50 States to Graduate: The Beedles, an East family, are planning on visiting all 50 states before their oldest daughter graduates

Laying out on the Destin, Florida beach gazing at the vast Atlantic ocean ahead, then-eight-year-old Sophia Beedle’s mom, Liz Beedle, turned to her in excitement.

“Sophia, I have a big idea.” 

Toes in the sand, the pair formed a plan to accomplish what only 2% of people in the U.S. have done according to The Reader’s Digest— travel to all 50 states. One of Liz’s friends had successfully checked off a multitude of states, so she figured that her family could too. 

The Beedles added an extra challenge to their already jam-packed schedule complete with daily soccer practices and school activities — do it all before Sophia, the oldest of the Beedle children, graduates.

“Our country is huge with different areas,” Liz said. “You can go to the South versus the West to the Northeast. They’re all so vastly different from each other.”

The Beedles began mapping out their journey in 2016, visiting Southern states like Arkansas and Louisiana outside of spring break trips to Kauai and Maui with their extended family — complete with memorable moments ranging from  beach drama to daily adventures.

“We were just sitting on the beach, and our cousin Christian got taken out by a wave,” Sophia said. “He hit his knee, and was screaming ‘I can’t get up!’ We were all taking videos and laughing [with him].”

Sophia appreciates how her family is able to have a good time even in crazy situations.

The Beedle sisters visited 16 states prior to their challenge and after eight years are 49 states in. Her parents previously visited states as well but planned their trips out perfectly so that Alaska — their only remaining state — will be the whole family’s final state.

While they’ve done one-state trips, the Beedles agree that their favorite vacations are the ones where they visit multiple states.This past summer, they visited seven states in the New England region — New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.

“It depends on the area we’re going to,” Sophia said. “On the East Coast, there were so many states [nearby] so it was easy to knock out a bunch.”

Some states with more sightseeing stops attract more of the Beedles’ attention. They spent six days whale watching, shopping, visiting Circus Du Soleil and driving through the cities of California and Nevada. Later, they traveled to Hawaii and spent seven days hopping from island to island.

While the family has flown a couple times for their trips, Sophia’s younger sisters seventh grader Jane and sophomore Morgan Beedle say that their favorite memories are their car ride conversations on the way to each vacation spot.

“It’s fun getting to hear stories about us when we were younger,” Morgan said. “And then we get to hear stories about our parents when they were little and that brings us closer to them.”

Sophia agrees that these trips have helped her grow closer to her parents and siblings. Since the sisters are all involved in soccer, they don’t spend much time together at home. But being on the road forces them and their parents to forget their busy schedule and spend more time poking fun at each other or discussing their plans for the upcoming week. 

Her dad especially opened up during their scenic two hour car ride through California.

“We had the deepest conversation with my dad about his life and how he grew up,” Sophia said.  “It was a wholesome and memorable conversation where he told us stories about his childhood.”

The Beedles also carry on family traditions during these trips, like calling their summer trips “The Beedle Five Summer Vacation.” They make sure to get ice cream almost every night for dessert and do “cheers” with their drinks at dinnertime without fail.

“There’s always one dinner where we’re all just laughing,” Sophia said. “It happens every time and we have a lot of fun. I also get a break from everything happening in life.”

With one final destination left in their journey, the Beedles are set to check it off by next summer, according to Liz.

“Alaska is next summer and we already have the plane tickets,” Liz said. “I’d been stalking Alaska Airlines’ website until the day they released the tickets.”

With tickets booked and plans developing, Sophia is eager for what this last state trip will bring for her and her family.