One of the endlessly interesting things about travelling in the USA is that it’s definitively domestic holidaying – you can reach 47 of the 49 states you don’t live in by car, unless you’re in one of those other two – but it can feel like going to another world, let alone a different state. If you’re based in New York, a road trip out to Arizona is entirely possible, but it offers an experience different enough that you could easily imagine you’d flown halfway across the world. This difference means that wherever you go, there will be experiences that are unique and special to that part of the world, and for a sports fan that’s intriguing – because you can enjoy a different sports experience wherever you go.
Surfing – Most of California state
There is plenty of coastline around America, but perhaps no state – even Florida – quite manages to harness the joys of a coastal location quite like California. The Beach Boys’ surfer anthem Surfin’ USA is theoretically about what it would be like if all of America had some coastline, but in reality, it’s a love letter to the Golden State’s wealth of great surfing beaches. The song mentions popular point breaks such as Swami’s (off the coast of Encinitas, Trestles at San Onofre, and the whole of La Jolla in San Diego. The song is nearly sixty years old, but those locations are still beloved of surfers, and well worth the trip if you fancy hanging ten for a while.
Golf – North Carolina
Traveling is tricky in the age of Covid, and when you get where you’re going, the choice of activities might be limited, but not if you enjoy getting eighteen holes of serene enjoyment. Courses like Laurel Ridge, among the best of North Carolina golf resorts, allow you to have hours of socially-distanced fun. Golf courses in this region are nestled among the Smoky Mountains, meaning that your biggest threat on the course is being put off your tee shot by the remarkable surroundings – the honest truth is that sporting breaks just don’t get more idyllic than this.
Skiing – Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is not the only ski resort in the United States, but it is the best-known, and there is something simply undeniable about its charms. While you’re still very much on US soil, the feel of the locale means you could convince yourself you were in the Alps for a while, with even European visitors to the resort comparing it to France’s exclusive St. Moritz. Like any top Euro resort, Aspen takes the concept of après-ski very seriously, so a jaunt to the resort’s popular Snowmass area offers great bars and dining options before a return to your chalet.
College Football: Oregon
For the last destination, it’s less a case of participation and more one of viewership, but you’ll come away from a game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, feeling like you’ve been in a game. The city is famous for its connections to sporting greatness, and college ball’s Oregon Ducks play in front of packed houses for every home game in a stadium that looks – frankly – otherworldly. The Ducks are a highly competitive side as well, and the team is something of a quarterback factory, having produced NFL standouts past and present in Dan Fouts and Justin Herbert. Chances are that if you make the trip, you’ll see a star of the future slinging the ball around too.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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