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If you have never visited Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream in Columbia, you may have heard about them when they made national headlines for making a Cicada (yes, the bug) ice cream flavor. While they are known for their unusual flavor creations, don’t expect everything to be so over-the-top. Unique flavors like lavender honey and blueberry maple are always a hit but you can find vanilla, too. Visit Sparky’s this summer for homemade ice cream that is to die for!...

While West Virginia has some world-famous state parks like Babcock State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park, some of its lesser known state parks are no less worthy of a visit. Tomlinson Run State Park is hidden away in the very tip of the Northern Panhandle, so not every West Virginian has found time to visit. Here’s why you should. Tomlinson Run State Park has a great mix of wild nature and planned recreational areas....

Long gone are the days when we took simple pleasure in sending and receiving postcards of the places we’ve traveled to and love. Now, in this Instagram, Facebook, Twitter world, we can share our memories in an instant with our friends and loved ones. But what of that timeless act of taking ink to paper and sharing long-form? Here are some great images of old postcards from Oregon that are sure to conjure up fond memories....

WOW. This edition of Louisiana photos is truly spectacular. From incredible fall foliage to the heartwarming picture of a man and his dog, there’s something for everyone in this batch. Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below! And as always, don’t forget to submit your pictures to submit-la@onlyinyourstate.com or our facebook page. Fall has arrived in beautiful Lake Arthur, La by Diedra Hobson Reed Facebook.com / Diedra Hobson Reed...

You’re not imagining it – people are moving to Washington at a high rate. Between our thriving Seattle economy, the affordable cost of living on the east side and the fact that our state is just plain awesome, we see tons of newcomers each year. And there are definitely a few things we want newcomers to know. The most important thing any newcomer to Washington should know…. we really do think Washington is the best state....

A trip to Wisconsin can make anyone feel like a kid again. But these really awesome Wisconsin playgrounds will really bring you back to your kindergarten days. Riverside Park (Chilton) Nels Olsen/Flickr Nennig Park (Chilton) Nels Olsen/Flickr Miller Park–not exactly a playground, but this is pretty freaking awesome David Fulmer/Flickr Myrick Hixon Eco Park (La Crosse) U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr Winnequah Park (Monona) Cathy Stanley-Erickson/Flickr King Park (Sheboygan) Bethlehem Lutheran Church/Flickr...

There is something so fascinating about rainbows. From the multi-colored arc to the refraction of light, rainbows are inspiring. Even though you might not find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you can still enjoy their beauty over Oklahoma. Here are 9 rainbows captured in the Sooner State that will leave you speechless…with a little added rainbow inspiration to brighten your day. A double rainbow in the Wichita Mountains....

Here’s a unique activity in the Palmetto State and it’s found inside South Carolina’s Number One Outdoor Attraction, Brookgreen Gardens, located in Murrells Inlet. For a mere $3.00 add-on to your Brookgreen general admission ticket ($2.00 add-on for children) you’ll gain admission to this enchanting butterfly house. TripAdvisor/Christie P Inside you’ll find the Whispering Wings Butterfly Experience and you’ll love everything about it. The house includes a pupae room where you can get up close and watch the emergence of the enchanting winged creatures....

Halloween is not the only time haunted places are popular, but it does up the ante a bit because of the season’s reputation. There is one historic haunted Sanatorium in Kentucky that has tours available, and even overnight stays long before Hallow’s eve. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium at 4400 Paralee Drive in Louisville, is a piece of our history that started as a place of healing. It ended up having a few different names, and a questionable number of deaths....

On the banks of the roaring Androscoggin sits Bates Mill #5, one part of a hulking brick textile factory that was once the backbone of the Lewiston economy. Sadly, like many of the mills that dot Maine’s landscape, this once bustling building has gone quiet, left to be reclaimed by the elements. Sam T / Flickr Founded in 1850 by Benjamin E. Bates, the Bates Mill was Maine’s largest employer through the 1960s....

Looking for something that’s fun for the whole family this summer? Hop aboard the train on the Heber Valley Railroad. The railroad offers several scenic train routes, and even has some special events coming up. Take a look! You might remember this train from your childhood, back when it was the Heber Creeper. Now it’s the Heber Valley Railroad, and its bigger and better than ever, with several scenic routes and tons of special events....

Minneapolis is home to 12 lakes, each of them beautiful in their own way. Lake Harriet and Calhoun are busy lakes and known to be great swimming spots, but are often crowded. The misfits of Minneapolis, the followers of counterculture have never quite felt comfortable at those beaches. They’ve made a spot of their own. Meet Hidden Beach, formally known as Cedar Lake East Beach, a mecca for the hipsters, the drifters, and the punks of Minneapolis....

Is there anything better than biting into a fresh, crisp apple? Pick your own, and somehow, they taste even better! For a wonderful afternoon in rural Rhode Island, visit Knight Farm Apple Orchard. You can pick a bushel of apples, get some ice cream or a doughnut, and take a hayride….and you’ll make some lasting memories, too. You’ll find Knight Farm Apple Orchard at 1 Snake Hill Road in North Scituate....

New Jersey is a beautiful place by day, but it is just as magnificent at night. From starry skies to city lights, we’ve got it all. These stunning shots show just how lovely our state can be, after the sun goes down. 300 shots of East Point Lighthouse are combined into one. Facebook/JasonGambone Lightning strikes in Medford. Facebook/MichaelDillon The gorgeous Grounds For Sculpture look ominous at night. Flickr/RaymondClarkeImages Trendy Medford looks lovely, and lively, at night....

They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. But is that the case with cicadas? It’s been 17 years since that unmistakable droning was the soundtrack to a Virginian summer, and 2016 is the year they return. This particular kind, known as brood V, is expected to make quite a buzz in more ways than one. Some kinds of cicadas emerge annually, but it’s these periodic cicadas that are the most noticeable....

What Hawaii lacks in the luxuries of mainland shopping, they make up for with beautiful beaches, stellar views and a laid-back lifestyle. And while there are only a few flea markets – or swap meets – throughout the Hawaiian Islands, you can find some great bargains on clothes, souvenirs, food, and gifts at these three swap meets if you live on Oahu or Maui. Aloha Stadium Swap Meet Jennifer Cachola/Flickr...

Nothing can rival the Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Statue of Zeus and the other historical structures that are beautiful monuments to the past. But here in Washington, we’ve got our own natural wonders that we’re pretty proud of (and rightfully so). You’ll find these seven wonders right here in the Evergreen State: Mount Rainier Nickay3111 / Flickr Sean Munson / Flickr Washington’s highest mountain is also a large active volcano....

While all our hearts may be breaking over the fact that it’s now that time of year where we have to say goodbye to summer, there’s always one advantage to this season’s departure and that’s New York’s fall foliage. As we start to trade in long summer nights for shorter fall days, we get to see Mother Nature work her magic and turn our state into some of the most breathtaking and colorful scenery in the country....

Sometimes, events can be too strange and unsettling to explain—so they’re eventually forgotten altogether. If you’ve ever heard of “Eugene the Mummy,” you should know that he was a real man who passed away in Ohio. He came to a small town in Ohio for work, died of natural causes and was never identified. To this day he has yet to be identified and it took nearly 36 years for the town to bury him....

If you spend your childhood scaling the treetops and love the idea of viewing the Northern California Redwoods from a birds’ eye view, then you absolutely need to take a ride on the Trees of Mystery Sky Trail. It’s a magical gondola ride that lets you soar high above the tree tops in the Redwood State and National Parks. The SkyTrail is a nearly 1/3 mile journey through the forest tree tops....