#4 Pennsylvania

Let's face facts, we'll hit Pa a lot of times on our journey to conquer all 50 states. But, this trip marks our first official time. We are doing a lot in this fine state (and missing a ton that we'll have to come back later to visit). Our adventure in Pa started out at Sesame Place. A perfect place for a crew like ours (9 months-5 years old). We were fortunate to pick up Grandma and Grandpa for this portion of the trip - that made the trip not only more fun, but quite a bit easier! We also ran into friends of ours from back home. Thanks Amy and Eric Groen for the extra swim diaper!


We finished off our trip to Pa with a visit to the sweetest City on earth (AKA Hershey, Pa). The boys enjoyed the same chocolate tour both Nate and I did decades ago and they enjoyed it just as much. We took a trolley ride of the city and got all the Hershey trivia anyone could want.

Crayola Tour was next. We saw the world's largest crayon and played with every crayola item made!

#3 New Jersey

So, I must say we became fans of New Jersey on this trip. Ocean City, NJ was our stomping grounds and it was a perfect place to spend a day that the temps hit triple digits (our car thermometer read 103!!!).

Ocean City was started by 3 brothers who were ministers and they declared it a dry town. It still is today. What a fun place. There is a 2 1/2 mile boardwalk, a great beach, a ton of fun water slides for the older kids and mini theme parks perfect for our 9 months to 5 year crowd.

Even in 100 degree weather the boys enjoyed their first trip to the Ocean. Neither of us parents love the ocean, but not suprisingly our #2 thought it was the best. The quote of the day for us was Andersen announcing as we arrived at the beach "Daddy, today I am going to swim in the ocean for the first time, and I shall try a new food too!" What did he try? See the final picture below.

#2 Delaware

Delaware – It only seems fitting that "the" first state should be our first state. The first stop of our “official” United States tour! After a 4 am launch from Copley, we crossed Delaware state lines about 10 hours later. What a ride!!! It is amazing how the boys knew that the car ride would be worth it. After a drive through Wilmington, which is a very lovely city, we stopped at the Delaware Natural History Museum (a must-see if you are into the history of clam shells and migratory birds – HA!) topped off our travels. A dip into the hotel pool to baptize our first full-family vacation day and we called it a night. Oh yeah, John Philip Sousa made his debut rendition of “Semper Fidelis” to carry the tradition into the second generation of Mast travels.

DELAWARE – JULY 5, 2010

#1 Ohio

We realize that Ohio was not the actual first state in the Union, but for our journey it is where our adventure begins. The fine state that helped produce four amazing boys whom we love, adore and can't wait to welcome them to the amazing world of travel.

Here's to you Ohio, home of the Nathan and Cindy Mast family!

Conquest of the 50 States

Well, our family is FINALLY complete. 4 boys later and we can call it a day for getting pregnant again! Now on to our NEXT conquest - ALL 50 STATES.

The goal is to hit all 50 by the time Andersen graduates from high school. This blog will serve as our diary of sorts and will allow us to look back on where we have been and, more importantly, where we still have to go!

The rules looks like this: For a state to count, you have to either spend a night there OR do some sort of activity there. We also have to have a picture to post on the blog. If we screw this up - it doesn't count!! (at least until we have a huge trip out West and the camera breaks - then we will have to put it up for the judges to review)

That's about it! We are headed out this July with Grandpa and Grandma Mast to make our first run to the East and see if we can knock a couple of states off. Until then.........