Meet Celine Carlson, a 9-year-old fourth grader who has accomplished something truly remarkable: She has visited all 50 U.S. state capitals, and she reached Premier® 1K® status along the way. This incredible feat is a testament to the power of curiosity, the joys of family bonding, and the wonders of travel.
Celine’s journey started early. For the Carlson family, travel is not just a pastime; it’s a passion that began long before Celine was born. Ryan and Shauna Carlson, Celine’s parents, met while traveling and have flown 2.181 million and 1.724 million miles, respectively, on United. They instilled this adventurous spirit in Celine when she was very young. “Celine has always associated travel with positive things,” Ryan says.
Four years ago, the Carlson family decided to embrace domestic travel more, and they set a goal to visit all 50 state capitals. “Celine was certainly up for it,” Ryan recalls. “It wasn’t just checking a box but also getting a good sense of each state.”
The family visited numerous museums, national parks, and historical sites, making history come alive for Celine. “In Topeka, we went to the Brown v. Board of Education site, which helped Celine understand the history of segregation and desegregation in the U.S.,” Ryan explains. From learning about the industrial history of Pennsylvania to even seeing dinosaur fossils in North Dakota, the Carlsons always found fascinating educational experiences that highlighted each state’s unique story.
“My favorite capitals were Montpelier, Vermont, and Springfield, Illinois,” Celine says. “In Montpelier, the landscape was super-pretty, with the trees and the gold dome on the top of the capitol building. Springfield’s capitol was beautiful on the inside, and the building looks like it’s from France.”
As MileagePlus® members for decades, Ryan and Shauna have always appreciated United’s convenience, extensive network, and exceptional service, all of which helped make their ambitious travel goals achievable. Celine, too, has grown to love United for many reasons—primarily the endless Harry Potter marathons, delicious snack boxes, and even Hemispheres, which contains flight maps she uses to track the routes she’s flying. “I like flying United because all the flight attendants are really nice,” Celine says. “There are also so many places United flies to across the U.S. and the world, and the seats are really comfy!”
The fact that United has no fees to change flights is an added benefit that proved important to the family while balancing travel with Celine’s other activities. “It’s more important that Celine is a normal kid and travel is an extra enhancement,” Ryan says. Whether it was volleyball practice, guitar lessons, or simply hanging out with friends, “it’s always nice to have flexibility and be able to easily adjust travel plans when needed.”
With all 50 state capitals checked off their list, what’s next for the Carlsons? Celine already has her eyes set on new horizons. “I want to go to Japan because I love Sanrio characters and the food there,” she says. “And I want to go to Greece because I read Percy Jackson and am interested in Greek mythology.” Shauna adds that the family is also planning to travel to Paris for the 2024 Olympics in August.
“I think all parents love to watch as their child discovers new places and learns new things,” Ryan says. “It’s always been as much about the journey as it is the destination.”
The Carlson family’s story serves as a reminder of the joy and enrichment that travel can bring. “The journey can be measured by the number of cities, miles flown, and days it took,” Ryan says, “but the most important metrics are the laughs, smiles, and good times we’ve had along the way.”
