September 2012. At last, all 48 contiguous states visited. This was one item on my Bucket List. Crossed it OFF! Wyoming is now the only state I have yet to spend a night inside its borders. Hopefully next year for that. Still about a dozen major U.S. cities I still need to visit, mostly in California and Florida.
KANSAS: This was one of those whimsical things to do. Like Four Corners, the little marker for the central
point of the contiguous 48 states (it is impossible to mark it exactly) is an out-of-the-way off-the-beaten-path
type of place. And, like Four Corners, one only need to see this place once. So, been there, done that.
PLANNING AND REALITY: QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
MISSED VISITING: QQQQQQQQQQ
PIERRE: Pierre is one of the smaller state capitals, population-wise. I like to visit state capitals and
take a photo of the state capitol building. Sort of another indicator saying "I've been there". Like its neighbor
to the north, Bismarck, both state capitals are just barely in the Central Time Zone. Leave town going west and
gain an hour while crossing into the Mountain Time Zone.
BADLANDS: Been wanting to visit this place for a long time.
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MOUNT RUSHMORE: Also a long time on the list of places to visit. My parents were here many years ago and said it
is definitely a place to visit during a lifetime. Lots of things in the area that are also worth seeing/doing.
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ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK: I love visiting national parks. Been to over 50 of them. I usually get one of those
National Park Service annual pass cards to get into the parks. To get your money's worth, one must visit at least five
in a twelve month period. I usually get my money's worth.
BISMARCK: Few people make it up this far in the country. Media stories have been going for the past few years
how North Dakota is trying to attract new residents to come here and fill one of their many jobs (mostly in the oil
industry) while most of the country has millions looking for work.
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FARGO: Years ago I worked for a company that had a branch office in Fargo. Talked to the staffers there many
times by phone but never made it up to the branch office. Always heard that the area is flat, flat, flat and treeless
and featureless with the exception of the river passing through on its way south.
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MINNEAPOLIS: I was briefly in Minneapolis many years ago on the way to Duluth. This time I got to visit a bit.
Yet another state capital and capitol was in nearby St. Paul.
DES MOINES: And one more state capital. This was mostly just a pass through on the way home place.
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IMPRESSIONS: QQQQQQQQQQQQ
OBSERVATIONS: Some observations made while traveling in this area:
The Bests:
The Totals:
The big decision here, with limited time in the area, was whether to visit the south park or the north park.
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The Worsts: