“This year we’re going to the USA.” Anyone who reports on their vacation plans in this way is guaranteed to be waiting for interested inquiries. Where exactly is the journey going? After all, the North American continent, with the exception of Canada, has 50 states to offer.
The variety could not be more colorful and unusual than it actually is. From the romance of the South Seas in Hawaii to inhospitable snowy landscapes in Alaska, the USA leaves nothing out. Things are also interesting between these extremes. Deserted deserts in Arizona shape the image of the USA as well as the mega-metropolis New York City; Skiing in Colorado (checklist for a ski vacation) is just as much vacation fun as going on the beach in Florida (checklist for a beach vacation). Even if it sounds a bit clichéd: The fascination of America leaves no travel wish unfulfilled and is good for many real surprises.
The east coast – this is where it all started
According to acronymmonster, the conquest of the North American continent by the Europeans began on the east coast of today’s USA. Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York State and Rhode Island, Delaware and Maryland are therefore the oldest areas that European settlers have set foot in. You can tell that in the states on the east coast to this day. Nowhere else in the USA has the European attitude to life been preserved as it is here. The architecture, the education system, the entire “lifestyle” is still influenced by the “old world”, albeit with a decreasing tendency. In Pennsylvania there is still a large group with the Amish People who hold on to the values of the past up to and including refusal to use technology. An interesting metropolis in the northeast is Boston, which presents itself and its sights very nicely on a walk along the “Freedom Trail”. The scenic highlights of the east coast include the beautifully colored forests in Indian summer, especially Niagara Falls in the state of New York on the border with Canada. The outstanding cities of this greater region are of course New York City and Washington DC, the capital of the USA with the seat of the President.
Also in the north, albeit no longer directly in the east, with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, states bordering the Great Lakes await visitors. Here is Chicago the dominant metropolis.
The south – music, warmth and excellent food
Where on the east coast cool activity is the key, the south offers pure joie de vivre and warmth. What the southern states have in common is that they have all allowed slavery in the past. Today the joy about their abolition still seems to subliminally determine everyday life. Music, very good cuisine and friendly interaction with one another, but also with guests, characterize the atmosphere in states such as Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and North and South Carolina. Savannah in the state of Georgia is considered the most hospitable city in the entire United States. What can you not miss in the south? New Orleans about is a “must”, best for carnival. So the “Mardi Gras”. Then the entire city is upside down and you can experience a spectacle of music, costumes, dance and enthusiasm that will leave indelible impressions. Of course, fans of Elvis Presley cannot avoid a trip to Memphis, Tennessee. There is “Graceland”; the house in which the King of Rock’n Roll lived for a long time and eventually died. Nashville, home of legendary country music, is also a mecca for music lovers.
The south is of course unthinkable without a federal state. We are of course talking about Florida, which, with its relaxed way of life and dream beaches, is a longing destination for many northern and central Europeans. But that’s not all. Children from all over the world have chosen this US state to be their absolute favorite. This is not least due to Orlando, where around 50 theme and amusement parks strive for the favor and money of the visitors. The parks of the Walt Disney Corporation are clearly among the stars of these facilities.
The land of the cowboys
Who embodies the USA for many Europeans more than the legendary cowboys who fought for their country with the also legendary Indians and finally brought them to their knees? They paved the way for the pioneers and settlers who finally usurped the entire continent on their long treks. No state stands for this past more than Texas, but Wild West romance lives on in Utah, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Arizona as well. Speaking of Arizona. With the Grand Canyon this state is home to one of the largest tourist attractions in the United States. Another highlight, the Yellowstone National Park, is “shared” by the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
The dream of the wild west
Finally, even deeper in the West, even the USA will reach its limits at some point. North America comes to an end where the Pacific expands. Almost at least if you disregard the state of Hawaii and properties like American Samoa. Of course, there is still a lot to see on the way to the Pacific coast. Las Vegas for example, the casino and show paradise in the desert of the state of Nevada. From there you can go on to the famous neighbor, who also makes the hearts of many Europeans beat faster again and again. California stands for a casual, relaxed attitude to life, for enjoyment and of course for the world of beautiful appearances. In Los Angeles and Hollywood it is home to one of the core industries the US is known for.
But San Francisco is also a city with superlatives. It is not only worthwhile to make a stop there because of the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco is the US capital of gourmets, and they are not averse to good wine there either. Who is surprised? Both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are not far away.
