A Thousand Smiles with a Map Made of Memories

All Fifty Club member Sangeetha Srinivasan was inspired to write this poem after visiting all 50 states. She completed with her family in West Virginia in 2025.

Fifty States - A Thousand Smiles with a Map Made of Memories

by Sangeetha Srinivasan

 

Texas's Big Bend Cosmic Milky Way made me gasp at the vastness so free,

filled with gratitude I watched the intertwined universes, an absolute Must See!

 

Arizona's sunset at Hole in the Rock painted earthy sky with fiery hues.

Disneyland, California mesmerized my toddlers, but Nevada's Valley of Fire was my kind of views.

Our fur babies hiked at Broken Bow in Oklahoma, soaking in a sun-kissed picnic on boating trip in tow,

I still giggle thinking about my kindergarten son in the spotlight during Arkansas' Hot Springs magic show.

 

Turquoise art of New Mexico created an undiluted spiritual vortex that I sure couldn't deny,

winds carried our laughter while we skied on snowy slopes of Colorado mountains so high.

Icy roads to Nebraska's historical sites were a risky drive, with the snow flurries on our head,

we sipped our hot chocolates at the Chimney Rock, comforting us from winter spread.

Halloween in Missouri's deepest cave, Silver Dollar City thrilled us with roller coaster ride,

And onward to Kansas’ Powell Observatory, we saw planets like Saturn, Jupiter so magnified.

 

Camp Friendship for kids during summer took us to Virginia's picturesque countryside,

and a trip to DC mesmerized us with patriotic museums and monuments built with pride.

From the New York city lights we drove to Delaware, through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and finally to Maryland,

weaving through so many states each with a story, on roads that seemed to stretch and never end.

 

We loved the helicopter experience in Hawaii over Honolulu's cliffs and crystal-clear seas so blue,

Bird’s-eye view of Waikiki Beach, silhouette of Diamond Head and sky gleamed with warm and pretty hue.

An Alaskan cruise started with a trip to Oregon wandering through mossy green trails,

then to Washington, the Space Needle and Pikes' Place Market were fun before boarding the cruise.

Alaska’s glaciers and silver fjords wrapped us in wonder and a gaping awe,

yet the highlight was the dogsledding husky ride, and the cute little puppies we pet and saw.

 

While at Graceland in Tennessee, my dad's old record collection of Elvis came live to my mind,

Louisiana's rich blend of culture and cuisine helped us relax from routine hustle and grind.

Past Mississippi we drove to Alabama's Bryant Denny Stadium so massive, so was Georgia's World of Coca Cola collection,

North Carolina's Smokies stay in a solitary cabin at the pinnacle was perfect for introspection.

South Carolina offered panoramic views of Hilton Head harbor from historic lighthouses,

Florida gave memories, be it the emerald Boca beaches or the Magic Kingdom and Epcot green houses.

It was hard to get my kids out of Mall of America, Minnesota and a Wisconsin trip was fun for one and all,

After touring the landmark flour mills, we made sure we didn't miss the DairyLand ice-cream after all.

 

New England trip was so memorable with us enjoying the sunrise at York, Maine's shore,

to whale watching, charming Connecticut, historic Massachusetts and New Hampshire, made memories for sure.

Party planning in the kitchens of The Breakers in Rhode Island still counts as a wish,

with a menu of Utterly butterly lobsters from Boston's Quincy market with a side of fries and fish.

Vermont's tree house pulled us offline, much-needed sweet escape,

but of course, kids sat gaping figuring what to do in that calming quiet landscape.

 

Cincinnati, Ohio was a weekend trip where our family friends joined to celebrate,

We shared stories, anecdotes and there were more memories to create.

 

Architecture and half marathon drew me to Illinois, though kids slipped in internship and college tours,

We fished at Michigan Lakes and climbed Indiana Dunes, Oh I was so ready to hit the Kentucky Bourbon tours.

Delving into the unfelt feelings at mystical North and South Dakota's Sioux Falls or Badlands,

It was like nature gifted me a quilt of boundless stretch of meadows, prairies and grasslands.

Drive to Iowa was in the plan, rolling landscapes brought back a few memories,

But must plan for the world-famous food fairs full of delicacies again.

 

In Utah I have a list of national parks for me to plan and very much on top of my bucket list,

But we had a great time at Salt Lake City and next up will sure be national parks, I must insist.

I wished to fly all over from Idaho Craters to the majestic Grand Teton flapping my colorful wings,

nonetheless enjoyed driving to rolling farms in Montana through Wyoming's enigmatic Yellowstone's Geyser or the prismatic springs

 

With West Virginia we got to complete travels to all fifty states in the US in December 2025

Every mile we travelled gifted us joy, adventure, laughter and thousands of smiles that made my dream come alive.