The Unexpected Adventure

The Unexpected Adventure

Honestly, I always considered myself an explorer of new experiences. But as your emails poured in, I realized that the adventure had begun long before my own packing — right in living rooms, minivans, camper vans, or even on cruise ships, sometimes in the midst of the Drake Passage — well before I set out on my journey.

When I shared my plan to visit all 50 states before the 250th birthday of America on July 4th this year, I received hundreds of heartfelt emails from you. You are the state counters and road wanderers, the Vietnamese expats living in Sweden, Jesuit priests in Omaha, proud Fairbanks residents, 87-year-old dreamers hoping to visit the five Northwestern states, and families spanning three generations who have turned visiting all 50 states into a cherished tradition.

A Fascinating System of Travel Enthusiasts

You are the very people who embody what our Atlas Obscura community stands for: those who believe that being present somewhere — truly present, with eyes wide open, walking down small roads — is essential. Some of you have created some really interesting systems. For instance, Anthony Castora and his wife draw a coin representing a state from a hat every New Year's Eve, just before the ball drops in Times Square. They've been doing this for 16 years, and every January, his students and colleagues eagerly await to find out where the Castora family will go next. I love this idea so much that I want to emulate it!

And what about David Raum? He shared that he wasn’t always excited about visiting Hawaii — that was until the expedition ship he booked to Antarctica hit an iceberg and sank. Everyone survived, and he found himself with airline vouchers to use, leading Hawaii to become his 50th state quite by chance. Now at 81, he just returned from two months in Mexico and continues his journey. I wish I could be like David Raum when I grow up.

Upcoming Adventures and Valuable Suggestions

My journey is still ongoing; after hiking a portion of the Trail of Tears, I wrote a guide about it in case you want to try it as well. After a wonderful time in Arkansas, my upcoming experiences will be shared from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wisconsin. These trips are so much more enriching thanks to your tips!

You’ve sent me suggestions for covered bridges, sunken fields, a gravitational wave observatory at a nuclear site in Washington, a steep incline train in Dubuque, a shed shaped like a teapot, and — more than once from different people — the sandhill cranes along the Platte River in Nebraska in March, which I now know I cannot miss. (I wonder if the cranes will still be there in early April?)

Share Your Story!

Keep those tips coming! I’m jotting down every single one. And if you’re on your own journey to visit all 50 states — or if you’ve already completed it — I’d love to hear about it! And color in your map! We’re opening up our platform and podcast to share stories about visiting all 50 states, and we can’t wait to hear yours. You can reach me via email at: ceo@atlasobscura.com.