A year ago when transcript secretary Carol Heath won an all-expenses paid trip to Oahu in a swap-meet drawing, she and teacher-husband, Brent, were two states shy of seeing the entire United States. The free Hawaiian vacation upped the count to 49 states seen, leaving just the northern, icy state of Alaska dangling in their horizon. Not for long. With a little Internet detective work, Carol scored a bargain rate on a seven-day Alaskan cruise, which she and her husband took last month. The Heaths have now seen every state in America.

The traveling began just over a decade ago, when the Heaths purchased a Volkswagen van and took then-teenage son, Justin, on road trips. That year (before SUVs and soaring gas prices), the threesome made their first trip across the country in 29 days, driving through 21 states. The following year they loaded up the camper for a 23-day trip and headed for the South. Trips are frequently planned around personal interests, says Heath. For instance, Brent and Justin love riding roller-coasters, so any towns and states harboring the speedy railways are mandatory stops for the family.

Carol says she is lucky to be working part-time in the Registrar's office, which gives her two months off in summer with Brent, a middle school history teacher. Justin joins them whenever possible. Of all the states and countries they've seen (including much of Europe), Carol cannot name a favorite, but she's shot enough film to fill 48 photo albums.

The key to successful traveling? Says Heath, "Read as much as you can about a place before you go. The more you know before you go, the better. And the number-one word is 'flexibility.' If you're driving and you hit road construction, or if a place is closed for the day, you may not get to the place you wanted to. You have to be willing to say, 'We can do it next year.' " A perk of having seen the entire nation is that "now when we're watching a movie or open a magazine, we'll recognize a place and say, 'Hey! We've been there!" Heath says.

Carol Heath is on the road again.