Growing up we rarely traveled. In fact, the first time I was in a state, other than New York where I was born, was when I went to camp in Pennsylvania when I was 12. When I met my husband, my travels expanded. Sort of. He was from New Jersey! So I had a new state to visit, even though we spent most of the time in the middle -- Manhattan -- meeting near the ticket booths in Penn Station for the three years we dated.
Marriage and People Express expanded my travels -- Boston (Massachusetts), Orlando (Florida) etc. But my big boost in travel came from my job. I was a public finance analyst, which involved travel throughout the US, mostly to state capitals. Travel equals frequent flyer miles which we used for family trips with the kids.
At some point, with the help of google docs, I started making lists. Modes of transportations used, national parks visited, baseball stadiums attended and of course, countries and states visited. My rules were fairly standard -- I had to have done something there (visited an attraction or participated in a meeting or conference in that state) and I had to eat something there. Not sure if everyone would approve of this but my list/my rules.
By the time I retired four years ago I had visited 46 states. Now I had a new goal. 52 by 62 -- 50 states plus DC and PR by the end of my 62nd year. We got to South Dakota (Mt Rushmore, Badlands National Park and Deadwood --where I added stagecoach to my modes of transportation list) and Arkansas and Kansas in one trip (Bentonville & Baxter Springs Kansas.) We were all set to go to the final state -- Montana (Glacier National Park) -- when my husband tripped and broke his shoulder. By the time he was well enough to travel the weather was not ideal for a trip to Montana. Despite giving up on 52 by 62 I wasn't going to take my chances and wait until the following summer. So off to Billings, Montana we went -- 2 days, 3 museums and a bunch of meals and I had completed my 50 state quest.
My favorite -- New York (home and there is nothing like New York!) followed by DC and Florida.
Now we are onto the continents -- 6 so far with #7 (Africa) on the schedule. Then it is the Oceans and then ????
