Who's never traveled outside of the United States?

Astro14 said:
I’ve visited nearly every National Park, and spent time in every state, I’ve seen the beautiful places here. I agree. This is a wonderful country. That said…

You're wrong. There is a need to go abroad. You won’t find thousand year old cathedrals here, for example, or art and culture that pre-dates the founding of the United States. Food that you can’t find here. Vistas that have to be experienced first hand. People with perspectives, histories and traditions that are different than yours.

And the sad thing is - you will never know how wrong you are.
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I've seen more of the United States than I have of my own country. Unfortunately I've not seen many other countries except Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Bonaire. Even more unfortunate is that I will likely never visit the United States again in my life, but I'm extremely glad that I got the opportunity to do so over the last 30+ years.
Now I need to see more of my own country and possibly other countries, especially Australia. So many beautiful places to see.
 
Love traveling however I do appreciate New England and local area so much returning. You don’t appreciate where you live until you travel . I have travelled to over 20 countries. Only about 10 US states and Puerto Rico.

My travel in US mostly makes me appreciate where I live (coastal NH) way more .
 
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Went to Canada once and Mexico about 500 times. ( I live near the border) At 62 years old I have no plans to leave the US. Not the way the world is now.
 
Never thought about actual time until now, but I've spent less than 12 hours outside the US.

On a vacation in the 70s, going home from Phoenix to NM, we went across the border to do some shopping in Ciudad Juarez. I think a couple of us started feeling ill, so Dad drove straight home and we got in way after dark.

I worked in Seattle for a summer job in '90 so I made a day road trip to Vancouver. Spent a couple of hours looking around and then went back.
 
outside the USA, yes. never left N.America. been to Canada a few times, but the furthest i've been is Peterborough, Ontario.

My Mom on the other hand...
Born in Oakland, CA. , by age 2 relocated to Pre-Communist China, (Her parents were Missionaries) Left in the Middle of the Night, B/C the Red Army was on their way... couple years back in the states, then off to India, with stops at all the European touristy hot spots en route.
they would be "deployed" for 3 years, back stateside for a year or so., the years back home were either in S. Idaho ( around Twin Falls, where most of Mom's Family still Lives), or in Seattle.
She Graduated From HS in India in '64, then traveled Solo back to the States for College in Kansas, where she met my Dad. (McPherson College, McPherson KS. Literally EVERYONE on Mom's side has gone there...My uncle was even on the admissions board when it was my time to go to school, but i was too chicken to go so far away from everyone and everything i knew..)

My GF is Turning 39, never had a passport, barely Left Ohio...
Her parents on the other hand, were Both in the Navy, been here, there, and everywhere in the service, Met/Married when they were both Stationed at Pearl..
 
One downside to living in the middle of the US is how far you have to go to get to even Canada or Mexico. I've lived in Kentucky my whole life, grew up in a family that liked to travel, and even then I was almost 40 before I visited Canada and was in my mid-50's before I added a second country (Mexico) to the list.

Most of my travel out of the country has been on cruise ships so it's just a few hours near a port then back on the ship to another place. We finally decided to take a trip to England this fall. I figured our first extended overseas trip should be one where I stand a decent chance of being able to communicate with authorities if something goes wrong.
 
Across the Atlantic lies a different world, one well worth exploring.
There is nothing in the US that in any way resembles a typical European city.
There is also a big US draw for European visitors, although maybe not so much this year.
Most Europeans have passports, while most of our countrymen don't.
This might be a factor in the reluctance of some here to take overseas vacations, although getting a passport is neither difficult nor time consuming.
A final thought is that if you want a foreign experience without ever leaving US territory, San Juan is about the best you can get. The lingua franca is Spanish and so are all of the road signs. There are also plenty of old Spanish structures to visit, notably the forts guarding the expansive harbor.
Old San Juan is full of small hotels made up out of old colonial houses and boasts some of the best beaches you'll find anywhere.
You won't go very far if you're not willing to spend some hours on an airliner.
There are basically two classes available, Heaven and Hell. We usually fly in Hell, but it is not unusual to score a cheap upgrade to Heaven and sometimes you can find deals on it. Definitely worth it if no more than 2X the fare on one's own dime.
Also, with some Asian carriers, notably ANA and JAL, there is no Hell, even in the back of the plane.
 
Love the replies! I have a passport for no other reason than to make an emergency trip to the Bahamas if my sister falls ill.

It is not that I cannot travel, especially with retirement and empty nest coming up very soon. Maybe I will attempt Canada, Niagra Falls first. I still want to see Route 66, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and other places here in the US.

Travel insurance no doubt will be at the top of my list. I was denied entry into the military due to bad hearing so no trips around the world on them either.

Never been on a cruise either, and I am two hours from Port Canaveral or Tampa. I am such a slacker.
 
Bailey28 said:
Love the replies! I have a passport for no other reason than to make an emergency trip to the Bahamas if my sister falls ill.

It is not that I cannot travel, especially with retirement and empty nest coming up very soon. Maybe I will attempt Canada, Niagra Falls first.
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If you ever come to Niagara Falls I’ll give you one of my walking tours and tell you all the fun stories and facts about the falls 😎
 
Pablo said:
Here’s my negative thing

I detest long air flights. I am not the man in an aluminum foil tube.
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I have flown first class to Venice, Italy. Got on board - got a drink and warm mixed nuts. Put on some (provided) slippers. Had a steak dinner. Watched a movie, went to bed with a blanket and eye mask/ear plugs and woke up four hours later and they were serving breakfast.

Anything past the Continental U.S.-I'm flying first class.

Life is too short.

Been to 38 countries-and all 50 states.

To another poster-travel insurance (medical, etc.) is always purchased.
 
CKN said:
I have flown first class to Venice, Italy. Got on board - got a drink and warm mixed nuts. Put on some (provided) slippers. Had a steak dinner. Watched a movie, went to bed with a blanket and eye mask/ear plugs and woke up four hours later and they were serving breakfast.

Anything past the Continental U.S.-I'm flying first class.

Life is too short.

Been to 38 countries-and all 50 states.

To another poster-travel insurance (medical, etc.) is always purchased.
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I priced that out

I don’t have $10000 laying around
 
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