The 5 best states to visit on your first trip to the US, according to a traveler who's been to all 50
A travel creator who has been to every US state says anyone visiting the US for the first-time must see these five.
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- Nicole Sunderland has been to all 50 US states and has a few suggestions for first-time visitors.
- Her tips include a mix of nature-inspired and adventure-filled experiences in various states.
- Michigan, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah are her top picks for first-time visitors.
From lush forests to scenic seaside drives and iconic skylines, the US has something for every type of traveler.
With visitors able to experience multiple landscapes in one trip, it's no surprise the country was touted as the top tourism destination in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024.
This year, the United States Travel Association's (USTA) biannual US travel forecast predicted that about 77 million international visitors would travel to the US and spend an estimated $153 billion.
And while many people prefer cities like New York, Boston, and San Francisco, Nicole Sunderland — a travel creator who has been to every state in the country — said there's more to America than its big cities.
"The places that are getting the most tourists in the country are not even in my top 10 list of places that I would recommend," Sunderland told Business Insider, adding that she's spent years in California and often leaves it off her recommendation list, which infuriates many people.
She realized this was because most people preferred hiking or exploring the same type of locations outdoors. She said that although these are fun and engaging activities, she prefers more diversity in her itineraries, which include trying out new cuisines, riding seaplanes, or taking a boat to explore an Alaskan fjord.
If you're a first-time visitor in need of some inspiration, here are five states you could add to your itinerary for a mix of popular and off-beat experiences, according to Nicole Sunderland.
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"This [state] is one that I get the most flack for," said Sunderland.
She grew up in Detroit and lived in a small town in Northern Michigan, but said she did not truly experience the state's beauty until she was 19 and took up a seasonal job on Mackinac Island on Lake Huron.
"I did not realize places like that existed in my state," she said, adding that if people looked past Detroit and Lansing, they'd be introduced to a host of incredible places:
"Grand Rapids is like Beer City, USA. We've got Traverse City, which is the cherry capital of the state. We have crystal-clear lakes like Torch Lake and Higgins Lake, and the Tunnel of Trees, which is one of the most incredible fall destinations — I mean, it is literally a riot of colors with the trees."
She said her suggestion may surprise some, but it does not stem from bias or blind loyalty, but rather genuine appreciation for a place she explored much later in her life.
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"Orlando's popular. Miami's popular. But looking outside those areas, one place that I fell in love with last year was Pensacola Beach," said Sunderland.
Having traveled extensively to beaches around the world, Sunderland said Florida's Panhandle beaches, with their crystal clear waters, surprised her.
"I've been enamored with that area ever since because everyone thinks, 'Oh, you got to go to Bora Bora or Maldives to access these insanely gorgeous beaches,' but you don't even have to leave the country," she said.
If you plan a road trip to the Florida Keys, Sunderland recommends lounging by the Islamorada sandbar or riding a seaplane to explore the area.
While in the Keys, she also enjoys visiting Amelia Island, the Palm Beaches, and the Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks.
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Sunderland loves traveling to Alaska and said it is quite different from places she usually visits or shares on her social media.
It was also the final state on her 50 states travel bucket list; she checked it off in 2019.
"I think I've been back five times since," she said, adding, "Alaska is a different level of beauty and one I never expected. It's like the air is lighter there."
The time she's spent there has been so refreshing that she struggles to explain it completely. She said that people need to visit the state and experience it for themselves, preferably in summer, when it's warmer.
One of her favorite places in the country is also in Alaska, about 45 miles outside Juneau.
"It's called Tracy Arm Fjord," said Sunderland, adding that it is close to Sawyer Glacier and only accessible by boat.
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Sunderland loves that each Hawaiian island is so different from the other and has something to offer everyone.
"It's impossible to run out of things to do, especially on Oahu," Sunderland said, adding that she's found something new to explore on every visit.
"I feel like I've barely scratched the surface," she added.
Beyond its beautiful beaches and state parks, though, she enjoys the island's culinary scene and loves heading to it on long weekends so she can "eat and explore."
"There's nothing like waiting in line for a piping-hot custard malasada from Leonard's Bakery or getting a local plate lunch, extra Mac salad, please!" said Sunderland.
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Most people love the national parks in Utah, as does Sunderland, but her favorite memory of the state is from when she "got to spend a day out on Lake Powell," she said.
She visited the lake on Labor Day last year and described the experience as "one of those moments where I was just in awe. I'll never have the words to eloquently explain that experience, but it was overwhelming."
She called it one of the coolest places in America that should be on everyone's itinerary.
