United States Of America

Overview

The United States of America spans a continent and numerous islands: its diverse geography comprises vast uninhabited areas of natural beauty punctuated by cities ringed by sprawling suburbs. Its wide array of tourist destinations includes the skyscrapers of Manhattan and Chicago , the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Alaska , the canyonlands of the Southwest , the towering volcanoes and rugged coastlines of the Pacific Northwest , and the warm, sunny beaches of Florida , Hawaii , and Southern California .

Regarded as the world's most powerful and influential country, the U.S. plays a dominant role in the world's cultural landscape. Its landmarks and landscapes feature in countless books, movies and television programs viewed around the world. With a history of mass immigration dating from the 17th century, the U.S. is famous for being a "melting pot" of cultures from around the world.

The contiguous United States , also called the "Lower 48", refers to the territory excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Much of the population lives on the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf of Mexico coasts or along the Great Lakes. Its only land borders, both quite long, are shared with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The continental United States are the 48 contiguous states, D.C. and Alaska, but exclude Hawaii.

Places to explore

The U.S. also administers a collection of non-state territories around the world, principally in the Caribbean ( Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands ) and Oceania ( Guam , American Samoa , the Northern Mariana Islands , and various uninhabited islands and island groups). They are covered in separate articles.

Sights and landscapes

The United States is extraordinarily diverse in its array of attractions. You will never run out of things to see; even if you think you've exhausted what one place has to offer, the next destination is only a road trip away.

The Great American Road Trip (see above ) is the most traditional way to see a variety of sights; just hop in the car and cruise down the Interstates, stopping at the convenient roadside hotels and restaurants as necessary, and stopping at every interesting tourist trap along the way, until you reach your destination.

Indescribably beautiful scenery, history that reads like a screenplay, entertainment options that can last you for days, and some of the world's greatest architecture – no matter what your pleasure, you can find it almost anywhere you look in the United States.

From the spectacular glaciers of Alaska to the wooded, weathered peaks of Appalachia; from the otherworldly desertscapes of the Southwest to the vast waters of the Great Lakes ; few other countries have as wide a variety of natural scenery as the United States does.

Experiences

America boasts some of the most celebrated arts and music festivals globally, with its music and art having wide reaching international acclaim. Mid-size to large cities often draw big ticket concerts , especially in large outdoor amphitheaters. Small towns sometimes host concerts in parks with local or older bands. Other options include music festivals such as San Diego 's Street Scene or South by Southwest in Austin .

Classical music concerts are held year round and performed by semi-professional and professional symphonies. Many cities and regions have unique sounds. Country music is popular throughout the U.S. but is particularly concentrated in the South and rural West. Nashville is known as "Music City" because of the large number of country artists who live in the city. It's home to the Grand Ole Opry , the most famous country music venue in the nation, and numerous other live music venues. African-Americans in the South gave rise to jazz and the blues , with numerous music scenes and venues in cities nationwide. Many of the most popular mainstream bands are based in Los Angeles due to the large entertainment presence and concentration of record companies.

Culture and food

American cuisine is far more than the McDonald's-and-Coca-Cola monolith that international stereotypes make it out to be. It's as diverse as the American people themselves, sporting regional variations between different parts of the country and incorporating localized versions of ethnic dishes from around the world. Each region's cuisine developed based on their immigrant heritage and availability of ingredients at hand.

The variety of restaurants throughout the U.S. is remarkable. In a major city such as New York, it may be possible to find a restaurant from nearly every country in the world. In addition to independent restaurants, the U.S. possesses a singularly baffling array of fast food and casual chain restaurants; the sheer variety domestically is immense.

Planning your route

The size of the U.S. and the distance separating major cities make air the dominant mode of long-distance travel for short-term travellers. If you have time, or are travelling a short distance, travel by car, bus, or rail can be far more interesting. Long-distance car travel, in particular, is a quintessentially American way to see the country. That said, do not underestimate the size of the country and the time it takes to travel between cities. For comparison, the distance between New York City and San Francisco is greater than that between Lisbon and Moscow.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.