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. 5h ago

    North Dakota — The Peace Garden State: Quiet Prairie, Badlands Wilderness, and Frontier Spirit

    North Dakota rewards travelers willing to slow down and see a landscape most people simply drive past. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Peace Garden State — the badlands that shaped Theodore Roosevelt's conservation legacy, wild bison and horses roaming free, and a genuine frontier spirit found in every small town. We drive the sculpture-lined Enchanted Highway, Theodore Roosevelt National Park's scenic loop roads, the Native American Scenic Byway along the Missouri River, and the rugged Little Missouri National Grassland. Along the way: the dramatic overlook at Painted Canyon, the reconstructed Fort Union Trading Post, the binational International Peace Garden, Theodore Roosevelt National Park's wildlife, the towering metal sculptures of the Enchanted Highway, and Fargo's growing downtown arts and food scene. We also flag the rare tourist traps here — mainly pricier lodging in oil-boom towns like Williston — and cover RV travel logistics on the state's flat, easy interstates versus the park's remote gravel roads, the best free and paid RV camping at Cottonwood Campground and the Little Missouri National Grassland, where to stay from historic Medora to downtown Fargo and Bismarck, getting around by Amtrak's Empire Builder, and the food that defines the state — German-Russian Knoephla soup, Norwegian lefse, bison burgers, and classic hotdish. Plus: peak wildlife-viewing season and the Medora Musical's summer run, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote badlands and western prairie. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing North Dakota(00:02:54) - North Dakota

  2. 3d ago

    South Dakota — The Mount Rushmore State: Badlands, Black Hills, and America's Most Recognizable Monument

    South Dakota holds dramatic badlands, sacred Black Hills, and one of the most recognizable monuments in the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Mount Rushmore State's dramatic natural landscapes alongside its deep, complicated history. We drive the Needles Highway past granite spires and narrow tunnels, Iron Mountain Road's pigtail bridges framing Mount Rushmore, the Badlands Loop Road across striped eroded ridges, and the waterfall-lined Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Along the way: Custer State Park's free-roaming bison herd on the Wildlife Loop, Wind Cave National Park's unique boxwork formations, Mount Rushmore's carved presidential faces, the ongoing Crazy Horse Memorial, and the legendary roadside stop at Wall Drug. We also flag the tourist traps around Wall Drug's souvenir pricing and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally's price spikes, cover RV travel logistics (including the Needles Highway's low-clearance tunnels — take Iron Mountain Road instead with a taller rig), the best free and paid RV camping at Custer State Park, Badlands National Park's Cedar Pass Campground, and the Black Hills National Forest, where to stay from the historic State Game Lodge to Rapid City hotels, honest transportation reality (no Amtrak — bring a vehicle), and the food that defines the state — chislic, buffalo burgers, and German-heritage kuchen. Plus: peak Black Hills hiking season, Sturgis Rally timing, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote Badlands backcountry. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing South Dakota

  3. 6d ago

    Nebraska — The Cornhusker State: Sandhills, Pioneer History, and Heartland Hospitality

    Nebraska quietly reveals more the longer you spend in it — endless sandhills, pioneer history, and a genuine heartland spirit in every small town. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Cornhusker State, home to the largest sand dune formation in the Western Hemisphere and the landmarks that guided thousands of Oregon Trail pioneers west. We drive the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway across hypnotic stabilized dunes, the Oregon Trail route past Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff, and the biologically diverse Niobrara River Scenic Byway. Along the way: the otherworldly badlands of Toadstool Geologic Park, the prehistoric skeletons at Ashfall Fossil Beds, the quirky car-sculpture Carhenge, Nebraska's tallest waterfall at Smith Falls, and the world-class Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. We also flag the tourist traps around Carhenge's gift shop and Omaha's Old Market restaurant pricing, cover RV travel logistics on the easy I-80 corridor versus the sandy, remote Sandhills back roads, the best free and paid RV camping at Fort Robinson State Park, Niobrara State Park, and the Nebraska National Forest's Bessey Ranger District, where to stay from downtown Omaha to historic Fort Robinson lodging, getting around by Amtrak's California Zephyr, and the food that defines the state — the Omaha-born Reuben sandwich, Hastings-invented Kool-Aid, the Runza, and Nebraska beef. Plus: peak Niobrara River float season and Sandhills stargazing, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote western panhandle. Chapters (00:00:00) - Nebraska

  4. Oct 27

    Kansas — The Sunflower State: Tallgrass Prairie, Wild West Heritage, and Small Town Charm

    Kansas reveals its beauty gradually — endless golden wheat fields, quiet prairie sunsets, and genuine small town charm most travelers never expect to find in the middle of the country. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Sunflower State, home to Dorothy's Kansas, some of the last true tallgrass prairie in North America, and a living Wild West heritage. We drive the Flint Hills Scenic Byway through rolling prairie hills, the Western Vistas Historic Byway past chalk formations, and the whimsical Wizard of Oz towns of Liberal and Wamego. Along the way: the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the surreal chalk spires of Monument Rocks, the world's largest hand-dug well in Greensburg, Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands, Dodge City's Boot Hill Museum, the Wizard of Oz Museum, and the Kansas Cosmosphere's space artifact collection. We also flag the tourist traps around Dodge City's gunfight show upsells and Wizard of Oz gift shop pricing, cover RV travel logistics on Kansas's remarkably flat, easy interstates, the best paid RV camping at Cheney State Park and Wilson State Lake (with a note on Kansas's limited free camping options given no federal forest land), where to stay from Dodge City's frontier-themed hotels to Wichita's downtown, getting around by Amtrak's Southwest Chief, and the food that defines the state — Kansas-style barbecue, chicken fried steak, wheat harvest traditions, and Sunday fried chicken. Plus: peak Flint Hills wildflower season, wheat harvest timing, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for rural western Kansas. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Kansas

  5. Oct 24

    Oklahoma — The Sooner State: Prairie Bison, Mountain Forests, and Living Native American Heritage

    Oklahoma sits at a genuine crossroads — red dirt plains, mountain forests, and one of the richest, most visible Native American cultural landscapes in the country, home to 39 federally recognized tribal nations. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Sooner State from prairie wilderness to pine-covered mountains. We drive the Talimena Scenic Byway into the Ouachita National Forest, the Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway past free-roaming bison, the forested drive around Beavers Bend, and Oklahoma's own stretch of historic Route 66. Along the way: bison herds at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, the alabaster cave system at Alabaster Caverns, Black Mesa's high desert hike, the moving Oklahoma City National Memorial, tribal cultural centers, the Philbrook Museum's gardens, Tulsa's Gathering Place park, and Turner Falls. We also flag the tourist traps around Bricktown's restaurant pricing and Route 66 souvenir shop markups, cover RV travel logistics on Oklahoma's flat, easy interstates versus the winding Ouachita Mountains, the best free and paid RV camping at Beavers Bend State Park, Lake Murray State Park, and the Ouachita National Forest, where to stay from downtown Oklahoma City to Broken Bow's forest cabins and tribal casino resorts, getting around by Amtrak's Heartland Flyer, and the food that defines the state — chicken fried steak, the El Reno fried onion burger, regional barbecue, and traditional Native American fry bread. Plus: peak Beavers Bend and Turner Falls swimming season, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote Ouachita National Forest and western panhandle. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Oklahoma

  6. Oct 21

    Texas — The Lone Star State: Deserts, Beaches, Big Cities, and Cowboy Country

    Texas is so massive it holds deserts, beaches, big cities, and genuine cowboy country all inside one enormous state. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Lone Star State — birthplace of Texas independence at the Alamo, home to a legendary barbecue tradition, and a national park bigger than some states. We drive the bluebonnet-covered Hill Country wine trail, Big Bend's dramatic Ranch Road 170 along the Rio Grande, the Gulf Coast Highway toward South Padre Island, and the red rock walls of Palo Duro Canyon. Along the way: climbing Enchanted Rock, paddling the cypress swamp of Caddo Lake, chasing Marfa's mysterious lights, the Alamo, Big Bend's dark-sky wilderness, Austin's nonstop live music scene, and Space Center Houston. We also flag the tourist traps around San Antonio's River Walk and Austin's Sixth Street, cover RV travel logistics across Texas's enormous distances (especially fuel planning in West Texas), the best free and paid RV camping at Big Bend National Park, Garner State Park, and BLM land near Big Bend, where to stay from San Antonio's River Walk hotels to South Padre Island resorts, honest transportation reality given the state's size, and the food that defines Texas — legendary smoked brisket, Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak, and Czech-heritage kolaches. Plus: peak Hill Country river tubing and Gulf Coast beach season, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote Big Bend region — among the spottiest on this entire trip. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Texas(00:03:17) - Introducing Texas

  7. Oct 18

    Louisiana — The Pelican State: Bayou Wilderness, Cajun Soul, and Jazz Heritage

    Louisiana blends French, Spanish, African, and Native American traditions into something genuinely unlike anywhere else in America. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Pelican State — birthplace of jazz, home to the richest food culture in the country, and a musical heritage running through every corner of the state. We drive the Great River Road through plantation country, the Creole Nature Trail's marshes, the Bayou Teche Byway through Cajun country, and the pine-covered Longleaf Trail Byway. Along the way: Tabasco's Avery Island and Jungle Gardens, boat tours through the massive Atchafalaya Basin swamp, the French Quarter and Garden District, Oak Alley Plantation's oak canopy, and if timing allows, Mardi Gras itself. We also flag the tourist traps around Bourbon Street's markups and plantation tour bundles, cover RV travel logistics (park outside the French Quarter and streetcar in), the best free and paid RV camping at Fontainebleau State Park, Chicot State Park, and the Kisatchie National Forest, where to stay from French Quarter hotels to Cajun country bed and breakfasts, getting around by Amtrak and New Orleans' historic streetcars, and the food that defines the state — gumbo, jambalaya, po'boys, Cafe du Monde beignets, and a proper crawfish boil. Plus: an honest hurricane season heads-up, summer festival timing, budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote Atchafalaya Basin. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Louisiana

  8. Oct 15

    Arkansas — The Natural State: Hot Springs, Diamond Mines, and Mountain Wilderness

    Arkansas earns its nickname as the Natural State — hot springs, mountain wilderness, and the only place in the country where you can dig for real diamonds and keep whatever you find. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore this often-overlooked gem in the middle of the country. We drive the ridge-top Talimena Scenic Byway through the Ouachita National Forest, the switchback-filled Pig Trail through the Ozarks, the full-length Highway 7 Scenic Byway, and Crowley's Ridge rising unexpectedly out of the Delta. Along the way: digging for real diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park, underground formations at Blanchard Springs Caverns, sweeping views from Mount Magazine, the historic bathhouses of Hot Springs National Park, floating the crystal-clear Buffalo National River, and the Victorian streets of Eureka Springs. We also flag the tourist traps around Hot Springs' souvenir shops and Crater of Diamonds equipment rentals, cover RV travel logistics on Arkansas's easy interstates versus the winding Ozark and Ouachita mountain roads, the best free and paid RV camping along the Buffalo National River, Petit Jean State Park, and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, where to stay from Hot Springs' historic bathhouse hotels to Eureka Springs' Victorian inns, honest transportation reality (mostly car-dependent beyond Little Rock's Amtrak stop), and the food that defines the state — fried catfish, Arkansas-original cheese dip, fried pie, and local rice. Plus: peak Buffalo River float season, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote national forests. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing Arkansas

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About

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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