Sidebar by Andrew

SIDEBAR.  Bucket list from way back in youth.  All 50 states now completed.  Cheryl and I both as we landed in Hawaii. Had a cold beer with Cheryl in all 50 states now. Because of my work schedule I can add some more length of time in each state... worked multi day, full week+ in 29 of them, and have slept in all at least one night but 5.  Minimum of ~4+ hour drive through those 5 with no overnight....

New Mexico = we drove through on way from Colorado to Texas 3 years ago (Caught the corner of Oklahoma on that trip... “stood” on the panhandle above Texas in the middle of a dusty back road between irrigation cirlces).  One of the best unexpected sites ever for us was there in NM.. drove up / around a volcano and hiked down into cone.  

North Dakota = drove from end to end back on way to Alaska in 2006. sprained my ankle jumping off the bumper of “Sunshine” while washing windshield at one point... much to the joy of Cheryl, John-Paul, and Max.. ended my dream, and their nightmares, of some monster hikes in Alaska. 

Rhode Island = spent an afternoon in the rain stopping at multiple historical sites... plus beer and wings.. pretty small area.

Delaware... once with family driving from DC up to NYC ( stopped at a diner for lunch and a beer) and flew in once for a afternoon ...in/out... on a business trip to visit customer.

Vermont... technicality.  We spent pretty much a full day there... small.... but we spent night prior just north of border in Canada so we could walk across border in morning through the middle of a library.  Ended day crossing lake Champaign on small ferry and slept in Lake Placid, NY.

Top 5 states.  They are all amazing, but to pick my favs... ones “we shall return” to

1 - California.  The vibe is all about freedom.  And the weather is almost always a perpetual fall or spring like day.  You feel it the moment you arrive. The area from just south of San Fran... Half Moon Bay / Pacifica area... through the golden gate area.. the city... and up the coast into the redwoods... WOW.  Probably biased because John-Paul / Aurora lived there through birth of Ariana and introduced us to many areas.  We had been through once before that on a family summer tour, and multiple trips while they lived out there and since. Plus work has cycled me out there for multiple clients / weeks.  Outside Indiana it is probably the most time in any area I have spent... over 1/2 a year probably.  Beaches. Trees.  Whales. Hikes. Rock n roll history.  The bay... lost count of how many times crossing the golden gate... and bay bridge.  Not the urban sprawl areas, except San Fran. but rest is wow!  

Note - been some bad press lately about homeless etc.  ... it is there, but not everywhere. San Fran and area is a beautiful/ clean city in general. Small percent.  Per capita we (good old 80% conservative Dubois county) and surrounding counties are probably worse relative to drugs, broken homes, beat up cars, trash, etc.  (Hawaii had some areas that were really packed with “squatters”... growing issue for them)

2 - Alaska.  Cheryl 3 times and me 2.  Multiple weeks.  And sure we will return multiple in future.  Northern lights is on bucket list.. winter visit.. next time.  Maybe unfair because of the size.  The sheer magnitude of everything is amazing.  Probably the Kenai peninsula area as best.  And up along the coast. And the people... diversity of locals and travelers from around the world.  Sharing a cold beer shared from a gentlemen from China sitting in a wooden hut listening to a guy strumming his guitar by the fire under a glacier.... etc.

3 - Hawaii.  The first days would not have made the cut as a “top 10” even.  Too Las Vegas glitz and crowds in Honolulu area... great beaches and history... great to visit...but.  As we headed out to other side of Oahu and then to Maui and “big island” it got better and better.  Beaches. Turtles. “Back roads”.  The vibe of small towns / restaurants.  Tears in the eyes on visit to the one sacred valley...   etc. The one lady sitting with us on flight over commented after we said it was our first visit... “you will be back... it is like eating potato chips... once you start... you will go for more.”   Next time = rent 4 wheel drive that is allowed on the complete backside of Maui ... includes hike into jungle... and then on big island all the way to top of Mauna Kea. And either bring hiking gear to leave behind or buy at a thrift store while there and do more hiking...  (major muddy on some trails) ...jungles..waterfalls.. volcanos....  and more beach time ... snorkeling seems like it could grow on you (a long way from total fear of water... thanks BSA). Off the beaten path.  Cheryl’s dad probably had it nailed... live in Alaska and travel down to Hawaii often (he had an acquaintance  who owned land in Hawaii). Many parts of Hawaii “felt” like Alaska .. remote.  

4 - Maine.  Same theme here.  Remote.  Ocean. Beaches.  Lighthouses.  Small quaint seaside communities.   Note - about 40% of US population lives in counties on the coasts.  I get it... except for the packed urban areas.   We did not venture inland much.  Did just south in New Hampshire... and bounced along border all the way on “top” when in Canada later in trip... but from those experiences can only assume it would be great.  Think a winter visit there would be cool (pun and sincere... saw pictures of frozen waves around lighthouses, etc). On our trip through Maine we went all the way up into Canada after... Maritime provinces. Same vibe plus more remote.  Area in general one of best we have been through.  St Johns, Newfoundland for sure!

5 - gets tough from here on... but will go with Michigan.  We spent last 2 1/2 days last summer coming down from Canada along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.. from Mackinac Island and then along the coast.  And did a little of the upper Peninsula.. also one quick business trip there in fall.. the colors of the maple trees... wow.  This is actually close to us...  6 hour drive will get you to the dunes ... and from there on up is the same feel as the coasts of California, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, etc...  

And three honorable mention “singles”.... the Rock Hall added a category a few years ago... groups that may not yet be in the Hall of Fame, but have one monster single.... Steppenwolf and Born to be Wild as example.... 

1 - Kyana, Indiana.  Everybody probably loves their “home’”.  But I would consider southern Indiana.. with a bullseye around Kyana as an area worth visiting / returning to... the hikes / bikes / kayaks we take each year around the area... Hoosier national forest..Lincoln...Patoka lake area .... and Ferdinand State forest... are tops... the 10 mile outer loop around the forest is one of my all time favorites anywhere....

2 - Bethel / Woodstock NY area - the Catskills - rolling hills, “funky” feel of little villages, and one great hillside cow pasture ... first time last summer,  4 days queued up this summer... August 15,16,17,18...  and at least a few moments every year for the past 24....  goes beyond just think we will go back there... know it for sure!

3 - NYC.  Ironically more people in that “small” area than all of above combined (exclude the urban CA areas except San Fran city).  But the times I have been there... have found it to be “remote” in some ways.  You can be alone in the parks, along the river fronts. And even in the canyons of the neighborhoods.  Urban hiking.  The High Trail. Central Park.  Etc. Etc.  Been there one time on business trip during peak rush hour.. train in from NJ to Grand Central and then subway into Brooklyn to meet client ... intimidating / flood of people squeezing in/out... but also been back in same during off-peak and almost empty...  unique areas / pubs / etc.   History (not just Rock n roll) hidden everywhere.   Hendrix / Buddy Holly / John and Yoko... and on and on...  could get lost walking around there forever...    NOTE - NY may be in the running for a tie for #5.. add in Niagara Falls, Adirondacks, etc....  but we will leave it as is.... could make an argument for all 50...

Could go on and on and on ... incredible / diverse world we live in... and so much more to see 

Sorry for the dump... but long flight time has dead time so tapping away on small portable keyboard.   Thanks for listening.   ENJOY. LIFE.