Planning the Trip

My trip is going to be 2,904 miles.  That is equal to 48,400 football fields.  Good thing I am driving and not walking.

When I fly to San Francisco is takes about 6 hours.  If I could drive without sleeping it would take 2 days.  I am going to sleep of course, so it will take about 7 days.  I could do it in 5 but it will take longer because I am going to stop at fun places to share with you.

Did you know there is one road that goes right from Teaneck, NJ to San Francisco, CA.  It is called Interstate 80.  Interstate means that it goes through many states.  It is actually the second longest road in America, and I will be driving all of it.  The road is 56 years old, and many people have used it to get across the US.

I am driving from one star to the other.

I will be driving through 11 states.  I have never been to 6 of the states, which is really exciting.  I love to go to new places and learn new things.  I have a lot of reading to do about these states.  It is always good to learn about a place before you go.  You can find out what the fun things are to do and the great places to eat.

Here is the little bit of light reading I will have to do before I leave.

Along the way I will give you tons of fun facts and information about each state, but for now I will give you one fun fact for each I will be driving through.

New Jersey - Thomas Edison invented movies in New Jersey.  He also invented lots of other things.  You can visit his lab in West Orange, NJ.

Pennsylvania - Crayola crayons are made in PA.  You can visit the factory in Easton, PA.  

Ohio -  America's first traffic light was used in Cleveland, OH.  I cannot imagine a world without them.

Indiana - The Wright brothers who invented the first working airplane grew up in Indiana.  

Illinois - The first Aquarium opened in Chicago in 1893.  It is called the Shedd Aquarium and they have a brand new baby dolphin.

Iowa -  Strawberry Point, Iowa is the home of the world's largest strawberry.

Nebraska- Kool-Aid was invented by
Edwin Perkins in his mother's kitchen
in his childhood home in Hastings, Nebraska.

Wyoming -  The first woman Governor  was in Wyoming.  She was also the first woman governor in the United States in 1925.  She also became the first woman in charge of the U.S. Mint in 1933, which is where our country's money is made.

Utah - Can you believe that it snows about 500 inches in Salt Lake City, Utah every year.? That is over 41 feet.

Nevada- Nevada is the home of Death Valley it is the lowest, driest, and hottest place in North America.  The Kangaroo Rat can live its entire life without drinking a drop of water in Death Valley.

California - The first movie theater opened in Los Angeles, CA on April 2, 1902.

It's kind of funny that the movie was invented in New Jersey and the first movie theater opened in California.  I guess I am like the movies, I will start in New Jersey and end up in California.