What counts has having "visited" a state? (hotel, live in)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am trying to determine what counts has having visited a state. I have been to almost every state, but now that I think about it, I have spent more time in certain states than others and have done more things in certain states than others. So, what is the generally accepted rule that qualifies as having visited a state?
Some states, I have only driven through on interstate highway and got off the highway to get gas or take a break or something. Other states, I have stayed for several nights in a hotel and did local activities and sight seeing, etc. And some states, I have driven through some local roads for a brief period of time and that's it.
Typically, I have counted a state as me having visited that state if I was on ground level (flyovers don't count) and at least drove off of a federal highway (interstate or U.S. highway), even if I was inside the car the entire time. I do not count switching flights at an airport because I see it as merely a traveling step between two places, with no intent to visit the state in which the airport is located.
In your opinion, what constitutes as having visited a state? Also, should there be a minimum time requirement? For example, if I only drove through a state for 15 minutes, does that really count as having visited that state? I'm thinking time duration shouldn't matter at all, but I'm interested to hear your opinions!
Driving through a state without getting out of the car is a tricky one. Does it really count? I suppose it does, although not the ideal way to visit a state.
I think the bigger question is the airport thing. Atlanta and Chicago, the biggest hub airports in the country, I guess could count if you actually get off one plane and on to another, but just walking through an airport is somewhat a stretch IMO.
I voted for getting out of your car. I seriously believe to "have visited", you need to get a breath of the city's air, and hopefully experiencing something unique to that State. But I may be old-fashioned.
There's a reason people specify "driving/passing through" certain states rather than actually visiting them, so I would say visiting a specific destination. If I drove through Arizona only to stop and get gas in the middle of the desert, I wouldn't say that I had visited the state. But if I made a day trip to the Grand Canyon, even without staying the night, I would say that I have been to Arizona.
There's a reason people specify "driving/passing through" certain states rather than actually visiting them, so I would say visiting a specific destination. If I drove through Arizona only to stop and get gas in the middle of the desert, I wouldn't say that I had visited the state. But if I made a day trip to the Grand Canyon, even without staying the night, I would say that I have been to Arizona.
Yeah, these's a reason people do that, but it still has no effect on whether you've actually visited a state. For example, if I say I've "been to" state x, it could mean, for example, having spent 1 single there, or having lived there for a year, etc. So one might want to specify that as well.
In virtually every state, I have gotten out of the car and spent at least one night there. One exception is DC, in which I only drove through and stayed in the car the entire time. I drove through the city streets for about a half hour. Does that mean I've never been to DC?
Another one is Louisiana. All I did was drive through on I-10 and stop and get gas once. I got out of the car to fill up the gas, but then went right back on the interstate.
And then there's Oklahoma, where I drove through on interstate, got off an exit and went to a convenience store and bought a snack, then went right back on the interstate.
I picked the last option but I would also count the third and fourth options. I think this should be a multiple choice poll.
The issue with the last one is say you live in Jersey City, you probably never stayed the night in NYC but certainly you have visited there. Same thing with most daytrip locations, particularly in the Northeast, tons of people in Massachusetts have never stayed the night in NH but have been to Hampton Beach or Rockingham Park.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
