What comes to mind when you think of traveling? Do you see yourself jetting off to Europe to visit the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower? Maybe you dream of hiking Machu Picchu and taking in the views from the top. While traveling internationally is a goal for many, don’t overlook what is in your own backyard. Traveling locally may be more realistic for people and provide you the opportunity to experience fun and memorable adventures sooner than you might think.
When you travel locally, you are able to take advantage of many benefits. Here are what we consider the top five reasons.
1: Diversity
The United States is geographically and culturally diverse. You can drive through temperate rainforests and high-desert mountains in the west, visit swamps in the south, grasslands in the middle of the country, and beaches on both coasts all in the space of a week’s time or less. You can meet new people and open your mind to new traditions, cultures, and foods.
Both Alex and I have traveled our entire lives throughout the U.S. and have been fortunate to experience new things since a young age. Those lessons and experiences have helped to shape who we are today and have provided us with a greater appreciation for what other areas of this country have to offer.
We’re willing to bet you will gain a greater appreciation for this beautiful country too!
2: Cost and Time
Living in the western half of the U.S. has been such a wonderful experience, especially given all the outdoor adventuring we love to do. Living and traveling locally in Idaho and throughout the western U.S. has allowed us to explore and discover many places relatively close to our home base. It costs much less – even when driving.
When you travel locally, you can easily get away with exploring on a weekend so you don’t have to take much time off work. That’s a huge win too! And if you truly explore in your own back yard (think museums, nearby lakes, etc. in your hometown), you can still sleep in your own bed instead of potentially reserving a hotel room or Airbnb.
If you live in and around Idaho, check out some of our articles highlighting getaways out west!
3: Support Local Economies
Traveling locally allows you to support the local economies in the areas you visit. We’ve always been big fans of supporting local businesses where we live. Why wouldn’t we do the same when traveling? Besides, who doesn’t love discovering unique shops and restaurants that really help you experience the area like a local?
Do you enjoy adding to your magnet or shot glass collection? What about buying locally available foods like huckleberry flavored pancake syrup, scone mix, or even vodka? You can do all this and more by visiting and shopping local shops. Want to know the best place to grab a delicious meal? We’ve found that people working in local stores are more than happy to recommend their favorite spots we otherwise wouldn’t have discovered.
Not only do you get a flavor (sometimes literally!) for the local area, but you can also learn a bit about the local history. This is something Alex and I have really enjoyed in the areas we’ve visited, including our hometown!
One final note. Small businesses employ local people who spend money where they live. This also helps to strengthen the area’s economy. You’re giving back to the community when you shop and eat like a local!
4: Language
For the most part, there is no language barrier when traveling locally. Obviously there are different accents or slang terms that might be a bit different than what you’re used to, but that is easier to figure out than learning a new language. There is a comfort in knowing you can ask for directions or recommendations for where to eat the best food without wondering if you’re using the right words.
5: Tradition
You can join in the classic American road trip tradition when you travel locally. Hopefully you have less drama than Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation movies though. Road tripping across the country or even to a neighboring city or town has been something we Americans have enjoyed for decades. A road trip allows you to set up your own itinerary. You can stop where you want, when you want, and as often as you want. Now that’s freedom!
There are many more benefits of traveling locally and we hope you are able to discover them for yourself. Our next stop is going to be the Oregon Coast…we are so looking forward to going! If you have any recommendations for us, drop them in the comments below or send us an email.
See you out there!
