States
50 State Challenge
I've been to every one of the lower 48 states since I purchased my van in November 2022. I still hope to drive to Alaska but not sure what I'll do about Hawaii.
Current progress. COVID-19 is not helping!!
High Points
State High Points
This one isn't tied to the van but I'd like to hit as many of the natural high points in each state as possible. Bob is way ahead of me (and is in much better shape) and Sandy isn't too far behind me. We've all well outdone anybody else I know.
I've visited 28 state high points so far and the ones with the "S" means Sandy was there with me.
Region State Date Sandy?
South Alabama 8/1/10
West Alaska
West Arizona
South Arkansas 1/22/11
West California
West Colorado
Northeast Connecticut
Northeast Delaware 11/13/15 S
South Florida 8/8/10
South Georgia 9/6/04
West Hawaii
West Idaho
Midwest Illinois 7/5/15 No dogs allowed!
Midwest Indiana 7/18/15 S
Midwest Iowa 6/7/24 S
Midwest Kansas 9/5/15 S
South Kentucky 10/7/12
South Louisiana 8/7/10
Northeast Maine
Northeast Maryland 11/12/15 S
Northeast Massachusetts 6/19/16 S
Midwest Michigan 7/4/15 S
Midwest Minnesota
South Mississippi 7/25/10
Midwest Missouri 6/4/09 S
West Montana
Midwest Nebraska 9/6/16 S
West Nevada
Northeast New Hampshire 6/20/16 S
Northeast New Jersey 6/18/16 S
West New Mexico
Northeast New York
South North Carolina 9/17/10
Midwest North Dakota
Midwest Ohio 7/18/15 S
South Oklahoma
West Oregon
Northeast Pennsylvania 5/5/09 S
Northeast Rhode Island 6/21/16 S
South South Carolina 9/17/10
Midwest South Dakota
South Tennessee 6/26/05
South Texas
West Utah
Northeast Vermont 6/20/16 S
South Virginia
West Washington
Northeast West Virginia 11/12/15 S
Midwest Wisconsin 7/3/15 S
West Wyoming
Hoosier Hill - Indiana's high point.
Baseball
We're Talking Baseball
As of July 2024 I had been to every current Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium plus 8 that are no longer in use. There are also 26 parks that have hosted their final game in my lifetime that I never visited. It was 27 until I was able to witness a game in Montreal's Olympic Stadium during Spring Training 2018.
The A's will be playing in Sacramento for the next couple years and the Tampa Bay Rays had to relocate in 2025 because of hurricane damage to Tropicana Field. I have not been to either of their new stadiums.
The game I was to attend in Detroit was postponed about 20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. I was already in the park and had consumed food and beers as well as purchased some merchandise. I suspect I will go back to remove the asterisk.
Closed Stadiums I saw a game at:
Arlington - Arlington Stadium
Arlington - The Ballpark at Arlington
Atlanta - Turner Field
Florida - Sun Life Stadium
Minneapolis - Metrodome
Montreal - Stade Olympique
Oakland - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
St. Louis - Busch Stadium II
Oracle Park - Home of the San Francisco Giants
Freedom Rocks
Freedom Rocks - Iowa and Beyond
When I moved to Iowa in July 2023 I stumbled upon a Freedom Rock in Whittemore, IA at the American Legion post. As I travelled around I noticed more Rocks until I discovered one at Adventureland outside Des Moines that said it was the 100th Freedom Rock in Iowa. Upon further investigation I learned that "Bubba" Sorenson was the artist responsible and there was a Rock in every county in the state of Iowa as well as some in other states. At that point I set out to visit them all.
I completed all 99 counties in Iowa on 6/7/24. I am working on the other states.
Learn more at thefreedomrock.com