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Book Review: Let's Go See:All 50! -- Visiting the 50 States Journal

Like the other publications in the Journals Unlimited “Write it Down” series, Let’s Go See All 50! is rooted in this simple philosophy: “Life is an adventure. It is not the destination we reach that’s the most rewarding. It’s the journey along the way. So write it down! And treasure the memory forever…” The title says it all here. This is a journal that helps you systematically record your travel experiences throughout America so they can be retrieved, shared, and remembered over and over.

When my review copy of this journal arrived in the mail, I noticed a couple of things right away. This spiral-bound publication is compact (7.5 x 9”) and built to stand up to the rough handling it’s sure to receive on the road. And hey(!), it was printed in Bay City, Michigan, my hometown. (Also Madonna’s birthplace, but I digress.)

What would you logically expect in a journal compiled by someone who urges you to “Write it Down!” as you visit the 50 states? Well, you’d expect a journal divided into 50 state-labeled sections, and that’s what author Stephen Martin has provided.

Before I get into the nuts & bolts of the journal, let me tell you a few things you need to be aware of if you are considering becoming a 50-state “journal-ist.” This is not a guidebook, so you’ll need to get your touristy information from other sources. This journal was not published specifically for national park collecting, so you’ll find only about two dozen national parks named or map-indicated within its pages. There are no photographs, sketches, or drawings (just some watermark-like figures), so don’t expect eye candy. The maps in this journal can be used only for the crudest sort of navigating, so you’ll need other tools for that purpose.

The author has provided an outline map of the United States near the front of the book. It is handy for general reference use, and you might want to use colored pencils to shade in the states (or parts of states) that you’ve visited. Incidentally, you should consider embellishing the various state maps with notes of your own, as by indicating locations of places or events with special meaning. After all, a journal is for recording personal things, and where you put those records is up to you.

It does make sense to organize information, of course, and Let’s Go See: All 50! has a pretty darn good flow to it. Let’s say you’re logging North Dakota (which happens to be the only state I’ve never personally set foot in; I’m kinda saving it for a special trip). You turn to the four-page section for North Dakota. In the upper right corner of the first page you see that North Dakota is “The Peace Garden State” and there’s a greeting that reads: “All 50 means we’re waiting for you, too!” There is an inset map that shows the state’s north-central location in the Lower 48, plus a larger map that shows where some key features are -- in this case, a few highways and lakes.

The second page of the section is where you begin recording (on ruled lines) information that matters. What’s the date of your visit? Who are your travel companions? For what main reason(s) have you visited this state? What have you enjoyed most and found most interesting? (There are separate sections for recording “enjoyed most” and “found most interesting,” though few journal-ists are likely to appreciate the difference in those two concepts.) At the bottom of the page there is a section labeled: “Next trip here I would like to (do, visit, see, etc.).” This is a wonderful provision. Can you visit any state, just cross it off your list, and think of no reason to go back? Even North Dakota? And if you haven’t yet visited the state, this section would be a great place to compile your personal list of things to see and do when you finally get there.

Page three is for miscellaneous note-taking, functioning pretty much like ruled notebook paper. Page four provides more lines for note-taking, but adds something special in the form of three “fun facts” about the state. This is North Dakota, so we are told these things: Rugby is the geographical center of North America. The Sitting Bull Burial State Historic Site marks the original site of the famous Hunkpapa Lakota leader’s grave. The Dakota Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson houses .… a complete real [italics mine] Triceratops and Edmontosaurus.

I don’t have a lot of complaints about this journal, but as a professional geographer I have to ask: Since most of the 50 state maps have plenty of room to show the locations of key attractions (such as major national parks), why are the maps so lacking in these useful details? And since distances are so important to people planning and recording trips, why are no map scales provided?

I can see that this journal would be lots of fun for “collecting states” and would make a fine gift for anybody who travels or aspires to travel this wide and wonderful country of ours. Once you get going as a journal-ist, you are certain to want to collect more states and “capture your personal journeys.” Later -- perhaps on a rainy day, or when the grandkids visit, or when you are very old and can travel only in your memories -- you can take out your Let’s Go See All 50! journal and relive your trips. I’m going to start recording trips in mine this month. You can order yours at this site.

Author: Stephen Martin
Published: 2007
ISBN: 1-892033-73-9
Publisher: Bay City, MI: Journals Unlimited, Inc.
Price: $18.95 plus shipping

Comments

I would love to get this for my husband for father's day - but where? I did a search online this morning and came up with nothing other than a few announcements about it. Do you know where I can purchase one? Is it just too soon? Thank you, Dorothy


um yeah, now I found the note at the end... I really am a little slow in the morning. Thanks!


Dear Bob,

I am greatly honored by your extensive review of the All 50! journal. Thank you for your time and insights. Interestingly, you have captured the struggle we had in developing the final product as far as deciding precise content. In the end, it was decided to add less in order to allow more input by the owner. In other words, the owner of the journal can truly make it his own simply by inserting items that interest him. As you mentioned, the journal is not meant for navigating precisely, but it can be altered in such a way as to be meaningful to those who wish to use it that way. Your mention of the colored pencils is exactly how I enhance my own personal journal.

Once again, the thrill experienced by seeing the mention of the review on the home page, then actually reading the entirety of it within was awesome. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Stephen Martin


Dorothy,

Thank you for your kind words about the journal. It is feedback like yours that make it a truly humbling yet fulfilling experience. The journal is currently being carried by 133 retail outlets spanning 33 states, and it has only been available since November 2007. If interested, I can provide you with a location nearest to you so that you can inspect it in person.

Once again, thanks,
Stephen Martin


I love using mine even though most of the states are empty (so far). I'd like to see it filled one day!! It's a marvelous journal BECAUSE it provides a handy structure to the process without excessive details stifling individuality so that it is truly a personal journal in the end! Excellent decision to go with "less is more".

BTW, after hearing his recent gaffe re: 57 states & counting, Senator Obama is an potential customer with an obvious need for one of your journals~!


Wow, that's great to hear that you like using yours, Sia. Thanks so much for sharing. For general information, I have sent one to the Honorable Barack Obama at his Washington D.C. office with the following note. I hope he likes the journal. ;-)

May 23, 2008

The Honorable Barack Obama
United States Senate
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1305

Re: Enclosed ‘All 50’ Journal

Dear Sen. Obama,

Please accept the enclosed gift in the levity with which it was intended. The All 50 journal is something with which I am very proud as its author, and hope that others may enjoy its use as well. The idea to send you one came to me from your recent slip in reference to the number of states in our great nation. My desire is that the mistake will be laughed off as it should but that attention goes to a tool that others find useful nonetheless. If you should have any questions or desire further correspondence, please let me know at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Stephen L Martin


Way to go dad, keep on trucking


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