Irene Ly, a junior majoring in psychology, is the Hatchet’s contributing opinions editor.
The concept of traveling abroad is enchanting. More than 50 percent of students at GW study abroad and others take shorter trips out of the country because they want to experience something different than where they live. I feel the same way: Although I have wanted to visit some U.S. cities, Europe and Asia have always piqued my interest more.
This summer I learned that traveling domestically can open to your eyes to how different another part of the same country can be. For years, I’ve been guilty of overlooking the U.S. as a place to travel to broaden my horizons. Crossing seas, exchanging currencies and hearing new languages make other countries seem like more exciting destinations. But the U.S. has its own share of vibrant cities, beautiful scenery and interesting characters that you can experience without having to spend the money and time leaving the country.
Last month, I flew to San Francisco with some of my family members and friends. We rented two cars and embarked on a road trip to Los Angeles, San Diego, some smaller California cities and Las Vegas. When I had the chance to explore these places, I picked up on varying types of people and lifestyles within a state.
It’s easy to become comfortable inside the bubble where we grow up or go to school, which can lead us to believe our whole country is about the same. This trip reminded me of the differences – both obvious and subtle – that exist in different areas of the U.S. and within just one state.
Within a day of staying in San Francisco, despite being a college student in an urban city like D.C. where I’m always walking, the sight of all the steep hills in downtown San Francisco made me feel a little weak. I was shocked to watch elderly people walking up and down these enormous hills, looking completely unfazed and full of energy, even if they had to walk with canes. In contrast, L.A. was all about getting around in cars, with traffic that felt never-ending — partially redeemed by the endless sun and gorgeous blue skies.
Our pit stops in between major cities were eye-opening – from the elephant seals and beautiful deep blue waters in San Simeon to the Danish charm of Solvang. These small cities showed there was more to California than the stereotypical laid back West Coast feel or the hustle and bustle of big cities like San Francisco and L.A. I got to experiences these new people and places, and it was more practical than traveling abroad.
Plus, taking a cross-country road trip is even cheaper than a domestic plane ride. If you decide to take a road trip, you have more flexibility on where you go and how much time to spend at each stop. And without any language barriers, getting lost is less of a problem.
The next time you’re planning a vacation, consider staying in the U.S. This country varies from coast to coast and everywhere in between more than you think. I still have a ton of international cities on my list of places I want to travel, but now I have a growing list of U.S. cities, too.
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