Fifty states — or, if you want to get technical: 46 states and four commonwealths (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia). More than 300 million people. Stretching from sea to shining sea; from California to the New York Island; from redwood forests to Gulf Stream waters. Filled with amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty. Land of the free and home of the brave.
Home to 58 national parks, 100 historic sites, 74 national monuments, 28 national memorials, as well as two dozen battlefields and military parks and numerous national seashores, parkways, recreation areas and national preserves.
Lakes, rivers, deserts, rain forests, glaciers, volcanoes, canyons, beaches, badlands. Metropolises, cities, towns, villages, countrysides. Skyscrapers, churches, museums, bridges, dams, ruins. Festivals, celebrations, art, culture, diversity.
Anyway you look at it, America is a pretty remarkable place.
So it is not surprising that a lot of people want to get out and see it.
Nor is it surprising that travel and tourism is one of the country's largest industries.
Consider, for example, some figures from the annual report of the Travel Industry Association, a nonprofit trade group made up of all those involved in the industry, set up for advocacy, education and to promote travel to and within the United States.
According to TIA, in 2007 the travel and tourism industry was responsible for:
• $740 billion in direct travel expenditures, including domestic and international travelers.
• $1.6 trillion in direct, indirect and induced travel expenditures, including international travelers' spending in the U.S.
• $110 billion in tax revenues for local, state and federal governments.
In addition, says the association:
• Each U.S. household would pay $995 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry.
• Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. last year averaged $2 billion a day, $84.5 million an hour, $1.4 million a minute and $23,500 a second.
• The industry is also one of America's largest employers, generating 7.5 million jobs last year.
As the industry likes to say: "Travel & Tourism Works for America."
In order to "promote a wider understanding of travel as a major U.S. industry," TIA annually sponsors National Tourism Week, which runs May 10-18 this year.
In fact, 2008 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the weeklong observance, says Greg Staley, TIA spokesman. A joint resolution was passed by Congress and signed into effect by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.
The theme for this year is "Discover Great American Traditions."
"We think the theme evokes the concept that travel with family and friends creates great memories," says Staley. "That is one of the greatest benefits of travel." But, he added, it also recognizes the ability of communities and attractions all over the country "to establish a unique sense of place."
In honor of National Tourism Week, we've put together some fun lists of some of the tourist-related things America has to offer. This is just a small sample; there's lots more out there. There's enough going on just in Utah to fill a lot of these lists, but since those are often mentioned in other places, we opted for things you might not be as familiar with. (Or maybe you are; just for fun you can see how many you've been to.) Maybe you'd like to add something. Maybe you'd like to make a list of your own. But we hope it gets you thinking about the culture, tradition, interest and fun offered by this country we call home.
E-mail: carma@desnews.com