12 Reasons USA Domestic Travel Matters amidst the Black Lives Matter Movement
Updated: Jul 24, 2020
Did you know that most Americans visit around 12 states in their lifetime and 10% do not actually visit another state?
As of 2017, there were about 4,000 members in the All Fifty Club, which was formed to recognize those individuals who have achieved visiting all fifty states. There are currently a little over 6,000 members who have been to at least 35 states in this Club, including travelers from other countries (which is Associate Membership). If we assumed all members were USA citizens, that is only 0.002% of the USA population that has traveled all 50 states! These stats unsettle me!
However, as a result of this pandemic, U.S.A. #Domestictravel is about to experience a surge. In a recent survey commissioned by the US Travel Association,
47 percent of respondents said that they were more likely to travel by car after the pandemic subsides, and 42 percent would likely choose destinations closer to home.
As an avid domestic traveler, this makes me smile! Why? For a long time, domestic travel was dismissed by many. Numbers don’t lie. When I think about the number of likes I get on a post for an international travel trip vs. a domestic travel trip, international travel always wins! Also, when I look at my Instagram feed, there is an overwhelming majority who are avid international travelers vs. domestic avid travelers. I am always super excited when I find a traveler who has a goal to visit all 50 states. I LOVE international travel, but I will always be a strong advocate for domestic travel. I actually wrote an article, “My Clapbacks for Domestic Travel,” where I address 5 common sentiments as to why people argue against domestic travel.
This is why I decided to reach out to some expert domestic travelers who I know either IRL or through Instagram to share their thoughts on why #domestictravelmatters! IMPORTANT TO NOTE: I want to acknowledge that racism and anti-Blackness in the USA is one major reason why many people have not wanted to travel domestically. It is dismissive to ignore that legitimate concern. It is why I intentionally asked travelers from various backgrounds why domestic travel is important considering these racial injustices in order to provide a different perspective you may not have considered. Knowing that I have a voice and a platform to share that voice, I didn’t want to ignore that concern.
I decided to ask some of my favorite travelers their perspective on #USATravel! To break it down further, I asked:
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent incidents of racial injustice?
Check the responses from
12 Expert USA Travelers!
Traveler 1: Robin of @50StatesbyFifty
30 States & Counting!
Connect with Robin: Instagram | Blog
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
There is so much history and so much culture to soak up in all different parts of the US. It’s also great to be able to take a car or train to closer cities and not always have to fly. You can more easily go on long weekend trips! I want to visit all 50 states because there is so much to see and experience. From big cities to the rural countryside, to deserts, to mountains and beaches.
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
I think it makes it more important than ever to see and visit other places in the US. It can truly open your eyes to injustices that are happening around the country that you may not have realized or been properly educated about if they were not happening in the area of the country where you live. Seeing these things first hand can inspire people to take more action and make a positive change.
Traveler 2: Niqua from @Travelingwithniqua
23 States & Counting!
Connect with Travel with Niqua: Instagram | YouTube | Facebook
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
I have always deemed domestic travel to be as amazing as international travel. There is so much to see throughout the United States. My journey to 50 states was something personal for me, to be able to discover the hidden gems and explore each state was something I always was very interested in. I also wanted to showcase the United States on my platforms to encourage others! I have visited a total of 23 states!
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
Understanding and educating myself more on the history of America is one of the reasons domestic travel is important to me. There are many parts of history that I was never taught in school. Therefore, traveling throughout the US helps me to increase my knowledge!
Traveler 3: Elise from @Elise_explores
22 States & Counting!
Connect with Elise Explores: Instagram | Blog
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
I love domestic travel because it’s less expensive and I feel more comfortable just going with the flow. Although I will make a general itinerary, I usually just go with the flow. I also feel more comfortable being alone domestically vs when I leave the country. I want to visit all of the states because I just can’t imagine leaving this earth without experiencing as much of it as possible. I also love to experience the culture of different places. State/city-specific festivals, foods, and so on.
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
For me it’s just something that I NEED to do! Lol. Initially, it was because I just wanted to experience every state in some way. To like just step foot in it for fun & because I love to explore. But more recently, maybe within the last year or so, the reason is that back in the day, I wouldn’t have been able to have the goal of freely visiting all states. To eat wherever I want, stay where I want, and do what I want! Probably would have needed a Green Book! So now it’s more like HA! I can do what I want and I’m gonna take advantage of that! 😁
Every time I think about visiting a place, I have concerns about racism. For example, if I wanted to go to Houston or Atlanta, I probably wouldn’t think twice lol. However, I would like to visit all states and that would include Maine, Idaho, N. Dakota, S. Dakota...Honestly, I’m very nervous about visiting the states that don’t have a lot of diversity. In the past, I have been OK with traveling to various states. However, it’s still something that I think about. Also, when I go to restaurants in these states, will I be stared at or treated differently?! That’s a concern for me.
Traveler 4: Megan from @Adventuresbecause
Set foot in 39 States but 7 States Entirely!
Connect with Adventures Because: Instagram
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
Domestic travel felt less daunting to start out as a solo traveler. I didn't have to worry about language barriers, transportation struggles, currency exchanges, or inadvertently being rude to other cultures. But when I realized how diverse our entire country is from landscapes to activities, to history and culture, I then fell in love with domestic travel. So, I set out to see all 50 states in their entirety for that exact reason. New York City doesn't represent all of New York State, there is more to Florida than Disney, and what the heck is in Oklahoma?! In my quest to see all 50 states in their entirety, I've been to 7: Utah, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Alaska, Colorado. However, I used to travel on tours for a living. Therefore, my count of states I've set foot in is 39
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
I think domestic travel is important because as a white person, you need to have experiences outside of the bubble you were raised in. America has so much beautiful diversity that you could learn just as much about culture and history here as international travel. When you travel, even domestically, you are exposed to a wide array of people that have different perspectives than you because they've had different experiences. You get to engage in conversations and experiences that you never would have had if you never left your bubble. That is the beauty and magic of travel! Travel is vital to expanding a person's worldview because it expands their knowledge and perception of different cultures. The more someone travels, the more they are educated - and that's where change happens!
Traveler 5: Vanessa from @LatinoWorldTravelers
23 States & Counting! #50by50
Connect with Latino Word Travelers: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
I love domestic travel because I can reach different locations in a short amount of time for most states. When I lived on the East Coast, I concentrated on visiting those states first. Now that I live on the West Coast, I’m looking forward to when things open up and it is safe to travel to these locations as well. Visiting all 50 states will be quite an achievement and definitely within reach. However, the main reason that I want to visit them all is because I am an epicurean who loves to eat and enjoys the delicious food of the locals!!! I have visited 23 states and counting! #50by50
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
As a lighter skin educated and world-traveled Latina, I recognize that I am very privileged. I want to use that privilege to change people’s perception of Latinos in this country.
Traveling by myself or with friends looks very different than traveling with my husband who is a Black American. Normally, we are the only people of color in many spaces since we enjoy the finer things in life, but we try to stay unbothered despite the looks or mistreatment. We belong in those spaces and are here to stay whether others like it or not!
Traveler 6: Chanice from @Flywithqueenie
About 20 States!
Connect with Fly with Queenie: Instagram | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
I love domestic travel because it excites me to know that I have beautiful places to explore right in my own backyard without having to purchase a plane ticket, go through security, sit for hours, or use my PTO at work. Domestic traveling teaches me a lot about the place I live in so many different ways and it’s exciting to learn the different cultures that make up the United States because there is quite a lot. To be honest, I don’t count the places that I visit because I don’t look at it as a competition because I will visit the same place more than once. However, I believe it’s somewhere around 20 states
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
I think domestic travel is important. Although we are facing racial issues, I refuse to let anyone limit the thing that makes me happy. You can design systems to keep me down, but the one thing you won’t take away is my ability to travel the world that my ancestors helped to build. I’m going to travel black and I’m going to travel proudly and explore the USA - periodt!
Traveler 7: Sandra from @sj_torres
35 States & Counting!
Connect with SJ Torres: Instagram | Twitter
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
The USA is so massive and geographically diverse, it would be a disservice to not explore as much of it as possible. From mountains to forests, to the desert, to swamps/bayous, there's so much to see! My goal of seeing all 50 states started out as a bucket list thing, but as I actually started to track it, I started finding a lot of hidden gems. Both my parents come from countries where travel and natural curiosity are encouraged (Mexico and El Salvador), so they definitely passed that along in raising us, too. As I started to travel within the Midwest for work, I started finding so many things that challenged the usual narrative of that state/region. Therefore, I became curious about finding similar things in other states/regions in our country. Ex: mini Dutch-esque tulip season celebrations in Iowa and Michigan because of the large Dutch immigrant populations, massive Iftar/Ramadan celebrations in Minneapolis and St. Paul due to the large Somali population, the massive annual Hùng Kings' Festival in New Orleans due to the large Vietnamese population, etc.
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent events of racial injustice?
It's important for 2 reasons--1) I can challenge my own biases and assumptions by meeting/seeing/connecting with people I wouldn't expect to interact with much in my day to day life (or in my neighborhood). When I first started traveling throughout the Midwest and other rural areas of the country, I had an idea of what to expect, and have been pleasantly surprised to be constantly challenged in those assumptions. It really reinforced the point of the USA being made up of so many different kinds of people, and not just related to the usual checkboxes (race, religion, income, etc.). Ex: I've run into 2nd and 3rd generation Vietnamese families working in ranches near Rapid City, SD alongside poor white farmers that are constantly trying to remain independent in an industry ruled by the few large corporate conglomerates in agriculture, a thriving native American population in the Seattle suburbs that has managed to incorporate modern medicine into their traditional healing practices to provide adequate healthcare to their underserved communities, and so much more.
And 2) So other people are exposed to me. So many times, I've traveled to places within the USA that have never run into someone like me--a young, unmarried, first-gen Latina traveling alone. I realize that despite not having many privileges, I do have some--I'm able-bodied, I speak English fluently, I present the gender I identify with and fits with the binary people are accustomed to, and while not skinny, I'm certainly not subjected to some of the fat-phobic comments and judgments my peers get. I'm young. I have financial means that allow me access to $ in an emergency if I need it (the privilege of good credit and cash savings is real!). All of these things allow me to take risks that others might not be able to because there's a real danger. When there's been a place I've wanted to visit and explore that I might have some hesitations about, I've tried to research online groups and communities that specifically cater to BIPOC, so I know what I'm getting myself into. If I determine that going solo (which is most of my travel, domestic or international) isn't the best idea, I try to find allies (often white friends) that'll go with me. I'd like to get to a point where I don't have to do that, but I won't let it stop me from exploring, or forcing other people to interact with me when they've never encountered anyone like me.
Traveler 8: Alieshia from @Alieshiaadventures
23 States & Counting! Lived in 5 different states.
Connect with Alieshia Adventures: Instagram | Blog | YouTube | Facebook
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
I love domestic travel because you can see so many different cultures in each state. Sometimes it’s more affordable, LOL. I want to see all the 50 states because I think they have something to offer and you can learn a lot!
Why is domestic travel so important in light of recent incidents of racial injustice?
I believe domestic travel is important. However, as black women, I want us to protect ourselves in this current climate. I know that with everything going on in the media, it could seem like you may not want to travel. I would say to just know where you are going and research before you go there.
Traveler 9: Dacia from @continentcountess
Visited All 50 States!
Connect with Continent Countess: Instagram | Blog | YouTube | Pinterest
Why do you love domestic travel? Why do you want to see all 50 states?
We have so much beauty and tons of attractions right in our own backyard. As such, we need to appreciate what is right in front of us! I initially did not intend to do all 50 states, but once I returned from Antarctica in 2016, which was my last continent, everyone started asking if I had all 50 states. After I looked at my US count, I realized I was only 15 states short. Therefore, I decided to go for it. I visited all 50 states as of November 29, 2019, Nebraska was my last state.