Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » News

Meet Obama: The President And The Wanderlust

Travelers Today       By    Joem Cua

Updated: Oct 04, 2016 07:43 AM EDT

Text Size: A A A

President Obama is nearing the end of his term and now has a handful of accomplishments, efficient stands on various issues and success stories on his overseas state visits during his eight-year service. But hidden behind the travel logs of his diplomatic visits is his growing list of side trips to famous tourist spots. President Obama, like most people, is fond of traveling. Given the machineries and opportunities he has, it shouldn't come as a surprise.

Aside from being the President with the most social media presence, he's also the most travelled, in terms of visiting famous spots, among his predecessors. From the pyramids of Egypt, Great Wall of China, the Stonehenge in England, a Bob Marley museum in Jamaica, the Colosseum in Rome and even the 2000-year-old ruins in Petra, Jordan just after he attended the Mideast peace negotiations. A testament to the President's overwhelming desire of seeing and experiencing the wonders of the world.

In an interview with The New York Times to Jon Meacham, a president historian, he likened the visits of Obama to Thomas Jefferson's France travels and called it a "Jeffersonian impulse" and added "He's intellectually curious." He's also admirable to the President's difficult task of planning the visits without disrupting the main focus of his overseas affairs. "He's trying to replenish his intellectual capital in a job that really just demands expenditure of that resource" said Jon.

Compared to other leaders that came before him, Obama is the most eager when it comes to tourist destinations. George W. Bush only spent 30 minutes in The Great Wall of China when he visited while Bill Clinton was known to have tours on late night schedules.

These travels however were not free of criticisms. A group called Judicial Watch has raised concerns about the expenses of these tours. However, the precise cost of these would be indeterminable as it lumps with the expenses of official visits. On Obama's side, these visits are not purely for leisure as it also raise global awareness and serve vital diplomatic purposes.

Missing checks on his bucket list though is the visit to Taj Mahal, the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and to zip across the frozen tundra in Antarctica where his official state business got in the way of schedules. Now that he only have a few months as a President and recently just made his last official overseas travel in Southeast Asia, Obama may not fulfill his checklist anymore as a President but as an ordinary citizen, backpacking in the outskirts of Siem Reap, maybe.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
barack obama, United States of America
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics