I have touched on this before and it is a common discussion on online forums. Everyone has their own standards and that's up to you. I have 2 sets of standards.
Lenient:
Anything counts except for airport layovers. You could turn around at the Welcome sign without even getting out of the car. You could be riding in the car sleeping as a small child with no memory of being there. Even with airport layovers, you could make the case if you ate a sit-down meal and chatted with the bartender or purchased a souvenir. Again, your rules.
My rules for Strict:
Here are some examples of what does make the standard. I have no minimum amount of time.
Attend or participate in an organized sporting event. It could be a 5K race, a baseball game or your son's wrestling tournament. I have done a half marathon in every state so that counts them all for Round 1
A swim in the ocean or a local public pool. I have caught a wave in every state with an ocean coastline except for Alaska.
Trip to a ski resort. I've done this in 5 states (PA, WV, NC, TN, CA)
You were taken to a state as a child with your parents, but you were at least 6-7 years old and therefore old enough to remember it with at least some clarity. I was told that I went to the Jersey shore at 3 or 4 years old but did not remember it and did not count it. I did go back as an adult. However, I went to South Dakota about a month shy of my 8th birthday and yes, I do remember it. That counts under the strict standard.
A visit to a museum or historical site. You can chalk up Virginia by walking across the Potomac from DC to Arlington Cemetary. That's most definitely a legitimate tourist attraction.
A visit to a State or National Park that includes a short hike or a sunset walk on the beach without taking a dip in the water. I did the former in Iowa and the latter in Wisconsin for Round 2. Those are probably my 2 weakest qualifiers but they both count in my book.
I don't think there is much argument about counting any of these but there is a grey area.
An overnight hotel stay? IMO, this is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition. Let's say you live near a state border and cross back and forth on a regular basis. Chances are, you've qualified without going more than an hour or two from home. There's no reason to stay in a hotel. How about this one? You pull off the interstate at night and sleep then check out the next morning. You then proceed to the next state without leaving your car. That's a NO for me but I would count a camping trip.
Pulling off the highway to take pictures of a scenic overlook- NO on the strict standard.
Browsing a shopping or outlet mall- I lean towards NO. If you've seen one, you've seen them all and there is little difference between states. However, if you purchase a souvenir or at least a T-shirt of the hometown sports team, I'd say MAYBE
Walking tour of a town or city- DEPENDS. If you simply parked your car and walked a couple of blocks, I say NO. A stop at a fast food restaurant or a convenience store does not qualify but a sit-down meal at a local restaurant or a small purchase at another local business? I think YES. National chains don't qualify. A walk through a city park or a drink at the bar in which you had at least one meaningful conversation? That's a YES. I did both in Omaha, Nebraska and it counts.
A walk across a river to see a city skyline?
The best views of Cincinnati are in Kentucky. The best view of St. Louis are in Illinois. Indiana offers a nice view of Louisville and the best view of Detroit is from Windsor, Ontario. If all you do is cross the river and take a picture, it's a NO. Put some effort into it. Go out for a meal in Covington, Kentucky. A visit to a casino in East St. Louis, IL? That's safe enough and I say it counts but it's not something I'd recommend.
No comments:
Post a Comment