Ron Wallenfang wrote
I have an ultimate goal of riding in all 50 states.

And the states in the northeast US are much smaller than most other regions,
so visiting all of them puts much more constraints on your route selection,
so you're more likely to get stuck riding in roads and towns you don't
enjoy.

Also the road network in the northeast is more dense and more "irrational"
and "old-fashioned" -- because it's pre-motor-vehicle and older and there's
more little hills and more consistent water to support living.

So there's lots more choices about bicycling routes, and local knowledge is
more important in selecting them.

Also the roads in New York state generally are more favorable for cycling
than many other states, and the Hudson River valley is just prettier than
lots of other places. It's unfair.

Ken