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They came for the World Cup. They found Buc-ee\u2019s.<\/p>\n
As soccer fans from around the world pour into the U.S., many European visitors are lighting up social media with their discoveries of everyday American experiences locals often take for granted: massive gas stations, endless snack aisles, supersized outdoor stores, free refills, ice in drinks and ranch dressing on just about everything.<\/p>\n
Top Picks <\/p>\n
German soccer fan Freddy, who posts on X, has gone viral for his reactions to Buc-ee\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cDUDE LMAO THIS IS A GAS STATION,\u201d Freddy wrote (1) at 1:55 a.m., marveling at the size of the store.<\/p>\n
The post has garnered 25.7 million views and 307,000 likes as of June 23. Even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy weighed in on X (2), saying Freddy \u201cis experiencing the BEAUTY of America from the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
And it is not just Buc-ee\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Another shock was Bass Pro Shops, where tourists reacted to a retail experience that felt less like shopping and more like stepping into an indoor theme park built around fishing rods, hunting gear, boats and taxidermy.<\/p>\n
British traveler James was in awe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis place is absolutely insane. It\u2019s massive, Bass Pro Shop. The British mind cannot comprehend this shop,\u201d he said on Instagram (3). \u201cThere\u2019s a water fountain in the middle of it as well \u2026 we don\u2019t have anything like this back home.\u201d<\/p>\n
James\u2019 video has received 1.1 million views and 76,000 likes.<\/p>\n
Then came ranch dressing.<\/p>\n
When Swedish tourist Elsa tried ranch for the first time, she was stunned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did no one tell me ranch sauce is like crack? EUROPE WE NEED RANCH ASAP,\u201d she wrote on X (4). The post racked up more than 10 million views.<\/p>\n
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which oversees security for all modes of transportation in the U.S., including airport security, got in on the joke, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re visiting for a very large sporting event & you happen to discover RANCH while you\u2019re here \u2026 pls pack it in your CHECKED BAG on the way home,\u201d the TSA posted on its official Instagram account (5), adding the quip, \u201cSome heroes wear capes. Others bring ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n
These reactions are funny. But they also reveal something deeper about America\u2019s enduring allure to visitors.<\/p>\n
America still sells <\/p>\n
It is easy for Americans to become cynical about their own country. Prices are high. Politics are messy. Many households are still feeling squeezed.<\/p>\n
But sometimes it takes an outsider to notice what locals no longer see.<\/p>\n
To European soccer fans visiting for the World Cup, America is not just a list of economic complaints. It is Buc-ee\u2019s brisket at midnight. It is a Bass Pro Shops big enough to get lost in. It is bottomless drinks, giant parking lots, shelves full of choices and ranch dressing that somehow goes with everything.<\/p>\n
As Elsa put it in another viral post (6), \u201cI kinda understand why a lot of Americans never leave the country, like why would you? It has everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, the World Cup is giving foreign visitors a front-row seat to American abundance.<\/p>\n
And investors may want to pay attention.<\/p>\n
After all, many of the world\u2019s most valuable companies are American for a reason. They don\u2019t just sell products. They sell habits, infrastructure, entertainment, convenience and everyday life at massive scale.<\/p>\n
As investing legend Warren Buffett wrote in 2017 (7), \u201cAmerican business \u2014 and consequently a basket of stocks \u2014 is virtually certain to be worth far more in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
And crucially, investors don\u2019t need to be expert stock pickers to participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,\u201d Buffett has famously stated (8). The reasoning behind it is simple: This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America\u2019s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.<\/p>\n
Read More: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can become a landlord for $100 \u2014 without the headache of actually being one<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Start planting the investment seeds <\/p>\n The beauty of this approach is its accessibility \u2014 anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. But not everybody knows where to start.<\/p>\n Rather than trying to do it all at once, consider starting small. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns<\/a>, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how it works: All you have to do is link your cards, and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference \u2014 your spare change \u2014 into a diversified portfolio managed by experts at leading investment firms like Vanguard and BlackRock.<\/p>\n With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 \u2014 and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus<\/a> to help you begin your investment journey.<\/p>\n Get some help <\/p>\n As for investors interested in individual stocks, research tools like Moby<\/a> can also come in handy. Their team of former hedge fund analysts does the heavy lifting \u2014 breaking down the market, flagging quality stocks and making the research easy to digest.<\/p>\n In fact, across nearly 400 stock picks over the past four years, Moby\u2019s recommendations<\/a> have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. Their research keeps you up-to-the-minute on market shifts and takes the guesswork out of choosing investments.<\/p>\n Plus, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a smarter investor in just five minutes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Owning a piece of everyday America <\/p>\n Stocks are not the only way to bet on America\u2019s abundance.<\/p>\n Real estate is another major part of the U.S. story.<\/p>\n Property can provide rental income, potential appreciation and exposure to one of the most basic needs in the economy: shelter. And in a country with a growing population, persistent housing demand and limited supply in many markets, real estate can remain attractive even when the broader economy feels uncertain.<\/p>\n In fact, according to Realtor.com (9), the housing supply gap in America has now exceeded 4 million homes (10).<\/p>\n Another advantage of real estate is that rental properties can also serve as a hedge against inflation. Over time, property values and rents often rise alongside the cost of living, helping owners preserve purchasing power.<\/p>\n The challenge, of course, is that buying a rental property directly can be expensive and time consuming. Investors need a down payment, financing and the patience to handle maintenance, repairs and tenants.<\/p>\n The fractional real estate option <\/p>\n The good news? These days, you don\u2019t need to buy a property outright \u2014 or deal with leaky faucets \u2014 to invest in real estate. Mogul<\/a> is a real estate investment platform that offers an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.<\/p>\n As a real estate investment option offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties<\/a>, it gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits \u2014 without the need for a hefty down payment or late-night tenant calls.<\/p>\n Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide<\/a> for you. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.<\/p>\n Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offerings often sell out in under three hours<\/a>, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.<\/p>\n Sign up for an account and browse available properties here<\/a> to start investing today.<\/p>\n The multifamily real estate option <\/p>\n Another option is to leverage multifamily real estate investing. In a report prepared by JPMorgan Chase, Al Brooks \u2014 the firm\u2019s vice chair of Commercial Banking \u2014 said, \u201cI think multifamily housing is absolutely where you want to be as an investor (11).\u201d<\/p>\n If multifamily real estate seems attractive to you, accredited investors can now tap into this opportunity through platforms such as Lightstone DIRECT<\/a>, which gives accredited investors access to single-asset multifamily and industrial deals.<\/p>\n Lightstone DIRECT\u2019s direct-to-investor model<\/a> ensures a high degree of alignment between individual investors and a vertically-integrated, institutional owner-operator \u2014 a sophisticated and streamlined option for individual investors looking to diversify into private-market real estate.<\/p>\n With Lightstone DIRECT, accredited individuals can access the same multifamily and industrial assets<\/a> Lightstone pursues with its own capital, with minimum investments starting at $100,000.<\/p>\n You May Also Like <\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Article Sources <\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n X (1<\/a>), (2<\/a>), (4<\/a>), (6<\/a>); Instagram (3<\/a>), (5<\/a>); Berkshire Hathaway (7<\/a>); CNBC (8<\/a>); Realtor.com (9<\/a>), (10<\/a>); JPMorgan Chase (11<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n