You want your housewarming gift to say, “Congratulations on the new place.” But sometimes the receiver sees it and thinks, “Here’s one more thing to deal with.” These are the housewarming gifts Nutmeggers wish guests would stop bringing. 1. Brand-New Knife Sets A brand-new knife set is one of the more common housewarming gifts guests…
Nothing makes you notice a hometown habit faster than meeting someone who doesn’t share it. In Idaho, that person might have grown up just a few valleys away. Suddenly, something you’ve done your whole life needs an explanation you’ve never had to give. These are the Idaho habits that give away which valley someone grew…
Illinois taxes a home at more than double the rate Missouri does. That’s not the only gap between these two states. St. Clair County and St. Louis County sit across one bridge from each other, and if you live near either one, you already know which side treats you better. These are the reasons Illinoisans…
Can you name the only U.S. state that has to print the word “USA” on its license plate just to prove where it’s from? New Mexico has done exactly that since 1969, according to the state’s tourism magazine. That’s only the start. These are the things that confuse everyone who moves to New Mexico. Note:…
Have you tried passing a combine on a two-lane road going 55 this fall? That combine wasn’t there in July. These are the things Iowans change about their week once the combines are out. 1. Blind Spots at Field Drives Drivers slow down harder near farm driveways and rural intersections once harvest gets underway. Watch…
Montana had nearly two cattle for every resident, according to a recent Montana Free Press analysis of the state’s cattle population. Out-of-staters hear a number like that and think they’ve already got the state figured out. They don’t. These are the things out-of-staters get wrong about Montana. Note: This is general information, not legal or…
Columbus now outweighs Cleveland by more than two to one in population, according to the Census Bureau’s newest count. Residents refuse to call that settled. These are the harmless rivalries Ohioans take very seriously. 1. Skyline Chili vs. Gold Star Chili Skyline Chili and Gold Star Chili turned one bowl of Cincinnati chili into a…
Utah’s “Mighty 5” campaign makes the state sound like America’s national-parks leader. But the National Park Service ranks it third nationally, behind California and Alaska. Third is a strong showing. Nevertheless, out-of-staters arrive with ideas about Utah that don’t hold up, and the parks ranking is just the first place reality catches up with them….
Vermont’s sugarhouses ran 8.2 million taps, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest count. That scale means the prep work you’d never notice starts long before the snow melts. These are the sugarhouse habits Vermonters start long before spring. 1. Thinning the Sugarbush Sugarmakers thin their sugarbush long before the first thaw, walking the…
Ask an Alabama host whether the house looked as good two hours ago, and the honest answer is almost never yes. These are the things Alabamians do before a guest ever rings the doorbell. 1. Lane Cake for Company A Lane Cake means a guest is on the way, never a Tuesday night dessert. Emma…
