Exploring America State by State

PassTheBrockly
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Discover America One State at a Time takes listeners on an unforgettable journey across the United States — uncovering hidden gems, iconic attractions, scenic road trips, RV adventures, tourist traps, local favorites, and unforgettable destinations along the way. From Route 66 to small-town backroads, each episode explores a new state with travel tips, must-see experiences, unique stays, transportation options, and the stories that make America worth exploring. Whether you travel by RV, plane, train, or automobile, your next adventure starts here.

  1. 1d ago

    Indiana - The Hoosier State: Speedway Thunder, Covered Bridges, and the RV Capital of the World

    Indiana carries real Midwestern heart in every small town and cornfield — and for RV travelers specifically, this episode hits close to home. In this stop on Exploring America State by State, we explore the Hoosier State, home to the legendary Indy 500 and the town of Elkhart, proudly known as the RV Capital of the World. We drive the Indiana Dunes Lakeshore Drive, Brown County's "Little Smokies" fall foliage byway, and Parke County's Covered Bridge Capital route. Along the way: the sandstone canyons of Turkey Run State Park, underground chambers at Marengo Cave, the towering dunes along Lake Michigan, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world's largest Children's Museum, Amish Country's Shipshewana, and the jaw-dropping domed atrium of the West Baden Springs Hotel. We also flag the tourist traps around Indy 500 race weekend and Amish Country's tour-bus shops, cover RV travel logistics on Indiana's flat, easy interstates (plus a dedicated stop at the RV Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart), the best free and paid RV camping at Indiana Dunes, Turkey Run, and the Hoosier National Forest, where to stay from the grand West Baden Springs Hotel to Brown County cabins, getting around by Amtrak and the South Shore Line, and the food that defines the state — sugar cream pie, the oversized breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, and St. Elmo's famously spicy shrimp cocktail. Plus: Indy 500 and Dunes beach season tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for rural farmland. Next stop: Kentucky, a state of bourbon distilleries, rolling horse farms, and bluegrass music rooted deep in Appalachian tradition. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Indiana(00:07:18) - Visit Indiana

  2. 5d ago

    Michigan - The Great Lakes State: Car-Free Islands, Motown, and Norther Wilderness

    Michigan touches four of the five Great Lakes and holds more freshwater coastline than any other state in the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore a state that feels like two completely different places — Detroit's industrial and musical energy down south, and the wild forested wilderness of the Upper Peninsula way up north. We drive M-22 around the Leelanau Peninsula's cherry orchards, the arching Tunnel of Trees along the northern coastline, and the cliffside overlooks of Pictured Rocks. Along the way: the root-beer-tinted Tahquamenon Falls, the crystal-clear spring at Kitch-iti-kipi, remote Isle Royale, and the towering Sleeping Bear Dunes. We visit car-free Mackinac Island, Detroit's Motown Museum, and watch massive freighters pass through the Soo Locks. We also flag the tourist traps around Mackinac Island's fudge shops and ferry package upsells, cover RV travel logistics (including the Mackinac Bridge's wind restrictions for tall rigs), the best free and paid RV camping in the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests and at Sleeping Bear Dunes, where to stay from the historic Grand Hotel to Upper Peninsula lodges, getting around by ferry and Amtrak, and the food that defines the state — Traverse City cherries, Detroit Coney dogs, Upper Peninsula pasties, and fresh Great Lakes whitefish. Plus: peak cherry festival and Mackinac Island season, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote Upper Peninsula. Next stop: Indiana, a state of rolling farmland, motor speedway history, and small towns that carry real Midwestern heart.

  3. Aug 10

    Ohio - The Buckeye State: Rock and Roll, Roller Coasters, and Amish Country

    Ohio quietly shaped more of modern American history than most travelers realize. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Buckeye State — birthplace of aviation, home to more astronauts than almost any other state, and the town where rock and roll earned its official hall of fame. We drive the Ohio River Scenic Byway, wind through the sandstone gorges of Hocking Hills, cruise the Amish Country Byway through Holmes County, and follow Lake Erie's shoreline on Route 2. Along the way: the ancient Serpent Mound earthwork, glacial grooves on Kelleys Island, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, record-breaking coasters at Cedar Point, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and the free National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. We also flag the tourist traps around Cedar Point's food and parking and Amish Country's tour-bus shops, cover RV travel logistics on Ohio's flat, easy interstates, the best free and paid RV camping at Wayne National Forest and East Harbor State Park, where to stay from Cedar Point's own resorts to Amish Country inns, getting around by Amtrak and Cleveland's RTA, and the food that defines the state — Cincinnati chili, Buckeye candy, Cleveland's Polish Boy, and Amish Country cheese and pie. Plus: peak Cedar Point and Lake Erie island season, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the Hocking Hills valleys. Next stop: Michigan, a state surrounded by the Great Lakes, home to charming lakeside towns, thick northern forests, and a genuine automotive legacy. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Ohio

  4. Aug 6

    West Virginia - The Mountain State: Whitewater, Coal Country, and the Darkest Skies on the East Coast

    Almost Heaven — and after driving it, you understand exactly why John Denver wrote that. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore West Virginia, the Mountain State, folded entirely into the Appalachian range with deep gorges, whitewater rivers, and a proud coal mining heritage. We climb the Highland Scenic Highway through the Monongahela National Forest, drive past the iconic New River Gorge Bridge, and wind through the dramatic cliffs of Seneca Rocks. Along the way: the tundra-like landscape of Dolly Sods Wilderness, a steam train ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad, the Cold War bunker hidden beneath The Greenbrier resort, and the radio-quiet skies of Green Bank. We also flag the tourist traps around Harpers Ferry's souvenir strip and rafting outfitter upsells, cover RV travel logistics on the state's steep mountain roads, the best free and paid RV camping in the Monongahela National Forest and at Babcock and Blackwater Falls State Parks, where to stay from the luxurious Greenbrier to Harpers Ferry's historic inns, honest transportation reality (bring a vehicle — there's no major transit here), and the food that defines the state — pepperoni rolls, biscuits and gravy, wild ramps, and a fully loaded West Virginia hot dog. Plus: peak whitewater rafting season, honest budget expectations (one of the most affordable stops on the trip), and the spottiest cell coverage we've encountered yet. Next stop: Ohio, a state of rolling farmland, industrial river cities, and small towns that quietly shaped much of modern American history. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing West Virginia

  5. Aug 2

    Delaware: The First State: Boardwalks, DuPont Estates, and Tax Free Shopping

    Small enough to cross in an afternoon, but packed with more character than its size suggests. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore Delaware, the First State, from grand DuPont mansions in the north to the boardwalk beach towns filling the Atlantic coastline every summer. We drive Coastal Highway past Rehoboth, Dewey, and Bethany Beach, wind the quieter Delaware Bay Scenic Byway, and curve through Chateau Country's rolling estates. Along the way: WWII watchtowers at Cape Henlopen, antique steam cars at Auburn Heights Preserve, a bald cypress swamp at Trap Pond, the grand DuPont estates of Winterthur and Nemours, Dover's "Monster Mile," and a scenic crossing on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. We also flag the tourist traps around Rehoboth's boardwalk shops and the outlet mall crowds, cover RV travel logistics along Coastal Highway and Route 13, the best paid RV camping at Cape Henlopen and Trap Pond State Parks (plus limited free primitive sites at Redden State Forest), where to stay from boardwalk hotels to Chateau Country inns, getting around by ferry and Amtrak, and the food that defines the state — scrapple, blue crabs, Dolle's saltwater taffy, and Sussex County fried chicken. Plus: peak beach season tips, honest budget expectations (helped by zero sales tax), and cell coverage advice for rural Sussex County. Next stop: West Virginia, a state of dramatic mountain gorges, whitewater rivers, and small coal country towns tucked deep into the Appalachian highlands. Chapters (00:00:00) - Delaware

  6. Jul 29

    Virginia - The Old Dominion: Colonial History, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Chesapeake Coast

    Virginia holds more early American history than almost any state in the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Old Dominion, birthplace of eight U.S. presidents, from the mountain crest of Skyline Drive down through the Historic Triangle to the beaches of Virginia Beach. We drive Skyline Drive's seventy-plus overlooks in Shenandoah National Park, the Colonial Parkway linking Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, and Charlottesville's wine country. Along the way: the underground world of Luray Caverns, wild ponies at Grayson Highlands, the traditional Chesapeake community of Tangier Island, Colonial Williamsburg's living history, Jefferson's Monticello, and Arlington National Cemetery. We also flag the tourist traps around Williamsburg's combo tickets and Virginia Beach's oceanfront strip, cover RV travel logistics (including the Skyline Drive tunnel clearance you need to know), the best free and paid RV camping in Shenandoah and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, where to stay from Williamsburg resorts to Charlottesville wine country inns, getting around by Amtrak and the free Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, and the food that defines the state — Smithfield ham, Virginia peanuts, Brunswick stew, and Chesapeake oysters. Plus: summer beach and hiking tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the Shenandoah backcountry. Next stop: Delaware, a small state with a big coastline, quiet beach towns, and a surprisingly rich Revolutionary War history of its own. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Virginia

  7. Jul 25

    Washington DC - The Nations Capital: Free Museums, Cherry Blossoms, and Powerful History

    Technically not a state, but no road trip through this part of the country is complete without it. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore Washington DC, the seat of American democracy, where the White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court all sit within walking distance of each other. We drive the wooded Rock Creek Parkway, follow the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, and cruise past the illuminated monuments after dark. We uncover hidden gems like Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Dumbarton Oaks, and the National Arboretum's relocated Capitol columns, then hit the essentials: the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums (all free), the Lincoln Memorial at sunset, the Capitol, and the White House. We also flag the tourist traps around the Mall's overpriced restaurants and duplicate bus tours, cover RV travel logistics (spoiler: park outside the district and Metro in), the best paid RV camping at Cherry Hill Park and Greenbelt Park, where to stay from Georgetown boutiques to Capitol Hill inns, getting around by Metro and Capital Bikeshare, and the food that defines the city — Ben's Chili Bowl half-smokes, U Street's Ethiopian food scene, and DC's own mumbo sauce. Plus: cherry blossom season, Fourth of July fireworks on the Mall, honest budget expectations (hint: the best stuff is free), and cell coverage that genuinely won't be a concern. Next stop: Virginia, a state of rolling horse country, Civil War battlefields, and a coastline stretching from historic Williamsburg to the beaches of Virginia Beach. Chapters (00:00:00) - RV Camping: Washington, DC

  8. Jul 21

    Maryland - The Old Line State: Blue Crabs, Sailing Towns, and Wild Horse Beaches

    Maryland packs mountains, sailing harbors, and Atlantic beaches into one surprisingly small footprint — and in this episode of Exploring America State by State, we drive all of it. We wind the Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway along the Eastern Shore, climb Garrett County's mountain roads around Deep Creek Lake, trace Civil War history on the Antietam Campaign Byway, and cross the dramatic Chesapeake Bay Bridge toward the coast. Along the way: wild horses roaming free on Assateague Island, the historic waterman community of Smith Island, Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Fort McHenry, a Naval Academy tour in Annapolis, and Ocean City's classic three-mile boardwalk. We flag the tourist traps around the Inner Harbor and boardwalk crab houses, cover RV travel logistics across the state (including Bay Bridge timing tips), the best free and paid RV camping at Assateague and Savage River State Forest, where to stay from boardwalk hotels to Deep Creek Lake cabins, getting around by MARC train and water taxi, and the food Maryland is famous for — real crab cakes, Old Bay on everything, pit beef, and the impossibly thin-layered Smith Island cake. Plus: peak crab season timing, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the western mountains and rural Eastern Shore. Next stop: Washington DC, the nation's capital, where monuments, museums, and centuries of American history sit within walking distance of each other. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Maryland

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Discover America One State at a Time takes listeners on an unforgettable journey across the United States — uncovering hidden gems, iconic attractions, scenic road trips, RV adventures, tourist traps, local favorites, and unforgettable destinations along the way. From Route 66 to small-town backroads, each episode explores a new state with travel tips, must-see experiences, unique stays, transportation options, and the stories that make America worth exploring. Whether you travel by RV, plane, train, or automobile, your next adventure starts here.

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