Flipboard 2025 Destinations

Every state has at least one place that was left behind. The people are gone, but the buildings, belongings and unanswered questions remain. Some were abandoned almost overnight. Others emptied slowly. Either way, what happened inside these places is often far stranger—and darker—than the ruins suggest. Did you know any of these places existed?

Texas and California are two of the biggest, loudest and most recognizable states in America. They also seem to disagree on just about everything. So when Texans head west for a California vacation, certain differences don't exactly take long to reveal themselves. Starting with one that hurts almost immediately.

Canadians visiting places like Oxford, Athens, Tuscaloosa, Chapel Hill, or Baton Rouge will find plenty that feels familiar about college towns, but there are also some distinctly Southern quirks that are hard to miss.

For Canadians driving into the American Midwest, the first few hours can feel oddly familiar. But keep driving and the differences start piling up.

Crossing the border may feel deceptively familiar, but the road soon starts speaking in kilometres, litres, ferries, wildlife warnings, and distances that can swallow an entire day. For Americans driving across the country, the biggest surprise is often how quickly an ordinary road trip starts feeling like a genuine expedition.

Canadians heading south often know exactly what to expect from New York, Orlando, or Las Vegas, while other American cities barely register until somebody actually spends a weekend there. The surprises tend to be places with stronger waterfronts, architecture, food, museums, neighborhoods, or outdoor spaces than their reputations suggest.

Ask American travelers what surprised them most about Canada, and the answers quickly move beyond Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Banff. In traveler discussions, people repeatedly described discovering places that were prettier, friendlier, stranger, or simply more memorable than they had imagined. These were their standout locations and stories.

Santa won’t admit it publicly, but he has favorite states—and a few he quietly complains about to the reindeer before every landing. Based on real data and Santa’s notes, here’s how the states rank on the big man's nice and naughty list.

Discover American cities that surprise Canadian travelers with walkable downtowns, useful public transit, compact neighborhoods, and car-free sightseeing options that make exploring the United States much easier.