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Boston
Boston truly is the jewel of New England. One of the best ways for visitors to encounter the city is via its dynamic chain of parks, such as Boston Common, featuring the family-friendly Frog Pond. The nearby Public Garden hosts its own pond with swan boat tours, which have been in operation since the 1870s. The city honors its key role in American history, but it never focuses solely on the past. For example, Faneuil Hall, where great orators stumped their protests before the American Revolution, now anchors a pedestrian-friendly market full of shops and restaurants. Boston Harbor, the site of the Boston Tea Party, now features the popular HarborWalk, a trail that winds around the waterfront.
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Chicago
Known for its professional sports teams, world-class restaurants, and fascinating architecture, Chicago stands as the most prominent city in the Midwestern United States. Of all of Chicago’s monikers, “A City of Neighborhoods” seems most apt. With more than 70 unique neighborhoods — from Anderson on the North Side to Hyde Park on the South Side — each embodies an identity unto its own. This city, hugging the shores of Lake Michigan, also features wonderful shopping opportunities for visitors, especially on the “Magnificent Mile” strip of boutiques and designer stores running along Michigan Avenue.
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New York
New York has Wall Street, the theater district, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, world-class museums, and street vendors offering foods of the world’s nations. It commands the world’s attention. Every chef who opens a restaurant here, every designer who presents a line of clothing and every artist who hangs work in a gallery feels the buzz of excitement that threads each square block of the Big Apple. Visitors have the pleasure of absorbing that energy, whether they are bombarded by the grandiose flashiness of Times Square or given the soft sell by artists presenting their crafts in Union Square Park.
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Washington
Washington, D.C., encompasses the spirit of the United States. Visitors here find a convergence of history, American pride and the buzzing, never-stopping machine of American politics. The city hosts some of the country’s greatest museums (from the National Air and Space Museum to the National Gallery of Art). Though urban, the city has always preserved its green, natural spaces. One finds surprising solitude on the trails winding around Roosevelt Island, which sits in the middle of the Potomac River. And, of course, one of the greatest attractions is the National Mall, America’s front yard. Spread a blanket on the grass and relax surrounded by monuments honoring some of the country’s most important leaders.
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Orlando
The Greater Orlando area is the land of ultimate escape. It is where imaginations run wild. Even the most creative visitors could not conjure the whole worlds thriving here in the Universal Studios theme parks and at Disney World, or any other attraction bearing the Disney label. But Orlando is not merely a destination of dreams, fantasy and costumed characters. Downtown visitors find an interesting blend of architecture, from Victorian-styled houses to high-rises. That area also features boutique shopping, diverse restaurants and a burgeoning nightlife. For those seeking a great natural space, Lake Eola Park offers a pedestrian-friendly walking loop.
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Miami and Miami Beach
Like an up-tempo dance song, Miami and Miami Beach pulse with a constant beat, no matter the hour of the day. South Beach in the sunshine attracts some of the most beautiful people and even features a string of art deco-design lifeguard stations. Ocean Drive after dark — lit with bright neon reds, greens, blues, and pinks — transforms into a sleek, chic scene found nowhere else on the planet. The Hispanic culture is ever-present, reflected in the cuisine and neighborhoods such as Little Havana, where men speak Spanish, lightheartedly ribbing each other while smoking cigars and playing dominoes on Calle Ocho (8th Street).
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Honolulu
While the city of Honolulu bustles with business, museums, and the Foster Botanical Gardens (a terrific spot for a picnic), the city is best known as the jumping-off point for Hawaii’s island of Oahu. Most visitors congregate at Waikiki because of its glorious swimming beaches, shops, restaurants and abundance of outdoor activities — from surfing lessons to catamaran sailing. Speaking of surfing, most locals and visitors ride their boards in the waters around Haleiwa, a beach town on the North Shore. Those interested in U.S. naval history visit the USS Arizona Memorial honoring those killed during the December 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri, a battleship decommissioned in 1992.
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Los Angeles
Los Angeles is best defined by two of its most famous neighborhoods. Hollywood offers glitz, glamour and flashes of immense fame. This is where one finds the world’s most famous movie stars. Visitors enjoy brief access to celebrity when walking down Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip, or even posing for pictures outside the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Offsetting that scene is the laid-back lifestyle found in the neighborhood of Venice Beach. Here, Oceanfront Walk — a magnet for characters from every walk of life — is one of the best places for people-watching one will ever find.
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Las Vegas
All of Las Vegas is a party. Imagine a giant adult theme park full of the brightest lights and the most decadent, over-the-top buildings. One needs only walk down the Las Vegas Strip to see that vision realized. Visitors here find everything from towering fountains to laser light displays to high-stakes casino games to variety shows headlined by perfectly choreographed performers. Sleeping is the last of any visitor’s priorities. Those tourists looking for a slightly less-flashy Vegas experience venture to Fremont Street downtown where many of the casinos feature a more old-fashioned vibe.
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San Francisco
San Francisco is a city defined by the breezes blowing in off the Pacific Ocean. The weather dictates every decision locals and visitors make. Golden Gate Park, with its walking trails, lounging beaches and views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, attracts the most attention on a day when the sun is shining, even if there’s a hint of cool in the air. On foggy days, one might venture inland to catch a ride on the ever-dinging cable cars or schedule architectural tours, especially those including “The Painted Ladies,” the oft-photographed and -filmed Victorian and Edwardian houses lining the city’s steep hills.
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Seattle
When most people think Seattle, they think clean and green. The city takes great pride in constantly being ranked as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the United States. And with high annual precipitation levels, its parks and natural spaces sport a fresh look. Visitors gravitate to Pike’s Place Market, one of the oldest continuously operated farmers markets in the country. Street musicians, antique and gift shops, cafes, and the fresh fish (famously tossed by the vendors) all help create the market’s appealing ambience. Another popular destination is the Space Needle, part of Seattle Center, a 30-hectare urban park developed for the 1962 World’s Fair. Pioneer Square, 20 square blocks of Victorian Romanesque architecture, offers a plethora of art galleries and museums.
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Santa Fe
The stunning southwestern light and landscapes have long attracted artists and visitors to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Life here revolves around the Plaza, the heart of the city that feels more like an intimate village. Museums, shops, restaurants, and boutique inns all lie within steps of here. The Palace of the Governors daily hosts American Indian artisans who sell their artwork, from jewelry to paintings. Santa Fe is the second largest art market in the United States, and those interested in fully experiencing that scene need only stroll Canyon Road, home to about 100 galleries.
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Austin
Austin, Texas, is a city of surprising diversity. At any given shop, restaurant, or music club queue, you’ll find authentic, boot-wearing cowboys mingling with tattooed rockers. Traditional politicians (Austin is the capital of Texas) dine in the same Tex-Mex establishments as avant-garde painters. The University of Texas-Austin keeps the city lively and energetic. And down on South Congress Avenue, amid boutique hotels and folk art shops, a visitor will find one of the best live music scenes in the United States. This beautiful city also features incredible natural spaces best enjoyed via the water sports on the Town Lake water reservoir and the surrounding trails. Perhaps the best way to appreciate Austin is by watching the sunset from a restaurant patio on Lake Austin.
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New Orleans
The vibe of New Orleans, Louisiana, stays as smooth as the live jazz played nightly down on Frenchmen Street. Visitors here can’t help but find themselves in the French Quarter, the cultural heart of New Orleans. The district’s focal point is Jackson Square, a beautiful park made more colorful by the artists and street musicians. Visitors discover that the New Orleans cuisine — a blend of several influences, including French, Cajun, and Creole — is like no other in the world. One notable fact: Louisiana provides a sales tax refund for international shoppers on purchases made at nearly 900 tax-free stores across the state.
www.neworleanscvb.com
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St. Louis
For an authentic introduction to St. Louis, Missouri, begin in Forest Park. Developed for the 1904 World’s Fair, the park now draws locals and visitors alike to its numerous attractions, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, and the Missouri History Museum. All these attractions and many more in St. Louis are free. From there, visitors can get an expanding sense of the city by exploring the surrounding neighborhoods such as the Italian markets and restaurants of Little Italy and the restaurants and bars comprising The Loop. Of course, a ride to the top of the Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River is a must for any visitor.
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Nashville
The American country music industry is not the only draw to this city, but Nashville, Tennessee, known affectionately as “Music City,” attracts some of the world’s best musicians. Visitors can hear them perform in famous large venues such as the Grand Ole Opry House at the Opryland USA theme park and Ryman Auditorium. But they’ll also find them atop stools at any number of clubs along Music Row, an area just southwest of Downtown. The Country Music Hall of Fame offers a comprehensive history of the genre. Some of the city’s other great museums include the Cheekwood and Belle Meade mansions, and President Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage.
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Asheville
Backdropped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and possessing an easy-going lifestyle, Asheville, North Carolina, stands as one of the greatest mountain towns east of the Mississippi River. Here, visitors find a healthy dining scene driven by available produce and meats from local farms. The cuisine seems to be perfectly complemented by a strong craft beer industry, whose brewers compete to offer the best ales, pilsners, and porters. Boutique shops fill the hilly but walkable downtown streets. Nestled amidst modest neighborhoods lies America’s largest privately owned home, the Biltmore Estate, a 19th-century 250-room French Renaissance-styled chateau open for tours. In July every year the city hosts Bele Chere (“beautiful living” in an ancient Scottish dialect), the largest music and arts street festival in the South.
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Atlanta
Atlanta offers an urban experience with lots of hospitable southern touches. The pace is steady, but not so fast that one could not enjoy a cold glass of sweet iced tea on a hot afternoon. The city is the crossroads of the South, and some might even argue it’s the crossroads of the United States. It owns, after all, the busiest airport in passenger traffic in the entire world. That translates into international influences on the cuisine and culture that a visitor might be surprised to find in the heart of the state of Georgia. Notable destinations include the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in the Sweet Auburn district; the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum; and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum, residence of the famed novelist who penned Gone With the Wind.
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Charleston
When visitors imagine the American South, their visions resemble Charleston. This historic city on the South Carolina coast and its residents exemplify Southern hospitality. To experience that welcoming spirit, one needs only to walk the cobblestone streets in the historic district and encounter the longtime locals. King Street is the artery of the city, and wonderful antique shops, boutiques, historic homes with vibrant gardens, and restaurants orbit it on the surrounding blocks. The food scene here is strong thanks to inventive chefs supported by a nearby culinary school.
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Philadelphia
The vibrant present of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is anchored in its rich past. Much of America’s early story is told here through tours of such historic sites as Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and the Liberty Bell was rung, according to tradition, to summon citizens of Philadelphia to a reading of the newly adopted Declaration of Independence. But even within the city’s historic district, visitors find modern cultural attractions and art galleries filled with works by local artists. Philadelphia’s architecture blends 18th- and 19th-century styles with contemporary structures. One of the city’s great assets is its walkability: Just about all of the major tourist attractions stand concentrated in an area of about 2.5 square kilometers, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the concert halls and museums along the part of Broad Street called Avenue of the Arts.
www.philadelphiausa.travel
