I’m very lucky in that I get to travel all over the globe for work and see many places. It can be hard, and this year has been a challenge. Through the first six months of the year, I’ve taken 13 trips (not all business).

However, this week I’m off on vacation. In a new place I’ve never been: Alaska. My wife and I booked a cruise and we’re somewhere today on our way to a state neither of us has ever visited.

Enjoy the week, and I’ll be posting pictures if you follow me anywhere else. I might write about it there, but I’m offline the rest of the week.

For the trivia nerds, and because I like data, this is my 46th state. Four to go. Here’s my list:

• Alabama – driven through, never stayed. One I’m missing
• Alaska – This week!
• Arizona – Been here many times, Grand Canyon 3 times
• Arkansas – Never been here. Not sure I’ve even driven through
• California – I love Cali. Fortunate enough to have been north, mid, and south here.
• Colorado – I live here
• Connecticut – I had a client here a long time ago, so I’ve been here quite a few times
• Delaware – Driven through a few times, spent time at Assateague Island with my wife.
• Florida – three trips to Fl this year.
• Georgia – Visited
• Hawaii – lucky enough to go twice.
• Idaho – Been here twice, once for volleyball, once to see a horse
• Illinois – Went to Chicago this year, going back again. Not sure I’ve done much else
• Indiana – Been to Indy twice
• Iowa – Driven through, stood on the border in Omaha, but never stayed here
• Kansas – Driven through, spent time in a few cities lightly. Stayed here for a volleyball tournament and commuted to Kansas City
• Kentucky – Family living here. Been a few times
• Louisiana – not sure I’d have been here except for SQL Saturday. Love Baton Rouge
• Maine – never been
• Maryland – Family here, been many times
• Massachusetts – Love Boston and been to quite a few cities
• Michigan – Traveled here a couple times and spent time in Traverse City
• Minnesota – Only been to Minneapolis. Want to go back
• Mississippi – Spent a few nights here driving cross country. Jackson only
• Missouri – Lots of events in KC
• Montana – Family trip to Glacier. Highly recommended
• Nebraska – A few times for various things
• Nevada – Three times in Vegas this year
• New Hampshire – Wanted to go to Dartmouth. Didn’t get accepted, but been here a few times
• New Jersey – Quite a few times. Used to go stay here and commute into NYC for fun.
• New Mexico – Lots of trips, and good times at Taos.
• New York – Usually go once a year since my daughter is in uni here.
• North Carolina – Used to skip school to surf here
• North Dakota – Only Fargo, but went for SQL Sat
• Ohio – Been to Cleveland a few times. I think that’s it.
• Oklahoma – Think I’ve only been for SQL Sat
• Oregon – Quite a few trips here. It’s beautiful
• Pennsylvania – Lots of trips here.
• Rhode Island – One trip to Providence in college
• South Carolina – A few trips
• South Dakota – Love to go camping here
• Tennessee – A few SQL Sats and other events here
• Texas – Been four times this year, more scheduled
• Utah – Only one trip here, SQL Sat SLC
• Vermont – Been here playing ultimate frisbee
• Virginia – born here
• Washington – Summit many times
• West Virginia – Stayed here a couple times, but mostly driven through
• Wisconsin – Visited family here and SQL Sat Madison
• Wyoming – Lots of trips across the CO boarder