50 by 50

This started out as 50 by 30.  That was a lifetime ago, or so it feels.  Now, my goal is to visit all 50 U.S. states by age 50.  I'm very close - only four states to go - and I have three years and a few months to achieve that.  A very attainable goal. 

I had covered a lot of ground (and air miles) in my quest for 50 by 30.  I believe I got more than half the states "in" by then.  As happens to many of us when we age, I became less "foot-loose and fancy-free" (that saying surely just aged me) and generally took on more responsibilities.

I guess I'm thinking about this quest again because my wandering has slowed so considerably, particularly in the last few years.  I think I need to think about roaming to keep me inspired in some way.  So, here I am on Thanksgiving Eve thinking about where I've been.  (And I am thankful for those travels.)  In order for me to "count" a state in this quest, I had to have set foot in it outside an airport.  In other words, I've been in the Fargo, ND airport but I don't count ND in my list of states because I never left the airport. 

Here are some highlights of where I've been or, in four cases, where I hope to go.  The number at the end of each entry represents an approximate number of times I've been to the state.  It's approximate only as well as my memory serves me.

1. Alabama - Birmingham (Civil Rights Institute, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church), a party in some rural town outside Birmingham, and the Kentuck (Outsider Art) Festival in Northport. (3)
2. Alaska - Anchorage, Seward, Fairbanks, Denali National Park (1)
3. Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Grand Canyon National Park a few times, Tuscon, Sedona a few times (5 or 6)
4. Arkansas - This state "squeaks in."  I drove across the Mississippi River from Memphis, passed the "Welcome to Arkansas" sign, got out of the car, stood there for second, and turned around and went back to Tennessee.  I will eventually head to Little Rock and the Clinton Library.  Would also like to see some of the Civil Rights historic sights and Hot Springs National Park. (1)
5. California - Sacramento, San Simeon (Hearst Castle), Oakland, San Fran (several times), San Diego (several times), San Jose, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, some place in Western Orange County, LA and surrounding towns (several times) (10 or so)
6. Colorado - Southern part of the state on a train ride (we got off the train!) from New Mexico.  Still want to visit Boulder, Vail, and Rocky Mountain National Park.  (1)
7. Connecticut - Mystic Seaport, river cruise past the Gillette Castle, and many drives/related stops on the way to New England points North.  (12-ish)
8. Delaware - Many times as I live about 15-20  minutes from this state.
9. Florida - Other than the states I've lived in, this (or NY?) is my most visited.  I've been from North-South and East-West in this state.  I have not gotten too far West on the panhandle.  (30+)
10. Georgia - Savannah; also stayed in many small towns on my 20+ years of driving my grandmother North from Florida every Spring. (20+)
11. Hawaii - a non-acquired state
12. Idaho - Spent time in this state when I crossed over from Montana.  It's been almost 3 decades so don't remember a lot of specifics.  In theory, would like to get back here for a more memorable experience. (1)
13. Illinois - Moline, Chicago, Rock Island (5) 
14. Indiana - some town near Indianapolis for work; South Bend (3)
15. Iowa - Des Moines and Davenport (2)
16. Kansas - Coffeyville, where some of the Dalton Gang met their maker (1)
17. Kentucky - Richmond, home of Eastern Kentucky University; Louisville horse country; Berea, home of Berea College (4)
18. Louisiana - New Orleans several times and surrounding areas; drive through to Mississippi (5)
19. Maine - Acadia National Park (1) 
20. Maryland - Annapolis, Baltimore, Ocean City, Deep Creek Lake in the Western part of the state (15 or more) 
21. Massachusetts - Boston, lived on the island of Martha's Vineyard for three months, Cambridge (5)
22. Michigan - Grand Rapids, Saugatuck, Ann Arbor (3)
23. Minnesota - Mankato, Blue Earth (home of the Jolly Green Giant Statue), Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mall of America in Bloomington, Rochester (4)
24. Mississippi - Drove through and spent the night on the way from New Orleans to Memphis 
25. Missouri - a non-acquired state
26. Montana - Dillon, Billings, Bozeman (2)
27. Nebraska - a non-acquired state  (I am planning on looking for a cheap flight here to paddle the Niobrara National Scenic River near Valentine, NE.  While in the state, I may see Carhenge - Stonehenge meets old cars - in Alliance, NE.)
28. Nevada - Reno, Las Vegas several times, Hoover Dam (twice) on shared border with AZ (5)
29. New Hampshire - Can't remember town where I stayed with a friend-of-a-friend for a few nights (1) 
30. New Jersey - Lived here for about 22 years 
31. New Mexico - Santa Fe, Taos, south of Albuquerque (4)
32. New York - Woodstock, New Paltz, Rochester, Binghamton, Buffalo, Manhattan resident for one year (30) 
33. North Carolina - Rural back road wandering, Smoky Mountains, Research Triangle area, coast near Eastern Carolina University, Charlotte, and many overnights (20+)
34. North Dakota - A non-acquired state since I've only been in the airport 
35. Ohio - Cleveland and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sandusky (4) 
36. Oklahoma - Oklahoma City, Mangum and a few other towns (1)
37. Oregon - Portland, Crater Lake National Park (3)
38. Pennsylvania - Lived here for about 24 years 
39. Rhode Island -Just spent the night.  (Providence and the Newport mansions are on my list of things to do.)
40. South Carolina - Charleston, Dillon and Latta (20+)
41. South Dakota - Crazy Horse Monument and Mt. Rushmore (twice), various Black Hills towns, Badlands, Sioux Falls, Mitchell (home of the Corn Palace), Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (4)
42. Tennessee - Nashville and the Grand Old Opry, Memphis (Peabody Hotel and its famous ducks, Lorraine Hotel where Dr. MLK, Jr. lost his life) (3)
43. Texas - Corpus Christi, El Paso, San Antonio (Alamo), Dallas, Lufkin (6) 
44. Utah - Park City, Salt Lake City, Zion National Park (3) 
45. Vermont - Have been here a few times 20+ years ago.  Can't remember names of towns. (2) 
46. Virginia - Richmond, Petersburg, Luray, Skyline Drive (10)
47. Washington - Seattle (twice), Mt. St. Helen's, Mt. Ranier National Park, Tacoma (3)
48. West Virginia - Wheeling.  (I've been to this state a few times but can't think of when or why.  Probably just passing through and spending the night.) (2)
49. Wisconsin - Madison, La Crosse, Spring Green (home of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen East), Wisconsin Dells (12 - 14)
50. Wyoming - Cheyenne, Jackson Hole (Grand Teton National Park), Yellowstone National Park (2)
51. Non-state Washington, D.C. - Several visits but still want more of this great city! (5)

This has proven to be exhausting.  I lost my momentum and didn't always point out key highlights.  I'm sure I will come back to update this over the next few weeks just so, years from now, I will be able to jog my memory and remember these journeys with fondness.   

For now, I have to use this list to motivate myself to finish my 50 in 50.  I also want to re-visit those handful of states where I can't remember where I visited within the state or why.  I'm ready to leave tonight but, on Thanksgiving Eve, I have to prepare to meet my responsibilities.  This night of the year, I'm OK with that.