How many US states have you managed to visit? Probably not as many as little Harper Yeats who, at six-months-old, might be the youngest person to have visited all 50 states. Setting off with her parents Cindy Lim (32) and Tristan Yeats (34) on 17 June in the family’s Jeep Cherokee, the Yeats stopped off in every US state in four months, winding up their epic adventure on 18 October. They’ve even applied to the Guinness World Records to have Harper’s achievement recognised.
Harper Yeats has travelled to all 50 US states. Image by Harper Yeats / Instagram
“We didn’t set out to break any records,” dad Tristan told Lonely Planet. “We really just wanted to spend the early months of Harper’s life being full-time parents together. As we both enjoy travel, we felt that being off work at the same time together would provide the perfect opportunity to go on an adventure and bond with our daughter. If you’re going to be changing diapers, we figured it would be more fun doing that in new places rather than at home. It was also a bit of a challenge to ourselves to prove that we didn’t have to give up something we both loved just because we had become parents.”
Tristan and Cindy are Australian but live in Canada where Harper was born. They moved from their hometown of Canberra to Toronto in 2016 but had dreamed of travelling across the border to embark on an epic road trip long before their daughter was born. Harper came into the world in April and Cindy and Tristan waited until she was a few months old before setting off. While the couple admits that travelling with a newborn was sometimes challenging (getting the timing right to suit their daughter’s feeding and sleeping schedule was essential), it was incredibly rewarding embarking on their adventure as a family of three. “It’s hard to beat seeing her engage with the world around her and all the people we have met along the way,” said Tristan.
A sunny day in Iowa.
The family weren’t able to stay overnight in all 50 states. They stopped in each one to take a photo with the state sign and documented their journey on Instagram. If they weren’t staying overnight, they still made sure to experience the place by wandering around town and playing with Harper. On occasions where they could extend their stay in one state, they typically stayed anywhere between two and six nights during any given stop to allow for exploration and sufficient rest. Some states required multiple stops due to their size. In California, they visited Sequoia National Park and San Francisco, while in New Mexico, the Yeats stopped in Albuquerque, Tucumcari and Farmington.
When it comes to choosing a favourite state, the family are hard-pressed to settle on just one because they experienced so much on their four-month journey. “We enjoyed visiting Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and seeing all the wildlife there,” said Tristan. “Alaska also introduced us to our first moose sighting. We think Harper’s favourite stop would have to be Sequoia National Park in California because, ever since she was tiny, she has loved looking at trees and Sequoia has the largest trees in the world.”
Harper Yeats and ‘Hudson the Polar Bear’ enjoying their last day in Alaska. Image by Harper Yeats / Instagram
“Putting aside the touristy things we did, some of our favourite states are simply because of the memories we made there as a family. North Dakota will always be a favourite because of the hilarious afternoon we spent playing in Bismarck, where Harper mastered laughing. She also rolled over for the first time in Iowa and started eating solids in Alaska. It’s these milestones and family memories all over the country which make some states stand out and will make them as unforgettable.”
The couple have settled back into normal life in Canada and don’t have plans for another immediate adventure. Although, as they both value the experience of travel and immersing themselves in other countries and cultures, they hope to expose their young daughter to as much as that as possible as she grows up.
Harper in North Dakota. Image by Harper Yeats / Instagram
“We hope that travel at a young age and as she grows up will help Harper develop a strong sense of adventure and a curiosity for the world around her,” said Tristan. “We both agree that travel and getting to see different countries and cultures first hand has definitely shaped who we are and given us a greater perspective and appreciation for what we have, our place in the world and the difference we can make. We hope that Harper will be just as passionate about getting out there and experiencing as much of it as possible.”
See here for more of Harper Yeats’ epic American adventure.
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