Maine

Two days - and two states I hadn't been to before.

I really liked Maine. It reminds me of Minnesota, but with an ocean and cheaper seafood.

I hit one place from "the book" - White Barn Inn. Very lovely and elegant hotel and restaurant. The first car I saw in the parking lot was a Bentley. We had dinner reservations - until I found out a jacket was required. We didn't really bring the right clothes for a place with a dress code.

We drove out to Walker's Point in Kennebunkport. This is where President Bush's Maine get-away is located.

Kennebunkport is a cute little town - exactly as I had pictured it. Nice shops and easy to get around.

We had lunch at Federal Jack's. The food was good, and we had an excellent view of the harbor.

New Hampshire

A new state for me! (3 more to go)

We spent the afternoon at Hampton Beach, NH. The weather was perfect. The water was warmer than I expected it to be. I even got a little sun.

And, we saw the Comedians of Chelsea Lately - - very funny! Josh Wolf, Sarah Colonna, Lonnie Love and John Caparulo.

Arkansas

Been to Little Rock where I visited President Clinton's library. I highly recommend!

Wyoming

I went to Yellowstone National Park (in "the book") as a child. I think it was the same trip as SD.

I really do have pictures of this; however, they are stuck in one of those old sticky photo albums and the pictures do NOT want to come out. I'm not sure what to do with them.

My "fondest" memory is the one of my brother acting as if he is going to push me into one of the bubbling pools of goo. Big brothers suck!

Wisconsin

Ahhhh, my cheese-head friends next door. WI is the closet state to the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I've spent a considerable amount of time in WI, or driving through it.

They have 3 entries in "the book" (which is 2 more than my great state of MN - no competition though, really.). I should go to one or more of them.

I've been to Frank Lloyd Wright's house, which I think should be in the book. I can probably find a picture of this, but it was back in the days of film cameras. (In the meantime, thanks Wikipedia for this picture.)

I've been to lots of places in WI. Someday I might blog individually about trips and those will provide more detail.

West Virginia

What can I say about West Virginia?? Nothing...really. No offense to West Virginia, but I don't have any specific memories about my time there.

Check it off the list.

Washington

I spent one week in Seattle in May 1997. It was a work trip, but I did fun stuff too. From "the book:"

Pike Place Market

Not in "the book" but I did have brunch at the revolving restaurant in the Space Needle. I'm glad I'm not afraid of heights, because this was really awesome.

Vermont

This is another state I drove to just to say I was there. I was visiting friends near Lake George in upstate NY and they suggested we drive to Vermont to eat at a McDonald's - just so I can check this state off of my list. I don't like McDonald's, but that is exactly what we did.

I like to drive. Someday I would like to drive all around New England since that is the part of the country where I have spent the least amount of time.

Utah

I've been to Salt Lake City twice. The most recent trip was September 2002. I remember this because I flew home on 9/11/02.

Park City is in "the book" and I did spend a day there. Beautiful!

In Park City I took a gondola ride up the mountain - that was really cool. I am so glad I'm not afraid of heights. I also watched some young kids ski jump into a swimming pool. That seemed weird to me, but I guess that is how they train when there isn't any snow.

Utah has lots of other places in "the book" so I really need to go back there.

Texas

I spent several days in Austin a few years ago. Austin is a great town. My friend Michelle lives there now. She transferred from St. Paul 3M to Austin 3M.

I'd really like to go back and visit.

Tennessee

We spent a long weekend in Memphis with the kids during spring break 2006. We even brought the dog. It was her first road trip and she did very well.

From "the book":

Graceland - wow! a snapshot in time from the 70's - shag carpet and all.
Memphis's Rib Joints - I don't really like BBQ, but I went any way. (Note: don't order a Greek salad at a rib joint. It wasn't good.)

Not in the book, but excellent - their zoo. Memphis has a really awesome zoo. I was able to get >this close< to a panda.

South Dakota

We visited SD and Mount Rushmore when I was a child. Places from "the book" that I visited.

The Badlands
The Black Hills

South Carolina

I love to travel, but - sadly - not every trip is a good one. Here is an example of a good trip gone bad.

I spent a horrible weekend in Charleston and Isle of Palm over Thanksgiving 1993. It was with an ex and his friend's family.

His friend invited us and our two large dogs to spend the weekend with them in their townhouse. The friend's (now ex-) wife told us upon our arrival (after driving down from VA) that we could not stay with them. She expected us, if we decided to stay, to sleep in our vehicle and use the gas station down the street for potty breaks. It was horrible, and we should have turned around and went home.

We did stay in the townhouse, but were subjected to an entire weekend of fighting between that couple. Thank goodness they were right on the beach so I spent lots of time there with my dogs.

I managed to get in a little sightseeing and can check this place from "the book" off of my list."
The Heart of Charleston

Rhode Island

During my CT weekend, we drove to Rhode Island just to say I've been to that state. It was dark, I don't remember much; but I am counting it!

Pennsylvania

Back to reality (home and work - not Europe).... and back to documenting where I've already been.

"Book" sights that I've been to:

Gettysburg National Military Park and Cemetery
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Independence National Historical Park

I've visited this state many times. Hershey is a particular favorite of mine.

Oregon

I love Oregon! I can't wait to go back there and visit the fabulous Sharon Benson.

Places listed in "the book" that I've been to:

The Oregon Coast
Willamette Valley - I still can't pronounce this correctly, but I got some great wine from a local vineyard.

Oklahoma

We drove through this state in 1976. It was the first time in my life that I ever saw an oil rig.

OK is about 1/2 way between Minnesota and Arizona. This was probably the time when I started asking my dad....are we there yet?

Ohio

This is not in "the book" but it is quite a sight to see.....I've been to the 7-story basket-shaped office building that houses the headquarters for the Longaberger Company. It is located in Newark, OH.

DH works for 3M company. Can you picture a giant office building shaped like Scotch tape? Yep, me neither.

North Dakota

Drove through North Dakota as a child on our way to visit my great-grandma in Montana. I went to Fargo when I was in high school and visited an old neighbor. Sadly, I don't even remember her name now.

North Carolina

A long time ago in a galaxy* far, far away... I went camping on Cape Hatteras. I drove from VA to NC (and ultimately to SC - just wait for that blog post).

I remember thinking I was really in "the south" as soon as I crossed the border. It was the first time I saw cotton fields.

The Outer Banks are listed in "the book" and I have been there. The best part of NC and SC was running the beach with my dogs.

*galaxy = a former life that I don't particulary wish to recall or talk about.