You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.

-- Yogi Berra

Our annual summer vacation postcard contest ended Labor Day with a surprise: Alaska was our top postcard destination this year, tying Georgia with 12 cards.

With its governor, Sarah Palin, now a vice presidential candidate, maybe Alaska is the new trendy state.

Coming in third was another surprise, Pennsylvania, which inspired 11 cards. Massachusetts (10) and Colorado (nine) rounded out the top five.

Now to our annual awards:

UNIQUE: Ralph and Vickie Herron sent a copper postcard from Michigan. April sent a wooden postcard from Montana. Charlotte Nash sent a puzzle postcard, and Marge Darlak sent me a tie with baseballs on it.

But I think the unique card was the one that was actually a packet of flower seeds from British Columbia sent by Sandra Schuman , of Hephzibah.

I can hardly wait to plant them and see what grows.

STATE MAPS: Seven cards showed a map of the state.

BIGGEST CARD: Vikkie Bowman and family sent one from the Natural Bridge in Virginia that is 6 inches by 8 inches.

WANNA BET? Four of you sent cards from gambling resorts, including the longest card, which shows the horse track at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

ANIMALS: Fourteen postcards showed animals or birds. Featured were: Bears, pigs, mice, cows and horses.

HUMOR: Only one outhouse postcard this summer. I usually get more.

Dave and Rena Turner passed along one depicting a bear looking for sweets. It read: "Show Me the Honey!"

But I think the funniest was from Kathryn Johnson from Minnesota. The postcard featured obscure state laws, including: All men driving motorcycles must wear shirts, and red cars can't be driving on Lake Street in Minneapolis.

BASEBALL PARKS: It was a great year for the national pastime. Fourteen of you sent cards showing baseball or ballparks, including Ernest and Martha Odum , of Evans, who visited Chicago's Wrigley Field; Lloyd and Lynn Creech , of North Augusta, who hit parks in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.; and Jason Miller , of Aiken, who sent one from Yankee Stadium the same day I was there -- July 23.

BEACH OR MOUNTAINS? Finally, there's our annual survey on where people visit most -- the beach or the mountains. As usual, beaches won, barely beating mountains 46 to 43. The highlight might have been seven cards showing lighthouses.

Let me thank you all again for your efforts. It looks as though the higher price of gasoline had little effect when it came to local travelers.