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[exploreamerica]

I am so happy to find this topic. I am such a fan of this!!!
First, I am constantly telling people to be a tourist of their own country (the U.S.) because everyone here seems to think travel means going to Europe. I have spent numerous summers traveling around my own country and I love it. It is sad how many people think visiting New York or Los Angeles means seeing the United States. This country has almost 400 national parks/monuments/memorials/battlefields. There is so much to see HERE!

Now as far as my backyard, that also gives me a laugh. For example, when I want to Los Angeles last year I did not visit one site that anyone else would think to visit. I took a boat out the Channel Islands which was about 90 minutes off shore. I didn't find anyone in LA who had even been and yet it was gorgeous. This is going to be a shameless plug for visiting a picture on my site, but if you have been to California or even live there and have never been to the Channel Islands then you sre truly missing out. If a picture is worth a thousand words then check this out:
Anacapa Island


Now as far as my own backyard in south Florida, my wife and I have been visiting numerous sites here in 2008. it is funny how much there is to see in your own back yard that you would normall overlook. So far this year we have visited:
Miami Metro Zoo
Vizcaya - escape to Italy in south Florida
South Beach Art Deco tour

[travelmonster]

It is funny how so many people neglect to see the things that are in their own country. I've travelled extensively in England and parts of Wales and Scotland too - but I know plenty of people that don't go beyond a few surrounding towns of the one they live in. There is so much to see in the UK, yet people write it off all the time after having just seen London.

I have taken photographs of beaches down in Cornwall, which I have then shown to someone at a later date and they won't believe it's England and think the picture has been taken in a different country.

[introducinlyric]

for those Sydney siders there's an excellent book called "The Slow Guide to Sydney" which explores Sydney in a way thats completely different from the mass tourist guides available in bookstores. It's a gem of a book and highly recommended !!!!!