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Home » Travel » Should We Be Seeing More of Our Own Countries?

Should We Be Seeing More of Our Own Countries?

June 19, 2015 Travel

A Traveler’s Dilemma

Please note that this trip is one I would have taken of my own volition, but I was invited to participate by Country Inns & Suites and did receive compensation for my time. All opinions and experiences are fully my own.

I once had a discussion with another traveler, sitting on a remote beach in New Zealand. It is one that I still remember vividly.

I had made fast friends with Kiwi couple while taking a break from kayaking on the tip of the South Island, in a national park called Abel Tasman. The conversation swiftly turned to travel (as they tend to do.) We ran the normal gamut: where we had been, where we wanted to go. Of course I then thought to ask them  about their favorite places on the North Island, which I was due to return to the very next day. This was their home, after all. No one could know it better.

“Never been,” they stated.

I tried to keep my jaw from dropping and my eyes from visibly widening in shock and confusion. New Zealand was far away for most of the world, but once you’re there — it’s not a big place. In fact, the whole of it seemed about the size of California to me. How could they possibly have never been to the other half of their tiny country?

Unfortunately my attempts to hide my surprise were unsuccessful. The man shook his head and laughed as he went on to explain his position, after which he paused slightly and asked me, “Have you been to the Grand Canyon?”
I shrugged and replied, “nope.”

“How about Niagara Falls?”

“That’s pretty far from where I live,” I replied, puzzled and slightly defensive.

“Have you been to Montana?”

“Uhhh…” I wanted to lie, but I could see where this was going. (Plus, as we’ve now established, I’m horrible at lying.)

“Well then, it’s not that crazy is it? I’ve seen more of your country than you have, and you’ve seen more of mine,” he stated confidently.

I wanted to point out the massive size of the United States, but stopped as I realized that would defeat the point. He was right: I had seen more than forty countries across the globe, but I have yet to see much of my nation.


Why do we tend to explore other countries before our own? Perhaps it’s the notion that we’ll do it “when we’re old.” You know, drive an RV across the country? Or perhaps we often take for granted what isn’t new or different (or even tropical) when we’re looking at our limited vacation days. I think these might both be true, but for me the simple fact was: domestic travel just hadn’t been that exciting to me to this point. If I didn’t need a passport, it probably wasn’t going to change my life.

Fast forward nearly four years: I’ve got a lot more time to travel (thanks, life decisions!) In this year alone I’ve visited old and new favorite places in both Asia and Europe. I had a trip to Austin planned for a friend’s wedding. But I couldn’t recall the last time I booked a trip somewhere in the U.S. without an occasion or agenda.

It was just a few days after I returned from Europe that I received an email inviting me to #DoMoreCountry. Though I was exhausted from more than a month away from home, the thought of spending just a few days away, and seeing more of the U.S., caught my attention. I was intrigued.

I thought about where I would go. I wanted a place I could escape SF summer (read: winter,) experience a new place, and understand a different part of my huge home country. I scanned the options. Bradenton, Florida? Where’s that?

After a few Google searches, I discovered the following: Sarasota and Bradenton are on the western side/Gulf Coast of Florida, newly home to my younger brother who I never get to see, and home to the number one beach in America (Siesta Key.) Sign me up and put me on a plane!

Here’s what I found:
https://instagram.com/p/349InRKIqP
https://instagram.com/p/39bKLwKIpP
https://instagram.com/p/34TdhmqIg5/
https://instagram.com/p/32bvW-KIrY
https://instagram.com/p/368M2OKIiA

While I visited with my brother, it was nice to have my own space. My stay at the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Bradenton at I-75, FL was comfortable, convenient, and most importantly a few small touches made it feel more like a home than any other hotel I could have stayed in here. Walking in from a Southern style porch to a warm living room with a fireplace and library, as opposed to facing a front desk — these are the little things that make a difference when you’re on the road so very often. (I recommend the location as well, as you’re central to both the Sarasota and Bradenton cities and beaches.)

I used the chance to do a little summer travel in the United States to confirm that beauty can be found everywhere — whether it’s in your backyard, across the globe, or simply on the other side of your own country.

Where in the United States (or your own home country) would you go that you haven’t seen yet, given the choice?

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Winner of Gold and Silver 2019 Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing.

About Anne

Anne Lowrey is an award-winning travel writer based in San Francisco.

After spending a year in the world, she insisted on building a life at home she loved as much as she loves travel. The result was a move to SF, which she affectionately calls her “soul city.” She believes in the balance of and connection between time spent at home and abroad.

Comments

  1. Kelly says

    June 19, 2015 at 9:07 am

    There are actually SO many places I want to see right here in the US. I’m dying to see Zion National Park, Monument Valley, Yosemite–basically the western US in general. I took a road trip through TX, NM and AZ last summer, as well as a road trip through OR and CA a few summers ago, and now I’m hooked!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 19, 2015 at 9:47 am

      Ah, I’m dying to Monument Valley as well and hear the best things about New Mexico! Road tripping is the best way to do it, if you ask me!

      Reply
  2. Sheena says

    June 19, 2015 at 9:13 am

    I’m definitely guilty of this! I need to explore the US more and am always trying to first find the best beaches in the country haha. I would love to visit some old towns in the south!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 19, 2015 at 9:47 am

      If you want more best beaches, you should check out Siesta Key in Florida. That sand!
      There is a lot of South that I want to see. Sometimes it feels like visiting a different country, coming from California. It’s easy to forget how diverse the different states are.

      Reply
  3. mirandapost says

    June 19, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Anne! This was such a great article – I completely agree, we need to travel in our own backyards a little more. I’ve recently had a son who’s now 16-months and moved provinces (B.C. >> Alberta), so we’re planning trips around our new home and to Saskatchewan or the Northwest Territories. Hopefully some passport & palm trees this winter.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 19, 2015 at 4:21 pm

      Hi Miranda, thank you! That sounds wonderful. Canada is another place I have yet to explore, for nearly the same reasons. I hope to experience more soon! Enjoy your trips around your new province 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lianne says

    June 19, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    Fun fact. New Zealand is actually the size of Colorado!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 19, 2015 at 4:21 pm

      Haha, love it!

      Reply
  5. Fragments of the World says

    June 20, 2015 at 10:09 am

    This is so true – we have such amazing things at our fingertips and yet we always think of the more distant places as something that deserves to be seen first. I’m Czech and have only recently come to appreciate the gorgeous sights my country has to offer (funnily enough this was heavily influenced by my move to the UK). I’m determined to appreciate and explore more of both of the countries I’ve lived in now!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 20, 2015 at 11:58 am

      Both the Czech Republic and the UK are two places I would also love to see more of (though that defeats my point in this article, ha.)
      Happy travels and please do report back!

      Reply
  6. Amy, Using Our Words says

    June 22, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    Looks wonderful!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      June 22, 2015 at 3:09 pm

      It was lovely, Amy! Hope you’re well! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Alouise says

    June 23, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    I’m from Canada and I always love exploring my own country, and I’ve taken quite a few trips to the US too. There are a lot of destinations in the US that I want to check out or go back to, so I completely understand why Americans would want to travel their own country (although I certainly encourage international travel as well).

    Reply

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