Hawaii 101: Island Paradise-Aloha Culture, Tourism, and Cost of Living Reality
You dream of moving to Hawaii—endless beaches, perfect weather, palm trees swaying, living in paradise. You imagine quit...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Camille Cooper
Alaska 101: Last Frontier-Oil Money, Wilderness, and Extreme Living
You romanticize Alaska—untamed wilderness, rugged individualism, getting paid to live there (Permanent Fund Dividend), e...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
California 101: Golden State Dreams-Tech, Entertainment, and Sky-High Costs
You dream of California—Silicon Valley startups, Hollywood glamour, perfect beaches, 70-degree weather year-round, avoca...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Oregon 101: Portland Weird, Craft Beer, and No Sales Tax
You're drawn to Oregon—Portland's quirky "Keep Portland Weird" culture, stunning nature (mountains, coast, forests), no...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Washington 101: Seattle Tech, Coffee Culture, and Pacific Northwest Rain
You romanticize Washington—Seattle's tech boom (Amazon, Microsoft), coffee culture birthplace (Starbucks, third-wave cof...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Idaho 101: Potatoes, Boise Boom, and Conservative Mountain Living
You hear Idaho and think potatoes, rural farmland, middle-of-nowhere emptiness. Reality? Boise is America's fastest-grow...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Nevada 101: Las Vegas Glitz, No Income Tax, and Desert Living
You think Nevada means Las Vegas—casinos, showgirls, Elvis impersonators, 24/7 party. Reality? Only 75% of Nevadans live...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Utah 101: Mormon Influence, National Parks, and Fastest-Growing State
You hear Utah and think two things: Mormons and national parks. Reality? Both define Utah profoundly—60% of state is LDS...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Arizona 101: Desert Heat, Grand Canyon, and Retiree Haven
You picture Arizona—Grand Canyon, saguaro cacti, warm winters attracting snowbirds, affordable retirement. Reality? Phoe...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
New Mexico 101: Land of Enchantment-Native Culture, Art, and Chile
You confuse New Mexico with Mexico—tourists genuinely ask "Do I need passport?" (no, it's been U.S. state since 1912). Y...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Colorado 101: Rocky Mountains, Weed Legalization, and Outdoor Lifestyle
You romanticize Colorado—world-class skiing (Aspen, Vail), Rocky Mountain highs (literally—legal weed since 2012), outdo...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
Wyoming 101: Least Populated State, Cowboys, and Tax-Free Living
You picture Wyoming—endless open range, Yellowstone geysers, rugged cowboys, authentic Old West. Reality? It's America's...
Camille Cooper • 12 Jan 2026
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