United States are one of the most important countries in the world. This huge land has everything from tropical beaches, desserts and prairies to thick pine forests and is home to some of the biggest metropolises in the world. America is inhabited by interesting people that are creating the culture which is being spread around the world 24/7 by the powerful US media and Hollywood. Some of these places and festivals you probably saw already on TV, which makes this list even more interesting.

Demolition Derby Madness

These motorsports events will take you directly to the heart of the American consumerist culture. Everybody knows that in United States having a car is almost necessary and that each year thousands of older models get scraped, some other old models are becoming the main stars of events like these, where drivers are ramming them into each other in an attempt to make other driver’s vehicle totaled.

All this is usually followed by large amounts of beer and snacks that crowds consume during the show. The mad, turbocharged atmosphere might be a little scary in the beginning, but only for a few minutes after which you adjust to the right frequency.

Take Me To The Ball Game

Another typical American pastime. If you are not to familiar with baseball, try to watch some of the famous baseball movies before visiting the States and learn typical slang that comes with this sport, so you can engage a conversation with other fans about the game. You can also bring a foam hand, home or away team jersey or cap and try to catch the fly ball.

If you decide to go on a baseball game you should first pick the stadium with a good atmosphere and the teams you want to watch. Dodgers stadium in LA can be very interesting. One of the biggest rivals of LA Dodgers are LA Angels of Anaheim, and Dodgers vs Angels games are known for the great atmosphere which is nicknamed the Freeway Series, after New York’s Subway Series, and since stadiums of these two rival teams are connected by interstate 5.

Find Out Who You Are, Than Take It One Step Further

Black Rock Desert in Nevada is home to one of the most famous and the most controversial festivals on Earth- the Burning Man. This festival started in the weirdest possible way, when Lee Harvey and Jerry James burned a 8 feet tall wooden man effigy on the Baker Beach in San Francisco. They described their actions as “spontaneous act of self-expression” and since then tens of thousands of people come to Nevada on Labor Day to spontaneously express themselves. Some other words that follow this effigy burning festival are: community, art, and radical self-reliance. During the week of the festival all these individuals live, breathe, and eat as one and all of their creative energy is united in a big bone fire event.

Appalachian Trail

This hiking trail goes through some of the most interesting parts of eastern United States, and it takes people far from the comfort of NYC. Becoming a thru-hiker on your first trip to United States will definitely make you proud of yourself and it will enable you to see parts of this country that you can rarely spot on popular TV. Awe inspiring scenery and interesting flora and fauna are trademarks of this 2,200 miles long mountain road. You should also be aware of brown bears, deer ticks and poison ivy, but stay open for close and personal encounters with less dangerous animals and interesting people who live along the trail.

Get Your Kicks on the Route 66

This route goes through the heart of real America and it is the most famous historical road route in the whole world. The old road starts in Chicago and ends up in California while going through many interesting locations from Amarillo, Texas where roadtrippers can try to eat 72 oz beef steak to Barstow, California where “drugs began to take hold… and huge bats, are swooping, screeching and diving around cars”. On this road you’re also going to see a lot of artifacts of old and long gone America, from old water towers to almost deserted gas stations and road-side bars.

If you want to take your family to Orlando for vacation, then you have to be prepared for a very busy and fun experience since you will be on a tour of their wonderful attractions, amazing sightseeing, and meeting new and interesting people.

There are many things to do in Orlando and it is a place for children, adults, and families. Every age and person can find something to do to enjoy themselves.

1. Incredible and Fun Theme Parks

When it comes to visiting Orlando the one thing you can’t forget to do is to go to the theme parks. Orlando offers the very best ones such as Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens and the new LEGOLAND.

2. Saving Money While Having a Great Time

From theme parks, historical places, wildlife, and shopping centres they all seem to offer discounts and deals for everyone who comes to Orlando. There are many ways to get Universal Studios Orlando tickets as well as tickets for many other theme parks for great prices. You don’t even have to spend time with small coupon booklets given to tourists since the best deals can be found right on your computer! Having a great vacation doesn’t need to take a lot out of your wallet. You can have fun with the family and save money while doing so.

3. Beautiful Beaches

Some of the beaches in Orlando such as Cocoa beach, Daytona Beach, and many others have amazing views and white sand with crystal clear waters. With all the entertainment available, you can have an itinerary full of fun just by the beach.
The kids can enjoy the boardwalk attractions and carnivals while adults can listen to live music at nights on the beach. There is fun for everyone.

4. Lessons In History

If you want to look back, the Kennedy Space Centre will give you the most significant events in a man’s history. There are many sites to see especially in downtown Orlando. Orlando is not just to party and have fun, but it is a great resource for a history buff.

5. The Amazing Wildlife

If you want to experience wildlife, swim with the Manatees in their crystal river. You can go on whale watching on the space coast or bird watching at the Meritt Island bird refuge. There are many options to explore if you want to see exotic wildlife.

6. Endless Places to Shop At

Are you a shopaholic? A vacation to Orlando will not be complete if shopping is not in your list. There are lots of shopping malls, flea markets, and even more shopping available at the theme parks. One of the three one-of-a-kind malls here is the M&M World Store, and it is a must to visit the place.

7. Kind Hearted People

The reason why a lot of people visit Orlando is not just because of its attractions, but the people as well. Once you arrive, you will be accommodated. They will be the ones to make your vacation a meaningful one. Especially for a younger crowd, you will meet lots of new people especially since there are many colleges around the area.

8. Exclusive Events
Knowing many tourists come from all over the city of Orlando makes sure to put together some amazing events that you can take advantage of, most of the time these events are free or very low in cost.

9. Unbelievable Food Places

When visiting Orlando, try not to eat at the regular places that are found everywhere else. Visit the delicious cuisines Orlando has to offer. From the cheapest to the most expensive restaurants, you can find something new for any budget. There are a lot of restaurants that only exist in Orlando and on top of that most of them offer discounts.

10. Beautiful Landscapes

Orlando is truly a remarkable place and anywhere you decide to travel to you will see amazing landscapes. If you are a landscape lover then it is another one of the many reasons why you need to visit.

Orlando is must visit place for any family. There are attractions for kids to adults, from a history buff to a shopaholic. You will not run out of things to do at Orlando so book your visit today.

New Orleans is one of those destinations in the US that is a step away from the usual international tourist hubs of NYC, Florida and Las Vegas. It falls into the class of places that many would like to go to, but probably will never go on enough holidays to America to quite make it. Therefore you’ll often hear an impressed whistle or envious sigh as you regale those about your recent experience. It is justifiably world famous, and sits perfectly within a more extended travel of the States if you’re lucky enough to go on one.

The Street

There is much to do here, but a particular magnet to visitors is Bourbon Street. Classy and seedy all at once, as well as cultural and over touristic in the same moment, it is a great starting off point for the wider French Quarter where it is located. Being just off Canal street means you can arrive here by the historic tram line which runs down the impressively wide road and is incredibly cheap for travellers looking to save money. The corner of Bourbon Street is a popular location for impromptu jazz performances kicking off, which regularly involve double digit numbers of performers and is an appropriate entrance to this lively street.

The Nightlife

By day the street is relatively empty and its messy appearance is all the more apparent in the absence of the bar night lights. New Orleans earns its seedy reputation from the presence of strip clubs down the road and there are often employees of said establishments hanging out of the front doors in various states of undress. In this respect, at night it lives up to its adult reputation, but it is not the sole focus of the street and you can easily avoid this aspect if you’re just here for a good time. Live music, jazz clubs, cabaret, comedy, breweries, pubs and dancing clubs; the list is almost endless for what can be found down here.

This lively scene is made all the more enjoyable by the Open Container Law in the French Quarter, which means that you may carry alcoholic drinks around in plastic cups (not cans or bottles) in the street, creating the famous street scene that has become well known here, and reaches its pinnacle in Mardi Gras.

Bars, Food and Drink

Thanks to its shared American, European and African history there is an eclectic array of popular food and drink served in many of the historic venues down the street. For the foodie, make sure you leave in plenty of time to ensure you can stroll along and check out the menus outside the different restaurants. Bourbon Street has a range of Creole cuisine including Gumbo, which has Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and African influences. There’s also the typical Southern and Cajun cuisine available such as Fried Shrimp, Catfish and Crawfish and even alligator.

For people who like to combine everything, many of the bars serve food as well as having out door areas to hang out making it popular to head to the bars straight away to get the evening started! Bourbon Streets party scene is underpinned by its reputation for serving up some extremely tasty local beverages. The famous Hurricane is a strong cocktail consisting of syrup, fruit juice and rum, and can be found at bars such as Pat O’Brien’s, which is popular due to it’s live music and dueling pianos. If strong drinks are your thing, then head over to Tropical Isle Original which serves the Hand Grenade, a drink known for its potency and recipe shrouded in secrecy. If you are interested in history, you will find the Old Absinthe House a must see, although it’s famous Absinthe House Frappe no longer includes the illegal Absinthe, instead mixing in Herbsaint.

A night down Bourbon Street truly does come alive at night time, creating a unique character that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. The street may appear slightly messy during the day, but when the bright lights come on, the music gets going and the crowds are out there is much to enjoy down a road who’s many buildings date back to the 18th century.

Author Bio: Guest Post written by Matt who is a regular travel blogger and enjoys venturing around the world. As well as America, he likes to explore the Mediterranean.

Recreate some of the most famous American road trip movies for your next USA holiday!

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next holiday, look no further than your favourite films. Whether it be an intimate tale of friendship and self-growth, a high stakes police chase thriller, or even a silly American teen fest, for decades road trip movies have thrilled and inspired us with the endless possibilities that come with travelling on the open road.

Film critics and bloggers everywhere believe there’s an undeniable link between the concept of the road, movie and the spirit of the USA as a country. So if you’re booking flights to the States anytime soon, take a cue from some well-known flicks and get road tripping, big-screen style.

THE MOVIE: Thelma and Louise (1991)

This classic starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Brad Pitt sees two small town girls embark on the journey of their lives as their quiet weekend getaway turns into a gripping police chase across the south of America as they attempt the drive from their home town of Arkansas to Mexico.

DO IT YOURSELF:

Thelma and Louise travel from Arkansas to the Grand Canyon via Oklahoma – a journey of roughly 23 hours without stops, but there are plenty of reasons to take some breaks along the way. Oklahoma City and Albuquerque are perfectly placed to make overnight stops along the way, and there’ll be plenty to see while driving through changes in scenery, from vast desert plains, to mountains, to acres of trees and greenery.

Thelma & Louise (20th Anniversary)

THE MOVIE: Highway (2002)

Set in 1994, this independent cult film sees two friends played by Jared Leto and Jake Gyllenhaal flee their home town of Las Vegas after Jack (Leto) is caught sleeping with a Vegas thug’s wife. The pair hit the road and make their way to Seattle, encountering a plethora of wild characters and odd experiences along the way.

DO IT YOURSELF:

The real trip from Las Vegas to Seattle is a long but beautiful scenic drive through mountain passes and plenty of national parks. There are a few different routes to take, all of which offer plenty of things to do for the nature lover. If you opt to start off along the mighty Great Basin Highway, Route 93, Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge offers fishing, hunting and miles of hiking trails, while Nesbitt lake is also a popular and fishing spot. The trip is approximately 20 hours of driving without stops.

Highway

THE MOVIE: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Another cult favourite starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Torro, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas follows the twisted drug-addled story of a wild journalist and his lawyer who trek from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race.

DO IT YOURSELF:

You don’t need a boot full of drugs to recreate this road trip (in fact, we’d advise strongly against any kind of illegal behaviour…)The journey from LA to Vegas is one of the most well-known and popular road trip routes in America so expect traffic on the way, especially if you’re making to the trip on a weekend. Although it’s a relatively short drive of around 5 hours, there’s no reason to go straight from A to B. Make sure you stop past Baker to see the World’s Largest Thermometer, and there are plenty of outlet shops just outside Vegas to keep you busy for a few hours. Once in Vegas, it’s also easy to find cheap airfares to anywhere else in the country.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Author bio: Start planning your American road trippin’ adventure and get yourself on cheap flights to the USA. www.cheapflights.com has all the best flight deals.