The states I'm currently considering is;
• Colorado
• Montana
• Wyoming
• South Dakota
• North Dakota
• Kansas
• Iowa
• Nebraska
Great list of possible states! There are only three states I haven't been to yet (Delaware, Alaska, and Hawaii), so based on what you've said you enjoy, here's my thoughts:
-Colorado - Lots to do if you love the outdoors (Colorado Springs is tourist-filled with Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods... Go north to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park)
• Montana - Huge state with big skies! One of my favorite states. This is a state that's great if you enjoy the outdoors. Glacier National Park is one of my favorite national parks - a true hiker's paradise.
• Wyoming - Along with Montana, this is the other one of my favorite states. As with Montana, it's a great state if you enjoy the outdoors. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park (my personal favorite of all national parks) are wonderful to experience. Even if you aren't a huge hiker, the tourist area of Jackson Hole is very beautiful.
• South Dakota - Anytime we go West we tend to pass through South Dakota. I always stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, as well as the Badlands National Park. There is also Wind Cave National Park (really neat), and there's a lot of nature in the BLack Hills area, as well. More tourist areas are Mount Rushmore and the carving of Crazy Horse.
• North Dakota - From what I have experienced, there isn't a toooon here, but I thought Theodore Roosevelt National Park was awesome.
• Kansas - Kansas is another state we tend to drive through when going West. A lot of people think Kansas is boring - and some of it is - but it has sections of beautiful hills and some powerful storms (if you're into that kind of thing!).
• Iowa - I'm personally not a huge fan of Iowa, but that doesn't make it bad! When I was younger we went to the Amana Colonies there.
• Nebraska - Like Iowa, I'm not a huge fan, but the people are nice! I personally don't have many suggestions of things to do there.
If you enjoy shopping, you may want to visit Chicago, Illinois or St. Louis, Missouri. The West part of St. Louis has two great outlet malls with tons of shopping opportunities. St. Louis has historical areas and nightlife, and the St. Louis Arch. Our zoo is huge (and FREE!), and the city museum is awesome to explore. We also have a great science center (that's FREE, too)!
You may want to swing by and see the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball, too.
Wherever you end up, it sounds like you are going to have FUN!!!