Gotta Catch ’em All!

I was exactly one year into my mini-retirement while driving up to Boston earlier this month. As I made my way up the coast, I reflected on the year’s adventures. The states I was passing through had become quite familiar to me. I had hiked the Appalachain Trail (AT) from Georgia to Maine, as well as multiple road trips up and down the eastern seaboard. The first year of mini-retirement had inadvertantly focused around exploration of the eastern U.S. In fact, in 12 months I had visited every East Coast state, most more than once. 

Florida 

• Kayaked 99 miles through the Everglades
• Camped and fished at Little Talbot Island State Park
• Camped in Big Cypress National Reserve

Georgia 

• 76 miles of the AT, including the southern terminus on Springer Mountain

South Carolina

• Hiked at Congaree National Park

North Carolina

• 96 miles of the AT
• Kayaked/camped at Merchants Millpond
• Camped and hiked at Carolina Beach State Park

Virginia

• Enjoyed precious time at home
• 550 miles of the AT
• Canoed 50 miles on the Shenandoah River
• Kayak fished Tidewater area
• Kayaked/Camped on Mockhorn Island and Saxis Wildlife Management Area

West Virginia*

• 4 miles of the AT
• Explored Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Maryland

• 41 miles of the AT
• Kayaked Pocomoke Sound

Delaware

• Stayed in Dover and Wilmington en route to Boston

Pennsylvania*

• 330 miles of the AT
• Stayed in a hotel across the street from the Liberty Bell

New Jersey

• 72 miles of the AT

New York

• 88 miles of the AT
• Toured West Point Military Academy
• Drove through NYC 6 times

Connecticut

• 52 miles of the AT
• Drove through state 8 times 

Massachusetts

• 90 miles of the AT 
• Visited parents in Boston multiple times

Vermont*

• Cross-country skied at 4 nordic trail centers
• 150 miles of the AT

New Hampshire

• Cross-country skied at 5 nordic trail centers
• 161 miles of the AT
• Stayed at parents’ cabin 3 times

Maine

• 281 miles of the AT, including the northern terminus at Mt. Katahdin
• Ate lobster on the coast

*according to Wikipedia, these non-coastline states are still considered part of the “East Coast.”

Oops!

Did you catch my mistake? I’m actually missing one East Coast state. Can you tell which?

The Missing State

It’s Rhode Island, the smallest state in the U.S. 

Squished between Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Atlantic Ocean, Rhode Island is easy to miss. You would never find yourself “just passing through” Rhode Island; it’s not on the way to anything. 

It doesn’t really have nationally recognized landmarks or monuments. Overshadowed by larger and more influential New England neighbors, Rhode Island is easy to overlook. At least it was for me. 

Gotta Go

I was still reflecting on my various East Coast adventures when I whizzed through Connecticut on I-84, just west of Rhode Island, and arrived in Boston. Having realized the gap in my exploration however, I knew I would have to get there soon. 

After two weeks of cross-country skiing and visiting family, I had my opportunity when I drove back down the coast toward Virginia. I made a slight detour to Newport, RI. 

The Cliff Walk

Without a real reason to visit the state, I googled “what to do in Rhode Island.” The first thing that popped up was Newport’s Cliff Walk, a 3.5 mile scenic walk along the coast. Perfect! On the 600 mile drive home, a 7 mile (out-and-back) walk would be a great way to stretch my legs. 

The walk runs along the rocky cliffs of the Atlantic coastline, passing by many grand Gilded Age era estates. The trail was an interesting mix of rugged natural beauty and showy historical grandeur. 

The salty and crisp winter air was invigorating. Despite the cold ocean breeze, the trail was bustling with joggers and families out for an afternoon stroll. I even saw about a dozen surfers in wet suits braving the frigid water. I was surprised by the big rolling surf-able waves. I had no idea Rhode Island had good surfing.

All 17

It was a lovely afternoon and I’m glad I made the detour. As you might have guessed, I feel satisfied knowing that I’ve explored all 17 East Coast states in a year. 

And wow, there is so much diversity packed into the East Coast, from the vibrant urban energy of cities like New York and Miami, to the rugged and wild Appalachian Mountains, to the serene coastal beauty of states like Virginia and Rhode Island. 

Adventure is where you look for it

The eastern U.S. probably doesn’t sound like the biggest, most exciting adventure one could go on. It doesn’t have the same wow-factor as say, trekking in Tibet, ice climbing in Antarctica, or crossing the Sahara on camel. 

It is, however, full of surprises. It teaches a lesson about finding value where you least expect it. There are truly special areas tucked away in nooks and crannies, easy to overlook. The beauty of adventure lies in the ability to find excitement and novelty in unexpected places. Every place, no matter how ordinary, holds hidden value for those willing to seek it out. 

Adventures are not confined to distant and exotic locations. It takes a little bit of effort, but I’ve learned there is buried treasure wherever you look for it. A year ago, for example, I couldn’t imagine, that there was anything beautiful in the state of New Jersey, but the 72 miles I hiked through NJ were serene, stunningly beautiful, and some of my favorite miles on the trail. A few months later people gave me funny looks when I said I wanted to paddle 99 miles through the swampy alligator-invested waters of the Everglades, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I wasn’t sure if Rhode Island was even worth visiting, but I had a memorable micro-adventure scrambling along the slippery rocks under the shadow of imposing mansions. 

Even in seemingly mundane places, hidden gems await discovery!