California and Nevada are pretty great. I’m not biased at all.
California is where I live now and have been living for a long time. It’s beautiful, the weather is excellent, it has the most varied geography out of any of the states (desert, warm beaches, redwood forest, snow-capped mountains, agricultural valleys, golden hills); it’s like a mini-country. I’ve never had a bad experience with people being mean, but I can’t say I have for any of the states I’ve been in. California is pretty clean, though the lower-rent areas of the Bay Area and the L.A. area can be a little dirty. California is fun. I can’t tell you how many road trips I’ve had throughout California. Loved every minute of every one.
Nevada is, contrary to popular belief, not entirely desert. Okay, maybe 90% desert, but not completely. The most beautiful part of Nevada is the part around Lake Tahoe: the Carson Valley, Douglas County, Kingsbury, and of course the Eastshore of the lake, which is the most expensive part of the lake and has the most beautiful beaches with crystal clear aqua blue water and large rocks. Nevada is also home to some of the oldest trees in the world and some of the most interesting wild-west towns. Yes, there’s gambling and prostitution, but it’s also just a regular place with regular people. Nevada is where I was born and I will always love it. :)