Between the early 1900s and the 1940s, Oatman and nearby Gold Road were Arizona's biggest gold producers, and the town used to be a bustling center with over 10,000 inhabitants.

During the 2023 census, it had a population of just 102 people.

Today, the "lively ghost town" is defined by its streets of historic buildings, burros on the streets, and people wearing old-timey clothing and gunfighter costumes, as reported by Legends of America.

The town was founded in 1881 and was named for O.H. Manning, a politician.

The town of 1,500 is about 2 miles long and 2 miles wide, and its Main Street was paved in 1915, as reported by a community website.

Eastman was established in 1855 and was named for Ben C. Eastman, a member of Congress from the district.

Today, the town has a population of 350, according to 2020 census data.

The town was annexed in 1919 to become a part of Lincoln.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge went on a "working vacation" to South Dakota's Black Hills, where he would get a break from the hectic politics of Washington, DC, and win over rural populations, as reported by The Rapid City Journal.

The president's visit was supported by the expansion of the air mail service, which helped communications from the small, remote town, as reported by Vermont Public.

The town of Boothbay Harbor was incorporated in 1889 and became a trading and shipbuilding center.

Today, the coastal town's main industries are boat manufacturing, fishing, and tourism, according to the Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

The town was established on land taken from the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, at the end of the 19th century, a general merchandise store with a post office was established nearby. The name of the town honors a postal employee, Wayne W. Cordell.

In 1905, a prospector found gold, and within a year, its population had reached 4,000, Travel Nevada reported.

Today, about 125 people reside in the town, and residents often refer to their community as a "living ghost town," per Nevada's state tourism agency.

Though the town enjoyed decades of prosperity for the resources provided by Grasshopper Creek, by the 1930s, few residents remained.

In the following decade, the local school had to close down due to a lack of students, effectively turning the once-prosperous town into a ghost town, per Legends of America.

The now-abandoned town where gold was first discovered in the state is now part of a state park where dilapidated buildings are preserved.

Gold was discovered nearby in the mid-1800s.

Today, the town of 2,500 features a revitalized downtown area for tourists to visit, according to the town's website.

In 1925, a Dayton high school science teacher, John T. Scopes, was tried and found guilty for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in what became known as the Scopes Trial.

Former students recently hosted a Hugo School reunion, according to Hugo School's Facebook page,

Farmers discovered they could make money from people leaving the city, and hotels and guest houses popped up throughout the town.

Today, the town houses around 205 people, according to 2023 census estimates.

In 1914, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum was founded by a group of prominent local artists. They worked with local businesses to create an art collection and educate the public in the arts. 

The town is known for being the 1620 landing site of the Mayflower.

The town was named after Edward S. Crossett, a lumber entrepreneur.

The town "had all the ingredients for a lumbering town," as reported by the Washington County Historical Society. The town features rivers connecting the small community to the pine forests of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and still waters that allowed for the raft assembly industry to flourish locally.

In 2011, Forbes named it as one of America's prettiest towns.

Holy City was created not as a religious oasis, as the name would indicate, but instead as "a commune and tourist trap created in the 1920s by a white-supremacist huckster," the San Francisco Chronicle wrote.

The Chronicle also reported that Holy City was reduced to "a few derelict buildings" after facing fire, neglect, and a new freeway that cut off the compound from major roads. 

Mercury News reported in 2016 that the town was purchased after a decade on the market by Robert and Trish Duggan, billionaire Scientologists. 

Historians estimate that the ancestors of Taos Pueblo people built their living structures, as well as pottery and ceremonial buildings, as far back as 1000 AD, according to Taos.org.

The Native Alaskan populations remained isolated until the early 1800s, per Wrangell's website. 

Lt. Dionysius Zarembo, a Russian-American ship commander, landed on present-day Wrangell in 1833. It is the only city in Alaska to be ruled by four nations and under three flags — Tlingit, Russia, England, and the United States — according to the town's website.

Today, the town is a historic site tourists can visit and see the over 20 original restored buildings, per Wyoming History.

Net worth: $1.5 billion

Age: 78

Source of wealth: As the founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Rane helped popularize the lumber business by appearing in commercials as a cowboy known as "the Yella Fella."

Residence: Abbeville

Net worth: $400 million, each

Age: Rubini is 70; Hyde is 68.

Source of wealth: Rubini serves as the CEO and chairman of commercial real-estate developer JL Properties, while Hyde serves as its president. Each of them owns 50% of the business, which also includes properties in Florida and Utah, Forbes reported.

Residence: Anchorage

Net worth: $17.3 billion

Age: 67

Source of wealth: Ernest Garcia II owns the used car retailer DriveTime Automotive, the fourth-largest used car retailer in the US. He is also the largest shareholder of Carvana, an online used car dealer founded by his son, Ernest Garcia III, in 2012.

Residence: Tempe

Net worth: $113 billion

Age: 80

Source of wealth: Rob Walton and his siblings inherited their wealth from their father, Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart store in 1962 and founded the discount warehouse Sam's Club in 1983. Rob Walton, the eldest of the Walton siblings, is also one of the principal owners of the Denver Broncos.

Residence: Bentonville

Net worth: $189 billion

Age: 40

Source of wealth: As a student at Harvard, Zuckerberg cofounded a social network known as "The Facebook" in 2004. He went on to become CEO of Meta, the parent company for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

Residence: Palo Alto

Net worth: $16.9 billion

Age: 85

Source of wealth: Anschutz initially amassed his fortune through the discovery of an oil field on the Wyoming-Utah border in 1979 and subsequent investments in railroad companies. He founded Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) in 1994, which owns major sports teams and performance venues such as the Crypto.com Arena. AEG is also the parent company of the Coachella music festival.

Residence: Denver

Net worth: $21.3 billion

Age: 68

Source of wealth: Cohen founded two hedge funds, SAC Capital and Point72. Until SAC Capital was shut down after pleading guilty to insider trading charges in 2013, it was one of the most successful hedge funds in the world (Cohen himself was never charged). Point72 currently manages over $35 billion, Forbes reported. He also holds a 95% ownership stake in the New York Mets.

A fun fact about Cohen: He loosely inspired Damien Lewis' "Billions" character, Bobby Axelrod.

Residence: Greenwich

Net worth: $800 million

Age: 77

Source of wealth: Snyder's parents founded WL Gore & Associates, a manufacturing company that holds over 7,000 patents, in 1958. Gore-Tex, a waterproof fabric used in outdoor apparel and shoes, remains its most profitable invention. Snyder owns around 5.5% of the company, Forbes reported.

Residence: Wilmington

Net worth: $206 billion

Age: 61

Source of wealth: Bezos founded e-commerce titan Amazon in 1994 and still owns around 9% of the company. As of May 2025, he was the third-richest person in the US behind Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. He's also the third-richest person in the world, just ahead of Larry Ellison.

Residence: Miami

Net worth: $10.7 billion

Age: 71 (Bubba), 72 (Dan), and 69 (Trudy)

Source of wealth: The Cathys are heirs to the Chick-fil-A family fortune. Founded by their father, S. Truett Cathy, in the 1960s, the fried-chicken fast-food chain now has over 3,200 restaurant locations worldwide. Dan Cathy's son, Andrew Cathy, took over as CEO in 2021. Dan Cathy's brother, Bubba Cathy, is still the executive vice president.

Residence: Atlanta (Bubba and Don), Hampton (Trudy)

Net worth: $10 billion

Age: 57

Source of wealth: Omidyar founded eBay in 1995 and became a billionaire when the e-commerce company went public during the dot-com bubble in 1998. eBay also acquired PayPal in 2002 for $1.5 billion.

Residence: Honolulu

Net worth: $3.2 billion

Age: 76

Source of wealth: VanderSloot is the founder and former chief executive of Melaleuca, Inc., which sells nutritional and wellness products online. Forbes reported that the company now has over one million customers each month.

Residence: Idaho Falls

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 38

Source of wealth: Lukas Walton is the billionaire heir to the Walmart fortune and the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Lukas Walton inherited his vast wealth after his father, John T. Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005 at the age of 58.

He founded Builders Vision, an impact investing group, in 2021, and also chairs the Walton Family Foundation's environment program committee.

Residence: Chicago

Net worth: $9.9 billion

Age: 62

Source of wealth: Cook has served as CEO of Cook Group, a medical-device manufacturing company founded by his parents, since his father's death in 2011. Forbes reported the company made $2.4 billion in revenue in 2024.

Residence: Bloomington

Net worth: $10.2 billion

Age: 83

Source of wealth: Stine is an agricultural pioneer and the founder and owner of Stine Seed, a corn and soybean seed company based in Adel, Iowa.

According to the company's website, Stine Seed and its affiliates own around 800 patents related to soybean and corn genetic technology. Major licensing deals have helped it become one of the world's largest private seed companies.

Residence: Adel

Net worth: $67.5 billion

Age: 89

Source of wealth: Koch amassed his billions from serving as co-CEO of Koch, Inc., which produces around $125 billion in revenue each year, Forbes reported.

Founded in 1940 by his father, Fred Koch, Koch Industries — later shortened to Koch — is involved in various businesses, from oil pipelines to paper goods, and is the second-largest private company in the US.

Residence: Wichita

Net worth: $8.1 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Gustavson made her billions as the heiress to the Public Storage empire and as a prize-winning horse breeder. Her father, B. Wayne Hughes, cofounded Public Storage, a self-storage company that now owns and operates thousands of locations across the US and Europe, in 1972.

Forbes reported that Gustavson owns about 10% of the company.

Residence: Lexington

Net worth: $17.2 billion

Age: 53

Source of wealth: Graves, the founder and CEO of the chicken-tender restaurant chain Raising Cane's, opened his first restaurant in 1996. The company now has nearly 900 restaurants in the US and made $5.1 billion in annual sales in 2024, Forbes reported.

Residence: Baton Rouge

Net worth: $3.7 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Alfond's father, Harold Alfond, made a fortune as the founder of the Dexter Shoe Company, once one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the US. Forbes reported that he sold the company to Warren Buffett in 1993 for $420 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock.

Harold Alfond died in 2007, leaving his fortune to Susan Alfond and her three siblings.

Residence: Scarborough

Net worth: $5.5 billion

Age: 95

Source of wealth: Lerner's fortune grew after she loaned $250 to her husband, Ted Lerner, to establish a firm that sold homes to real-estate developers, Forbes reported.

Founded in 1952, it grew to become one of the most successful real-estate companies in the DC area. The Lerners also made their money as owners of the Washington Nationals baseball team.

Residence: Chevy Chase

Net worth: $31.5 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Johnson is the chair and CEO of Fidelity Investments — which her grandfather founded — and holds an estimated 28.5% ownership in the company. The Financial Times called her the "quiet queen of American finance" for the way she grew her father's and grandfather's business while staying incredibly private.

Residence: Milton

Net worth: $23.7 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Gilbert is the founder and chairman of Rocket Companies, formerly known as Quicken Loans. From 2013 to 2018, under Gilbert's leadership, the company closed nearly half a trillion in home loans, according to the Gilbert Family Foundation. He also owns the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.

Residence: Franklin

Net worth: $2.9 billion

Age: 84

Source of wealth: Taylor purchased Carlson Letter Service, a wedding stationery business that he worked for while attending college, in 1975, according to the company's website. It became the Taylor Corporation, a print services and communications company. A former state senator, he's also owned several sports teams.

Residence: Mankato

Net worth: $3 billion

Age: 68 and 64

Source of wealth: The Duff brothers' wealth originates from their family business: tires. Their father, Ernest, founded Southern Tire Mart in the '70s and sold it in 1998. James and Thomas bought it back in 2003 and then cofounded Duff Capital Investors, a holding company, in 2007. Forbes reported it now brings in $5 billion in revenue across over 20 businesses.

Residence: Hattiesburg

Net worth: $11.4 billion

Age: 73

Source of wealth: In 1990, David Steward cofounded IT provider World Wide Technology, which Forbes valued at $20 billion in sales. Citi, Verizon, and the federal government are a few of the company's clients. An avid fan of car racing, Steward has pushed for more diversity in NASCAR, according to his company bio. In 2018, WWT began sponsoring Bubba Wallace, one of the few Black drivers in the racing organization's history.

Residence: St. Louis

Net worth: $7.4 billion

Age: 90

Source of wealth: Washington owns a business group called Washington Companies, which is involved in mining, rail and marine transportation, and construction. He's also invested in his son Kyle's ship business, Seaspan ULC.

Residence: Missoula

Net worth: $165 billion

Age: 94

Source of wealth: Buffett is one of the best-known and most successful investors of all time. He's made his fortune via Berkshire Hathaway, which owns brands such as Geico, Dairy Queen, and Duracell. Despite his immense wealth, he's also known for his modest spending habits. Recently, he announced he'll retire at the end of 2025.

Residence: Omaha

Net worth: $28.6 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Miriam Adelson is on the list after the 2021 death of her husband, casino magnate and major Republican donor Sheldon Adelson. Now, she and her family own over 50% of Las Vegas Sands, a casino company worth over $39 billion. In 2023, she became a majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, a title formerly held by Mark Cuban. She's also been a major donor to Donald Trump.

Residence: Las Vegas

Net worth: $11.5 billion

Age: 72

Source of wealth: Most of Cohen's familial wealth comes from Symbotic, a warehouse automation company that has partnered with Walmart. Cohen is the chairman and CEO. In addition, Cohen also owns the US' largest grocery wholesaler, C&S Wholesale Grocers, which brings in $33 billion annually, Forbes reported. In 2024, his net worth plunged by $9 billion due to his family's stake in Symbotic, when the company's stocks tanked.

Residence: Keene

Net worth: $7.4 billion

Age: 55

Source of wealth: Two Sigma, a $60 billion hedge fund, which Overdeck cofounded, is the source of his wealth. He and David Siegel stepped down as co-CEOs last year, amid a long-term dispute over managing the firm. In high school, he won a silver medal in the International Mathematics Olympiad, and now he serves as chair for the National Museum of Mathematics.

Residence: Millburn

Net worth: $1.7 billion

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Corio's billionaire status — the first in New Mexico — stems from Array Technologies, a solar tracking systems business. He is the founder and former CEO, resigning in 2020 before its IPO.

Residence: Albuquerque

Net worth: $105 billion

Age: 83

Source of wealth: What hasn't Bloomberg done? Besides his 12-year stint as the mayor of New York City and an unsuccessful presidential campaign, Bloomberg cofounded Bloomberg LP in 1981. Bloomberg is a media company and a financial firm with revenues of $13.3 billion, as reported by Forbes.

Residence: New York

Net worth: $9.8 billion

Age: 82

Source of wealth: Goodnight and his colleague John Sall (also a billionaire) cofounded a private school, Cary Academy, and also co-own a hotel and country club. But their biggest business venture together is the software company SAS, founded in 1976. It made over $3 billion in sales in 2024, according to the company's 2024 annual report.

Residence: Cary

Net worth: $1.2 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Tharaldson, the only billionaire in North Dakota, got his start in 1982 when Tharaldson Hospitality purchased a Super 8 Motel. It then became a huge hospitality group and one of America's largest developers of new hotels.

Residence: Fargo

Net worth: $7.8 billion

Age: 87

Source of wealth: Wexner opened The Limited in Ohio in the 1960s. He then founded a retail empire that, at one point, owned brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, The Limited Too, Express, and Victoria's Secret. Now Wexner's company has been renamed Bath & Body Works Inc., and solely owns the chain of the same name.

Residence: New Albany

Net worth: $18.5 billion

Age: 79

Source of wealth: Hamm founded the Shelly Dean Oil Company, now known as Continental Resources, in 1967 when he was only 21. It's now one of the largest oil companies in the US, thanks in part to Hamm's decision to use horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Bakken region of North Dakota in the '90s. The company went public in 2007, but in 2022, Hamm and his five children took the company private again in a deal worth $27 billion.

Residence: Oklahoma City

Net worth: $29 billion

Age: 87

Source of wealth: One word: Nike. Knight cofounded the iconic brand in 1964 alongside Bill Bowerman. Although Knight retired in 2016, he and his family still own 20% of the company, which, in 2024, earned $51 billion in fiscal revenue, per Forbes.

Residence: Hillsboro

Net worth: $59 billion

Age: 66

Source of wealth: After spending time as a pro gambler and trader on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Yass cofounded Susquehanna International Group in 1987. The successful Wall Street trading firm has a 15% stake in ByteDance, TikTok's parent company. NBC reported in 2024 that Yass also has a personal share (7%) of ByteDance.

Residence: Haverford

Net worth: $3.4 billion

Age: 68

Source of wealth: In 1989, Nelson founded and led the private equity firm Providence Equity Partners. He was CEO until January 2021 and is now its executive chairman. The firm has invested in over 180 companies, including Hulu, Warner Media Group, and Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES).

Residence: Providence

Net worth: $5 billion

Age: 61

Source of wealth: Robert "Bob" Faith founded Greystar, a global real estate firm, in 1993 and continues to serve as chairman and CEO. Throughout his career, Faith grew Greystar from 9,000 units in the US to more than a million units across five continents, worth more than $315 billion, the company reported in a March press release. The company also has an investment management platform with $36 billion in assets under development.

Residence: Charleston

Net worth: $2.1 billion

Age: 89

Source of wealth: The University of Minnesota alum made his fortune as the owner of First Premier Bank. Despite having just 17 branches across South Dakota, the bank is one of the largest issuers of Mastercards, in part because it specializes in offering credit cards to those with low credit scores. Often, the cards have low limits and high interest rates.

Residence: Sioux Falls

Net worth: $26.8 billion

Age: 86

Source of wealth: Frist Jr. cofounded Hospital Corp. of America with his father in 1968. According to its website, the for-profit healthcare company is responsible for 186 hospitals and over 2,400 care sites (like urgent care centers, surgery clinics, and physician clinics) across the US and UK. He and his family own over 20% of the company, and his sons, Thomas Frist III and William Frist, are board members.

Residence: Nashville

Net worth: $388 billion

Age: 53

Source of wealth: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are in a continuous battle for the title of richest person in the US. Musk is CEO of Tesla, CEO and founder of SpaceX, and the founder of neurotechnology startup Neuralink and tunneling company The Boring Company. He also helped found OpenAI, but he left in 2018 and announced his own AI endeavor, xAI, in 2023, which he owns an estimated 54% of, according to Forbes. He also owns an estimated 74% of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Residence: Austin

Net worth: $4.4 billion

Age: 81

Source of wealth: Miller owns the Larry H. Miller Company, which she founded with her husband, Larry H. Miller, in 1979 after purchasing their first Toyota dealership. The LHM Company's car dealership business became the eighth-largest in the US, and she sold it for $3.2 billion in 2021, Forbes reported. (Larry H. Miller died in 2009.) LHM's portfolio also includes companies in real estate, entertainment, sports, and insurance, among others. In 2020, after more than 30 years of owning the Utah Jazz, Miller sold the team and their home arena for $1.66 billion.

Residence: Salt Lake City

Net worth: $2 billion

Age: 88

Source of wealth: In 1979, Abele cofounded Boston Scientific, a medical device manufacturer, alongside Peter Nicholas. Boston Scientific focuses on developing more accessible medical technologies, and its products include pacemakers, defibrillators, and stents.

Residence: Shelburne

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 85

Source of wealth: As the granddaughter of Mars Incorporated founder Frank C. Mars, Jacqueline owns an estimated one-third of the legendary candy, food, and pet-care company responsible for treats like Snickers, Juicy Fruit, and Milky Way. (Her brother owns another third and is the richest person in Wyoming, per Forbes.) She served on the board of directors until 2016, having spent nearly 20 years with the company.

Residence: The Plains

Net worth: $118 billion

Age: 69

Source of wealth: Bill Gates hired Ballmer as Microsoft's 30th employee in 1980. Ballmer went on to serve as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. After retiring, he bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion and donated millions to the University of Oregon.

Residence: Hunts Point

Net worth: $900 million

Age: 61

Source of wealth: During Smith's time as CEO and then executive chairman of the finance and business software company Intuit, the company's revenue almost doubled, Forbes reported. The success came after Intuit revamped its desktop software into a digital cloud-based platform. Now the president of Marshall University, he also chairs Nordstrom's board of directors and sits on the boards of Amazon and JPMorgan Chase.

Residence: Huntington

Net worth: $21.9 billion

Age: 78

Source of wealth: Hendricks earned her billionaire status as the cofounder of ABC Supply, the largest roofing wholesaler in the US, with her late husband Ken Hendricks. Founded in 1982, ABC Supply acquired the building materials distributors Bradco in 2010 and L&W Supply in 2016 with Hendricks at the helm.

Residence: Afton

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 89

Source of wealth: Mars — whose sister is Jacqueline Mars, Virginia's richest person — is another heir of the Mars family fortune amassed from candy products such as Snickers, Mars Bars, and M&M's, as well as Pedigree pet food and Uncle Ben's rice. He owns a third of the $45 billion business.

Residence: Jackson

Harper Lee, the author of the seminal "To Kill a Mockingbird," was born and raised in Monroeville, the inspiration for her classic novel's fictional town of Maycomb. The Monroe County Courthouse, where Lee watched her father practice law as a child, now operates as a museum.

The University of Alabama alum lived in Monroeville until her death in 2016, just a short drive from the Mockingbird Grill and Radley's Fountain Grille, named after the character Boo Radley.

Velma Wallis is a native Alaskan. Born in a remote village near Fort Yukon, she dropped out of school at age 13 to help raise her 12 siblings after their father's death. Wallis later earned her GED and moved to a cabin, where she practiced her hunting and trapping skills for over a decade.

She wrote and published her first book, "Two Old Women," in 1993, and it became a word-of-mouth bestseller. Based on an Athabascan legend passed down from Wallis' mother, the book has sold over 1.5 million copies.

Since then, Wallis has written other books, like "Bird Girl and the Man Who Followed the Sun" and "Raising Ourselves," for which she won an American Book Award in 2003. 

Jeannette Walls' 2005 memoir "The Glass Castle" examines her struggle as a child and young adult to overcome poverty and become self-sufficient. Her dysfunctional family were nomads of the Southwest, but the first place she remembers living is a small trailer park in Arizona.

Her memoir was turned into a film in 2017 starring Brie Larson.

Walls' most recent book, "Hang the Moon," was published in 2023 and focuses on young women living in Virginia during Prohibition.

John Grisham has written dozens of books across his career, beginning with 1989's "A Time to Kill," which was later turned into a film starring Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, and Matthew McConaughey in 1996.

While he grew up in Mississippi and even served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, this lawyer turned master of the legal thriller genre was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

He branched out by writing "A Painted House" in 2001, a coming-of-age story inspired by his upbringing on a farm in Arkansas.

Other books by Grisham you may be familiar with are "The Firm," "The Pelican Brief," "The Client," and "Skipping Christmas" (which was adapted into the film "Christmas with the Kranks").

Even though he's 70, Grisham has shown no signs of slowing down. His next novel is expected in October 2025 and is called "The Widow." It's a departure from his usual fare — instead of a legal thriller, it's his first-ever mystery novel.

A California native, Joan Didion was a legendary novelist and essayist. She died in 2021.

She began her career writing for Vogue in New York City in the 1950s, but soon returned to her home state of California.

She authored five novels and 11 books of nonfiction throughout her decadeslong career. Many of her books — like 1968's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem." 1970's "Play It As It Lays," and 2003's "Where I Was From" — depict California life and culture at the time they were written. 

Didion won the National Book Award for her 2005 memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking," which she wrote following the death of her husband. 

Considered a founding father of 1960s counterculture, Ken Kesey was born in La Junta, Colorado, the son of dairy farmers. His work promoted drug use as a path to individual liberation.

Two of his best-known novels — "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," which was adapted into a film of the same name and won five Academy Awards, and "Sometimes a Great Notion" — were both set in Oregon, where he was raised.

Kesey died in 2001.

The eminent abolitionist writer Harriet Beecher Stowe, born in 1811, grew up in Litchfield, Connecticut — and in 1896, she died in Hartford, just 32 miles away.

In her later years, she returned to Hartford, where she wrote some of her best-known works other than 1852's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" — "The American Woman's Home" and "Poganuc People" — and helped establish the Hartford Art School, which later became the University of Hartford.

Born in Delaware, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman to obtain a medical degree in the United States, according to the Office of Research on Women's Health.

Though little is known about her personal life, Dr. Crumpler authored a book of medical advice for women and children in 1883, "A Book of Medical Discourses," based on her field notes.

In the historic book, Dr. Crumpler recounts: "It may be well to state here that, having been reared by a kind aunt in Pennsylvania, whose usefulness with the sick was continually sought, I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the sufferings of others."

She died in 1895 at the age of 64.

Chabon was born in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, and began writing his first novel right after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, finishing it before getting his MFA from UC Irvine.

Since then, he's published multiple novels, most famously 2000's "The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," which won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

He's also been involved in TV shows — he was the co-creator of the 2019 Netflix miniseries "Unbelievable" and the Paramount+ series "Star Trek: Picard."

Sunshine State-grown Carl Hiaasen is a New York Times best-selling author and a master of the mystery thriller and children's genres.

He graduated from the University of Florida in 1974 and started writing for The Miami Herald when he was 23 years old. He wrote a column for the newspaper until 2021.

His most popular books, including "Hoot," "Flush," "Tourist Season," "Skin Tight," "Strip Tease," and "Skinny Dip," take place in Florida. Most recently, his 2013 book "Bad Monkey"  (also set in Florida) was adapted into an AppleTV+ series starring Vince Vaughn. It's also been renewed for a season two.

Novelist, essayist, and poet Alice Walker was born in Putnam County, Georgia, in 1944 and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College.

Her third novel, "The Color Purple," depicted the life and relationship of two sisters in rural Georgia and was released to instant, universal acclaim. It was later made into a film directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985, a stage musical in 2005, and then a musical film in 2023.

In 1983, Walker became the first Black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction, winning for "The Color Purple."

Since then, she has published many other books, essays, and poems, including "The Third Life of Grange Copeland" and "Meridian."

Kaui Hart Hemmings was born and raised on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu and still lives there. Her debut novel, 2007's "The Descendants," tells the story of a dysfunctional family living in Hawaii dealing with the impending death of its matriarch after a jet skiing crash.

The book was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name starring George Clooney.

A child of the frontier, this Annis, Idaho, native is best known for the book "Children of God." He also wrote a guide to Idaho and the 12-part "Testament of Man" series in a cabin that he built overlooking the Thousand Springs area.

Fisher's gritty account of trappers in the fur trade era, "Mountain Men," was made into a 1972 movie starring Robert Redford, titled "Jeremiah Johnson" — though, sadly, he didn't live to see it. He died in 1968.

Ernest Hemingway, best known for his 1952 novel "The Old Man and the Sea," found his passion for writing in the upscale Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, where he was born. In high school, he wrote for the school's newspaper and yearbook. After graduating in 1917, he left Illinois to report for The Kansas City Star.

His other most well-known works are 1926's "The Sun Also Rises," 1929's "A Farewell to Arms," and 1940's "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

He died in 1961.

The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park operates a museum in his childhood home.

Many of Kurt Vonnegut's works — though not his signature 1969 novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" — use his birthplace of Indianapolis as a symbol of American values, or contain at least one character from Indy.

In 1986, during a visit to North Central High School, he said, "All my jokes are Indianapolis. All my attitudes are Indianapolis. My adenoids are Indianapolis. If I ever severed myself from Indianapolis, I would be out of business. What people like about me is Indianapolis," per Indiana History.

Vonnegut died in 2007.

Before travel and history writer Bill Bryson shot to fame in the UK, where he now lives, he was Des Moines' hometown boy. He attended Drake University for two years and wrote about his 1950s Middle America upbringing in his 2006 memoir "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid."

Fellow Hoosier and former President Herbert Hoover features prominently in Bryson's 2013 book, "One Summer: America, 1927."

Bryson is also known for his 2003 book "A Short History of Nearly Everything" and his 1997 book "A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail," which was adapted into the 2015 film of the same name starring Robert Redford as Bryson.

In 2020, Bryson told Times Radio that he was retiring from writing, according to The Guardian, though he released an audiobook in 2022 called "The Secret History of Christmas."

Perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning screenplay for the 1961 film "Splendor in the Grass," Inge channeled his Kansas pride into his two novels: 1970's "Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff" and 1971's "My Son Is a Splendid Driver," both of which take place in the fictional town of Freedom, Kansas.

His hometown of Independence fostered his creativity. As a boy, Inge cherished the tight-knit community and enjoyed seeing top artists perform as they passed through on their way to Kansas City. He also attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence, which now has a black box theater named after him.

When creating this list, Kansas was a tough call, like most of the Midwest states, as the pool of notable authors was small. We went with Inge — a playwright by trade — because of his staunch state pride.

Inge died in 1973.

Hunter S. Thompson, a Louisville native, wrote almost a dozen books and is credited as the founder of gonzo journalism, a style of first-person reporting that is devoid of objectivity.

He catapulted into fame with the seminal sports article "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved," originally published in June 1970. Thompson pitched the Louisville-based story to Scanlan's Monthly just 72 hours before the race, and quickly found himself submerged in the spectators' lewd celebrations, according to Grantland.

After the article, Thompson went on to write his best-known book, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," in 1971.

Thompson died in 2005.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Anne Rice brought the city to life in her Gothic fiction. The French Quarter provides a setting for "Interview with the Vampire," and her house in the Garden District served as the fictional home of her characters in the "Lives of the Mayfair Witches" series.

By the end of 2025, there will be three adaptations of Rice's work airing on TV: "Interview with the Vampire," which premiered in 2022, "Mayfair Witches," which premiered in 2023, and "Talamasca: The Secret Order," which will premiere in fall 2025. It's all part of the interconnected "Anne Rice's Immortal Universe." A fourth series, an adaptation of her novel "The Queen of the Damned," has also been greenlit.

Rice died in 2021, and her mausoleum is open to the public at a cemetery in New Orleans, per Atlas Obscura.

Stephen King is the quintessential Maine author. He was born in Portland, graduated from the University of Maine at Orono, and lived in Bangor for decades. He now lives in Florida.

King's fictional Maine topography provides a backdrop for almost all of his novels, including "Carrie," "It," "The Dead Zone," "Insomnia," "'Salem's Lot," and others — though not his most famous work, "The Shining."

King's 66th book, "Never Flinch," is set to be published in May 2025.

Tom Clancy, who was born and raised in Baltimore, wrote 19 novels throughout his career. They mostly focused on the fictional super-CIA analyst Jack Ryan. His 1989 book "Clear and Present Danger" was the best-selling book of the year it was released, The Washington Post reported.

His books have been adapted into multiple movies and TV shows, and Ryan has been played by stars such as Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Chris Pine, John Krasinski, and Alec Baldwin.

Clancy always had pride in his hometown and was even a minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles. After his death in 2013, the team wore memorial patches the entire season.

Silver Spring native and romance novelist Nora Roberts was also in contention for this spot.

Born William Edward Burghardt Du Bois in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1868, W.E.B. Du Bois was a preeminent sociologist, essayist, civil rights activist, and cofounder of the NAACP.

According to the History Channel, Du Bois was an early proponent of using data to solve social issues in the Black community.

After graduating from Harvard University, Du Bois published his groundbreaking book, "The Souls of Black Folk," in 1903.

A collection of sociological essays detailing the Black American experience, "The Souls of Black Folk" also introduced the theory of "double consciousness" and has become required reading in many courses around the US.

Du Bois died in August 1963, the day before the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

This bestselling author found inspiration in the economic turmoil of Detroit for his first novel, "The Virgin Suicides."

The Motor City native told NPR in 2009, "That whole feeling of growing up in Detroit, in a city losing population, and in perpetual crisis really was the mood that made me write 'The Virgin Suicides' in the first place."

His 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Middlesex" is also mainly set in Michigan.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born and raised on a tree-lined street in St. Paul's Ramsey Hill neighborhood. In his writing, Fitzgerald painted himself as coming from nothing when, in reality, the family lived in an upscale luxury apartment, per Minnesota Public Radio.

Fitzgerald's first writing to appear in print was a detective story in St. Paul Academy's newspaper when he was 13 years old.

In his most famous work, "The Great Gatsby," the main character, Nick Carraway, was based primarily on Fitzgerald himself — both were from Minnesota, attended Ivy League colleges, and then moved to New York to find themselves.

Fitzgerald died in 1940 under the impression that his work would soon be forgotten — "Gatsby" didn't become popular until it was distributed to soldiers during World War II.

Oxford, Mississippi, is the ultimate literary destination for fans of William Faulkner. He was reared, schooled, made famous, and buried there, and loved Lafayette County so deeply that he created his own fictitious county based on it.

He told the Paris Review, "I discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never live long enough to exhaust it."

Indeed, almost all of Faulker's novels, including 1929's "The Sound and the Fury" and 1930's "As I Lay Dying," are set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County.

Faulkner died in 1962 in his home state.

Poet, singer, and memoirist Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis.

Angelou was also a civil rights activist, working with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Her most acclaimed work, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," was published in 1969 and is a memoir of her traumatic early life and the development of her love for literature. Angelou was also a prolific poet, penning widely quoted lines in poems like "On the Pulse of Morning" and "Phenomenal Woman."

Angelou received an honorary National Book Award in 2013 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010 before her death in 2014.

Born and raised in Helena, Meloy has written books for kids and adults, most famously the 2003 novel "Liars and Saints" and the 2017 novel "Do Not Be Alarmed."

The Harvard College grad is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker and The New York Times, and has been dubbed "the first great American realist of the 21st century" in a review of her work by The Boston Globe.

Sparks was born in Omaha to a business professor and an optometrist's assistant — that's why, even though his work is most associated with North Carolina, he's representing Nebraska.

He wrote his first novel the summer after his freshman year at Notre Dame and, though the novel went unpublished, it was the beginning of a slow-going (at first) career in writing.

He wrote his first bestseller, "The Notebook," at age 24 in 1996. It spent over a year on the hardcover bestseller list.

Sparks has been an incredibly prolific author, writing a new book nearly every year, many of which have been made into films, including "A Walk to Remember," "The Lucky One," "Safe Haven," "Nights in Rodanthe," "The Last Song," and "Message in a Bottle."

Relatively new to the book industry, Bock, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, wrote his debut novel "Beautiful Children" in 2008. It was named the same year to The New York Times' Notable Book of the Year list.

Bock's parents were pawnbrokers, and his upbringing with them, as well as his childhood in Las Vegas, was a huge influence on the novel.

His latest book, "I Will Do Better: A Father's Memoir of Heartbreak, Parenting, and Love," which is about his life with his daughter after his wife's death, was released in October 2024.

Brown grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, where his father taught math and where Brown himself eventually attended, Parade reported.

Growing up Episcopalian, Brown doubted religion from a young age, which led to themes of conspiracy and religious skepticism that are found in many of Brown's books, like his most famous work, the 2003 novel, "The Da Vinci Code."

After graduating from Amherst College, Brown briefly pursued a career as a musician, even recording a few CDs, before quitting his teaching job to write full time.

The Newark-born author set many of his books in his hometown, including his last novel, "Nemesis," in addition to his most well-known works such as 1997's "American Pastoral," 1969's "Portnoy's Complaint," and 2004's "The Plot Against America."

The Jewish community in which he grew up became a huge influence on many of his books, including the relationships between family members or the divide between Jews and non-Jews where he was raised.

Roth died in 2018.

Anaya came from a family of cattle workers and sheepherders in the tiny town of Pastura.

"We were all poor, and had the curanderas — the healers — that helped," Anaya said in a 2016 interview with The Las Cruces Sun-News. "We had the vaqueros, the cowboys, who came in and out of the village. On Saturday evenings, my dad would take out a guitar, and somebody would bring beer, and my dad would sing some of the old New Mexico songs." He added that all of that "crawled into [his] DNA."

At age 14, he and his family moved to Albuquerque.

His first novel, 1972's "Bless Me, Ultima," was successful — but controversial — upon publication, and led to Anaya becoming one of the founding fathers of the Chicano literature movement. It was set in the New Mexico town of Guadalupe.

Anaya died in 2020.

James Baldwin's work weaves tales of "Black people's aspirations, disappointments, and coping strategies in a hostile society," according to the Poetry Foundation.

Baldwin, a New York City native and acclaimed novelist and essayist, was adored by critics for both his writing style and substance, and he penned now-classics like "If Beale Street Could Talk" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain."

Baldwin moved to Paris in 1948, where he lived for the rest of his life. On his move, he told The New York Times, "Once I found myself on the other side of the ocean, I could see where I came from very clearly, and I could see that I carried myself, which is my home, with me. You can never escape that. I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I must deal with both."

Baldwin died in 1987.

Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Wolfe was recognized at a young age for his genius and enrolled at UNC Chapel Hill at age 15.

After completing further studies in playwriting at Harvard, Wolfe went on to write not only many plays, but some lengthy novels as well, including "Look Homeward, Angel," a work of fiction based on his life in Asheville.

While the book was a huge success, it was met with controversy back home, as more than 200 characters were based on actual Asheville residents, including his own family, according to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. The outcry was so bad that it led to Wolfe exiling himself from Asheville for almost a decade before returning home again.

Wolfe died in 1938.

Born Louis Dearborn LaMoore in 1908, the North Dakota native grew up in Jamestown, a medium-sized farm community, with a veterinarian father. L'Amour heard tales of the Great American Frontier from his uncles and his grandfather, who lived through the Civil and Indian wars.

Hearing these tales impressed L'Amour, who went on to write his "American Tradition" novels like "The Walking Drum" and "To the Far Blue Mountains."

He died in 1988. As The New York Times noted, at the time of his death, "all 101 of Mr. L'Amour's books — 86 novels, 14 short-story collections and one full-length work of nonfiction," were in print, making him one of the most prolific authors of all time.

Born in Lorain, Ohio, iconic novelist Toni Morrison studied at Howard and Cornell Universities before working as a publishing editor for many years. Morrison was 39 when her first novel, "The Bluest Eye," was published in 1970 to critical acclaim.

However, it was her third novel, 1987's "Beloved," that made her a literary star. 

Throughout her career, Morrison won several awards for her work, including the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988 for "Beloved."

Morrison died in 2019.

Ralph Ellison is best known for his 1952 novel "Invisible Man," about a Black community in the South in which a man searches for his identity.

Before his writing career took off, though, Ellison left his home of Oklahoma City to pursue music at the Tuskegee Institute. It wasn't until Langston Hughes introduced Ellison to Richard Wright that Ellison was encouraged to take up writing.

"Invisible Man" was the only novel published by Ellison in his lifetime, making him one of the most famous literary one-hit wonders.

Ellison died in 1994.

Even though Cleary's Oregon hometown, Yamhill, was so small it didn't have a library, she developed a love of books early on. Once she got to school, the school librarians suggested she write children's books for a living, and Cleary made that her ultimate goal.

She published her first book, "Henry Huggins," in 1950. The "Henry Huggins" series lasted through 1964.

After that came her most famous series: The "Ramona" series, which began in 1955 and ended in 1999, including books such as "Beezus and Ramona," "Ramona Quimby, Age 8," and "Ramona Forever."

Cleary died in 2021 at the age of 104.

Pennsylvania native John Updike is one of only four writers to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction more than once: in 1981 for "Rabbit Is Rich" and in 1990 for "Rabbit at Rest." His books are known for their carefully crafted depictions of the American middle class.

He also wrote "The Witches of Eastwick," which was turned into the popular 1987 film starring Cher and Jack Nicholson, and its 2008 sequel, "The Widows of Eastwick."

Updike died in 2009.

McCarthy's works are closely tied to the South, but the Southern Gothic writer was actually born in Providence.

McCarthy's family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, when he was a child, and his father worked there as a lawyer.

McCarthy was 32 when his first book, "The Orchard Keeper," was published in 1965. Over the next 57 years, McCarthy wrote semi-regularly. His other works include 1992's "All the Pretty Horses," 2005's "No Country for Old Men," and 2006's "The Road."

McCarthy died in 2023.

Peggy Parish brought her beloved kids' book character Amelia Bedelia, a housekeeper who interpreted her employers' instructions literally, to life after spending years teaching elementary school and discovering what children like to read, according to Harper Collins.

Parish grew up and attended school in South Carolina but taught for many years at a New York elementary school before returning to her hometown of Manning. Her celebrated book series just celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023.

Parish died in 1988, but Amelia Bedelia lived on through her nephew, Herman, who wrote "Amelia Bedelia" books for decades after his aunt's death. He died in 2024. 

Growing up, the Pulitzer Prize winner said he was considered "a daydreamer and rubbernecker," but those perceived weaknesses eventually became strengths when he decided to become a writer.

"They are prerequisites for writers. To follow your obsessions, which are probably your weaknesses, is a strength. Hard workers become great writers," he told The Dallas Morning News in 2018.

Johnson's best-known works are the 2003 novel "Parasites Like Us" and the 2012 novel "The Orphan Master's Son," which is what earned him the Pulitzer Prize.

South Dakota was another difficult state to fill — other authors, like Laura Ingalls Wilder, called South Dakota home at one time or another, but were not born there.

Peter Matthew Hillsman Taylor, a contemporary of  Robert Penn Warren, Katherine Anne Porter, and Jean Stafford, grew up in Tennessee and was named for his father, Matthew Hillsman Taylor, an attorney and Vanderbilt alum, according to The New York Times.

Taylor later went by Peter Taylor professionally, dropping the Matthew Hillsman; all of his works were written under the name Peter Taylor.

Taylor won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction in 1987 for his novel "A Summons to Memphis."

He died in 1994.

It's hard to overstate Hoover's impact on the publishing industry. She puts out bestsellers at an astonishing rate: She's released 26 books and sold over 20 million copies, per The New York Times. She was also named one of Time's Most Influential People in 2023.

Not that her career has been without controversy, but it doesn't seem to have affected Hoover's popularity. She's become a brand of her own and has multiple film adaptations of her novels set after the box office success of "It Ends With Us" … even though the behind-the-scenes drama almost derailed the entire thing.

Hoover was born and raised in Texas, and still lives in her hometown of Saltillo, with a few of her books being set in East Texas.

Though Savage is best known for his Montana-based novels, such as 1967's "The Power of the Dog," the Wild West author was actually born in Salt Lake City, according to his 2003 obituary in the Los Angeles Times. 

He followed his mother to a Montana ranch when she remarried, and there gained his inspiration for many of his books.

His last book before his death, "The Corner of Rife and Pacific," follows the joys and sorrows of a family in the small, fictional Montana town of Grayling.

"The Power of the Dog" was turned into a movie in 2021 starring Benedict Cumberbatch. It was nominated for 12 Oscars, including best picture, winning one for best director.

Hill was born and raised in Burlington and remained in the Northeast for college, where he attended Dartmouth. A foremost authority on the Green Mountain State, Hill spent many years as the editor of Vermont Life magazine, during which time he also authored several Vermont-centric books, including 'The Winooski," according to his 1987 obituary in The New York Times.

It was particularly difficult to track down Vermont-born authors. Poet Robert Frost wrote in and about the state but was born in San Francisco, and Rudyard Kipling wrote "The Jungle Book" while living in Brattleboro, but was born in India.

Though Willa Cather is generally known for writing about frontier life, she was born in Virginia. Known for her books like "O Pioneers!," "My Antonia," and the Pulitzer Prize winner "One of Ours," Cather paved her way as a preeminent author of modernist fiction focusing on the Great Plains of the US.

She died in 1947.

Debbie Macomber, who was born in Yakima, Washington, is a successful romance novelist with over 200 titles currently in print.

According to her website, she is a No. 1 New York Times-bestselling author, and many of her books have been turned into Hallmark movies. She is best known for her "Cedar Cove" series, which was adapted into Hallmark's first scripted series and aired from 2013 to 2015. It starred Andie MacDowell.

Born in West Virginia, author Mary Lee Settle was best known for her critically acclaimed "Beulah Quintet" series, which was historical fiction that focused on events from Cromwell-era England to 20th-century West Virginia.

Settle also won the National Book Award for her 1978 novel "Blood Tie," and she established the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction just two years later.

She died in 2005.

Ingalls Wilder, whose family moved from state to state like nomads for much of her life, was born in the "big woods" of Wisconsin, where her 1935 children's classic "Little House on the Prairie" was eventually set.

Other books from her "Little House" series were also based on the places she'd lived — Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri — and all but one of her books were nominated for the prestigious Newbery Medal for exceptional children's literature, though she never actually won.

Ingalls Wilder died in 1957.

Born in Cheyenne, MacLachlan carried a bit of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind herself of her hometown (Cheyenne, Wyoming) until her death in 2022, according to her Amazon bio.

Lauded for her beloved children's books that tell stories of home and family, like 1985's "Sarah, Plain and Tall" and 1993's "Baby," MacLachlan was always fascinated by children's preoccupation with and attachment to certain places.

Despite being Wisconsin's most-visited state park, I find that many people I talk to don't know about Devil's Lake in Baraboo. However, it's my favorite of Wisconsin's 50 state parks.

In my opinion, the park's East and West Bluff trails offer some of the best panoramic views in the Midwest. Additionally, the massive rock formations — like Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway — make it a favorite for hikers and rock climbers alike.

Beyond the cliffs, the park offers kayaking, swimming, and peaceful lakeside picnic areas, making it a perfect year-round destination.

Often nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the East," Letchworth State Park is a natural wonder where the Genesee River carves through a deep gorge, creating three stunning waterfalls framed by towering cliffs.

With 66 miles of hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, Letchworth is a paradise for nature lovers.

The park is especially magical in the fall, with its vibrant autumn foliage, making it one of the most spectacular leaf-peeping destinations in the Northeast.

West Virginia is another one of my favorite states for outdoor recreation. Its state park system is full of gems, but I always recommend visiting Coopers Rock State Forest.

I love hiking in this park or simply enjoying a sunset at Coopers Rock Overlook, which offers a panoramic view of the Cheat River Gorge.

The park also has many unique rock formations scattered throughout the forest along the miles of scenic trails.

Matthiessen State Park is a hidden gem known for its dramatic canyons, cascading waterfalls, and towering forests, creating a stunning, almost magical landscape.

With peaceful trails and fewer crowds than nearby Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen is a must-visit for nature lovers in the Midwest. I especially love visiting in the fall to enjoy the changing foliage.

When visiting Utah, many travelers aim to see one (or all) of the state's "Mighty Five" national parks. However, Utah is also home to 46 state parks — my favorite being Kodachrome Basin.

Just over 20 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin feels like stepping into another world entirely.

The less-crowded landscape is a stunning mix of red, orange, and yellow hues, and striking "sand pipes" — tall, thin spires of rock that the park is known for.

Hike, camp, or drive through the rock formations of this hidden gem park for a peaceful adventure.

With four major national parks and over 40 state parks, Colorado is known for outdoor recreation. However, I've found that, outside of the locals, many people don't know about one of my favorite places to visit — Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Just 9 miles outside Boulder, the park is known for its dramatic canyon views, rock climbing, and scenic hiking trails. Its towering golden sandstone cliffs make it one of the top climbing destinations in the US, with over 500 routes.

Visitors can also choose to cross-country ski or snowshoe in the winter months.

Famous for its ribs, Dreamland Bar-B-Que has been satisfying folks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since 1958.

Celebrities even come to the restaurant to enjoy the food, including comedians Sean and Penn Teller, actor and singer Reba McEntire, and former president George W. Bush, who ordered some of the restaurant's famous ribs to-go to eat aboard Air Force One, The Tuscaloosa News reported. 

Located in Anchorage, Alaska, Snow City Cafe is known around town as a popular brunch restaurant specializing in egg sandwiches and pancakes.

The establishment made a name for itself in 2015 when President Barack Obama came in to buy all of the cinnamon rolls for his staffers and even reporters following the president, NBC reported at the time.

Durant's Steakhouse is a fine-dining restaurant in Phoenix. The establishment is well-known for its steaks, red booths, and martinis.

The food has attracted notable diners through the years, including John Wayne, Joe DiMaggio, and Clark Gable, Visit Arizona reported. The steakhouse is also a popular eatery among Arizona's politicians. 

Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Petit and Keet is an award-winning restaurant and bar. Locals have rated it the top restaurant in the state several times in Arkansas Times' readers choice issue. 

Craig's opened in 2011 in Los Angeles, and it specializes in Italian and American fare, including dishes like pizza, pasta, honey truffle chicken, and steak.

However, the restaurant is mostly known for its celebrity clientele. Kim Kardashian and "Vanderpump Rules" star Lala Kent have both been photographed at the restaurant, and Eater reported that Lizzo, Olivia Jade, and Nicky Hilton all dined there in 2022.

Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs started as a hot dog truck, but now it's one of the most famous restaurants in Denver. The eatery offers hot dogs made of beef, elk, ostrich, wild boar, and even a combination of rabbit and rattlesnake. Cream cheese and caramelized onions are also popular toppings at this restaurant.

Biker Jim's unique offerings caught Anthony Bourdain's attention and were featured on his show "No Reservations."

Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs also appeared on the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" and the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."

Mystic Pizza opened in 1973 in Mystic, Connecticut, but it wasn't until the late '80s that the pizzeria became famous worldwide after screenwriter Amy Jones visited the eatery and decided to set her movie in Mystic Pizza.

The movie, which starred Julia Roberts and was shot on location at the pizzeria, was released in 1988. "Mystic Pizza" became a national phenomenon, causing many tourists to flock to the pizza eatery to try "A Slice of Heaven."

Stoney's Pub in Wilmington, Delaware, is best known for its British pub fare like "Mum's poached or boiled fish," shrimp and chips, and roast beef dinner.

However, the eatery was put on the map when it appeared on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."

During the show, host Guy Fieri said, "You're going to have to pry this out of my hands," when he took a bite of the restaurant's gravy-covered roast beef, the Food Network reported.

Seaspice sits on the Miami River offering customers sweeping views of the city.

The restaurant specializes in "gastro-classic dining" serving dishes like wagyu steak tartare, crab tempura, and sushi.

Seaspice often has over a two-hour wait and is a favorite among celebrities like Marc Anthony, the Miami Herald reported after he arrived by yacht to dine at the restaurant in 2016. 

In addition to a hearty lineup of steaks, STK specializes in seafood dishes like oysters, shrimp cocktail, and salmon, as well as other dishes like roasted rack of lamb and short ribs.

The restaurant has drawn celebrities over the years, including Selena Gomez and Denzel Washington.

Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans were also spotted eating at STK while "Captain America 3" was being shot in Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The Manago Hotel and Restaurant dates back to 1917, years before Hawaii officially became a state, and is popularly known as the oldest restaurant in Hawaii. 

Among the restaurant's most famous offerings are its family-style pork chops, which attract tourists from across the country. 

White Horse Saloon, which opened in 1908 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, is located in Spirit Lake, Idaho.

The restaurant is known as the oldest operating saloon in the state. While the restaurant is temporarily closed, the bar remains open.

Named by Time Out as "the most prominent Jewish deli in Chicago," Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen has been owned by four generations of the same family for 80 years, according to the restaurant's website. 

The restaurant serves classic deli fare like Reuben sandwiches and corned beef hash as well as unique dishes like tongue and mushrooms.

St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis is well known for its shrimp cocktails, steak, chicken, and seafood.

However, the eatery became known by many more people when it appeared on a 2013 episode of NBC's "Parks and Recreation," which is set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. 

Indianapolis Monthly reported that in the episode, Rob Lowe, Aziz Ansari, Adam Scott, and Nick Offerman go out for steaks at the establishment. 

Northwestern Steakhouse in Mason City, Iowa, opened over 100 years ago in 1920.

Today, the restaurant is still operating, serving steaks covered in olive oil, butter, and Greek seasoning. In 2017, Thrillist named Northwestern Steakhouse the "most iconic restaurant" in Iowa. 

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que may be a former gas station, but it's now famous nationwide for its burnt-ends sandwich and ribs.

Founded by Jeff and Joy Stehney in 1990 after the couple attended a local barbecue contest, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que now has three restaurants across the state, a private tasting room, and an event space. 

Located in North Corbin, Kentucky, the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum is a popular tourist attraction for KFC enthusiasts and history lovers alike.

Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, operated the restaurant from 1940 to 1956. During this time, he developed his signature recipe for fried chicken, which is still used by the fast-food chain.

Visitors to the museum can examine historic memorabilia and exhibits related to KFC's history and snack on fried chicken. 

Situated inside a bright blue-and-white Victorian-style building in New Orleans' Garden District, Commander's Palace opened in 1893 and has been serving locals ever since.

Explore Louisiana reported that celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse worked as the iconic restaurant's head chef after a stint of restaurant jobs in France, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

He worked at Commander's Palace for eight years, during which time he perfected his signature Creole-influenced cooking style.

Open since the 1920s, The Lobster Shack at Two Lights is located on the shores of Cape Elizabeth. It serves lobster rolls and fried seafood by the basket all summer long.

The restaurant became even more well known when, Food Network reported, celebrity chef and TV personality Bobby Flay visited the eatery on his show "FoodNation," bringing the Lobster Shack into the national spotlight. 

Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore is known for its American cuisine and farm-to-table philosophy.

In 2016, Michelle and Malia Obama were spotted dining in the restaurant. It is said to have many celebrity guests but the establishment has a policy that bars employees from disclosing any information, though the owners did reflect on serving Michelle Obama on the restaurant's 10th anniversary in 2017.

"She gives the best hugs," former server Amy Sherald, who also was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint a portrait of Michelle Obama, told Baltimore Magazine. "She walked in and I was thinking she would shake my hand, but she hugged me and the kids."

Many know Cheers in Boston as the setting for the hit '80s NBC sitcom of the same name. However, the restaurant was popular long before the show premiered.

According to the restaurant's website, Cheers was originally named the Bull and Finch Pub and opened in 1969 as a neighborhood spot for classic American grub and beers.

Today, it's a landmark in Boston, attracting tourists from all over to grab a pint in the place where everybody knows your name. 

Hack-Ma-Tack Inn was founded in 1894 as a private hunting and fishing lodge and was named the most iconic restaurant in Michigan by local news outlet MLive in 2019.

Matt's Bar in Minneapolis opened in 1954 and made a name for itself after creating the famous Jucy Lucy, the most famous local sandwich in the state. 

Staying true to its name, the Jucy Lucy is a burger filled with oozing, melted cheese.

The burger is so famous that it was even featured on the Travel Channel, appearing on shows like "Man Vs Food" and "Food Wars."

The Mayflower Cafe is a staple in Jackson, Mississippi, and has been open since 1935. The restaurant has been featured on the Food Network, as well as in the films "Ghosts of Mississippi" and "The Help."

After opening as a humble hamburger stand, the Mayflower Café has occupied the same street corner for over 80 years, the Clarion Ledger reported.

Gates BBQ in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in 1946 and specializes in pork ribs, barbecue sandwiches, and sides.

The joint's tomato-based secret sauce also helped make the restaurant an institution in Kansas City.

Lucca's in Helena, Montana, is a fine-dining restaurant that focuses on Italian cuisine.

The eatery serves Italian mainstays like baked ziti, spaghetti, risotto, and chicken. TripAdvisor has ranked it among the best eateries in the state, and Business Insider previously named Lucca's the best restaurant in Montana. 

"Lucca's cozy dining room — which holds a mere 15 tables — creates an intimate environment for guests to enjoy Chef Hyyppa's carefully crafted dishes," wrote Business Insider reporter Mary Hanbury. 

Big Mama's Kitchen in Omaha, Nebraska, specializes in comfort food, serving fried chicken and catfish.

Food Network considers the restaurant one of its "Top Places to Eat," and on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," host Guy Fieri said his favorite was the pig-ear sandwich.

Mr Chow is a luxury restaurant inside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and it's popular among celebrities.

Britney Spears had dinner there on New Year's Eve to ring in 2016, Eater reported, and Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez even held a party at the establishment before their split, Access reported.

The restaurant itself serves Asian cuisine and offers a performance with a champagne trolley.

Moxy in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is known for its tapas menu, which offers guests pork belly bites, short rib crostini, and mussels.

Chef and owner Matt Louis helped put the eatery on the map after he became a semi-finalist for the James Beard Award, a top honor in the culinary world, for four years straight in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

He has also been named as a nominee for Food and Wine's best new chef three times. 

Tops Diner in East Newark, New Jersey, opened in 1942 and has been serving its famous burgers, meatloaf, and lobster mac and cheese for decades.

In 2017, Time Out named Tops the best diner in the country, and back in 2015, Thrillist called the diner the "most iconic" restaurant in New Jersey.

El Pinto in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serves up huevos rancheros, enchiladas, and burritos.

USA Today named El Pinto one of the best restaurants and called it "a local favorite." It's also among Food Network's top places to eat.

Katz's Delicatessen in New York City is known for two things.

First, the pastrami sandwich is considered one of the best in the country. Second, it was also the setting for an iconic scene in the 1989 movie "When Harry Met Sally," starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

Today, the restaurant is a popular tourist attraction where people come to reenact the famous scene and chow down on some of the deli's classic offerings, from Reubens to matzah ball soup. 

Skylight Inn in Ayden, North Carolina, specializes in southern barbecue.

Food Network named the eatery one of its "Top 5" barbecue restaurants in the US, and says one of the best menu items is the chopped pork sandwich.

Red Pepper has been open for more than 50 years, with students at the University of North Dakota among its many clientele.

The most popular dish served is the everything grinder, which has salami, turkey, ham, and cheese on a roll. The taco burger is also popular at Red Pepper.

The Daily Meal has described the establishment as a "local landmark" and a "local legend," and Esquire named Red Pepper as one of the best late-night food spots in the country in 2012.

Red Steakhouse in Cleveland is well-known for its steak, pasta, and seafood.

The eatery even has the Kardashian stamp of approval. In an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Kim and Kourtney dined at Red Steakhouse, Refinery 29 reported.

Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, sits on the famous Route 66 and has been serving up sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and chili since 1939. "Betsy," the restaurant's grill, has been used continuously for over 75 years.

The grill has "seared more than 5 million burgers, chicken fried steaks, and much more" over the years, according to the restaurant's website. 

Food Network reported that Guy Fieri said he loved Rock Cafe's buffalo and alligator burgers while visiting the establishment on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives."

However, Rock Cafe has another major claim to fame. The restaurant claims that researchers from Pixar Animation Studios visited it in 2001 and then used it as inspiration for the movie "Cars." Today, there are homages to the movie throughout the restaurant. 

Recently opened in October 2022, Lilia Comedor in Portland was featured in the New York Times' list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States in 2023 and one of Oregon Live's best new restaurants in 2022.

Headed by chef Juan Gomez, Lilia Comedor's menu changes every day but features dishes like pork collar confit, diver scallops, and braised short-rib enmolada.

Established in 1918, Victor Cafe in Philadelphia specializes in Italian food, offering customers ravioli, risotto, and steak.

However, the restaurant isn't known just for its food. Victor Cafe's claim to fame is its appearances in the "Rocky" franchise, when the restaurant appeared in "Rocky Balboa" in 2006, according to the restaurant's website, and in its spinoff, "Creed." In the movies, the restaurant is called Adrian's.

Located in Narragansett, Rhode Island, Crazy Burger is famous for its hamburgers. Some notable burgers include the Mahi Mahi Taco Burger, the Poco Loco Vegan Burger, and the Luna-Sea Fish Burger.

Crazy Burger got national attention when Food Network's Guy Fieri visited the restaurant on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," eating something called the "Whassupy Burger," which comes with sesame, wasabi, and fennel rub on a beef burger, topped with Brie cheese and onion rings on an ancient grain bun.

Henry's On The Market is the oldest restaurant in the state. According to its website, Henry's On The Market was one of the most popular restaurants to eat at from 1932 to 1960.

The restaurant has undergone various transformations over the years, but it remains a popular spot for live music and features a rooftop bar and dance lounge.

In South Dakota, you can famously see signs along the road for Wall Drug Store more than 1,000 miles before you're even near it. The road signs are a genius marketing strategy thought up by Dorothy Hustead in the 1930s to entice drivers along Route 16 to come to her drugstore, according to the store's website.

Today, the road signs still stand and Wall Drug Store includes a restaurant where tourists come from all over to try the donuts, ice cream, and famous beef sandwiches. 

Bluebird Cafe in Nashville is a restaurant and famous music venue. It opened in 1982 and serves minimal comfort foods, including chicken fingers and turkey club sandwiches.

However, the real draw is the music performances and the famous guests, which have included Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, Jon Bon Jovi, Melissa Etheridge, and Garth Brooks. The ABC show "Nashville" was also filmed there in 2012. 

Established in 2009, Franklin Barbecue has been a staple in the Texas and Austin barbecue scenes for years and has even gained a reputation worldwide for its mouthwatering brisket and barbecue sides. 

Eater reported that Anthony Bourdain visited the spot for an episode of "No Reservations" in 2012, where he waited in line for over an hour. The barbecue was apparently well worth the wait since he called the brisket "earth-shatteringly good."

In 2011, Bon Appetit called Franklin the "best barbecue in the country," and Texas Monthly ranked the restaurant first on its list of "The Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas."

Franklin Barbecue owner Aaron Franklin is also one of the top names in barbecue. In 2015, he became the first chef specializing in barbecue to be awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the Southwest.

Ruth's Diner in Salt Lake City allows guests to dine in railroad cars that were operating during the early 1900s. The restaurant focuses on brunch foods, serving cinnamon roll French toast, huevos rancheros, and deep-fried mac and cheese.

When "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" host Guy Fieri visited the restaurant, he said he couldn't get enough of the fluffy biscuits. 

Located in Waterbury, Vermont, Prohibition Pig specializes in smoked meats and beer, but the Food Network says the real star on the menu is the mac and cheese.

Located in Virginia Beach, Beach Pub serves up seafood classics like crab cakes, shrimp, and fish-n-chips.

Their popular seafood dishes attracted Food Network host Guy Fieri in 2011. While there, he ate the oyster Rockefeller, baked rockfish, and fish hash, giving the pub national attention and fame. 

Before Canlis opened in the 1950s, founder Peter Canlis wanted to build the restaurant in downtown Seattle, but he couldn't afford it. Instead, he built his eatery outside the city and on the edge of a cliff.

The second-choice location seemed to pay off, because Canlis has been nominated for 21 James Beard Awards in its history.

The Greenbrier Resort's main dining room has been serving customers for over 100 years and has become a landmark in the state.

The fine-dining restaurant serves dishes like tuna crudo, beef tenderloin tartare, and curried carrot spaghetti.

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mader's Restaurant has been open for over 100 years. It serves mostly German foods like wiener schnitzel, German potato salad, and Hungarian-style beef goulash.

However, throughout its long history, Mader's has served nearly 100 famous guests, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Frank Sinatra, according to the restaurant's website.

Since its opening in 1862, Miners and Stockmen's has been a local favorite and is regarded as the oldest restaurant in the state.

The rustic appeal and history of this restaurant aren't the only draw, however. It also serves up classic favorites like steaks, salads, and decadent desserts.