WMR

I keep two lists: those states that I've entered (i.e., stood on the ground in) and those where I've spent at least one night. Counting DC, I've been in 40; spent at least one night in 31.

dan woodlief

Along with my interest in history, I have always had an interest in flags. I buy a 4 x 6 flag from each country and state and have them in my study. They are great for adding a little color to library shelves. For example, I have the East and West German flags in front of my German history books, Soviet and Russian in front of the Russian history, and Civil War era U.S. flag with Union Irish Brigade flag in front of the Civil War books. I will admit that I often pick up magnets, but they represent specific cities instead of states or countries.

S

I won't bother counting because it wouldn't even compare. My travels have been limited to the eastern U.S. for the most part. I'm impressed with the rest of you. Congratulations

Neil

46. Still missing Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota and Alaska. I figure it will take one really bizarre summer vacation to get to those four.

Jeannie

Growing up in the 60's and early 70's, each sumer my parents took us on these LONG driving trips in our station wagon across the U.S. I didn't apprecaite the trips as much then, as my main interest was to find a motel with a swimming pool. By the time I was 13, I had visited all 48 continental states, Mexico, and Canada. As an adult, I have re-visited about 1/2 to 2/3's of the continental U.S. I still haven't been to Alaska and Hawaii, but hope to do that one day.

Joan

What a great thread! I've loved reading all the lists as this has been a goal in our family and a source of great fun planning road trips to see how many more states we can add. I'm at 46 missing Delaware, Kentucky, South Carolina and Alaska. Like Neil, it will take a really bizarre vacation to hit those 3 in the east. I can't for the life of me figure out how I missed Delaware other than to say I was travelling with my parents in that area at the time and the "goal" hadn't been set as yet. So, I guess we didn't think it was important to run over there.

I've changed planes in Anchorage and ran outside for about 15 seconds to smell the air but don't count it as yet. It was February, about 3 am, and approx -30 degrees outside! Hopefully we'll hit Alaska this year.

I have to tell you that some of the states were quick jaunts when I saw how close I was. We went to breakfast in Wyoming from Utah when I saw how close it was to Park City where we were visiting. We just drove across the border and the first town we hit we stopped for a meal. This is how I got North Dakota as well. We were going from South Dakota to Minnesota and took the long way through the south east corner of ND! I figured it was the closest I was ever going to be to ND so just had to swerve over. Fun, fun, fun! We stopped at a tourist information booth (yes, they actually have them in ND) and met someone from our home town! Talk about a small world!!

Like Sheila we have the magnetic board with the state magnets we've been to which has been great fun and a real conversation piece in our house.

Along the way my son has added the "goal" of the 50 capitals with a picture of him in front of each one. This will require return trips to many as it was an after thought. Oh well, he's young and has lots of time to plan! This is making me itchy for another ROAD TRIP!!!

Good luck on your goal everyone!!

Rosemary

From a Brit living in DC for 3 years, we are trying to see as many states as possible but are not obsessive - e.g. we flew across from DC to California unlike some of our friends who drove and therefore saw many more!
We have ticked off 21 states so far in 18 months. We don't count airport stops and we have to get out of the car. For example, we stopped at a MacDonalds in Delaware!

Kentucky - well, we walked across an Ohio River bridge from Cincinnati, walked about two hundred yards on the Kentucky side, back on the next bridge. So we've "done" Kentucky but would like to see more.

Tacky - but we collect refrigerator magnets!

ilisa

Well, I've only been to 19 plus DC. I'll be adding Iowa, Illinois and California and Ohio this year (business and a wedding - no real vacation plans). It's really kind of sad when you think that my father's entire family is out in California, and yet, I have never been there. However, now that I have a child, I plan to see much more of the United States.

kal

28+DC. But according to Mrs. kal, "We never gooo anywhere".

Chalk me up as tacky, too, Rosemary. Our fridge is covered with magnets. So many that it caused an imbalance in the compressor causing a sudden defrosting and the door fell off...(joke).

Can we count SF as another state?

Kathy

I hvae 48 plus I have traveled to and lived in DC. I am missing North Dakota (and I figure it is #1 since it is not on the way to anything) and I am missing Alaska (high on my wish list).
Haven't been to one where I couldn't find something I loved!

lisa

I curse whoever started this thread. It is really playing with my mind. Until this, I never thought about how many states I'd visited, and I was thinking about visits to National Parks in states where I've already been. Now I'm thinking I should try to check off some of these "missing" states instead. Argh.

GOL

Lisa,
Curse me. But, do you also "collect" National Park Passport stamps? Actually that is what I most care about, more than the states. I want to visit every one of the 'properties' in the National Park System. The Passport Stamps makes it fun.

I'm cursing the Wildlife Service for starting their own version of the Passport. There are a couple hundred more NWS places to visit than the NPS.....

Leone

I like these threads. Only Mississippi, for some reason. And I collect t-shirts from the states and cities I visit. Occasionally, I pull them out of my closet, and reorganize them, to revisit probably, but more immediately, to make sure they all get worn. Nice comments - makes me want to travel on this cold Thursday. Ciao

Gary

Counting on my fingers the states I've visited, then counting the ones I know I've missed, the number actually added up to 50. Tne answer is 35 states plus D.C. I've not been to the entire upper midwest (strange, because I've always wanted to visit the Dakotas) nor the northwest or Hawaii. I never made it all the way to Maine, and, perhaps because it's so small, I missed Rhode Island.

ncgrrl

I would like to thank GOL and Lisa for making me thing about visiting national parks in states I haven't been too (yet!).

I'm at 29 states + DC but most of the states I have not been to have national parks (Alaska, Hawaii, etc.) I've also changed planes in 2 states I haven't visited (yet).

I need to plan a vacation starting in Michigan and drive through the midwest and plains states.

Julie304

Thought this might be a fun thread to revive.

My number is 40, with NH, VT, RI, DE, MS, the Dakotas, MT, WY and Hawaii yet to go. It would be great to add the territories, but I doubt my checkbook could handle Guam and the Northern Marianas--and I'm not sure the visit would justify the expense. Is there anyone who can claim all 50 and the territories too?

J_Correa

17 - I'm not even half way there so I will list the places I HAVE been.

I have been to:
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Nevada
Utah
Colorado
Wyoming
Nebraska
Louisiana
Tennessee
Arkansas
Mississippi
New York
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Maryland
Delaware

Planning a business trip next month to Connecticut so I may be able to count a couple more after the trip.

richbutnot

44 - with Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to go. ND is going to be the tough one. The last two new states I "visited" were Kentucky and Michigan by changing planes in the Cinncinatti and Detroit airports. That counts, doesn't it?

GoTravel

The only ones I've missed are Alaska and Hawaii.

karens

I'm so happy to see I'm not the only refrigerator magent collector! And I wish we knew about the National Parks Passport earlier. There are several national parks we've been to, like Redwood and Crater Lake that I don't know if we'll get back to anytime soon b/c of the remoteness. My boys got their passports at an earlier age, so all their parks are recorded.

I've been to 29 states. I don't count states like Texas, where the only time I've ever been is to change planes in Dallas-Ft. Worth. My big gap is the entire middle section of the country. We'll add one more state this summer - Wyoming, but for a lot of them (i.e., Kansas, Nebraska, ND, AL), I have no idea if we'll ever get there anytime in the future.