50 States (2.0) Update

Hello and happy Tuesday! I didn’t mean to skip blogging yesterday, but the weekend got away from me.

**I shared this post last summer, and I wanted to update it after our trip to the PNW , share recent DC info, and in a couple of states thanks to road trips)**

Since we are in the thick of summer, it got me thinking about travel. While we do go to a few places throughout the year, we tend to travel a bit more in the summer.

Growing up, we didn’t go on yearly vacations. We spent lots of time at the Lake of the Ozarks…and when we did go on vacations, they were usually farther away and for at least a week.

These days, it does feel like people travel more. Also, I guess since I live in Lexington, we can get to the beach in about nine hours. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to tally how many states I’ve visited.

I’ve also shared before that while we have some favorite places to visit, we do make an effort to take the kids somewhere new when we can.

When I’m counting states visited, it means I’ve stayed there or spent some time there.

Honestly, I feel like I’m “blanking” and maybe I’ve been to another state or two…but I guess the updated total is 26.

Alabama- We’ve pit stopped in Birmingham, AL the past two fall breaks on our way to Florida.

Arizona – We took the kids to Arizona/Grand Canyon in the summer of 2018. I blogged about that trip. I also went to Arizona on spring break in college one year.

California– I’ve been to California many times. The first time I ever went was in 1992…I think. My aunt and uncle had moved to Santa Ana, and we visited them. While we were there, we went to Disneyland too. We went back to California when I was in high school. By that time, my aunt and uncle (and cousins) had moved back to KC, but they went with us on a trip to northern California.

In 2008, Travis and I spent over a week in San Fransisco and Napa.

Travis and I went to San Diego in December of 2012…(maybe?) to watch our nephew run in a Foot Locker national cross country race. It was really neat to be there in December.

In 2018, after going to Arizona, we headed even further west to San Diego with the kids. That was their first (and only time so far) in California. We were there four days and drove to LA for a couple days before going home.

I’ve also been to Del Mar with Travis a couple of times when he’s gone there for work. It really is one of my favorite places.

Colorado – I’ve only been to Colorado one time, and it was during the summer when I was a kid. My grandparents spent the month of July there, so we went to visit them. While it’s not a short drive, I am still surprised we didn’t go there another time or two since just the state of Kansas separates KC and Colorado.

We would like to take the kids there one day…and I still think we’d go in the summer.

Florida – Florida is one of our favorite vacay destinations. We go to Siesta Key every few years and then we went to the Destin/30A area for fall break last year. (recap part 1 // recap part 2)

Georgia – I’ve been to Georgia only a couple of times…once to Atlanta to watch the Cats play…I think it was the Sweet 16 game in 2012.

Then, more recently, Travis and I went to Julep Farm in Dillard, GA.

Illinois – I have mostly only driven through Illinois, but we visited my Chicago family a couple of times when I was younger. I am surprised we haven’t gone more considering Chicago has lots to do and is only a five hour drive or so from Lex.

Indiana – While Indiana is close by, I think I’ve only been there (for an extended period of time) once. I think it was 2014 and on spring break, we took the kids there because Kentucky was playing in the Elite 8.

I remember Hadley shaking her bell (see photo below) at an opposing fan and yelling, “Go Cats!” 😆

We also went to the children’s museum and the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner one night.

Kansas – Fun fact: Kansas City is in Missouri …not Kansas…I’m always surprised that people don’t often realize that. That being said, there is a Kansas City, KS, but I don’t think most people know that either. The big Kansas City is KCMO. I have quite a few family members who live in Kansas (and cheer for KU — we love them anyway) 😉

Kentucky – I can’t believe I’ve lived here for 19 years! I’ve grown to love the Bluegrass State.

Maine – One summer when I was in high school, we flew to Boston, and rented a car. We spent time in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. I do remember Maine being so pretty. We actually went on a whale watching tour…and I remember when my mom went to get that roll of film developed, the film place lost the photos. She was so bummed.

Maine is another place I’d like to get back to and take the kids.

Massachusetts – Same trip as with Maine. I’ve only really been to Boston. I do remember walking the Freedom Trail and visiting the Cheers bar.

Minnesota – In high school, my family went to Minnesota for a vacation. I remember my brother and I getting stuck in the middle of a lake on a paddle boat. haha

I also visited my friend, who lived in Minnesota at the time, after she had her first baby.

On both of those trips to Minnesota, I visited the Mall of America 🙂

Missouri – I obviously know my way around Missouri 🙂

Nevada – Travis and I went to Lake Tahoe for our 10th wedding anniversary. We waited to go over my fall break rather than in June. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton, and it was so nice. Truckee, CA was nearby and super cute. I’d really love to go back to Tahoe.

New Hampshire – We went to NH on the same Mass/Maine vacation.

New York– I’ve only been to New York once, and it was when I was twenty. I visited my friend who was staying there for the summer.

In 2020, we had our whole trip to New York planned for spring break with the kids, but then the world shut down…

North Carolina – We’ve been to Asheville many times, and recently we went to Highlands, NC when we went to Julep Farms.

Ohio– Living close to Cincinnati, we’ve been there quite a few times. We’ve gone to Reds games, shopped at Ikea, gone to Kings Island, been to a Chris Stapleton concert at Riverbend and more.

Oregon- For the first half of our PNW vacation, we spent two nights in Portland, then we went to Eugene for the Olympic Track Trials, and then finished our time in Oregon with two days on the Oregon coast in a cute cottage steps from the water.

South Carolina – We’ve gone to the Charleston area (Usually Folly Beach or Isle of Palms) quite a few times for vacation through the years.

For spring break this year, we visited Greenville, SC. It was a lovely town.

South Dakota – Thanks to a high school boyfriend, I visited Sioux Falls, SD in high school with his family.

Tennessee – We’ve been to a few cities in Tennessee through the years. Travis and I visited Chattanooga on the way home from the Atlanta/UK basketball trip we took.

We took the kids to Knoxville for spring break their kindergarten year. UK was playing Tennessee, and we spent a couple of days exploring the city.

Then, we’ve been to Nashville quite a few times. We have friends who live there, and we also took that kids for spring break 2021 when we stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Virginia – After my mom retired from teaching, she took my brother and me to the DC area including Virginia…and Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello.

(I wanted to go to the beach…my mom and brother out-voted me and we ended up in DC haha)

Washington – We stayed in Olympic National Park at Lake Quinault Lodge for one night. Then, we spent one day and night in Seattle to finish up our PNW trip.

Washington, DC: As I mentioned in the Virginia section, I went to Virginia/DC with my mom and brother in 2004. We took the kids to DC for spring break this year (2024), and saw so much! We really enjoyed our time in Virginia, DC, and Georgetown.

West Virginia: We drove through West Virginia on our way to DC for spring break. The capitol building was so pretty.

Other thoughts…

I can’t believe I’ve never been to Texas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas. Just being from Kansas City, those states aren’t too far away.

Close to Kentucky – West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Michigan and others that I bet I’ll get to some day.

One of my neighbors was talking about their upcoming trip to Maine, and I’d love to go there again and take the kids.

This was a fun post to write. Honestly, it was one that I thought I’d just sit down and write quickly, but took quite a while! I wrote this over a few days, but I loved looking back at all the places I’ve been.

How many states have you been to?