Once you get away from NYC NY is great. I loved growing up on Long Island. Lots to do, Beaches were always within ten miles. Out east was still like country lots of potato fields. Up state was very rural. So I get it.
Now here in PA away from big cities is like Mayberry RFD. Rural.
I have a friend who used to deliver cars all around the country. He said similar. That the state of New York is beautiful. NYC he said was the number one biggest shithole he'd ever seen in his life.