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These are my favorite areas of my favorite Southern states:
1. Texas. Not a quintessential Southern state, but it blends elements of southeast, midwest, southwest, and Mexican locales, as well as just good ol' Texas flair. Still, the only areas of that state I'd rule out are the far southeast corner (where the Sabine meets the Gulf,) Dallas, and the Rio Grande Valley/South Padre region. Everything else seems to be fine.
2. Georgia: north Georgia, particularly Atlanta. I'd like to visit Savannah, I've heard that's nice, too.
3. Mississippi: stay away from the Delta towns. Stay along or within 10 miles of an interstate and Mississippi is great. Okay, Oxford is like 25 miles from an interstate, but you can't go wrong there, either.
I also like Mobile and Baldwin Counties in Alabama, but the rest of Alabama sucks. I know, I've traveled it north to south.
I've heard great things about N. Carolina and S. Carolina. Of course, the places that my fellow Kentuckians really like are usually the places that I go "eh, whatever, what's so great about this place?" I'm sure there are nice, friendly places in those states, though.
Oklahoma is very midwestern in culture (except maybe for eastern Oklahoma,) but is certainly "southern tier." As much as I love Texas, I'd assume that I'd like Oklahoma quite well.
Interesting post and good reading. Of course, as I said in an earlier missive I maintain there is *nothing* culturally "midwestern" about Texas...save perhaps a very few isolated spots which can fairly be considered anomalies (very upper Texas panhandle, and suburban locations near large cities with a lot of northern transplants). But anyway, I enjoyed reading this.
"I don't really consider Texas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia southern states." I can't speak for Texas or OK, but why would you consider Virginia a Southern state but not West Virginia? Just because some politicians drew a line through Virginia in 1863 and made two states? The people of West Virginia had nothing to do with that, it was done in Washington, DC. The present Constitution of the state of WV was written mostly by ex-Confederate soldiers in 1872, the voters trashed the Unionist Constitution when they were given back the vote in 1871. Most people don't really know the history of West Virginia.
I agree with you 110% Bibilee. West Virginia is just as Southern as Kentucky and Virginia are. And like you mentioned on earlier posts, 2/3 of the state supported the Confederacy, which is true. I really hate it when people consider West Virginia a Northeastern state, because it just isn't. My state is hundreds of miles south of New York and New England and I can get to parts of North Carolina and Tennessee within 75 miles (hour and a half) of Bluefield.
I voted for TN, KY, WV, VA, and NC. Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina are at the top, West Virginia is slightly below them because it doesn't have quite the variety of landscapes as the other three states. Tennessee is a little below the rest, because I've found its residents to be a little less friendly than those of the other four states. Not necessarily flat-out rude, just a little less pleasant based on my own experiences.
Kentucky has beautiful scenery, especially the bluegrass region. I'm biased, of course, because it's my home state.
Virginia is also beautiful, and some of the best friends I've made are from Virginia. North Carolina is very similar to Virginia, in that both states have everything from beaches to mountains. I like North Carolina's beaches better and it's hard to match the Smokies, but Virginia has the Shenandoah Valley and a little more history. If it weren't for the ever-growing DC suburbs, Virginia might actually be #1 on my list.
West Virginia offers lots of outdoor activities like whitewater rafting and is generally an underrated state, IMO.
Tennessee would be higher on the list if I'd had more pleasant experiences there, but I'll give it credit for Nashville and its mountains. I almost didn't vote for it due to the tackiness of Pigeon Forge, but I couldn't think of another state to vote for in its place.
I will say that I've never been to Texas, but I have the feeling that if I'd ever been there I would have probably voted for it.
I would have voted for South Carolina, but the monstrosity that is Myrtle Beach singlehandedly kept it off my list. It's too bad, because I love Charleston.
I also like Georgia, just not enough to rank it above the other states. It has some very nice beaches, and Savannah has a unique sort of charm. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to put Georgia in my top five instead of Tennessee.
I'm neutral towards Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, and I've never been to Oklahoma. Really the only states I don't like at all are Florida and Louisiana, although I must say that some parts of Florida that haven't been overrun by tourists and retirees are not bad.
Virginia is also beautiful, and some of the best friends I've made are from Virginia. If it weren't for the ever-growing DC suburbs, Virginia might actually be #1 on my list.
I agree about the friends,I made more friends in 2 yrs of living in VA than 20 years living up north!
As for the DC suburbs,there's like 97% left of VA after cutting out DC so there's plenty of VA still to enjoy
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South, I luv ya
