California is such a big state with a wide variety of places and types of terrain...why is it your worst state?
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Your Best And Worse U.S. States
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California is such a big state with a wide variety of places and types of terrain...why is it your worst state?
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gordonthemoron
Established Member
I've never seen Deliverance, if that's what you're referring to
For me the difference would be the landscape, amount of traffic and if you can get there. If you use trains or busses than often there is only 1 train a day (or 3 a week) or 1 to 3 busses a day. In the winter even less busses. The Rocky Mountains looks me slow; west of the Missisippi fast. The horseshoecurve at Altoona, PA looks like a must.
Macwomble
Member
Best parts of USA....none!
Worst parts...all of it.
Can't stand the place.
Worst parts...all of it.
Can't stand the place.
nlogax
Established Member
When people say that I'm always keen to hear why. What was your experience while you visited?
J-2739
Established Member
Yeah, same. The US is a diverse country, so it does seem to me a bit odd to hate it all.
cactustwirly
Established Member
Good bits of the USA: The Scenery
The Bad bits: The people, the food, the 'culture' (aka guns, bible bashing, driving the most ridiculous cars etc)
Quite clear you haven't spent much time over there...
cactustwirly
Established Member
Oh I have, spent a month in total visiting various places, but I still come to the same conclusion - a nice place to go on holiday, but a **** place to live.
You are mixing up the US with York.
Abour 20 years ago, I worked for a month in Athens, Georgia so I can understand why some consider it a "bad" state. It's certainly the worst state I have visited because of the openly racist attitude and the bible-fanatics I had to work with.
On a personal note, my "best" state would be Colorado because of the scenery, the history, the narrow gauge (I confess, I am a D&RGW fan) and - yes - the people I met. I've been there three times now, and I want to return one day.
However, most states are too large to evaluate as a whole. Pennsylavania is a good example: while the east is wonderfull (Amish-county !), the poverty stricken former coalfields around Pittsburgh are among the worst you can find in the US. I do understand why people here are desperate enough to vote Trump...
As for cities: in my opinion the best was San Francisco, the worst Chicago.
On a personal note, my "best" state would be Colorado because of the scenery, the history, the narrow gauge (I confess, I am a D&RGW fan) and - yes - the people I met. I've been there three times now, and I want to return one day.
However, most states are too large to evaluate as a whole. Pennsylavania is a good example: while the east is wonderfull (Amish-county !), the poverty stricken former coalfields around Pittsburgh are among the worst you can find in the US. I do understand why people here are desperate enough to vote Trump...
As for cities: in my opinion the best was San Francisco, the worst Chicago.
What is wrong with York?
Great place to visit. Not so great to live (in my experience).
I may be in a small minority with this opinion!
Bantamzen
Established Member
Re the food, if you get past the fast food franchises, the sometimes ridiculous portions, & the cheese on absolutely everything (and don't get me started on cheese in a can) you can find some delights out there. I particularly like the food trucks in Venice, LA (every Thursday I seem to recall). It sounds fast foody, and it is really, but its really specialised, often fabulous Latino food that just goes so well with a cold beer as the sun sets over the Pacific.
As for the people, that depends where you are. Around Santa Monica, Venice etc they are so laid back and friendly, and always want to find out about you, and double that laid back attitude in Hawai'i. In New York they can appear grumpy and agitated, but that's just the morning coffee. Talk to them after work at a bar on 7th and they are fascinating people indeed, and can be very generous. I've yet to visit the middle bit save a brief flight transfer at Dallas Fort Worth, so can't comment on those guys.
Well according to a bloke I overheard recently as I got off a TPE, its a "****hole and why would anyone ever go there?". Saying that, he was boarding it towards Middlesbrough so he might not have been the best to judge....
I don't get the people bit , like anywhere you can get nice and not so nice . 100% nicer than the residents of my own fair country tho.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
Sorry, must have missed this in the ether of notifications...
If I'm honest, my experience of it has been predominantly urban areas; LA, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco.
I like all of those places in their own way, but there are too many hipster bellends about and too much gaping inequality. Inequality is prevalent and obvious across America but it seemed so obscene to be walking down San Francisco's Market Street past millionaires' boutiques and seeing a homeless guy who I thought was actually dead. (He was on the foor, curled up, against a lamp post, with literally no posessions or bedding - shocking).
It's my least favourite state but I really do think the USA is a fantastic, compelling place to visit, wherever you go.
My personal preference is the Midwest and flyover country. Small town America is incredibly evocative.
433N
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I think I've been to about half of the States (and lived there for 2 years).
Probably the 'worst' as a visitor is Nebraska - any delights that it may have could probably be sampled in Eastern Colorado ... Similarly, Oklahoma might well be jockying for top slot but I've not been there.
My favourites are Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming.
Can't agree with someone's pick of Nevada as worst. It has Death Valley which may well be my favourite place on earth.
Much prefer the Western states to the Eastern states which I find to be too European-influenced. West is best.
Probably the 'worst' as a visitor is Nebraska - any delights that it may have could probably be sampled in Eastern Colorado ... Similarly, Oklahoma might well be jockying for top slot but I've not been there.
My favourites are Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming.
Can't agree with someone's pick of Nevada as worst. It has Death Valley which may well be my favourite place on earth.
Much prefer the Western states to the Eastern states which I find to be too European-influenced. West is best.
nlogax
Established Member
Death Valley is absurdly wonderful and I keep returning there. It's also nearly entirely within California
Though staying in Pahrump or Vegas is a decent base from which to explore it.That was the intended allusion. No personal "digs" meant -- just an attempt at humour (people keep advising me not to give up my day job...)
If you fancy some good train watching, Fullerton is quite close to Disneyland (about 5 miles north), with plenty of BNSF, Metrolink and Amtrak action. A cafe on the platform (plus other eating and drinking very nearby), palm trees and SoCal sunshine, what's not to like? (and you can get there by train from downtown LA on Metrolink and Amtrak).
A Friday evening there (many of the people sitting at the cafe tables are local railfans - it's a very popular place on Friday and Sat evenings):
P1260003 by ac6044cw, on Flickr
Fullerton - BNSF east 1 by ac6044cw, on Flickr
As swills says, if you have the time and a car, make a pilgrimage to Tehachapi Pass (my favourite) and/or Cajon Pass for the freight trains. But beware these are very hot, dry places in the summer, so take plenty to drink with you (and try and stay in the shade).
Have fun!
This may seem like a mutual admiration society ! but I agree 100% with Fullerton Station, its just a 'nice' place to be ! Commerce Station (outside LA) is also quite a good place, opp the BNSF loco depot too, then over to the Citadel Outlets for a spot of shopping and a burger at RUBY's DINER
Trains aside if you can afford it UNIVERSAL VIP tour or the WARNER BROS VIP tour
neither are cheap, but unforgettable, and a cracking lunch at Universal !!
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