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Halfway between Charlotte and Asheville is a small town that is hiding art, museums, history, and amazing BBQ. Shelby, located in Cleveland County, has a population of around 20,000. Located amidst the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge, it has been deemed the “City of Pleasant Living,” which is indeed true. Facebook / City of Shelby, North Carolina Flickr / Allen Forrest Built in 1907, the central figure of the town is the historic Courthouse, which today has been transformed to celebrate another central figure of Shelby, Earl Scruggs....

Todd County is a rural community in southwestern Kentucky made up of the cities of Elkton, Trenton, Guthrie and Allensville. As a largely agricultural county, a common sight while driving through it are vast fields of corn and tobacco lining a winding country road. With a lot of agriculture also comes a lot of hay, and the people of Todd County have found a unique way to put a few hay bales to use with the creation of their Bale Trail....

Atlanta Prison Farm. Now defunct, this prison was once a thriving, fully operational correctional facility from 1945 to 1995. While some ghost hunters claim the prison site, despite rotting away into ruins, is haunted, others claim that it’s merely a decaying prison with very dark secrets. One way or another, Atlanta Prison Farm is worth visiting, and here is why… Sitting on nearly 400 acres of land in the Atlanta area, you’ll find the Old Atlanta Prison Farm....

Last week, we soaked it up in luxury while taking a tour of Missouri’s most beautiful hotel resort. But today, we’re going to pare it down a bit and check out a more simple way of staying the night in this unique type of lodging. The Kozy Kaboose is one of the more popular accommodations at the St. Louis West KOA Campground. Kozy Kaboose/TripAdvisor It has most of the amenities you’ll find in a small cabin or trailer which include a full bathroom, 1 Queen bed, 1 bunk bed set and a fridge....

For a state that has it all (cities, small towns, mountains, lakes, beaches…), Washington isn’t known for its abundant roller coasters. But what we lack in quality, we certainly make up for in quantity. The Wild Waves Theme Park and Enchanted Village in Federal Way is home to the best coaster in the state, Timberhawk Ride of Prey. Timberhawk is the largest wooden coaster in the state. Jay M / Yelp It was added to the park in 2003, and its popularity was instant....

When many people think of an overnight stay in Maine, they think of bed and breakfasts, quaint hotels and even camping under the stars. But, that’s not the only way to spend a night in Maine. There are many other unique options for enjoying Vacationland. Check out this awesome private island with a fully restored lighthouse keeper’s home! Let’s start from the beginning! The Inn at Cuckolds Lighthouse / Facebook Back in 1892, $25,000 was set aside to build a fog signal station and a small keeper’s house to protect boats headed into Boothbay Harbor....

I guess it’s possible that Only in Your State has some centenarians as readers, but for most of us, we have no idea what Illinois looked like 100 years ago. But thanks to people who kept these photos in moderately good condition and shared them, we have a better idea. Here are some great pictures of Illinois as it once was. These kids INVENTED mean mugging! IMLS Digital Collections/Flickr This was the Fort Sheridan water tower circa 1900....

Oregon has an endlessly fascinating history, and it’s even more incredible to see it captured in video. This historic footage from the 1950s shows loggers at work in Oregon — and you will hardly believe your eyes. Most people don’t realize just how dangerous Oregon’s timber industry was in the early 20th-century. In this jaw-dropping video, you’ll see timber-toppers perform perilous, adrenaline-inducing tasks like swaying on the top of an enormous tree trunk, riding boards down 3-mile-long shoots, and more....

There are many unique little towns scattered across Wyoming, and we’re well aware of how cool they are. It’s nice, though, to get recognition from outside the state. Matador Network recently put together a list of the 24 U.S. towns that are the coolest, based on actual input from vacationers. In looking at destinations that are trending among travelers, Lander, Wyoming ended up on the list of the coolest towns and we couldn’t agree more....

Coal mining has been a way of life in the rural sections of our state for decades. There are many families that flourished, simply survived, and died by the mine. The rest of us usually don’t get to experience what life is like in an old coal mine in Kentucky. Portal 31 and the Coal Mine Museum have taken great lengths to change that and give us an in-depth look at what life was like for miners, and the trials and tribulations their families endured....

Have you ever visited Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, which has sat abandoned in Princeton since 1966? The park opened in 1926, when founder C.T. Snidow bought the property, according to Jeffrey Stanton, who wrote about the park for a website about abandoned amusement parks. In its heyday, the park had a dance hall, a swimming pool, rides, a concession stand, a racetrack, and cabins. The park closed after it was the scene of the deaths of two children....

If you live in (or have ever visited) Kansas, you know that it is chock-full of small, historic towns that make it special and unique. One of these small and charming towns, with a population of only 3,500, is Lindsborg (Little Sweden, USA). Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau Facebook Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau Facebook Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau Facebook Named for three men who held prominent positions in a Chicago organization of Swedish farmers, Lindsborg was settled in the spring of 1869 by a group of immigrants from the Värmland province of Sweden....

We don’t have mountains or canyons, but there are certain landscapes that only Floridians can really appreciate. Our land may be flat, but when you get away from all of the buildings, with nothing but nature for miles stretching out before you like an abstract painting, it’s a deep and serene experience. That’s why we think Floridians will appreciate a visit to this preserve. Robinson Preserve is a 600-acre coastal preserve in Bradenton....

With the holidays fast approaching, family will surely be coming to visit the Garden State. While a quick visit is fine, we definitely don’t want anyone else moving here. New Jersey is crowded enough, so remind your guests why they should never move here. Like everyone says, we’re basically an industrial wasteland. Flickr/Louis Dallara It’s all highways and airports. Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli The Garden State? Nothing ever grows here. Flickr/Anthony Quintano...

The Bluegrass State is renowned for its beauty, friendly people, bourbon, and the Kentucky Derby. The entire state has a plethora of lush forests, rolling hills, and majestic mountains, providing residents a home with a beautiful view almost anywhere. When moving to our fair state, it may be difficult to choose the best place to make a home. Here are 10 of the best places to call home in Kentucky:...

Were you lucky enough to be raised here in the Treasure State? Whether you grew up in our biggest city, Billings, or you’re from the tiniest town, Montana surely left its mark on you in many ways. Here are a few signs that you definitely grew up in the Last Best Place. You probably know people who grew up having summer vacations that looked like this… occhietto / Flickr Cody Wellons / Flickr … but yours looked like this....

Update your driver’s license? Get a library card? No, those things don’t prove anything about your residence. If you want to be considered a true Illinoisian, you have to do these 10 things. Pick a side: Cubs or Cards. Blueyeda73/Flickr Eat at Portillo’s. More than once. Sam Howzit/Flickr Be a total tourist and go to the Willis Tower. Tom Hart/Flickr Eat some delicious Illinois corn off the grill at a festival....

West Virginia has many farms where you can pick your own berries, apples, pumpkins and other crops while they’re in season. Here are a few farms. Be sure to check with each farm before you go to determine exactly what they have and when they offer pick-your-own. Happy harvesting! White Oak Farm in Renick White Oak Far, Pick your own blueberries at this farm. Herot Hall Farm in Kenna Herot Hall Farm/Facebook Come pick blueberries in the summer when they’re in season....

Two years ago, on the night of February 14, 2014 (Valentine’s Day), people all over South Carolina literally felt the earth move under their feet. News outlets around the Palmetto State soon after began reporting the second-strongest earthquake to hit SC since 1950. The official report placed a confirmation of an earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale in Edgefield, SC. It was no crisis of any means, but it did turn heads....

If you know what nabs are, or your wine of choice is the house wine of the south, then Mississippi is definitely the place for you. Still not sure? Check out the list below for surefire signs that you belong in the Magnolia State. You don’t mind the fact that a white Christmas will most likely never be in your future. Or the fact that brutal summers will be. bark/Flickr...