State Exploration: My 2023 Journey Across U.S. States and a Few International Travel Highlights

2018 marked a significant year for my state travels, where I ventured into California, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Illinois was just a transit stop at the Chicago airport, but it still counted as a visit. Fast forward to 2023, and I have visited a total of 4 U.S. states: Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington State.

I currently reside in one of these states and my family lives in another, making these visits particularly meaningful. Yet, my bucket list of states I haven’t visited yet includes several notable territories like the Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, Iowa, and Alaska.

My State Travel Timeline

So far, I have picked up 5 new states in 2023, and I expect to visit another 5 within the next week, followed by 3 more by the end of the month. This brings up the question of how many states I have officially visited. Counting meticulously, 5 so far. However, Alaska, being where I live, doesn’t count as a new visit.

A Personal Note on My Birthplace

Interestingly, I was born in Alaska. This is evident from my birth certificate, which makes a difference in how I categorize my visits. My travel list includes many states visited over the years, but I find myself with limited time to explore new places due to the demands of work and a small business to run.

Visits This Year

So far, this year I have managed to visit 3 states. The rapid pace of work and personal commitments means that travel is a luxury I often cannot afford. A shorter list of unvisited states includes Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Illinois, while I have been to the airport there, those visits don’t count as an actual state visit.

Travel Across India

While my focus has been on U.S. states, I have also traveled to several locations in India. My journey started in the northeastern part of the country:

U.P. - Where I was born Jammu - For a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi Haryana - Visited Gurgaon/Gurugram Gujarat - Visited Somnath, Dwarka, Ahmedabad Kerala - Focused on Trivandrum, Alleppey, Munnar Karnataka - Bangalore Himachal Pradesh - Experienced Kullu, Manali, Shimla Goa - A quick visit Maharashtra - Visited Pune, Mumbai, Nasik Rajasthan - Kota Odisha - Bhubaneshwar Punjab - A quick stop Telangana - Visited Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh - Visited Hyderabad Tamil Nadu - Visited Madurai, Ooty Uttarakhand - Visited Dehradun North East States - Yet to explore

These locations offer a diverse range of experiences, from the mountains of Himachal Pradesh to the beaches of Goa, highlighting the rich cultural and natural landscapes of India.

Conclusion

While focused on U.S. state visits, my travel journey hasn’t been solely limited to the states. My travel practices and preferences have led me to explore significant parts of India as well. My journey is an ongoing one, with each state and location adding to the rich tapestry of life experiences.