In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, we sought to celebrate America’s diversity through the lens of those who travel it every day: the drivers on Lyft’s platform. We called up the most “favorited” drivers from each of the 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, to ask the following:

Their answers made us laugh, smile, want to visit — and celebrate — all of America. Here are some of our favorites:

I like the weather — you can work all year round. Right in the morning, the sun is up, honey. Get up and make money.

You can tell if someone is from Alabama because they show up differently. It’s a lot of “Yes, ma’am,” “Good morning, ma’am,:”“Thank you, ma’am.” People are so nice here.

Song: “Sweet Home Alabama”

A lot of people live in dry cabins there, which means they have no running water in the cabin. They have to walk out in the snow, in the dark, to go to the bathroom.

People from Alaska are survivors. They experience 24 hours of daylight and then 24 hours of darkness.

Beyond the elements, Alaskans have managed to keep their culture despite the number of people coming through.

Song: “Endow Me” by Coko, Faith Evans, Lil’ Mo, and Fantasia

The best thing to do is hike at sunrise or sunset. Arizona is flat. You can see forever, and the light shines in so nicely.

Arizona has got a lot to offer. If you miss the snow, two hours up north will take you to the snow. If you want adventure, we’ve got cowboy lands down south. We’ve got underground caves. A waterfall resort. Zoos and botanical gardens. There’s so many gems.

I just love driving through downtown Jonesboro. It’s so beautiful, people sitting out, enjoying one another. And you smell all the good food.

You wouldn’t guess just how fast Arkansas is growing! There’s all these new restaurants, new attractions. Just wait, we’re growing fast.

Song: There is this festival that happens every year — fireworks, etc. — and this song associated with it is called “Jonesboro Coming Together.”

California is a very loving and diverse state. I can have a perfect conversation with everyone, because I do not judge, and they do not judge me.

I love to drive in Sacramento, in the Fabulous Forties neighborhoods. There are all these old mansions — beautiful, Victorian- and colonial-style houses.

Generally, people in California greet you with a “What’s hanging?” That’s how you know.

Song: “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. When that comes on, I’m happy. I roll my windows down.

The weather is what makes Colorado special. It’s crazy weather. Three days ago, it hailed so badly it looked like we had like two inches of snow in just 20 minutes! Wait another hour, and it was back to 70 degrees with everything melted.

People don’t realize that they have to drink a lot of water before they get here and be well hydrated due to the altitude. It takes days to acclimate. As soon as I pick them up from the airport, I say, “Hey, hydrate, hydrate.”

For the 4th of July, I go to a hill or mountain anywhere, and I can see every single fireworks display everywhere. And it’s the most beautiful sight.

Connecticut is a great place to experience the four seasons. Each one is wonderful. I promise.

Everyone says New York has the best pizza in the country, but I actually think it’s Connecticut.

Song: “Rocky Mountain High”

I love Delaware for the peace and quiet. It’s like I live in the country! Getting to enjoy all the Southern hospitality and yet still so close to the cities up north.

The best place to drive is by Stanway Island Beach. That’s where I take my lunch break. I park right by the beach and look at the water.

I know someone from Delaware based on how they say pecan (pee-can). Here, it’s pecan (pee-kahn) — which is a cross between North and South, right?

And you gotta try Saltwater taffy in Delaware.

Song: “We Are One” by Frankie Beverly and Maze

I’ve been to a few places, but I’ve never been somewhere like Miami or Fort Lauderdale. The energy is infectious. You can feel the vibration as soon as someone gets in the car.

Florida has variety! We’ve got sanctuaries, casinos, and mountains. Fort Lauderdale always has a boat show going on. Something for everyone to have fun.

My favorite dish — you’re going to be surprised — is oxtail. It’s soul food. My wife knows how to cook it. It’s delicious.

I like the Atlanta Metro area because we don’t have to worry about those blizzards in the North, those earthquakes in the West, not those hurricanes of the Carolinas, Florida, and Louisiana, or those tornadoes of Oklahoma. It didn’t get excessively hot here, like in Houston or Phoenix or Vegas, and never got excessively cold here like Chicago, Detroit, New York, New Jersey. I love that about Georgia.

Plus, nobody knows that we have North America’s largest aquarium!

Song: There’s so many. “Welcome to Atlanta” by Jermaine Dupree. “Georgia on My Mind” by Ray Charles. “Midnight Train to Georgia.” I love them all.

It’s home. Everything is here, all my family, all I need. My daughter is going to college, but she plans to move back when she is done.

People from Hawaii know who is a local. They’ll call me “uncle,” even if we are not related, because I’m older. That’s some of the Asian culture shining through.

People think we hate tourists, but I promise we don’t!

I love to drive by the Waikiki strip on Kalakaua Avenue. On the left side, we have hotels; on the right side is the beach, with these huge banyan trees.

Mahalo!

The people of the state of Idaho have been very, very supportive. When I came here 15 years ago, I found myself in a very secure environment. The way they welcome you, they want to help!

My favorite place to drive is downtown Boise. Especially the drive from the airport, when you come upon the Capitol building. It’s so beautiful, every time.

Illinois has one of the only downtowns with a beach. Right in the middle of the high-rises! That’s special.

Anytime I get a ride through Lakeshore Boulevard, I’m excited. It’s the best place to drive. 100%.

I know someone is from Illinois because they sit on the right side of the car. Even if they have to get in on the left because of traffic, they slide to the right side.

People in Illinois are hard workers. They love their city, they love their teams, they love to pull together.

Song: Drake’s “Chicago Night.” And “My Kind of Town” by Frank Sinatra.

My favorite place to drive is Highway 41 in Evansville. The view of the cornfields from there is just perfect.

I’m not saying any more — Indiana is just a hidden gem!

Song: “Paducah” by Benny Goodman. It goes like, “If you want to, you can rhyme it with Bazookah… that’s another name for Paradise.”

No matter how far you go, from the west to the east, the kindest people are in the center of Iowa. Everyone in town is friendly. They’ll talk about anything — culture, food, arts, the weather.

I love driving to the intersection of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, where you can see the changes in each of the states.

Best dish? Fried chicken.

Song: Anything from the Carpenters. My mom used to play them.

The thing about Kansas? It’s never about the state of Kansas. It’s always about the town.

You have people from very diverse backgrounds being in a university town. I know one time I drove people from 40 different countries. I think that makes Lawrence really special.

Number one thing about Kentucky: We are the bourbon capital. Number two thing? We are the horse capital. Those things go hand in hand very well.

I love to drive by the horse farms. My favorite one is by the airport. I don’t remember the name of it, but it’s very visible when you land if you’re flying into Lexington.

Most people don’t know that if you come at the right time and the temperature is just right, the grass really does look blue. That’s why we’re called the Bluegrass State.

Song: “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley. To me, it’s about Kentucky.

The number one thing about Louisiana is the food. Number two is the people. People always say, “Y’all are so friendly here.”

We don’t just look the other way. Everybody tries to help people.

Maine has a really unique atmosphere, because of the ocean, the lakes, and the mountains. There’s a great restaurant scene and so many microbreweries. Lots of fresh seafood.

I love driving out to Fort Williams State Park, where the Portland lighthouse is. It’s the oldest lighthouse in the U.S. It’s just beautiful.

You can notice the Mainer accent right away. I have a bad one, so all the riders comment.

What makes Maryland special is my partner. She’s the reason why I’m here.

And of course, the location. An hour away from big cities, an hour away from the closest beach. A bit of everything.

Song: “Good Morning, Baltimore,” from the movie Hairspray.

Massachusetts has all the nicest places! We’ve got Cape Cod, we are close to the mountains, the beach, even the cities. Plus, great Italian and seafood.

My favorite place to drive is Old North Church. That’s where Paul Revere gave his famous speech, “One if by land, two if by sea.”

The Boston accent immediately gives it away when someone is from Massachusetts. That or the Red Sox cap.

Song: “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys. Or that song that goes “Well, I love that dirty water. Oh, Boston, you’re my home,” which is called “Dirty Water” by The Standells.

In Michigan, the lakes are amazing — take Lake Superior, where the water is really clean, and there’s sand dunes. Meanwhile, the Upper Peninsula has the best Detroit pizza. People also don’t know how many trees we have!

I like to drive in downtown Detroit. Jefferson Avenue on the Detroit River has a great view. From there, you can see Canada.

Song: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey

Minnesota has a lot of great art — we’re very busy when it comes to music. If you're a Prince fan, you should go to Paisley Park.

And then, of course, we have the Mall of America. It has an amusement park, fit with roller coasters and water slides. I’m not a shopper, but you go there anyway just to say, “My goodness, this exists.”

You can tell someone is from Minnesota if they have their gear. People get in the car without wearing a coat and ask: “Why is it so cold?” Well, you’re not from Minnesota then, are you?

In Mississippi, we love our sports. Football games, basketball games. Even a Little League team game — the whole town will go see that.

And the dance teams! My grandchild is in ballet, and people all over Mississippi love to watch. It’s packed. Everyone will travel for that.

I have been to every state in the U.S. except Hawaii, and Missouri is home. The people here are loving and kind. You can enjoy them!

And the food — you can eat more bang for your buck. Missouri has a special fried rice that is nothing like you’ve ever eaten before. They actually fry the rice.

Song: “Cure” by Moonchild

The most beautiful spots in the world are in Montana — all the artists move here. There’s Glacier Park by the Canadian border, and it’s striking. Then there’s Leicester — it punches you in the face. I remember thinking, this is what heaven looks like. But then I went to Yellowstone, with all the volcanic activity, and thinking, hell is kind of pretty as well.

I cannot really put it into words what makes the people special, but they are. You can tell somebody is from Montana because there’s a genuine, humble appreciation and gratitude for anyone who grew up here. It’s a little bit of Southern hospitality mixed with a little bit of Canadian naïveté.

Of course, there are tourists, but they’ve done a lot of work to get here, so we respect them.

People think it’s all cornfields here. But no! Omaha’s population is 1 million. And we have the best zoo in the country!

The best place to drive is this little neighborhood called Old Market. It has all this historic red brick, and there’s a lot of nightlife and shopping. And the best food to get? Steak.

And you know what I always hear from passengers out of state? People are so nice here.

Nevada is never cold — we are so spoiled here! And so much space, room to maneuver.

My favorite place to drive is the Las Vegas Boulevard Strip. Eighty percent of my time is spent there, and still, it never gets old. The bright lights, the fountain of Bellagio. It’s all so attractive, and the people-watching is unparalleled.

I know someone’s from Vegas when they go to restaurants off the Strip, where it’s a lot cheaper. Places I’ve never been before.

Best place to eat? My kitchen. Just kidding — Chinatown in Las Vegas. There’s a thousand and one different restaurants here.

Song: “Hypnotize” by Biggie. Roll those windows down.

People come here for the hiking trails and the lakes. It’s a tranquil, peaceful area overall. You could say it’s boring — but sometimes boring and at peace is better than unpredictable and chaotic. Running away from a hurricane is not the cardio I signed up for!

The only thing bad about New Hampshire is the winter and the bugs. But the fall, spring, and summer in New Hampshire are pretty great. Oh, and the food. It has no taste — don’t come to New Hampshire for the food.

The best thing about New Jersey is the parking! Something that NYC doesn’t have.

The best drive is coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel in N.J. You enter a roundabout in which you can see the whole island of Manhattan. Every day I do this drive, and it never gets old — that skyline gets you every time. And there’s always a new thing to look at — a new construction building, the sun setting differently. Always a new perspective.

People from New Jersey move quickly, talk quickly, get to the point. Whereas others wear loose clothes, are a little happier and chiller. Even if someone has been here a few years, I can still tell if they were from L.A.

The best food? Get lost, and you’ll find something to eat.

Song: “Atlantic City” by Jericho

The weather is amazing. We get about 320 days a year of sunshine, which is perfect since I go skydiving almost every weekend.

Green chili and red chili are big things in New Mexico. They want to know whether you’re a red or green person out here.

New Mexico does everything it can to take care of its citizens. Anyone who lives here gets a free four-year college education and free childcare.

Song: In a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives in New Mexico passed a bill declaring “Red or Green” by Lenny Roybal as the official state chili song.

It’s the conversations, you know? Anybody can have a good conversation with me. That’s the thing about New York.

Rochester is pretty cool when it comes down to it. We have a lot of good bars and restaurants, and that just keeps things busy, keeps everyone moving.

My favorite place to drive is down by the water on Andrew Street. That’s where I go to free my mind.

I love the Asheville area in North Carolina, full of mountains and beautiful scenery. The air is cooler and so fresh — you just roll your windows down and ride through the hills. It’s heavenly.

Few know that you can surf year-round here. People come here from all over the world to Wrightsville Beach. The waves aren’t big, but it’s a great place to get started, especially for the youth.

Song: “Wagon Wheel,” the song that everyone requests when I play music.

North Dakota has this great sense of community. We have this saying: “North Dakota Nice.” And it’s true!

We’ve got some incredible nature. Like the Badlands — and trust me, it’s totally different from South Dakota. Snow as far as your eye can see. Plus, plenty of wildlife, even elks!

North Dakota has this great regional soup, knoephla, because we were settled by Germans from Russia. Creamy potato soup with dumplings.

The best part of Ohio is the sports for sure. I mean, we have sports all around here. We got OSU, we got the Browns, we got the Bucks, we got the Bengals. And we’re better than Michigan. We’ve got the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Michigan doesn’t have that.

People tend to think we’re more backwoods than we are. People think cops are on horses (and sometimes they are!), but we also have the city.

Being here is like living city life and being in the country at the same time. We live in the Bible Belt, so things aren’t 24 hours, but there is still a city. Traffic’s not bad, and things are spread out.

We are known for steak. There is a 150-year-old steakhouse called Cattleman’s that everyone loves.

Song: “Fly Over States” by Jason Aldean

One thing about Portland, Oregon, is it’s got deep roots. Throughout the city, there are all these little pockets of beauty.

Oregon is a very diverse state. We have mountains that are covered in snow, beautiful beaches and a high desert area, nice lakes, great fishing, great hunting. You can pretty much find anything you want here. Solitude, big trees, poison oak, whatever you like.

Best thing about Pennsylvania? People can afford to live here!

I like driving through Shadyside in Pennsylvania. The homes are beautiful — small mansions with high ceilings, tall pillars, bay windows, brightly colored — each house is unique. When I drive by these homes, I just want to tour them.

There’s this word: “yins.” It’s slang. People in Pennsylvania say it instead of saying “you all” or “all of you.” Like, “What are yins going to do tomorrow?”

Song: Taylor Swift’s “Seven.” People don’t know it, but Swift is from P.A.!

Puerto Rico is gorgeous. We have so many natural beauties that it’s easy to sell. The first thing, as soon as we get out of the airport to our left, is a gigantic rainforest. And then there is La Parguera, the bio bay. When you swim at night, the water turns into a blue color, and it'’ like something out of an Avatar movie.

Flamingo Beach here is rated one of the top 20 beaches in the world.

If you love seafood, you gotta go to La Cueva del Mar. It’s phenomenal. If you like more of a Puerto Rican food vibe, and if you’re in Old San Juan, go to Cafe Manolin. Nothing fancy. It’s a counter, but the food is phenomenal. They close at three o’clock in the afternoon.

I love driving to Newport — the view when coming over the Claiborne Pell Bridge. The ocean is so beautiful. Makes you wanna do a jigsaw puzzle of it.

If someone slams a door, you can bet they are from Rhode Island.

What I noticed with South Carolina is the Southern hospitality. You can’t beat it. You can’t beat it with a stick.

I’m a big foodie, and the food scene here is growing. Shrimp and grits, fried chicken … it’s getting national recognition.

A mistake people make is going to Charleston and the bigger places and missing out on little nooks and crannies. Like, check out the Tree of Hope, also known as the Angel Tree.

South Dakota knows how to handle the four seasons. Even in the heart of January, there’s a stock show with a bunch of cowboys and bull riding — one of our biggest events.

The best place to drive is Mount Rushmore Road — drive south, and it will take you right up to Rushmore. So that’s pretty scenic.

People don’t know that South Dakota is growing! Building more residential areas, accommodations, entertainment venues, and commercial buildings. So that’s exciting.

Fun fact: There are more cattle than people in the state of South Dakota.

I love Broadway Street in Nashville — there’s country music going on at all times. Monday to Monday, the bars are open. It’s just happy and exciting, and everyone is having a great time, talking to each other.

I know someone’s from Tennessee when they start reminiscing about what Nashville was like! They don’t want this place changed!

Song: “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi has been it since day one in Tennessee — when I woke up and went out looking for a job here, not knowing a word of English, not knowing anyone at all, and facing the biting cold. It reflects how my life constantly reinvents itself, over and over, with an intensity that matches the song itself.

It’s really pretty here in Texas. A lot of people think of the desert, but it’s gorgeous in the Hill Country, very green with lots of rolling hills — whether in the dead of the summer or in winter, it is very peaceful. The air is clean because of all the trees. At night, you can see the stars.

There are a lot of small towns, sparsely populated, and you can drive very leisurely. It’s a big destination for bikers — the U.S. cycling team trains out here!

Southern hospitality is huge: If you smile at someone, they are going to smile back. If someone’s not treating you well, we are going to fix that.

Song: Any song by George Strait — he’s a big thing out here.

Utah has this really amazing selection of natural beauty. From Alpine lakes to an expanse of desert to the red rock in the south. There’s five different national parks!

And skiing. The access here is unbelievable. That’s why I moved originally. Park City is my favorite place to drive.

The best dish to get in Utah is anything with elk or bison. Like an elk or bison Bolognese. That’s phenomenal.

Song: “Fire Season” by John Craigie

If you’re coming up to Vermont just to see the leaves, that’s fine. But you have to stay an extra two weeks afterwards and help us rake them up!

It’s a beautiful state, it really is. I’ve been here for 68 years. Blink of an eye.

And it’s local. I’ve got so many repeat customers. We just have a good time. People know me, and they know I don’t have a filter — I like it that way.

I always call Virginia the mother state because if it weren’t for Virginia and our Virginians, the United States wouldn’t be what it is today.

We’ve got Colonial Williamsburg, where they dress up like 1776, and all these historic homes. But it’s not just history — there’s Virginia Beach, which is popping with nightclubs in the summer.

If you look at us, and we look angry, it’s probably because of the weather. So always check outside before you take anything personally.

What I love most about Washington is the people. They care about everything important and prioritize it with their tax dollars.

There are resources for homelessness and so many venues that offer wonderful, compassionate, considerate, and original community. Wonderful restaurants, theaters, disc golf courses, concerts … you name it.

D.C.—that’s home. Nothing beats driving by the water at sunrise right next to the national monuments.

There’s a lot of great Central American food, especially Salvadorian food, in D.C. But at the moment, my favorite place to eat is Purple Patch, which is a Filipino restaurant. It’s in a great neighborhood to walk because people know each other.

Song: The artist Wale is from D.C., so a lot of his songs — “Nike Boots” is one in particular that makes me think of D.C. A lot of people from here grew up with it.

There’s no such thing as a straight road in West Virginia. Those back roads sometimes make you feel like you are driving on the moon.

It’s not like it is in the movies — but it could be. People will give you the shirt off their back — but if you wrong them, don’t expect anyone to find your body. The bond is strong because this region is so susceptible to storms and flooding. People need each other — that creates a tight community.

Song: Of course, there’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” But my favorite is “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers.

I know someone’s from Wisconsin if they are wearing their gear. If it’s football season — Packers gear. If it’s basketball season, they will wear Bucks. In springtime, baseball season, they will wear Brewers.

There’s a freeway — 794 — and right before you get to Milwaukee, you go over this bridge called the “Bridge to Nowhere,” where you can see the city over the lake. It’s the perfect transition. There’s shipping ships, sailboats. Sometimes the sun is rising, sometimes the moon is reflected in the water. Every day is unique.

Song: “Song Sung Blue”

The scenery is incredible - unlike anywhere else. It’s so open and wide, the hills make everything so bright. My grandkids love the windmills and my husband loves the emptiness -- barely any people.

The food - people wouldn’t expect. You get Pepperoni pizza and there’s three different kinds of pepperoni on it.

Song: Wyoming by Benjamin Tod: The main chorus goes “And the sun's probably shinin' in Wyoming”