Highpointing: Your Vacation Compass

The United States has a total land mass of more than 3.5 million square miles. It tempts us with an eclectic array of cities, lakes, beaches, mountains, forests, desserts, parks and more. When I became a parent and wanted to explore the country with my children, I found excitement and opportunity in the array of astounding choices. But I also found the prospect of planning and orchestrating our vacations overwhelming. What I needed was a compass. Something to give direction and context to our trips. For us, highpointing has served that purpose well.

Highpointing refers to the concept of reaching the highest natural point in the fifty states. (For others it is to reach the peak of each county, country or continent.) Equipped with a target, I was then able to plan our trips based on the geographical location of a state highpoint. While many summits can be reached by car, motorcycle (or cog railroad in the case of Mt. Washington), we are attempting each highpoint by foot. Reaching a summit is often an accomplishment in and of itself (sometimes because of the challenge of the hike, sometimes the weather is the test, and sometimes it is just finding the trailhead!). But I’ve discovered that even more rewarding are the sites, people, food, etc we have encountered along the way.  

On our journey (I, my husband, two children and sometimes extended family) we have climbed the granite rock of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, strolled along a family farm in Iowa, and hiked the gorgeous, wide-open Guadeloupe Peak in Texas. On various highpointing trips we have also sipped some of the best micro-brewed beers in Milwauikee, WI, sled the gypsum dunes of  White Sands National Monument; watched a remarkably diverse Fourth of July parade in Lexington, KY; soaked in the peacefulness of Falls Park in Greenville, SC; kayaked among the caves of Lake Superior, shopped at local farmers markets; and hung out in funky, energetic and fun cities and towns such as Asheville, NC, Atlanta, GA, Stow, VT, Duluth, MN, and Madison, WI.
 
As you travel the speeding highways, verdant byways, desolate back roads, and many a bumpy logging road to reach a trailhead, you will experience the unique and often picturesque setting of a state highpoint. But be sure to refocus and slow down, and enjoy local cuisine in family-run restaurant, tour uncommon, as well as, acclaimed museums, and visit unique local attractions, so that you too can See beyond the Summit.