United States Guide
The United States is a vast country to explore, with 50 states to choose from, situated between two oceans and spreading over a huge and varied terrain. For five hundred years, since the New World discoveries of Christopher Columbus, people all over the globe have come here in search of the American Dream. Between them, they have created the most influential and richest country in the world, as well as a unique environment of traditions and cultures. Vast plains, snowy mountain ranges, deserts, unusual rock formations, forested rolling hills, stunning coastlines, soaring skyscrapers, remarkable national parks and a booming cultural scene; America has it all, and some.
Thanks to the movie industry and television we all have different impressions
of the United States of America. Yet none of this can prepare you for the unforgettable
skyline...
of Manhattan, the first trip in a yellow cab, the ubiquitous hamburger
stalls, the vast expanse of the prairies, the soft sweet music of jazz from New
Orleans or the extravagant excess of Las Vegas lights.
The main tourist attractions of United States:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has various collections, which include more
than two million works of art. Here are the impressive collection of Monet,
Cezanne, Vermeer and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Department of modern art
includes works by Modigliani, Picasso, Braque and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
The Cloisters is a separate branch of the museum located in Manhattan's Ford
Tryon Park and owns one of the largest collections of medieval art in the
world.
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of the most famous monuments
of America and is located in South Dakota. The monument consists of carved
figures, 18m high, of four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas
Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, perched at 152m height.
The Yellowstone National Park was founded in 1872 and is the oldest national
park in the world. Renowned for geothermal phenomena, the park has more geysers
and hot springs than the rest of the world. Other attractions are the Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and Lake Yellowstone fossil forest. In the
park are wild creatures such as bears, wolves, bisons, elks and trouts.
The Statue of Liberty is a gift from France to the U.S. in 1886 to celebrate
a century of independence. The statue became a symbol of American freedom
and democracy. The statue is 45m high and only a limited number of daily
visitors can enter the monument.
The Central Park is a 341 ha park located in downtown New York, between
59th and 110th streets. Besides being a green area in the middle of a crowded
city, Central Park is also a cultural center and has a small zoo, a dairy,
fountains and an ice rink.
Universal Studios Hollywood is the largest movie set and theme park in
the world and one of the most popular attractions of Los Angeles. The park
opened in 1964, allowing visitors to enter the world behind the sets and
film cameras.
The Las Vegas Strip or Las Vegas Boulevard is a symbol of American extravagance.
Every year, millions of people come to this city just for gambling. Nevada
is the only U.S. state where gambling is legal, and Las Vegas has more slot
machines and roulette tables than anywhere in the world. The entire town
has turned into a non-stop cabaret, with bright and extravagant lights. The
city is also a place famous for marriages - some 200,000 couples get married
in Las Vegas every year.
Alcatraz or The Rock is the renowned american prison located on the Alcatraz
Island, an isolated rock in the bay off San Francisco Bay. The prison was
designed to keep vicious criminals away from the rest of the world, and hold
famed prisoners like Al Capone, George "The Machine Gun" Kelly
or Robert "The Birdman" Stroud.
Hollywood Walk of Fame is a great way to immortalize the artists in Hollywood,
the first star being given to actress Joanne Woodward in 1960. Today, the
street with stars is a major attraction of Los Angeles and one of the most
visited place.
The Death Valley National Park covers 13,500 square km and is an area famous
for the beauty wilderness of the nature.
Times Square is located north of 42nd Street and is a location associated
with the theater, nightlife and glamorous atmosphere of New York City. Here
is the famous Broadway area with over 50 theaters, 30 hotels (search here Broadway
hotels ), cinemas, shops, restaurants and bars.
The White House is the residence of the President of the United States,
the most famous building in Washington D.C., and was built between 1792 and
1800 by irish architect James Hoban. There are guided tours in some parts
of the White House. See many of them in our Washington
D.C. tours and attractions section.
Yosemite National Park lies on the east side of California and covers almost
3108 square km of alpine meadows, rivers, lakes, rocks and waterfalls in
the heart of Sierra Nevada mountain chain. The park is famous for its giant
sequoia trees that have at least 3,000 years old and raises up to 80m high.
Park is natural habitat for about 250 species of birds, 80 species of mammals
and 24 species of amphibians and reptiles.
Fisherman's Wharf is a busy area of San Francisco developed to draw tourists,
but it was actually a port for fishermen. Today visitors can stroll through
the 29 berths to buy souvenirs, eat in restaurants on the bay shore and visit
the many attractions. Pier 39 has opened in 1978 and is the main attraction
in San Francisco. It hosts daily shows and has many attractions.
Graceland symbolizes the offering of America brought to one of his favorite
musicians, Elvis Presley. "The King" purchased the colonial-style
villa in 1957 and lived here until his death in 1977. The house was open
to the public in 1982 and constitutes a music sanctuary as well as singer's
heritage.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex from Cape Canaveral in Florida is
a mixture of space technology and nature. Here you can see how the space
shuttle take off and visit the Apollo Center, The Rocket Garden and the IMAX
cinema. Kennedy Space Center is in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge,
which shelters the bald eagles (national bird and symbol of the USA), alligators,
otters and turtles.
SeaWorld Orlando is the most popular theme park in the world and attracts
over 80 million visitors every year since its opening in 1978. The park will
provide entertainment and marine-themed attractions.
Disneyland
Resort was founded in 1955 and is one of America's most famous attraction,
located in California. Walt
Disney World Resort theme park is the largest in the world, containing
four theme parks, water parks, restaurants, theaters and hotels.
Grand Canyon National Park is located in the heart of the American West
and the Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The
canyon has a length of 365km, vertical heights reach up to 1,829m and the
width is 29km. Here awaits hiking, climbing, cycling, rafting, cross country
skiing and fishing.
The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937 and stretches along the San
Francisco Bay on a surface of 2.737km .
You'll find dozens of great hotel accomodations especially provided by national
and international hotel and motel chains, often with standard prices. Mostly,
the quality of accommodation is very high, with standard amenities such as
tv, phone and usually Wi-Fi or broadband in every hotel room. Hotels expect
payment in advance and bookings are keep more or less till 18:00, unless late
minute arrival is requested. Several travel websites offer a pre-paid voucher
plan for use at various lodgings and hotel chains throughout the United States.
Basic accommodations are classified as Super, Deluxe, Standard, Moderate and
Economy. Hotel prices vary according to classes.
Bed and Breakfast, this old accommodation custom established long ago in the
United Kingdom is now propagating all over America. Bed & Breakfast boards
are not shown by private homes at the entrance, but most lodgings providing
this facility are listed in brochures, which may be bought by tourists. Bed & Breakfast
inns are made up from 15 or more rooms, and differ from country inns in only
one respect; the last ones provide meals in addition to breakfast.