It’s a country that the entire world looks up to for being the leaders in almost everything. It is the Mecca of tourism for no other nation is as diverse, unique, breathtaking and exciting in its offering as the United States of America. It is impossible to put all there is to see in America together – either in one story or in one trip. One needs to write a lot more, read a lot more and plan multiple trips to see the wondrous wonders of this destination. Thus, to start with, we will give you a brief glimpse of what Washington DC, Chicago, Las Vegas, Massachusetts and San Francisco has to offer to the discerning Indian traveller. So let’s begin the tour…
The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture centre, and capital Washington, DC. Besides these two, there are many other cities in the region that act as magnet for tourists. Here’s a look at some of them –
Washington DC
The natural world seems larger than life in Washington State, where giant conifers drip with lush green mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest, and volcanoes sit quietly (Mount Rainier and Mount Baker) or show the devastating effects of an eruption (Mount St. Helens). Seattle is the state’s largest and trendiest city – its museums, attractions, and technology companies never being far from the historic waterfront. The state capital, Olympia, centres on an impressive legislative building but is otherwise evergreen and sleepy. Here’s a look at its top touristy spots –
Seattle Centre: Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Seattle Space Needle and Monorail have continued to lure tourists with attractions, a park setting, sports venues, and restaurants. Among the newer sightseeing options are the colourful glass artworks at Chihuly Garden and Glass and the hands-on musical exhibits at the Experience Music Project.
Mount Rainier National Park: Mount Rainier (14,410 feet) is one of a geologically recent chain of volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains. Located south of Seattle, Mount Rainier lies at the centre of its namesake national park. The Road to Paradise is open, weather permitting, year-round, allowing visitors to reach high elevations for hiking in summer and snowshoeing in winter.
Seattle Downtown: It’s a large, densely packed city, but downtown Seattle reveals its more relaxed side at the waterfront. There, piers and parks rim the shoreline. Pike Place Market is the standard draw for tourists, but the historic buildings and venerable institutions add diversity.
Washington State Capitol Building: At the south end of Puget Sound, Olympia is a fairly quiet state capital. A grand white dome features as the centre of town, rising 287 feet above the tree-lined streets. It is the tallest masonry dome in North America, a fanciful hat to an ornate Washington State Capitol Building that was opened in 1928 having cost more than seven million dollars.
Chicago
With direct connectivity from India, Chicago is undoubtedly the most-visited city in the USA and as for them; India is number 3 in terms of overseas market for the place. Chicago, the “Windy City” as it is often called, lies along the shores of Lake Michigan. It is known for its vibrant arts scene, numerous cultural attractions, excellent shopping, and interesting architecture. Here’s a look at some of its touristy joints –
Art Institute of Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago is a world class museum with hundreds of thousands of artworks. The diverse collection spans thousands of years and includes pieces from a variety of media including painting, prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, textiles, architectural drawings and more.
Millennium Park: Millennium Park is located in downtown Chicago bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the North and Monroe Street to the South. The main features of Millennium Park include the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an outdoor concert venue; the interactive Crown Fountain; Lurie Garden; and the Cloud Gate sculpture on the AT&T Plaza.
Navy Pier: The Navy Pier originally opened in 1916 as an amusement area and shipping facility but is now one of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions. Today, the Navy Pier is made up of 50 acres of gardens, attractions, shops, restaurants, concert venues, and parks. There is a 150 ft Ferris wheel and an historic carousel in Navy Pier Park. Visitors can also watch a film at the 3D Imax Theatre.
Shakespeare Theatre: The Shakespeare Theatre in Chicago has a permanent facility at the Navy Pier. The seven-story, glass curtain-walled theatre houses a 500 seat courtyard theatre and a 200 seat flexible black box theatre.
Las Vegas
Casinos, live shows, shopping – yes Vegas is the official party capital of the USA and to experience it best, one must atleast spend 3 nights in the city. The largest city in Nevada, Las Vegas lies in the desert, surrounded by hills. The huge resort hotels lining the famous “Strip,” with their sparkling lights, fountains, and recreated glamorous sites from cities around the world, offer a fun and exciting retreat from the desert landscape. Las Vegas is a great place to visit year-round. Here are some must-see places in the region –
The Strip: The 2.5-mile-long central section of Las Vegas Boulevard, which runs through the city from northeast to southwest, known as The Strip, is lined with huge entertainment palaces, many built with a defining theme and home to performance venues, luxury hotel rooms, and fine dining. The Strip is particularly impressive at night, when the city is illuminated by an endless succession of glittering neon signs. To truly experience Las Vegas, stay on The Strip, preferably at one of the major resorts.
Fremont Street Experience: Off The Strip, in the old downtown Las Vegas, is Fremont Street, a pedestrian only area with all kinds of unique sites. A four block section of Fremont Street has been covered over with a canopy of LED lights which light up the sky in a ray of different colours as you walk below. Known as the Fremont Street Experience, each night a fantastic music and visual show takes place overhead.
Stratosphere Tower: The Stratosphere Tower is an unmistakable sight on the Las Vegas skyline. The tower rises up 1,149 feet, and on the rooftop of the tower are a variety of heart pounding thrill rides, including the SkyJump, Big Shot, X Scream, and Insanity. For those looking for a little less drama, there is an indoor and outdoor observation deck with great views over the city. The Stratosphere Tower claims the “tallest freestanding observation tower in the USA.”
Massachusetts
Art, music, colonial history, patriotic landmarks, shopping, idyllic beaches, laid-back islands, succulent seafood – Massachusetts has something for everyone. Take your pick from tourist attractions that range from classical music concerts by a world-class symphony orchestra to perfecting your tan on a pristine beach. Here’s a look at its popular touristy spots –
Freedom Trail: Some of Colonial America’s most iconic landmarks mark Boston’s three-mile Freedom Trail as it winds through the old city’s narrow streets to connect 16 historic monuments and attractions. Follow the red brick line and brass medallions in the pavement, from the Visitor Centre in the Boston Common all the way to the 54-gun frigate USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The trail’s best known attraction is Faneuil Hall, called the “cradle of liberty” for its role as the meeting-place of revolutionaries and later, of abolitionists.
Cape Cod Beaches: Cape Cod is a long, curving peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic, protecting Cape Cod Bay with its northward curve. Most of its 560 miles of shoreline is long white-sand beaches, often backed by dunes of waving sea grass. Many of them are crowded in mid-summer, but there is enough sand for everyone!
Minute Man National Historical Park and Lexington Green: You can follow the route taken by the British regulars as they marched from Boston in a move that would begin the American Revolution. Battle Road is now part of Minute Man National Historical Park, which also includes North Bridge in Concord, where the Colonials engaged the British in battle.
Whale Watch at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: Among the top ten whale-watching sites in the world, the Stellwagen Bank has one of the world’s most biologically productive ocean environments. At this underwater plateau in the Atlantic, at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, you may spot several different species of whale, along with Atlantic white-sided dolphins, harbour porpoise, seals, and other marine life. More than 50 individual humpback whales have been identified.
San Francisco
Set along the ocean, with rolling hills and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States and the jewel of Northern California. The city is full of history, great neighbourhoods, parks, beaches, museums, and a whole host of entertainment options. Some of the most notable attractions include –
Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is a California icon gracing San Francisco Bay. It is the most photographed site in the city, with the orange structure backed by blue water, or in many cases, peaking through low lying cloud. At night, the flood-lit structure is equally striking. Connecting San Francisco with Marin County and other districts further north, the Golden Gate Bridge was, at one time, designated the greatest man-made sight in the United States. For a great view of the bridge, or for anyone interested in photographing the bridge, there are a number of ideal vantage points.
Fisherman’s Wharf: One of San Francisco’s most popular tourist areas is Fisherman’s Wharf. If this is your first visit to the city and you only have a day or two to see the sights, Fisherman’s Wharf is a good place to start. This old section, once the Little Italy of San Francisco, is an area known for its shops, restaurants, and beautiful setting along the waterfront. From here, you can also take a sightseeing cruise for spectacular views of the city, or organize a fishing charter. Some of the main attractions in the area are Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Ghirardelli Square.
Legion of Honour: An impressive Neoclassical Beaux-Arts building in an amazing setting, the California Palace of the Legion of Honour is San Francisco’s most exquisite museum. The Legion of Honour was the gift of the socialite, philanthropist, and patron of the arts Alma de Bretteville Spreckels. Because of her love for all things Parisian, the museum was designed as a replica of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris. The Legion of Honour museum has a superb collection of European decorative arts, sculpture, and paintings, along with antiquities from the Mediterranean and Near East.
