Seeing the states in summer

I am not a world traveler. I have traveled to Canada six times and Mexico three. In most cases, I sampled Victoria or Los Algodones for a few hours. I didn't see a place at length until I visited Cabo San Lucas for a week in 2021. That said, I am a traveler. I have visited 47 U.S. states. When it comes to seeing America up close, I am usually the first to go and the last to leave.

This summer, I did it again. Along with Cheryl, my wife of 39 years, I traveled to each coast and a lot of points in between. I saw fourteen states by car, plane, sailboat, and even gondola. I reminded myself that the best way to see the United States, or any country, is to experience it.

In June, we went to New England, a region filled with history, lighthouses, and fresh seafood. Though we saw Salem, Lexington, Newport, and other major tourist attractions, we spent most of our time in Ogunquit, an artsy town with splendid beaches, quaint shops, and the best cliff walk in America. If you find yourself in the need of a stroll along Maine's rocky coast, Ogunquit's Marginal Way is your answer.

Later, in June and July, we turned west. We explored nine of the 11 states west of the Rocky Mountains, including a few we had not seen in years. As we did, I rediscovered old gems and found new ones. I came away with a better understanding and appreciation of America's most scenic region.

A few things to share. First, national parks, even the crowded ones, are still worth the time and effort. Though Cheryl and I entered only two on our eighteen-day car trip last month, we found them highly satisfying.

Yellowstone was magnificent. With green trees and green mountains, it was far from the burnt shell of a place that emerged from the horrific fires of 1988. It looked much like the destination that has drawn millions of tourists for more than a century. So did Crater Lake. The nation's deepest lake appeared resplendent on the eve of a three-year renovation project that will improve trails, facilities, and water access.

Second, mining towns are treasures, literally. On our three-thousand-mile journey in July, we saw Wallace, Idaho; Jacksonville, Oregon; and Virginia City, Nevada, up close and personal.

Even with 2025 trappings, like cars and modern infrastructure, each of the boomtowns gave visitors a glimpse of their heydays in the nineteenth century.

Wallace and Virginia City, of course, were major settings in The Fire and The Fair, my fourth and seventeenth novels. We also spent three days in Helena, Montana, another storied mining community and, more important, our home for fourteen years.

As we traveled, we also discovered the benefits of straying off the beaten path. In Kellogg, Idaho, at our son Matthew's insistence, we rode the Silver Mountain gondola, a three-mile, thousand-meter climb to the high point of a noted ski resort. In Central Oregon, at our friends' suggestion, we hiked around part of Paulina Lake, an alpine escape surrounded by natural hot springs, lush forests, and volcanic cliffs.

We have more travels planned for the coming months, including family visits to New Mexico and Alabama and a return trip to Chico Hot Springs, Montana, one of my favorite places on the planet. A first trip to Hawaii looms in 2026. In the meantime, we will savor the memories of our most recent journey, one that reminded us of the beauty of travel.

Photos (top to bottom): With Cheryl at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Enjoying a soak with friends at Paulina Lake, Oregon. With granddaughter Sarah in Wallace, Idaho. Chico Hot Springs resort in Pray, Montana.