"I live in ____, and the most awesome places around here to visit/see are ____"

[HP]

Tell me about your area. If you were a tourist in your area, what would you do? Any place in the world will do, but especially I'm interested in the States. You can also tell me about the most awesome places you've been outside of your area. Links are great.

[MsRichLife]

I live in Canberra, Australia and the most awesome places to visit are:

• the many national galleries and museums (The Australian War Memorial is among the best)
• Lake Burley-Griffin
• hiking through the nature reserves and seeing Kangaroos en-masse
• biking the many excellent bike trails

The OECD have just confirmed what we already knew. Canberra is the best place in the world to live. :) http://www.afr.com/p/business/property/best_place_in_the_world_canberra_vqw4GiZiCYsdyEqfSxWJhI

[hdatontodo]

Baltimore County, MD ---- Ocean City, MD

[Spartana]

I live in a terrible place - Orange County, Calif ( "THE" O.C.). Besides the basic tourist attractions - Disneyland! - great beaches, beach volleyball, surfing and weather (yes, it is always sunny and warm), it's pretty much an over crowded suburban area with miles of freeways and highways (and endless traffic jams), tract housing, and industrial areas.  There are some great areas in the southern County for hiking and mountain biking and some interesting coastal towns like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (artist kind of place), San Juan Capistrano and it's historic mission, scenic coastline drive, and a few nice state parks. But no nearby forests, rivers, lakes, or mountains as they are all over 100 miles away.

It's not really terrible as I think it is (hey, 3 million people crammed into a tiny county - surrounded by about 30 million more in the neighboring counties - can't be all wrong...right?) but it is not a place I would want to live permanently. Have family here and a house but will be moving soon. Have no idea where I'll be moving too and just plan to wander a bit first so look forward to hearing about other peoples fav places. I've lived in many many place from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and many places i n between (was in the coast guard and transferred alot) but my very favorite place in the USA is Maine and much of northern New England, followed closely by the Pac. NW

[Self-employed-swami]

I live in Alberta, and the best place to visit is the mountains!  Some of the areas in Banff National Park are cool, but the town it's self is pretty tourist-trapy.  I really like Canmore instead, and since it isn't in the national park, you don't have to pay an entry fee.

[stlbrah]

st charles, mo. The most exciting place around to see are ... :-(

[VirginiaBob]

Hampton Roads area. 

Free (or nearly free) stuff:  Beaches nearby, Macarthur Memorial, Mt. Trashmore Park, Colonial Williamsburg (don't pay for the tours), Yorktown, First Landing State Park (13 years before the pilgrims), Cape Henry Lighthouses (1st federally built lighthouse), bike trails, boardwalk, Outer Banks, Town Point Park, Jamestown, Red Wing Park, Naval base tours (if you time it right, aircraft carrier tour).

[Bob W]

I live in the Missouri Ozarks we are rated number one in the nation for hiking, bike trails and camping.  We have clear wilderness mountain streams,  numerous lakes, rolling hills.

Don't miss Branson! ---Probably the best family entertainment destination in the world.  Shows, boats, trains, amusement parks,  music, scenery, lakes,  museums, trout fishing, scuba diving, boating, wineries.  One could spend 3 weeks in Branson and not do  it all.  (sorry no gambling)

[Malaysia41]

I live in a terrible place - Orange County, Calif ( "THE" O.C.). Besides the basic tourist attractions - Disneyland! - great beaches, beach volleyball, surfing and weather (yes, it is always sunny and warm), it's pretty much an over crowded suburban area with miles of freeways and highways (and endless traffic jams), tract housing, and industrial areas.  There are some great areas in the southern County for hiking and mountain biking and some interesting coastal towns like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (artist kind of place), San Juan Capistrano and it's historic mission, scenic coastline drive, and a few nice state parks. But no nearby forests, rivers, lakes, or mountains as they are all over 100 miles away.

It's not really terrible as I think it is (hey, 3 million people crammed into a tiny county - surrounded by about 30 million more in the neighboring counties - can't be all wrong...right?) but it is not a place I would want to live permanently. Have family here and a house but will be moving soon. Have no idea where I'll be moving too and just plan to wander a bit first so look forward to hearing about other peoples fav places. I've lived in many many place from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and many places i n between (was in the coast guard and transferred alot) but my very favorite place in the USA is Maine and much of northern New England, followed closely by the Pac. NW

Yes, yes it is. 

[Bob W]

I live in Alberta, and the best place to visit is the mountains!  Some of the areas in Banff National Park are cool, but the town it's self is pretty tourist-trapy.  I really like Canmore instead, and since it isn't in the national park, you don't have to pay an entry fee.

Nice!  What are the summer temps like there?

[Spartana]

I live in a terrible place - Orange County, Calif ( "THE" O.C.). Besides the basic tourist attractions - Disneyland! - great beaches, beach volleyball, surfing and weather (yes, it is always sunny and warm), it's pretty much an over crowded suburban area with miles of freeways and highways (and endless traffic jams), tract housing, and industrial areas.  There are some great areas in the southern County for hiking and mountain biking and some interesting coastal towns like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (artist kind of place), San Juan Capistrano and it's historic mission, scenic coastline drive, and a few nice state parks. But no nearby forests, rivers, lakes, or mountains as they are all over 100 miles away.

It's not really terrible as I think it is (hey, 3 million people crammed into a tiny county - surrounded by about 30 million more in the neighboring counties - can't be all wrong...right?) but it is not a place I would want to live permanently. Have family here and a house but will be moving soon. Have no idea where I'll be moving too and just plan to wander a bit first so look forward to hearing about other peoples fav places. I've lived in many many place from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and many places i n between (was in the coast guard and transferred alot) but my very favorite place in the USA is Maine and much of northern New England, followed closely by the Pac. NW

Yes, yes it is.

I see you know it well :-)!

I didn't want to come across as TOO complainy pants as I know other's like it here - and there are some very nice members of this site from the O.C. and I didn't want to trash talk their choice of living here too much. But yeah, I kind of do find it terrible much of the time even though I live in an OK town (Surf City USA - Huntington Beach) which has some great aspects to it. http://www.surfcityusa.com/

[dragoncar]

I live in a terrible place - Orange County, Calif ( "THE" O.C.). Besides the basic tourist attractions - Disneyland! - great beaches, beach volleyball, surfing and weather (yes, it is always sunny and warm), it's pretty much an over crowded suburban area with miles of freeways and highways (and endless traffic jams), tract housing, and industrial areas.  There are some great areas in the southern County for hiking and mountain biking and some interesting coastal towns like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (artist kind of place), San Juan Capistrano and it's historic mission, scenic coastline drive, and a few nice state parks. But no nearby forests, rivers, lakes, or mountains as they are all over 100 miles away.

It's not really terrible as I think it is (hey, 3 million people crammed into a tiny county - surrounded by about 30 million more in the neighboring counties - can't be all wrong...right?) but it is not a place I would want to live permanently. Have family here and a house but will be moving soon. Have no idea where I'll be moving too and just plan to wander a bit first so look forward to hearing about other peoples fav places. I've lived in many many place from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and many places i n between (was in the coast guard and transferred alot) but my very favorite place in the USA is Maine and much of northern New England, followed closely by the Pac. NW

Yes, yes it is.

I see you know it well :-)!

I didn't want to come across as TOO complainy pants as I know other's like it here - and there are some very nice members of this site from the O.C. and I didn't want to trash talk their choice of living here too much. But yeah, I kind of do find it terrible much of the time even though I live in an OK town (Surf City USA - Huntington Beach) which has some great aspects to it. http://www.surfcityusa.com/

No it's not.

Seriously cry me a frickin river... Beaches and weather and sustainable population density boo hoo

[Spartana]

I live in a terrible place - Orange County, Calif ( "THE" O.C.). Besides the basic tourist attractions - Disneyland! - great beaches, beach volleyball, surfing and weather (yes, it is always sunny and warm), it's pretty much an over crowded suburban area with miles of freeways and highways (and endless traffic jams), tract housing, and industrial areas.  There are some great areas in the southern County for hiking and mountain biking and some interesting coastal towns like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (artist kind of place), San Juan Capistrano and it's historic mission, scenic coastline drive, and a few nice state parks. But no nearby forests, rivers, lakes, or mountains as they are all over 100 miles away.

It's not really terrible as I think it is (hey, 3 million people crammed into a tiny county - surrounded by about 30 million more in the neighboring counties - can't be all wrong...right?) but it is not a place I would want to live permanently. Have family here and a house but will be moving soon. Have no idea where I'll be moving too and just plan to wander a bit first so look forward to hearing about other peoples fav places. I've lived in many many place from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and many places i n between (was in the coast guard and transferred alot) but my very favorite place in the USA is Maine and much of northern New England, followed closely by the Pac. NW

Yes, yes it is.

I see you know it well :-)!

I didn't want to come across as TOO complainy pants as I know other's like it here - and there are some very nice members of this site from the O.C. and I didn't want to trash talk their choice of living here too much. But yeah, I kind of do find it terrible much of the time even though I live in an OK town (Surf City USA - Huntington Beach) which has some great aspects to it. http://www.surfcityusa.com/

No it's not.

Seriously cry me a frickin river... Beaches and weather and sustainable population density boo hoo

Well I can't cry...it's not allowed. Part of the drought restrictions ya know :-)! And all the lovely dried up, dead,  treeless dirt hills for hiking and biking in the heat and smog....lovely. Especially the ones surrounded by McMansions and Master Planned Communities. But I did see some green today - it was on the flashing neon sign on the 405 telling me that it would take me 30 minutes to go 5 miles :-)!

OK OK - I'm just joking  (sort of) it can be nice here and I think many people would really like to visit (come in Spring!). While I won't agree on the sustainable population here (they are starting to build up now because there is no available land around here) if endless sunshine and a nice beach life is your thing, then it's great. As a beach volleyball player and water sports person I can't complain there. But like anywhere, one person's heaven is another persons hell.  My sister lives in Manhattan Beach and loves it but I cringe every time I go up there.  I think a big part of the reason I retired so early was I couldn't hack the weekend crowds...everywhere. Drove me nuts. Now with weekdays off I can bike and hike and do whatever without having to deal with the hoards.  Great!

[Spartana]

OK so as not to be a complainy pants I suggest the following areas in my 'hood: Huntington Beach downtown main street and Pier. Bolsa Chica State Beach and Wetlands, the nice off road paved bike path from Sunset Beach to Newport Beach for bike, blading or walking. The Surfer Hall of Fame downtown. The Huntington Beach Central Park - both east side with the great library and west side with it's nature center, dog park, disc gold, horse stables and lake. Surf City Dog Beach.

[Malaysia41]

I live in a terrible place - Orange County, Calif ( "THE" O.C.). Besides the basic tourist attractions - Disneyland! - great beaches, beach volleyball, surfing and weather (yes, it is always sunny and warm), it's pretty much an over crowded suburban area with miles of freeways and highways (and endless traffic jams), tract housing, and industrial areas.  There are some great areas in the southern County for hiking and mountain biking and some interesting coastal towns like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (artist kind of place), San Juan Capistrano and it's historic mission, scenic coastline drive, and a few nice state parks. But no nearby forests, rivers, lakes, or mountains as they are all over 100 miles away.

It's not really terrible as I think it is (hey, 3 million people crammed into a tiny county - surrounded by about 30 million more in the neighboring counties - can't be all wrong...right?) but it is not a place I would want to live permanently. Have family here and a house but will be moving soon. Have no idea where I'll be moving too and just plan to wander a bit first so look forward to hearing about other peoples fav places. I've lived in many many place from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, and many places i n between (was in the coast guard and transferred alot) but my very favorite place in the USA is Maine and much of northern New England, followed closely by the Pac. NW

Yes, yes it is.

I see you know it well :-)!

I didn't want to come across as TOO complainy pants as I know other's like it here - and there are some very nice members of this site from the O.C. and I didn't want to trash talk their choice of living here too much. But yeah, I kind of do find it terrible much of the time even though I live in an OK town (Surf City USA - Huntington Beach) which has some great aspects to it. http://www.surfcityusa.com/

No it's not.

Seriously cry me a frickin river... Beaches and weather and sustainable population density boo hoo

Beaches, weather and sustainable population density can't make up for a toxic culture.   There I said it.  Bracing... for... backlash...

[Spartana]

I live in "The O.C." too. And the most awesome places around here to visit/see are the.... hmmm... and the.... smog? bumper to bumper traffic... constant freeway construction... housing is like way expensive... beaches are way overcrowded! And how clean they are is questionable too. LOL. Well all our lakes are bone dry because of the severe drought so that cuts out any lake fun...

But my fave parts is the mountains... maybe... even though the creeks on the trail are gone dry. Snow is seldom now...

Haha. still good trails in Baldy, Big Bear, Fawnskin, San Gabriel Mountains (hey Obama is declaring the SGM a national monument tomorrow!).

I had sold my house and moved to Big Bear Lake about a year after I FIRE'd. WORLD of difference between Orange County and BBL. More my kind of place. 90 minutes drive (on a good freeway day) from the snow covered mountains to the OC beaches. It ended up being a bit too small of a town for me, plus I had elderly parents in the OC I needed to be near and the drive in winter on the mountain roads was really difficult sometimes - impossible at others, so I eventually moved back down here. Now with the folks gone I will be looking to leave by the end of the year. But BBL is a nice little haven not too far from here and I still go up there often. 

Commuter traffic in Big Bear and what commuter traffic looks like in OC :

[Druid]

You OC people should move to Northern California if you want to stay in the state. I love it! I am in the San Anselmo/Fairfax area. I can drive to San Francisco in 45 minutes or take the ferry in a half hour. The San Anselmo/Fairfax area is really bike friendly and has some of the prettiest coastal views in the country. We have beautiful redwood forests within hiking distance of my house. Both San Anselmo and Fairfax have that cutesy small town feel and there are a half dozen bars within a few miles of each other. The food is only average but it gives me more incentive not to eat out.

While my area is very bike friendly it is one of the most expensive places in the country. Its definitely not for your typical MMM follower. I am planning to eventually move to either Washington, Oregon, or Colorado. However my area is definitely a step up from OC.

[Self-employed-swami]

I live in Alberta, and the best place to visit is the mountains!  Some of the areas in Banff National Park are cool, but the town it's self is pretty tourist-trapy.  I really like Canmore instead, and since it isn't in the national park, you don't have to pay an entry fee.

Nice!  What are the summer temps like there?

Summer ranges from 20 to 33 degrees celsius during the day, and it can get down to about 4 or 5 degrees at night in the mountains.  Outside of the mountains, it tends not to cool off as much at night.

[Spartana]

You OC people should move to Northern California if you want to stay in the state. I love it! I am in the San Anselmo/Fairfax area. I can drive to San Francisco in 45 minutes or take the ferry in a half hour. The San Anselmo/Fairfax area is really bike friendly and has some of the prettiest coastal views in the country. We have beautiful redwood forests within hiking distance of my house. Both San Anselmo and Fairfax have that cutesy small town feel and there are a half dozen bars within a few miles of each other. The food is only average but it gives me more incentive not to eat out.

While my area is very bike friendly it is one of the most expensive places in the country. Its definitely not for your typical MMM follower. I am planning to eventually move to either Washington, Oregon, or Colorado. However my area is definitely a step up from OC.

I use to live in Marin County (Novato) and loved, loved, loved it!! Still spend a lot of time up there and in Sonoma. Was just in Petaluma (one of my favorite towns close enough, yet far enough, from everything the Bay area and wine country and coastal areas have to offer) for a couple of weeks and looked at tons of rentals. Muy muy expensive so wouldn't be moving there permanently again but do love to visit as often as possible.

[Druid]

@ Spartana

My girlfriend and I plan to stay here while our future kids are young, because we have a family network. However, in several years I will probably move to Washington, Oregon, or Colorado. Then again, we might just move to the Santa Rosa/Novato area and stay in California.

[pipercat]

Richmond, VA. Here in town we have a great downtown area, parks, shopping, the James River, and various sites from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. We just had an awesome Folk Festival last weekend.

Within a two hour drive, we have the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington, D.C.  This time of year, we love to hike the mountains. The weather here is usually perfect in the fall, and the scenery is breathtaking!

[Spartana]

@ Spartana

My girlfriend and I plan to stay here while our future kids are young, because we have a family network. However, in several years I will probably move to Washington, Oregon, or Colorado. Then again, we might just move to the Santa Rosa/Novato area and stay in California.

Santa Rosa is a lot less expensive compared to most places in the Bay area but is a great little city IMHO.  So close to so many things: the redwoods, Russian river, Napa and Sonoma and Mendocino wine country, Bodega Bay, Jenner, Pt. Reyes, San Fran, etc...  Lots of places within a 25 miles radius and tons of great biking roads. Still too expensive for me but I could do a rental there and something I've thought a lot about.  Weather's pretty great too.

[hybrid]

Richmond, VA. Here in town we have a great downtown area, parks, shopping, the James River, and various sites from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. We just had an awesome Folk Festival last weekend.

Within a two hour drive, we have the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington, D.C.  This time of year, we love to hike the mountains. The weather here is usually perfect in the fall, and the scenery is breathtaking!

Add in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (considered among the ten best museums in the US), a host of excellent brewpubs, and VCU basketball. This is what John Feinstein (WaPo, multiple book titles) had to say last year after GWU lost to VCU 92-75 before yet another sellout on a night when snow and ice should have kept everyone home, but didn't. A VCU ticket is so hot every single game is standing room only.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/vcu-wreaked-havoc-on-gw-but-colonials-still-ascending-in-atlantic-10/2014/02/15/eacaa0f6-95ab-11e3-afce-3e7c922ef31e_story.html

GW’s Smith Center has become a hot place to be this season, but VCU('s Siegel Center) is close to unique. The school’s pep band — “the Peppas” — is so good that when longtime band leader Ryan Kopacsi announced he was “stepping away” because of a contract dispute last summer, the hue and cry on campus was so loud that VCU gave him what he was asking for, probably making Kopacsi the first pep-band leader to have his contract renewal announced in a news release.

He’s worth it.

It’s not just the band, it’s also the students, who often sing — to their own lyrics — along with the band. When the band plays “400 degrees” and the students sing “It is havoc that you fear!” it feels as if the roof will come off the building.

It helps that the team has been consistently good for years, even more so since Smart arrived in 2009. He took the Rams to the Final Four in 2011 and is all but certain to take them to their fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance this year. To call Smart one of the best young coaches in the country — he won’t be 37 until April — misses the point. He’s one of the best coaches in the country, period.

I have tickets to six games already lined up, and I just can't wait. Richmond used to be a lousy sports town, I mean really bad, but after the 2011 Final Four Run and VCU's commitment to keep a coach rather than losing one to a major college with deep pockets, everything changed. Now we have a venue that challenges the very best places to watch college basketball in the country.

[HP]

I guess I can contribute to my own thread. ;)

This is both places I have been/would recommend and places I want to go, mostly in the PNW and basically just nature-y things rather than culture-y things.

Olympic National Forest/Park and surrounding area: Hurricane Ridge (grand views), Tubal Cain Trail (mines and a B-17 wreck), Mount Storm King, several Elwha and Crescent Lake trails, the rain forest (so. much. moss.). Many of the beaches both on the strait and on the coast (west of Port Angeles mostly, Ozette area on the coast,). Also there are several different parks with bunkers from WWII which you can explore.

Mt. St. Helens. You can hike up to the top. It's on my bucket list.

Some of the areas around Spokane (eastern Washington) and Northern Idaho. Beautiful views, though not as lush as the west side. Even just driving around through the orchard areas was fun.

National Glacier Park and surrounding areas. Frozen waterfalls. Sapphires. Bubbling mud. Etc. (Yellowstone is nice I guess, but I felt kind of "meh" about it.)

Columbia River/Gorge area-- so many beautiful hikes and falls (not just the renown Multnomah Falls), incredible vistas, and some really unique ones like where the whole trail is just a creek that you wade in the whole way until you get to a hidden pool (hidden in giant boulders).

Newberry Volcanic National Monument, in Eastern Oregon. The lava flows were my favourite. I want to go again and hike more of them. Speaking of volcanic, I also mildly enjoyed Craters of the Moon in Southern Idaho. Didn't seem like there was a whole lot to it (not sure if I missed something or if that was it as it was a drive-by occasion), but I find lava rocks to be so fascinating.

Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and White Sands are some major tourist destinations that were extremely enjoyable/interesting despite the crush of humanity.

So yeah, there's the whole eastern half of the United States that I have yet to explore (especially interested in the East Coast and historical sites), most of Canada (have been to Vancouver a bit, but too long ago to appreciate it), and eventually I want to branch out to something more global. Europe and Australia have been peaking my interest lately, but that is not for years to come at this point.

[YK-Phil]

I work in Yellowknife.

In winter, at night, I look up at the sky and there they are, amazing, beautiful and magical aurora borealis.

[Nords]

"I live in on the island of Oahu, and the most awesome places around here to visit/see are http://www.101thingstodo.com/oahu/."

Because everyone's visit here is different.

Otherwise the only answer would be "surfing"...

[Neustache]

I live in Kansas City, Missouri.   If museums suit you, the Nelson Atkins is one of our art museums and makes for a lovely day.  I'm more in it for the architecture, as that's my 'art' of choice but the art is nice, too.  Our WWI museum at Liberty Memorial is a National Museum, and with the updates they've done is pretty good.  Deanna Rose is a must if you have kids - it's a farmstead that's free M-Thursday and a blast with the littles.  The Overland Park Arboretum is wonderful and has a cute train garden for the kids.  My favorite part is the Monet Garden.  Again for architecture/design...the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts (and the symphony is nice, too, ha!) and Prairie Fire for interesting building design.  The children's museum at Prairie Fire is fun, too. 

The Plaza is beautiful and KC's many fountains are fun to find.   But I suspect mustachians wouldn't be too keen on the dining or shopping there. 

And heck, if you are here next week, visit Kauffman Stadium for a World Series game or two.  ;-)

[cavewoman]

The three places I've lived:

Springfield, IL - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.  You can do about a million other Lincoln things here too, but that one is the newest and my favorite.

Also get a horseshoe and a cozy dog.  And mel-o-cream donut.  And some PTs BBQ.  Maybe some 9th street chili.  Man, everything I love about my town is food related.  When I'm away, I have to visit for at least 2 weeks to spread out the food.

New Britain, CT - Ethnic Festivals - Greek & Polish are the two I can remember going to.  If it's not a festival then you can find a pretty authentic restaurant in one of many diverse cultures there.  Loved that town.

Dunlap, CA - You are only 1 hr from Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP!  Of course, go there!

[jopiquant]

I live in Burnaby (near Vancouver, BC) and the most awesome places to visit are Vancouver Island's west coast and the mountains up the coast of the mainland. Just being in town is gorgeous six months of the year, as we're nestled south of mountains and right by the Georgia Strait.

There's incredible hiking, cycling, mountain biking, snowshoeing. We have most any kind of ethnic food you'd want to find. Awesome wild salmon in season, cheap compared to many other places. Not a ton of night life, but it's an outdoors paradise, green and rainy. Quite rainy.

I've also lived in Vegas (20 years). The best places to visit are the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Death Valley, Valley of Fire, Redrock Conservation Area, Hoover Dam. Stay off the Strip.

[surfhb]

I'm perfectly happy with OC.   The problem for me is my daily drive into Hollywood for work.   Ugh! 

Anyway.....i think this is about the only place in the world to surf in the morning then snowboard in the afternoon. 

[Miijia]

I also live in Baltimore and I love the small local restaurants and bars in particular on Harford Rd, food is cheap an delicious. Also the Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Gallery, the Inner Harbor and the 33rd st Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.

[Alchemilla]

I live in Devon, England.

Awesome places include Exmoor and Dartmoor, stunning churches, Exeter Cathedral and we also have a fab village pub and lots of tiny but brilliant and free museums.

[MoneyCat]

I live in New Jersey and the best place to visit here in the Jersey Shore.  We have some of the best beaches in the USA and the Boardwalks are fun with carnival rides and games, mini golf, restaurants, aquariums, museums and more. 

My favorite shore town is Cape May on the southern tip of New Jersey.  The entire town of Cape May is designated as an historical landmark because almost all of the town is composed of Victorian-era houses.  Many of the houses have been converted to bed and breakfasts and chain hotels are banned from the town.  It's a great vacation spot for people who love history or Victoriana, because it really feels like you've been transported back in time.

[PhillyWill]

Philadelphia. I swear it's not as bad as everyone says! As far as things that would interest the MMM community, I'd recommend:

-Boathouse Row/Art Museum/Ben Franklin Parkway/Schuylkill bike path. This is such a cool part of the city. The boathouses are beautiful day or night and the museum has a world class collection (there's also a statue of some boxer on the steps :) ). The Parkway is pretty impressive in its own right and it's a lovely walk or bike ride from Love Park to the Museum. The Schuylkillbike path is quite nice (though crowded when it's warm out), and you can either make a quick 8 mile loop on either side of the river or keep going for around 50 miles all the way out to Valley Forge.
 
-Obviously, Independence Hall, Constitution Center, Old City in general. You can't spit here without hitting a major historic site. Eastern State Penitentiary has a great audio tour voiced by Steve Buscemi, and is a real eye-opener about the history of prisons in the US.

-Not Mustachian, but: http://barcadephiladelphia.com
Our bar scene wishes it lived in Brooklyn.

[Nords]

I'm perfectly happy with OC.   The problem for me is my daily drive into Hollywood for work.   Ugh! 

Anyway.....i think this is about the only place in the world to surf in the morning then snowboard in the afternoon.

*Ahem*. 

The Mauna Kea Snowboarding/Surfing Championship has just about disappeared from the Internet (too many amateurs getting injured where the snow runs out in the lava fields).  But I'm told that it's still held whenever weather permits...
http://www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com/ski_hawaii.htm

[benjenn]

I live in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and the most awesome place around here to visit/see is the BEACH!  Beautiful white sands, emerald waters, friendly people.  Hard to beat!

[oldmannickels]

Philadelphia. I swear it's not as bad as everyone says! As far as things that would interest the MMM community, I'd recommend:

-Boathouse Row/Art Museum/Ben Franklin Parkway/Schuylkill bike path. This is such a cool part of the city. The boathouses are beautiful day or night and the museum has a world class collection (there's also a statue of some boxer on the steps :) ). The Parkway is pretty impressive in its own right and it's a lovely walk or bike ride from Love Park to the Museum. The Schuylkillbike path is quite nice (though crowded when it's warm out), and you can either make a quick 8 mile loop on either side of the river or keep going for around 50 miles all the way out to Valley Forge.
 
-Obviously, Independence Hall, Constitution Center, Old City in general. You can't spit here without hitting a major historic site. Eastern State Penitentiary has a great audio tour voiced by Steve Buscemi, and is a real eye-opener about the history of prisons in the US.

-Not Mustachian, but: http://barcadephiladelphia.com
Our bar scene wishes it lived in Brooklyn.

Note on Wednesdays after 5 and first Sundays the art museum are pay what you wish

[viper155]

I live on Long Island, NY.....the best place to visit, by far, is the highway out of here. The beaches are quite nice, the fishing is good too. Other than that, you can have it.

[vogon poetry]

I live in Maine and the most awesome places around here to visit/see are:
Any of the islands are cool if you're in Portland or on the coast, great to take a bike out to Peaks or Long Is. if the weather is good. Downeast, Belfast is a great town, ( Marshall Warf Brewery!!! my favorite!) and Acadia is worth a visit if you're in a shoulder season ( don't go in the summer, the crowds will drive you nuts) Great camping, and biking on the carriage trails is worth it all by itself, but there is great hiking and beautiful beaches too. Inland, Baxter State Park is a hidden jem with weeks worth of exploring in it. No cell service, no running water, no paved roads. Its the best.

[lielec11]

I live on Long Island, NY.....the best place to visit, by far, is the highway out of here. The beaches are quite nice, the fishing is good too. Other than that, you can have it.

lmao I live here too and have the same sentiments! However, the highway out of here is either the Belt Parkway or the GWB, both of which will take 2 hours off your life to travel 20 miles!

To be fair, if you like drinking wine the North Fork is a very nice place Spring-Fall, especially during harvest time September-October.

[Milizard]

I live in West Michigan, the most awesome places around here to visit/see are:


the Lake Michigan beaches  http://www.visitgrandhaven.com/beaches--boating-2/
(not my town--I don't want any more tourists crowding my beach! ;-)

the luge track http://www.msports.org/luge
(I've never been on the luge, but it's awesome that it's there!)

Traverse City  http://www.traversecity.com/
(a bit of a drive, but gorgeous!)

Sleeping Bear Dunes  http://www.sleepingbeardunes.com/
(voted one of the most beautiful places in the US)

Fredrick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids  http://www.meijergardens.org/
(I go to the butterfly exhibit most years--great tropical break in the middle of winter)

Grand Rapids also has ArtPrize  http://www.artprize.org/about
(what can I say?  It's free!)

[rocksinmyhead]

I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the most awesome places around here to visit are probably in NW Arkansas ;)

Seriously, they have way better hiking/outdoorsy stuff than us, and Arkansas has a surprisingly impressive state park system (especially compared to OK which has little to no state park system). Tulsa does have a super small-time/up-and-coming craft beer scene, 2 breweries in town which is soon to be 3, so that's fun to check out if you're into that kind of thing. Other than that, you could ride your bike along the river bike path and take in the refinery views... or attend a service at one of our numerous (excessively so?) churches... :)

Actually this is one of my all-time favorite Tulsa attractions, and I'm not even being sarcastic: http://bluewhaleroute66.com/

[cavewoman]

Actually this is one of my all-time favorite Tulsa attractions, and I'm not even being sarcastic: http://bluewhaleroute66.com/

We just came through Tulsa on our trip from IL to TX to CA, and I guess the lack of attractions explains the rock bottom hotel prices :)

But next time I make the trip during the warm months, I will definitely be stopping at the blue whale!  I love love route 66 roadside attractions, and anything slightly cheesy (world's largest ball of yarn type stuff).  Thanks!

[gimp]

Bay area -- and, pretty much everything in the bay area plus a radius outside it, whose length depends on your time and desire to drive.

Man-made: museums, theaters, landmarks (eg golden gate bridge), especially in SF but elsewhere as well.

Natural: pacific coastline (route 1) from hours north of SF down to hours south of Monterey, an all-day adventure at minimum. Santa cruz mountains and the diablo range on either side of the valley; mt Tam north of SF, Diablo north of SJ. Hike among redwoods, both coastal and the fat ones you think of, anywhere the mountains are green (as opposed to gold.) Further ranges extend to Yosemite and the rest of the Sierras. Ski/snowboard, surf, hike, scuba, whatever you want.

[andy85]

I live in Louisville, KY, and the most awesome places around here to visit/see are:

1) Thunder Over Louisville - Largest fireworks show in the country (maybe the world??). Kicks off Derby week. All day military air show. Fireworks from 9:30-10:00. awesome experience. If you would like to see the finest people Kentucky has to offer then you shouldnt miss this shit show. April 18th this year.
2) Churchill Downs - Derby/Oaks
3) It is bourbon country...countless distillery tours to go on
4) Lake Cumberland - houseboat capital of the world, largest man-made lake east of the mississippi (2-4 hours from louisville)
5) Forecastle - for you music lovers. 3 day music festival in the summer on the banks of the ohio river http://forecastlefest.com/ (2015 lineup not yet released)
6) College basketball - be careful UL or UK?

I really enjoy my city. Doubt I'll leave. Nice mix of city and country life.

[rocksinmyhead]

Actually this is one of my all-time favorite Tulsa attractions, and I'm not even being sarcastic: http://bluewhaleroute66.com/

We just came through Tulsa on our trip from IL to TX to CA, and I guess the lack of attractions explains the rock bottom hotel prices :)

But next time I make the trip during the warm months, I will definitely be stopping at the blue whale!  I love love route 66 roadside attractions, and anything slightly cheesy (world's largest ball of yarn type stuff).  Thanks!

Haha, you're welcome and I'm glad someone else likes that stuff! Not sure what part of IL you live in or visit, but I also HIGHLY recommend the Kaskaskia Dragon if you haven't seen it: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/18817

[sf56]

I live in The Sierra Foothills, and the most awesome places around here to visit/see are The Sierra Foothills. Haha! We live in Grass Valley, CA. The best nearish thing around here is Lake Tahoe. There are many other Sierra lakes even closer, manmade and natural, but none of them can compete with Tahoe in beauty. There are a lot of great hiking trails around too, snowsports in the winter, as well as the Yuba and American rivers. Lots of goldrush history if you are into that kind of thing. You have to drive a lot further before you start finding any large concentration of art, music, museums, etc. Sacramento is the closest and San Francisco about two hours away. I prefer sticking close to home though.

[midweststache]

I live in Chicago, and the most awesome places around here to see and visit are all the museums (specifically the MSI and Art Institute), Lake Shore Park (and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Center) and Jackson Park (and the Japanese Garden), and all the very cheap, good ethnic food you can find NOT in the tourist center of the city (in the not-ethnicity-specific area in which I live [i.e. not Chinatown], there is cheap and awesome Mexican, Korean, Japanese comfort food, Indian, and miscellaneous north African cuisines).