One of my lifelong goals was to visit every single state in the United States prior to my 50th birthday. And exactly 1 week prior to my 47th trip around the sun, I pulled into the southern state of Arkansas to achieve this dream.
Growing up on the eastern seaboard and playing youth sports, we were always on the go via weekend road trips to the next tournament. So we hit about 16-20 states as a family.
I actually didn’t take my first flight until in college, so I had a relatively late start in my quest. We grew up being expert planners and piecing together itineraries (prior to the digital age making navigation a breeze). Believe it or not, I’m actually not a huge fan of flying but my time is valuable and the fact that I want to experience many of the most remote world sites, it is now my travel mode of choice. And I’ve developed quite a knack for finding the craziest of deals….. very addictive!
I get asked quite often my favorite state and without hesitation I always answer Utah. As an easterner and water enthusiast, it’s hard to understand why. However, if you love hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, stunning landscapes and killer sunrises/sunsets, it is a nature lovers playground.
I am so blessed and thankful to have had almost 9 months to explore all the crevices of this beautiful country at the beginning of the big road-trip craze of 2020-2021. To experience many iconic sites without the normal crowds or inflated expenses, it was truly a gift.
While life on the go isn’t all glamorous, I love the freedom and solitude of the open road. It forces me to slow down to enjoy life and just be present.
The destinations on my current US bucket list are now harder to get to, but I’ll never stop planning the next adventure and get excited every time I pull out my carryon bookbag to start packing!
FearlessAdventures 