America the beautiful.....11. Visit a state I have never been to

Justin & my recent trip out east allowed me to cross two items of the ol' bucket list.  Not only did we experience the historical Presidential Inauguration but we also traveled to a couple states neither of us had been to before.  Throughout my life, I have been very fortunate to have opportunities to travel.  Many of my travels have a special place on The Byers Family memory lane.   The most memorable one was a family trip to Dearborn, Michigan in June 1994.  I remember the month and year specifically because we came home the same day as the O.J. Simpson "high-speed" chase.  My father wanted to take my sister & I to Henry Ford Museum, a place he had visited with his family growing up.  The most memorable event from that family road trip was a  stop in Lima, Ohio at a radio parts and scrap store.  Who knew two young girls would be able to have so much fun rummaging through old radio and television parts?  Maybe someday I will continue the family tradition and take my family to Henry Ford Museum.

Before my bucket list, I had visited 23 states (plus Puerto Rico) in our great Union.  That means I needed to visit 27 more states (28 if you include DC).  I dream of traveling abroad to Europe to see the beautiful sites our world has to offer.  I forget and often take for granted the amazing sites of the grand U.S of A.  With that I decided my bucket list must include...11. Visit a state I have never been to.

1.  Start a blog
2. Go to the Presidential Inauguration / visit DC
3. Run a destination 1/2 Marathon
4. Compete in Mrs. Missouri pageant [in progress]
4. Eating a raw oyster
6. Ride a mechanical bull
7. Cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by myself
8. Shoot a gun/target shooting
9.  Go Mushroom hunting
10.  Learn to sew / make something I can wear
11. Visit a state I have never been to
12. Ride in a hot air balloon
13. Learn to play craps
14. Eat at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ
15. Complete one Pinterest craft project
16. Take a walking tour of a Civil War Battlefield
17. Learn to make a pie from scratch
18. Make Grandma's kolache cookies correctly
19. Take a shot of Jack Daniels
20. Take a cake decorating class and then decorate my own cake

21. Do at least one pull-up
22. Visit Graceland
23. Take a train ride/ weekend trip to Herman, Mo.
24. Make homemade pasta
25. Run a 8 min/mile 5K
26. Take ballet class from the KC Ballet
27.  Reach my Weight Watchers goal weight (NEW!)
28.
29.
30.

In the recent years, Justin & I have been mad travelers.  Since we started dating in 2004 we have traveled to Chicago, Tampa, San Juan, New Orleans and Cancun to name a few.  It seems like we are always on the go.  We both love to travel and experience new things and places together.  My big sister, Annie, recently moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Not only did she get a great job for a great company (American Eagle) but we now have a new city to visit and explore.  One great perk to the East Coast that we don't have in the wonderful Midwest is that everything is so much closer together.   On our last trip in January, Justin & I traveled through 3 states, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, to get to D.C for the inauguration.  Since this was't my first trip to Pitt, I had already crossed Pennsylvania off my list.  Maryland & West Virginia were new states I was able to check of my list.  

On our trip to the East Coast we had a short layover in Baltimore.  Traveling to a new city/state via an airport technically qualifies but I wanted my experience to include more than a cookie cutter food court in an airport. Luckily, part of our trip included traveling from Pittsburgh to West Virginia.  My Uncle Bill & Aunt Jane were gracious to offer their home to us for our trip to D.C  My uncle used to work in D.C and commuted daily from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.  Our families live miles apart and do not see each other very often.  I really appreciate these opportunities to spend time together and bond as a family.  My uncle and I are die hard Cubs fans so we always have something to talk about.   

My uncle & aunt, Bill & Jane Perry.  They welcomed us into their home and helped make our Presidential Inauguration experience memorable

After the inauguration chaos Justin & decided to skip a second day in D.C and instead road trip back to PIttsburgh.     We took their recommendation and hit the road!  John Denver was right in his song Country Roads...."Almost heaven, West Virginia".   I had seen mountains in both Tennessee and Colorado and was amazed by the beauty.  West Virginia is no different.  Most of my pictures are through a car window and do not do the scenery any justice.  Here are a few shots from our travels.  

It didn't take long for us to embark onto Maryland.  My uncle & aunt recommended we stop at the Antietam National Battlefield.  After an enjoyable trip to Wilson's Creek Battlefield over Christmas we decided to check out.  

The Battle of Antietam took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland.  Considered the "Bloodiest One Day Battle in American History".  Don't be fooled by the sun in our pictures....the weather was awful!  20 mph winds and maybe 20 degrees.  Luckily it was a partial driving tour so we could stay in our warm rental car.  For more information on the battle check out the website http://www.nps.gov/ancm/index.htm.  

Throughout the entire battlefield memorials were build naming all of the soldiers who lost their lives in the battle.  It was amazing the number of lives lost that day.  

The battlefield is a beautiful site with the Appalachian Mountains as a backdrop.  We hiked up the Observation Tower to see the whole area.  Here is one picture from the tower. 

My grandfather love the history of the Civil War.  Visiting these battlefields brings me a little closer to him.  Hopefully someday we can make it Gettysburg were his ashes were spread.  

The next stop on our journey was Cumberland, Maryland.  A quick Wikipedia search told us that Cumberland, Maryland, was the home of Queen City Creamery.  Voted Maryland's best frozen custard.  Even though we hadn't had lunch, we decided to stop.  We could not pass up trying the best custard in Maryland!