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The US is a country that spans from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans, is made up of more cultures than you can count and is home to many of the world’s most famous cities.
Los Angeles is where stars are found; New York City is where Broadway was born; Seattle is where startups begin; and Las Vegas is where entertainment pushes its boundaries.
There are many cities and national parks to visit – so many that we could go on forever with this list. But we have narrowed it down to help you discover the must-visit cities for their culture, food, liveliness, atmosphere and more.
Plus, we share a few national parks with nature so incredible you won’t want to leave.
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New York City plays the role of the capital of the world with a new country or culture represented in each neighbourhood. It’s this diverse mix among the world-famous skyscrapers that make this city one of the top places to visit in the world. A culinary capital, a fashion trendsetter, a highlight of the art world and a night owl’s paradise, the Big Apple is entertainment, culture and history combined to create one of the world’s greatest cities.
Los Angeles (LA) is where dreamers go to experience riding through streets lined with palm trees and gazing at the stars in the night sky while walking the streets. It might be a major city, but it’s closely tied to Mother Nature, which is just kilometres from the city centre.
The Hollywood sign looms over a city that’s packed with entertainment related to show business. Architecture from around the world only adds to LA’s already cool streets and the culinary scene is one of the best in the country, if not the world. In a nutshell, LA is New York City’s cooler and more laid-back cousin.
Las Vegas is an entertainment hub in the middle of the desert. It’s a strange yet appealing city that pulls in visitors from around the globe who want to experience the glitz and glam that you can only find in Las Vegas.
This busy city dazzles people with its shining lights, luxury hotels and replicas of world-famous icons along the Strip. It’s where people go to gamble and dance the night away and to be entertained by numerous singers as well as by DJs and Cirque du Soleil. It’s also a place to experience eating in restaurants run by celebrity chefs.
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a sight that cannot be missed. It’s hard to describe the sheer size and spectacular views from the height of the canyon from pictures or through words, so it’s bound to impress you once you visit this national park.
The Colorado River runs through the canyon and has been carving its way through the canyon for the past one billion years. Explore this great site and find incredible rock formations, geological sites and stunning waterfalls.
San Francisco is a hilly city with one of the most iconic images of the USA: the Golden Gate Bridge. This city refuses to be overshadowed by its large neighbour, Los Angeles. Its stylish Victorian homes line the streets and it’s where all foodies should go since the city has the most restaurants and farmers’ markets per capita than anywhere else in North America.
Fog may roll in at any time, but it never affects the whole city. San Francisco loves the new and embraces everything with good grace, making this city a highlight for all types of travellers.
Yosemite National Park is an unspoiled paradise of natural wonders in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The park may have four million visitors a year, but it’s still somewhere for explorers to wander into the mountains, hikers to marvel at the forested trails and nature lovers to find waterfalls without major crowds.
All it takes is a look up to see the splendour of the country’s third oldest national park while hiking the towering mountains to be impressed.
People are drawn from all over the world to Miami’s shores to experience the electric city. Its white sand beaches with crystal blue waters are just one of the city’s highlights though, the art deco styled buildings and the eccentric nightlife are two more. Colourful 1930’s architecture decorates the streets and sleek lounges, rooftop bars and clubs set the city dazzling at night.
Between shopping, the beaches and drinking, you’ll have to make room for the food which mixes cuisine from around the globe.
Honolulu is the gateway to the Hawaiian Islands and offers an extremely different taste to the rest of the country’s states. Honolulu welcomes you to the Polynesian-influenced islands where crescent white sand beaches are backed by swaying palm trees and high-rise hotels.
The neighbourhood of Waikiki is where food, shopping and entertainment can be found but take a step outside the tourist hot spots and you’ll find the authentic side of Hawaii where culture differs and unique tastes that never reached the mainland can be found.
New Orleans is much more than Mardi Gras, the event that has become known around the world. Visit outside of this festival period and you’ll still get to explore the vibrant culture of the city that is a melting pot of African, American and French cultures and cuisine.
Experience the round-the-clock nightlife, see how much music influences this city as a way of life and watch the history as you walk through the streets.
Yellowstone is a site to behold with land that is spread across a volcanic hot spot. This national park teems with wildlife, geysers (home to 60% of the world’s geysers), natural hot springs, rivers and forests.
Hundreds of animals roam through the lands across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, including wolves, bears and bison. The intense colours of the geysers mixed with the abundant wildlife make this national park a place that is just begging to be explored.
Seattle is a city that pushes its limits and demands everything local.
When it comes to technology or cuisine, it accepts anything and this is made apparent from the number of micro-businesses, ranging from breweries to cafes, that pop up all over the city.
To truly get a feel for this city, one must explore the unique range of neighbourhoods. Seattle, though a tech city, is lucky to have plenty of parkland within the CBD as well as forests, mountains and rivers just outside the city.
Chicago has more to offer than meets the eye with its towering skyscrapers and big-city appeal. This “Windy City” is full of street art and museums and in the summer becomes packed with festivals, particularly music festivals.
If you ever need a break from gazing at the abundance of unique architecture, hop into a restaurant to try some Chicago deep dish pizza or watch a sports game as it’s basically a rite of passage in Chicago.
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