States of the Union, updated

An update to https://willslack.blogspot.com/2013/03/states-in-union.html (and updated again in 2024)

Final score: Been to 38, technically visited 6, looking forward to 6.
  • Alabama
    • Mom's college reunion, Huntsville scout trip (coldest camping ever)
  • Alaska - Not yet
    • I recognized Anchorage from the air flying back to DC from Asia, which was cool.
  • Arizona
    • Visited Tucson for a few days in 2016, enjoyed the Saguaro fuzz on hills and the desert museum.
  • Arkansas
    • Heifer Ranch experience, overnight.
  • California
    • Weddings + many work trips, enjoyed Magic Castle with my cousin and his wife
  • Colorado*
    • Only Denver Airport, where you can be kicked off a plane because it's too hot to take off with full load.
  • Connecticut*
    • Saw many "bury" cities on way through on Greyhound but never actually stepped outside the bus, so this doesn't count. Have driven through before but I don't think I ever interacted with anything but a gas station.
  • Delaware
    • Overnighted with a friend there before driving back to DC in the very early AM.
  • Florida
    • Disney World, work trips
  • Georgia
    • Home state; been up & down & all around (Columbus, Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Savannah, Valdosta, Macon, Rome, etc etc). Work trips as well.
  • Hawaii - Not yet
  • Idaho
    • Work trip + conference, Boise is gorgeous. 
  • Illinois
    • Work trips to Peoria and fun visits to Chicago, especially St. Patrick's weekends.
  • Indiana
    •  Stayed in Indianapolis on my way to my first job and then with friends on a cross-country road tour where he was getting a degree, post tour in Iraq.
  • Iowa
    • Several work trips. Enjoyed Fort Dodge the most.
  • Kansas
    • Work trip to Topeka for a few days auditing a hospital install, visited a compound.
  • Kentucky
    • Visiting the cousins that raised Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic
  • Louisiana
    • Visiting and staying with friends in Monroe; haven't been to New Orleans yet
  • Maine
    • Stayed in this fine state during a political trip to NH. The coastal areas are lovely - and without cell coverage.
  • Maryland
    • Lived in Capitol Heights while interning; stayed in Baltimore and worked in greater Baltimore
  • Massachusetts
    • My college state, also Boston to stay with friends as well as Lawrence.
  • Michigan*
    •  Many transfers through my second favorite airport (Detroit) with fun fountains and a great light tunnel.
  • Minnesota
    • Spent two nights in the state so far, including hanging out at a bar with a bunch of Minnesotans.
  • Mississippi*
    •  Drove through on way to Houston, can't recall stopping.
  • Missouri - Not yet
  • Montana
    • Drove through in 2024 and stayed in Missoula, had lunch in Winnett on way to North Dakota. Some bad snow/ice so diverted from I-90 to state route 200, which was lovely.
  • Nebraska - Not yet
  • Nevada - Not yet
  • New Hampshire
    • Political stuff during college, especially in Portsmouth.
  • New Jersey
    • Driven through, stayed with family friends who had a perfect temperature for sleeping in their basement.
  • New Mexico
    • Family touring and sightseeing, memorable work trip to Clovis.
  • New York
    • Tourist trips to NYC, some upstate visits as well. Receptions above the Hudson with smart political people.
  • North Carolina
    • Second favorite state with connections and time in most major cities & Stone Mountain State Park. Backpacked as well.
  • North Dakota
    • Drove through in 2024, had dinner in Bismarck and stayed just over the state border in a Fargo suburb.
  • Ohio
    • Work trips to Zanesville, saw several friends in Cleveland.
  • Oklahoma*
    •  Drove in and out of a corner of the state the first time we were in Texas, I think.
  • Oregon
    • Work trips, Portland is gorgeous and features confusing roads
  • Pennsylvania
    • American history tourism, Pittsburgh is beautiful. Also visited an LDS temple open house.
  • Rhode Island
    • A few times, mostly to see a wonderful friend and her family in South Kingstown.
  • South Carolina
    • Cousins used to live here, done beach weeks on the coast, and I-85 is real boring.
  • South Dakota
    • Visited Pine Ridge Reservation, specifically Red Shirt Table. Really appreciated the time spent exploring the badlands on foot.
  • Tennessee
    • Field trips as a kid, time in Nashville as well with friends for a wedding and seeing cousins.
  • Texas
    • Visiting family in Amarillo, a wedding in San Antonio, Austin for a church thing, and brother at school.
  • Utah*
    • Transited through Salt Lake Airport on way to a conference at Sun Valley.
  • Vermont
    • A really interesting trip to the Northeast Kingdom that I'll never forget, featuring a "Christian" communistic cult.
  • Virginia
    • Family stays near DC, also been through Richmond at 3 AM and stayed there a night as well. Also spent some time in Charlotteville with colleagues.
  • Washington
    • Work trips, visiting family and friends as well. Rainier looming over the highway south from Seattle is a favorite travel memory.
  • West Virginia
    • I (kind of ) learned to snowboard here and went on a fun whitewater rating trip down the Gauley River.
  • Wisconsin
    • Third state of residence. Also been upstate to Tomahawk a few times.
  • Wyoming - Not yet

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