I am often asked how I choose which state to visit next. Until recently, there has been no simple answer to this question.

But now, I can say, “I don’t! I let a spreadsheet tell me where to go!”

Y’see, I have built a spreadsheet that pulls (not literally) from other spreadsheets I had previously built, developing a point-based system to determine which states to prioritize. Geeky, no?

The initial output from this new spreadsheet gives the highest ranking to Kentucky, New Jersey, and West Virginia. I can’t say I anticipated any of those! But the spreadsheet has spoken! Here, then, is my highly tentative list of trips for 2026:

April: Kentucky

June: West Virginia

August: Annual Colorado Trip (hoping to reach ghost town of Alta this time)

October: New Jersey

I may combine Kentucky and West Virginia into a single road trip, since they’re right next to each other, and not terribly far from home. Also, I have very ambitious ideas for this year’s Colorado trip. I may and/or may not be able to make those happen.