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Article posted: 10/28/2012 6:00 AM

A proud travel milestone: Visiting all 50 states

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Luke Anderson stands in Alma, Ark., the 31st state he visited. Anderson, who has now visited a total of 39 states, is on a quest to play disc golf in all 50 states.

Associated Press File Photo

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A boy touched four border states — New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado — at Four Corners National Monument. Visiting all 50 states is a popular goal among some travelers, though criteria vary as to what "counts" for crossing a place off your list.

Associated Press File Photo

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It's a proud achievement for a certain type of traveler, and a worthy goal: Visiting all 50 states. But for those who take the quest seriously, merely crossing the border or changing planes at an airport doesn't necessarily give you the right to say you've been there. In fact, many 50-staters have a specific litmus test for what counts — eating a meal there, staying the night or spending a certain amount of time.