Domestic travel in the U.S., planned like it's somewhere new

It's easy to under-plan a trip inside your own country. You speak the language and the currency is the same, so the logistics feel automatic. Then you find out the beach town's parking fills by 9 a.m., the national park wants a timed entry reservation, or the state you're visiting treats a traffic offense very differently from home.

Our domestic travel coverage looks at U.S. trips with the same honest eye we'd use abroad: seasonal crowds and prices, where to stay, how to get around, and the state and local rules that follow visitors home. South Carolina and the Grand Strand are a regular focus.

We'll soon publish a guide to getting started with domestic trips and the advice we'd give beginners. The closest story we've published so far is what happens after a DUI arrest on a South Carolina vacation, filed under Travel Planning.