The United States is what happens when an entire country looks at the concept of “reasonable” and says: Nah. Make it fucking bigger.
Bigger cities. Bigger highways. Bigger mountains. Bigger pickup trucks. Bigger drinks. Bigger national parks. Bigger parking lots. Bigger restaurant portions delivered with complete sincerity to one human being.
America has apparently spent 250 years asking “but what if we added another lane?”
And honestly, that’s part of the fun.
You can stand beneath skyscrapers in New York, drive through the desert toward Las Vegas, watch the sun disappear into the Pacific in California, explore volcanoes in Hawaii, chase northern lights in Alaska or wander through landscapes in Utah that look like someone accidentally loaded another planet.
Then there are the wonderfully unnecessary things.
Abandoned military installations. Aircraft graveyards. Nuclear history. World’s-largest-whatever roadside attractions. Forgotten dams covered in graffiti. Random historical markers beside highways that suddenly turn a gas stop into an hour-long detour.
This is where America gets interesting.
The downside is distance.
Everything looks manageable until Google Maps announces your next destination is 1,147 miles away. Public transportation outside major cities can become theoretical, and eventually you’ll realize the classic American road trip is partly romantic nostalgia and partly sitting in a fucking car for nine hours.
But few countries offer this much variety.
The United States is huge, beautiful, weird, excessive and endlessly explorable.
Come for the famous shit.
Then take the wrong exit.
Because America gets considerably more interesting when the itinerary starts falling apart.
Popular Places to Visit in United States
Map of United States
Destinations to Explore in United States
Behind the Scenes
6Entries
Dark Places, Worse Stories
17Entries
Fire, Lava & Bad Ideas
14Entries
Nature’s Humble Brag
28Entries
Things That Might Bite
15Entries
Travel Guides
9Entries
Urban Adventures
26EntriesLatest Destinations in United States
Hunting the Northern Lights: Chasing the Aurora
Some travel experiences aren’t just about the destination; they’re about the moments that make you stop in awe, overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of the world. Chasing the northern lights, nature’s most jaw-dropping light show, is one of those experiences that has failed me spectacularly over the past decade. Multiple trips to Iceland and Alaska …
Read moreEverglades Jetport: Alligator Alcatraz Wasn’t Even Its Worst Idea
Before Alligator Alcatraz made headlines, the Everglades Jetport was already one of Florida’s greatest WTF moments: a massive runway built for Concordes, surrounded by swamp, alligators and absolutely nothing else.
Read moreValuJet 592: The Flight the Everglades Swallowed
On May 11, 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 departed Miami International Airport for what should have been an entirely forgettable flight to Atlanta. Eleven minutes later, the aircraft was on fire. Minutes after that, all 110 people aboard were dead. Flight 592 crashed into the Florida Everglades northwest of Miami, disappearing into a landscape so remote …
Read moreTWA Hotel: Proof Air Travel Wasn’t Always This Shitty
After two million miles of boarding groups, shrinking seats and overpriced airport bullshit, the TWA Hotel at JFK is proof that flying wasn’t always this shitty. Step back into the Jet Age, when airports had personality, airplanes were sexy and passengers were apparently treated like actual human beings.
Read moreBuckner Building: Alaska’s Soviet-Proof Shithole
Visit a 14-story decaying building from the World War II era that sits vacant in Whittier, Alaska
Read morePinal Airpark: Because You Can’t Park a 747 at Walmart
When COVID absolutely wrecked global air travel, airlines suddenly had thousands of airplanes and nowhere to fly them. The solution? Park the damn things in the Arizona desert.
Read moreUnveiling the Magnificence of Natural Bridges in Brookings, Oregon
Discover the mesmerizing beauty of Natural Bridges in Brookings, Oregon, where majestic rock formations and scenic coastal views converge, creating a haven for nature lovers and a must-visit destination for those seeking serenity and awe-inspiring landscapes.
Read moreGold Hill Dam: Oregon’s Accidental Graffiti Gallery
Hiding behind some bushes near an Oregon highway is an abandoned piece of Gold Hill Dam covered in graffiti, decay and questionable access. It’s basically Centralia’s Penis Highway with concrete walls, fewer tourists and a much better chance you’ll drive right past without ever knowing it exists.
Read moreAdapting to COVID-19: How Travel Has Changed
COVID-19 changed the world change in March 2020 with its rapid global spread. Almost overnight, the world closed for business. Entire countries retreated into isolationism and closed their borders to control the spread of an opportunistic virus too small to see with the human eye. Wanderlusters replaced long-haul trips to exotic locations with short-haul day …
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