# Awright, \*what\* states have you been in? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603 "2010-03-16T00:02:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/21 "2010-03-16T15:44:01Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Seems a bit arbitrary. We use the rule that you have to have peed there, preferably directly on the ground. I think sleeping there would also be a better test (and probably eliminate a good chunk of my list. Driving from Michigan to Florida and getting out of the car to get a cup of coffee is not much better than sitting in an airport. Of course it’s arbitrary. The reality is that all these are shades of gray, but polling requires a line, and that’s where I drew the line. If you want to start a ‘what states have you peed in’ thread, that’s alright. > [@Skammer](#): > > No love for the Dakotas. I can’t say I’m surprised; I’ve been to every state that borders them, but never stepped foot in either one. In South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and Custer State Park are completely worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/22 "2010-03-16T15:46:03Z")
From a snapshot a little while ago, here are the big ones: ```auto New York 112 82.96% California 110 81.48% Florida 107 79.26% Pennsylvania 104 77.04% District of Columbia 103 76.30% Illinois 97 71.85% Virginia 91 67.41% Maryland 90 66.67% Texas 86 63.70% New Jersey 86 63.70% Georgia 85 62.96% Ohio 84 62.22% Colorado 84 62.22% Massachusetts 83 61.48% Arizona 81 60.00% Voters: 135 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/23 "2010-03-16T15:54:38Z")
And the least visited are: ```auto Alaska 17 12.14% North Dakota 28 20.00% South Dakota 37 26.43% Hawai'i 41 29.29% Montana 43 30.71% Mississippi 45 32.14% Idaho 47 33.57% Nebraska 50 35.71% Rhode Island 50 35.71% Maine 51 36.43% ``` None of which I’ve been to (though I have been to Vermont, which is just off this list) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/24 "2010-03-16T15:55:37Z")
I took this poll last night, but just realized I forgot to tick South Dakota. No idea why anyone would go to North Dakota. SD at least has the Corn Palace. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/25 "2010-03-16T16:01:28Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > What exactly is in North Dakota? It’s not nearly as remote as Alaska, but each has had 7 visitors. > > Is there any particular tourist destination there that would draw people? In my case I needed to drive from Yellowstone park to Minnesota, and going through North Dakota was the quickest way. And it’s too long to drive through without stopping. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/26 "2010-03-16T16:04:35Z")
I forgot to tick Wyoming. But I’ve been there too. 36 total for me. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/27 "2010-03-16T16:08:29Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > In my case I needed to drive from Yellowstone park to Minnesota, and going through North Dakota was the quickest way. And it’s too long to drive through without stopping. I thought driving across North Dakota was boring. Then I hit eastern Montana. Though, the endless fields of sunflowers in ND were pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/28 "2010-03-16T16:14:55Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > What exactly is in North Dakota? Is there any particular tourist destination there that would draw people? Absolutely. There’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a surreal painted badlands landscape with prime wildlife viewing. There are numerous historic sites associated with American Indians, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the early trapping and trading days (especially Fort Union). And there’s the [International Peace Garden](http://www.peacegarden.com/sights.htm) and its tribute to two centuries of peaceful American/Canadian relations. Plus, the state capitol has a portrait of Lawrence Welk hanging in prime position in the rotunda. Top that, Virginia! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/29 "2010-03-16T16:17:19Z")
Another person who checked North Dakota reporting in. As noted above, my reason for visiting was to see Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Pretty cool place with some fantastic vistas and really colorful badlands. Definitely worth a stop if you’re anywhere in the vicinity. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/30 "2010-03-16T16:25:21Z")
Three of the most-visited places (NY, FL and DC) I visited while on school trips. Is this the case for others? I’ll be adding California in July, bringing me up to 14. I mis-counted my vote in the other thread, though. I think I only remembered 10! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/31 "2010-03-16T16:27:32Z")
33 for me. Weirdly, I have never been to New York. I have seen the city from across the river but that doesn’t count. Every time I go to New Jersey or Philly I tell myself, “Self, you HAVE to go to ‘The City’ this time.” ---
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/32 "2010-03-16T16:56:51Z")
23 for me. In the Countries poll I counted 24; business travel has greatly inflated both numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/33 "2010-03-16T17:18:05Z")
With a snapshot after Voters: 164 Here are the SEC states: ```auto Florida 135 82.32% Georgia 110 67.07% Tennessee 94 57.32% Kentucky 93 56.71% South Carolina 85 51.83% Louisiana 75 45.73% Arkansas 63 38.41% Alabama 60 36.59% Mississippi 52 31.71% ``` Anybody care to do this for other conferences? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/34 "2010-03-16T17:19:33Z")
Rode the train across ND and MT as a very small child, but didn’t get out–or if I did, not so’s anyone would notice. And changed planes in AZ, which also doesn’t count according to the OP’s rules. Add to that the 5 states I’ve never been “in” at all (NM, AK, HI, OK, and KS), and my total would be 42 + DC. In the last 10 years I’ve been in every state from the Louisiana-Minnesota longitude east, plus California, Utah, and Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/35 "2010-03-17T00:29:41Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Absolutely. There’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a surreal painted badlands landscape with prime wildlife viewing. > [@blondebear](#): > > Another person who checked North Dakota reporting in. As noted above, my reason for visiting was to see Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Pretty cool place with some fantastic vistas and really colorful badlands. Definitely worth a stop if you’re anywhere in the vicinity. This. The TRNP beats the heck out of the Badlands in South Dakota. I like both of them, but it is easy to see why Teddy loved North Dakota and why it helped him turn his life around. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/36 "2010-03-17T00:59:55Z")
Counting DC as a state, I’ve been to 45 of the 51 - all but Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, and Nebraska. Of the 45 states I’ve been to, I’ve slept at least one night in 40 of them, the exceptions being Oklahoma, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, and Wyoming. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/37 "2010-03-17T01:14:05Z")
Since 10:46 this morning when a snapshot was as of 135 Voters, here’s how the situation is changing: ```auto New York 112 82.96% New York 162 84.82% California 110 81.48% California 156 81.68% Florida 107 79.26% Florida 157 82.20% Pennsylvania 104 77.04% Pennsylvania 148 77.49% District of Columbia 103 76.30% District of Columbia 151 79.06% Illinois 97 71.85% Illinois 140 73.30% Virginia 91 67.41% Virginia 139 72.77% Maryland 90 66.67% Maryland 131 68.59% Texas 86 63.70% Texas 117 61.26% New Jersey 86 63.70% New Jersey 124 64.92% Georgia 85 62.96% Georgia 127 66.49% Ohio 84 62.22% Ohio 125 65.45% Colorado 84 62.22% Colorado 108 56.54% Massachusetts 83 61.48% Massachusetts 125 65.45% Arizona 81 60.00% Arizona 109 57.07% Nevada 114 59.69% North Carolina 112 58.64% Tennessee 112 58.64% Indiana 109 57.07% Kentucky 108 56.54% Michigan 101 52.88% West Virginia 100 52.36% Voters: 135 Voters: 191 ``` The order of mention is the way they were earlier, but quite a few have shifted relative position. I’ve added the ones with over 99 votes. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/38 "2010-03-17T02:38:53Z")
I forgot to put in Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/39 "2010-03-17T02:47:19Z")
Well, crap. I accidentally his post when I was scrolling. Only ‘voted’ for Alabama, and that was a mistake. (Yes, I’m using a touch pad.) So. Not just driving through, but actually visiting: Arizona California (native) Idaho Illinois Louisiana Massachusetts Mississippi Nevada North Carolina Oregon Utah Washington (resident) Washington, D.C. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603/40 "2010-03-17T03:41:02Z")
There’s six I haven’t been in: Alabama, Alaska, Maine, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont. (I voted wrong and forgot to check off Arkansas.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awright-what-states-have-you-been-in/532603.md?page=3)