50 States, 1,000 Eats: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Eat, What to Drink

by National Geographic Society

This dazzling culinary guide will reveal the tastiest treats and best food experiences across all 50 states (and Canada), featuring thousands of expert travel tips and hundreds of mouthwatering images from National Geographic.

This beautifully illustrated sequel to the national bestsellers 50 States, 5,000 Ideas and 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas offers foodies the ultimate road trip around the United States and Canada, with 1,000 of the best bites and sips from every state and province. From must-have diner breakfasts and food trucks to can’t miss farm-to-table dinners and U-pick farms, this book has a flavor and food experience for every type of traveler, from road trip warriors and families to foodies of the first degree.

Filled with the best dishes in every state—think crab cakes in Maryland, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza in Illinois, and wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley—you’ll discover the regional delicacies that make up the great tastes of the United States and Canada. Plus, get expert advice on where to find the top meals at local establishments, which fine-dining experiences are worth the price tag, and when to visit for the best food and drink festivals.

On your mouthwatering tour, you’ll

Comprehensive and inspiring, 50 States, 1,000 Eats provides everything you need to find your next great bite.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Food

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.

Reviews

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual book but I loved it!

Arizona
Date founded: 1912
Population: 7.36 million
Official state fish Apache trout
A.k.a. Grand Canyon State
Don’t miss: Phoenix, Sedona, Tucson
Claim to fame: chimichanga (deep fried burrito), Sonoran, hotdogs, cheese crisps

Arkansas
1836
Population 3.05 million
Official state grape “Cynthiana grape
A.k.a. natural state
Cities, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Eureka Springs
Claim to fame “Possum pie, hub, cat burgers, chocolate gravy

California
1850 (the gold rush!)
Population 39 million
Official state, nuts: almond, walnut, pistachio, Pekin
Also known as “Golden State
Claim fame: In-N-Out Burger, avocado, toast, fish tacos
Cities “Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Napa Valley

Colorado
Founded 1876
Population 5.84 million
Official state fish “greenback cutthroat trout
Also known as “Centennial state
Claim to fame: Rocky Mountain oysters, Denver omelette, snowball
Until today, I thought that Denver was a literal fucking state
Cities “telluride, Denver, aspen


Connecticut
Found at 1788
Population 3.63 million
Official state cookie: snickerdoodle
A.k.a. Constitution state, nutmeg state
Claim to fame “Pepperidge farm foods, white clam pizza, steamed cheeseburgers
Cities “New Haven, Hartford, Mystic

Delaware
Found that 1787
Population 1 million
Official state dessert “peach pie
A.k.a. first state, Diamond state
Claim to fame: fries, vinegar, crab dip, Delaware bay oysters
Cities: Rehoboth Beach, Wilmington, Dover

District of Columbia
Founded 1790
Population 671,000
Official fruit cherry
A.k.a. our nations capital
Claim to fame: half smokes, mumble sauce, pupusas, jumbo pizza slices
Don’t miss: capitol Hill, national Mall, DuPont Circle

Florida
Founded 1845
Population 22.2 million
Official state fruit orange
Also known as “sunshine state
Claim of fame: Keylime pie, gator tail, crabs
Cities: Miami, Orlando, Key West
Traditions like Moroccan clam chowder

Georgia
Founded 1788
Population 10.900,000
Official state prepared food grits
Also known as the peach state
Claim to fame: Coca-Cola, waffle House, peaches, chicken, and dumplings
Cities: Savannah, Atlanta, Golden Isles

More than half the states peanuts, George’s official state crop, going to the peanut butter.
Peach state
Peaches are using all sorts of dishes
Georgia peach festival in Fort Valley in June, the Plains Pinot festival and present should be Kar’s hometown is September

Hawaii
Found a 1959
Population 1.44 million
A.k.a. aloha State
Claimed to fame “shaved ice,Salmon noodle soup,
Citi: Honolulu, Kona, Waikiki

Idaho
Founded 1890
Population 1.94 million
Official state vegetable “potato
A.k.a. gem state
Claim to fame, spud, baked potatoes, ice cream, potato, steaks
Citi Boise, Sun Valley,Ketchum

Illinois
1818
12.6 million
Official states food “pop popcorn
A.k.a. prairie state
Claim to fame, crackerjack, deep dish, Italian beef sandwich, Chicago hotdogs
Chicago, Springfield, Galena

Indiana, Indiana
1816
6.36 million
Sugar cream pie
A.k.a. Hoosier State
Don’t miss Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, south
Root beer, Coney, dogs, German sausages

Iowa
1846
3.2 million
Sweet potato
Hawkeye state
Des Moines, Amaña colonies, Cedar Rapids
Claim: pork tenderloin, sandwich, kolaches, Dutch lettuce salad

Kansas
1861
2.4 million
Sandhill Plum
A.k.a. sunflower state
Wichita , Lawrence, lindsborg
Barbecue ribs, chili with cinnamon rolls, barbecue

Kentucky
1792
4.51 million
Blackberry
A.k.a. Bluegrass
Louisville, Lexington, Patica Paducah
Hot brown sandwiches, bourbon, Benedict, and dip or sandwiches

Louisiana
1812
4.59 million
Official state doughnut: beignet
A.k.a. pelican
New Orleans, Lafayette, Baton Rouge
Raising canes, gumbo, fried catfish, po’ boys

Maine
1820
1.3 million
Whoopie pie
A.k.a. pine tree state
Portland, Bar Harbor, Camden
Lobster roll, blueberry pie, baked beans

Maryland
1788
6.16 million
Smith Island cake
A.k.a. old line state, free state
Ocean City, Annapolis, Baltimore
Caramel candies, crabcakes

Massachusetts
1788
6.98 million
Boston cream pie
A.k.a. date
Boston, Cape Cod, Plymouth
Boston, donut, chocolate chip cookies, Duncan

Michigan
Found it 1837
10 million
Brooke Trout
A.k.a. great lake state, wolverine state
Mackinac Islandc Detroit, Grand Rapids
The short style pizza, pastry, Coney, Keong cornflakes

Minnesota
1858
5.72 million
Official state mushroom: morel
A.k.a. north star state
Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Paul
Hot dish, wild rice, soup, lutefish

Mississippi
1878
3 million
Official state fish is largemouth/black bass
A.k.a. magnolia state
Biscuits, Mississippi, mud pie, catfish, hush puppies

Missouri
1821
6 million
Official state, dessert, ice cream cone
A.k.a. show me state
St. Louis, Kansas City, Cole
Ice cream, cones, hot, slime sandwiches, burnt ends, gooey butter cake OK slay

Montana
1889
1 million
Official state, fish, black spotted cutthroat trout
A.k.a. treasure state
Bozeman, whitefish, Missoula
Huckleberries, steak, hotdogs

Nebraska
1867
2 million
Channel catfish?
A.k.a. cornhusker state
Claimed to fame, Kool-Aid, Ruben sandwich, TV dinners omg!

Nevada
1864
3 million
Official state fish, Houghton cutthroat trout
A.k.a. Silver state
Clam shrimp, cocktail, steak, buffets

New Hampshire
1780
1.4 million
Pumpkin
A.k.a. granite
Manchester, Portsmouth, Concord
Lobster, poutine, apple cider, cocktails, and apple cider donuts

New Jersey
1787
9.26 million
Blueberry
A.k.a. Garden State
Jersey City, Elizabeth, Atlantic City
Jersey Mike’s pork roll, salt, water, taffy

New Mexico
1912
2 million
Official state vegetables: chili and frijoles
A.k.a. land of enchantment
Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos
Claim to fame: bizcochito, chile relleno, posole, Chimyao cocktail

New York
1788
20 million
Official state muffin: Apple
A.k.a. Empire State
New York City, Syracuse, fire Island
Call oven pizza, bagels, and lox, cheesecake

North Carolina
1789
10 million
Official state fruit: scuppernong grape
AKA Tar Heel state, old North state
The triangle, Asheville, Outer Banks
Krispy Kreme, doughnuts, Moravian cookies, barbecue

North Dakota
1889
780,000
Official state fruit: choke cherry
A.k.a. peace Garden State
Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks
Bone, Juneberry, chippers, krumkakes

Ohio
1803
11 million (that’s way more than I thought)
Official state fruit tomato
A.k.a. Buckeye State
Don’t miss Cleveland Cincinnati Columbus
Cleveland style barbecue, Hungarian hotdog, Cincinnati style chili

Columbus shooting

Oklahoma
1907
4 million
Official state meal “barbecued pork, cornbread, biscuits, and sausage, gravy, fried okra
A.k.a. sooner state
Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Bartlesville
Fried onion burgers, Indian tacos, barbecue

Oregon
1859
4.24 million
Official state mushroom: Pacific golden Chanterelle
A.k.a. Beaver state.
Portland, Ashland Eugene
Tater tots, Marionberry pie, Pinot Noir, Tofurkey, and other animal friendly foods

Pennsylvania
1787
13 million
Official state fish: brook trout
A.k.a. Keystone State
Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Pittsburgh
Heinz 57, Hershey’s chocolate, Philly cheesecakes, shoofly pie

Rhode Island
1790
1 million
Official state up Heizer: calamari
Newport, Providence, Block Island
Coffee, dough, frozen lemonade

South Dakota
1889
900,000
Official state dessert: Kuchen
Aka Mount Rushmore state
Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Deadwood
Claim to fame: kolaches, bison, steak, and burgers corn

Tennessee
1796
7 million
Official state fruit: tomato
Gatlinburg, Memphis, Nashville
Lum of fame “Google classroom, Jack Daniels, Memphis style barbecue, doodle soup

Texas
1845
30 million
Chili con carne
A.k.a. lone star state
San Antonio, Austin, Houston
Brisket, queso, Whataburger, bluebell, ice cream, Fritos

Utah
1896
3.3 million
Official state stack Jell-O
Park city, Provo, Salt Lake City
Fry sauce, funeral potatoes, dirty sodas

Vermont
1791
600,000
Apple pie
A.k.a. green mountain state
Burlington, Stowe, Champlain Island
Ben & Jerry’s, chicken pot pie, each cheddar

Virginia
1788
8.6 million
Virginia oyster
A.k.a. Old Dominion State, President State
Williamsburg, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach
Fried pies, cured country, ham, Virginia oysters

Washington
1889
7.8 million
Official state vegetable: Wallia Wallia, sweet onion
A.k.a. evergreen state
Seattle, Spokane, Bellevue
Starbucks, sockeye, salmon, steamed mussels, and clams

West Virginia
1863
1.7 million
Pepperoni roll
A.k.a. mountain state
Fairmont, Huntington, Martinsburg
Ramp, pawpaw, molly moochers

Wisconsin
1846
5.8 million
Official state pastry Kringle
A.k.a. badger state
Bayfield Milwaukee, Madison
Bratwurst, cream, puffs, Colby cheese

Wyoming
1890
580,000
Cutthroat trout (this fish comes up a lot, huh?)
A.k.a. quality state
Jackson hole, Cody, Cheyenne
Burgers, prime rib, soda, bread

[WeLoveBigBooksAndWeCannotLie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a foodie?🍱
I absolutely am, wherever I’m going, whether it’s just 20 minutes away or a whole different country, I’m always trying to find the best places to eat!
50 States 1000 Eats is my kind of book! I loved looking up some of my favorite places I’ve been to, in Miami, Las Vegas and Seattle, but also searched around for places I’ll be going!
“Filled with the best dishes in every state—think crab cakes in Maryland, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza in Illinois, and wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley—you’ll discover the regional delicacies that make up the great tastes of the United States and Canada. Plus, get expert advice on where to find the top meals at local establishments, which fine-dining experiences are worth the price tag, and when to visit for the best food and drink festivals.
On your mouthwatering tour, you’ll discover:
The origins of Alabama’s famous white barbecue sauce
The world’s largest food festival, Taste of Chicago, held in Grant Park each summer
The ultimate whiskey distillery in the most unlikely of places: Park City, Utah
The Northeastern seaboard’s finest lobster rolls
The Native American and Hispanic roots of New Mexico’s most iconic dishes
The secrets of Portland, Oregon’s craft brew scene
The iconic Juicy Lucy burger in Minneapolis, Minnesota
And so much more!”
Thank you @tlcbooktours for this gifted copy!
50 States 1000 Eats by Joe Yogerst was published on 3/19/24 and is available on our Amazon storefront!🧜🏼‍♀️🌺

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 States, 1000 Eats by Joe Yogerst and National Geographic, is conveniently organized alphabetically by state. Each state includes 4 sections: An overview/history of what foods the state is known for, Culinary Experiences, Restaurants to Die For, and Bottoms Up! (specialty alcohols).

This book packs a lot of information into a small amount of space - each state is only about 4 - 10 pages. This guide isn't comprehensive, it's just the highlights, which I found to be quite convenient. It's not an overwhelming amount of information to sift through, because the author has already narrowed it down to some of the best each state has to offer. There are a ton of photos, which is nice, but also sometimes seemed like some unnecessary stock photo filler material.

I've looked up several of the states I've visited frequently, and found that this book is a solid list of great options. I'm also excited to add several new places and experiences to my to-visit list for future trips.

Thank you to Goodreads, author Joe Yogerst, and National Geographic for the free giveaway copy of 50 States, 1000 Eats. I was not required to provide a review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read and look at with lots of color pictures. I think it's relatively limited (despite the huge number in the title) but it gives you a sense of some of the important regional foods in each state but doesn't drill down very far. I noticed that they only focused on one city in my own state, so I didn't get ideas for exploring places other than where I already live. Other states had more areas covered, however. Worth checking out if you are traveling and certainly a fun look at many foods and places you might not be familiar with.

[Lizzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of all the bars in WI, you mention the KK????

For culinary experiences they mention the baseball field but not the spyhouse or something truly unique????

No special section on supper clubs????

In Georgia, Chicken Salad Chick warrants a mention??? No mention of the fun places in Athens??

For Hawaii, no mention of Leonard’s, the best malasadas ever????

Also the choices in Washington are wild, I don’t trust this book at all.


Some truly unhinged choices and some truly wild omissions.

[Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to travel and eat book. I would suggest if you are interested in adding to your travel locations. Especially looking at the places for touring and events. Not only does this have the 50 United States but also out of the country. Grab your shoes (you will want to be able to walk off the pounds), stomach, and passport, and grab a journal so you can blog for other people. This is the book to be able to blog about. Have fun and enjoy.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for travel enthusiasts & foodies!!! I checked this out of the library, but just might need to purchase it. Packed full of useful & fun information. When traveling we always love to try each states claim to fame and visit restaurants to die for & local favs. Thanks for putting so much useful information into one book. 5 ⭐️

[Robin Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Loads of information. Great looking pictures and fun reading text. Great for anyone traveling around the country looking for different places to eat.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel these books have really gone downhill. They used to be more unique experiences off the beaten path but there's states where they ignore 75% of the state to stick to the touristy areas. Not super impressed, NatGeo is just not what it used to be.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of these types of books, so I was surprised that I still learned about some regional dishes I'd never heard of before! Got a good list of foods to try to make at home. All the pictures were also great.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect companion for road trips or ideas on where to travel next. I will definitely keep this book in my vehicle every time I head out on a new adventure!

[Stephanie McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bruise to make road trips fun and memorable! I like that facts about states are included along with yummy suggestions for meals.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. It goes state-by-state and has a wide list of places well known for food and drink. There are loads of pictures as well which I really enjoyed.

[Nick Salenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that contains everything you need to find your next great bite.

[B. M. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone travelling across the country! It details plenty of great places to eat!

[Kristy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I’m ready to travel!!