The State Debate

As you know (or not), 1 of my '30' is to visit 1 of the 10 states I haven't been to yet. Here's the "need" list:

1. Alaska
2. Arkansas
3. Hawaii
4. Iowa
5. Louisiana
6. Michigan
7. Mississippi
8. Oklahoma
9. Nebraska
10. North Dakota

Now the big question. Where should I go?  

I've already nixed Hawaii and Alaska off my mental list. They are the most economically impractical. Never say never, but I'll say unlikely.

Louisiana appears the most practical in terms of a) finances and b) fun. New Orleans is the only city on my "need" list (outside of Hawaii) that I really want to visit. It's a Southwest city and I think I have a free ticket. I LOVE SOUTHWEST. Have I mentioned that? Now, if I want be really efficient I could go to the Syracuse-Tulane football game on October 8th. That would also cross the Syracuse Football Game off my '30'. I know Tulane football isn't a sexy choice but sometimes one must choose function over fashion, right?

Know what's really ideal? Caps vs Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. That's what I call a great reason to visit Michigan, but I'm not holding my breathe. Another option is to visit Chicago (one of my favorite cities) and just drive to Michigan for the heck of it. You know, take a picture at the "Welcome to Michigan" sign for this blog and then turn around. Not that I have anything against the state that produced Silent Bob...

Kinda bummed that, aside from the Tulane game, the Orange and Ravens did not give me any options to cover both a "need" state and a game. The Ravens' 2011 regular season road games are all in "been to" states and Tulane is the only school that the Orange play in a "need" state. Even the Terps failed to give me any options.

Might as well nix North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Mississippi right now. I have zero desire to plan a special trip to any of the above. My dad thinks it's possible we drove through Nebraska once, but since he really can't remember (and he remembers almost everything) it's probably safe to assume it's still needed. My best friend went to grad school at Iowa. I kept wanting to visit (mostly to see her, but also to cross Iowa off the list), but she really really disliked it there and didn't want to subject me to the area. Now the only reason to go is Dyersville, but not sure that's worth a special trip (don't tell Ray).

Probably safe to nix Arkansas too. I actually do want to visit the Clinton Presidential Library but it's not a top priority. Louisiana and Michigan are higher on the list.

The only reason I haven't nixed Oklahoma is because I'm into any state with endless stetsons and cowboy boots. I'd love to catch an Oklahoma high school football game. I wish I actually knew someone who lived in Oklahoma.

In all likelihood, here's what's going to happen. One of these days a $39 Ding fare will pop up (to Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Detroit, Omaha, Jackson or New Orleans) and I'll book a last minute 1-nighter. That being said, if you have any reasons for me to visit one of the 10... Holla!!!  I'm very open to friend and reader recommendations and suggestions.