A Case for Flyover States

If you’ve been following along with each new season of “Places to Love,” you’ll notice a trend… I’ve been loving exploring what some may call America’s flyover country. You know the stereotype – wide, open fields with nothing to see or do. Best seen flying over on your way to somewhere more interesting, usually along the East or West Coast. In movies, TV shows, and books, characters are always trying to escape these states.

However, if traveling for nearly three decades has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes the most incredible places are in the most unexpected destinations. When I asked about them on Instagram and Facebook, quite a few comments pointed out that even the terms “flyover states” or “flyover country” can be seen as a derogatory term by coastal elites. 

And I’d have to agree! It’s crazy to me that so many travelers, not just those from the coasts but those coming from abroad, look at this massive expanse of land and never even give it a chance. I mean, “America the Beautiful” wasn’t written from the coast after all. 

For those of you who find yourself guilty of skipping these “flyover states” when considering your next travel adventure, this is my challenge to you – pick any of the states you’d normally snub and just take a look at what there is to do and see. 

I’ll get us started with just some natural wonders you can only see in “flyover country.” I chose some lesser known ones, but feel free to add your recommendations in the comments. 

Lesser Known Natural Wonders You Can Only See in “Flyover Country”

Pikes Peak in Colorado

It’s only right to start with Pikes Peak in Colorado since I brought it up earlier! In a state full of natural beauty, this mountain stands alone in the fact that it’s one of the inspirations for the aforementioned “America the Beautiful.” The whole thing climbs 14,115 feet high and sits right outside of Colorado Springs, CO. While you can hike or drive up to the peak, one of the coolest ways to get there is via the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, one of the last two in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s honestly difficult to put into words how epic the view is from the summit, but once you’re up there, you really can see why it inspired a song that’s still celebrated today.

Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio

Despite seeing millions of visitors a year, Cuyahoga National Park still has to be one of the most underrated national parks in the U.S. It’s so underrated that sometimes I’ll talk to someone from Ohio, they’ll tell me they’ve never been. Close to both Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga spans nearly 33,000 acres and feels like a whole other world. Another bonus to this park? Its trails and views are very accessible. No need for specialized hiking gear, permits, or even particular training to enjoy. Check out the beautiful Brandywine Falls and then meander along the 2-mile long Ledges Trail. Finish with sunset at Ledges Overlook. You can even hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for three hours of views.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan

Did you know that Michigan actually has the country’s longest freshwater coastline? One of the coolest places to enjoy this coastline is at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It stretches about 35 miles along the northwestern coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and has recently become famous for its climb by Lake Michigan Overlook #9. When you climb up, every step is the equivalent of moving 3 inches at a time! And if you can’t make it? It’ll cost you $3,000. However, there’s a lot more to Sleeping Bear than just that climb, and you can easily spend a few days exploring all 71,199 acres of it whether it’s by car on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive or by bike along the 22-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

See more in our “Traverse City, MI” episode

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky

Did you know the world’s longest cave system is right here in the United States? Yup! Mammoth Cave in Kentucky has over 100 miles on the next longest cave Sistema Ox Bel Ha in Mexico. It’s so long, the national park only covers parts of it. The NPS makes sure to maintain the caves’ integrity by keeping visitors to a minimum. You absolutely must book one of their tours to visit. Know that they sell out quickly even in the off season. Once you go, prepare to feel like you’re on a journey to the center of the earth.

Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma

If you ever want to feel as though you’ve traveled back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, just plan a visit to Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. This state may not be known for its mountainous landscapes, but there is nothing flat about this park. Spanning over 60,000 acres, all you have to do is hike one of its trails and any stereotypical image you’ve ever had of Oklahoma will be demolished. Head to the park’s visitor center for a map and some tips. Then be prepared to get off the grid (no cell service!) for a few days. Come in late spring/early summer and you’ll also find fields of yellow wildflowers.

The Ozarks in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma

If you ever find yourself driving through the Ozarks, be prepared to have your jaw dropped the entire time – especially if you’re lucky enough to come in autumn. This region has long been a favorite getaway for wealthy midwesterners, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Full of forested mountains, the bluest lakes, and the cutest small towns, this is the kind of trip where you’ll spend all day outdoors and come back to a charming hotel surrounded by delicious restaurants and local small businesses. Scattered around the region are places like Eureka Springs, Bentonville, Branson, Springfield, and so much more. 

Badlands National Park in South Dakota

There’s something powerfully beautiful about Badlands National Park. Located in southwest South Dakota, it’s full of some of the world’s richest fossil beds. The various formations you see look like something out of a sci-fi movie but are really from millions of years of deposition and hundreds of thousands of years of erosion. There are plenty of hikes you can do to fully take in the beauty, but you can also easily access the best parts via car. One of my favorite memories is standing next to a man from Italy at the Pinnacles Overlook. He was so overwhelmed by the view, he was close to tears and said to me, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. Your country is so beautiful.” It almost made me cry! 

See more in our “Black Hills of South Dakota” episode

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota

South Dakota isn’t the only Dakota with epic badlands; you can also see them at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. The park spans 70,000 acres and is, of course, named after one of the National Parks System’s most famous fans. The land goes back millions of years and is known not just for its badlands landscape but also fields of prairie grass and rocky buttes and painted canyons as well. Be sure to stay the night – the stargazing here is incredible!  

Chimney Rock in Nebraska

Just imagine you’ve been transported back in time and are one of the many people who left the east coast and headed west in hopes of a better future. The journey is slow, arduous, and often monotonous. Then… in the distance you see a giant, rocky landmark – the first example of the west’s rugged landscape you’ve heard all about. For so many travelers, whether on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, Pony Express Trail, or the California Trail, Chimney Rock became a monument of hope during a dangerous journey. Even today, it’s still a marvel to behold, though luckily most of us are visiting via cars, not wagons and horses. By Chimney Rock, you can check out a visitor center and museum to learn about all the different groups of people who used it as a marker on their journeys while also walking a bit closer to take in just how grand it really is.

Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska

Any visit to Chimney Rock should also include a trip to Scotts Bluff National Monument just thirty minutes away. The name itself is a bit misleading since it’s actually two bluffs that face each other – Scotts Bluff and South Bluff. If you’re lucky, you can catch the sun setting right in between them. Like Chimney Rock, these bluffs were also important landmarks to all sorts of travelers headed west. Drive up Summit Road to take in the views or stretch your legs and check out one of the many hiking trails. 

New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

Most West Virginians have long known what most of us only figured out in 2021 when it became the newest national park – New River Gorge is one of the best places to really understand the beauty of Appalachia. Its namesake is one of the oldest rivers in the world and the land that surrounds it is full of diverse flora, fauna, and the kind of natural history that goes back millions of years. Stay in the charming town of Fayetteville and plan to take advantage of the river’s power with a whitewater-rafting trip! Then take in the park’s views on land with one of the many hiking trails that wind through the gorge. Look out for the iconic New River Bridge.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois

Route 66 is known for its Americana spirit and quirky stops, but one of its coolest attractions has to be Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois. One of only 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States, it was once a pre-Columbian Native American settlement and is the largest of its kind north of Mexico. Once upon a time it was one of the most important cities to Mississippian culture and would’ve housed anywhere from 10-20,000 people. Today you can explore the 80 man made mounds that still exist.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin

There’s a lot to love about Wisconsin, but I have a feeling many people don’t realize it’s home to the gorgeous Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Made up of 21 islands and 12 miles of rocky shoreline, even the least adventurous of your group will be signing up for activities like kayaking or scuba diving. On the water, you can really appreciate the various sandstone sea caves that make up the islands’ coastlines. Back on land, hike around old-growth forests and see if you can find all the historic lighthouses along the coast. 

Judge C.R. Magney State Park in Minnesota

Another Lake Superior gem? Judge C.R. Magney State Park in Minnesota. Situated right along the North Shore, what makes this park so unique is what’s known as Devil’s Kettle Falls. Follow a 2-mile out and back trail to reach a peculiar waterfall where part of the flow seems to disappear into a hole never to be seen again. For decades, people tested this whole with all sorts of objects like sticks or even GPS trackers only to never see them emerge, thus giving us a geological mystery. These days, science has figured out the answer as to where the water goes, but I think it’s much more fun to imagine the more fantastical alternatives.

Monument Rocks in Kansas

When most of us think of Kansas, we think of flat landscapes as far as the eye can see. (Well, and of a certain girl with glittery red shoes, but that’s for another blog post.) It’s hard to believe something like Monument Rocks exists in western Kansas but they do! These giant chalk formations full of fossils can reach 50 feet and were formed around the Cretaceous Period. These days they’re known as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas and for good reason – just imagine driving along and seeing them from afar. 

White Sands National Park in New Mexico

Right in south central New Mexico sits one of the whitest sand destinations in the world! Known as White Sands National Park, all 275 square miles of this place are covered in dunes made of what’s known as gypsum crystals. It’s the largest of its kind in the world, and, yes, the sand really does look like snow in some pictures. Drive, bike, and hike around the dunes, but don’t forget to bring a sled to go sledding down them too! If you don’t have your own, you can rent one from the gift shop. For a really surreal experience, join one of the full moon hikes offered once a month.

Phew! What a list to get you started. Let me know if I should add any!