United States of America

Columbia Snake RiverThere is so much to see in the USA, although everyone knows the main attraction centers and the large cities. Most people travel to New York, the largest metropolitan center in the USA, famous for the Statue of Liberty, Empire State building, United Nations, museums, Broadway theaters, restaurants, Times Square, nightlife and shopping. Or to San Francisco, where cable cars still ascend the steep hillside streets lined with Victorian houses overlooking a large blue bay surrounded by pastoral mountains and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Some travel to Los Angeles, Orlando or Washington and consider all these cities the United States. But this is a huge country, full of wilderness, where you can drive for hours through vast forests without seeing anyone, or through farmlands with just a rare glimpse of a small village or isolated home. And, in some places, there is hardly a trace of civilization.

While a few National Parks are widely known and visited by locals and foreigners alike, like Yellowstone National Park, with the largest collection of geysers, hot springs and thermal phenomena in the world along with a large population of wildlife; Yosemite National Park, with some of the most beautiful alpine valleys complete with high vertical granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls and giant Sequoia trees; or Grand Canyon National Park, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world with its multicolored mesas and cliffs within a labyrinthine array of smaller canyons and gorges, most of the other National Parks are still virtually unknown (by most foreigners at least) gems that highly merit a visit like Zion National Park, just spectacular and an attraction for backpackers, climbers and hikers.

Then there is Alaska, the great northern wilderness frontier of the USA, extending from Pacific coast rainforests to arctic tundra. Wildlife is abundant and glaciers and snow-capped peaks provide spectacular scenery, although many sights are only accessible by small cruise ships. For and exotic flavor there is Hawaii, where beautiful islands offer spectacular scenery, colorful plants, exotic wildlife, active volcanoes, and a unique culture.

COUNTRY INFORMATION - More information on all regions of United States.

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