Comments on: Without a Passport: Is Traveling Domestically Really Traveling?

By: Most Tweeted Articles by National Geographic Experts

Most Tweeted Articles by National Geographic Experts — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:35:43 +0000

[...] run from Friday 14th May to Sunday 16th May. Night owls can look forward … 2 Tweets Without a Passport: Is Traveling Domestically Really Traveling? Sabina Lohr wonders whether domestic travel is authentic. Or do we need a passport to somehow [...]

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:13:50 +0000

I definitely think it’s traveling. Traveling around the US when I was first in college is what got me hooked on traveling to begin with. It’s certainly not the same, but the differences from city to city and state to state and even within one city give you a chance to experience something “different,” which, imo, is the essence of travel.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:12:56 +0000

I can see your point Sabina. But I think you’re misguided to judge domestic travel as seemingly less important. I think it is very important to know one’s own country before one travels to other countries. Also, if you take the US as the example – there is so much variety within our borders, even within some cities and states themselves – you can experience almost as much diversity within our borders as you can by traveling in Europe or Asia. The one point I will happily concede is that no, the US is not even close to as old as France or China, etc. But does that lessen the value of what can be learned during US travel? I would say, no. Also, not every US trip for me is a vacation. Not at all.

By: Rick Ohler

Rick Ohler — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:53:58 +0000

On May 1st, I’m leading a bus trip for travel writers. Our destination? The next county over. We all live in Erie County in Upstate New York, home of Buffalo. Our bus trip will take us through rural Wyoming County, population 40,000. We’ll see sights we have never seen, meet new people, explore many roads for the first time.

It is certainly traveling as much as Steinbeck’s adventure or Kerouac’s wanderings were.

By: PAOLO

PAOLO — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:42:10 +0000

Silly, i thought the first time i read it. Then thinking about…you see i live in zimbabwe, i am italian and funny enough, the more i am in africa and the more when i am back in italy i visit around my beautiful country. I think travelling is just travelling, with or without a passaport, even if is out of town for 5 hours…in my opinion is still travelling.

By: Rajeev

Rajeev — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:54:15 +0000

Yes, indeed it is.

Having said that, I’d say yes, you do have point there in mentioning of different environment, different culture, dealing with discomforts etc. Therefore, IMHO there is a difference in travelling locally and domestic travel.

Further, it also depends on the diversity of the country. I am from India and I can affirm that this is the country which offers such a broad spectrum in all the fields, geology, cultural diversity, language variations In fact, there are a multitude of regional languages. Coming to flora and fauna – almost entire spectrum is there. Areas range from -40 deg Celcius to +46 deg. celcius. We have beaches, deserts, high snow clad mountains, glaciers, forests and such diverse eco environment. Accordingly there is a vast range of Zoological diversity. Social, educationsl and economic diversity is also highly prominent.

Therefore if you are considering variations and diversity the wide spectrum countries like India and US both offer destinations which are significantly different than your Home location and thus I’d rightly consider the domestic travel in such counties a real travel.

By: Bardic Wolf

Bardic Wolf — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:51:09 +0000

I have traveled out side the usa some, and along with some of my friends…we always viewed the usa as an adventure to be traveled. It is larger than Europe and in some places our states are larger than many contiers. With some many languages and cultures, with english only being the main one…it has always in my mind ben traveling.

By: Sabina Lohr

Sabina Lohr — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:10:28 +0000

Definitely the U.S. varies wildly from region to region. I’ve lived in five states, with no two really at all alike in landscape, indigenous cuisine and, most interestingly, attitudes, habits and lifestyles of the people. Getting to know different areas in the States really allows you to see and understand life from the vantage point of those originally from the area.

Still, I think maybe it’s human nature to feel that what is farther away is more interesting and exciting than what is easily accessible and close by.

By: tlo

tlo — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:13:52 +0000

Came across this as I prepared for a trip to Africa in a few weeks. As exciting as that is, I feel inclined to respond to this with a resounding, YES!, traveling within the US is travel. I live in New Orleans and believe me, baby, the tourists coming in from other communities around the country are traveling amidst some cultural experiences they have NEVER encountered!

People will often make fun of Americans who have no passport, but think about how easy it is for Europeans to get from country to country, as compared to getting around from state to state here. Is there really any difference in their travels, aside from English being spoken?

There is the traveler who travels in order to say he has traveled. And then there is the traveler who just travels.

By: josefa concannon

josefa concannon — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:08:19 +0000

I have traveled all over Europe, Mexico and Japan and always considered myself a traveler. Recently, I took a road trip through the deep south, purposely getting off the interstate and delving into the small towns in between the major cities – what an extraordinary experience. In addition, the richness of culture that exists in places like Memphis, New Orleans and the surrounding area of Acadia, the hidden coast of Florida and towns like Apalachiacola all contributed to the experience.

Remnants of Katrina along the gulf coast and the lower 9th ward in NOLA made strong statements on the failures of our government and the racial divisions that still exist.

My current job takes me all over the midwest and I am always thrilled at the discoveries I make in places like Fargo, Kansas City, Louisville, and even Detroit. I seek out the local cuisines and love to explore aspects of each city that make them distinct.

The plague of strip malls and “lifestyle communities” all contribute to the reasons why we write domestic travel off but getting away from these places and digging deep into what makes a place unique will reveal wonderful experiences.