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America is a bit of a wild card. It’s a huge country full of stunning natural beauty, amazing things to see/do, and exciting cities. BUT, with the current political situation and the BIZARRE laws in some states, it can sometimes seem like a giant mad house. Security getting into America can be absolutely grueling. Last time I went I was so fed up that I swore off visiting America ever again.
However, it’s just so damn beautiful and there’s so many spots I want to explore that my self-imposed ban didn’t last long. I’ve got flights booked for Colorado in June. What can I say, America is a little bit addictive! The mash of cultures that created this country has done nothing but fill it with a wide spectrum of history, customs and traditions.
There are immense metropolises, stuffed full of sights, malls and skyscrapers, and then you have areas where you can drive for eight hours and not see another soul. You have deserts, snowy havens, and everything in between. Each state has something different to offer, so why wouldn’t you want to see more of it? But it’s such a big country, what’s the best way to travel the USA? Here’s a few unique and fun ways to see the best of America.
6 Ways to Tour the USA
British Place-Names
Just look at a map of America and you’ll notice that there are many places that can credit their names to the UK, like New York, New England, Birmingham and New Hampshire. Due to the British rule, these towns were credited with these names as an honour to the ruling empire.
There aren’t just English towns out there either; there’s Bangor, Wales. Dublin, Ireland. And Edinburgh, Scotland. Other European countries, outside of the United Kingdom have had their say too. But what an unusual tour of the US you would have if you tracked your route through all the English-named towns. You would experience so much of the country off the beaten track, and if you’re a British native, it will be fun comparing the original namesake to the US town.
Just this year my mam did a road trip through New England stopping in place like Dartmouth, Taunton and Plymouth. Which is hilarious to me because I used to live down in Devon, UK near all of those towns/cities.
Cruise Along the Coast
Pick a coast – East or West? Start at one end and travel up it. You can stick to the beaches, or delve into the coastal states. The East coast has more states, but that doesn’t rule out the West coast; you can start out at San Diego Zoo, get some sun at Long Beach, Los Angeles, and then cross the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Oregon cannot be missed, it has some of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen and there are several national parks along the coast.
On the East why not time the start of your travel with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, then travel around the gulf down to Miami, Florida. Up through Orlando and Jacksonville, until you reach Washington and pop in for tea with the President – or avoid it, your choice. Next, head on to Atlantic City in New Jersey, and then up to New York and finish your trip in Boston. Sounds like the perfect road trip to me!
Check out the Different Disney Parks
Your stops might only amount to two. However, there will be more than enough to keep you busy for a couple of weeks. If you’re not that big of a Disney fan, then maybe make this one stop on your travels, if you’re a super-fan, then this could easily be your whole trip.
Start off with a teaser at Disneyland Resort in California. This adventure park is the perfect way to kick-start your Disney journey because when you get to Orlando, you have so many options to work your way through. Walt Disney World Orlando is split into different sectors that take more than a day to get around.
From the Magic Kingdom, you can move onto Epcot, the Animal Kingdom and the Hollywood Studios, soaking up all of that amazing Disney fever. If you time it right, you can get there during one of their many events, like the Epcot World Showcase, the Halloween Extravaganza or the Winter Wonderland. There’s nothing like Disney at Christmas.
Personaly I’ve been to every Disney in the world apart from Shanghai, so I’m a big Disney fan! I prefer Florida to California when it comes to Disney, but both are worth checking out.
MAKE SURE TO READ MY BEHIND THE SCENES VIP DISNEY TOUR ARTICLE TOO 🙂
City Life
Why not travel the country by capital cities? Each of the fifty states boasts a capital (obviously), and where some states have more than one renowned city, each capital holds something unique. Understandably you might not have time to travel to all fifty, but if you can, it’s worth it. Let’s start in Honolulu, Hawaii, a chilled out, beach-vibes city to kick-start your travels. Or you can finish here to completely unwind after your adventures.
No one is going to pass up New York while doing a tour of the capitals, the same goes for Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, and Las Vegas (to mention a few). And who can travel around the capitals, without dropping in at Washington – the capital of the country. You don’t have to hang with the president, there are plenty of incredible museums, monuments and more to visit. Send yourself a postcard from each city for a great souvenir.
Park Life
US national parks are a MASSIVE draw to the USA. They consist of deserts, forest, mountains and all sorts of varied terrain. I’ve visited a few myself and still have a few on my bucket-list. The most visited park, due to its flowing forest, immense hiking trails, and gorgeous views is the Great Smoky Mountains.
You can then compare that to the oasis of beauty in the Grand Canyon National Park, and the icy views of the Glacier National Park bordering America and Canada. The Northwest is known for having huge swathes of land, and the parks don’t disappoint. You can go on day trips, on hiking holidays, or just head into the wilderness to camp.
Be aware that wolves, bears and mountain cats aren’t a rare sight throughout America. And if you’re staying in the hotter regions, you’ll need to look out for snakes and other poisonous creatures. I visited Death Valley national park and Seqouia national park last year and it was incredible. We saw coyotes, side-winder rattlesnakes and more. We were even lucky enough to catch the once a decade floral bloom in Death Valley!
Yellowstone, was always the most famous of the American national parks, in my mind, thanks to Yogi bear. Not to mention Yosemite, thanks to Yosemite Sam. There’s just too many on the list to visit. But Denali, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree and Rocky Mountain national park are all on my list.
Road Trip
America is a criss-cross of highways, flowing through each state like giant rivers. There are roads that have been around for near on a century, and ones that have sprung up in the last decade. But there are a few that take you through some amazing sights, from one city to the end destination. Take the traditional road on route 66, it was created in 1926 and concludes in California. There are plenty of sights along the way and cute little diners. It crosses 8 states and 3 time zones.
Route 30 will take you from the forests of Oregon to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Crossing across the entire country and passing through Chicago on its way. I LOVE an American road trip, as long as you can avoid the traffic. L.A is an absolute nightmare for traffic. Stock up on all those wonderful snacks that you can only get in America, grab a GPS and get on the road. If you need any inspiration, this road trip planner tool is super helpful.
Have you travelled America?
What’s your favourite part?
Recommended Reading
– Death Valley Road Trip
– The Most Instagrammable Places in America
– Review: WOW Air TransAtlantic From Dublin to Boston
These ways are really very good and amazing, thanks for sharing this post. When I will visit the USA I will keep this in my mind.