Updated: March 31, 2025
Our Journey
Welcome to our “50 States Challenge” adventure! Inspired by our decal business reaching every corner of the country, we caught the travel bug and decided it was time to explore America like never before. Although my husband and I have visited over 20 states, we’re starting fresh to experience each moment with our kids. This page will be our travel journal, complete with an interactive scratch-off map, miles traveled, states visited, and detailed stats on our journey. Each trip will be documented in an accordion-style menu, sharing stories, photos, points of interest, national parks, quirky restaurants, and more. Follow along as we rediscover the beauty and wonder of the USA!
Thank you for being part of our journey, beginning in March 2024!
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” ~~ Traveler
“The more you do, the more you did.” ~ Key West Guy
The Journey So Far...
Trips Completed
12
States Visited
33 + DC
Miles Traveled
15,000+
NPS Locations
25
Points of Interest
60+
Landmarks
15 of 42
Adventures
5.5 of 15
- Abbreviations
- NPS = National Park Service
- NP = National Park
- NF = National Forest
- NM = National Monument
- States codes
- AL = Alabama
- AK = Alaska
- AZ = Arizona
- AR = Arkansas
- CA = California
- CO = Colorado
- CT = Connecticut
- DE = Delaware
- FL = Florida
- GA = Georgia
- HI = Hawaii
- ID = Idaho
- IL = Illinois
- IN = Indiana
- IA = Iowa
- KS = Kansas
- KY = Kentucky
- LA = Louisiana
- ME = Maine
- MD = Maryland
- MA = Massachusetts
- MI = Michigan
- MN = Minnesota
- MS = Mississippi
- MO = Missouri
- MT = Montana
- NE = Nebraska
- NV = Nevada
- NH = New Hampshire
- NJ = New Jersey
- NM = New Mexico
- NY = New York
- NC = North Carolina
- ND = North Dakota
- OH = Ohio
- OK = Oklahoma
- OR = Oregon
- PA = Pennsylvania
- RI = Rhode Island
- SC = South Carolina
- SD = South Dakota
- TN = Tennessee
- TX = Texas
- UT = Utah
- VT = Vermont
- VA = Virginia
- WA = Washington
- WV = West Virginia
- WI = Wisconsin
- WY = Wyoming
- States: 1
- Florida
- Points of interest:
- The Florida Keys (favorite place)
- Southernmost Point
- Mile Marker 0 (A1A)
- Boyd’s Campground (Beach tent camping)
- Everglades NP
- Nike Missile Base
- Flamingo (bottom of Everglades)
- States: 1
- Florida
- Points of interest:
- Lake Okeechobee (largest lake in Fl)
- Smallest Post Office in USA
- Everglades City (bottom of Everglades)
- Seminole Tribe Land
- States: 2
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Points of interest:
- Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
- Big Talbot Island State Park
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Monument (first shots of Civil War)
- USS Yorktown (Air Craft Carrier, Destroyer)
- Reconstruction Era Trail NPS
- Fort Frederica National Monument
- Parris Island (Marine Corps Training, OOH RAH!)
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
- States: 5 + 1
- Washington, DC
- Maryland
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Points of interest:
- Kids first flight
- Washington, DC (everything)
- DC = White House, Capital, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Jr Memorial, Spy Museum, Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, National Archives (Declaration of Independence and Constitution)
- WV = Harper’s Ferry NP
- MD = Fort McHenry (Star Spangled Banner, Awesome!)
- PA = Philly. Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market
- States: 5
- Alabama AL
- Mississippi MS
- Arkansas AR
- Tennessee TN
- North Carolina NC
- Points of Interest: 8
- Memphis TN, BBQ and Blues
- Bass Pro Shop Pyramid
- National Civil Rights Museum (MLK motel)
- Graceland
- Nashville (Honky Tonk Row)
- Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg TN
- Great Smokey Mountains NP
- Aviation Museum (SR-71 Blackbird)
- Photo Gallery: Google Photos Folder
- States: 1
- New Orleans LA
- Points of interest: 3
- States: 1
- Missouri MO
- Points of interest: 3
- States: 2
- New York NY
- New Jersey NJ
- Points of Interest:
- Central Park
- Times Square
- Statue of Liberty
- One World Observatory
- States: 2
- Cincinnati OH
- Kentucky KY
- Indiana IN
- Points of Interest:
- States: 6
- Michigan MI
- Wisconsin WI
- Minnesota MN
- Iowa IA
- Illinois IL
- Indiana IN
- Points of Interest:
- Detroit MI
- Canada
- Frankenmuth MI (Christmas town)
- Mackinac Island MI
- Upper Michigan (amazing!)
- Minnesota MN
- Iowa IA - Field of Dreams!!
- Chicago IL
- Indiana Dunes NP IN
- States: 6
- Massachusetts MA
- Rhode Island RI
- Connecticut CT
- Vermont VT
- New Hampshire NH
- Maine ME
- NPS Sites: 8+
- Acadia NP (multiple)
- Green Mountain NF
- White Mountain NF
- Cape Cod NS
- Boston: USS Constitution
- Points of interest:
- Boston MA
- Salem MA
- Plymouth MA
- Cape Cod MA
- Woodstock VT (Most beautiful town in America… NOT!)
- Easternmost Point ME
- Newport RI (Smallest state)
- Stayed in a JAIL!
- States: 2
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Points of interest: