I love to travel, you'll hear this alot. I talk about it with friends, at parties, I'll reference lessons learned, experience, I'll tell the worst-of-worst experiences and I'll reflect on those experiences. At a particular party, I was talking about a recent trip to New York and the last to Indiana, and then trip Out West and fabulous it was. This friend stopped me and said "Jeez, Heddy, how many states have you visited with your kids?". I had to stop and think about it...and I had a few. Once I got home I really counted and started referencing back to family vacations and family reunions. These were just trips to visit family and we had 13.

At the ages of 9 and 7 my boys had already visited 13 states:

1. Georgia - We live here.
2. Florida - Grandma lives here.
3. New York - My sister lives here.
4. Indiana - My brother-in-law and father-in-law live here.
5. West Virgina - We celebrated a family reunion near Lake Anna.
6. Virginia - We celebrated Christmas in Shenandoah.
7. North Carolina - Celebrated Christmas in the Appalachian Mountains.
8. Tennessee - A visit to family friendly Chattanooga.
9. Colorado - Rocky Mountains, during our trip Out West.
10. Wyoming - Yellowstone, Cody - Out West.
11. Idaho - Idaho Falls - Out West.
12. Utah - Salt Lake City, Zion and Bryce - Out West.
13. Arizona - Grand Canyon, Sedona - Out West.
14. New Mexico - Sante Fe - Out West.

In later travels we covered...

Road trip through Southern States

15. Alabama - Visiting Space Program, Gulf Shore beaches.
16. Mississippi - Jazz! Crawfish! Civil Rights movement historic centers.
17. Louisiana - New Orleans, beignets
18. Texas - Dealy Plaza, Tacos, and a visit with friends.
19. Arkansas - Clinton Library, Gus Fried Chicken.
Road trip through the Midwest

20. Wisconsin - Harley Davidson, The Dells, Breweries and festivals.
21. Ohio - All Star games, Skyline Chilli!
22. Michigan - University of Michigan, Lake Michigan.
23. Illinios - Sears Tower, Maggie Daley Park, the Bean, Chicago Pizza.
Visiting My Sister
<"li>New Jersey - Family, Liberty State Park.
24. New York - Central Park, street vendors, people watching, the food!
RV trip through New England!

25. Rhode Island - Cliff Walk was incredible and Dell's Lemonade.
26. Massachusetts - Martha's Vineyard.
27. Maine - Acadia National Park, Bar Island.
28. New Hampshire - White Mountains and looking for moose.
29. Vermont - Ben & Jerry's, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Beer Breweries.
30. Connecticut - Camping, and we need to return for ESPN!

The rules established

Seeing how easily we had seen 13 US states and how we could really talk about our experiences in each and what we learned and saw and ate, I wanted to do more. The goal was born to visit all 50 US states with our boys. But we had to establish ground rules. We had driven through so many states, but that doesn't count. What's the fun in that? You see a few gas stations and fast food restaurants, that doesn't count! So we established rules.

• You have to spend at least one night in the state.
• At least one parent must be present.
• Both kids need to be present.
• Must do at least one thing the locals do, food, activity, what have you.
• Learn something specific to the state visiting.