what is the best state in the usa to live in / visit?

am thinking of doing some globe trotting soon, would like some insider info/ opinions please

If you'll tell us what your interests are, we can tell you.

If city life is what you like, NYC is wonderful in May and September.

I love it in the western US and Canadian mountains.

Glance over this and see if any of it interests you.

http://www.thetravelerszone.com/travel-destinations/top-25-most-visited-tourist-destinations-in-america/

Georgia of course.  Second, Michigan

Outaservice

Washington State. Hands down. Never very hot never very cold. We got desert the ocean mountains you name it. Even Volcanoes!

Earth quakes! Rain forest. Glaciers. Hot springs. Orca whales. I almost forgot the rain. Starts in Oct. and ends about in april or May.

I would say anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.  I myself lived in Portland, Oregon for a time and absolutely loved it, but my family lives here in South Carolina and I missed them so I moved back.  But you can see Mt. Hood from almost anywhere in Portland, it's a bicycling city, very open-minded, plenty of coffee shops, lots of commerce, it's public transportation system has higher ratings than NYC and Boston. They do however have Blue-Laws in effect, meaning everything shuts down at 5pm and I mean everything. Never quite understood that.  Gets mostly rain, some snow.  You can drive 50 miles to Astoria and see the ocean and surf or drive 50 miles the other way and ski on Mt Hood.  Kindergarten Cop and The Goonies were both filmed in Astoria, great lil community.

Washington State is great, stay away from Seattle, perhaps try Olympia.  Right across the border is Bristich Columbia.  Whistler is right there for all you mountain biking enthusiasts, they hold big get togethers for that very thing.  B.C. is called the Sunshine Coast.  It has very temparent weather, usually mid 70's in the Summer and 50's F in the Winter.

Yee-Haw.

However, I am becoming more and more impressed with Colorado since we bought that cabin outside Estes Park.

Awen, how long ago did you leave?  I live in Portland now.  Haven't noticed that everything closes early, I've been downtown much later than that lots of times, in fact the music scene here goes all hours.  Love it in Oregon and Washington and BC, northern California is great too but I think once you get south of San Francisco its not so much about scenery and more about urban living or suburban living. 

West coast of the US and Canada is amazing.

Ada

<-- Portlander

Awen pretty much nailed it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWoGgezH5w

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuA8N1E41qc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY9w5xWJyDc

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1809887-Alabama_the_Beautiful_View_from_Bald_Rock-Alabama.jpg

Sylvia

A little nod to the ladies. Hugh Jackman sings "Oh, What a beautiful morning!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZbAKYQkP_Q&feature=related

Before deciding, check out the "Alabama" section of the urban dictionary online.

When I go to work everyday, here in Florida, when we exchange greetings and ask how are you doing,

Everyone says, another day in paradise.

Thats what the locals say.

Without the sarcastic tone we use here Jag?

Portland Oregon, I do love it so...

Who wants a voodoo donut?

Huxley 2.0

Huxley

I'd say visit soCal, but right now the state is nuttier than usual, and I don't want you to get hurt by the crazy Guhvuhnatuh's policies.

what is the best state in the usa to live in / visit?

Canada

California has everything you could want.  Mountains, Ocean, Dessert, Urban nightlife, small town charm, Old West, Hollywood glitz, it's here.  And quite frankly some of the best people in the world.