Any Travels

The USA is home to several of the world's most exciting cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology, more history than the country gives itself credit for and, arguably, some of the most approachable natives in the world.

The US was fashioned from an incredibly disparate population who, with little in common apart from a desire to choose their own paths to wealth or heaven, rallied around the ennobling ideals of the Declaration of Independence to forge the richest, most inventive and most powerful country on earth.

So much of the country has been filmed, photographed, painted and written about that you need to peel back layers of representation to stop it from looking like a stage setting. This can make the country seem strangely familiar when you first encounter novelties like 24-hour shopping, bottomless cups of coffee, 'have a nice day', drive-thru banks, TV evangelists, cheap gasoline and newspapers tossed onto lawns. But you'd be foolish to read too much into this surface familiarity, since you only have to watch Oprah for half an hour to realize that the rituals and currents of American life are as complex, seductive and bewildering as the most alien of cultures.

The land of opportunity, that's the States and it's certainly true for traveling. The USA offers a unique combination of the biggest cities with their fast paced life and great outdoor opportunities and lots of fun. Check it out:

The East coast has many cities worth discovering, such as New York, a unique melting pot of cultures with the world's most famous skyline; Boston, also known as "Bean Town"; Philadelphia - remember Rocky running up the stairs? It's in Philly; the capital city; home of the Ravens and the Orioles and Atlanta, where the 1996 Olympics were held.

The West Coast, from the state of Washington to California, is well known for its relaxed atmosphere.

San Francisco is the capital of cool and close to the city you can find mountains, beaches and vineyards.

Los Angeles is a micro universe. You can find everything from rags to riches, from Tinseltown to East L.A. Head south to visit Orange County's Huntington Beach for the ultimate experience in Surf City USA or head to the Californian Riviera city of Laguna Beach to check out the famous art scene. LA is also home to a little thing called Hollywood.

Continue south to gorgeous San Francisco, one of America's nicest cities. From sparkling La Jolla to Old Town, from Balboa Park to Point Loma, San Francisco offers the ultimate in a relaxed lifestyle in the middle of a big city. Travellers will find wonderful daytrips to the beaches, mountains, deserts and, of course, York.

Located on the shores of the Great Lakes Chicago, the "Windy City", is where the Skycraper was invented. Even today, downtown Chicago is the beautiful early laboratory of this new form of building. The city is also vibrant with an excellent Jazz and Blues scene, two great ballparks, good food and much more.

Houston is a city that exemplifies Texas and acts as a microcosm of the state. With a dizzying array of attractions, festivals, restaurants, shopping, and local get-aways; the nation's fourth largest city is home to a wide array of sights for all to enjoy. It's also home to one of the most diverse populations in the country.

Las Vegas is paradise for anyone who likes to roll the dice. No need to go to Paris, Rome or Egypt - all the best monuments have been copied, and some would say improved, and can be found right there in the Nevada desert.

Kentucky is a hidden gem for travelers interested in exploring natural artifacts; such as Mammoth Cave, the largest recorded cave systems in the world. The numerous campgrounds, state parks, and recreational lakes draw cost-conscious travelers from all over the South. The rolling hills of Eastern Kentucky sport some of the finest horse parks in the United States. The Kentucky Derby Festival includes a huge balloon race, air show, and spectacular fireworks performance as just three of its features. For some the race is just an afterthought.

Florida is popular with anyone looking for sunshine, beaches and amusement parks. Tampa, Orlando and Miami are ideal bases from which to explore the Sunshine State.

The New England States are magnificent. From land to sea, you have it made here. Magnificent beaches in the summer, beautiful foliage in the fall. Connecticut is my personal favorite, a small activity packed state, with something new around every corner. Two of the best casinos in the world, Mohegan sun and Foxwoods. Quaint little citys by the sea, historic places nestled in the woods. Everything you could want is less than 2 hours away: Beaches, woods, farms, waterfalls, sea and fresh water fishing, wineries, wildlife, both land and sea, wonderful places to shop and eat. Ever see the movie Mystic Pizza, well there really is a Mystic Pizza, in Mystic CT and the pizza is delicious! They have alot of pictures of the filming of the movie there. You will never want to go anywhere else again!

All over the country you find many excellent National Parks, which are great places to go for hiking, biking and other activities. Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon are well known, but there are many more places of great beauty in God's own country. The Appalachian trail, running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine is unique. More than 2000 miles long, a 'thru-hiker' needs one season to walk it from end to end.