🇺🇸 8 States - ☀️ 8 Days & Nights 🌔 - I can’t w8!!!!!!!!

More than the country of car-packed streets seen in TV shows and movies, the United States of America is a complex and diverse home to over 300 million people living in a wide range of landscapes and climates. From its big-city skyscrapers to its sprawling natural parks, the country's ''melting pot'' combines many ethnic groups that share a strong sense of national identity despite their cultural differences. A country of road trips and big blue skies, the United States harbors orderly cities filled with restaurants, parks, museums, and innumerable sightseeing opportunities, as well as pristine natural areas perfect for a holiday in the great outdoors. To see as much as you can of this diverse land quickly, drive over some of the more than 6 million km (4 million mi) of highways leading through deserts, mountain peaks, fertile fields, and giant urban centers.

Known for its autumn foliage and maple syrup, Vermont is one of the country's smallest states in terms of both population and geographic area. Despite its small size and mostly rural character, the state boasts many picturesque places to visit, including Lake Champlain, one of the nation's largest freshwater bodies. Split in half by the Green Mountains--a popular holiday destination for hiking and skiing--Vermont features a rolling landscape dotted with farms and quaint towns known for their family-run inns, antique shops, and restaurants. Be sure to explore the state's many wild areas while on vacation, but beware of the so-called "mud season," a period of a few weeks when the state's unpaved roads become undrivable due to spring thaw.

The easternmost state in New England, Maine features an indented coastline and forested interior, carved eons ago by receding glaciers. Maine includes more lighthouses and quaint resort villages than you could ever hope to explore in a single trip, but the state is also one of the country's most sparsely populated, the majority of its land pristine and uninhabited wilderness. The temperate coastal regions, historically supported by fishing and lobstering, contain most of the state's urban centers and are the most popular spots in the state for holidays. The sea is the focus here, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that water plays an important role in the distinct character of the state, shaping its economy, tourism, cuisine, politics, sports, and art.

One of the country's smallest and least populous states, New Hampshire's wealth of recreational offerings make it a popular vacation destination. Its many pristine natural areas attract skiers, snowmobilers, hikers, and mountaineers from around the world. Named after a county in England, New Hampshire was the first of the North American colonies to establish a government independent of Great Britain's authority. Though New Hampshire's official nickname refers to its extensive granite formations and quarries, the state's license plates carry the motto "Live Free or Die," reflecting the sense of independence prized by the famously terse natives. Find out why America's artists continue to find inspiration in New Hampshire by taking a trip to its quaint villages and sightseeing in the area's old colonial towns.

Despite being the country's smallest state, Rhode Island includes over 640 km (400 mi) of coastline, courtesy of Narragansett Bay and more than 30 islands. Most of the state is part of the U.S. mainland, despite its somewhat misleading name. Though it takes only about 40 minutes to drive across this tiny state, Rhode Island includes more white sandy beaches than most visitors can hope to explore on a single trip. The state's one big city and surrounding small towns brim with places to visit, such as museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, and historical neighborhoods packed with colonial-era buildings. Although the state may seem small, your holiday itinerary is sure to be chock-full.

Perhaps best known for its renowned private and public universities, Connecticut was once home to the country's first law school and still boasts one of the oldest secondary schools in America. More than just a small state packed with students, Connecticut offers visitors a chance to explore some of New England's finest tourist attractions while on vacation, including lighthouses, beaches, theaters, museums, galleries, and restaurants. Despite its small size, the state also boasts two large casino complexes, both located on Native American reservations. Rich in history and natural beauty, Connecticut draws newcomers from around the world, with large Polish, Chinese, and Hispanic communities.

Nicknamed the "First State" for its role in ratifying the U.S. Constitution, Delaware is only 160 km (100 mi) long and about 80 km (49 mi) wide at its widest point. Despite its small size, the state is a patchwork of complex and diverse communities, with an industrialized north and rural south. More than just a tax-free shopping haven, the state features great sightseeing in its picturesque countryside interspersed with sleepy colonial villages and long sandy beaches. It also offers several organized trail systems that focus on things to do in the outdoors, including history, geocaching, culinary activities, and wine and spirits. Largely because of its size, Delaware remains one of the country's least-explored states.