Welcome to The Explore All 50 Project! I created this website with three purposes in mind. First, it’s a travel guide filled with itineraries, tips, and not-to-be-missed places to visit across the United States. It’s also a how-to tool to help you craft educational adventures while creating wonderful experiences of your own. Finally, it is the story of my family, a single mom’s odyssey to imbue her children with knowledge and, more importantly, a lifetime of memories.
It’s my greatest hope that this website will inspire you to explore our beautiful country so rich with history and diverse culture and scenery. I hope my posts, itineraries and tips will encourage family trips like those I have taken with my children and inspire memories and laughter in the future. Today, when so much technology has invaded our lives, I hope to inspire old-fashioned togetherness, riding on to the next adventure without the DVD blasting in the backseat, but instead humming tunes while looking out the window at vistas greater than anything on a flat screen. I hope to encourage adventure and learning that takes us away from the comforts of home and confines of the classroom. To learn that history is not just a page in a textbook. To see that food does not come from a package, but grows in a field on someone’s farm. To experience cultural differences in cuisine, clothing, accents, and traditions that create the beautiful patchwork quilt that is America. To broaden knowledge by seeing, touching, and tasting and by being in places so different from our own communities all the while appreciating what we have and what it means to be free.
Consider this site your all-inclusive guide to making memories, experiencing America, and handling whatever life throws at you while on the road. I hope you are inspired to take on the Explore All 50 Project…So come along with me and begin your journey here...LET’S GO!!!
Just wanted to let you know that you have such a wonderful blog! I just finished reading your trip through the South, and will have to read the other posts at a later time. I also hope to be able to see all 50 states. In the meantime, I will be following along your journey!
So glad you found it interesting and will along for the ride. Much more to come so stay tuned!!! Alisa
I Just wanted to let you know how much my husband and I enjoyed meeting you and your son at the Los Angeles Travel Show last weekend. The week before, I had come upon your blog and really enjoyed it, so I was very excited when I came upon your booth. I look forward to keeping up with your adventures. Happy traveling!
Hello,
I noticed you said that you’re single mom. I’m wondering how one can afford to do this on a single-parents shoestring budget. Traveling all 50 states seems like a wealthy persons dream to me. Any advice on how to travel all 50 US states with a limited – little to none, funds ?
Example; The trip would include a struggling low income single mom with homeschooled child/ren in tow. Is that even humanly possible ? 🙂 Thank you.
HI There,
I will be totally honest, if you are on a shoestring budget, traveling to all 50 can be extremely challenging. Without sounding nosey, I am curious how you have time to homeschool your kids as a single mom. Are you are working? My hats off to you if you can manage it all although I am not sure how its possible. While I admit that I am not in the poorhouse, we do not travel lavishly at all. I save for these trips, stay at very moderately priced hotels, don’t eat in fancy restaurants and budget for various activities.
I don’t know the economics of your specific situation-is there anything left over after the bills are paid to put toward a trip? I guess the best place to start is to find out what your budget is if any for travel and then figure out what you could afford to do-thinking about gas, food, and hotel for starters. Without an actual dollar amount it’s hard to be helpful.
Great ideas! I love your blog and look forward to trying to see if I can do this with my kids!!
Hi – I just discovered your website and am eager to dig in to all that you have posted. Our family of four have traveled to 27 states so far (most east of the Mississippi River) with six new states planned for this summer’s trip. I also love the planning process nearly as much as the travel itself.
Hey Alisa,
Read all of your post’s and I have enjoyed them all.
Thanks for the website and stay safe out there.
Morgan
Hey Morgan,
Thank YOU for the positive feedback. I really glad you are enjoying the site. Warm regards, Alisa
I would start I. Chicago then go to Wisconsin, Minnesota and so forth. Would 30 days be enough?
Im so glad I came across your blog! I just decided today to begin a journey that I’ve dubbed 50by50. I’m 40 now and I want to visit all 50 status before I turn fifty. Any tips and support from any and all will be greatly helpful. Pray for me and I’ll pray for you..thanks.
David in Tennessee
HI David,
So excited for your journey! I hope you’ll find The Explore All 50 Project a great resource to help you plan your trips. You can also email me at [email protected] with any questions you might have, I am happy to help and share my knowledge with you. Safe Travels-Alisa
I love your blog! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Being able to fulfill our daughter’s goal to visit all 50 States, before turning 10 years old, was one of the best gifts we have given her. We had an amazing time traveling the country. We are happy to have been able to experience this with Isabella. Here is a video highlighting Isabella’s quest to see all 50 states.
https://youtu.be/LHQs8gsN_ig
Hi Janeth,
Wow, what an adventure. I loved you video. How on earth did you squeeze it all in before she turned 10! That it mighty impressive.-Alisa
This is a great resource! Thank you for developing this website. I am a single mom of 2 in NE and agree that travel is so important for education and memory making. I was unfamiliar with some of your posted NE sites, will explore some of your recommendations with the kids. Thanks again!
Kristin
Hi Kristin, I am so glad you like the website. Please email me if I can help you in any way [email protected]