Want to guess how many state stickers we placed this time? Drum roll, please… twenty-one! It has been a long time since we’ve added state stickers to the U.S. map on the side of our coach, and since then we’ve explored the Northeast, dropped down to the South, and made our way west again. All the while, I’ve been sneaking glances at our map, wishing we could just get caught up; I love seeing a visual of all the states we’ve visited at a glance. In the end, we have this video chock full of places we’ve been and highlights and personal faves from each state.
As time goes on, certain things just pop out in our memories as having been worthwhile and fun activities, creating memories we will take with us forever. Below, I’ll list some of those favorites, and you’ll have a head-start on where to go if you visit any of the states included in this segment of our journey!
Ohio
Hello, roller coaster aficionados! Cedar Point, the self-proclaimed roller coaster capital of the world, in Sandusky is THE place to be if you’re into thrill-rides. They always try to hold some sort of record for the “fastest” this or “tallest” that. But there’s something for everyone. Our little kids loved their rides as much as the rest of us loved ours. The kid zone has more rides than pretty much any amusement park I’ve visited. And for those who aren’t into thrill rides? There are plenty of mild attractions and numerous shows to attend as well.
For art lovers, the Toledo Museum of Art is a must-see. Don’t let the fact that it’s free fool you. They’ve got one-of-a-kind pieces from renowned artists, including paintings, sculptures, architecture, glass art, and traveling exhibits, such as The Mummies: From Egypt to Toledo.
New York
Niagara Falls is not to be missed, and we’ve never seen anything quite like the deep, waterfall-filled gorges of Watkins Glen. We traveled along the Erie Canal, experiencing the wonder of lock systems, and spent an afternoon mining for Herkimer diamonds. Letchworth State Park is known as the Grand Canyon of the East, and for good reason. It’s filled with gorgeous vistas and several large falls. And, of course, New York City is a world of its own. It captured our hearts as we jammed to live music in the subway, interviewed an up-and-coming pastry chef, explored Central Park, toured Times Square by night with all the glistening lights, and reflected on the sanctity of life at Freedom Tower. We just wish we could have spent enough time there to catch a Broadway show!
Vermont
If you love ice cream, a Ben & Jerry’s tour might be right up your alley. We passed through in the fall and also enjoyed some of the best fresh cider we’ve ever tasted at a cider mill right down the road. And Cabot’s has a farm store in the same area.
Maine
LOBSTER!!! It’s cheap and fresh in Maine, and it tastes delicious (of course!). But the kids aren’t into lobster very much, so we found something for the whole family to experience by taking a ride on a train at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum.
New Hampshire
Unfortunately, we only had one night in New Hampshire, but we definitely enjoyed it. We stayed near Portsmouth and spent an evening walking around Market Square, filled with historic homes and buildings (even a historic tree), art galleries, and boutique shops.
Massachusetts
Boston’s Freedom Trail tops our list of places to visit in this state, even if we did experience it on a cold, rainy evening. But trips out to Concord, Lexington, Plymouth Rock, and Salem to tour historic sites are well worth the trip. We landed in Salem in on Halloween; there was quite a bit of hustle and bustle there that morning; we headed out by early afternoon. Cape Cod feels like an entirely different place, but we ended up there after the season had closed. We did get the entire Cape Cod Chips factory to ourselves for a self-guided tour and made it to the JFK Museum in Hyannis.
Rhode Island
If only we had had more time! Due to campground closures in the fall, we only got one day and night in Rhode Island, but we had a blast! If you’re a climber and have your own equipment, you can find places to set up and have some fun. Ali didn’t get to join us due to work, but the kids and I went with friends to do a little climbing.
Connecticut
Our time in Connecticut was mainly spent with family, but I also got out to Milford Cemetery and spent some time pondering the very old gravestones and markers. I find it humbling and fascinating to find markers with detailed explanations of people’s lives and accomplishments. This particular cemetery contains graves dating back to 1644, and I imagined what life was like for people living at various points in history. One large obelisk recognizes the lives of 46 Revolutionary prisoners and a local townsman who died to help save them when the group was seized with disease and released by the British, who didn’t want to catch it themselves.
New Jersey
Manco’s Pizza is famous in Ocean City, so much so that three locations can be found within about a one-mile radius! After a friend from Florida who grew up there told us about it, we visited for lunch and then walked the boardwalk and climbed on rocks stretching out into the Atlantic. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the fudge and salt water taffy shops.
Delaware
Had we not searched our ASTC reciprocity list, we would have really missed out on a very cool museum! DuPont’s gunpowder was originally made along the Brandywine River in Wilmington. Today, the Hagley museum features the original mills, a museum, and the duPont home, open for tours.
Pennsylvania
Dutch Country, Amish Country, and Hershey’s Chocolate World all in one place? That’s right, and we loved spending time there, passing Amish homes and carriages, dining at a delicious Amish buffet called Dienner’s Country Restaurant (enthusiastically recommended by locals), and sampling chocolate at Hershey’s. But what I loved most about Pennsylvania was visiting the Gettysburg battlefields and Gettysburg National Cemetery. There’s a solemn and sacred history there, and it’s hard to even think about it without beginning to cry. The grim reality of those days on those fields in 1863 is brought close to home as one looks across the fields and realizes how terrifying it must have been for soldiers to see their enemies just across the way and know battle was imminent. It’s sobering, yes, but valuable in many moving ways.
Philadelphia is another one of those places every American should visit if given the opportunity. Take advantage of the free tours, museums, and informational presentations in the area surrounding Independence Square, including a trip to the U.S. Mint.
Virginia
Shenandoah National Park has a reputation that precedes it. We visited after leaves had fallen due to an early cold snap, so we didn’t really get to enjoy the full beauty of it, but a trip back would be nice one day. We especially loved the Williamsburg area. Colonial Williamsburg is rich with history and features restored historic buildings, tours, and presentations throughout the day. We returned for an evening event at the Governor’s Palace featuring live period music from the 18th century played on instruments from the 1700’s. It was well worth the splurge, and we’d return in a heartbeat! If you’re in the area, though, you definitely have to make time to visit Jamestown and Yorktown, two important historic locations with excellent museums. Be sure to pick up an audio tour CD for only $5 in the Yorktown gift shop; it’s money well-spent.
West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a quaint historic town situated right at the merging of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers where Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet. It’s known for John Brown’s historic raid of the armory that was located there in 1859.
Maryland
We camped for a full week in Maryland and even celebrated Thanksgiving there with newfound friends (literally- we had met them the day before). But mainly, Maryland served as a base to visit Washington, D.C., only a 20 minute drive from our campground.
Washington, D.C.
Where do I begin?!?! This was an incredible place to visit, and Ali even took a week off work to enjoy it. We saw the White House, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Capitol Building, explored various Smithsonian museums, viewed the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and other important documents in the National Archives, and paid visits to various memorials to presidents Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. We watched the Changing of the Guard in Arlington National Cemetery and had a private tour of Arlington House, home to General Lee of the Civil War. And that’s only the beginning! Nearly everything is free admission, paid for by tax dollars, and many of the sites and museums are located along or near the National Mall within easy walking distance of one another.
North Carolina
We’ve been to Charlotte many times and enjoy Carowinds, the big amusement park in the area. But this visit was mainly focused on visiting friends.
Mississippi
Yay for coastal life and houses on stilts! We stayed at Buccaneer State Park and had only to walk across the street to enjoy the Gulf of Mexico on a secluded beach.
Louisiana
We had SOOO much fun in Louisiana! Last year, we traveled for about five months with Cajun friends we met on the road, and they had returned to their home state for awhile. So we got to spend Mardi Gras with true Cajuns, and we learned a lot about its history (including the fact that it is celebrated across Mississippi and parts of Alabama as well). We even dined at Prejeans (an award-winning Cajun restaurant in Lafayette), toured an oil rig in Morgan City, and experienced an authentic crawfish boil!
Texas
Okay, so we’ve been there before and didn’t count this as a new state sticker. But we have to mention the awesomeness that is Space Center Houston! Also, if you’re in Dallas, you need to check out the Texas School Book Depository and Grassy Knoll, the location where JFK was shot. The Waco Mammoth National Monument has friendly rangers and an excellent exhibit, and the town also has the fantastic Cameron Park Zoo, free with an AZA membership. And can we say Fixer Upper? Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV fame established their amazing Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, featuring a pastry shop, lawn area, and food trucks.
Oklahoma
The most significant location we visited here was the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It was, to me, one of the most well-thought-out memorials I’ve seen. Everything is imbued with meaning.
Kansas
Aside from camping with friends, we checked out a really neat children’s museum. Exploration Place, in Wichita, is free with an ASTC membership and has a castle-themed play-and-learn area for little kids and exhibits for older kids to get them thinking.
Colorado
Glen Eyrie, a castle built in 1871, and Garden of the Gods, a phenomenal place to hike amongst towering red boulders and rock walls, are both in Colorado Springs. If you’re a hiker, like us, you’ll especially love the trails at Red Rock Open Space, also in the area. Just ten minutes away are the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and Pikes Peak. Drive out a few hours, and you’ll find hiking, ice climbing, and hot springs in Ouray. If you like beautiful drives, you’ll enjoy the Red Mountain Pass, which you can travel from Ouray to the old mining town of Silverton. We did it all and wouldn’t change a thing!
Utah
This is the last “new-to-us” state thus far, and boy, was it AMAZING!!! When we first entered from Colorado, we headed south to Goosenecks State Park, where we were able to camp (no hookup) for only $10 per night alongside a 1,000-foot-deep gooseneck gorge that rivals Grand Canyon’s Horseshoe Bend any day. From there, it was only a 20-minute drive to Monument Valley, on Navajo Land, the highlight of which is a 17-mile drive through jaw-dropping buttes, mesas, and other rock formations. Moab was our next stop, and we met up with several other full-time families for a week of hiking, mountain biking, and even an incredible aerial tour (thank you, Redtail Aviation) of Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park, and Arches National Park. Next, we stopped in at Salt Lake City. My favorite thing there was Thanksgiving Point. We visited their award-winning Museum of Natural Curiosities, one of the most incredible children’s museums I’ve ever visited, and it was free with our ASTC membership. They have three other museums, but we didn’t have time to visit them. Our kids keep asking to go back. From there, we headed down to Bryce and Zion National Parks for more hiking. Both parks were gorgeous in their own ways. Bryce had hoodoos galore and some of the most unique terrain anywhere, while Zion boasts tall mountains and steep, challenging trails. And goats. Zion has a lot of goats, several of which jumped down right in front of me on a night hike and scared themselves half to death.
Arizona
Again, it’s a state we had already visited and don’t get to count as “new-to-us.” But I have to say a few things about it: Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Sedona. Go. Just go.
I hope you’ve been to some of these interesting places or are planning to go and that this helped you make some final planning choices. Where have you been? What did we miss? Share in the comments so others will know of some other incredible places to visit!
You might also like
Leave A Reply