So Much to See, So Much to Do!

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It will come as no surprise to learn that I love America.

Given the opportunity, 70% of the world's population of over 7 billion people would move to the USA, though of course that is mostly because of our Constitutionally-protected individual freedoms which have led to the most economically successful culture in history.

Right now, however, I'm specifically talking about the incredible natural landscapes and intriguing personalities found around our vast country.

I've lived most of my life in California, which as a child growing up through the 1950's and 1960's was pretty close to paradise.  California may not be what it once was in terms of wide-open, uncrowded spaces connected by brand-new freeways, but it certainly still has the best weather anywhere, plus lots of gorgeous beaches, cities,  mountains and lakes.

Of course, there's also the original Disneyland, and hopefully ditching the disastrous (for park enjoyment) unlimited passes will make that more attractive to families.

In a class on the History of Eastern Civilization, I became aware that California is about 7% larger than Japan.  Think about that.  That's the country of Sony, Lexus and lots of other products we consider state-of-the-art.  It was a key player in World War II, attacking Hawaii to bring us into World War II.  Nippon, as it has called itself for 1400 years, not only rebuilt its economy after that war but somehow negotiated to keep its Emperor, a tradition that started at the time of the origin of the country's name and carries on to this day.

Certainly, there's lots to do and see in beautiful Japan.

Perhaps more surprising, Japan is larger than Italy.  If you look at a globe, you may be able to see that, although the shapes are different, not to mention the fact that Japan has thousands of small islands, which makes the comparison difficult.

Using your middle school math where you learned about "the Transitive Law" --- or alternatively common sense you've developed by adulthood --- you will realize that means California is significantly larger than Italy.

Think of all the great Rennaissance artists and scientists who emerged from Italy.

You will recognize Italy as the home of Rome, from which sprang the Roman Empire that ruled most of Europe and the coastal region south of the Mediterranean sea for hundreds of years.  Next door to Rome is the independent Vatican state, still the home of the Pope who oversees a vast Catholic following.  The Catholic Church helped spread Christianity far and wide.

But unlike Nippon, both the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire both fell, and what we now know as Italy was actually cobbled together in the mid-1800's.  In my "Music as a Mirror of History" class, I recently learned of the instrumental role --- no pun intended --- of Giuseppe Verdi and his opera Nabucco had on uniting Italy.  While unfortunately Italy became a fascist enemy in World War II, the country rebuilt to become allies and trading partners with the USA after the war, like Japan.  More significant than its exports of Fiats and flashy clothes, Italy is a wonderful vacation destination.

Since the pandemic struck, I've spent much of my time in the mountains of Montana, another naturally gorgeous state, sans sandy beaches of California, of course.   It just feels much freer than California these days, more like the America in which I grew up. Total area-wise, Montana is more the size of Japan than California, but that still makes it over 20% larger than Italy.  With only a million residents, Montana and the surrouning region feel vast and wide-open.

The winters in the Rockies can be a bit nippy.  It was 4 degrees below zero when Julie and I hiked on the Hummucks Trail on the edge of Big Sky a couple of days ago.  However, that makes wearing a mask seem logical rather than annoying.  A good ski jacket, a knit hat and pajama bottoms under my jeans make me good to go.

Skiing is fantastic in the Rockies in winter, but summer is when most families are drawn to visit the amazing national parks that have abundant open spaces not only here but all around our gorgeous country.  Denali National Park in Alaska alone is over 6 million acres.

If you go to New England or New Orleans or New York, you get dramatically different scenery, history and experiences.  And let's not forget sunny Florida, from which --- in a normal year at least --- you can board cruise ships going to the tropical Caribbean islands.  If islands are your jam, Hawaii always allures.

In short, there's a lot to see and do without ever leaving the United States of America.

Would you like to learn more?  Our latest "Where to Next?" webinar arrives on February 23 to help you choose your next great all-American vacation.  Just click here to register.

Wes