What Brings A Smile About Your State?

When I yearn for my native Hoosierland, Indiana specific things call to my SOUL .....

1) REAL breaded, pork tenderloin sandwiches. They MUST be huge and the ONLY acceptable toppings are mustard, mayo, dill pickles, onions and MAYBE tomatoes (if in season). Here is a representative pic.....I would personally have paired it with fried mushrooms instead of fries.

2) Second, is Claus' German Meat Market ( for those in the know it was originally Klem's until they retired and sold to their nephew after he got his Master's in sausage making in Germany). They have no less than 5 kinds of bacon available, usually 10-15 types of wursts, full service for all consumer meats AND they will butcher wild game with the option of smoking in the in house smoker.


3) Finally, and even more importantly, is going to my spiritual home. This bakery is only a few miles from where I was born and lived the first chunk of my childhood. It opened the year I was born and I have literally been going since I was born. My birthday cakes were baked by JJ until my parents divorce and my forced relocation. It is exactly the same. All the baked goods are impeccable, the lunch counter and meals are wonderful and the shop is comforting to me. I have memories with my mom as far back as I can remember and have made them with my kids and in-laws as well. If you go to Indianapolis you HAVE to go see JJ and his family. There is nothing there you will not love.


Oh, and REALLY good WT hunting.... ;)
 

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Charles Russell painted it, John Steinbeck immortalized it,


I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love. John Steinbeck



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To quote from a similar thread:

Beach, swamps, river bottoms, pine forests, hardwood foothills, mountains. Major cities, small towns, suburbs, farmland. 6 deer tags each year, 2 turkey tags, a bear tag, a bunch of squirrels and rabbits, all kinds of fish, both saltwater and freshwater. I put a pretty high premium on all of that.
Amen, brother!
 
See profile pic... also mountains... soo many mountains. Oh and an ocean!
Fall in the orchards, when all the blocks are a slightly different shade of red/orange/yellow, and the spring, when they're in bloom.
And deep emerald green rivers surrounded by tall old growth hemlock with streaks of early spring sun filtering through the tree tops and glistening off beads of rain clinging to each needle.
And snow all year.
And salmon.
And irrigation water.
Razor clams, Dungeness crabs off the dock.
And did I mention mountains...
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I love the Rocky Mountain states and plan to spend much more time there after I retire. I live in Virginia and think we have it pretty good here in comparison to most places in the US. We have four distinct seasons with fairly mild winters and the summer is not as hot as many states further south. We have surprisingly good deer hunting, plenty of turkeys, too many bears and abundant small game with enough waterfowl to keep us coming back each year. I believe the Shenandoah Valley is the prettiest place east of the Rocky Mountains and we have excellent fishing both fresh and saltwater. The Chesapeake Bay is a great place to fish along with dozens of other tributaries off the ocean and bay. My family has been in Virginia since colonial times and has only moved about 50 miles in all that time so I am not going anywhere.
 
I believe the Shenandoah Valley is the prettiest place east of the Rocky Mountains and we have excellent fishing both fresh and saltwater. The Chesapeake Bay is a great place to fish along with dozens of other tributaries off the ocean and bay. My family has been in Virginia since colonial times and has only moved about 50 miles in all that time so I am not going anywhere
Would be great to see some pics. Sounds pretty amazing.

I'm finding this a good scroll through - places to see if/when trekking through your State.

********

For me, I think the value Montana offers is really shining, especially during fall, the best Season in MT, in my opinion of course... as my work is shipping me outside the U.S.

Is what it is. I'm excited for the new adventure though my favorites - what makes me smile about Montana are really standing out!
 
As much as I do bad mouth my state of WA we do have ample opportunity for so much outdoor diversity for the hunter, fisher and outdoor enthusiasts. I have the salt water right next to me with some fantastic duck hunting and good bass fishing out my back door. I also can travel over East to see some beautiful mountains and tons of public land to hunt deer on and maybe other species of fish to catch. I probably have it better than a lot of people for where I live. Nothing may be the “best” here but we have a vast amount of diversity.
 

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oak trees, grass and some of the best sunsets anywhere. .

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Gastro Gnome - Eat Better Wherever

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