How much do people in your country travel domestically? How much of the country have they seen? (fit in, schools)

[The Postman]

Australia is a large country, so most Australians have only seen a tiny fraction of the country. They will typically take road trips to nearby places, like maybe a 3-4 hour or 7-8 hour drive (or maybe 10 hours), and less commonly huge road trips. Cross country or long road trips are done by a few, but for the journey (air travel is far more common) - I've done it, but I'm probably like less than 5%. It takes 5 days to drive across the country leisurely and there's a lot of empty space, but it's interesting.

It seems most have been to nearby places like Margaret River or Albany, and a few interstate destinations like Sydney, Melbourne, maybe the Gold Coast. It seems a minority have been to our capital, Canberra.

I imagine it'd be a lot different in smaller nations.

[Acajack]

The main travel patterns in Canada are eastern and western. People from western Canada tend to travel in the west and to neighbouring states, and people in the eastern part of the country tend to do the same.

[The Postman]

Originally Posted by Acajack

The main travel patterns in Canada are eastern and western. People from western Canada tend to travel in the west and to neighbouring states, and people in the eastern part of the country tend to do the same.

It seems most Perthites have at least been to Sydney and/or Melbourne. Would you say the same about most Vancouverites?

[BigCityDreamer]

In the United States, it seems to me that people travel a lot within their nearby region - say, within 200-300 miles of where they live. However, outside of this radius, traveling falls off significantly except for by plane.

It is probably more likely that someone has visited a foreign country on another continent than they have been to most places in the United States a thousand miles from where they live.

[The Postman]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

In the United States, it seems to me that people travel a lot within their nearby region - say, within 200-300 miles of where they live. However, outside of this radius, traveling falls off significantly except for by plane.

It is probably more likely that someone has visited a foreign country on another continent than they have been to most places in the United States a thousand miles from where they live.

I'm curious as to what percentage of Americans have been to say, New York, DC, The Grand Canyon, LA, Vegas? Could you give a rough guess?

For instance I would say that only a few percent of Australians have been to Uluru (Ayers Rock), maybe less than 10-15% the Great Barrier Reef, maybe about 40-50% have been to Sydney?

[Natnasci]

Originally Posted by The Postman

It seems most Perthites have at least been to Sydney and/or Melbourne. Would you say the same about most Vancouverites?

Most people I know have been to Toronto several times. Montreal as well but perhaps a little less so.
I find a lot of people in Toronto and Montreal haven't been to Vancouver though.
This of course is perception. I have no idea if there are any real stats to back this up.

As Acajack mentioned a lot of Canadians and Americans do the north/south trips. In winter, it's a no brainer to hop a plane and be in warmer weather in 2 1/2 hours. Also driving holidays are popular and L.A., S.F. are within easy reach.

[The Postman]

Originally Posted by Natnasci

Most people I know have been to Toronto several times. Montreal as well but perhaps a little less so.
I find a lot of people in Toronto and Montreal haven't been to Vancouver though.
This of course is perception. I have no idea if there are any real stats to back this up.

I've found this the case too. In the East few people have been out west: I guess there's less to draw you there, just Perth and a lot of wide open space/wilderness, which I guess is for a certain type of traveller.

[Natnasci]

Originally Posted by The Postman

I've found this the case too. In the East few people have been out west: I guess there's less to draw you there, just Perth and a lot of wide open space/wilderness, which I guess is for a certain type of traveller.

Well Vancouver is not as isolated as Perth, with Seattle a two hour drive away and many holiday spots such as Victoria on Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Okanagan wine country. I will agree it's not the same as us going back east since you could fit in Toronto, NYC etc on one trip.

Most overseas travellers will do Banff/Calgary, Vancouver/Seattle or Victoria in one trip.

[The Postman]

Originally Posted by Natnasci

Well Vancouver is not as isolated as Perth, with Seattle a two hour drive away and many holiday spots such as Victoria on Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Okanagan wine country. I will agree it's not the same as us going back east since you could fit in Toronto, NYC etc on one trip.

Most overseas travellers will do Banff/Calgary, Vancouver/Seattle or Victoria in one trip.

Yep...Vancouver has Calgary as well, and Seattle. Perth has, well, nothing...imagine if San Diego was the ONLY city (of any size) west of the Mississippi. That's EXACTLY what Perth is. Australia is about the size of the lower 48 states.

I hope to one day do a VIA rail journey across Canada or, at least the mountain part. It seems like the most stunning way to see them cross-country. Would love to go skiing in Banff/Whistler/Lake Louise.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by The Postman

I'm curious as to what percentage of Americans have been to say, New York, DC, The Grand Canyon, LA, Vegas? Could you give a rough guess?

For instance I would say that only a few percent of Australians have been to Uluru (Ayers Rock), maybe less than 10-15% the Great Barrier Reef, maybe about 40-50% have been to Sydney?

Within my social circle mostly from Minnesota and Wisconsin...
NY - 25 percent
DC - 90 percent
a lot of schools (junior and or middle) have field trips to DC.
Grand Canyon and Vegas - 40 percent
LA - 10 percent
to escape the cold most go to the east coast.
Florida, and Myrtle Beach, SC are very popular.