Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Has Anyone Seen all 50 States?

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Has Anyone Seen all 50 States?

If so... How long did it take to do? What was the frequency of trips/# of states per trip? Was this a family vacation goal or..? What are your top picks of those states? If not... Any place you haven't been, but always wanted and why?

Pretty strange question. I've hit 49 states (can't find any reason to go to North Dakota) over about 15 years of random traveling. Most overrated: Texas (on a per square mile basis this state underachieves mightily; couple of cool cities and an OK beach; crappy weather) Nebraska (OK, I know no one raves about Nebraska in the first place, but this is one really dull state; we're talking visual Valium here) New Hampshire (Vermont's less polished redheaded stepchild) Most underrated: Utah (not just for Mormons any more) Maine (10,000 bears can't be wrong) Montana (where men are men and sheep are...oh well, you know that one already)

Wow, tough questions! I've been to all but the Dakotas, both North and South. No timetable; it's just the result of military moves all over the country and some planned vacations. Alaska and Hawaii are both right up at the top of my favorites list, along with Arizona, Florida (strictly for the beaches), and New York, my home state.

All but Idaho, Colorado, and Vermont. But, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll get to those three! This has been over 25+ yrs and we've loved them all but my favorites are Hawaii and Alaska.

Been to all of 'em. Took 4 months, drove the whole thing just to say I done it. Liked Iowa a lot. Nice people.

Iowa is a lot better since Roseanne and Tom Arnold moved their freak show out of the state.

I count on being one half of those old couples with the map on the back of their car (you know, the one with stickers of each state).

Thomas: "Message: Been to all of 'em. Took 4 months, drove the whole thing just to say I done it." Just how long did it take to drive to Hawaii?

Stuck at 48 (missing Oregon, not really sure why and Alaska), plus most of the Canadian provinces. Mostly the result of long family car/camping vacations as a kid, with many, many fond memories. My brother and I started keeping track of the states when we realized how many we'd been to (I think he's stuck at 48, with Alaska and Hawaii still to go). It was no concerted goal, although he and I did drive to Rhode Island for the day when I lived in Boston, just so he could add Rhode Island to his list. Each year, we would take a 3- or 4-week trip by car. One year, we drove from the midwest up through Canada, through Washington, then (as I recall) back through the northwestern states. Another year, through Nebraska to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and back through Texas. Another year, east through Canada, then back down through Maine and those states. We hit northern and southern California on some trip, can't remember which. A (quick!) drive to New Orleans one Easter break, and a couple of drives to Florida at other Easters. That covers most of them...

What counts as visiting a state? If you make a flight connection in a city, actually leave the plane and walk through the airport, can you count that state? PS - I will loan Jess my North Dakota visit - as a kid we were driving through central Canada and somehow took the wrong dirt road and later found ourselves about 50 miles into North Dakota.

Gail's question brings up a possible added question: how many states have you been in without really being in it? I have been in DFW airport but otherwise have no knowledge of Texas. And I have been in Decatur, Nebraska, just to say I've been in Nebraska but that's all I've ever seen of it.

I've only got Arkansas, AK, and HI to go. I don't fly (now) so I may just have to celebrate 48 and call it "good". When I did fly, I didn't allow any airport stopovers in the count. You could argue either way, but it seems not quite in the spirit of the theme to only breathe stale airport air and not really touch the ground and be able to count that as a whole state. I once spent a Memorial Day weekend weekend trip going from Michigan to Deleware just to check it off. (Beautiful state BTW if you discount Wilmington...at least the part that I got lost and saw!) The next theme may be state capitals...I mean the actual state capital buildings. Probably a retirement project, although I've already got quite a few. (favorite building so far, PA, after a wonderful renovation)

I forgot...favorite state.... California. I know, I know....but you can't argue with a combination like Big Sur (Pt Lobos) Carmel, Yosemite, Redwoods, old Missions all over, San Fran, Venice, Mojave, Napa....and much more JMHO

Airports don't count. At least not how we figure it. I plan to eventually see all 50 states (and then I'd like to get all the provinces of Canada and then maybe Mexico). Right now I'm only at 29. But I plan to get four more next summer and if I ever make it to the Northeast I'll be able to get several states in a couple weeks.

I agree strongly that airport visits do not count, unless you actually leave the airport premises. That being said, I have not been to either of the Dakotas or Oklahoma, and don't see when I can get there. I may have to make special trips to each just to satisfy this urge. I have been to Canada a bunch of times--don't forget that our big friendly furry neighbor to the north is really the 51st state! Happy July 4th!

I've been tracking my progress for years. I do not count airport stop overs, and neither can you. Also, if you just cut the corner of a state while driving without stopping, no good either. I always say you need to visit at least 2 cities, or spend the night for it to count. I'm at 45, needing AK, MS, OR, WA, and ID. I hope to knock the 3 in the upper left corner in one trip soon.

I have never been to Ontario but I sure do hope to make it thar soon.

Not yet but I have my US map and my map pins ready!

On behalf of all Travel Agents everywhere, I'd just like to inform you that there are actually 51 states in the United States. See, how could you get along with the useful services we provide.

Here's what I said on March 11, when this question was last asked (it gets asked about twice a year): When my plane to Anchorage stopped at Ketchikan on 1993 May 24, it was number 50 for me. We were allowed to get off the plane; so I got my picture made at the airport, joking "just in case the plane crashes before Anchorage!"

I'm glad you're not my travel agent. With your math skills no telling how much my credit card would be overcharged. (PS: Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, the USVI's and Guam are territories, the Midway islands are possessions)

Kent Please, please, please, tell me the differance between commonwealth, territory, and possessions. I know a commonwealth can vote, a territory cannot. Please enlighten me with info!

PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico, a U.S. possession since 1898, became a commonwealth in 1952. Since then, Puerto Ricans have been considering three significantly different political status options -- statehood enhanced commonwealth and independence -- as an alternative to the present relationship with the United States. The political status debate continues, in part, because the last plebiscite held on November 14, 1993 failed to yield a majority vote on any of the three options: 48.6% enhanced commonwealth, 46.3 statehood; 4.4% independence. Commonwealth voters elect a resident commissioner, who has a voice but no vote in the House of Representatives. The current resident commissioner is the Honorable Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo. GUAM Currently, Guam is an unincorporated, organized Territory of the United States. It is "unincorporated" because not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the Territory. Guam is an "organized" territory because the Congress provided the territory with an Organic Act in 1950 which organized the government much as a constitution would. The Guam Organic Act currently provides a republican form of government with locally-elected executive and legislative branches and an appointed judicial branch. Guam also has an elected representative to Congress -- The Honorable Robert Underwood. AMERICAN SAMOA American Samoa, an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is "unincorporated" because not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the territory. American Samoa is an "unorganized" territory because the Congress has not provided the territory with an organic act, which organizes the government much like a constitution would. Instead, the Congress gave plenary authority over the territory to the Secretary of the Interior, who in turn allowed American Samoans to draft their own constitution under which their government functions. USVI The U.S. Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States, was placed under the administration of the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to Executive Order 5566 in 1931. These islands are under the sovereignty of the United States. In 1980, the Virgin Islands Commission on Status and Federal Relations was created to educate the public on various political status options. A referendum was held in 1993 with only 10,710 or 31.4 percent of the 39,038 eligible voters participating which was below the 50 percent plus one needed. As a result, the Commission was disbanded on December 31, 1993. Under legislation passed in 1968, the Virgin Islands has had a democratically elected form of government since 1970. Prior to 1970, the Governor of the Virgin Islands was appointed by the President of the United States and reported to the Secretary of the Interior under the territory's 1954 revised organic act. The Government of the Virgin Islands is headed by a popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor for four-year terms. The Member of Congress from the U.S. Virgin Islands is currently the Honorable Donna Christian-Christensen (D). She possesses the same powers and privileges as Representatives from the States, with the exception of voting on the House floor.

By Labor Day we will have been in, and stayed in, all 50 states (plus Puerto Rico, if you want to count that too). We are leaving in a few weeks, to the North West (from SW FL) and will drive through about 20 states, or more on our round trip. ID, MT and ND are the only 3 we have not been in as yet. I don't know when it dawned on us that we were finally going to get to all 50, but since we like to travel..glad we are. It's also our 50th anniversary this month, so it's a great way to celebrate!

Kent Thank you very much for such detailed information. I have printed it and appreciate your time and knowledge.

Anybody else w/ two cents' worth ???