How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
skipsul ·
March 19, 2012 at 7:11pm
With all of the talk these last few months of Charles Murray and his book (I'm a 45 by the way), I thought of a different experiment.
How much of the US have you actually seen? How many states have you visited (exluding layovers). I'm talking about states where you at least spent an overnight. I'll toss in Canadian provinces too for fun.
My sister has been to all 50, my wife just a few.
So, where do you go? How much of America have you really seen?
Here is the link: http://www.visitedstatesmap.com/.
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Comments:
Oct '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Lived most of my life in Texas, with short stints in Oklahoma, Illinois, and D.C. Hoping to plan trips to Montana/Wyoming/Utah/Arizona in the next few years, which will knock out another big chunk.
I have little desire to visit New England -- but I think I will eventually force myself to see the Pacific Northwest.
Honestly though, if I had to spend the rest of my days here in the Texas Hill Country I'd be pretty happy.
May '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
After posting I began to think of the impact employment has on travel. I've had a long career in technology consulting mostly dealing with system architecture and high performance, high volume databases. I lived in the wonderful little town of Granby, CT because it was almost equidistant between Boston and New York City. On the days I wasn't at AEtna in Hartford, I was driving to Boston or New Haven, the latter to I could catch the Metro Express to NYC. On the remaining days I was catching the plane to Toronto or Quebec City. Oh yeah, and one crazy "you have to be in London tomorrow" excursion.
Has anybody else lived like that? Pretty much constant motion over a region for an extended period of time? I started my own company in Atlanta after I came back from Mexico and did the same regional type work over the South East and Mid-West. Weird, no? It must be a habit.
-GM
Oct '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
I've overnighted in 23 but driven through 19 more in cross country trips.
Jan '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Peter Robinson: If I could claim every state I've visited, even for half a day, I'd name all but Hawaii and Louisiana, both of which I've sort of been saving. But I'm being a good boy, observing the you-must-have-spent-at-least-one-night-in-the-state-to-claim-it rule.
As for Canada--well, my apologies. · 4 hours ago
Edited 4 hours ago
No Indiana! No wonder your pal Mitch declined to run.
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Aloha Johnny: I need the Dakotas and Wyoming. · 4 hours ago
Edited 4 hours ago
You do! I lived in Wyoming and love visiting there and same for the Black Hills of South Dakota. Something so therapeutic about those areas.
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
I hit most of these by the time I was in my mid-20s. Partly because my family used to always travel/camp by car and partly because my first job out of school required tons of travel. Then it got hard to put a dent in any of the remaining. A few reporting trips -- and a visit to my husband's native state of Hawaii helped me out.
I just accepted an October speaking engagement in Montana in large part because I've always wanted to go there. Maybe I'll get some fly fishing in!
After that, I really want to hit Alaska.
Oh, a quick story. My brother married a Canadian woman and when he met her father, he asked him to name all the provinces and their capitols. He did. My brother asked him to name all the states and their capitols. Somehow he still got the dad's approval.
That wedding earned me Quebec and Ontario.
Feb '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
I only have a substantial connection with a few of these states. I was born in Texas and stayed there until I entered college in New Jersey. Now I am studying law in New York City with plans to return to Texas after graduation. My maternal grandparents lived in Florida; most of my father's side lives in Connecticut.
We chose New England for several family vacations and even crossed the international border into Quebec. I've been fortunate to return several times more. Montréal is outstanding and quite overlooked--at least it is in summertime. And I've experienced America's own francophon-ish state. In 2006, I spent the Fourth of July in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
So while I've adhered to Peter Robinson's Rigorous Rule, my map should truthfully show, at most, just eight states. Those are places where I ambled around an unfamiliar town, gleaned some local history and lore, and so can claim that I have a glimmering insight into their characters. Rather disappointng results.
Edited on March 20, 2012 at 1:27amMay '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
48 states. 3 provinces -- BC, Alberta, Yukon. And 27 other foreign countries around the world.
Jan '12
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Many of the states Dad took the family on car camping trips back in the 50s and 60s. New York* and Pennsylvania I visited when two good friends lived there temporarily in the late 60s. Alaska, a lovely state I'd like to revisit, I saw when I was still married. The New England states I visited when my dear son studied as an
undergraduate at Brown then as a graduate at Harvard. His wedding ceremony was performed in Connecticut.
I have also visited B.C. and Alberta.
My only overseas trip was to England in the early 70s. The medieval cathedrals were absolutely beautiful. I had the rare good fortune of hearing the Bach a-minor fugue played on the organ at Ely Cathedral. I stood alone below with the holy reverberation as the organist was practicing in the loft. Figures of angels, in two parallel rows, thrust forth from the highest reaches. That I was granted a foretaste of heaven I have no doubt.
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*Apparently I failed to color New York. Perhaps it's just as well, since I have never been in New York City itself.
Edited on March 20, 2012 at 1:49amMay '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
All visited prior to age 36, and the two that are missing I haven't been to in the 30 years since I was 36, and have been in adjacent states often. Need to go check out the leaves it would seem.
Dec '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Only listed the one overnighted. Have flown through several others. Traveling as an engineer in industry and Govt. does that.
Jun '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
I would be interested in a world map if such a thing exists.
Feb '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
This.
Dec '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Most of mine are from being in the Navy. I don't get out much.
Dec '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Jordan Rodriguez
This. · 1 minute ago
Indeed.
Jun '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
It's pleasantly surprising to see how well traveled many Ricochet members are (I thought my 32 states was pretty good, but we've got a lot of serious travelers).
Modern times have their downsides, but being able to see more of the world is a blessing, especially when you consider that back in Medieval times, people were lucky ever go more than 25 miles from where they were born.
May '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
45 + Ontario & Quebec.
Plus: Aruba, Korea, Japan, Guam, UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan.
Jun '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Not too shabby. Gotta get to the South and the Northeast, I guess. I really want to get to Alaska.
Jun '10
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?
Somebody once told me that there's a southern hemisphere, but I think they were pullin' my leg.
Dec '11
Re: How Big is Your Travel Bubble?