United States (USA): A Country of Contrasts Where Dreams Meet Reality

The United States of America (USA) – a country that could be described as a huge cauldron of contrasts. Here New York skyscrapers compete with the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, and Hollywood luxury merges with the wild tranquility of Alaskan glaciers. America – is a place where dreams can become reality, if only you have enough courage (and a bit of luck). By the way, if you think you’ll see everything in one trip, I should disappoint you – in this country each state has so much of its own face that even the magical seven lamp genie wouldn’t be enough for one trip.

A Few Facts So You Don’t Get Lost in the USA

  • Capital: Washington (don’t confuse with Washington State – yes, Americans also like to joke with geography)
  • Area: 9,833,517 km²
  • Population: About 334 million (2024)
  • Currency: Dollars (everything costs here, even extra sauce for your burger)
  • Time Zones: 6 main ones – from the East Coast to Hawaii can take almost half your day

When is it Worth Packing Your Bags and Traveling to the USA?

Spring (March-May)

Cherry blossoms in Washington, and wildflowers in Texas – romance in the air and thermometers (15–25°C). Fewer tourists, but photos already beautiful.

Summer (June-August)

Hot and expensive – both weather and price-wise. Temperature from 25°C in the north to 35°C in the south. Great time for national parks and outdoor parties.

Autumn (September-November)

Autumn in New England – like a “Pinterest” board come to life. Yellow, red leaves, lower prices, lazier tourists.

Winter (December-February)

Cold in the north (-10 to +5°C), but Christmas in New York – like in the movies. And if you’re a sun hunter, fly to Hawaii or Florida.

United States of America (USA) Cities

New York

“The Big Apple” – here not only snacks, but also pace is big. In one word, a city that never sleeps. If you were to sleep, not here. Here cultures, fashion, finance and entertainment worlds intertwine, creating a unique city atmosphere.

  • Times Square – neon chaos where you need at least one selfie. Every New Year’s Eve, a million people gather here to watch the famous ball drop. Best to visit at dusk when lights create magical atmosphere. Don’t miss the TKTS booth for cheaper Broadway show tickets.
  • Central Park – prove to yourself that nature can also be part of New York. The 341-hectare park offers numerous activities: rowing on Bow Bridge lake, picnic at Sheep Meadow, concerts at Delacorte open-air theater. In winter, Wollman ice rink operates here, and Belvedere Castle offers the best park panorama.
  • Empire State Building – height that makes you feel how small we all are. The 102-floor skyscraper has two observation decks – on the 86th and 102nd floors. Tip: visit before sunset to see the city both in daylight and at night.
  • Brooklyn Bridge – historic bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods. Walking the bridge offers priceless city panorama views. Best time – sunrise, when fewer people and wonderful lighting for photography.
  • Statue of Liberty – US freedom symbol and one of the world’s most recognizable monuments. Must take ferry to Liberty Island, climb to the statue’s crown (must book in advance) and visit the impressive immigration museum on Ellis Island.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) – one of the world’s largest art museums. Here you’ll find everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary art. In summer don’t miss the rooftop bar with wonderful Central Park views.
  • High Line – former railway line turned elevated park. The 2.3 km walking path offers unique city views, art installations and relaxation zones. Especially beautiful in spring when plants bloom.
  • One World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial – tallest building in Western Hemisphere and touching memorial dedicated to honoring victims of September 11, 2001. Observatory on 100th floor offers 360-degree city panorama.
  • SoHo District – arts and design quarter with cast-iron architecture, galleries, boutiques and cafes. Here you’ll find unique shops, vintage finds and contemporary art galleries. Street markets on weekends.
  • Rockefeller Center – art deco style complex, famous for Christmas tree and ice rink in winter, and “Top of the Rock” observatory offering one of the best Empire State Building views.
Los Angeles

Sun, Hollywood stars and beaches. Here people look at you, but only because you’re trying to learn skateboarding at Venice Beach. This is a city where dreams meet reality, and every street exudes cinema magic spirit.

  • Universal Studios – feel like inside a movie. Try “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” attractions, see how special effects are created, and participate in live shows. Tip: get “Express Pass” ticket to avoid long lines at most popular attractions.
  • Santa Monica Pier – pier where smiles are wide as the Pacific Ocean. Historic amusement park with legendary Ferris wheel and charming snack bars. Live concerts often happen in evenings, and during day you can watch street performers.
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame – celebrity stars avenue where you can search for your favorite actors, musicians and other entertainment world stars’ names. Don’t miss photographing at TCL Chinese Theatre where celebrity hand and footprints remain.
  • Griffith Observatory – astronomy and science museum with wonderful Los Angeles panoramic view. Especially impressive to visit at sunset when city lights start twinkling. Here you’ll also find the best view of famous Hollywood Sign.
  • Venice Beach Boardwalk – colorful beach path famous for street artists, muscular athletes, skaters and hippie atmosphere. Muscle Beach – legendary outdoor gym where Arnold Schwarzenegger once trained.
  • The Getty Center – impressive art museum with wonderful gardens and architecture. Free admission museum offers world-class art collection and breathtaking Los Angeles views. Mountain transport also free.
  • Rodeo Drive – luxury shops street in Beverly Hills neighborhood. Even if you don’t plan shopping, worth walking and admiring luxury cars and storefronts. Don’t miss photographing at famous Beverly Hills sign.
  • Echo Park Lake – oasis of peace in city center with boats you can row, and great city panoramic view. Food markets and community events on weekends.
  • Walt Disney Concert Hall – Frank Gehry designed architectural masterpiece, Los Angeles Philharmonic home. Worth visiting not only for concert but also to view impressive building architecture.
  • Runyon Canyon – popular hiking trail with wonderful city view. Great place for morning walk or sunset watching. Here you can often meet local celebrities exercising with their pets.
Las Vegas

Nevada desert jewel – city of gambling and bright lights. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas (unless you write about it on Instagram). This is a place where night becomes day, and fantasy merges with reality, creating a unique oasis of entertainment and surprises in the desert.

  • The Strip – main boulevard where every hotel is attraction itself. Bellagio Fountains – synchronized water show every 15-30 minutes. Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas offers panoramic views. Fremont Street – old Vegas downtown with LED canopy and free concerts.
  • Casinos – even if you don’t gamble, architecture alone worth seeing. Caesars Palace – Roman theme, Venetian – Venice canals with gondolas, MGM Grand – one of world’s largest hotels. Free drinks while playing at slot machines.
  • Shows – Cirque du Soleil has several productions here. Magic shows by David Copperfield or Penn & Teller. Book tickets in advance or look for day-of discounts at booths on The Strip.
  • Grand Canyon – about 4 hours drive or helicopter flight from Vegas. Skywalk – glass bridge over canyon. West Rim closest to Vegas, South Rim offers best views. Sunrise or sunset – best times for photography.
  • Red Rock Canyon – natural beauty just 30 minutes from city. 13-mile scenic drive, rock climbing opportunities, hiking trails with petroglyphs and desert wildlife.
  • Neon Museum – graveyard of old Vegas signs. Guided tours show history of iconic signs. Best visited at dusk when some signs are illuminated.
  • Valley of Fire State Park – about hour from Vegas, oldest and largest state park in Nevada. Red sandstone formations, ancient petroglyphs, natural arches. Mouse’s Tank Trail popular for petroglyph viewing.
  • High Roller – world’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet. 30-minute rotation with air-conditioned cabins. Happy Hour option with open bar. Best views at sunset or night when city lights up.
  • Mob Museum – interactive museum about organized crime history and law enforcement. Located in historic courthouse where actual mob trials took place. Includes speakeasy bar in basement.
  • Hoover Dam – engineering marvel 30 miles from Vegas. Tours inside dam available. Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge offers spectacular photo opportunities.
San Francisco

Hills, cable cars and fog – this is San Francisco’s holy trinity. City where you can get excellent coffee, see sea lions at Pier 39, and understand why everyone says “I left my heart in San Francisco”.

  • Golden Gate Bridge – iconic orange-red suspension bridge. Walk or bike across for best experience. Battery Spencer on north side offers classic photo view. Fog typically clears mid-day in summer.
  • Alcatraz Island – former maximum-security prison. Audio tour narrated by former guards and inmates. Book tickets months in advance, especially for night tours. Ferry includes round trip from Pier 33.
  • Fisherman’s Wharf – tourist hub with seafood restaurants, sourdough bread bowls, street performers. Pier 39 famous for sea lions sunbathing on docks. Ghirardelli Square for chocolate factory tour.
  • Cable Cars – historic transportation and tourist attraction. Three lines still operate. Powell-Hyde line offers best views. Get on at turnaround points to avoid long waits. $8 single ride or get day pass.
  • Chinatown – oldest and largest in North America. Dragon’s Gate entrance, traditional shops, dim sum restaurants, Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory where you can see fortune cookies made.
  • Painted Ladies – colorful Victorian houses at Alamo Square. Classic San Francisco postcard view with downtown skyline backdrop. Best photos in late afternoon light.
  • Lombard Street – “most crooked street in world” with eight hairpin turns. Drive down or walk. Better to walk down than up. Best photos from bottom looking up at red brick road.
  • Golden Gate Park – larger than Central Park, includes Japanese Tea Garden, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers. Free walking tours available.
  • Mission District – vibrant neighborhood with street art murals on Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley. Best Mexican food in city, trendy bars, vintage shops. Dolores Park popular for picnics with city views.
  • Twin Peaks – highest point in city center with 360-degree views. Free access, best at sunset or night. Bring warm clothes as it’s windy and cold even when sunny in city.

Sample Itineraries for USA Trip

ONE WEEK TRIP (7 days): East Coast Classics:
  • Days 1-3: New York (main attractions, museums, Broadway show)
  • Day 4: Philadelphia (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall)
  • Days 5-6: Washington D.C. (Capitol, White House, Smithsonian museums)
  • Day 7: return to New York
TWO WEEK TRIP (14 days): Great American Tour:
  • Days 1-3: New York
  • Days 4-5: Las Vegas and Grand Canyon
  • Days 6-8: Los Angeles and surroundings
  • Days 9-10: Yosemite National Park
  • Days 11-12: San Francisco
  • Days 13-14: Redwood National Park

OR

National Parks Tour:

  • Days 1-2: Las Vegas (base for excursions)
  • Days 3-4: Grand Canyon
  • Days 5-6: Zion National Park
  • Days 7-8: Yellowstone Park
  • Days 9-10: Grand Teton
  • Days 11-12: Glacier National Park
  • Days 13-14: return via Salt Lake City

Places to Visit That USA Offers Nature Lovers

  • Grand Canyon – place where “wow” becomes the only appropriate word. 446 km long, 29 km wide and 1.6 km deep canyon that Colorado River formed over millions of years. Bright Angel Trail – most popular trail to canyon bottom, and Desert View Drive offers best sunset views. Helicopter flight over canyon reveals true scale of this natural wonder.
  • Yellowstone Park – geysers and bears – both advised not to get too close. World’s oldest national park, famous for Old Faithful geyser that erupts every 90 minutes. Grand Prismatic Spring – largest hot spring in USA, fascinating with rainbow colors. Hayden Valley – best place to watch bison and wolves at safe distance.
  • Yosemite Park – granite, waterfalls and nature that will defeat you with its beauty. El Capitan – 900-meter granite wall, Half Dome – iconic rock dome, and Yosemite Falls – highest waterfall in North America. Glacier Point offers panoramic valley view, and Tuolumne Meadows – alpine meadow tranquility.
  • Acadia National Park – Maine state’s coastal pearl where mountains meet Atlantic Ocean. Cadillac Mountain – first place in USA where you can see sunrise. Thunder Hole – impressive coastal cave where waves create thunder sound.
  • Zion National Park – Utah’s red rock wonders. Angels Landing – one of most impressive hiking trails in America, The Narrows – water hike between high canyon walls. Emerald Pools Trail leads past waterfalls and emerald pools.
  • Glacier National Park – Montana’s “Crown”, where real glaciers still remain. Going-to-the-Sun Road – one of America’s most beautiful roads. Hidden Lake – lake reached through alpine meadows full of wildflowers and mountain goats.
  • Redwood National Park – land of gentle giants in California. Here grow world’s tallest trees, sequoias reaching over 100 meters high. Lady Bird Johnson Grove – easy trail among old forests, Fern Canyon – fern-covered canyon where “Jurassic Park” was filmed.
  • Olympic National Park – three ecosystems in one park: mountain glaciers, rain forests and coast. Hurricane Ridge offers panoramic view of Olympic Mountains, Hoh Rain Forest – one of wettest places in USA, Ruby Beach – dramatic coastal views.
  • Death Valley – lowest and hottest point in North America. Zabriskie Point – wonderful sunrise spot, Badwater Basin – white salt flat 86 m below sea level, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes – sand dunes resembling Sahara.
  • Grand Teton National Park – jagged Wyoming mountains reflecting in lakes. Mormon Row – historic homesteads with mountain backdrop, Jenny Lake – most popular lake with trails around, String Lake – ideal place for kayaks in summer.

Practical Tips That Can Save You When Traveling Around USA

  • Transportation: Car – your best friend. Especially if you don’t plan walking from one city to another. Rental companies require driver at least 25 years old (some – 21), and credit card. Gas cheaper here than Europe, but distances – greater. In big cities worth trying Uber or Lyft, and New York metro reliable.
  • Tips: 15–20%. Yes, mandatory here, otherwise very unpleasant bartender look awaits you. Restaurant workers’ base salary very low, they survive on tips. Hotel staff: $2-5 per bag, $2-5 to housekeeping per day. Taxi drivers: 15%. Beauty salons: 15-20%.
  • ESTA: Fill out before trip, otherwise America won’t let you in. Valid 2 years, costs about $21. Fill only on official website, beware scam sites asking for larger sums.
  • Health Insurance: Mandatory! Medical services in USA very expensive. Make sure insurance covers at least $100,000 medical expenses.
  • Taxes: Store prices shown without taxes (sales tax). They’re added only to final amount. Each state has different rates.
  • Electricity: Need adapter – 110V system used here with different plugs. Make sure your electronics work with this voltage.
  • Age Restrictions: Alcohol can only be purchased/consumed from age 21. May ask for ID even if you’re obviously over 30.
  • Climate: Very different in different states. Florida can be +30°C when Alaska -20°C. Check weather forecasts and plan wardrobe accordingly.
  • Safety: Before going check neighborhood reputation. In some city areas better not to walk alone, especially at night. Keep documents and money separately.

USA – country where everyone will find something for themselves. Some will be fascinated by New York chaos, others – California relaxation, and third will return just for burgers. Or maybe even – dreams will visit you themselves here. Just travel, because until you try, you won’t know if that American dream really exists, or it’s just part of a movie.