I’ve always had the travel bug, but after finishing high school, I decided to turn that curiosity into a real mission: see all 50 states and gain a deeper perspective on America.
I sold my house in Portland OR in July 2025. I’m currently road tripping across the US solo with my dog. I’ve seen so much including a month in Tucson (which I agree with
You was great). I’m currently in Atlanta and getting ready to explore the Carolinas and Kentucky before spending the summer in Michigan. There is so much history and beauty in the US!
I can relate so much to this. I'm from Italy and I traveled most of the time abroad. But recently I started to do more trips within my country because I realized I don't know much about it. Your travel project is inspiring me to do the same here Italy. I'm following your journey!
This line stood out to me: you want to understand America on a deeper level.
That is exactly what meaningful travel should do. It should move us beyond postcards and assumptions.
In India inbound travel, I often remind guests that India is not a checklist of monuments. It is a collection of regions, rhythms, cuisines, faiths, landscapes, and daily lives. The same applies to the U.S. to understand a country, you have to move through its smaller stories, not just its famous places.
Your 50-state journey sounds like a beautiful way to build that kind of understanding.
I recently printed out a map of the US and colored in all the states I’d ever been to. It’s quite a few! The only ones I have left are on the east coast, I think, plus Alaska. I’m about to road trip from Washington State to Maryland with my son, who is moving there, so I’ll get to check off a couple more! Your effort to see it all is a great idea! Try to stay in one place long enough to get a feel for what it’s really like, if you can. Except Indiana - it’s the armpit of hell. You could skip it entirely, or maybe just barely pass through the southern tip, and be better for it.
That’s amazing, that trip with your son sounds awesome! I try to stay in a new place at least a few nights to get a feel for the people and what it has to offer. And I’ve driven through Indiana many years ago to get to Southwestern Michigan from Chicago on a family trip. That’s probably the last Indiana will see of me for awhile.
This was my parents goal for myself and my sister in high school. We only made it to 30 states but hopefully we can see some more. Have the best time and if you need any west coast or east coast tips (from CA and live in NYC now) feel free to ask!
What a wonderful adventure, Michael! I look forward to following along. Are you also incorporating visiting all the national parks along the way? That's a journey I'm on. You are so right, the U.S. is an amazing fabric of landscapes and cultures!
Thanks! I’m definitely planning to visit as many national parks as I can along the way. I probably won’t hit all of them on this first run through all 50 states, but that could easily be the next phase of the journey once I finish the states.
I've had the privilege of seeing all 10 of our provinces (not the territories-yet) here in Canada with my husband in '08, and I couldn't agree more. Seeing your whole country really shows you how diverse a place really is. I've also had the privilege of travelling through several US states with the whole family, too, but not all 50. It sounds like a wonderful goal and a beautiful learning opportunity. Good luck on the rest of your journey, and thank you for sharing your experiences with us 😊
I sold my house in Portland OR in July 2025. I’m currently road tripping across the US solo with my dog. I’ve seen so much including a month in Tucson (which I agree with
You was great). I’m currently in Atlanta and getting ready to explore the Carolinas and Kentucky before spending the summer in Michigan. There is so much history and beauty in the US!
Now that sounds really cool. America is beautiful!
Be sure to let me know when you visit Minnesota. Maybe our family can get a chance to show you around.
That would be so cool! Thanks.
I can relate so much to this. I'm from Italy and I traveled most of the time abroad. But recently I started to do more trips within my country because I realized I don't know much about it. Your travel project is inspiring me to do the same here Italy. I'm following your journey!
This line stood out to me: you want to understand America on a deeper level.
That is exactly what meaningful travel should do. It should move us beyond postcards and assumptions.
In India inbound travel, I often remind guests that India is not a checklist of monuments. It is a collection of regions, rhythms, cuisines, faiths, landscapes, and daily lives. The same applies to the U.S. to understand a country, you have to move through its smaller stories, not just its famous places.
Your 50-state journey sounds like a beautiful way to build that kind of understanding.
I would like to do the same one day! Best of luck, excited for you, safe travels and thanks for bringing us along 🙌
Thank you!
Do you have a list of where you’ve been and which states are left?
Yes, in my most recent Atlanta travel guide, I have a map listed there.
Also - I think it would be cool if you’d occasionally post a map with the states checked off that you’ve been to, so we can follow along!
I recently printed out a map of the US and colored in all the states I’d ever been to. It’s quite a few! The only ones I have left are on the east coast, I think, plus Alaska. I’m about to road trip from Washington State to Maryland with my son, who is moving there, so I’ll get to check off a couple more! Your effort to see it all is a great idea! Try to stay in one place long enough to get a feel for what it’s really like, if you can. Except Indiana - it’s the armpit of hell. You could skip it entirely, or maybe just barely pass through the southern tip, and be better for it.
That’s amazing, that trip with your son sounds awesome! I try to stay in a new place at least a few nights to get a feel for the people and what it has to offer. And I’ve driven through Indiana many years ago to get to Southwestern Michigan from Chicago on a family trip. That’s probably the last Indiana will see of me for awhile.
This was my parents goal for myself and my sister in high school. We only made it to 30 states but hopefully we can see some more. Have the best time and if you need any west coast or east coast tips (from CA and live in NYC now) feel free to ask!
That’s awesome, will do! Thanks.
Good luck, safe travels and thank you for taking us along for the ride.
Thank you!
As someone who writes about American travel, it’s good to see someone else write about why travel across America is a great idea. Best of luck to you!
Thanks Louis! America really is an incredible place to explore. There’s so much history, culture, and scenery across the country that people overlook.
Looking forward to following along!
Can’t wait!
What a wonderful adventure, Michael! I look forward to following along. Are you also incorporating visiting all the national parks along the way? That's a journey I'm on. You are so right, the U.S. is an amazing fabric of landscapes and cultures!
Thanks! I’m definitely planning to visit as many national parks as I can along the way. I probably won’t hit all of them on this first run through all 50 states, but that could easily be the next phase of the journey once I finish the states.
I've had the privilege of seeing all 10 of our provinces (not the territories-yet) here in Canada with my husband in '08, and I couldn't agree more. Seeing your whole country really shows you how diverse a place really is. I've also had the privilege of travelling through several US states with the whole family, too, but not all 50. It sounds like a wonderful goal and a beautiful learning opportunity. Good luck on the rest of your journey, and thank you for sharing your experiences with us 😊