Hitting all 50 by 30.

August 29, 2001 3:17 PM

Hitting all 50 by 30. Have you come close? Do you keep track? How many countries and continents have you racked up?
posted by mathowie (101 comments total)

Earlier this year, on a flight to New York, I realized I finally broke double digits, and when I got home my tally was a pathetic 11 states. I grew up in California, and although I've seen almost every nook and cranny of this state, up until three years ago, I'd never been farther east than Arizona.

I knew someone in college that bagged all 50 by the age of 21. Oh how I envied them. At my current rate, I doubt I hit 50 by 50.
posted by mathowie at 3:20 PM on August 29, 2001

Pathetic. I've only been to eight: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Virginia, Connecticut and New York.
posted by waxpancake at 3:25 PM on August 29, 2001

I'm at about 25 states or so thanks to a cross-country-and-back trip in my grandparents' RV when I was a kid (don't ask).

It's my continent-count that blows: 1. This will be remedied in November, however, when it will suddenly shoot up to: 2.

I have a good friend who is 29. She worked for a long time for a travel/outfitting company, and last year she went to Antarctica. She's now been to every continent. It just makes me spit.
posted by Skot at 3:27 PM on August 29, 2001

I've done 21, which impressed myself. Most of them were because my family drove from Florida to West Virginia to Minnesota in the motorhome for visits to relatives.

I've hit 3 of the 7 continents: North America, South America, and Europe.

If I really wanted to, I could make the state tally 22: I live about an hour from Oklahoma, but that's OK.
posted by LeiaS at 3:30 PM on August 29, 2001

2 continents, 4 countries, and a pitiful 5 states - Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada (I count the last two as just "eastern California") and Pennsylvania.
posted by annathea at 3:33 PM on August 29, 2001

"Going to all 50 states is a great American travel goal," said Cathy Keefe, a spokeswoman for the D.C.-based Travel Industry Assn. of America.

Keefe missed a major plug opportunity here. She should have said "hitting all 50 states and the District of Columbia..." How many people think of DC when thinking of hitting all 50 before 30? And yet, with world-class hotels, dining, and museums, not mention the seat of goverment of the free world, why would you pass it up?

PS: I've been to all but 12: AK (who has?), AR LA FL WV MS AL KT NC SC TN GA. I have a strong memory of driving through the northern tip of RI on the way to Boston, MA, but it's an open question.
posted by rschram at 3:33 PM on August 29, 2001

I have 48 at 26. (Some friends question Idaho, which I drove through but didn't stop in.) I haven't visited Alaska and expect to finish off the provinces before I hit Hawaii. For the record, I have DC.

My country and continent totals suck: I'm at two countries, 1 continent.
posted by mrbula at 3:38 PM on August 29, 2001

AK (who has?)

*raises hand*

Twice, both times in December. Once to Juneau (very small, very scenic, very temperate), once to Anchorage (savagely, awfully cold; charmingly moose-tacular).
posted by Skot at 3:39 PM on August 29, 2001

I've been to....lessee...AZ, TX, NV, CA, HI, GA, LA......my god is that it? And I'm FROM California! Better pick up my pace. Oh damn, just remembered: I turn 30 in about 2 months!

I have been lucky enough to have traveled in Europe a fair bit and been to Australia and Canada.

I am amazed by people who have no interest in travel. I mean, I can't even imagine it. To me that would be like saying "I have no interest in books"...but I guess some people feel that way too.

k

"He flunked French in High School, and thinks everything over there is set up to make guys like him look stupid."
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:39 PM on August 29, 2001

Sincere apologies for Celine-style ellipses use.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:40 PM on August 29, 2001

i've got 26 states if you count washington, d.c. fortunately, most of my trips occurred when i was old enough to remember them. i've also been to montreal and across the border into mexico, though the opportunity to travel abroad has always eluded me.
posted by centrs at 3:41 PM on August 29, 2001

Guess I can't count RI.
posted by rschram at 3:42 PM on August 29, 2001

Lessee: MA, ME, VT, NH, CT, RI, NY, NJ, DC, VI, FL, GA, LA, TX, CA, OR, ID, WA, UT, NV, CO, IL, MO, MI, NC, SC, PA -- but some of those only in airports. I've also been in five of the provinces of Canada (but two of those only passing through on a train -- shoulda been three but the rail workers went on strike).
posted by Steven Den Beste at 3:42 PM on August 29, 2001

When I was still living in Ireland, there was a family down the road from me, one of whom used to be my babysitter and taught us tricks with lighted matches, who ended up having (they had six kids) one emigrated to each of Europe (not Ireland), North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. I never found out if each had kids in each of those continents. People don't emigrate much from Ireland anymore so I guess this is a dying game but it's sure a lot better as regards travelling to weddings. My cousin is a scubadiving instructor on one of the Cayman islands and that definitely drew more of a crowd than Wisconsin would (I know nothing of the states, forgive me all Wisconsiners),
posted by Zootoon at 3:43 PM on August 29, 2001

At age 17, my current state list is: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Florida, DC, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Conneticut, Rhode Island.

I don't really care to reach all 50 states, but one of my life goals is to visit as many countries as possible... Right now I've got the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Bali. I need South American and Antarctica for the continents, which I don't think will be happening anytime soon...
posted by swank6 at 3:45 PM on August 29, 2001

48 states plus DC at 25. Actually, I probably hit that total by 16, thanks to road-trip oriented family vacations. Plus at least 4 provinces in the Big State Up North and only 2 continents. What's sad is how little progress I've made in the past few years--no new states since 16, no new continents since 3, no new countries since 20. Bah.
posted by feckless at 3:47 PM on August 29, 2001

. . . and no new planets ever, dammit.
posted by feckless at 3:48 PM on August 29, 2001

I keep track of the states that I visit and I collect hat pins (or whatever the damn things are called) from each state and national park that I visit. I am pretty sure that I have only visited eighteen states so far. A few states I have only briefly encountered on trips. I would like to someday do some serious traveling and search out all of the Wall Drug type places, all of the big national parks and that type of thing. I really enjoyed visiting Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore.

Perhaps one day I can start traveling to other countries, but so far I have only seen bits and pieces of the USA.
posted by bargle at 3:49 PM on August 29, 2001

Too many people have travelled too many places and still have no idea of where they came from.
posted by johnny novak at 3:50 PM on August 29, 2001

My husband play it differently - your number is reset to 0 when you get married, and then you start counting only states you have been in together after marriage. So far, we are 3 years, 20 states and 2 provinces.
posted by kristin at 3:50 PM on August 29, 2001

Ah, the train. I always wanted to take the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver, but airfare to either of those cities from the states is just so damned expensive.

That said, if we're counting trains, I definitely have Idaho.
posted by mrbula at 3:51 PM on August 29, 2001

i'm up to 24..my recent upstate NY -> Los Angeles drive picked me up a bunch i'd never been to, and many of them just barely..the drive from moab, utah to las vegas drives you through a corner of arizona for about 10 miles :)
posted by chacal at 3:52 PM on August 29, 2001

I had all 50 and the District of Columbia by 23. I hope to revisit them all sometime over the next 20 years as an adult.

johnny novak: excellent point. :)
posted by gloege at 3:52 PM on August 29, 2001

I used to keep a map on the wall with dated flags everywhere I went, then during the last move I took it down and never repopulated it. I'm at 22 states at 27, 4 continents. I used to work with a guy who had a goal, along with his friend, to pee in as many major bodies of water as they could. I'd like to see a Times article about that trek.
posted by jonah at 3:53 PM on August 29, 2001

Been to 49 of the 50 states (missed Alaska so far) and every continent except Antarctica, on tour with various and sundry bands. Not to brag or anything. :) My last passport had to have new pages added twice.
posted by cfj at 3:57 PM on August 29, 2001

FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT, ME, OH, IL, AZ, NV, CO, WA, AK, CA, TX + DC: 26 (+ DC)

more than I'd thought...

Non-US: Spain, UK, France, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt (just the Sinai), Canada
posted by judith at 4:00 PM on August 29, 2001

CA, WA, AZ, NV, WY, MO, MN, IA, DC, VA, MD, PA, DE, NY, MA, CT, NJ, HI, SD

so that's... 19 states. And yet I realy don't consider myself well-travelled in the US because the furthest South I've been (not counting Miami, which is a different universe than 'the south') is Northern Virginia.

Top states I'd like to go to:

Louisiana, New Mexico, Alaska, Maine, Georgia.
posted by cell divide at 4:04 PM on August 29, 2001

Twenty-one plus DC by 22 - a lot better than I thought I'd do, really. (Twenty-two if you count a brief flight layover in Altanta, which I don't.)

'Course, what I'd REALLY like to do is visit the contiguous 48 in a single, unified, vastly insane road trip. Dunno when I might find enough time to pull off such a feat, though. Nor when I might own a car stable enough to endure such an endeavor, for that matter.
posted by youhas at 4:06 PM on August 29, 2001

States: 46 plus DC
Provinces: 5
Continents: 3
Foreign Countries (incl. Canada):10

...but hopefully next year I will have knocked that count WAY up.
posted by aramaic at 4:06 PM on August 29, 2001

WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, WY, ND, SD, WI, MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, AZ, NJ, NY, MA, NH, VA, WV, OH, MI, KY, TN, AR, FL, NC, PA, IN, IL, GA. Wow, I had no idea I'd done that much traveling, at least in the USA. Plus I've been to Ontario.
posted by kindall at 4:07 PM on August 29, 2001

Your standards are all way too low - airports and trains clearly don't count. Driving through may count, but only if you stop to pee, and that's still too easy. I think sleeping there is the minimum, sleeping *with someone* there is the real test.
posted by gleuschk at 4:18 PM on August 29, 2001

States: 25 plus DC
Provinces: what are those? :-) kidding...3
Continents: 4
Countries (incl. US & Canada): 21, but how should I count USSR, it doesn't exist anymore? Not bad for 29.5 years.
posted by msacheson at 4:25 PM on August 29, 2001

I was able to hit all 50 states by the time I was 18.
My senior year in High School I spent my spring break in Hawaii with a couple of friends.

After graduation I had nothing better to do so I decided I would take a motorcycle trip to visit some friends in California (from Washington.) It was so much fun that I kept going.
4 months, 22,798 miles, 11 oil changes, 5 sets of tires, 740 gallons of gas, 4 sleeping bags, and 2 tents later I was back home and had visited all 50 states, parts of Mexico, and vast expanses of Canada.

I really am glad I did it then, as that was probably the only time in my life I would be able to do such a thing. Soon after the 'real world' set in bringing such wonderful things like 'responsibility', ick.
posted by Tenuki at 4:28 PM on August 29, 2001

'Tagging the base' shouldn't count. I only count places where I spent the night. You could say that you 'saw' a state while driving through, but you haven't really 'visited' until you bed down for the night.

On a side note, one of the greatest motorcycle road trip movies ever is Roadside Prophets, even though they only go from Long Beach, Ca through Nevada. Stars John Doe from X and Adam Horovitz from the Beastie Boys, plus a ton of cameos.
posted by jonah at 4:36 PM on August 29, 2001

VA, MD, DE, NC, SC, NJ, NY, PA, CT, RI, VT, ME, MA, MO, NH, WV, KY, TN, OH, IL, IN, NE, SD, IA, GA, FL, AL, CO

28 states + DC, and a good bit of eastern Canada, but I'm over 30. I need to get out West. Of the states I've visited, the one that took me most by surprise was Kentucky. Beautiful! Everyone should see Mammoth Cave at least once. Friggin' huge!
posted by gimli at 4:39 PM on August 29, 2001

By the ripe ol' age of two i'd lived in three diff countries. Since i was five i've lived in just the one. I must have peaked early. As for visits...

States - zero | Countries - dunno. double digits (i'm European, so it'd be cheating)
posted by Kino at 4:57 PM on August 29, 2001

I'm with feckless - I hit 48 by age 12, added Hawaii when I got married (much, much, much later) and haven't gotten to Alaska yet despite living in Seattle when my sister lived on Kodiak Island.

I'm limited to three continents - North America (Canada, US, Mexico), Europe (pretty much everything west of the Evil Empire) and Central/South America (Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and a few steps into Argentina before being asked to leave by gentlemen with machine guns - that should count for at least as much as sleeping there).

When I've saved up enough for that matter transporter, I'll spend (summer schedule here) evening/nights on a Greek island, breakfast here in Seattle, morning skiing in the Andes, lunch picnicing (sp?) in the Alps, afternoon lounging around reading in my garden, dinner someplace I've never been before and repeat. Or something like that.
posted by skyscraper at 4:59 PM on August 29, 2001

Age 24. NY, PA, NJ, CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, DE, FL, OH, IL, ND, MT, ID, WA, WV, NC, SC, MI, plus BC in Canada.
posted by skwm at 5:04 PM on August 29, 2001

I got 50 on my 18th Birthday trip to Alaska, but that's counting DC, I still need to get to RI. Of course, I've only actually been off the interstate in about half of them, so I'm not sure how that counts.
posted by Nothing at 5:06 PM on August 29, 2001

I'd have to ask my parents where I was driven to as a small child to get my actual tally. I've often seen those US maps that people attach to their RVs. They fill in each state they visit. I wonder how many people have been able to fill in Hawaii? (Here's an RV catalog link to one)
posted by girlhacker at 5:08 PM on August 29, 2001

I'd have to ask my parents where I was driven to as a small child to get my actual tally.

If I was counting that way, I could probably add TX and NM to my tally, but since I don't remember either of them, I didn't include 'em. OTOH I do remember living in Arizona, so I counted that even though I was young.

Driving through should damn well count for the Dakotas and most of Montana.
posted by kindall at 5:21 PM on August 29, 2001

i'm 19, and i've been to one whooping american state: washington. that's because i just immigrated here to canada a few years ago. i have been across canada though, on the Canadian, from vancouver to toronto, then to montreal, so that covers much of canada.

outside of north america, lived in china and the philippines for a long time; been to south korea, and the major western european nations, but that's about it.

my grand masterplan, like everyone else, is to visit country in the world. yeah, it'll happen someday. i'm an optimist.
posted by dai at 5:27 PM on August 29, 2001

50 states? Pah!

Marge: Grandpa, this flag only has 49 stars on it!
Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I acknowledge Missouri!

Anyway.. I find travelling to be too expensive. It's not the actual moving around that is expensive but those darn motel rooms. To be honest, at my age I should be slumming it in hostels and doorways, but I just don't have that big a wish to travel as to travel like a tramp.

I'll be visiting the 50 states. When I'm rich.
posted by wackybrit at 5:29 PM on August 29, 2001

alabama, arizona, arkansas, colorado, connecticut, delaware, florida, georgia, illinois, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, mississippi, missouri, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, rhode island, south carolina, tennessee, texas, utah, vermont, virginia, west virginia. I think I've passed through some more of them, but I was asleep at the time.

that's 35 states, plus washington dc, puerto rico and st. john's in the american virgin islands. only three continents so far (europe, south and north america) but that includes four canadian provinces, five european countries, and a few different bits of chile.

not too bad for twenty years, but I have a way to go still...
posted by rabi at 5:34 PM on August 29, 2001

I have been to... ME, MA, VT, NH, NY, CT, RI, PA, NJ, WV, MD, VA, TN, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, KY, IN, IL, WI, CO and WA. 27! (28, if you count D.C.) Woo, I'm actually shocked. However, the astute geography students will notice that I have primarily been around the Gulf Coast and up the East Coast of the US. Imagine that... family in New England and Texas and I live in Atlanta, I spent a lot of time on road trips to see my family during grad school when I was too poor to fly!

So far only one continent, North America, and a few states in Mexico (Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Mexico D.F., Nuevo Leon, though the last two were just in the airport). In November that's changing, I'm headed to Amsterdam for 5 days in November. Wooohoooo!
posted by FullFrontalNerdity at 5:43 PM on August 29, 2001

WA, OR,CA, ID, NV, MT, UT, AZ, NM, CO, ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, NY, ME, VT, MA, RI, CT, MD, HI, FL, IA, and DC. Thanks for the car trip, Mom and Dad (31 states total). I hit all of those before 30, but it's out of the question for the rest.

Hmm. Looks like it's time for a southern roadtrip...
Canada: BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan (or as my wife says: sas-ka-CHEW-on), Manitoba (where the police officers are nice when they give you a speading ticket), Ontario and Quebec.

and finally, 4 european countries, 4 indonesian islands, 5 asian nations, 5 central american nations. And Moab, which is definitely not on earth. It's been a good trip so far...
posted by daver at 5:50 PM on August 29, 2001

Soon to be 33 years old:

States (22) : AL, AR, AZ, CA, DC, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, TN, TX, WA.

Provinces (2) : BC, ON

Countries (3): Canada, USA, and Senegal.

I have lots of catching up to do. I'll be lucky if I make 50 by 50.
posted by likorish at 5:56 PM on August 29, 2001

ME, NH, MA, CT, NY, NJ (home for 46 of 50 years), PA, OH, WV, VA, MD, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, IL, MN, AK, LA, TX, CO, CA, UT

VI, PR, DC

Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Hong Kong (pre-turnover), China, Japan, England, Scotland, Wales (that isn't cheating, is it?), France

North America, South America, Europe, Asia

Far better at 50 than I ever thought at 20.
posted by fpatrick at 6:07 PM on August 29, 2001

When traveling the US camping is the way to go. All motel rooms look the same.
posted by Tenuki at 6:21 PM on August 29, 2001

I try to stay out of those "Red" states if you know what I mean...
posted by machaus at 6:42 PM on August 29, 2001

States of the US: 3 ... 4?
States of Aus: 5
Continents: 4
Countries: 8 or 9.

Plan for more next year.
posted by Neale at 6:55 PM on August 29, 2001

Stepped foot on 30 States: MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, VA, WV, NC,SC, GA, FL, OH, MI, IN, IL, MO, KS, OK, TX, NM, AZ, CA, NV, UT, WY, NE, IA. +DC. All between the ages 14-19, when I could drive my parents around on their road trips. Also eight countries in three continents. In the last six years I have specialized in NY,NJ and CT less travelled spots, mostly because I don't have a car of my own.
posted by tamim at 6:59 PM on August 29, 2001

Miltary brats anyone? Every four years was a move to a new state. I started in Lake Arrowhead, CA to Trenton, IL to Sumerville, SC to Medford, NJ. I've had the goal to get all 50 ever since the my first move. My list is down to what states haven't I been to: Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alabama. Being in Boston makes it kinda tough to catch those states without a major city or reason to visit. Only Canada for countries on a trip from Wisconsin North and back East through Niagara. Almost made Mexico on a spring break trip to Texas from Wisconsin but Corpus Christi was the farthest South I've been. Maine only into the southern part which probably puts St.Paul/Minneapolis as the furtherest North on the mainland.
posted by brent at 7:01 PM on August 29, 2001

States of the US: at least 14, counting only places where I've stayed for at least one night. Airports don't count.
States of Australia: 3
Continents: 3
Countries: 24

Not bad for 26 years. Hopefully much more to follow!!
posted by kristen at 7:26 PM on August 29, 2001

Sadly, I've been on an airplane over 30 times and racked up only:
NY, PA, SC, NC, GA, FL, CA, NV, WA, MO, Michigan (what's the abrv?), CO, Maryland as states, DC as well.
Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta
Mexico as well (20 minutes in Tijiuana)
Not bad, but since I'm 30 already, I lose.
As a Canadian, I should have been to all the provinces by now...sigh.
posted by Grum at 7:36 PM on August 29, 2001

At 27 ¹/₂, I've made it to:
21 states and DC (CA, WA, NM, MI, IL, IN, WI, OH, PA, VA, WV, NJ, NY, ME, NH, MA, FL, GA, SC, AK, HI)

3 continents (Asia, North America, Europe)

7 countries (The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Monoco, South Korea, US, Canada).

I hope to see the Scandanavian countries and frankly, the rest of Europe soon. And, spend more time in my native Far East. Heck, as long as I get to see as much as possible before I leave this mortal coil, I'll be happy.
posted by shinyj at 7:39 PM on August 29, 2001

32 states. and vulcan on summer holiday.
posted by clavdivs at 7:48 PM on August 29, 2001

MI=Michigan
posted by clavdivs at 7:49 PM on August 29, 2001

"5 sets of tires" Tenuki, did you power break through Texas or what?
posted by clavdivs at 8:04 PM on August 29, 2001

I'm 23, and up until four years ago I had only been to 9. Then the past four years I have driven cross country, twice.

MD, DC, PA, DE, VA, WV, NY, MA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, TX, NM, AZ, CA, NV, MO, IL, WI, MN, SD, MT, ID, WA, OR

29 + DC, Jamaica, Canada (Niagara Falls), Mexico (Tijuana), and England

When I was younger all four of our tires exploded from the heat in FL on the way to Disney world.

In New Mexico my friend fell asleep at the wheel and we did two 360s on the highway median.

Avoid driving through (southern, I-10) Texas at all costs - most boring drive ever.

There are no black people in Montana :)
posted by owillis at 8:24 PM on August 29, 2001

I hit 47 + DC before 30... still waiting for Hawaii, Alaska, and Maine, but I'm ready to go as soon as I get the chance!
posted by spilon at 8:26 PM on August 29, 2001

Hmmm...

IL, IN, IA, AK, MI, WA, NY, CA, FL, OR, UT, SD, ND, TX, HI, ME, MD, PA, TN, LA, MO, MS. All before 30.

Mexico, Jamaica, Germany, England, France, Italy, The Netherlands (twice). We're going to Australia in February, and are planning a trip to Asia for sometime later in 02.
posted by soynuts at 8:34 PM on August 29, 2001

I had a 10 year career as a cook, which took me to all sorts of places, including Alaska for seven summers and Antarcitca for 8 months, where I cooked for scientists and staff at Palmer Station.

I've been to 29 states, but Alaska was my favorite. I've been there 7 times. It's kind of like a country in itself. I've also been all over Europe, including Yugoslavia when it still existed (that's my favorite stamp in my passport). I've also been to South America. Hopefully, my next continent will be Africa. I'm looking to find a Kenyan or Tasmanian safari that is affordable, anyone know of any?
posted by culberjo at 8:50 PM on August 29, 2001

oops I spelled Antarctica wrong! - sorry
posted by culberjo at 8:53 PM on August 29, 2001

culberjo, I'll have my husby check into that Tasmanian safari - he's an Aussie expat - and we have friends in Tasmania who could probably help out with ideas.
posted by soynuts at 8:57 PM on August 29, 2001

Heat and constant wear took their toll, and after a close call involving a front tire blowout I decided to not take any chances. Now I usually replace the tires after 8-10K miles depending on how they look.
posted by Tenuki at 9:09 PM on August 29, 2001

Did I write Tasmania? I meant to write Tanzania. Jeez, I'd better go to bed!
posted by culberjo at 9:17 PM on August 29, 2001

- 43 states + DC (not NY, VT, NH, ME, CT, RI, or AK)
- 4 continents (NA, Australia, Asia, Europe)
- 8 countries (US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, France, Belgium, UK)
- almost 28 years

All (but one) of the states came before I was 18, and most of the countries after 18. My dad, my sister, and I used to take these cross-country trips every summer; twice to Texas, once to CA and WA, once to SD, once out east to everywhere (mostly to MD, but via Florida and New Orleans), and probably a couple I'm forgetting.

At the time, I thought this was normal, all this travelling around. Just before I graduated from (a very small) high school (in a very small, very rural town), I was talking with my best friend about his upcoming trip to Minneapolis to see a Minnesota Twins baseball game and it turned out that it would be his first trip out of a four county area.
posted by jkottke at 9:41 PM on August 29, 2001

well then, now that all of you have spouted your geographic ya-yas....

Seriously, I ask - What was the best time you had in those aforementioned states and/or countries??

(jkottke has a great template to start with!)

Let's Go!
posted by tp3wen at 10:28 PM on August 29, 2001

paris is a bit of a bore in the summer, london is way too crowded, and berlin gives me the creeps at night. so...

vienna must be the most beautiful city in the world. the scenery, the architecture, the history, the music, the women, it doesn't get any better. plus, free concerts in the evenings, great food (love the wienerschnizel), and just a general feel of safe and secureness, makes vienna a must visit, and possible a great place to live as well.
posted by dai at 10:49 PM on August 29, 2001

When I was in Amsterdam the second time, I stayed for two weeks in a hotel that had once been a brothel - go figure! All the lamps were fringed, and the walls were covered in dark red velvet flock....it was atmospheric to say the least.

Every morning I'd rent a bicycle from the stand on the corner, and equipped with a portable CD player, my journal and camera, I'd head out to find cool stuff, which was not a difficult task.

One day, riding up and down a path near the water, listening to Al Green, I spotted a barge parked about 30 feet away. There were a couple of guys waving their arms and yelling for me to come out to the barge. I didn't hesitate - I was, after all, there for an adventure. Once on the barge, I found about 1 dozen people from all over the world sampling the "local crop".

I remember waking up in my hotel room, but not much else :)

I heart Amsterdam.
posted by soynuts at 10:57 PM on August 29, 2001

Okay, I could polish of the rest of my states with two or three day-long road trips and a ticket to Hawaii.

27 states (including DC), lived in eight. I missed most of the south (consciously passing up Texas) and northeast. Ten countries lived in two. I’d really like to see the Carribean (emphasis on Cuba), Brazil, Russia and more of the Middle East. Passed up a chance on Japan.

tp3wen, New Orleans is an absolute blast and very inexpensive. I stayed in the hotel on the corner of Bourbon and Orleans in the French Quarter for a surprisingly low sum. Do not go within of month of Mardi Gras. Eat at the Pelican Club and drink anywhere. I think I had my best time in Nawlense.

Istanbul is great, I really liked the food for some reason, but you have to include an excursion to Cyprus. The island is beautiful and quiet. I went there during Ramadan. Its sweet if you’re not Muslim because the restaurants are near empty during the day. Right after sundown, not so much. The people are very friendly after it’s made clear you have no intention of buying a rug. In fact, I helped the hotel with their website and they kept me in gin for my stay.

The UK is a great three-day weekend if you live on the east coast. Didn’t see Ireland, but would love to. I didn’t like Paris, but I love their food. I don’t smoke the weed, so Amsterdam isn’t a big draw.

Lived in San Francisco, but that town didn't agree with me. New York is great, but costs a fortune and you really need to know someone there. During (and right after) college I spent time on the Oregon coast, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC. I recommend all of them. In Vancouver, I drank in a shitty, run-down wreck of a bar in the hoity-toity Gaslight district and had an awesome time. I think the place was called “Bar”or “Pub,” I can’t remember. I do remember waking up in a bathtub.

Alaska is more than worth it, but stay away from Anchorage. Oregon is my favorite state.

Definitly camp in Yellowstone or the Black Hills. Just make sure you go anytime other than midsummer. Otherwise, you’re gonna be pushing through busloads of tourists.

But I’m much more of a trooper than the writer of the LA Times piece. I’ve been to every tourist spot in North Dakota, including the geographical center of whatever and the masturbating bear at the Minot Zoo.
posted by raaka at 11:52 PM on August 29, 2001

Hm. I'm from Singapore, I've been to most parts of South-east Asia, but have yet to visit Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos (or Myanmar). As for the rest of Asia, I've been to India.

I've lived in Australia (West) and visited Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Europe: Wales, Scotland, England.
US: Hawaii, California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.
Rest of Americas: Mexico, Vancouver and Toronto.

I had a great time in most places. One good memory is sitting on the beach in Hawaii (I was only 7) and letting the waves crash over me. Over and over again.
posted by jetgrrl at 12:00 AM on August 30, 2001

hmm. TN, VA, KY, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL, IL, IA, WI, MI , OH, LA, MS, MD, NY, NJ, MO, DC, england, france, portugal, spain. eh. not to bad for 31, i guess.
posted by patricking at 12:45 AM on August 30, 2001

17 US states (including the hour in DFW), nine countries (including the 90 minutes in Toronto), three continents. I'm 27.

And I've never been to Scotland.

See, this is what we should be talking about. The most embarrassingly local place that you've never visited.

The UK is a great three-day weekend if you live on the east coast.

That would be one busy weekend.
posted by holgate at 1:58 AM on August 30, 2001

I've been to -

California
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
North Carolina

How lame.

I've been to North America and Europe. Again, how lame.
Then again, the next continents I step onto will be South America, followed by Antarctica. Which is cool.
posted by tomcosgrave at 3:07 AM on August 30, 2001

You know what we need? We need someone to do a world map where you can select the places you've already been - tick 'em off, so to speak..

I've never kept track of this stuff, but for an English bloke who was brought up in Norfolk (Large Map, Local Map), I haven't done too badly.

I can REMEMBER off the top of my head (Countries): Czech Republic, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Corsica, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Wales, USA, Canada, Mexico.

And I BELIEVE that I've been to about 47 or 48 states in America, but I lost track and can't remember any more...
posted by barbelith at 3:27 AM on August 30, 2001

At age 25, 22 or 23 states (in order visited): CA OR WA NV AZ IL GA AL CO NM TN NC VA MD WV? PA NJ TX KY OH IN MN WI

Plus DC. There is some confusion whether I've been to West Virginia or not.

My extra-USA travels consist of British Columbia... several times.
posted by yourpalbill at 4:02 AM on August 30, 2001

Continents: 4
Countries: 24
US states: 3
Age: 25
posted by Mocata at 5:15 AM on August 30, 2001

Sorry make that 26 countries (Belgium is easy to forget, Czech Republic less so).
posted by Mocata at 5:17 AM on August 30, 2001

The most embarrassingly local place that you've never visited.

I lived in London for 12 years and have never been inside the Tower of London nor St Paul's Cathedral.

And I've never been to Scotland.

The most beautiful country in the world, in my unbiased opinion.

Should we be counting England, Scotland, Wales, N.Ireland as four or one (UK)?


(5 states, 23 or 20 countries, depending on how you count, FWIW)
posted by normy at 7:08 AM on August 30, 2001

Ooo, this is fun.

States: 32 plus DC by the grand old age of 28. I lived in Alaska last summer for 5 months, it is truly amazing and I recommend everyone go up and visit. It is expensive, though, that's the trouble. And a road trip to Alaska is a BIG commitment.

Provinces: The Yukon (also incredible)

Countries: 12

Continents: 3

This is making my feet itch to travel. Lately I've been having to travel to places I've already been for family type things.
posted by witchstone at 7:53 AM on August 30, 2001

Should we be counting England, Scotland, Wales, N.Ireland as four or one (UK)

As four - the official title of the UK is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
All four parts are countries in their own right, with their own languages, cultures, sporting teams etc etc.
posted by tomcosgrave at 8:00 AM on August 30, 2001

Canuck here, too late for the 50by30 deal. 14 US states. 19 countries. I'm a traveller that would rather spend three months in one country than one month visiting three, although damn there are a lot I'd love to visit.

I've never set foot in an embarrassingly huge section of Canada (east of Toronto). I lived in BC for years and never made it to the north of the province (kept meaning to, and then always pulled south) or up into the Territories. Gah. I predict more travelling around the corner now that I'm in the UK, where so much is so close (not to the locals though, "You wanna go where?! Blimey, that's two hours by car!") and the cheap airfares... crossing my fingers for seatsales to Iceland, or Turkey, or Spain, or...
posted by spandex at 8:29 AM on August 30, 2001

All four parts are countries in their own right...

Yet the UK is governed by one parliament, is considered one member of the European community and sends one team to the Olympic Games. Many countries have a variety of languages and cultures within their national boundries.
posted by normy at 8:34 AM on August 30, 2001

Okay (yes this is fun):
- 8 European countries [Wales, England, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany - I was born there]
- 6 Canadian Provinces and One territory [Yukon, BC, Alberta, Sask, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec]
- 1 Central American country [Panama]
- 2 South American countries, [Colombia, Venezuela]
- 6 Caribbean countries/provinces [P.R., Bahamas, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Aruba]
- 2 States in Mexico [Baja California Norte & Sur]
- 48 US States - somehow oddly missed Colorado and Utah in all my travels.

I just realized I'm 33 now and did all this traveling years ago, so I hit all that by 30, for whatever that's worth.

Still really want to visit Australia, NZ, Japan & parts of Eastern Europe. Have no real desire to visit Africa or Middle East. Thanks for the indulgence, this was great.
posted by kokogiak at 9:00 AM on August 30, 2001

Continents 3: North America, Europe; Australia - and I've resided in all three.

Countries: 7- 9: US, Canada, British Virgin Islands* (how separate are they?) Mexico, England, Wales*, Tahiti, Australia, France. (* depends on who is counting)

US States: 28 + DC + US Virgin Islands (GA, SC, NC, TN, KY, VA, WV, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, TX, AZ, NM, CA, CO, HI

1 Canadian Province (Maybe 2, but I was really young for the first one.)

I'm 29. I was expecting to get my 29th state this year (Montana), plus a few others in that middle northern quadrent, but those vacation plans didn't happen.

This has been a family game for years, and many of us can claim various firsts/mosts/youngests/oldests. Between our scientists, engineers, consultants, geographers, cartographer, lighting/tour specialist, and dedicated tourists, we collectively travel a lot: we've got someone who has been to every continent, someone who has been to most of the African countries, someone who has visited national parks in every state, etc.

My theory is that the location doesn't count if you haven't a) visited an attraction the state has to offer, b) engaged in a conversation with a bonafide local, or c) fallen onto the ground, and kissed it. (I've gotta justify that long layover in Tahiti, and eating M'n'Ms there doesn't qualify.)
posted by julen at 9:17 AM on August 30, 2001

Speaking of the most embarrassing local place I have never visited, it wasn't until a month or two ago that I visited The Varsity, an Atlanta institution. I spent a full 8 years here before a coworker convinced me to go there for a lunch I will never forget. Two dogs with chili and cheese and some rings, I was sick before we ever made it back to the office.

That's one local visit that I'd rather forget.
posted by FullFrontalNerdity at 9:44 AM on August 30, 2001

I've been to 33 states plus DC. In Canada, Ontario and Quebec. I'm 26. My dad was in the Navy, so we never lived near family until I was a teenager, so we had a lot of roadtrip vacations from Virginia to Michigan and Massachusetts.

This is my first post. Hi.
posted by eilatan at 10:03 AM on August 30, 2001

Lived in: CT, RI, MA, VA, TN, GA, NC, FL, CA, WA, NV, DC, and Mexico.

Visited: NY, AL, SC, PA, NJ, MD, DE, VT, AR, OH, KY, OR, TX, LA, WV, AZ, and Canada.

So that's 28 states, and I'm 21. I put places where I resided for 3 months or less in the "visited" category. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, but these are the memorable ones.
posted by jennak at 10:12 AM on August 30, 2001

Hmmm...

CA, OR, WA, ID, MO, NV, AZ, CO, MI, TX, NY, DC, PA, HI

Canada, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, UK, Greece, Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Monaco, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Yugoslavia

Did it all in the span of about 6 years. 200,000+ air miles a year. One trip resulting in a circumnavigation of the globe (Australia -> Sweden -> Australia). Residence in Italy, UK, Australia and CA.

At one point, I had to get a new passport because I used up all the pages. Customs officials in Italy, UK and Australia love to use their rubber stamps.

I enjoy staying at home now.
posted by Chief Typist at 10:24 AM on August 30, 2001

I've been to 23 US states plus DC, three Canadian provinces, 12 countries on four continents (North America, Europe, Africa, Asia).

I'm a born and raised New Yorker but still have never been to the Statue of Liberty.

The most fun I've had has been in Beijing, China (where I currently live). Thanksgiving Day 1999: Early AM trip to a remote and ruined section Great Wall. Near death due to icy conditions and heavy Tsingtao beer consumption. PM return to Beijing for a Peking Duck feast (closest thing to a turkey available).
posted by chinstrap at 10:28 AM on August 30, 2001

19 states: WV (born and raised)
PA (currently reside)
FL GA SC NC VA MD DE PA NJ NY OH KY TN IN IL MO AZ CA
Canada: Ontario (Niagra Falls, though; might not count)
Foreign: England, France

All by age 25, so I technically have a few years to reach the 50/30 goal, but I highly doubt it'll happen.

Best travel experiences/places (in brief): Oxford, England (discovering pubs hidden deep between buildings); staying in an old converted abbey in Plancoet, France (with the drunken losers from the All-France Darts Championship); and all of San Francisco, which for many of you is "just home," but for my fiancee and I (we got engaged there a couple of months ago) it will always be magic.
posted by arco at 10:41 AM on August 30, 2001

40 States & DC, 2 provinces of Canada and 14 foreign nations by 30. Since 30, not a single new thing.

I need to get travelling again.
posted by Dreama at 10:53 AM on August 30, 2001

17 countries at 29 (more than I thought):

New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, England, Russia, Thailand, India.

The best was Samoa.

Haven't been to America yet. Your dollar is too expensive.
posted by dydecker at 11:56 AM on August 30, 2001

Yet the UK is governed by one parliament

Not quite - they each have their own seperate parliaments - Westminster makes decisisons for the UK as a whole (defence etc) and for England, but Scotland, Wales and N.I. have their own Assemblies with parliamentary power, with elections and all.

Something like the US, in there is state and federal administration.

N.I.'s one is still under review because of the political process there, but it is there, and if it remains stable there politically, it should stay.
posted by tomcosgrave at 2:36 PM on August 30, 2001

Europe: Britain (England, Wales, Scotland, (Isle of Man?)), Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden.
North America: Canada (2 regions) and the US (NY, NJ, WA, PA, DC)
Asia: India, Thailand
Africa: Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho.
Australasia: Australia (so far......)

5 continents (thats the lot I think, though I might have to check out Micronesia as I think it sort of is a continent now), 24 countries (no, I'm not counting a divided Britain or Tanzania, that's cheating), 25 years of age.

It all comes to an end in November as I've just realised I might have to put a couple of years of desk driving on to my resume, as opposed to my usual 4 month stints to fund travel.

Its been great though and I will certainly get back to travelling before too long. Nice to see that a fair few MeFiers have had a good look around our little planet.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to manage the 50 by 30 as I'm not a US Citizen. I'd love to do it within my lifetime though.
posted by davehat at 7:28 PM on August 30, 2001

Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Yay for me.
posted by GirlFriday at 3:40 AM on August 31, 2001

"replace the tires after 8-10K miles" I applaud you as safe driver, not chancing things to fall apart. if you have front wheel drive, a tire rotation after 3-5k can save you $. But depending on driving conditions and terrain, some opt not to rotate.
posted by clavdivs at 6:53 AM on August 31, 2001

Something like the US, in there is state and federal administration.

Not really, Tom: the mess of regional devolution (for instance, the Scots get tax-raising powers, the Welsh don't) isn't even close to the distinct stratification of government in the US. London has its own chief executive and assembly, covering a population of 8.5million, but that doesn't make it a country. (Though plenty of Londoners think that London is the UK.) And the UK remains a more centralised country -- and it is one country, thanks to two Acts of Union and one act of conquest -- than most in Europe, save that of France...

And like Mocata, I forgot Belgium. Oops.
posted by holgate at 9:57 AM on August 31, 2001

Kinda hard to rotate motorcylce tired ;) They don't have quite the lifespan of car tires and having one blow out in a corner can be fatal.
posted by Tenuki at 2:12 PM on August 31, 2001