66 Photos That Sum Up What It's Like To Live In America, From Alabama To Wyoming
If you don't believe me, just check out these photos from all fifty states.
1....Yeah, this pretty much sums up Florida.
2.It tells you all you need to know about West Virginia that this sign is necessary.
3.Alexa, play "Welcome to New York."
4.But people forget New York is a huge state, with plenty of wildly rural areas (many of which are Trump country). Here's upstate. Last time I drove up there, I saw Confederate flags. In New York.
5.A lot of Pennsylvania is rural, as well. And they've got a huge Amish population.
6.But let's not forget what Philly is like. Here they are after their Superbowl win.
7.This is where Iowa's at right now.
Related:
8.Apologies to Nebraska, but it really is a LOT of roads and sky.
9.North Dakota is also that way — except sometimes it looks like this.
10.I'm not gonna say this photo encapsulates Alabama...but I'm not surprised that's where it's from.
11.This is also in Alabama, and I'm not surprised.
12.Only in the Midwest would you see something like this. This photo's from good ol' Oklahoma.
13.Speaking of Oklahoma...
14.If we're talking about extreme weather, we can't not mention the snow in Wyoming.
15.And Maine.
16.Though nothing measures up to Hawaii's natural disasters.
17.As someone with family in Portland, I agree.
18.Personally, I think Colorado is the most beautiful state.
19.I haven't been to Idaho, and TBH, this is more or less what I picture when I think of it.
20.This might be even more accurate.
21.Ohio hasn't got much around, either.
Related:
22.Meanwhile, in Louisiana...
23.I almost forgot about Arkansas for this post, and I kind of wish I did. I think I know what they mean by "no bad neighborhoods."
24.But hey — they've got at least one priority right here.
25.This photo from Alaska does not surprise me at all.
26.This checks out, too.
27.New Hampshire is BIG on their personal freedoms. Their license plates literally say "Live Free or Die."
28.Arizona gets some of the highest temperatures in the country.
29.And has some incredible wildlife.
30.I'm from south of Boston, and can confirm the storms and the use of the word "Wicked" are not exaggerations.
31.Minnesota gives Canada a run for their money in being polite.
32.They also take their hockey very, VERY seriously.
33.Mormons, sister wives, mountains, and a Cybertruck...that's Utah for you.
Related:
34.Sums up Vermont!
35.If this doesn't give you an idea of what South Dakota's like, I don't know what will.
36.Welcome to Tennessee, y'all.
37.And North Carolina.
38.Aaaand some more North Carolina.
39.In case you were wondering what it's like to live in rural Texas...
40.Texas is...something, that's for sure.
41.One thing about Wisconsin? They really, REALLY love their cheese.
42.Welcome to Montana.
43.Never change, Missouri. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic.)
44.This photo basically sums up Las Vegas.
45.Though the rest of Nevada looks like this.
46.There are plenty of beautiful photos I could use to showcase California (I lived there for seven years!), but honestly, this photo is so representative of a huge, heartbreaking reality in CA that I had to include it.
47.In case you were wondering, not much happens in Connecticut.
48.Georgia's billboards are really something.
49.At least it's beautiful!
50.Only in Virginia.
Related:
51.Look, South Carolina is gorgeous, but there's also a lot of...this.
52.This photo encapsulates Washington pretty darn well.
53.Here's New Mexico for you.
54.Mississippi's priorities are clear.
55.Wawa, patriotism, and zanyiness — that's all you need to know about Delaware.
56.TIL Rhode Island has famously bad roads...and not much else.
57.Most people think of Chicago when they think of Illinois, but the rest of it is pretty damn rural.
58.It also gets very, VERY cold.
59.Michigan also gets very, very cold and snowy.
60.And, like Rhode Island, it has terrible roads and infrastructure.
u/Mr_Roadside616 / Via reddit.com, u/Demonic7340 / Via reddit.com
61.This photo didn't exactly make me stoked to visit Indiana.
62.Fall in Maryland is WAY prettier than I realized.
63.Ah, rural Kentucky. Never change.
64.No, those aren't mountains. They're clouds before a Kansas storm.
65.Because it really doesn't get much flatter than Kansas.
66.And finally, at least New Jersey owns its vibe.
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Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
- Travel + Leisure
Yes, Cruise Ships Can Leave Without You—Here's When and Why That Happens
Much like airplanes are allowed to depart without everyone on board, cruise ships are allowed to leave passengers behind if they're not at the port in time. Many crew members and avid cruisers can tell you about seeing 'pier runners' sprinting down the dock only to watch in horror as their ship pulls up its gangway and sails off into the sunset without them. Legally, they don't have to wait for you. Still, ships leaving passengers behind is not a frequent occurrence. I've cruised everywhere from Antarctica to the Arctic, where I was on the first 32-day crossing of the Northwest Passage, and I've yet to hear of someone on any of my voyages getting left behind. Very few, if any, pier runners are passengers who booked excursions through the cruise line. This is because the cruise line is liable for having all passengers who book their excursions and tours back to port on time for departure. In fact, a crew member from the ship often accompanies passengers on these ship-sponsored excursions and is in regular communication with the ship. If an excursion or tour is running late, they'll communicate with the ship, and the captain will wait for them. However, this rarely occurs. Most cruise lines have their excursions and tours planned to the minute and include a generous buffer to account for any unexpected delays. For example, if the ship is scheduled to depart the port at 7 p.m., the last excursion may be scheduled to return by 5 p.m. If you book a third-party excursion, the level of risk depends somewhat on the operator. 'We've operated over five million excursions with a 99.9 percent success rate of getting guests back on time,' Paul Kiritsy, CEO of Shore Excursions Group, tells Travel + Leisure. The company, which operates shore excursions in more than 300 ports, uses a proprietary itinerary search engine that ensures travelers only see tours that are compatible with their ship's schedule. It also has a worry-free guarantee that reads, 'In the extremely unlikely event that you miss your ship due to the late arrival of one of our tours, we will arrange and pay for your accommodations, meals, and transportation to the next port of call, and we will pay you an additional $1,000 per customer for the inconvenience.' ToursByLocals, which also offers third-party shore excursions, has a similar 'No One Left Behind' policy. According to their latest reported data, they've only had to implement it once out of the 150,000 tours they've sold. Most pier runners are travelers who opt to sightsee on their own. In 2024, eight passengers on a Norwegian Cruise Lines voyage off the coast of western Africa found themselves stranded on the tiny island of São Tomé and Príncipe when they didn't return to the ship on time after venturing out on their own. A spokesperson for the cruise line issued a statement that read: 'When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol. Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed for the guests to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call. Given that these guests were on a private tour and did not return to the ship at the communicated all aboard time, they are responsible for any necessary travel arrangements to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call, per our protocol.' A cruise ship leaving a port in Miami, Florida. BuenaLike airplanes, cruise ships run on a tight schedule. They have to pre-pay a lot of money to dock in ports for a specified time period, and when they leave, another cruise ship may take their place. Plus, they often have to hire local pilot boats and tenders to take the ship and passengers in and out of port. If a cruise ship were to wait for a few passengers who were running behind, it would create a domino effect that would potentially impact thousands of people and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Different cruise lines have different policies pertaining to when you need to be back on board. If they are relying on tender boats to ferry passengers from shore to ship, cruise lines may require passengers to be back on board at least an hour before the ship's scheduled departure. If the ship is dockside, and passengers can simply walk on, the window of time may be shortened to 30 minutes. Fortunately, cruise lines never leave you guessing. They include the day's designated cutoff time—it changes depending on the port—in the daily bulletin, which is usually delivered to your stateroom the night before. They also announce it over the intercom and typically have signage posted as you leave the vessel that reminds you what time you need to be back on board. No matter the reason, if your ship leaves without you, all is usually not lost. First, find the local port agent on the ground and explain your situation. They can contact the ship for you and will try to reunite you with your passport. Ideally, you would have a copy of your ID on your person. While the ship won't return for you, they will appreciate knowing you are accounted for and may even help you make arrangements to meet them in the next port of call. However, unless you were part of a ship-sponsored excursion, the cruise line will not pay for your travel or expenses associated with being left behind. If you have travel insurance, contact the company to see if your policy will cover those costs. If yes, make sure you keep receipts so you can submit them for reimbursement. If you want to rejoin the ship, try to get to the next port of call as quickly as possible. To lower your risk of having to do the sprint of shame, stick with excursions sold by the cruise line, or book with a third-party tour operator that has a guarantee that you'll be back on time. If you opt to sightsee solo, make sure your phone or watch is set to the local time, so you don't find yourself an hour ahead or behind. Finally, sign up for notifications from the cruise line. If you can, have a data plan so you're able to receive SMS messages on your phone. In late July, some passengers sailing with Norwegian Cruise Lines were left behind in Hilo when their ship, the Pride of America , had to leave port two hours early because of a tsunami warning issued after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit Russia. A spokesperson for the cruise line says passengers were notified of the ship's early departure via SMS.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Leaving Las Vegas! Fewer Californians are visiting Sin City. Here's what the number say
If you spend any time on social media, it's hard to avoid the scorching hot takes about Las Vegas' recent financial struggles. Vegas critics say the exorbitant resort fees are brutal, the ever-increasing parking costs are punishing, the comps are few and far between — and did you notice the buffets are vanishing? In short, Vegas is on a losing streak. After fighting to bounce back from COVID-19 closures, Sin City is facing financial headwinds as fewer people, particularly Californians, are visiting, playing and ultimately spending money. My colleague Terry Castleman dived into some theories, but also, as Terry does well, dug into the numbers to tell the tale of Vegas' sudden crap out. Visits to Las Vegas were down 11.3% in June 2025 versus a year earlier, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Traffic on Interstate 15 at the California-Nevada border was down 4.3% over the same period, suggesting fewer visitors doing road trips from the Golden State to Vegas casinos. The number of air travelers into Las Vegas overall declined 6.3% over the previous June. In 2024, Californians made up more than a fifth of air travelers into Vegas, with nearly half of those coming from the Los Angeles metro area. A demographic report from the visitors authority estimated that Southern California provided 30% of all visitors to the city in 2024. Add it all up, and Californians could be responsible for a significant portion of the decline in Vegas tourism. Tourism within the U.S. is only part of the picture, though, as experts previously predicted we are also seeing a slump in international tourism to the U.S. The convention and visitors authority estimates that 12% of the city's visitors are international. A report from the World Travel and Tourism Council projected that the U.S. would lose $12.5 billion in international travel spending in 2025. 'While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the 'closed' sign,' Julia Simpson, the council's president, said in a statement. The report cited air-travel booking data from March that showed a 15% to 20% drop in expected travel from major tourism sources, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada. Visitors from Canada and Mexico made up more than half of international visitors to Las Vegas in 2024, according to data from the visitors authority. But President Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state and his decision to hit Canada with tariffs have not endeared him to Canadian travelers. Meanwhile, media overseas have been bombarded with stories of capricious denials and detentions of travelers at U.S. border crossings. Apparently, Mexican and Canadian tourists are not feeling so welcome in the U.S. these days. 'Las Vegas thrives on tourism,' Rep. Steven Horsford wrote last week on X, 'but under the Trump slump, the numbers are tanking.' Horsford, a Democrat, represents Nevada's 4th Congressional District, which includes a portion of Las Vegas. By many metrics — including visitor totals, convention attendance and room occupancy rates — Las Vegas has not fully recovered from the onset of the pandemic. In dollar terms, however, Sin City continues to profit even as visitor numbers drop: Clark County, which includes Vegas, collected $1.16 billion in gambling revenue in June 2025, up 3.5% from a year earlier. So, Vegas' luck has not run out yet. For more, check out the full article here. Jim Rainey, staff writerDiamy Wang, homepage internIzzy Nunes, audience internKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew J. Campa, reporterKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
CNET
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Google Maps is a go-to tool for smooth, stress-free travel, whether you're planning a cross-country road trip or navigating your own city. Beyond getting you from point A to point B, it can help you avoid traffic jams and toll roads, or even discover top-rated restaurants and hidden gems. Want to improve your travel game? We've gathered some smart tips and hidden features in Google Maps that can make your journey easier and a lot more fun. For more travel advice, see the best time to shop for airline tickets and how to find cheap flights. How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:10 / Duration 9:29 Loaded : 9.41% 0:10 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 9:19 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro Google Maps tricks you'll want to use ASAP Google Maps is packed with features that aren't always obvious, but CNET has uncovered some of the best ones. These are tips you'll want to keep in your back pocket. Google Maps tips for food lovers If you're someone who loves checking out new restaurants or planning nights out, these tips are for you. Even seasoned diners might discover something new. I received these incident reports on Google Maps within a minute of each other. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Google Maps tips for frequent travelers If you're constantly on the go, knowing how to use Google Maps to your advantage can make your travel days smoother. These features are especially handy while on the move. For more, see our traveler's prep checklist and how to improve your odds of not having your flight canceled or delayed.
