Today, Saturday, July 4, 2026 is the celebration of 250 years of the official founding of the United States of America back in 1776 — and although I have traveled to every continent in the world, I still find this country to be a phenomenal one.
Celebrating 250 Years of the United States of America
My parents — may they both rest in peace — only left the United States once during their lifetimes; and that was on their honeymoon before I was born. My father used to say to me that with everything that the United States has to offer, why leave the country?
I obviously disagreed with him on one level in the form of visiting the many countries to which I have already traveled — but he was indeed correct: in what other country can you easily travel literally thousands of miles to visit the frozen Arctic tundra, embrace the warmth of subtropical beaches and see undersea coral reefs, admire the peaks of some of the highest mountains in the world covered in snow, venture into the desert, take in the nightlife of dozens of cities, partake in many different sports, listen to endless different genres of music, and enjoy the varied cuisines of different regions — all without a passport if you are a citizen of the United States?
During my travels, I see people around the world increasingly embracing what the United States has to offer: basketball, New York style pizza and strip steak, the celebrations of holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, movie and television productions from Hollywood, shirts and baseball caps adorned with the logos of popular sports teams, inventions and innovations, southwestern United States fare, and even certain models of cars that are considered exotic prized possessions are only a few of countless examples.
With its vast natural resources, numerous geographic topographies, and differing contrasting climates, the United States is arguably the closest country to a perfect autarky, which lends itself to be independent and quite different than most other countries in the world. As my father alluded, one can spend his or her entire life in the United States and not even come close to experiencing everything that this amazing country has to offer.
Most of all, my father enjoyed the ubiquitous quintessential American road trip — almost to the point of where it is considered obligatory to discover the United States. My first stays at Holiday Inn hotel properties were with him when they were still considered classic roadside places to stop and rest overnight. I have already embarked on multiple somewhat impromptu road trips in the United States this year alone — just pack up minimally and go — and plan to share those experiences in multiple articles here at The Gate With Brian Cohen in the future.
Despite having visited every state in the United States multiple times, I always find something new to experience.
Finally, today is one of those rare times when the lyrics of this song can be most accurate if you decide to take a walk in the park today.
Final Boarding Call
Whenever I return to the United States from trips I have taken to other countries, I am reminded of the unique freedoms and plentiful opportunities which we tend to take for granted that many people around the world are unable to fully enjoy.
The United States is far from perfect — especially in recent years. I have criticized multiple aspects pertaining to the the land of the free and the home of the brave in numerous articles over the years here at The Gate With Brian Cohen. Plenty of things could be significantly better to improve this country overall…
…but that is not the point of this article.
I am proud to be an American citizen who born and raised in the United States of America, and have lived in this country that I have always called home to this day. Happy Independence Day; and enjoy everything that this vast country has to offer!
All photographs ©2013, ©2025, and ©2026 by Brian Cohen.
