50 US States.
How many have you visited?

Alaska has more coastline than all other US states combined. It contains 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States.

Why go: Watch glaciers calve into the sea and see grizzly bears fishing for salmon. Get 24 hours of daylight in summer and take a boat through fjords to see whales.

Hawaii is made up entirely of volcanic islands, and it's still growing as Kilauea continues to erupt. It does not observe daylight saving time.

Why go: Stand at the edge of an active volcano and snorkel with sea turtles. Learn to surf at Waikiki Beach, go to a luau, and drive the Road to Hana.

Montana has more cattle than people. Its nickname, "Big Sky Country," comes from its wide, open horizons.

Why go: Hike Glacier National Park, where 25 of the original 150 glaciers remain. Fish trout streams and look for wolves in the wild.

Utah has five national parks, known as "The Mighty Five," and the highest concentration of slot canyons in the world. The Great Salt Lake is saltier than the ocean.

Why go: Hike among red rock formations and through narrow slot canyons. Mountain bike the Slickrock Trail, go skiing, and see ancient petroglyphs.

Maine is the closest US state to Africa. More than 60 lighthouses stand along its rocky coast.

Why go: Eat fresh lobster and watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain. Visit fishing villages, hike Acadia's granite peaks, and sail past harbor seals.

Louisiana is the only US state with parishes instead of counties, a legacy of its French colonial past. Its wetlands hold 40% of America's coastal marshes.

Why go: Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and eat Cajun and Creole food. Take a swamp tour to see alligators and hear live jazz on Frenchmen Street.

Wyoming is the least populous US state, with under 600,000 people. It was the first state to give women the right to vote.

Why go: Visit Yellowstone's geysers, hot springs, and wildlife, and see the Grand Tetons rise from the valley floor. Stay at a dude ranch under some of the darkest night skies in America.