What If You Could Travel The US For Free, Like India’s Latest Tourism Success?

Saturday morning, in the midst of my regular pandemic doomscrolling, I came across a positive (finally!) and intriguing piece of news. The Indian government is offering its citizens the chance to explore their own country—fully funded—for the next two years. 

The catch is that they have to get to all 15 of their chosen destinations by the end of 2022. It’s kind of like those west Texas steakhouses that I remember from my childhood family road trips: If you manage to eat the whole thing, it’s free. If not, you pay full price. (For the record, my family never did this.) Anyway, for travelers who complete the challenge, India’s Ministry of Tourism will reimburse all their travel expenses. 

This was enough to wake me up and get me excited. And it got me thinking. While it’s unlikely that there will be this kind of incentive for domestic travel in the United States, it’s still a good time for discovering more of our own backyard. What if instead of trying to get refunded, we just focused on having some fun for the next year or two? 

With that in mind, here’s the travel challenge I’d like to propose: 15 geographically separated destinations chosen to help out local economies, show off the vast diversity of the country and maybe help people learn a thing or two. 

Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

This giant swamp (more than 700,000 acres, larger than the State of Rhode Island), adjacent to but not part of Everglades National Park, is home to cypress trees and mangroves, alligators and panthers. Because it’s classified as a national preserve, it allows for activities that are typically off-limits in national parks, such as driving in off-road vehicles called swamp buggies or exploring in airboats.

Crater Lake, Oregon

It’s hard not to feel awe at the sight of this impossibly blue water in a dormant volcano. Fed by rain and snow, the lake is the deepest and one of the most pure in the United States. All around it are the cliffs and tall pines of the Cascade Mountain Range, which can be explored by car around the crater rim or on foot on a number of hiking trails.

Charleston, South Carolina

Known for its colorful architecture, charming hidden alleyways, elaborate gardens and historical vibe, Charleston also has five beach towns nearby. And then there’s the food, often regarded as some of the best in the country: she crab soup, crab cakes, char-grilled oysters and, of course, some excellent barbecue.

French Quarter, New Orleans

Sometimes called the crown jewel of New Orleans, the French Quarter is so much more than the party scene on Bourbon Street. Some ten years after Hurricane Katrina changed the city forever, the historic district is now an interesting mix of new and old, with a reimagined French Market and modern boutique and artisan cocktail bars alongside classic restaurants like Galatoire’s and Brennan’s. And then there’s the music, both in the famous clubs and on street corners.

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Is there anything more American than this? It’s a gigantic monument to the Founding Fathers carved into a mountain the Black Hills.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Speaking of huge, this national park is spread out over 3.3 million acres. There’s a grand diversity of landscapes: jagged mountains, rugged coastlines, shifting glaciers, temperate rainforest and deep sheltered fjords. It’s a highlight of Alaska’s Inside Passage and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site—one of the biggest protected areas in the world. There’s also the Huna Tribal House, which introduces visitors to Alaska’s indigenous culture.

Redwood Forest, California

The Redwood National and State Parks are a string of protected lands along Northern California’s coast. There are all kinds of ferns and trees in the grasslands and forests, but really you come here for the redwoods. The tallest trees on earth, they can be thousands of years old, nearly 250 feet tall and 10 feet in diameter. (Even the pine cones can be two feet long.)

Fisherman’s Wharf, California

Although San Franciscan’s may turn up their noses, Fisherman’s Wharf is worth seeing at least once. The marina and surrounding streets in North Beach are colorful and picturesque, with great views over the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. And then there’s the food. Outdoor stands sell steaming hot Dungeness crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls. It may be touristy, but it’s still yummy.

Mesa Verde, Colorado

This national park is in southwest Colorado is known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, especially the huge Cliff Palace. It was established in 1906 to preserve and present the archeological heritage of the indigenous people who lived in the cliffs between the years 600 and 1300. Along with 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, it also has scenic driving routes and accessible walking trails.

World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta

That most American beverage is on full display at this interactive museum, where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about it. There are exhibitions dedicated to the history of Coca-Cola, classic memorabilia galore and a tasting room that lets guest sample the brand’s international flavors and discontinued cult favorites, like the 1970s diet soda called TaB.

Gateway Arch, St Louis

A symbol of American ingenuity and pioneering spirit, the 630-foot-high Gateway Arch is the world’s tallest arch, the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere and Missouri’s tallest accessible building. Along with the indoor observation area at the top, there’s a museum dedicated to” the Native Americans, explorers, pioneers, and rebels who made America possible.”

Big Island, Hawaii

Officially named Hawaii, the Big Island is the youngest and (by far) the largest in the archipelago. It all but four of the world’s climate zones, ranging from wet tropical to polar tundra. It also has dry, white-sand beaches, colored beaches like Punaluu (black) and Papkolea (green), impossibly lush rain forests, a snowcapped mountain and some world-class resorts. Then there’s Volcanoes National Park, which has two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

La Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Although it’s not glamorous, La Perla is colorful and real. A historical shanty town alongside the northern city wall of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, it stretches along the rocky Atlantic coast and is in the midst of a revitalization, with the community painting colorful murals and new businesses popping up to take advantage of the location. You probably recognize it from the video for “Despacito.”

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Just south of Cape Cod, this island has been a longtime New England summer colony for those who can arrive by boat or air. (You can’t drive only the island, though you can bring your car on the ferry.) There are adorable colorful towns, fishing villages, farmland, lighthouses, charming architecture and sandy beaches.

Acadia National Park, Maine

These are the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, a place with all kinds of habitats, wildlife and scenery. It’s also a big park with a lot of infrastructure, including 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads.