Why Visit US
Lauded as a beacon of freedom, reviled at times as bent on global domination, the United States has many faces, and leaves no one short of opinions. The images of the country that named itself after a continent are embedded in the mind of every traveller: endless highways cutting through bleak deserts; forests of skyscrapers towering over urban jungles; acres of beaches dotted with surfboards and sun worshippers; high mountain peaks and green river valleys; magnificent feats of engineering, from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Hoover Dam. The country’s emblems are so familiar that they constitute as much a part of the world’s culture as its own – Lady Liberty, the Grand Canyon, the Empire State Building, the US Capitol, the “Hollywood” sign…the list goes on.
1. Southern Utah
If you’ve never seen the amazing rock formations and colored landscape of Southern Utah’s canyon lands, you’re missing out on one of the most mesmerizing landscapes in the US. Utah is the closest most of us will ever come to setting foot on another planet, as the landscape is unlike anything seen throughout the rest of the US.
2. New Orleans
Beloved New Orleans had a hard time attracting tourists in the first few years following Hurricane Katrina. But five years and millions upon millions of dollars later, New Orleans has recovered and its tourism numbers are again approaching pre-Katrina levels.
3. New York City
New York City was named the #1 city in the world to visit in 2011 by Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 and our US-based staff agrees that it’s a top destination for the coming year.
4. Austin and West Texas
From music to food to natural resources, Texas does nothing small. Take ‘Big Fun in Big Bend’, one of our favorite road trips. Starting in Fort Davis, wind your way up to McDonald Observatory, for their outdoor Star Party, and make sure to stop for some high desert picture taking along the way.
5. Savannah, Georgia
There’s no denying that Savannah is gorgeous. The trees are covered in Spanish moss, which makes it enchanted. Its compact, historic center tips its hat to its 19th-century roots, and is best seen at a leisurely pace on a bike…but go with a bike buddy: the city is the setting of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and is supposedly filled with ghosts.
6. Denver, Colorado
The Colorado Gold Rush started in 1861 and brought an influx of settlers into the region. We’re lucky that Colorado is now much easier to get to as it has some of the best skiing in the country with over 26 resorts, including the country’s first ski-in/ski-out ballroom at the Viceroy Snowmass.
7. Northern California
No one will deny that Northern California is like no other place in the country.It has the stunning natural scenery, incredible food; biodynamic wineries, micro-brewing companies, wildlife, beaches, and you might find yourself staying a long time.
8. Grand Canyon National Park
A lot of National Parks came up on shortlist but Grand Canyon National Park won out over the rest. A perennial favorite and a jewel of the National Parks system, Grand Canyon recently opened Phase V of the new Grand Canyon Greenway trail. With its opening there is now a continuous, paved, accessible trail all the way from Grand Canyon Village to the South Kaibab Trailhead.
9. Palm Springs, California
When Northern Californians want to escape our cold and fog for a taste of summertime, we head to Palm Springs. But Palm Springs isn’t just for resort hounds. Nearby Joshua Tree will satisfy the hiking and rock climbing desires of any wilder geek. And the Coachella Festival has hosted the likes of Prince, The Cure and Jay-Z.
10. Hawaii
Flights to the Hawaiian Islands may seem pricey but when you step back and compare these with tickets to the South Pacific, Hawaii is an affordable tropical paradise.
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