9. California

Depending on who you ask, California is either the absolute best place on earth or worse than the depths of hell. Well, I have news for all those people. You’re both wrong!

California is a place of extremes, with some of the best aspects of America and some that are not so great. But you need to put some respect on it. I’m sorry Fox News, but California is amazing! California is a big state. And not only that, but it also has some of the most varied landscapes not just in the country, but the world. The fact that you can drive from the tallest point in the lower 48 to the lowest point not under water in the world in just a little over two hours is absolutely bonkers. But in having some of the coolest places on earth, it also has some pretty awful cesspools. Since I feel like I tend to end on a negative note, I’ll hold the positives for the end.

The worst part of California is by far the Central Valley. I suppose it’s kinda cool that we have such a large warm area in our country perfectly made to support the farming our country needs, but that’s also the main problem with it. Due to decades of unrestricted water usage, the landscape has lost much of the beauty it once had to the point where much of the land has been sinking. It’s hard to deny the role it has had in much of the American West’s drought. And the cities there I would probably go out of my way to avoid them. Stockton and Bakersfield are both some of the ugliest cities I’ve seen, and as soon as you go out of the cities towards the farms, it has this absolutely disgusting stank.

California also has quite definitively the worst suburban sprawl in the country outside of maybe Dallas. LA just keeps going and going and going making the absolute worst traffic in the country. And it’s not like you have too much to appreciate while you sit in it because most of the time the city is covered in haze. At least it’s not a long drive to prettier places, but oh wait, it is because despite mountains and beaches being right there, you’ll have to sit in years of bumper to bumper traffic. Orange County is just… maybe I should hold my tongue.

I also think that while the Bay Area is very pretty, a lot of these techy towns have become so upper class that it kinda ruins the culture. It doesn’t help that the tech billionaires who are often from here are ruining the country right now, so there’s that. And so many rich people living there and the massive population boom of the later half of the 20th century has led the state to a massive cost of living crisis and possibly the worst homelessness in America. These rich politicians need to get off their butts and actually do something for their populations.

And I almost forgot the California drivers. Watch out for those yahoos. Do not trust anyone.

Okay so California has problems, but if you set those aside, California might just be the best state in the country. I’ll start the list. Some of the best beaches and the drive along the coast. Outside of the Central Valley, everywhere you go is mountainous. Some of the best national parks in the country. The most extreme desert in the world. San Diego. San Francisco. I could keep going on and on, but I’ll highlight my favorites.

San Francisco is probably an easy top 10 coolest city in the country. The way it is sculpted into the cliffs and extreme hills of the Bay make it maybe the prettiest city in the US. It was the first city to get big on the West Coast, so it also has so much history. And I must mention how the city has long been the best city in the world for gay culture and pioneered our country’s eventual acceptance of it. All those people who think that homelessness makes it not worth multiple visits are ridiculous. Get over yourself, and see the city for how cool it really is.

***Possibly the deepest dab in history***

California also has a crazy amount of some of the best national parks and forests. Redwoods, Shasta, Tahoe, Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree. Just wild that all these places exist and they are all in the same state. The biggest trees, the most sparkling water, incredible landscapes. Yosemite may be a bit too busy, but that is for good reason. If you time your visit to not be in the peak season, or go off the beaten path to do some of the longer trails, you may just find your favorite place in the world. And Death Valley! I think it is incredible just for how extreme it is. Hottest place on earth. Almost the driest place on earth. The lowest place on earth. I was so happy to finally visit.

Next time I take a visit to California, I really want to take the drive down Highway 1 on the coast. Hopefully the landslides won’t affect my experience too much, but I have heard so many people say it is the best drive they’ve ever been on. I’ll be there soon.

So there you have it! When it comes to California, the good far outweighs the bad. And really no matter where you are, the good should outweigh the bad since that’s where you should spend your time anyway. But that does mean that California is somewhat out of contention for the absolute best state. So come on everyone, and be real! California is spectacular, but maybe your musicians should sing about the other states coming up too.

8. Tennessee

*10. Washington D.C.

The Autumnal