Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, get on your ball gowns and tuxedos and pour the champagne, it’s time for the State Awards! We’ve been to 19 states on our current trip in the past 5 months. Here’s how they rate.

The Best State Award goes to California. With 9 (edited- thanks Tom!) national parks, the Pacific Coast, and cities like L.A., San Francisco, and San Diego, it’s a hard state to beat. California has it’s share of faults, but it’s size and variety with mountains, beaches, canyons, deserts, redwoods, sequoias, etc, make it, overall, the favorite among the kids.

The Worst State Award goes to New Mexico. I’m sure it has it’s redeeming qualities, but we found it to be a little boring. Roswell is neat, full of alien motif, but the rest of the state leaves a little to be desired, not that we’ve seen the entire state. We also never saw a Welcome to New Mexico sign as we entered from Colorado and didn’t see a welcome center to collect a souvenir map when we entered through Arizona or through Colorado.

The Most Underrated State Award goes to Michigan. Like my dad said when I told him I want to move to Michigan, “Isn’t Michigan somewhere people move out of, not to?” It’s not warm, sunny Florida where retirees flock, but it’s a beautiful state with gorgeous beaches and the Upper Peninsula doesn’t get enough recognition. A close runner up is Utah. I’ve never in my life heard someone say, I want to go to Utah for my vacation. With 5 national parks, Salt Lake City, and such impressive landscape throughout the entire state, I think it should be at the top of people’s bucket list destinations.

We have a tie for The Most Beautiful State Award. It goes to both Wyoming and Utah. Wyoming has Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Wind River while Utah has Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. This is a tough category because so many of the states have such unique attributes and areas that are breathtakingly beautiful.

The I Want To Live There Awards go to Washington, Michigan, Nevada, and Utah.

The Worst Road Conditions Award goes to Arizona for their unkempt highways that made us feel like adventurous off roaders.

The Rainiest State Award goes to Washington. Wow, Washington, you really know how to precipitate!

The Best Welcome Center Award goes to North Dakota for their Fargo welcome center. After seeing the walk of fame stars along the side walk outside, they welcome guests with free popcorn and friendly conversation.

The Most Cows In The Road Award goes to Montana, who also won the Coolest Sky Award.

That’s the end of tonight’s award show, stay tuned for a glimpse of next year’s nominees!

*pic- Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah