10 U.S. Travel Ideas for American Citizens Moving Back Home

Welcome back from abroad! Ya look good

Ok, you’re in the midst of moving back home after living abroad, but you’re not quite ready to settle into “real life” yet. Maybe you haven’t been working for the entire time you’ve been away, so your travel fund is a little anemic. Or maybe you’ve had a taste of what else is out there and it’s hard to settle back into your “old ways” and the “old expectations” (like a stuffy office? Blech). A lot of us have been there.

Hit the trails & make ‘em happy

So, how do you keep the wheels turning and adventures coming without drowning yourself in debt, or without progressing in your life’s goals? You’ll be surprised by how many domestic options and US travel ideas available to you. Obviously, the more money in your pocket, the more opportunities you will actually have, but creativity goes a long way here. By thinking outside the box (and possibly altering what it is that you consider “travel”), you could be knee-deep in your next American adventure in no time.

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Why more travel can help American citizens moving back to the USA

Too many of us return from abroad, get sucked back into the routines of our home lives and stick our future travel plans on the back burner. Too few actually keep that adventurous fire burning. Too few trade in our appetite for the unknown for a regimented schedule. But by starting to plan that crucial next step right now, you can avoid the pitfalls that so many before you have failed to. Instead, channel your energy and passion for new cultures and travels into new explorations of your own country!

Here are our favorite US travel ideas so that moving back to America after living abroad isn’t a total let-down. Devise a new take on your bucket list travel ideas—right in your own backyard.

11 fun US travel ideas 

1. Hike One of the Great American Trails

Few people know that the United States is home to more than 20 trails that each span 1,000 miles or more. These things wrap the length and breadth of the nation, so no matter where you’re located, there’s likely one reasonably close to your home.

If you’re living on a shoestring and aching for long-term adventure, this might be your best option. Aside from the initial investment of quality hiking and camping gear, the only other money you’ll spend is on food and additional supplies along the way. Many hikers complete their journeys with under $3,000 invested. Not everyone is cut out for this type of adventure, though. Some of these trail require many months (some more than a year) to traverse and frequently carry their hikers through perilous and secluded areas for days at a time.

Want to see an adventure of this kind unfold? Follow @AvyLee on Instagram, star member of the PCT Class of 2018.

2. Buy Your Own Van or RV 

Your Big Year makes road trippin’ around the US fun and community-driven

This is one of those US travel ideas that requires a little bit of an investment, but probably less than you think. Although some of the grandest motorhomes on the highway cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, older specimens can be had for very reasonable prices.

For $5,000 (often much less!), you can find a spacious, roadworthy home on wheels to carry you down America’s most famous highways. Besides gas, food, and adventure expenses (like a guided tour to Antelope Canyon or a pint at , you’ll be living rent-free for as long as you travel. It’s true that most parks and campsites charge nightly fees, but by learning where it’s legal to park (certain streets and all WalMart parking lots, for instance), you can avoid paying altogether.

While laying out a chunk of change might be difficult, here’s a silver lining: if your vehicle makes it back from your journey in one piece, it’s more than likely you’ll be able to sell it for just as much as you originally paid.

Pro tip: Instead of buying your own van or RV, why not win a road trip around the US? Sign up at Your Big Year to learn more about future opportunities and month-long USA adventure giveaways. Yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds!!!

Crewing a yacht—lots of fun in a little space!

3. Work on a Boat

There’s a lot of coast here, you know (more than 12,000 miles according to the US census!). Even if you’ve never been on a boat in your life, there are several options for you here. Yacht clubs dot the coasts of America, and many of their patrons have large boats that sail to the islands during the winter months. Here’s the thing, though: most of these boat owners don’t actually sail them. They hire captains and crew to do the dirty (i.e. fun) work, then meet their boats at their destinations.

There are loads of resources online to connect you to ships, and the options are almost limitless. Obviously, having prior experience on a boat makes you a more marketable candidate, but it’s absolutely not necessary. If you’ve ever been interested in boating or yachting, this is a great way to cut your teeth. You can ask GoAbroad writer Julie Kobs about her experiences working on a deep-sea fishing boat in Hawaii if you’d like!

4. Get a National Park Pass & Cruise the Open Plains

 The “America the Beautiful Pass” might be the best deal in the nation. At $80 per year, it’s already affordable. But each pass can be shared between two people, so if you have a travel buddy, each of you will pay a meager $40 to have access to every National Park in the United States—that means ample opportunity to check off the best states to visit in USA.

There are some exclusions that aren’t immediately obvious, though. First, State Parks and County Parks are not included. Next, any add additional costs (think camping, permit or tour fees) are extra. Still, it’s an amazing bargain considering that Grand Canyon National Park charges $30 per car at the gate. If your plan is to take a long-haul road trip to see the unequaled excellence of this country’s national parks, you’ll make your money back on this purchase before you know it.

If you want to level-up your National Parks experiences by 13.1 miles, consider adding each of the National Park Half Marathons to your bucket list. Nothing like getting fit while moving back to America after living abroad!

5. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

Here’s where altering your perspective comes into play. You might not automatically liken building homes to travel, but maybe you should. If travel is just a means of living away from your comfort zone, learning something about the place you’re visiting and the person you are, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity absolutely qualifies.

One great advantage of volunteering for Habitat is that it’s a recognized and established organization with a decades-long track record of success. Having this on your resume is definitely a shinier bullet point than “spent six months in South East Asia.”

If this sounds like something you up your alley, there’s a strong community of current and former volunteers on the internet who are willing to answer any specific questions you might have. We love Quora for getting the inside scoop from past volunteers.

Help make sure no s’mores get out of control as a volunteer fire looker-outer

6. Become a Lookout at a Fire Watch Tower

If you’ve ever been near a remote forest and seen an unexplained steel structure in the middle of it, more than likely you were looking at a fire watch tower. Back before the age of connectivity, these towers were important conductors of time-sensitive information. Now, though, since cell phones and satellites have taken the brunt of this responsibility, many of these towers lay dormant.

Nevertheless, there is still a need for volunteers to act as lookouts—that’s why this is one of our go-to travel ideas for singles. In some cases, they’re tasked with reporting fires; in others, they’re monitoring weather equipment. No matter what your responsibilities are, sitting far above a forest for a season at a time is a romantic concept. Just imagine having your own personal Walden in the sky. Fun, huh?

7. Apply for Teach for America

Much of the info above on Habitat for Humanity rings true for Teach for America, especially if you envision teaching to be a part of your future. As an established and reputable organization, Teach for America has given thousands of people their first “real” teaching experience. At the same time, it’s keeps you out of your comfort zone and introduces you to parts of the country you’re not necessarily familiar with.

Even if you end up teaching in the city that you live in, becoming engrained in an improvised neighborhood is an eye-opening an rewarding experience. Teach for America is also one of a handful of government organizations that offers the possibility of student loan forgiveness. Those who qualify often see a weighty portion of their debt abolished after having successfully completed their contract. It’s cultural immersion, but in your own country and with your own neighbors. And it’s lessons are endless.

8. Hunker Down in a Tent

There’s a fine line between long-term camping and homelessness, but lots of people walk it. If you’re equipped with the know-how and resolve, deep wilderness camping can be the most rewarding, grounding experience of your life. Not to mention FUN. There’s just something about starry skies and campfires and living sans-shower for a few days that reconnects you with your inner child and sense of wonder.

The National Parks Service website has a library of reliable information to help you decide where to go and what to do, but ultimately it’s up to the camper to prepare herself for the challenges ahead. Affordable camping classes are available at most REI locations and locals groups all over the nation have an internet presence. Get primal and go live out on the land for a season. 

9. Sift for Gold in Alaska

Although America’s gold rush was more than a century and a half ago, the West’s ancient mountains are still the keepers of untold wealth. That’s why a vibrant community of gold hunters have made a semi-permanent residence out of the gorgeous Alaskan wilderness.

Most people who regularly pan for gold are guarded about how much gold they have actually found, so the financials are a bit shaky. This much is for sure, though: it’s a discipline that relies as much on luck as it does on skill. You should never bank on making enough money to support yourself and always keep enough backup money to get you home.

But living out in the untamed Alaskan wilderness for a season is as worthy an adventure as any on Earth. If you’ve got what it takes to brave the cold summer nights, complete isolation and possible visits by bears, maybe you should go prospecting.   

10. Try House Sitting in a New-to-You City

San Francisco? Portland? Miami? In recent years, a slew of house sitting and pet sitting websites have popped up on the internet, birthing one of our new favorite US travel ideas—work exchanges! The families you’re connected with might have a list of responsibilities for you (including household duties, regular maintenance, and animal upkeep), but in exchange, you’ll be given the chance to live rent-free in an exciting destination.

This is the most luxurious of all the options listed here. Since many of these houses are either second homes or the primary residences of those who can afford long-term travel, it’s quite common to be in charge of a very nice property. Also, many of these listings offer their custodians small stipends. (Did somebody say “get paid to travel?”)

Landing these contracts depends on your profile. It’s your job to convince the homeowner that you’re responsible, professional and trustworthy. After all, they’re letting you into their homes, unattended for potentially months at a time.

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Travel on, friend!

You’re never too old to strike it rich old-timey style

These are just some of the bucket list travel ideas available to you! The more creative you are and the more you’re willing to seek out unconventional opportunities, the more success you’ll find. One thing you must always keep in mind, though, is your safety. Although examples like Habitat for Humanity and Teach for America provide great support networks, many of the options listed above put the burden on your shoulders.

Still, thousands of willing and able young Americans embark on similar adventures every year. There are boundless US travel ideas to choose from. There’s nothing keeping you from claiming one of your own except a little bit of initiative. Go get it done!

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