"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
How does a Fifty-State Nerd love the Great American Fair?
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I’m sure you’ve heard about visiting all fifty states here! Approximately 1.3% of Americans have visited all fifty. I visited my fiftieth state for the first time around in 1987. Amazingly, it was New York state. So far, not a big deal. However, in 2014, I decided I “needed” to visit all 50 again! And I completed that in January 2023, upon visiting Hawaii. Now, I’m up to 30 the third time around. So, when the All Fifty Club asked for volunteers at their booth at the Great American State Fair, I jumped at the chance. I’m attending from Friday, June 26th, to Wednesday, July 1st, returning home on July 2nd. All fifty states and the territories will be represented, but not all “officially.” Some states opted out of official representation but are represented by other groups. At the All Fifty Club location, we’ll be answering questions about all things related to visiting all 50. And encouraging people to step up to the plate and visit all states themselves. Here’s a link to the All Fifty Club. I hope to see you there! I’ll do my best to send something each day I’m on site. I don’t know how much time I’ll have, but will follow up with reports at the end if I have more to say. "Take the Road Less Traveled!” Classic Rock song: "I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash (and others!) Please email me about your visits to states outside of your area! Here is the Premium Subscription page: You will get early access to new blog posts, one extra weekly newsletter, and access to all past newsletters. And occasionally, I'll ask for votes on content! Stan Featured Post: Here’s a link to my post about visiting all 50! |
Stan Wiebe
"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Sorry, I didn't include that the Great American State Fair is on the National Mall in Washington, DC. I hope it doesn't get "political," but since it's Washington, it probably will (or already is). But it's a good place to celebrate the 250th anniversary. If you are old enough to remember the Bicentennial in 1976, you'll likely remember it receiving much more publicity and celebration. I make a supreme effort to keep politics out of The Driveby Tourist. It's about visiting America, one road...
On the way home from my week in Chicagoland and Route 66, I couldn't resist seeing this place. It's in Riverside, Iowa, near Iowa City. The TV series and Star Trek books stated that Captain Kirk was born in Iowa. In 1985, a city councilman suggested that someone contact Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the original Star Trek series. Since no Iowa city was mentioned, Roddenberry gave his approval. In a later movie, Riverside received recognition as the birthplace. A plaque erected attests to...
I did another section of Route 66 on my recent trip - from Pontiac to Carlinville. I'll have more about the trip in a blog post later. I dropped in again at the Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac and then visited more places along the way. One of them is the Museum of the Giants in Atlanta, IL. It has a collection of giant Muffler Men and other characters, placed there because of their proximity to the Bunyan Giant across the street. More later. Route 66 is full of fun stops. Here's the link to...