So, I turn 50 next year. September of 2016 to be exact.
Yeah, I know, I can’t believe it either. It got me thinking though…I’ve done so much international traveling over the past decade, that I haven’t seen as much of my own country as I would like.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve traveled plenty around the good ole US of A, but I think a person like me, who travels as much as I do, should see more of my own country. And it also seemed like a worthwhile “milestone” to put on my “before I turn 50” list.
So…I decided to start a thing I’m calling 50 by 50 — my quest to visit all of the 50 states by the time I turn 50. I’ve got just over a year and a half to do it.
I’ve been to 32 U.S. States (not counting D.C.) – more than half of them. That means I have 18 left to go!
A little bit about how I’m qualifying a state I’ve visited. Obviously, I’m not counting any states where I’ve only flown through their airports. After a lot of back-and-forth deliberation, I am counting states where I have actually driven through, spent some time (a day or half-day), eaten a meal, or done something there. These states include New Jersey, Vermont, Wyoming, Delaware, and Indiana. However, even though I am counting them as a state I’ve visited, I would like to get back to all of those and actually spend the night, more than 24 hours. But I’m going to concentrate on the other 18 states first to fully complete my visited “50 by 50” list.
And, I’ve got my first trip planned, which will knock out 3 states! In March, my boyfriend Keith and I are taking a 10-day trip to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. I have flown through all these states but that’s it. We will fly to Raleigh, NC, and visit the Outer Banks; then drive along the Atlantic coastline down to Charleston, SC, and on to Savannah, GA. I’m pretty excited to start my quest — or maybe I should say, finish it?
Stay tuned for stories about my progress and new states visited. I will file them all under the tag 50 by 50.
Travel well!
