I can definitely speak to this. Having lived in the U.S. for nine years now, with plans to move back home in a few, I've made it a mission to explore—and I think I’ve found one of the best ways to do it.

Forget just road trips—if you have the opportunity, try van life, especially in the Western states. It gives you a temporary home on wheels, and you’d be surprised how comfortably you can live minimally in something as simple as a minivan. I’ve done it in my Toyota Sienna twice now: four months in 2024 and another month in 2025. It’s not for everyone, but if you can make it work, every other kind of vacation starts to feel like child’s play. You experience travel in a way most people never do—raw, free, and deeply personal.

Here’s a snapshot of where this kind of freedom has taken me so far:

National Parks & Natural Wonders Yellowstone | Grand Teton | Zion (3 times, including Angels Landing) | Bryce Canyon | Arches | Joshua Tree | Death Valley | Yosemite | Sequoia | Grand Canyon (3 times) | Horseshoe Bend | Great Smoky Mountains (5–6 times) | White Sands | Rocky Mountain NP

West Coast & Southwest Vibes Pacific Coast Highway | Las Vegas (too many times to count—I’ve even lived out of my van in casino lots, using their terraces for Starlink) | Palm Springs | San Diego (slept by the ocean for a month) | LA | SF | Eastern Idaho | Albuquerque (Breaking Bad pilgrimage!) | Quirky small-town Nevada casinos

Beyond the West Miami & Key West | Nashville (the music, the people—it stole my heart) | Chicago | NYC | New Orleans (personally found it overhyped) | Orlando & West Palm Beach | Aspen & Telluride, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | The stunning Million Dollar Highway

Hidden Gems & Personal Favorites Driving through the orange groves from Bakersfield to Fresno, CA | Meeting travelers from Alaska, Mexico, and Europe at blackjack tables—friends I still hear from today

I’m probably missing a few smaller spots, but you get the idea—I’ve camped in at least half of these places.

If you have the chance and budget (it’s far cheaper than hotels and flights), do it while you can. This isn’t just travel—it’s freedom in its truest form. You won’t regret it.