Kentucky: Bluegrass Country
Score: 66

The area's "fun little towns" and "beautiful rolling hills" surprise many first-time visitors. Highlights include horses, bourbon, and Southern charm. Also here: some of "the urban sprawl and fast-food sameness that you see everywhere in the U.S."

Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:

"A real surprise, and has much more to offer than I would have ever dreamed. Sweeping views of pastureland, long stretches of uninterrupted beauty along the highways, fun little towns, and lots of history. I recently spent a week in the Lexington area and found it to be much more cosmopolitan than expected. Boasts great restaurants, those typical big horse ranches set back from the highway and surrounded by pastures of bluegrass, resorts in the local mountains, and more. A real must-see."

"Legendary rolling hills are slowly giving way to modern developments that before long will make it another example of ordinary American exurbia. A land trust should be established soon and protection against uncontrolled development should be implemented."

"The land is lovely and the people tend to be hospitable and friendly. Great spot!"

"I can see Kentucky doing something with bourbon the way Scotland has played off scotch—or any wine region for that matter. Kentucky has charm, bourbon, and horses. What more does it need? Good marketing."