The Great States Challenge

So I work with a bunch of Israelis. In the flesh, and as a stereotype, they are just as blunt as that opening sentence. In the office they out-number the Americans by a ratio of four to one, and in sheer vocal volume, the ratio is indeterminate but very significant. They are fiercely patriotic, persistently argumentative, and passionate about everything. Many attribute the patriotism to the fact that almost all citizens serve in the army - two years for women and three for men. Perhaps, as per my conversation with an Israeli coworker of mine, some of it can be attributed to their love and attachment to the land itself. She also suggested that we Americans, as a stereotype, haven't seen much of our country. To her, this was nothing short of unpatriotic, as most Israelis have traveled the length of their country and beyond. To be fair to us, it's easier to travel to the nether regions of one's homeland when it's only the size of New Jersey. But just how much of this great, sprawling map have we experienced? In an effort to tally how many states I have visited, I give to you the Great States Challenge. Here are the rules in case you want to try this at home; they're not too complicated.

Rule One: One must have spent at least one full day in a given state for it to count, and the extent of the travel is self-discretionary.

Rule Two: One has to have been old enough to remember the visit for it to count.

Rule Three: One must make an effort to visit all remaining states, as fruitless as it may seem. There has to be something good in South Dakota.

In no particular order:

Georgia: I lived there for most of my life to date, and also visited the lovely coastal city of Savannah, and the northern Blue Ridge Mountains.

Alabama: Family vacation to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Visited friends in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama. Beach vacation in Gulf Shores.

Mississippi: Football games at Ole Miss, also a band trip in high school to the University of Southern Miss.

Louisiana: Multi-day bowl trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Bourbon Street. New Years. Go there.

Florida: Where haven't I been here? Disney vacation. Beach towns of Destin, St. Augustine, Ft. Lauderdale, Seaside. Football in Gainesville - the world's largest outdoor cocktail party. I will probably retire here.

South Carolina: Hilton Head, every summer. Football games in Columbia.

North Carolina: I bought my flute here in Raleigh. This one might not count.

Tennessee: Nashville, the best city in the South. My best friend lives here, and I visit often. I've also been to Gatlinburg, which is good to see once but never again.

Massachusetts: Visited my aunt, uncle, and cousins in Boston when searching for colleges.

New York: Born here, been back to visit the Big Apple.

Illinois: I live here now.

Wisconsin: July 4, 2011 to visit best friend's family in Whitefish Bay.

Virginia: Trekked all over in my junior year in high school - UVA, Vtech, University of Richmond (the spiders!)

West Virginia: Family vacation with Class VI rapids - a week on the New River!

Indiana: Spent some time at Indiana University.

Michigan: Visited family in Detroit - my grandfather used to own a butcher shop on 8 Mile Road!

Ohio: I used to spend the summers in Cleveland.

Pennsylvania: My grandparents used to live in the Pocono Mountains - Grandpa taught me how to fish here.

Kentucky - Been for football games. Somebody is going to have to sales pitch me this state before I find a reason to go back.

Colorado: Summer backpack and rockclimbing in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Utah: Arches National Park, skiing in Park City.

Arizona: Family vacation in Phoenix, Tuscon, Sedona, Grand Canyon!

California: San Fran, Disney Land, Wine Country.

Are we counting D.C.? Family vacation to Washington D.C. SO MANY MUSEUMS.

23 States and one Capital! Holy cow I have so many to go, and I think I'll be starting with Hawaii after this Chicago winter. Take the challenge, post the results below, and send me your suggestions!