When your entire passion is revolved around being somewhere unfamiliar and unknown, it’s easy to sort of let the beauty of your own country pass you by.

I’m definitely guilty of this.

Eager to explore new places, I always jump at the chance to go somewhere new – and the US feels anything but new to me.

“I live here. What else is there to know?“, I sometimes think.

Since I’ve been a little biased with what I write about lately (helloooo, Mexico and Ireland!), I decided I’d give out a little home country love. Luckily, I had the chance to visit family on the West Coast last year for a few weeks and was taken everywhere in Washington state from the Hoh Rainforest, Seattle, Lake Washington, Ruby Beach, to Portland, Oregon, AND Victoria, Canada.

I was so spoiled. I know.

My cousin, her boyfriend, and I went on a 4 or 5 hour hike, which in my humble opinion, was far too short We ended up with a gorgeous view of the gorge (pun intended?) that not many people get to see – plus, all that orange stuff? That was smoke from a fire that was raging about 40 miles away.

Working my ass off to see that view gave me a little more appreciation for how beautiful the States are. Here’s to celebrating all the culture, nature, and abundant, new perspectives our home countries have to offer us.

Do you ever pretend like you’re a tourist in your own town? Country? Where is an amazing place you would suggest people to visit when they visit your country? Sound off below!