50 States Challenge

I recently read an article about people who had been to all or almost all fifty U.S. states.  I travelled quite a bit as a child, and my husband and I are already pretty well-travelled (considering we have been married less than 2 years).  So it has been pretty well established that sight-seeing and vacationing will be a big part of my life for the rest of my life.  I went through and crossed off all the states that I have been to, just as a kind of curious survey.  I know for sure that I have been to at least 25.  It is on my bucket list to see all fifty states before I die.  And I don’t want to just “be in” the state, I want to experience something meaningful in all 50 states.  This is why one or two are up in the air.  I am fairly certain I have driven through a few, but I can’t remember anything meaningful that happened in that state, so I am not going to count it.  So if you are feeling nostalgic and want to read through my memories, have at it.  But if not, that’s ok too.  I want to log these kinds of things so that I never, ever forget.

1. Alabama – One year anniversary trip to Gulf Shores with the hubby
2. Alaska – Family vacation RV trip when I was in middle school
3. Arizona – Visited on a western road trip my family took when I was in 5th grade; stayed overnight in Sedona
4. Arkansas
5. California – Mission Trip to San Francisco
6. Colorado – Visited on our western road trip; helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida – DISNEY WORLD
10. Georgia – Stayed at the Marriott before flying out for our honeymoon; Six Flags over Georgia
11. Hawaii – Family vacation in 2008
12. Idaho – Family snowmobiling vacation when I was in high school
13. Illinois – Tagged along on one of my Dad’s business trips to Chicago
14. Indiana – (probably driven through, doesn’t really count yet)
15. Iowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky – Visited a cousin who lives in Louisville and saw Wicked for her birthday
18. Louisiana – Visited friends we met at Gulf Shores, my first experience with “Boudin”
19. Maine
20. Maryland – Visited on my trips to see D.C.
21. Massachusetts
22. Michigan – Visited an Aunt and Uncle who lived up there
23. Minnesota
24. Mississippi – (driven through on the way to Texas, doesn’t count yet)
25. Missouri
26. Montana – Visited on our western road trip
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada – Las Vegas/Hoover Dam; Saw David Copperfield, The Phantom of the Opera, and Cirque du Soleil
29. New Hampshire
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico – (probably driven through, doesn’t count yet)
32. New York – Mission trip in middle school; family vacation/business trip while I was in college
33. North Carolina – The WILDS youth camp
34. North Dakota
35. Ohio – Visited King’s Island amusement park with my youth group
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina – Handbell competition at Bob Jones University (yes I am a nerd)
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee – Greatest state on earth; my home state
43. Texas – Visiting the in-laws… second greatest state on earth 😉
44. Utah – Visited on our western road trip; Bryce Canyon National Park
45. Vermont
46. Virginia – Arlington National Cemetery
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin
50. Wyoming – Visited on our western road trip; Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park

Here are a few pictures from the various trips that I could find.  It’s amazing all the fun memories that come back when you remember each state and the fun things that happened there!

So what about you guys? (Those of you who are still with me).  What states have you been to?  Is being a member of the “50 State Club” on your bucket list? If so, how close are you?  I decided only to count states in which I have made a meaningful memory; while it means it may take a little bit longer to check off all 50 boxes, I can’t wait to give my grandchildren and beyond a list with all the crazy memories that are sure to be on it!