The United States of America consist of fifty states. The capital Washington DC is located in the east of the country. Since the discovery by Columbus in the fifteenth century, America has developed quite a bit. The country does not have real old cities such as Rome and Vienna. But in terms of nature, this is a completely different story. The Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains and national parks such as Yellowstone, Brice Canyon and the Everglades show that there is a lot to be found in terms of history. The diversity of the country is perhaps the most interesting. For example, in the state of California you can look for the glitz and glamor in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Imagine yourself back in time in places like the Mississippi River. Are you completely in the Caribbean atmosphere on the Florida Keys. Do you enjoy the music in cities like Nashville and seem to be able to do it all in a place like New York. But of course the United States has so many more beautiful and interesting places to offer. The political center of the United States, symbolized by ‘The White House’ in Washington, is also a must-see. And so there are more sights that you mainly know from movies and television and that you would probably like to admire in real life. See 800zipcodes for American cities that start with letter A.
If you are going on a trip to the United States, good travel preparation is essential. For example, it is useful to purchase adapters for the sockets in advance and you should certainly not forget to arrange your ESTA (electronic admission) in advance. This must be done at least 72 hours in advance. You can apply for your ESTA America in Dutch and pay via iDeal or credit card. Applying for an ESTA for America is only necessary if you no longer have a valid ESTA. An assigned ESTA is valid for two years and can be used multiple times.
Top 10 sights of the United States of America
New York City
The bustling and vibrant city of New York City has multiple nicknames: The City That Never Sleeps, The Big Apple or simply NYC. As the largest city in the United States, New York City is particularly popular. In any case, it is a city that always seems to be on the move. Well-known boroughs of New York are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx. A walk through the city center will quickly sharpen the senses. The sound of cars, sirens and buzz in the street as well as the smells, colours, architecture and neon signs are quite tantalizing. Famous NYC highlights include the Statue of Liberty ‘Statue of Liberty’, Coney Island with the amusement park, Central Park, Broadway, Fifth Avenue, Madison Square Garden, High Line Park, SoHo, Chinatown, Bronx Zoo, Ground Zero, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and much more. A visit to New York City is sure to leave indelible impressions.
Yellowstone National Park
The popular Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwestern states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The versatile park has a lot of natural sights to discover. You can visit remarkable colorful hot springs, climb the Rocky Mountains, admire various waterfalls or have a picnic in incredibly beautiful and sometimes even historic locations. Since the opening of this first national park in 1872, it has not lost its popularity. The most visited attractions of Yellowstone National Park are: Grand Prismatic Spring, Abyss Pool, Great Fountain Geyser, Union Falls, Tower Suspension Bridge, Upper Geyser Basin in Old Faithful and the animals in Hayden Valley.
Niagara falls
The largest waterfalls in the world are undisputedly the Niagara Falls in the United States and Canada. The falls are located in Niagara Falls, which lies on the border between the two countries. They are connected to each other by means of a ‘Rainbow Bridge’ bridge. The falls are not very high at sixty meters. Niagara Falls, which consists of several waterfalls, are especially wide. Other names of the falls include Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls. Most visitors take a boat close to the clattering water, which makes for a huge amount of noise. Up close, it soon becomes clear what a power lies hidden behind this.
Florida
The Sunshine State of America is an appropriate nickname for the state of Florida. Florida is the southernmost part of the eastern United States, where the sun almost always shines. Florida is home to well-known holiday destinations such as Miami, Florida Keys, Daytona Beach and Orlando. Most tourists enjoy the wonderful climate, beautiful beaches such as Sanibel Island and Miami Beach, the Caribbean atmosphere and experience adventures in Everglades National Park, Walt Disney Resort and Universal Orlando. Florida is therefore a perfect holiday destination for the whole family.
San Francisco
The western city of San Francisco is located in the state of California. The hilly landscape on the San Francisco Peninsula is regularly shrouded in thick fog. As a result, the summers are a lot cooler than elsewhere in the state of California. San Francisco’s most famous hotspots are the San Francisco City Hall, the Victorian houses of Alamo Square, the most winding road Lombard Street, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and the Golden Gate Bridge. But the museums, cultural life and friendly atmosphere in San Francisco certainly have their appeal.
Grand Canyon
With a length of approximately 435 kilometers, the Grand Canyon occupies a prominent place in the state of Arizona. The erratic rock formations are beautifully illuminated with the rising or setting of the sun. Erosion has created deep fissures, in which several layers of stone are clearly visible. As a tourist you can discover the Grand Canyon in several ways. Helicopter flights are available, you can follow a glass path known as the Grand Canyon Skywalk or you prefer a hiking or bus tour through the unique landscape. Prepare yourself well and do not forget to take into account the weather conditions and temperatures. During the summer months, temperatures can rise to well above forty degrees. At the Grand Canyon Visitor Center Visitor Center at Mather Point or the North Rim Visitor Center on Arizona Highway 67, they can give you all the information you need.
Las Vegas
For unlimited entertainment, Las Vegas is the right place. Las Vegas is located in the ‘Silver State’, a nickname for Nevada. The desert climate in this part of the United States often causes high temperatures. Especially during the summer months there is a scorching heat in the city. Most visitors to Las Vegas find themselves largely in the air-conditioning of the entertainment industry. People often come here for the casinos, the exuberant shows, the strip clubs and to get married. An average hotel here is a village in itself. Hotel complexes like The Venetian, Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Circus Circus and New York Hotel will amaze you. Most of these hotels and casinos are located on the well-known ‘Strip’.
Amusement parks
The entertainment world of the United States is exceptional. Disneyland is, of course, number 1 in the world. Several of these have now been opened around the world. In the United States there is a Disneyland in California and a Walt Disney World Resort in Florida near Orlando. Other well-known amusement parks in America are: Universal Studios Hollywood (Los Angeles and Orlando), Island of Adventure (Orlando), Legoland California (Carlsbad), Six Flags Magic Mountain (Santa Clarita), Epcot (Orlando), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge), Cedar Point (Sandusky) and Sea World Orlando (Orlando).
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is located east of San Francisco in California. This over three thousand square kilometer park is filled with mountains, valleys, glaciers, waterfalls and very tall giant sequoia trees. In Mariposa Grove you can feel very small among the enormous trees, sometimes up to eighty meters high. The overwhelming nature of Yosemite National Park will certainly provide you with beautiful photos. Don’t forget to capture Vernal Fall, Frazil Ice, Yosemite Valley Chapel, Yosemite Valley and the view of Glacier Point.
Route 66
The most famous route in the United States is US Route 66. Especially among motorcyclists and other adventurers, a trip on Route 66 is often a bucket list thing. Now known as Historic Route 66, the route originally ran from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California. Since the advent of the Interstate Highway System, Route 66 has officially ceased to exist since 1985.