Rochester man on year-long journey around the US

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WDIO/WHEC) — A Rochester man is spending a year traveling to nearly every state in the U.S. and our affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota caught up with him for a story.

Adam Barlow started his journey last September in Rochester. He traveled around the South and the West.

"Don’t be scared," Barlow said. "This country is amazing. There’s so much to see. I’ve just crossed over 31,000 miles. I could’ve driven 100,000 miles and I still wouldn’t have seen it all, so just get out there and explore."

Minnesota is the 40th state he’s visited.

Barlow told WDIO that along the way he’s hit up national parks, national monuments and historical sites.

"I just left Voyageurs, that was national park number 39,” Barlow said. “When I get down… I think Gateway will be my next one, Gateway Arch. So that will be National Park number 40."

He says he’s also enjoyed all the people he’s met along the way.

"It’s amazing," Barlow said. "This country is so diverse, but I’ve also tried to, like, immerse myself also with all of the national parks. Parks people are amazing! They’re some of the friendliest people in the country."

Barlow said he still has to visit Wisconsin and Michigan before hitting Kansas, then he’s heading farther east.

The last stop on his journey will be the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee this September.