ASPEN | BOSTON | CHICAGO | DETROIT | FLORIDA | GRAND CANYON | HAWAII | HOUSTON | LAS VEGAS | LOS ANGELES | MOUNT RUSHMORE | NEW YORK | NIAGARA FALLS | SAN ANTONIO | SAN DIEGO | SAN FRANCISCO | SANTA CRUZ | SEATTLE | WASHINGTON D.C | YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK |
The United States of America is a large country in central and north-western North America, often referred to as the "USA," the "U.S.," the "United States," "America," or simply "the States". It has a land area of about 9.6 million sq km (about half the size of Russia and about the same size as China). It also boasts the world's third largest population after China and India, with over 300 million people. It includes both densely-populated cities with sprawling suburbs, and vast, uninhabited and naturally beautiful areas. With its history of mass immigration dating from the 17th century, it is a "melting pot" of cultures from around the world.
The United States is not the America of television and movies. It is large, complex, and diverse. Due to the distances involved, traveling between regions can be time-consuming or expensive. Most tourists concentrate on one or perhaps two cities (or regions) per visit.
The contiguous United States (the 48 states other than Alaska and Hawaii) are bound by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with much of the population living on these two coasts. Its only borders are shared with Canada to the north, and Mexico to the south.
The country has three major mountain ranges. The Appalachians extend from Canada to the state of Alabama, a few hundred miles west of the Atlantic Ocean. They are the oldest of the three mountain ranges, and offer spectacular sightseeing and excellent camping spots. The Rockies are the highest in North America, extending from Alaska to New Mexico, with many areas protected as national parks. They offer hiking, camping, and sightseeing opportunities. The combined Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges are the youngest. The Sierras extend across the "backbone" of California, with sites such as Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, then give way to the even younger volcanic Cascade range, with some of the highest points in the country.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Most visitors from outside Canada and Mexico arrive in the United States by plane. While many medium sized inland cities have an international airport, there are limited flights to most of these and most travelers find themselves entering the U.S. at one of the major entry points along the coasts:
From the east New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Miami are the primary entry points from Europe and other transatlantic points of departure. All the major east coast airports have service from a few key European cities.
From the west Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), and Honolulu are the primary entry points for travelers from Asia and other transpacific points of departure. Several carriers are already offering nonstop flights between South East Asia and New York. Of course, if you arrive in Honolulu, you must take another flight to get to the mainland. Foreign airlines are not allowed to transport passengers to/from Hawaii or Alaska and the other 48 states (except for refueling and in-transit).
From the south Miami, Florida is the primary entry point from Latin America, primarily South America. Also, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Charlotte are major international waypoints. From Mexico, most major U.S. airports have non-stop service.
From the other side of the world New Delhi, India has non-stop service to Chicago and Newark (New Jersey). From Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates you can also fly to New York (JFK). Qatar, and Saudi Arabian fly to Washington, DC, and South African Airways goes to New York (JFK) and Washington, DC (Dulles).
By car - Traffic on American roads travels on the right hand side (as it does in Canada and Mexico). If you are entering under the Visa Waiver Program, you will need to pay a US$6 fee, in cash, at the port of entry.
Warning: ALL persons wishing to enter the United States by land must possess a valid passport or similar travel document (such as a NEXUS card or Laser Visa) as of 2009. Until that time, proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo I.D. are both valid and accepted for Canadian, Bermudian, and U.S. citizens.
By boat - Entering the U.S. by sea, other than on a registered cruise ship, may be difficult. The most common entry points for private boats are Los Angeles and the surrounding area, Florida, and the Eastern coastal states. Some passenger ferries exist between Canada and the U.S., notably from the Atlantic Provinces to New England, and from Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle. Cunard offers transatlantic ship travel between the United Kingdom and New York City.
Warning: ALL persons wishing to enter the United States by sea must now possess a valid passport or similar travel document (such as a NEXUS card or Laser Visa).
By train - Amtrak offers international service from these Canadian cities Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal into the U.S.
STAY SAFE
It is true that for an industrialized nation, the USA has a fairly high violent crime rate; however, this is mostly concentrated in inner city neighborhoods. Few visitors to the US experience any sort of crime. Much crime is gang or drug related, and usually occurs in areas that are of little interest to visitors. You can all but ensure that you won't experience crime by taking a few commonsense precautions. First and foremost, identify the high crime districts (this should be very easy to do) and avoid them. Speak softly. Dress to blend in. Keep money and credit cards in a secure place. Never display cash, expensive jewelry or gadgets in public. Don't abuse drugs or alcohol, which impair judgement and make you vulnerable. In most places it's perfectly safe to go out alone at night, but ask before you do. Chat with strangers in public, but don't go home with them, and never get in their cars. Women should also avoid being alone in secluded places, including parking garages. Respect local laws and customs.
Never participate in street gambling or any kind of get rich quick scheme. If a stranger presses you for money, a polite "Sorry, I can't help" will usually be sufficient; a firm "No" and walking away will almost always work.
