The more I learn about tourism within my own country, the more I realize how little foreign travelers get to see of it. It seems like, for the most part, people are mainly coming to the United States to see three things: California, New York, and Disney World.
Now, I don’t blame them. California has Hollywood. New York has the Big Apple. Disney World has actual princesses and Dole-whips. I get it.
But please. I’m telling you. There is SO much more to the United States that you’re missing.
National Parks
Did you know that the United States was the first country to establish a National Park system? That’s right. Yellowstone National Park was the first National Park, which began a movement around the world for nature preservation. Today, there are 58 National Parks in the United States, along with a slew of other nature preservation centers across the country. Dang Travelers has a great list of Blogger’s Top 15 U.S. National Park Service Destinations if you want suggestions on where to go.
Mountain Regions
Though vastly part of the National Park system, the mountain regions of the United States deserve their own shout out. The Rocky Mountain range stretches over 3,000 miles, running from the the northern region of British Columbia in Canada, down to New Mexico. Some of the most notable parts of the Rocky Mountains lie in Colorado, and are famous for skiing, snowboarding, and scenic drives. The Appalachian Mountain range extends from Newfoundland in Canada, to central Alabama in the US. This mountain range is famous for its 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. As a result, you do find a lot of hiking and camping on these mountains.
Historic East Coast
If history is your thing, the East Coast is where to head. United States history began on the East Coast as settlers established the thirteen original colonies. Cities like Washington D.C., Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hold a wealth of information and historical sites. Not to mention old-timey architecture and atmosphere! The East Coast is a great place to learn about the United States.
Charming South
When Americans mention something has “Southern Charm” they are referring to the quaintness and tranquility of the Southern States. Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, and New Orleans, Louisiana are all cities that embody the charm of the south. Grab your parasol and a sweet tea as you stroll among the gardens, listening to the musical southern accent. The south is a great place to book yourself into a Bed and Breakfast and be treated like ladies and gentlemen.
The Great Lakes of Michigan
If you’re looking to spend your vacation sprawled out on a gorgeous beach with warm sand and rolling waves, but you DON’T want to worry about your limbs being gnawed on by sharks, Michigan’s Great Lakes are what you need. While I may be sliiiightly biased, as Michigan is home, the lakes are an incredible geological feature of the United States. Michigan towns like Grand Haven, Ludington, and Traverse City allow you to enjoy your beach vacation without worrying about what’s beneath the surface of the water. As we say in Michigan: No Salt, No Sharks, No Worries.
Wild Alaska
Often forgotten by US-bound travelers, Alaska has a ton to offer nature lovers of all kinds. There are incredible glaciers and fjords to explore. See a vast amount of wildlife like orcas and humpback whales, grizzly bears, moose, and polar bears. Try your hand at dog-sledding through the snow, or salmon fishing in the icy waters. On nights between September and April, you can also enjoy the breathtaking surprise of seeing the Northern Lights. Alaska is an incredible place to consider for your next US destination.
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Are you convinced? Where are you going to go on your next US vacation?
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19 Comments
I hope I can take a trip to the U.S. where I get to see and experience all of these things. Especially the national parks, I LOVE nature and they look stunning 🙂
Oh yes, The United States certainly has no shortage of National Parks! It would take a long time to see them all, but they are HIGHLY recommended!
Often when travelers think of a certain country, they only think of a few places so this article is a great reminder to what the United States has to offer visitors.
Ah, I’m desperate to see all of the National Parks in North America. I used to live in Toronto so also a huge fan of the Great Lakes 🙂
Awesome! All the National Parks?? That’s quite a lofty goal!
I really wanted to see Yosemite national park the last time I was in California! unfortunately it was very far from where I was staying, next time!
I love the US national parks, I spent most of my 2 months in the US travelling around them. I managed to visit 10 of the parks, they are so well set up with great information on what to do in each of them. I would love to go back and visit Alaska.
I agree with you. United States is a very big country and a lot of places are very underrated. Good job with this post!
I love this article. I’m American and there is still so many more national parks I want to visit. I’m from the south and love Savannah and Charleston. My hometown, Nashville, has a really fun music scene and night life. The Great Lakes of Michigan are also one of my favorite places in the US – there’s so much fun, outdoorsy things to do.
Admittedly I have only been to New York in the US, but for my next trip I would definitely go for the national parks. My dream is to do a west coast road trip:)
Yessss I definitely agree! I used to be just as guilty of not giving my country enough credit, it took living abroad to make me realize all the awesomeness that the U.S. has, starting especially with the National Parks. Epic photo of Arches btw – was just there last spring. As an East Coaster, Utah blew my mind. I live abroad now but there so much more of the U.S. that I’d like to explore. I really want to do the entirety of the Appalachian Trail some day!
Thank you so much for this article! Why we forget about all the wonderful places the U.S. has here to visit and learn from I don’t know. We always think that travel is about unknown, far away destinations. (Don’t get me wrong I still like those) But since we got our dog we decided to stay here in America and explore the treasures in our own backyard. And there are so many it will be hard to find the time to see them all.
Good to be reminded of other places to visit! I would LOVE to visit Alaska! I think it must be quite an incredible place. I get a bit obsessed with northern/arctic countries. Would also love to visit Yellowstone National Park.
I 100% agree with you here. I REALLY want to do a road trip and check out all the crazy towns and everything else the US has to offer!
I completely agree!! When I was over there a couple of years ago I went to Florida but drove around Alabama, Savannah, Georgia and South Carolina – best choice ever!
This is on point! There is so much to see in all of the states with a very diverse and rich culture in the south compared to the north, west or just about anywhere else. Its all unique. I could spend months traveling around the US and still not see everything
This is awesome!! My blog is all about United States travel; so glad I found this post. Thanks for sharing. There are still so many places on my list to visit.
It’s amazing how much of the US people never get to see!
Great suggestions! The Rocky Mountains is one of my favorite places. I’d also include the beautiful Maine Coast (lobstering villages, Acadia National Park, and more!) and Washington State (which has gorgeous views in every direction.