Traveling the USA and experiencing every different part of this vast country could take a lifetime.  The landscape, weather, population density, traditions and food vary so much from one place to another that it’s almost hard to believe that it’s all contained in one country.  That’s what makes travel in the USA so interesting and so much fun!

Starting on the east coast where the earliest immigrants from Europe arrived, visitors can really get a feel for the history of our nation by visiting museums and restored villages like Williamsburg and Jamestown where you can step into the shoes of those early settlers.  A visit to Washington, DC to admire the magnificent memorials to our early leaders is a must.  Walk the Freedom Trail in Boston to see historic sites like the Paul Revere house, and follow up at Faneuil Hall Marketplace for great street food and entertainment.  Plan to spend several days in New York City to take in the Ellis Island Museum, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and the city’s many amazing history and art museums.  Traveling north through Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine you’ll appreciate the picturesque countryside (covered bridges included), and the scenic rocky coastline peppered with local restaurants serving lobster and crab fresh from the sea.  

The southern United States are known for their hospitality, and it’s easy to see why.  Tourism is a major contributor to the southern economy.  Explore the historic city of Charleston, SC and relax on Myrtle Beach.  Pay a visit to Mickey Mouse in Disneyland and check out the ecological advances being made in Everglades National Park. If you’re up for a party, head over to New Orleans where there’s a celebration going on 24 hours a day. Moving on to Texas, visit Houston to see the NASA Space Center and further south, relax on the pristine beaches of the Padre Island National Seashore, the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world.  As long as you’re in Texas, might as well take in the stockyards in Fort Worth and the Sixth Floor 

Museum in Dallas, an extensive exhibit documenting the assassination of JFK.  Take in the art scene in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, and visit Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, AZ.  All along the way you’ll be welcomed warmly and treated to some great southern style cooking ranging from southern fried chicken, to hearty Texas barbecue and pecan pie.

On the west coast, you can’t go wrong if you follow the Pacific Coast Highway.  Starting in Los Angeles and ending north of San Francisco, you’ll see spectacular coastal scenery and some incredibly beautiful beaches.  Visit Malibu and Big Sur.  Take some side trips inland to visit California’s iconic national parks, Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley and Joshua Tree to name a few. And when you’ve had your fill of natural wonders, take a side trip to Las Vegas for some made-made colossal attractions and lively nightlife.  A tour of the extensive wineries in Napa Valley is a pleasant way to spend a day, but if you’re a beer drinker you’ll have the time of your life sampling craft beers from local breweries all the way from LA to a small fishing village in Westport, WA.  Take a thrill ride on a dune buggy in Oregon, and visit Portland, one of America’s most eco-friendly cities.  Seattle, WA is home to the Space Needle, built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, and is also home to many innovative tech companies as well as being a thriving music scene.  Seattle’s ferries take visitors to the scenic San Juan Islands and beyond to Canada’s Vancouver Island.

The northern states are generally less populated than the rest of the country.  Lots of ranch land and farm land covers vast areas of Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.  But there are definitely interesting sights to see including Glacier National Park, the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Devil’s Tower.  Native American cultural museums thrive in this area. If you’re a shopper you’ll want to visit the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN.  One of the largest shopping malls in the world, it encompasses an amusement park as well over 500 retailers and 50 restaurants and entertainment venues. The five Great Lakes that span an area from Minnesota to New York are popular with visitors who enjoy watersports and fishing.  Visit Mackinac Island in Michigan – no cars, no chain hotels, just a charming throwback to simpler times.  The bustling city of Chicago is worth a visit to see its impressive architecture and to visit the famous lakeside Art Institute, Aquarium, and  science and natural history museums.

Where to go first?  It’s up to you – no matter which region you choose, you’re sure to have some great experiences.

January 

• Head to Park City, Utah to attend the Sundance Film Festival.
• Check out the Havasu Balloon Festival in Lake Havasu, AZ.
• Enter the Ice Fishing Tournament in Minneapolis, MN, and enjoy the amazing ice sculptures and winter sports activities during their winter carnival.

February

• Wilmington, NC hosts an annual jazz festival featuring headliners from all over the south.  And it’s free!
• February 12, 2023 is the date every football fan has on the calendar – Super Bowl 2023 will be played in Glendale, AZ.
• February 21, 2023 is Fat Tuesday, the beginning of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras season, a party that goes on indefinitely!

March

• SXSW Festival in Austin, TX is a blend of film, music, and entertainment technology.
• Macon, GA beats even Washington, DC for its cherry blossoms.  Over 350,000 cherry trees turn this charming city a vibrant pink.
• Visit Chicago, IL for the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration outside of Ireland.  The Chicago River is dyed green, and every local pub in the Chicago area will be rocking!

April

• Spring is the perfect time of year to be in Georgia, and the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta gives you a great excuse to go.  If you’re a golfer, this should be on your bucket list.
• Hang out at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA.  Camp out in the desert and enjoy music headliners as well as art installations and the fabulous Palm Springs weather.
• Start training now for the 127th running of the Boston Marathon.  Participants come from all over the world to run this historic race.

May

• Renaissance Festivals are held all over in the month of May.  Travel to Papillon, NE, Cashmere, WA or Waxahachie, TX to enjoy the spring weather and witness jousting tournaments, jesters, troubadours and magicians all in period costumes.  
• Check out the San Francisco Bay Area Hungarian Heritage Festival for lively folk dance performances and samples of luscious traditional Hungarian dishes and pastries.
• Be a part of history and attend the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, a race event which has run continuously since 1875.  Drink a mint julep and wear your fanciest hat!

June

• The Chicago Blues Festival features national and international stars of rock, jazz, and blues.  This outdoor lakeside event in Grant Park is free!
• If you missed the Masters Golf Tournament in Atlanta, the US Open Tournament will be held at the Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, or if you can plan ahead, 2024’s tournament will be held at PineHurst Golf Club in North Carolina.

July

• There are 4th of July celebrations in every corner of this country.  One of the biggest is in Boston.  The Boston Pops Spectacular is a huge fireworks display over the Charles River accompanied by the Boston Pops Orchestra.  
• If you’re into pop culture, you need to attend the Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, CA.  Start planning your costume now – the competition is pretty fierce!

August

• The Burning Man Art Festival is held annually in the Southwest – the 2022 event is scheduled for Black Rock, NV.  This project is a week-long experiment in building a temporary community based on cooperation and self-expression.  Temporary art installations and impromptu performances  are meant to inspire and motivate attendees.
• If you’re a seafood lover, you won’t want to miss the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, ME.  Twelve TONS of lobster are served annually at this popular east coast event.
• The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held each year in early August in the Black Hills of SD.  If you’re a biker, this is a dream come true.  If not, you’ll never find a better place to “people watch.”

September

• September is “Wine Month” in California.  Tours, concerts, and tastings throughout the Napa Valley are hosted by the many wineries in the area.  Grapevine, TX is another popular destination for wine aficionados since it’s the location for the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the US.
• No matter what part of the country you’re in, college football is a big deal.  The fanfare, the high stepping bands, the exuberant students, and the crazy mascots make these events a lot more than just a football game.  Go cheer on the Fighting Irish, the Crimson Tide, or the Razorbacks, and get into the spirit at a parking lot tailgate party!

October

• If September is “wine month,” October is definitely “beer month!”  Oktoberfest events are held in just about every state of the union.  One of the most unique and authentic is held in Leavenworth, WA. The alpine style architecture and its location in the Cascade mountains give it a realistic European feel.  A similar town, Fredericksburg, TX celebrates its German heritage with polka band competitions and lots of German “street food” and beer.
• In stark contrast with kitchy polka fests, visit New York City for Fashion Week.  Several different venues ranging from chic hotels on Times Square to local jazz clubs showcase the latest creations from fashion designers worldwide.
• Enjoy the spectacular fall foliage in Vermont and New Hampshire.  You can take a self driving tour, or take advantage of one of the many bus tours throughout New England.  Another option is to book a tour with Vacations by Rail, some of which include train trips through the Smoky Mountains, cruises on the Connecticut River, and a dinner train on Cape Cod.

November

• Visit Port Isabel, TX for the annual Shrimp Cook Off and Seafood Festival.  While there, visit the Port Isabel Historic Lighthouse, built in 1852.
• Take advantage of the “off season” to visit Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld in Orlando.  The weather might be iffy, but the crowds will be gone and lodging, meals, and park admissions will be less expensive.

December

• Visit one of the many Christkindlmarkts (Christmas Markets) around the US.  You don’t have to go to Poland or Germany to find authentic Christmas shopping markets – there are great ones in Leavenworth, WA, Bethlehem, Pa, and Elkhart Lake, WI.

• Join the crowd in Times Square for the annual New Year’s Eve bash in NYC.

FACTS

• The USA contains 50 states and 14 territories, only 5 of which are inhabited – Puerto Rico, Guam, the Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, and Samoa.
• We all know the national bird is the eagle….. But did you know the national animal is the bison, and the national flower is the rose?
• The USA has the third largest population in the world after China and India, with almost 330 million people.
• Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, large enough to cover both North and South America under a foot of water.
• The northern and southern borders of the US (Canadian and Mexican) are the two longest borders in the world.
• Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is the longest  known cave system in the world – 400 miles and counting, as not all of it has yet been explored.

FUN FACTS

• Almost 20% of American presidents have died on the job – 4 were assassinated and 4 died of natural causes.
• Nine midwestern and southwestern states have more cows than people.  If that’s not surprising enough, in Kentucky there are more bourbon barrels than people!
• 300 billion pizzas and almost 900 million pounds of hot dogs are sold every year in the US.