Mini Guide to USA
Opinions may vary about the Unites States of America, but one thing is certain: there’s a lot to do and see there! Whether your holiday goal is to visit a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, go backpacking in the unspoiled wilderness of a national park, visit historical sites or battlefields, enjoy an outing at an amusement park, swim in the ocean at one of the USA’s coastal regions, gamble, play golf, shop and dine at exclusive addresses or more bargain-conscious locations, or attend major sporting events or concerts, you can find it in America. There’s certainly no way to see and do it all in one trip to the US, though, so you’ll either need to pick a region and spend your holiday there, or come back numerous times. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to leave with memories for a lifetime.
Many visitors’ first choice of destination in the USA is, of course, New York City, one of the most populous and famous cities in the world. Landmarks, historical sites, and fun venues to visit abound—from the Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty to Times Square to Central Park to Broadway to Greenwich Village to shopping on 5th Avenue to listening to world-renowned music at the New York Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Center, or any number of the hundreds of music clubs and establishments in the city. Other highlights of a visit to NYC include riding in a horse-and-buggy in Central Park, taking the short ferry to the Statue of Liberty, taking a water taxi, and attending a sports event or concert at Madison Square Garden. New York City is definitely the “city that never sleeps.”
If you take a trip to the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., you can visit the Smithsonian Institute and its associated museums, as well as take a stroll around Capitol Hill, along the illustrious boulevards, and throughout the beautiful parks and green spaces. No trip to Washington, D.C. would be complete, of course, without seeing the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, the White House, and many other historical and artistic sites. In the fall, you can see the Washington Redskins pro football team, though tickets are notoriously hard to come by — especially when the team is having a good season!
Like NYC and Washington, D.C., Boston is also in the eastern part of the United States. It is perhaps the most European of America’s cities and has a vibrant nightlife, a proud academic culture, many historical landmarks, and a beautiful downtown riverfront. Many pro sports teams and events can also be found in the Boston area, including the Boston Celtics basketball team and the Boston Marathon road race. In the suburb of Cambridge, one can stroll along the ivy-covered suburbs surrounding Harvard and MIT, two of the country’s finest universities.
Head south from Boston until you hit the water and you’ll end up in Miami, Florida, a vibrant city with a Cuban and Latino flavour and lots of sunshine, beachfronts, and nightlife. Miami Beach, South Beach, Little Havana, and Coral Gables are all prime locations to visit in the Miami area to soak up the local flavour, sample the seafood and Cuban cuisine, try a little golf, admire the art deco architecture, and perhaps swim with the dolphins.
On the west coast of the country is San Francisco — the “City by the Bay.” Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, the Castro District, and Golden Gate Park are all terrific places in San Fran to visit, and with the mountains and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, it’s always a beautiful sight to behold. The city is noted for the “hippy” movement of the 1960s, for its sense of individuality and personal freedom, for its variety, and for its noisy and entertaining sea lions along the waterfronts. It’s a city that’s alive and bristling with culture, history, and beauty.
In southern California is Los Angeles — home of Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Santa Monica, the LA Lakers pro basketball team, expensive shopping, gourmet dining, Disneyland, Universal Studios, sunshine, beaches, and bikinis. It’s also known for traffic, so getting around this sprawling metropolis can be a chore if you don’t have a car or the fare for mass transit. But if you visit Los Angeles, two things are almost guaranteed: you’ll have fun, and you probably won’t need an umbrella!