Travel
Seeing America by car, especially with kids, can give your entire family the most precious opportunities to bond and to create memories that will last a lifetime. I know by personal experience this is true, since one of the favorite things we've done as a family is taken road trips wandering the byways of our great country from sea to shining sea with my own children for weeks at a time.
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| My kids at kitschy Gatorland in Orlando, FL, MommyBlogExpert.com |
So in this post I couldn't be happier to share Alisa's top five reasons why it’s best to think about keeping your travels within U.S. Borders right now.
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| Alisa Abecassis, Image from ExploreAll50.com |
At the risk of sounding paranoid, the world is so unstable right now. Travel to Mexico you run the risk of being kidnapped and held for ransom by a drug cartel. Take a trip to China and you might get severe food poisoning. Fly over to Europe -- there have been too many terrorist bombs and threats in Spain and France. For the moment, at least, none of these places are as safe as staying here in the USA.
Money
Sure, places like Australia and New Zealand may be safer than others, but it’s ridiculously expensive. Despite the long and pricey airplane ride, Aussies come to the states in high numbers, in part, because it’s so much cheaper to vacation here. Have a taste for something different? Travel to Honolulu, Anchorage, the Florida Keys, or other exotic regional areas and you'll not only have a great time, you'll be helping to support our national and state economies.
History
Consider all the turmoil happening around the globe and contrast it with the peace, stability, wealth and tolerance America has. Americans all enjoy such vast freedoms and rights, but sadly, too many citizens don’t fully appreciate or learn about our own history. What could be better than actually reliving history with your kids through a trip to places like Philadelphia, Gettysburg or Washington, D.C. ?
Convenience
Let’s face it – Americans like convenience. Global travel not only poses great logistical challenges (visas, customs, passports, etc.) which can easily become a nightmare. There are also other things that one much contend with like currency exchanges and language barriers just to name a few. On the other hand, you can take a long weekend or extended vacation and travel anywhere in the States without having to struggle with language or major cultural differences.
Global Influences Here at Home
If you still have a hankering for doing something global, those influences can be found all across the USA -- one of the greastest cultural melting pots in the world. We are a country of immigrants from many lands. For example you can get a taste for the food and customs of Latin America in places like Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. You can learn about Scandinavia in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and about Europe in New York, Illinois and Louisiana, just to name a few. You won’t need your passport or have to endure the obligatory hassle from customs – all you'll need is open mind about your own country.
“The world is an amazing place," concludes Alisa, "but it’s not always a friendly one. There is so much to explore right here at home, and you don’t have to worry about terrorist attacks, political unrest, or losing your passport."
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| Image from ExploreAll50.com |
Alisa Abecassis is a single mother of three children – Lilia, 17; Isaac, 15; and Joel, 14. After her marriage ended, she made the decision to strengthen her family’s bonds and personal history through traveling and gaining a better appreciation of America with the goal to visit all 50 United States. Alisa writes the Blog Explore All 50. Contact her on Twitter, Facebook or email Alisa@ExploreAll50.com.
FTC Disclosure: Content for this post provided by Alisa Abecassis and ExploreAll50.com. No payment or other compensation was exchanged in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
