US tourist attraction
From East to West and everything in between, America is blessed with a terrific array of tourist attractions. You want sparkling natural fanfare in abundance? Try The Grand Canyon or The Florida Everglades. You want sparkling manmade fanfare in abundance? Vegas! Hardened politics, great institutions, world power? Washington. Buildings so tall and straight you will crick your neck? And the physical entry point and spiritual meaning (in many ways) of America? New York. Basically, there is something for everybody here!
History
If politics be your thing, start with Washington. Here on Capitol Hill lies the centre of world power at the moment. And the ghosts of the great men who set the country off in the right direction are revered here too: try The Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington memorials (plus many others).
The pain of the Vietnam War is suitably remembered here, as are the graves of the fallen in countless wars across the world in the Arlington Cemetery. For the politics of world opinion, though, head to New York and visit the UN Building as it hugs the Hudson River…
New York
Whilst you are there, make sure you take a trip out to that symbol of freedom, The Statue of Liberty, and on the boat journey home drop by Ellis Island to see how that symbol was turned in to physical reality for millions, in an acute reminder of what America stands for… But New York is difficult seen from below, so rise up into the clouds of the Rockefeller Centre and take in the view across Manhattan and beyond. The famous rectangular expanse of green is Central Park, and on its Eastern side lies America’s best gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, crammed with artistic treasures.
America
Across the grand expanse of middle America, see more great art at The Getty Museum in LA, plus indulge in those things LA does well: i.e. film and fun. Got the kids? Universal Studios should help them along with rides galore- although you wouldn’t want to miss out on Disney World either, really…
The vastness of the American offering (check out the portion sizes!) means it is a vast undertaking to take it all in… but US tourist attractions are well worth it in the end!
