Pennsylvania holds together more American history and culture than almost any state its size. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we explore the Keystone State from the birthplace of American independence in Philadelphia to the steel-city skyline of Pittsburgh, with rolling Amish farmland and an entire chocolate empire in between.

We drive the northern stretch of Route 6 past the Pine Creek Gorge (the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania"), wind the historic Lincoln Highway through farm country, and climb through the Laurel Highlands to Fallingwater. We stand where the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall sit steps apart, walk the Gettysburg battlefield, and take in Pittsburgh's three-rivers skyline from the Duquesne Incline. Of course, we spend real time in Hershey — the amusement park, Chocolate World, and a special stop for RV travelers: America's Largest RV Show, held every September right in town.

We also flag the tourist traps around Philly's cheesesteak rivalry and Gettysburg's ghost tours, cover RV travel logistics through the Poconos and Allegheny Plateau, the best free and paid RV camping at Allegheny National Forest and Hershey RV Resort, where to stay from the grand Hotel Hershey to quiet Amish country inns, getting around by SEPTA and Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, and the food that defines the state — Philly cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, whoopie pies, and Pittsburgh's famous fries-in-the-sandwich Primanti Bros creation.

Plus: summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the deep forest regions.

Next stop: Maryland, where Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, historic harbor towns, and rolling horse country all fit inside one surprisingly compact stretch of coastline.

• (00:00:00) - Introducing Pennsylvania

New Jersey gets teased more than almost any state in the country — and it doesn't deserve most of it. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we cross into the Garden State and find exactly what the nickname promises: rolling farmland, over a million acres of pine forest, and 130 miles of legendary shoreline.

We drive the Garden State Parkway past beach town after beach town, cut through the quiet, sandy Pine Barrens on Route 206, and wind through the Delaware Water Gap before landing in the gas-lit Victorian streets of Cape May. Along the way we uncover the Great Falls hidden inside Paterson, ironworking history at Batsto Village, and skyline views of Lady Liberty from Liberty State Park — no New York City price tag required.

We also flag the tourist traps around Atlantic City's casinos and Wildwood's boardwalk games, cover RV travel logistics and the best free and paid RV camping in Wharton and Worthington State Forests, where to stay from casino resorts to Cape May's Victorian inns and Wildwood's retro doo-wop motels, getting around by NJ Transit and PATH, and the food that makes the state a serious contender — pork roll egg and cheese, boardwalk funnel cake, and the famous Jersey tomato.

Plus: summer beach season tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the deep Pine Barrens.

Next stop: Pennsylvania, a state of rolling Amish countryside, Revolutionary War history, and one of the most important cities in the founding of America.

• (00:00:00) - New Jersey

New York is so much more than one city — it's a whole state with two completely different rhythms. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we cover both: the electric pulse of Manhattan and the wide-open, slower landscape that surrounds it for hundreds of miles.

We drive the Taconic Parkway and Hudson Highlands, uncover hidden gems like Letchworth State Park (the "Grand Canyon of the East") and Watkins Glen's nineteen waterfalls, and stand at the roaring edge of Niagara Falls. In the city, we hit Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, then take the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before a solemn stop at the 9/11 Memorial. Of course, no New York episode is complete without a real slice of pizza and a proper New York cheesecake.

We also cover the tourist traps to avoid, RV travel logistics (spoiler: leave the rig outside Manhattan), free and paid RV camping in the Adirondacks and at Letchworth, where to stay from Brooklyn boutique hotels to Niagara resorts, getting around by subway and the free Staten Island Ferry, unique experiences like Broadway and Finger Lakes wine tasting, summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the backcountry.

Next stop: New Jersey, a state full of hidden beaches, historic small towns, and a personality far bigger than its size would suggest.

• (00:00:00) - Exploring America: New York
• (00:01:19) - Introducing New York's natural wonders
• (00:04:45) - Visit Manhattan
• (00:07:28) - Introducing New York City & the Finger Lakes

Most people drive through Connecticut on their way to somewhere else — and that's a mistake. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we slow down in the Constitution State, where colonial stone walls meet Ivy League history and old whaling towns still smell like salt air.

We cruise the art deco bridges of the Merritt Parkway, wind through the Quiet Corner along Route 169, and hug the coastline through Mystic and Stonington. Climb aboard a real tall ship at Mystic Seaport Museum, wander Yale's Gothic campus in New Haven, and stand beneath the fairytale towers of Gillette Castle above the Connecticut River. We'll also flag the tourist traps worth skipping around the casino resorts and Mystic's movie-famous pizza scene.

Plus: RV travel notes (including which parkways to avoid with a taller rig), the best free and paid RV camping at Hammonasset Beach, Kettletown, and Pachaug State Forest, where to stay from coastal inns to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, getting around by Metro-North and ferry, and the food that makes Connecticut a serious culinary destination — New Haven apizza, warm-butter lobster rolls, and Ted's legendary steamed cheeseburgers.

Summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the quieter hills round out the episode.

Next stop: New York, a state so massive it holds skyscrapers, mountains, vineyards, and endless small towns all under one name.

• (00:00:00) - Exploring Connecticut
• (00:00:52) - Introducing Connecticut
• (00:08:12) - Connecticut and New York

This year, Route 66 turns one hundred years old. In this special centennial episode of Exploring America State by State and Pass the Brockly, we drive the entire Mother Road — all roughly 2,400 miles of it — from its official starting sign in downtown Chicago to the End of the Trail marker on the Santa Monica Pier.

Chapter by chapter, state by state: Illinois' Gemini Giant and Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, Missouri's Gateway Arch and Meramec Caverns, Kansas's short-but-mighty 13-mile stretch through Galena, Oklahoma's Blue Whale of Catoosa and POPS 66, Texas's Cadillac Ranch and the 72-ounce Big Texan steak challenge, New Mexico's neon-lit Blue Swallow Motel, Arizona's concrete-teepee Wigwam Motel and the wild burros of Oatman, and California's Mojave crossing through Amboy's Roy's Motel before reaching the Pacific.

We also cover the route-wide essentials: hidden ghost towns and detours, tourist traps to watch for, RV travel logistics alongside I-40, the best free BLM and paid KOA-style camping along the corridor, historic motor-court hotels, transportation options, the food that defines each stretch, unique bucket-list experiences, peak summer travel timing, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote desert sections.

We close with a full trip summary and a countdown of the top 10 unmissable attractions on the entire route.

• (00:00:00) - Route 66: Celebrating Its 100th Birthday
• (00:09:20) - Route 66
• (00:15:54) - Top 10 Hits on Route 66

The smallest state in the country packs the biggest surprises. In this episode of Exploring America State by State, we cross into Rhode Island — the Ocean State — where Gilded Age mansions line the cliffs of Newport, floating bonfires light up the rivers of Providence, and quahog stuffies are practically a religion.

We drive Ocean Drive and Route 1A along the coast, walk the legendary Cliff Walk between the Vanderbilt mansions and the Atlantic, and step inside Providence's historic Union Station. You'll learn the schedule behind WaterFire, Providence's magical nighttime bonfire spectacle on the river, plus which tourist traps to skip near the Newport waterfront.

We also cover RV travel across this compact state, the best free and paid RV camping options (Fishermen's Memorial, Burlingame, and Arcadia Management Area), where to stay from historic resorts to budget-friendly hotels, how to get around by bus, rail, and ferry, and the local food you can't leave without trying — clam cakes, chowder, stuffies, Del's Frozen Lemonade, and a classic New York System hot wiener.

Plus: summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and what to expect from cell coverage out on Block Island and the rural interior.

Next stop: Connecticut, the land of quiet New England towns, ivy-covered campuses, and historic seaports.

• (00:00:00) - Introducing Rhode Island
• (00:02:41) - Introducing Rhode Island

Join Exploring America State by State as we discover Massachusetts, the birthplace of the American Revolution and one of the most historically significant destinations in the United States. From the cobblestone streets of Boston and the Freedom Trail to the beaches of Cape Cod and the fall atmosphere of Salem, this episode explores the history, culture, sports, food, and scenic beauty that define the Bay State.

• Walk Boston’s legendary Freedom Trail and visit the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
• Explore iconic landmarks including Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Plymouth Rock, and the USS Constitution
• Discover scenic drives along Cape Cod, the Mohawk Trail, and Cape Ann
• Experience hidden gems like the Berkshires, Marblehead, Northampton, and Tanglewood
• RV travel tips and camping recommendations for Cape Cod and greater Boston
• Local food favorites including clam chowder, lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, cannoli, and Dunkin’
• Transportation advice for using Boston’s MBTA subway system and avoiding city traffic
• Summer travel recommendations for Cape Cod beaches, whale watching, harbor cruises, and coastal New England road trips
• Seasonal travel strategies for Salem in October and fall foliage in western Massachusetts
• Unique experiences including whale watching in Provincetown, concerts at Tanglewood, and walking historic Boston neighborhoods

Resources mentioned: Freedom Trail, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Cape Cod National Seashore, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, Nickerson State Park, Tanglewood, Legal Sea Foods, Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Flyer train, and the MBTA subway system.

Join Exploring America State by State as we discover Vermont, a uniquely preserved corner of New England that banned billboards in 1968 and maintains its authentic character through maple farms, covered bridges, and scenic mountain roads. This episode explores why Vermont is the only continental state without a Walmart and how it rewards travelers who slow down to experience its genuine charm.

• Route 100: Vermont's signature 200-mile scenic drive through the Green Mountains
• Iconic attractions including Stowe, Ben and Jerry's factory, and Shelburne Museum
• Hidden gems like Lake Willoughby, Quechee Gorge, and Warren Falls swimming hole
• RV travel tips and camping recommendations at state parks
• Local food scene featuring maple syrup, Vermont cheddar, and craft breweries
• Transportation advice and cell coverage warnings for rural areas
• Summer travel strategies to avoid crowds while experiencing county fairs and farmers markets
• Unique experiences like visiting working sugarhouses during maple season

Resources mentioned: Ben and Jerry's factory tour, Shelburne Museum, Trapp Family Lodge, Groton State Forest, Burlington Farmers Market, The Alchemist brewery, Hill Farmstead Brewery, Grafton Village Cheese, Cabot Creamery, Vermont Country Store