"Jay Honeck" wrote in
ps.com:

Chuckle. I used to think that way, too. As I've grown older, and my
travels have expanded, I've found that each state is a country in
itself, offering different treasures -- and they are all wonderful, and
more than worth the effort to see and explore.

I have been to about 35 different states, as well as two Canadian provinces
and Puerto Rico.

Most of my travels have been work-related. And I am always surprised at
just how similar different towns are when it comes to their residential and
mall areas - you know the Walmarts, Home Depots, and Friday's... But I do
that outside of the resorts areas and tourist traps, it can be hard to tell
one city from the next...

Even the local attraction racks in the hotels are frequently very similar.
A six flags, some golf courses, the biggest area shopping malls, and
restaurants...

There are certain exceptions, of course... Texas. Texas is it's own
country, with it's own culture that is substantially different from the
rest of the US. Admittedly, I don't seem to get along too well with those
little doggies.

But there are certain regions that do have wondrous treasures - I like the
History that you find in the DC area and in much of the Northeast. The
mountains of Colorado are spectacular. My whole family loves DisneyWorld no
matter how old we get. And how can anyone not have a great time in Vegas!

Of course, travelling for work generally prevents me from getting the
opportunity to hunt for local treasures. I suspect if I were travelling for
vacation and spent time planning around tourist areas instead of newspaper
plants, I might feel differently.

Coming from New York City area, where I can experience some very diverse
cultures all within a very short distance, might cause me to take this all
for granted...