Why You Should Go See America

America is easy to take for granted.

It’s familiar. It’s home. And because of that, it’s often the last place we think to explore. We dream about international trips, far-off destinations, and exotic foods we can’t pronounce — while overlooking the borderline-ridiculous amount of variety sitting right here in our own backyard.

But here’s the thing: America has it all.

For me, that realization came early. Growing up, I spent a lot of time crisscrossing the country — first with my family, and later with friends who were either very adventurous or very bad at saying no. Summers meant piling into an RV and heading off to “see it all.” By the time I was a teenager, I’d already visited all 50 states; since then, I’ve checked off all the national parks in the continental U.S., and even all the presidents’ houses (which I’m sure is high on your bucket list as well).

What started as a fun way to spend summers turned into something more over time. These road trips became a way to step outside my routine and see the country (and the people in it) with fresh eyes. There’s just something about standing in a place that makes you feel small — whether from the scale of the landscape, or the weight of the history — that shifts your perspective. It reminds you the world is bigger than your day-to-day concerns, and that there’s far more intention and beauty woven into everything than we usually notice.

Even now, America keeps surprising me. You can explore every geography imaginable here, eat “the world’s best pie” at more alien-themed diners than seems statistically possible, and see some of the most oddly fascinating sights on earth. … And yet, so many of these places go unseen by so many.

St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” After years of seeing the country for myself, I wrote Go See America as a simple encouragement: Get out there, let yourself be wowed, and realize there’s something worth seeing just about everywhere. You just have to go looking.

For me, traveling has never been about checking places off a list. It’s about being surprised by what’s been there the whole time — just like our God continues to surprise and astound us when we step out and spend time with him. It’s about being reminded of the beauty, creativity and vastness of his creation — and the incredible diversity of people who call this country home. Biola helped me shape that perspective. It instilled in me a sense of curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for both creation and community — values I’ve carried into my work as a filmmaker, and into the way I travel now.

So go. With your family, with friends or by yourself. Go somewhere new, somewhere nearby or somewhere you’ve overlooked. Not just because this country is wild and endlessly interesting, but because it does something to you. It broadens your perspective. It builds empathy. It deepens your appreciation for God’s creation.

And somewhere along the way — between the stunning overlooks, the quiet backroads, and the baffling roadside attractions — you’ll start to find it hard to ignore the sense that all of this isn’t random. That all of this beauty is here on purpose. That there’s a grand story unfolding, and we get to be a part of it.

It really is a beautiful place we get to call home.

Photos by Matt Tory