USA Travel
A Guide to the Best of America

A Manhattan street, New York

USA Travel Guide | USA Map | USA Pictures | Best Beaches in America | USA Tours

USA, Best Cities:

New York - a vibrant culture with a lot of attitude, top class entertainment, fantastic sights and skyline, great restaurants and one of the best places to shop on the planet.

San Fransisco, California

San Francisco - the hills, the quaint wooden houses, the cocktail of modern city life stirred with bohemian cool, gay abandon and water make this a city as unique and splendid as its bridge.

Washington DC - for the White House and other much-filmed government buildings, plus an extensive range of superb museums.

Miami, Florida

Miami - warm waters, white beaches and a colourful Art Deco backdrop with a lively city culture. It's just a short ride to the Everglades or Florida Keys [islands] for wildlife and watersports while Orlando theme parks are not too far. Sun and heat are common, tho' not guarenteed.

Los Angeles - car oriented and careless but Venice beach is super cool, Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica are super elegant, there are movie associations galore, the weather, shopping and eating are superb; you will certainly see people who look like stars or think they should be stars. Access to great theme parks too.

Best States:

California, for almost everything you could ask from a state; cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara; a beautiful coastline, good beaches, surf, mountains, deserts, theme parks.

Double Arches, Arches NP, Utah

Utah, home of some of the world's most dramatic National Parks including Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Florida Theme Park where nobody chunders. And I'm the man in the moon.

Florida, for fun in the sun in colourful, multicutural Miami; white beaches, islands and brilliant blue seas; the swampy shrinking wilderness of the Everglades; fantastic theme parks in Orlando and rocket science at NASA.

Colorado, for outdoor sights and activities - the most mountainous of the states, with superb ski resorts, great hiking and rafting.

Massachusetts, for history lessons in cultured and classy Boston, quaint and historical surroundings.

Salmon fishing in Alaska

Alaska, for pristine wilderness travel, a massive expanse of stunning, peaky landscapes and glassy fjords with little but wild things for company, especially whales and bears in the summertime. The hiking is immense, but Alaska offers plenty of other activities too, including great driving or ship cruises for those of a less active persuasion. Tours are convenient as it's a massive state and transport or accommodation not necessarily easy to find.

Going with the lava flow, Hawaii, USA

Hawaii, for guaranteed sunshine, warm water, fabulous beaches, big waves and a hint of exotic colour - flash islands in the middle of the Pacific. A wet, volcanic and popular tropical playground.

Best National Parks:

Yellowstone - the first national park in the world and arguably the best and most diverse in the country, Wyoming.

Grand Canyon, Arizona/Utah- an American icon and truly grand, though not very clever, well not compared to more complex neighbours such as Bryce Canyon or Zion.

Zion Canyon

Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef- all spectacular national parks with insanely shaped rocks. Utah rocks!

Everglades, Florida - alligators, flamingos and other wetland life, with air boats to explore it.

Denali, Alaska - mountainous wilderness with bears, moose, wolves and other tough critters.

Yosemite, California

Yosemite, California - one of the nation's most [over] popular parks for hiking and climbing. Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Best Events:

US Masters - the most prestigious golfing event in the world, held in Augusta, Georgia. The USA's biggest claim to fame in the world sporting arena.

US Open - the country's premier tennis event, held at the USTA National Tennis Centre, Flushing, New York. more info.

Iditarod Sled Race - no other dog sled race in the world is harder fought or more revered than the Iditarod race in Alaska.

Kentucky Derby - the USA's horsey equivalent of the English Grand National.

Indianapolis 500 - the American answer to Grand Prix. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Burning Man Festival, Nevada

Burning Man Festival - one week at the end of August, a raving mad, liberal, artistic utopia in the desert.