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There are plenty of places to visit all over the world. There are so many different countries, experiences, and landmarks to visit that many people often forget how much there is to see and do in the United States.
When looking for your next vacation, instead of looking across the ocean consider staying in the country. It’s often cheaper, means less travel time, and you will uncover all sorts of things you didn’t know were right in your own backyard.
Of course, if you are going to stay in the United States, you can look at comfier travel options as well. You don’t have to cram yourself into a small airplane for ten hours, and can instead make the trip to the destination a part of your travel plans.
Private Vehicles
Do you want to travel with a group, but don’t want to have to buy individual tickets and cram into a public bus or train? Consider hiring private vehicles. There are all sorts of options, such as a bus charter, a private shuttle bus, and even party buses.
Some will only take you within your city or a few cities over, but some companies offer long-distance transportation, so you can really go and travel in style. Set it up so you get plenty of breaks and chances to explore along the way.
The best part is since it is only family and friends, you don’t have to worry about strangers bothering you. You can also pick a vehicle that has enough space for everyone, so you don’t have to feel cramped or leave someone off the invite list.
Tours
If you want to travel around but don’t really want to put in the effort of planning out your own trip, how to get there, or where to stay, consider getting a tour. You can just pick a state or location and look at tours in the area.
Some are very local, only covering a day or two, but others go pretty far and spend a lot of time exploring. There are even ones that last up to five weeks and are cross-country.
There are tours for any variety of activities, so no matter what you are into, you can find something to enjoy. Some common tours are bicycle, wine, backpacking, national parks, cruises, kayaking, historic sites, road trips, and more.
You can often choose tours that are guided by a team, or self-guided to fit your needs and desires as well.
Driving
With the exception of Hawaii, all of the US is drivable. This means that you don’t even have to buy a ticket or pay for a ride if you don’t want to. Just hop in your car, pick a road, and start driving.
This is a great option if you are going by yourself or with just a couple of people. You can stop when you feel like it, always have a vehicle on hand when you need it, and can go anywhere you want.
If you don’t have a car, you can easily rent one, as long as you are old enough and have a license. There are even options for electric and hybrid rental cars if you want to be a little nicer to the environment while on your travels.
Train
While the United States isn’t known for its trains as much as other countries, there are still trains available for passenger use. A lot of them are designed to go from rail networks and national parks.
They don’t offer a lot of freedom as far as getting off and exploring whenever you want, but they are often very quick and cheap. If you want to travel far to the other side of the country, you can easily get there by train in just a couple of days and then rent a car for the rest of your needs.
There are trains that run north to south and east to west and cover a good portion of the country. If you are near the east coast, there are even more options and some of them are high-speed trains, which can be an adventure in and of itself.
Flying
Of course, even though you are staying in the country, flying is still an option. Since you are doing shorter trips, the flights are often cheaper and can be heavily discounted if you pay attention and plan accordingly.
This is a great option if you just want to get to your destination fast, as you can get from one side of the US to the other in under ten hours, and often less.
If you do still want a bit of an adventure, you can save money and have a chance to stretch your legs and explore with layovers.
Buses
If you are traveling by yourself and don’t want to hire a private vehicle, there are also buses. Most bus companies travel to major cities all across the US. Some even go to Canada, which can be a great option if you want to travel outside of the country, but still don’t want to go too far.
Buses require a bit of planning as the frequency and destinations vary quite a bit. There are also a lot of stops, with people getting on and off about every 100 miles, so sleep can be an issue.
For those traveling alone, you also have to be aware of which stops you are getting on and off at. While most stations are clean and safe, some are in pretty empty or sketchy areas, so plan ahead and take care to stay safe.
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