I am currently on a road trip across basically the whole west side of the United States. My mom somehow managed to get my brother and my sister to come along on this family vacation. There may have been some white lies included in her persuasion, including little white lies about an eleven-hour car ride.

I know, it's the most American thing that a family could do! We're even accompanied by my moms boyfriend and his kids. What's more classic than two divorcees and their kids trying to make it to all the monuments?

As you can imagine, there has been lots of car arguments and complaining on various hikes around national sites. But I know that once we are all older, we will have a huge appreciation for this all-American experience.

I've been carrying my camera around for candid footage of all of the trials and tribulations, just because I know that looking back on it, we will all be so amazed and reminiscent of the adventures we had.

There is something very interesting about long forced road trips such as this that tests a family bonds limits, but also brings them together. That's why trips such as this have been recorded in cinema throughout history.

However long each section of our trip takes, I never cease to be amazed by the things that exist in our own country. It's easy for me to get in a state of mind in which I am only focused on what's happening in the place that I live. And it sounds strange, but I easily forget that there are giant mountains, parks, and world wonders that just... exist, on the other side of our nation.

It made me realize that I didn't have to travel all around the world to see amazing things. And I'm glad that I was able to witness this part of America at least once in my life. Thanks mom! And sorry for all the yelling in the car and talking your ear off for hours and hours of country road.