The United States of America is a weird, weird place. Swamps, mountain ranges, bays, canyons, beaches, cacti, Joshua trees, hot springs, rivers… The list of the varied terrain and ecosystems goes on. Once you factor in all of the cultural regions and ethnicities represented, there is no better way to describe the U.S. than a melting pot. And it is worth exploring.
Obviously, Starkville is the greatest part of America. It is home to the No. 1 football team in America after all, but let me be the one to tell you in case no one else has: get out and go far every once in a while. Why and where would I even go, you ask? Allow me to elaborate.
Disclaimer: driving cross-country is not nearly as complicated as it sounds. Just pick a major interstate, stay on it for a while and consult MapQuest sporadically. Quality campgrounds or hotels are easy to find. It can be done smart and safely, so do not let that be your excuse.
The U.S. is worth exploring. Have you ever seen a Joshua tree before? The whole park in Southern California looks like a Dr. Seuss story taking place in a desert that has come to life. There are rocky hills surrounding desert plains of these trees that look like they are made of rock bubbles, and they make for great climbing. Have you ever been to downtown Los Angeles? It makes for great people watching. China Town is spectacular. The Mexican cultural markets are beautiful. And if you want an exotic pet fish, I can tell you where to go. Have you ever been to Portland? It really is the epitome of strange. Fred Armisen was right the dream of the ‘90s is alive in Portland. There are countless restaurants. There is a bookstore that is near-infinite — City of Books is aptly named.
Obviously, we all have different preferences, and I have not been to that many places, so I will not be mad if you do not heed my advice. My biggest piece of advice for you is to explore. Do not go somewhere that is simply sitting or staring at something — go play. My favorite national parks are the ones that involve random activities. Rather than going to a tourist attraction in Yellowstone, take a hike off the beaten path to a waterfall. Do not just look at things, explore them. Be a part of the scenery, the city, the water, wherever you are. Spend more time walking than having your face in your camera. There is a beauty to capturing images and having them as keepsakes, but that’s not the point.
Don’t stay on the rim of the Grand Canyon with the other tourists; go on a more isolated hike into it. Swim in the lake overlooking the mountain range at the Grand Tetons. Admire the Golden Gate Bridge while enjoying a beautiful state park around it. Set up your hammock in a quiet spot among the Redwood trees. Sure, top-10 tourist attractions are in a guide book for a reason, but after you see those, put the book down and explore yourself. That is when you get to really experience where you are. See things different than what you’re used to, learn about a different culture and see just how vast and how varied this world we live in is. Actively look around, don’t just rely on other people to tell you what to see — find it.
But I will warn you, after an amazing cross-country experience, it is hard to stay in one place. That’s when you start to explore more around where you are. A cross-country trip teaches you not just about the country we live in, but it teaches you how to look, how to learn and how to see beauty in the most random places.
