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A calm river with a fountain, bordered by grassy banks, red-brick buildings, and a church with a white steeple under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds—quintessential scenery in New Hampshire, often regarded as the best state for tranquil beauty.

New Hampshire: The Best State?

I started writing this from the couch of a rented lake house in central New Hampshire, looking out at the water on a perfect July afternoon. This place used to be home just shy of a year ago, and while I could talk about living there, I would rather talk about visiting. Having been to all 50 states, I can tell you New Hampshire ranks near the top of my list. It is beautiful in all four seasons, with fall foliage in the White Mountains, hundreds of lakes in the Lakes Region, and coastal charm in Portsmouth. There is no income tax, no sales tax, and some of the cleanest air in the country. Add in walkable downtowns like Nashua and easy access from Boston, and you have a state that belongs high on your travel list. Here is why New Hampshire should be the next place you book.

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The image features 250 in stars and stripes patterns, Happy Independence Day in red text, and Its How I Travel - Explore & Grow on a background of the American flag, highlighting American pride.

I Am Still Proud to Be the American I Am: You Can Be Too

With the Fourth of July just days away and America celebrating its 250th anniversary, I felt compelled to write something a little different from my usual travel content. Not a destination guide, not a packing list, but something more personal. I wrote an essay about American pride. Not the bumper sticker kind, and not the blind allegiance kind either. The honest kind, the kind that comes from having actually seen this country, all 50 states of it, and from having traveled the world and met people from places like Russia, Iran, and Israel along the way. I wrote it for the people who are still proud, and I wrote it for the people who are not sure they are anymore. I think both groups will find something in it.

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Golden sunset over a sandy Fiji beach with gentle waves, palm trees on the left, and distant mountains—perfect for a tranquil village homestay under a partly cloudy sky.

3 Days in Fiji: A Homestay, a Village, and a Lesson I Won’t Forget

What do you think about when you hear someone say they are going to Fiji? I used to imagine a small island with a few very exclusive resorts that cost thousands a night. What I didn’t realize is that Fiji is rich in culture, affordable, more accessible than one would think, and even more beautiful than any photograph. We spent three days there in a way most travelers never do: a homestay with a local family, a visit to a traditional village, a hike across a small island, and a race against the tide with a stray dog as our guide. No resort. No infinity pool. Just Fiji, the way it actually feels when you slow down and let it in.

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