Updated: How Many States You Got, Yo!?

Updated in Summer 2019 to include the highlighted states below. If I don't keep track, no one else will.

Just this past week, I was trying to recall how many US states I've been able to get to in my lifetime, and it prompted me to write them down (the ole memory isn't as sharp as it used to be). Here's my list so far (I ain't dead yet!). I'd like to say "in no particular order", but we all know that's not possible with me...

1. Illinois*
2. Wisconsin*
3. Minnesota*
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Indiana
7. Ohio
8. Michigan (Upper & Lower peninsulas)
9. Pennsylvania
10. West Virginia +
11. Kentucky +
12. Virginia
13. Maryland
14. District of Columbia++
15. Missouri
16. Texas
17. Oklahoma
18. Vermont
19. Rhode Island
20. Massachusetts
21. Connecticut
22. New York
23. Colorado
24. New Mexico
25. Arizona
26. Utah
27. California*
28. Nevada
29. Idaho
30. North Carolina
31. Florida
32. Kansas
33. Wyoming
34. Oregon
* Official resident at one time or another
+ Pretty sure I've been through these on a childhood vacation
++ Not a state but "Honorable mention"

Not all of these were for any extended stays or even overnights. Take Oklahoma for example, this was just as we drove through on a grad-school spring break, but I'll still count it.

Feel free to write your states or totals in the comments.

Visit Northern CA

If you need some reasons to come out to California for a visit, here's an excerpt of a recent email I sent to friends, helping them with ideas for their trip. If any of it perks your interest, we can work on your visit next. It's written in a pretty shorthand method, but I think you'll get the idea.

Hotels

Monterey - Portola, I've stayed once, it's decent in the rooms, much liked because of its location to the wharfs, downtown, and ocean (as in Pacific)

Carmel - Mission Ranch - likely booked up, but could be worth a call, especially if you have time to plan

Monterey - Colton Inn - no frills, but reflected in the prices. You also may not spend a lot of time in the room... too much time sightseeing! 

There are so many hotel rooms in Monterey, it's obscene

Restaurants, all in Monterey (below, for now)

Alvarado Street Brewing - see below.

Mission Ranch - see above. Even for dinner, this place has views for days. They have sheep in a meadow. The crowd does skew older, but that's likely a testament to the place's longevity and hold in the community. They have a piano bar too. I'm not kidding

Revival - like a new hipster ice cream place, but good too

Hula's - I mean, a tiki bar is fun - c'mon!

There's a pretty vibrant modest downtown in Carmel-by-the-Sea too. They have tons of places to stop in and try. Their downtown promenade makes a wonderful and simple afternoon or evening (shops, eats, etc.)

Breweries

Santa Cruz/Soquel - Beer Thirty - I have not been yet, but I do hear people love it

Monty - Alvarado Street Brewing - I very much like the food, solid brews, but sooo many hoppy ones, which I'm not a fan of

Coralitos Brewing - tiny little spot, with a great big front porch. Often has a food truck out front

Watsonville - Wooden Nickel - hole in the wall, but so choice b/c of it. Good food, normal brews on tap

Like most of the US, there are many more breweries all around, most I've never been to yet

Wineries

Morgan Hill - Clois La Chance - I've never been to one yet here/locally, but they all look good/wine-ish. This one is a fave of boss/friend. Most of them have tasting hours F-Su, if not all week.

Hiking/Nature/Etc

Monterey - Monterey Bay Aquarium!! This is a huge draw in the area, and well-worth the trip, IMO. It is pricey, about $50 for an adult ticket, but the money does go to supporting their programs and ocean research... plus the sea otters  

Pacific Grove - This city is next to Monterey (you'd almost not know it's a new town). There's a very simple flower garden walk along the ocean here, I could easily spend an afternoon sitting on or near their beach and walking the coast. They have food and beer near too

17-mile Drive - this is a toll drive along the ocean, from Monterey to Carmel. It's very picturesque and affords opportunities to get out of the car and see the ocean. The price is modest per car. It also "ends" at Pebble Beach Golf Course, which is impressive and has their own fancy restaurant as well. 

Point Lobos - picturesque hiking, I've never been yet, always heard good things, little drive south from Monterey

Carmel City Beach - it's so great! Most of the beaches here can vary in quality by day and by weather. I've never been one to hang out all day and play beach volleyball with my shirt off (insert college buddy name here), but this one is so wide and such a variety of folks, can go at anytime. Sundown is very pretty.

I can do this all day. Let me know if you need more ideas. Bring your sunblock (or buy it when you arrive, TSA be damned).

Parkyard Hotel and Preferred Hotels & Resorts

On a recent trip to Shanghai, we were nicely placed into a hotel that appears to belong to a "small" family hotel group. From what I can tell, the Parkyard Hotel, belongs to a trade group known as Preferred Hotels & Resorts. They have preferred properties around the globe, and major offices in Chicago, IL and Newport Beach, CA.

I was able to page through one of their "lookbooks" in the hotel room and thought I would share some properties that reminded me of friends & family (I get whistful on international trips, I guess).

See if you can pick out your own 'hood, visited countries, or perhaps a new destination idea...

As we seem to now recommend purchasing experiences over things, I can't recommend travel to international (or local) destinations enough. Get out there.