Arkansas

Outdoor life is treated as ordinary routine in Arkansas rather than a special occasion, and floating a river, fishing, or hiking is simply how many residents spend free time, exactly why the state calls itself “The Natural State.” Warmth and curiosity toward newcomers come easily here, matched by an unhurried pace of conversation.

At Crater of Diamonds State Park, people can dig for real diamonds and keep whatever they find, a point of real local pride. College football, especially the Razorbacks, is a reliable topic of conversation each fall.

Fried catfish, chocolate gravy over biscuits, and cheese dip, which Arkansans claim as a local invention, reflect deep ties to the land. Hot Springs preserves a tradition of public bathhouses built around its natural thermal waters.