November 18, 2024
Congratulations to Rosemary Pulczinski from Minnesota for achieving the incredible milestone of visiting all 50 states at the age of 94! We are proud to recognize her as the newest Record Holder for the Oldest at Completion.
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Last State Visited: South Carolina
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Favorite State: Virginia
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Record: Oldest at Completion
Rosemary shared her inspiring experiences and insights about her travels in a recent interview.
What is your favorite state?
It is hard to choose a favorite, but I would say that my most memorable state is Virginia. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but also I was so touched by the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. The guard is always on point to march to honor the fallen heroes, and their cadence of steps and pauses is so specific. My husband, son, father, brothers, and grandsons all served in the military, and so it is a special honor to have experienced this. It made such an impact on me. So for that reason, I would choose Virginia as my favorite.
What are some of your most memorable experiences?
-In March of 2024, I spent a month with my daughter travelling in Florida along the Atlantic Coast. We covered over 900 miles and spent time in Delray Beach, Vero Beach, New Smyrna, and Atlantic Beach (Jacksonville). It was the first time my toes were in the Atlantic Ocean! Each beach was beautiful and different. I could not get over the relentless power of the waves – God is amazing. It was on this trip that we went to Charleston, SC, which was the last state on my list!
-On a trip to the northeast, we toured through Maine and then to the Bay of Fundy that touches Maine. We walked down to the beach, and then later, from on top, we saw the tide come in and I could not believe the water was 30 feet deep where we were just walking!
- When my husband, Cy, and I were first married in 1952, we traveled from my little hometown of Gilman, Minnesota to Las Vegas as he enlisted in the Air Force. We saw so much of the country on our trip out there and local camping trips in the southwest United States and many of the National and local parks. I have been back out west multiple times, including an RV trip with my kids in the summer of 2023 – always great to see this magnificent country, especially our national parks.
-The trip to the Hawaiian islands was so special, walking down to the ocean and wading in the Pacific. Then watching the tide come in and cover everything up – and how fast it came in. We took a helicopter air tour of the various islands and it was so beautiful to see it from the air. I am 5’2” tall and being the shortest one, I got to sit next to the pilot and had the best view!
So many more memories…….
Do you have any advice to pass on to other travelers?
--Pack Light!!!!
--Put the screens down! Take in the world!
--Always be prepared to take advantage of tours or sightseeing – take the time to explore the area you are visiting
--Take the time to meet people and get to know them wherever you go
--Keep a travel journal – it is a fun way to remember details in the later years. After 95 years of travel, sometimes I need to look at notes.
Closing thoughts?
Don’t be afraid to get out there – even solo. Who would think that a little sheltered farm girl, who only left the farm to go to church, would travel to all 50 states? And also Canada and Mexico many times, the Caribbean Islands, Italy, Prague and many other places. I guess it is estimated that less than 1% of US citizens make it to all 50 states – I hope many have the opportunity to do so as I have. I am very blessed to have seen so much of God’s amazing world.
