Zoo, Alum Creek State Park Beach, Arnold Statue, Ash Cave, Aurora Farms, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, Belterra Park Cincinnati, Big Splash, Blue Hen Falls, Brandywine Falls, Brukner Nature Center, Buckeye Lake State Park, Caesar Creek Flea Market, Cantwell Cliffs, Carew Tower Observation Deck, Carillon Historical Park, Cedar Point, Chagrin Falls, Cincinnati Observatory Center, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cleveland Arcade, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Cultural Gardens, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland Public Square, Columbus Park of Roses, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Coney Island Park, Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve, Coventry Village, Cox Arboretum MetroPark, Cozad Bates House, Crystal Cave, Custer Monument, Cuyahoga River, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Dayton Raceway, East Harbor State Park, Eden Park, Edgewater Park, Euclid Beach Park, Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park, Fallen Timbers Monument, Fellows Riverside Gardens, Findlay Market, Geneva State Park, Glass Pavilion, Gorge Metro Park, Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Grizer Castle, Groveport Aquatic Center, Guilford Lake State Park, Hale Farm & Village, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Headlands Beach State Park, Highbanks Metro Park, Hocking Hills, Hocking Hills State Park, Hollow Earth Theory Monument, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Hueston Woods State Park, Huntington Beach, Indian Lake State Park, Inniswood Metro Gardens, JACK Cleveland Casino, JC Penney Catalog Outlet Store, John A Roebling Suspension Bridge, Johnson's Island, Jungle Jim's International Market, Kelleys Island State Park, Kings Island, Krohn Conservatory, Lake Erie Islands, Lake Erie Outlet Factory, Lake Logan State Park, Lakeview Park, Little Italy, Mad River Mountain, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, Marietta Aquatic Center, Maumee Bay State Park, Memphis Kiddie Park, MGM Northfield Park, Miami Valley Gaming, Middle Bass Island, National Steamboat Monument, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Neil Armstrong's First Flight Location, Nickel Plate Beach, North Market, Ohio Caverns, Ohio River, Old Man's Cave, Paint Creek State Park, Perry's Cave Family Fun Center, Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, Pioneer Waterland & Dry Fun Park, Playhouse Square, Pymatuning Reservoir, Rankin House State Memorial, Raptor, Rocky River Reservation, Schedel Gardens, Scioto Downs, Serpent Mound Historical Site, Shaker Square, Sharon Woods, Smale Riverfront Park, Soak City, South Bass Island, SPACES, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, The Beach Waterpark, The Dawes Arboretum, The Flats, The Hiawatha Water Park, The Holden Arboretum, The Wilds, Thurber House, Toledo Zoo, Transformer Station, Uhrichsville Water Park, Village of Yellow Springs, Warehouse District, Washington Park, West Side Market, Winton Woods and Zoombezi Bay.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Akron, Athens, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Sandusky, Toledo, Youngstown and Zanesville.
• Special Events: (January) Ohayocon, (February) Winter Festival, (March) Acoustics for Autism, International Wine Festival, Sugarin' Days, (April) Book Festival, Shinboku-con, (May) Appalachian Festival, Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off, Civil War Show, ColossalCon, Revolutionary War Reenactment & Encampment, World A'Fair, (June) Bath Art Festival, BAYarts Art & Music Festival, Blue Tip Festival, Country Fest, Fine Art & Food Festival, Smoky Run Music Festival, Vectren Dayton Air Show, Viking Festival, Waterloo Arts Fest, Wine & Craft Beer Festival, Wings & Beer Festival, (July) Cincinnati Music Festival, Glass City Con, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, Jazz & Rib Fest, (August) Atsuricon, Bellwether Music Festival, Breakaway Music Festival, Cleveland Oktoberfest, Coffee Festival, Country Jam & Campout, WonderBus Music & Arts Festival, (September) Cincinnati Riverfest, Cleveland National Air Show, Cleveland Dancesport Challenge, Delphos Canal Days, Fish & Shrimp Festival, Fostoria Rail Festival, Northwest Ohio Trader Days, Roche de Boeuf Festival, Tiffin-Seneca County Heritage Festival, (October) Apple Butter Stirrin', Champaign County Balloon Fest, Streetsboro Guild Quilt Show, (November) Art & Jewish Food Festival and (December) Christkindlmarkt.

Amish Country, OH. Photo Credit: girlz4christ/Pixabay 

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North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota State Flag

"Peace Garden State"  and "Roughrider State" 

"Flickertail State",  "Heaven", "Norse Dakota",  and "The 701"

 

Why visit North Dakota?

Travelers interested in a low key destination to enjoy biking, birdwatching, boating, camping, canyons, cowboys, culture, farmlands, fishing, gambling, golf, hiking, history, hunting, snow activities and wildlife.

Badlands Overlook, Billings County, ND. Photo Credit: Klaus Stebani/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Bismarck
• State Bird: Western Meadowlark
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Prairie Rose
• State Gemstone: None
• State Mammal: None
• State Rock: None

Photo Credit: Anita Stachurski/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• Has the second lowest unemployment rate in the country.
  
• KVLY-TV mast is the tallest man-made structure out west.
  
• The only state to own a bank, Bank of North Dakota. 
  
• Largest producer of cereal grains (barley, durum wheat, oats, spring wheat). Also, a leading producer of canola crop, flax seed, honey, lentils, mustard seed, oilseeds, potatoes, safflower seeds, soybeans, sugar beets and sunflower seeds.
  
• State Law requires pharmacies, other than hospital dispensaries and pre-existing stores, to be majority-owned by pharmacists.
  
• Features 1 National Grassland and 18 State Parks.

Photo Credit: Jessica Rockeman/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Angie Dickinson (Actress), Carson Wentz (Athlete), Dave Bickler (Musician), Doug McDermott (Athlete), Gwen Sebastian (Musician), Josh Duhamel (Actor) and Weston Dressler (Athlete), just to name a few.
• Reads Set in North Dakota: Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People (written by Elizabeth A Fenn), Fargo Rock City (written by Chuck Klosterman), Great American Outpost (written by Maya Rao) and The Master Butchers Singing Club (written by Louise Erdrich), just to name a few.

Good to Know

• Best Time to Visit: May - October
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Month: July
• Peak Season: June - August

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND. Photo Credit: Ryan Stone/Unsplash 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Frederick A & Sophia Bagg Bonanza Farm, Biesterfeldt Site, Big Hidatsa Village Site, Camp Hancock State Historic Site, Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site, Fort Buford State Historic Site, Fort Totten State Historic Site, Fort Union Trading Post, Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site, Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site, Huff Archeological Site, Killdeer Mountain Battlefield Historic Site, Lake Region Heritage Center, Lewis & Clark Historic Sites, Lynch Knife River Flint Quarry, Menoken Indian Village Site, Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site and Sitting Bull State Historic Site.
• Museums: Badlands Dinosaur Museum, Barnes County Historical Society Museum, Billings County Courthouse Museum, Bonanzaville USA, Buffalo Trails Museum, Children's Museum - Yunker Farm, Dakota Territory Air Museum, Dickinson Museum Center, Fargo Air Museum, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Gateway to Science, Grand Forks County Historical Society, Griggs County Museum, Harold Schafer Heritage Center, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Lewis & Clark Trail Museum, Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, National Buffalo Museum, ND Cowboy Hall of Fame, North American Game Warden Museum, North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, North Dakota Museum of Art, North Dakota State Railroad Museum, Old Soo Depot Transportation Museum, Paul Broste Rock Museum, Pembina State Museum, Pfennig Wildlife Museum, Pioneer Trails Regional Museum, Plains Art Museum, Prairie Village Museum, Railroad Museum, Roger Maris Museum, Stutsman County Memorial Museum, Taube Museum of Art, Three Affiliated Tribes Museum, Toy Farmer Publications and Ukrainian Cultural Institute.
• Popular Attractions: Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, Assumption Abbey, Bagg Bonanza Farm, Beaver Lake State Park, Bismarck Art & Galleries, Cedar River & Grand River National Grasslands, Central Flyway, Chahinkapa Zoo, Cross Ranch Nature Preserve, Dakota Magic Casino, Dakota Zoo, Denbeigh Experimental Forest, Devils Lake, Doyle Memorial State Recreation Area, Fort Ransom State Park, Fort Stevenson State Park, Grahams Island State Park, Icelandic State Park, Indian Hills Recreation Area, International Peace Garden, J Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Lewis & Clark Trail, Lindenwood Park, Little Missouri National Grassland, Maah Daah Hey Trail, Memorial Union Gallery, National North Country Trail, Painted Canyon Visitor Center, Prairie Bells Grotto, Raging Rivers Waterpark, Red River Zoo, Roosevelt Park Zoo, Salem Sue, Scandinavian Heritage Park, Sheyenne National Grassland, Sheyenne State Forest, Splash Down Dakota Water Park, Splashers of the South Seas, SuperSlide Amusement Park, Tetrault Woods State Forest, The Enchanted Highway, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Turtle Mountain Reservation, Turtle River State Park, White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, Whitestone Hill Battlefield, Wildwood National Recreation Trail and Yellowstone River.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Fort Yates, Grafton, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Lincoln, Mandan, Minot, Rugby, Valley City, Wahpeton, Watford City, West Fargo and Williston.
• Special Events: (January) Beer & Bacon Festival, Fight the Frost, Frostival, Happy Harry's Pork & Brew, KMOT AG Expo, (February) Minot Flea Market, Unglued Craft Fest, (March) Cabin Fever Days, Celtic Festival, Fargo Film Festival, Home & Garden Show, KX Sport Show, Pheasants for the Future Banquet, (May) Nodak Speedway, Sky Fest, (June) Buffalo Fest, Buggies-n-Blues, Magic City International Dragway, Medora Musical,  Rough Rider Days Fair & Expo, (July) Badland’s Ukranian Days, Drayton Riverfest, Fargo Blues Festival, Fargo Downtown Street Fair, North Dakota Country Fest, North Dakota State Fair, Prairie Pothole Music Fest, Vinnie’s Mud Bog Event, Watford City Homefest, West Fargo Red River Valley Fair,  (August) Bismarck State Capital A’Fair, Chokecherry Festival, Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival, Donut & Beer Fest, Downtown Streets Fair, Great Tomato Festival, Keplinfest Belcourt, Minot Dak Jam, RibFest, Village Fair, (September) Applefest, BBQ & Farming Fun Fest, Dirty Turtle Gravel Grinder, Harvestfest, Mandan Oktoberfest, Motor Magic, Norsk Hostfest, Pride of Dakota Showcase, Sodbuster Days, United Tribes International Pow Wow, (October) Big One Art & Craft Fair, Burgers & Brew Fest, Minot Curling Club, Minot Y's Men's Rodeo, Oktoberfest,(November) Christmas Big One Art & Craft Fair, Dickens Village Festival, Hollydazzle Festival of Lights, (December) Dickens Village Festival and Old Fashioned Christmas.

Photo Credit: dksecordPixabay 

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North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina State Flag

 

"Old North State" and "Tar Heel State"

Why visit North Carolina?

Well known destination for their beaches, biking, birdwatching, boating, botanical gardens, camping, fishing, golf, hiking, historic homes, history, hunting, kayaking, lakes, lighthouses, marshes, mountain biking, mountains, museums, rock climbing, sailing, shopping, southern cuisine, stock-car racing, swamps, theme parks, waterfalls, white water rafting, wildlife and wineries.

Great Dismal Swamp, Elizabeth City, NC. Photo Credit: skeeze/Pixabay 

A popular destination for:

• Amateur & Professional Photographers
• Conventions, Meetings & Reunions
• Destination Wedding
• Groups: Family, Friends and Multigenerational
• Milestones: Anniversary, Bachelor Party, Bachelorette Party, Birthday, Honeymoon and Retirement

Charolette, NC. Photo Credit: 1778011/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Raleigh
• State Bird: Cardinal
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Dogwood
• State Gemstone: Emerald 
• State Mammal: Gray Squirrel 
• State Rock: Granite

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC. Photo Credit: Dennis Elliott/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• Many ships have been lost off Cape Hatteras ("Graveyard of the Atlantic"), the most famous Queen Anne's Revenge (1718). 
  
• In 1799, gold was first discovered in our country, Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site (Concord).
• Self proclaimed,  "Barbecue Capital of the World".
• Leads the nation in the production of furniture, sweet potatoes, textiles and tobacco. Ranks second for farming of Christmas trees, hogs, pigs, trout and turkeys.
  
• North Carolina's Research Triangle Park is well known for their development of AZT (AIDS Medication) and Tamoxifin (Breast Cancer Drug).
• A strong Baptist presence is often referred to as the "Bible Belt".
• Charlotte is the most visited tourist city with 28 million visitors annually.
  
• Home to Bojangles' (fast food chain), Golden Corral (restaurant chain), Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries (restaurant), Krispy Kreme (doughnuts), Hardee's (fast food chain), Mount Olive Pickle Company (pickles) and Texas Pete (hot sauce).
• Birthplace to fictional town, Mayberry used in sitcoms Return to Mayberry and The Andy Griffith Show. 
• Chapel Hill is referred to as the South's "Tastiest City".
  
• Asheville has won recognition as "Beer City USA" considering it has the largest number of breweries per capita than any other state.
  
• Features 4 National Forests and 27 State Parks.
  

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury, NC. Photo Credit: heck1se/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Chris Paul (Athlete), Fantasia Barrino (Musician), Luke Combs (Musician), Seth Curry (Athlete), Vince McMahon (Athlete) and Zion Williamson (Athlete), just to name a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: Dirty Dancing (1987), Forrest Gump (1994), Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Talladega Nights (2006), The Fugitive (1993), The Green Mile (1999), The Hunger Games (2012) and The Last of the Mohicans (1992), just to name a few.
• Reads Set in North Carolina: Nights in Rodanthe (written by Nicholas Sparks), The Island (written by Elin Hilderbrand) and The Story Keeper (written by Lisa Wingate), just to name a few.

Crabtree Falls (Blue Ridge Parkway), Grassy Creek, NC. Photo Credit: Tony Glenn/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• State's Blue Laws only allow beer and wine sales on Sunday, not liquor.
  
• Do not wade in marshes with concern to pfiesteria bacteria.
• Feast on blooms of rhododendrons (June - July) and wisteria vines (April).
  
• An international airport hub to Canada, Caribbean, Central America and Europe.
  
• Pork barbecue is a culinary staple. 
  

Subject to flooding, heavy rain, humidity, hurricanes and tropical storms.

• Best Time to Visit: March - May and September - November
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Month: July
• Peak Season: June - August

Bodie Island Lighthouse, Nags Head, NC. Photo Credit:  t1cox/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: 1921 Fort Fisher Monument, 9th Street District, Adams-Edwards House, Alamance Battleground, Alamance County Historic Courthouse, Albion Dunn House & Grounds, All Are Welcome Raleigh Mural, Alumni Centennial Gateway, Andrew Johnson Birthplace, Apex Historical Society Caboose, Asa Biggs House & Site, Audubon Trolley Station, Ayr Mount, Battleship North Carolina, Beaufort Historic Site, Beulah C Bowens Fuller Marker, Bennett Place, Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, Bray-Paschal House, Burlington Downtown Depot, Burwell School Historic Site, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Cedarock Historical Farm, Charles B Aycock Birthplace, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site, Clayton Historic District, Davie Poplar, Dr Z.M. Caveness House, Duke Homestead, Dunleath Historic District, Elon University Bell Tower, Fort Anderson State Historic Site, Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Gibsonville School, Governor’s Palace, Greystone, Halifax State Historic Site, Hardaway Site NCHHM, Harwell Hamilton & Jean Bangs Harris House, Heck Andrews House, High Shoals Bridge, Hiram Caldwell House, Historic 1767 Chowan County Courthouse, Historic Bethabara Park, Historic Edenton State Historic Site, Historic Latta Plantation, Historic Town of Salem, Horton Grove, Jacob Holt House, Jefferson Standard Building, Kinchen Holloway House, Kornegay Oxford House, Latta Place, McCray School, Mingus Mill, Mitchell Co Historical Society, Mitchner Station, Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, Morehead Sundial, Nash-Hooper House, Nina Simone Childhood Home, Norris Holland Hare House, North Carolina Executive Mansion, North Carolina State Capitol, Oaky Grove Methodist Church, Occaneechi Indian Village, Odd Empire Fellows, Pelletier House, Pittsboro Historic District, President James K Polk State Historic Site, Reed Gold Mine, Ritcher House, Sandford House, Somerset Place State Historic Site, Stagville State Historic Site, St Agnes Hospital, The Brickyard, The Bronto, The Crabtree Jones Plantation House, The L.L. Polk House, Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site, Vade Mecum Hotel, Walnut Hill Cotton Gin and Whalehead Club.
• Museums: Ackland Art Museum, African American Cultural Complex, Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation, Alamance County Historical Museum, Andy Griffith Museum, Asheville Pinball Museum, Ava Gardner Museum, Averasboro Battlefield & Museum, Biltmore, Burgwin-Wright Museum & Gardens, Boars Nest - Dukes of Hazzard Museum, Carolinas Aviation Museum, Carolina Basketball Museum, Chatham Historical Museum, Children's Museum of Alamance County, City of Raleigh Museum, Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, Creation Museum,Davidson County Historical Museum, Discovery Place Science, General William C Lee Airborne Museum, Graham Historical Museum, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Greensboro Children's Museum, Greensboro History Museum, Greensboro Science Center, Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Historical Society of Topsail Island, Historic Hayesville, History Museum of Burke County, Hugh Torance House & Store, Imagination Station Science & History Museum, International Civil Rights Center & Museum, Joel Lane Museum House, Kaleideum North, Kinchen Holloway House, Levine Museum of the New South, Little House Museum & Gallery, Marbles Kids Museum, Mebane Historical Museum, Mint Museum of Art, Mint Museum of Craft & Design in Charlotte, Moore County Historical Association, Moorefields House & Gardens, Mountain Gateway Museum, Museum of Anthropology, Museum of Durham History, Museum of Life & Science, Museum Of North Carolina Minerals, Museum of the Albemarle, Museum of the Cape Fear, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Nasher Museum of Art, N.C. Transportation Museum, North Carolina Aviation Museum, North Carolina Historic Bath, North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace, North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport, North Carolina Military History Museum, North Carolina Museum, North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of Art Parking, North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, North Carolina Transportation Museum, Old Linden School, Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Orange County Historical Museum, Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Palmer-Marsh House, Penelope Barker House, Person County Museum of History, Pope House Museum, Railroad House Historical Society, Raleigh City Museum, Rankin Museum of American Heritage, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Richard Petty Museum, Roanoke Canal Museum & Trail, Scottish Tartans Museum, Shepard House Marker, Smoky Mountain Train Museum, Stokes County Historical Society, Textile Heritage Museum, The Country Doctor Museum, The Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum, The Mayes House, The North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center, TITANIC Museum Attraction, V & E Simonetti Historic Tuba Collection, Varsity Alley, Wake Forest Historical Museum, Wayne County Museum, Western North Carolina Air Museum and Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum.
• Popular Attractions: Adventure Landing, Adventure Landing Winston-Salem, African American Cultural Complex, Alamance Battleground, Alexandriana, Aloha Safari Zoo, Ambleside Gallery, American Museum of the House Cat, Andrews Geyser, Animal Ed ventures Sanctuary, Artspace, Atlantic Beach Town Park, Babe Ruth Sign, Bank of America Stadium, Basilica of Saint Lawrence Deacon & Martyr, Battery Buchanan, Battleship North Carolina, Beaver Dam Primitive Access, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Bennett Place,Billy Graham Library, Biltmore Estate, Biltmore Rose Garden, Biltmore Waterfall, Biltmore Estate Winery, Black Rock Winery, Blandwood Mansion, Blount-Bridgers House,Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Blue Ridge Parkway, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Boylan Bridge, Brevard Music Center, Brightleaf Square, Broadway at the Beach, Brushy Mountains, CAM Raleigh, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout, Carolina Casket Company, Carolina Raptor Center, Carolina Tiger Rescue, Carowinds, Carvers Creek State Park, Castle Mont Rouge, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chatham Hill Winery, Cherokee Bear Zoo, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Cherry Hill Plantation, Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, City Market, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Cloer Family Vineyards, Codescape, Coker Arboretum, Cox Mountain, Croatan National Forest, Crowder's Mountain, CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Daves Mountain, Discovery Place, Dismal Swamp Canal, Dolde Beach, Downtown Raleigh, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Gardens, DuPont State Recreational Forest, Durant Nature Preserve, Durham Distillery, E Carroll Joyner Park, Elijah Mountain Gem Mine, Elsewhere, Endor Iron Furnace, Eno River State Park, Faith Rock, Fayetteville Rose Garden, Fields of the Wood, Fire Escape Mural, Folk Art Center, Fort Macon State Park, Fred G Bond Metro Park, Frankie's of Raleigh, Freedom Park, Gateway Gardens, Gause Cemetery, Ghost Town In The Sky, Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, Grandfather Mountain, Grandfather Mountain Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Great Wolf Lodge, Grovewood Village, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Handy Dandy Railroad, Hanging Rock State Park, Harnett County Veteran's Memorial, Haunted Forest at Panic Point, Hayti Heritage Center, Harvey B Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture, Haywood Hall House & Gardens, Hedrick Mountain, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Hickory Motor Speedway, Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, Historic Oak View County Park, Historic Yates Mill County Park, Honey Cove Falls, Horne Creek Living Historical Farm, House in the Horseshoe, Isabelle Bowen Henderson House & Gardens, Ivey Ellington House, Jack Marley Park, J. C. Raulston Arboretum, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Joel Lane House, Jordan Lake Journeys, Kaleideum Downtown, Kidzu, Kings Mountain State Park Living History Farm, King's Pinnacle, Lake Crabtree County Park, Lake Wheeler Park, Latta Arcade, Latta House & University Site, Lazy 5 Ranch, LeBauer Park, Linn Cove Viaduct, Linville Caverns, Linville Gorge Wilderness, Malcolm Blue Farm, Mast General Store, Mazarick Park, McColl Center for Art & Innovation, Megan L Castle, Metalmorphosis, Milburnie Dam on the Neuse River, Mile High Swinging Bridge, Mineral Spring Park, Mingo Falls, Moores Creek National Battlefield, Montfort Hall, Mordecai Historical Park, Mordecai House,  Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, Mystery Hill, Nantahala National Forest, National Native Azalea Repository, Neuse River Trail, New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park, North Carolina Arboretum, North Carolina Aquarium, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, North Carolina Botanical Garden, North Carolina Estuarium, North Carolina Korean War Memorial, North Carolina Pottery Center, North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower, North Carolina Veterans Park, North Carolina Zoo, Oakwood Cemetery, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, O’Henry Book Statue, Old Burying Ground, Old Well, Ole Gilliam Mill Park, Order of Gimghoul, Outer Banks, Outer Banks Futuro House, Phillips Farms, Pilot Mountain, Pisgah Covered Bridge, Pisgah National Forest, New Hope River Waterfowl Impoundment, Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Poplar Grove Plantation, Pottery Highway, Pullen Park, Raleigh-Durham International Airport Observation Park, Raleigh Mural, Raleigh Water Tower, Raven Rock State Park, Reed Gold Mine, Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, River District, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Royall Castle, Sandford House, Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, San-Lee Park, Santa's Land Fun Park & Zoo, Sarah P Duke Gardens, Sauratown Mountains, Sea Life Aquarium, Shangri-La Stone Village, Shelley Lake Park, State Archives of North Carolina, Stearns Park, South Mountains, SouthPark Mall, Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden, Tannenbaum Historic Park, The Bechtler House, The Blowing Rock, The Cradle Of Forestry in America, "The Good of the Hive" Mural, The North Carolina Arboretum, The Trolley Lot, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, The Wilson Rose Garden, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Tiger World, Tom's Creek Falls, Trade & Tryon Streets, Triangle Treasure Hunt, Tweetsie Railroad, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, Unto These Hills, U.S. National Whitewater Center, Uwharrie Mountains, Uwharrie National Forest, Western North Carolina Nature Center, West Point On The Eno City Park, Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park, Weymouth Center For The Arts & Humanities, Weymouth Woods - Sandhills Nature Preserve, Wheels Fun Park, William B Umstead State Park, World's Largest Chest of Drawers, WRAL Azalea Garden, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Yadkin Valley, Zebulon B Vance Birthplace and ZipQuest.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit:Aberdeen, Burlington, Buxton, Calabash, Cary, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Cherokee, Chimney Rock, Cleveland, Durham,  Fayetteville, Greensboro, Hackers Island, High Point, Lexington, Mebane, Nags Head, Pinehurst, Raleigh, Seagrove, Washington, Wilkesboro and Winston-Salem.
• Special Events: (April) MerleFest, (May) Carolina Rebellion, Epicenter Festival, North Carolina Brewers & Music Festival, Speed Street, (June) Taste of Charlotte, (July) Moogfest, Wild Goose Festival, (September) Festival in the Park, Harvest Folk Festival, Hickory Hops Beer & Music Festival, Hopscotch Music Festival, (October) Apple Harvest Festival, Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, Carolina Balloonfest, Carolina Renaissance Festival, Catawba Valley Gem & Mineral Show, Deweyfest, Lexington Barbecue Festival, Mustang Rock & Roast, NC Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame Fly In, Ramseur Fall Festival, Shaky Knees Music Festival, Woolly Worm Festival, (November) Celebration of Seagrove Potters and Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Outer Banks, NC. Photo Credit: mschiffm/Pixabay 

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