Hey, it's me Ashley

I've lived in Illinois my entire life and grew up in an extremely small town with not much to do and little selection for friends and partners. After 23 years of being alive, I was figuring out that I didn't feel very... alive. I had no idea what I liked to do or if I even remotely liked MYSELF. As a kid and throughout my teenage years, I was blessed enough to be able to take trips with my family to different national parks and visit many of the US states. Like most teens, I was not present in the moment with my family and didn't appreciate the trips until I couldn't take trips anymore due to work or school obligations.

I decided a few years ago that I wanted to see all of the 50 US states in alphabetical order. I thought this would satisfy my need for order and organization, but also challenge me to explore myself along with the world. I wanted to foster self-reliance, confidence, self-discovery, and immerse myself in the different cultures of the US states as a safe introduction to (later) world travels. Some of these trips have been taken solo, some with family, and some with friends. I'm here to tell you how I've taken each trip, what I liked or disliked about each, and also to give advice to anyone else out there who is feeling the way I once felt. If you're lost and yearning to feel adventurous and free, travel with me!