It’s one country where you see the entire world! With more than 325 million people, America truly is a “melting pot” of cultures from around the world.
Regarded as the most powerful and influential country in the world, it plays a dominant role in the world’s cultural landscape.
United States Travel Guide
The United States borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Currently, the United States has 50 States, and 16 territories (five of which are permanently inhabited):
If you have a US Tourist Visa, you can also visit the US territories.
Note: Visit our USA map and click on a US State (or region) you’re interested in and then follow from there. We have the complete list of all attractions to visit in any particular state or US city.
Things To Do in the USA
The United States of America (or the USA, the US) is the world’s third largest country. It is about half the size of Russia and the same size as China.
Due to its size, you may think America is a high-population country, and you are right. However, the majority of the American population growth is not due to its size but rather immigration.
It is famous for its wide array of popular tourist destinations, ranging from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park to the vast wilderness of Alaska, to the sunny beaches of Florida, Hawaii, and Southern California.
Whether it is to Disney Land or Las Vegas, the U.S. is a must-visit destination.
Also Read: Travel Guide: Tips on How to Have a Great Holiday in America (if you are coming from abroad)
Top US Cities
The following is a list of 12 of the most popular tourist destinations.
Related: List of Top 250 US Cities (more than you can cover in 10 trips)
1. New York City — the country’s biggest city, home of the finance and media industries, world-class cuisine, arts, architecture, and shopping.
2. Washington, D.C. — the national capital, filled with major museums and monuments.
3. Las Vegas – gambling, partying, and sin city (enough said)
4. Los Angeles — home of the Hollywood film industry, musical artists, and surfers, with beautiful mild weather, and great natural beauty from mountains to beaches.
5. Miami — attracts sun-seeking northerners and home to a rich, vibrant, Latin-influenced, Caribbean culture.
6. Orlando — home to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sea World, and close to world-class beaches.
7. San Francisco — the City by the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, vibrant urban neighborhoods, and dramatic fog.
8. Boston — best known for its colonial history, its passion for sports, and Harvard and MIT.
9. New Orleans — the birthplace of Jazz and is known for its quaint French Quarter and Mardi Gras celebration.
10. Chicago — the heart of the Midwest and transportation hub of the nation, with massive skyscrapers and other architectural gems.
11. Philadelphia — see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Constitution Hall (home of the Declaration of Independence), and other historic buildings
12. Seattle — rich museums, monuments, and recreational opportunities, and five distinct climates within 200 miles (320 km).
Tip: Other smaller cities can be found in the US State destination pages. For a detailed list of attractions in a specific US city, please visit the US State page and then go to the City level travel guide.
Plan Your Travel by Regions
The United States is a vast land mass. It will take you months to cover it all. There are 60 National Parks and all of them are breathtaking.
The US also has 23 World Heritage Sites and several monuments, great museums, and plenty of scenic drives.
Moreover, due to the long distances between the coasts and major cities, you will have to fly and the cost can quickly add up. It is best, therefore, to focus on a few regions and plan your trip accordingly.
For example, in your first leg of the trip, you can visit the East Coast and explore Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and maybe even Florida (Disney, Universal, Miami beach, and Florida keys).
On your next trip, you can fly to the West Coast and explore California, Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Seattle, and perhaps even Hawaii or Alaska.
Tip: Click on any hyperlink to visit that region or state travel guide.
New England
New England makes up the northeastern states of:
Home to gabled churches, rustic antiques, and steeped in American history, New England offers beaches, spectacular seafood, rugged mountains, winter snows, and some of the nation’s oldest cities.
Mid Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic makes up the northern states of:
Ranging from New York City in the north to Washington, D.C., the Mid-Atlantic is home to some of the nation’s most densely populated cities, historic sites, rolling mountains, and seaside resorts like the Long Island beaches and the Jersey Shore.
American South
This lush, largely subtropical region includes cool, verdant mountains, agricultural plantations, and vast cypress swamps.
But, more than geography, this is based on cultural similarities. The South is celebrated for its hospitality, cooking, and its blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass and country music traditions.
Culturally speaking, American South is made of states such as:
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Midwest
The Midwest is home to farmland, forests, picturesque towns, industrial cities, and the Great Lakes, the largest system of freshwater lakes in the world, forming the North Coast of the U.S.
Known for their simplicity and hospitality, Midwesterners are a welcoming people.
The Midwest is made of:
Great Plains
The Great Plains States are considered part of the Midwest. However, based on the mostly flat natural setting, they form a unique region.
The Great Plains are made of:
Most of this region is flat with some forests, prairies, and an enormous expanse of steppes (shortgrass prairies), but filled still with pockets of quirky and diverse history.
Rocky Mountain States
The spectacular snow-covered Rockies offer hiking, rafting, excellent skiing, deserts, and some large cities. The Rocky Mountain States are made of:
Southwest
Heavily influenced by Spanish and Mexican culture, as well as Native American remnants, this area is home to some of the nation’s most spectacular natural attractions and some flourishing artistic communities. Although mostly empty, the region’s deserts have some big cities.
Southwest America is made of:
Texas is the second biggest state is like a separate country (as, indeed, it once was), with strong cultural influences from its Spanish and Mexican past.
The terrain ranges from southeastern swampland to the flat land and cotton farms of the South Plains to the sandy beaches of South Texas to the mountains and deserts of far West Texas.
West Coast
The pleasantly mild Pacific Northwest offers outdoor pursuits and cosmopolitan cities. The terrain ranges from spectacular rainforests to scenic mountains and volcanoes to beautiful coastlines to sage-covered steppes and deserts.
American West Coast is along the Pacific Ocean, constituting:
California is heavily influenced by its former Spanish and Mexican rulers, and also by Asian culture and cuisine. It offers world-famous cities, deserts, rain-forests, snowy mountains, and beautiful beaches.
Alaska and Hawaii
Alaska — One fifth as large as the rest of the United States, Alaska reaches well into the Arctic and features mountainous wilderness, including North America’s tallest mountain, Denali, and Native Alaskan culture unseen elsewhere in the United States.
Hawaii — A volcanic archipelago in the tropical Pacific, 2,300 mi (3,700 km) southwest of California (the nearest state), laid-back Hawaii is a vacation paradise.
US Territories
Puerto Rico — An island south of Florida with beautiful beaches, a mix of Spanish culture and food. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world on the island of Culebra and Vieques.
Most Famous US Destinations
Below are the top 10 largest and most famous destinations outside of major US cities.
- Walt Disney World — the most popular vacation resort destination in the world
- Grand Canyon — the world’s longest and most visited canyon
- Great Smoky Mountains — national park in the southern Appalachians
- Niagara Falls — the massive waterfalls straddling the border with Canada
- Yellowstone — the first national park in the U.S., and home of the Old Faithful geyser
- Yosemite — home of El Capitan, Half-dome, and the famous Giant Sequoia trees
- Hawaii — Big Island, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu islands
- Denali National Park — a remote national park featuring North America’s highest peak Mt. Denali and plenty of wildlife.
- Mesa Verde — well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings
- Mount Rushmore — the iconic memorial of four former presidents carved into a cliff face
Read Next: List of Foreign Embassies in United States
Best Time To Visit USA
Weather conditions and climate of the USA vary greatly. South is, of course, warmer than the north. And although the climate of the continental US is generally temperate, Hawaii has a tropical climate and Alaska is arctic.
The US territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, are also tropical climate.
The best time to visit the country usually depends on the particular destinations you want to visit.
For example, the summer is hot in the USA regardless of the region, but the winter temperatures can vary from frosting to mild and even warm. Spring and Autumn are cool and, generally, the most comfortable seasons to visit.
The high tourist season in the USA is the summer months. Other busy times are traditional holidays, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and spring school holidays, known as the Spring Break.
Popular destinations such as New York City are busy all-year-round, even during the winter.
What to Wear
Clothes you need to take on a trip with you also depend on the region you are planning to visit and depending on the season.
You can follow a simple rule: Summer destination – take light clothes, winter – layers are your way to go. Spring and Autumn – go with the medium-warm and don’t forget an umbrella.
Another thing to consider is the activities you’re planning to do. Outdoor-lovers will need clothes and shoes, suitable for hiking, trekking, horseback riding, or whatever else you have on your mind.
For wandering in the cities, casual outfits (jeans and tees) will do. However, for a fancy night out, take something more formal.
Language
The main language is English. However, there is also a significant Spanish-speaking minority, particularly in the southern states.
Currency
The currency in use in the US Dollar. Hotels do not, as a rule, exchange currency and only a few major banks do, so it is advisable to arrive with US Dollars or exchange foreign currency at the airport upon arrival.
All major international credit cards are easily acceptable, and ATMs are available widely.
Local SIM Card & Free WiFi
Before coming to the USA, keep in mind that foreign mobile phones will only work if they are tri-band or quad-band. Or you can rent a mobile phone. Street payphones are still common in the USA, although not widely used nowadays. Most of them operate on coins.
For long-distance calls, cell phones will be wiser to use, than hotel phone or pay phone. On the other hand, from most hotels, you can make local calls for free.
Buying a prepaid SIM card in the USA will be comparably cheaper. Pre-pay cell phones are available for sale in numerous retail facilities, including the drug stores.
Electronic stores, such as Radio Shack and Best Buy also sell these phones. They start from US$20 price and usually come with a package of minutes. The main phone providers are AT&T, T-Mobile, and Virgin Mobile. Coverage is excellent, except for rural areas and national parks.
Travelers will have no problem staying connected to the Internet, while in the USA. Most hotels and other accommodations provide free Wi-Fi for their guests. So do most cafes, restaurants, and bars.
Also, in major urban areas, Wi-Fi hotspots in public places are plentiful nowadays, and their number is permanently rising. There are numerous Internet cafes in cities and towns. Public libraries usually provide computers for guests to use as well.
Culture
The wide variety of different nationalities and origins of the USA resulted in an abundance of customs and traditions. Although the society has grown to be liberal and tolerant nowadays, race relationships still remain difficult in some regions. In large urban areas, people of the same origin try to live within the same community.
Americans are known for their openness and friendliness to visitors. Shaking hands is the common form of greeting. You should not be afraid to offend anybody in any way, as long as you stick to the basic rules of courtesy.
If you’ve been invited to be a guest in someone’s private home, a small gift will be appreciated. A relaxed and casual atmosphere is common, so is the casual clothing. However, high-end restaurants, hotels, and clubs may require more formal clothes. And, of course, for a business meeting, you should wear something smart.
Smoking is becoming more and more unpopular in the USA, so you need to ask permission, before lighting a cigarette. Smoking is forbidden or limited in most public places. However, the strictness of the prohibition depends on the state.
Regarding religious attitude, there are two major regions in the United States. The Bible Belt is an area in the southeast of the country where conservative evangelical Protestant communities play a significant social and political role.
Also, the attendance at Christian churches is relatively higher in this region compared to the national average. Secondly, in the far Northwestern United States lies the Unchurched Belt. This region, on the other hand, is characterized by a low rate of religious activity.
Local Cuisine
Eating out is increasingly popular in the USA, as well as the desire to find and try new cuisines. In large cities, restaurants are available in all shapes and sizes. Options are plentiful for both casual and fancy dining out.
Many people tend to think that the USA doesn’t have their own national cuisine. However, due to the variety of nationalities and ethnic groups, the country offers an amazing mixture of various cultural influences in culinary.
Some cities even have entire districts, dedicated to a particular cuisine. These include Vietnamese in New Orleans, Somali and Ethiopian in Minneapolis, Chinese and Italian in New York City, etc.
On the other hand, there are dishes, which can be found literally throughout the country, from coast to coast. And, although, more and more Americans nowadays tend to eat healthy, fast food is still a big player on the market.
The biggest popularities include hamburgers, fried chicken, barbecue meat, Reuben sandwich, cheesecake, key lime pie, cobbler, and, of course, apple pie.
Drinks
As for drinks, the most popular are all kinds of wines, microbrewery beers and regional cocktails, such as Manhattan in New York City. Drinking laws are set by states individually. Minimal drinking age varies from 18 to 21. So is the closing time of bars and other drinking facilities. Generally, it comes between midnight and 3 am. The verification of age is required when buying alcohol. For foreigners, this would be showing a passport. The most popular non-alcohol drinks are Coca-Cola and coffee.
Tipping is very common and expected, as waiters mainly depend on their tips as the main income from work. The usual tip would be 10% – 20%, although you can leave less if you are not satisfied with the service. Sometimes, for larger parties, service charges are included, so ask a waiter, if it’s not stated on the menu. Keep in mind, in top-end facilities, cover charge is an admission fee and not a tip for service.
Getting Around
By Plane
Since the country is so huge, if you are traveling coast to coast or even half-way across the country, it is wiser to fly instead of taking the train or renting a car. There are various airlines, which operate flights within the USA.
By Road
Driving is an excellent way to see the USA, but distances can be huge. There are 4,716 km between San Francisco and New York City. However, it’s a great opportunity to sense the vastness and the diversity of landscapes of the country.
Some roads are truly iconic, such as the famous Route 66, for example. Traveling by road (road trips as they are called) is the favorite method of getting around for most Americans.
By Bus
Buses are not really the fast way to get around the USA. However, there are many options available for those, who want to enjoy the beautiful landscapes outside of the window, but can’t drive.
The major bus operators are Greyhound and Trailways. There are also bus low coat lines, such as BoltBus and Megabus, which offer very attractive prices for budget travelers.
By Train
Rail is not considered the best way to travel in the USA either. Trains are mostly slow, expensive and infrequent. On the other hand, the high-speed train operated by Acela Express is a great way to get from Washington DC to New York City in just 30 minutes and from New York to Boston in three hours. Short-distance rail service also exists in various urban areas, connecting main cities to suburbs.
By Boat
Water travel is not really popular in the USA. Nevertheless, there are extensive waterways along the coastlines, as well as large rivers and lakes.
The Ohio River is considered to carry more water traffic than any other waterway in the world. Also, tour ships and boats operate in the Great Lakes from ports in Detroit, Buffalo, Rochester, Toronto, Duluth, Sault Sainte Marie, Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee.
Road Conditions
Roads are generally of good quality. In cities and towns, they are maintained by the local authorities, while the interstate roads are managed by state and federal authorities.
Renting vs. Bus, Train, Taxi
Major international car hire companies have offices at all gateway airports and in most cities. The minimum age to hire a car is 25, but some companies allow younger drivers for an additional fee.
Hiring self-drive campers or motorhomes, called ‘recreational vehicles’ or RVs in the USA, is easy, and there are at least four different sizes of RV, from compact to large. However, booking as early as possible is required.
Right or Left Driving
Cars drive on the right side of the road.
Electricity & Plug Type
The USA use types A and B sockets. You may need to bring a travel adapter to fit the proper socket type. Check out the above-linked page to see the photos and other useful information. The standard voltage is 120V.
How Safe is the United States
General Safety
The United States will not be a dangerous destination for you if you take the necessary precautions. Don’t show your valuables in public and don’t leave them in a car unattended, especially in bad neighborhoods. Don’t walk alone at night and you’ll be fine.
Tourists, however, have been involved in crimes, related to the illegal drugs trade, in the regions, which border Mexico, so be aware. Also, terrorist attacks are a slight possibility, although quite rare. Federal agencies, as well as city and state authorities, provide strong anti-terrorism measures.
Health Safety
Medical care in the USA is of high quality. However, it is rather expensive, and only emergency cases are treated without the prior payment or the evidence of insurance. So, travel insurance is highly advised for trips to the USA.
Many medications, which are easily available in other countries, require a prescription in the USA. So, it is highly recommended to bring the supply of necessary medicine with you. Only vaccination against tetanus is required, when visiting the USA.
There have been occasional outbreaks of West Nile Virus, H1N1, plague and rabies in the recent years. However, they were not common, and no special precautions are required. Just general hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing, are necessary.
Food & Water Safety
Food in the USA is safe to eat, including the street food. Tap water is also considered safe to drink and prepare food. It is even often offered in restaurants. However, bottled water is widely available throughout the country in restaurants and shops, if you are afraid of drinking tap water.
March 8, 2016 12:00 am 11 Comments
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