My travel bucket list for the United States - a lifetime of sightseeing ahead of me

Sitting here on this very rainy weekend, working on a crochet order, I started daydreaming about where I would rather be than in Florida's rainy season. I've traveled to several places across the US and to England, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. This is a huge world, so many places that I would like to visit. Call it a bucket list or whatever you want, I love to travel and this is my United States "favorites" list before I get too old to travel (another 40 years or so). In another post I will be telling you about my overseas list, throughout Europe and Asia.

The view from my front porch...all day long. And probably for the next week or two.
Gloomy, huh?

Today's project...a twiddlemuff for a dementia patient

So what better time to take myself to another world, at least in my head.

So where would I rather be?

Let's start out west... My daughter and I have a joint plan, get an RV and travel across the country, finding whatever interesting things we can along the way.

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The Grand Canyon

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Although I've traveled out west a bit, I've never had the opportunity to see this natural wonder. Going rock climbing, rafting down the river, just looking out across the expanse. Amazing geologic history, I can only imagine seeing it in person. The debate about the Grand Canyon's age has been widely discussed, and possibly resolved!

Yosemite National Park

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As you can see, I love nature and natural wonders. The waterfalls, the wilderness, the wildlife, and so much more. Camping for a few days, RV or tent, is my goal here. As much of this country, Yosemite has a history that many people may not know about, from its creation to expansion to riots, you can read more about it on the History Channel's site.

West Coast

While I'm out west, there are few a states that I haven't gotten to yet...California, Washington, Nevada. There are so many sights out that way it is hard to name them all. That RV would be taking me up and down the coast from Seattle to the California beaches. The Pacific Coast has plenty of places to stop including state parks, Morro Bay to see the Peregrine falcons, and quaint villages and towns along the way. There are plenty of tours available down the Pacific Coast, but sometimes I prefer to make my own itinerary. You never know what you might find.

Point Lobos Reserve

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Long Beach

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Hearst Castle at San Simeon

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Jump across the Pacific to Hawaii

Ok, so I can't really take the RV to Hawaii. I will surely take a puddle jumper across to see these beautiful islands. the beaches are second to none, the volcanoes, the culture, state parks... I plan on at least a few days to experience it all.
I've been snorkeling in the Florida Keys but I would love to learn to scuba dive, just to swim with the colorful fish and maybe a few dolphines (and hopefully not a shark!) off the coast of Lanai.
Looking at the diving tour prices, I could even pay for it with one of my posts on Steemit!

Oahu scuba diving amongst the reef

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Big Island grey reef scuba diving

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Heading back east

I've been to a few places in the midwest...
Utah

Salt Lake City

Anelope Island

Park Place, Utah

Chicago

The Married with Children fountain!

Lake Michigan

(my photos on a good old fashioned 35mm camera)

But never to Las Vegas. My sister has been there a few times, she said its pretty "plastic" but it seems like one of those places I should see in my lifetime.

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Walking the strip, playing the slots, going to shows, staying in fancy hotel rooms. Seems like a fun weekend to me!

New England

I know its a big jump across the country, but that is what the RV is all about...driving and sightseeing. Although I've been to western New York, I haven't had the opportunity to see anywhere else north of Pennsylvania. As a history major in college, seeing in person what I've studied brings about a new understanding that is not possible through textbooks.

The lighthouses down the coast, starting at Maine would be interesting to see. The coastlines are like nothing I've ever seen, especially compared to Florida beaches.

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As this is where our country started out in its infancy, there are many historical sites, museums, and towns to visit. Plymouth and Cape Cod are definite stops I would make along the way. Through Boston is the Freedom Trail to learn about the revolution. Towns in Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts remain unchanged throughout the centuries, homage to their heritage.




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There are so many more places to see that I haven't listed here but I would prefer just to grab a map and go. Even finding odd sites like the biggest ball of yarn and random half buried cars along the routes. Travelling is in my blood and I'm sure I'll find several other interesting stops along the road (and off the beaten path) back to Florida.

I would love to hear any suggestions to add to my travels. Someday I hope to be sharing photos from my newest trips across the US. Who knows...maybe it will be funded by Steemit!