United States of America

From MaxTravelz

The United States of America ("USA", "US", "United States", "America", or "The States") is a large country in central and north-western North America. The USA also includes several Pacific islands (primarily represented by the state of Hawaii) and an unincorporated Caribbean territory (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico). One of the largest and richest countries in the world, it has a mixture of densely-populated urban areas with wide areas of low population and incredible natural beauty. With a history of immigration dating to the 17th century, the USA prides itself on its "melting pot" of different cultures from around the globe. Even the briefest visit to the United States is a study in contrasts.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Geography 4.2 Climate 4.3 History 4.4 Culture 4.5 Holidays 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By car 5.3 By boat 5.4 By train 6 Get around 6.1 By plane 6.2 By train 6.3 By car 6.4 By bus 6.5 By thumb 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Types of restaurants 9.2 Types of food 9.3 Tipping 9.4 Etiquette 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Contact 16.1 By telephone 16.2 By Internet 17 For more information

Regions

The USA stretches across the breadth of central North America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, with non-contiguous states in the Arctic circle and in the equatorial region of the Pacific. Its regions are far-flung and various. Following is a rough grouping of the country into regions relevant to the traveler, roughly from the Atlantic to the Pacific:

• New England -- Home to gabled churches, rustic antiques, and steeped in American history, New England offers rocky beaches, spectacular seafood, rugged mountains, frequent winter snows, and historic cities. These states are small, so you could visit all of them reasonably within a week.

• The Mid-Atlantic -- Ranging from New York in the north to Washington DC, the Mid-Atlantic is densely populated and home to a number of the nation's largest cities, but also rolling mountains and traditional seaside resorts like Long Island and the Maryland and New Jersey shores.
• The South -- With its own culture and traditions, the slow-going, friendly South is celebrated for its down-home cookin' and its blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, and country music traditions. This lush, largely subtropical region ranges from the verdant (and refreshingly cool) mountains to stately agricultural plantations to vast cypress swamps.
• Florida -- Northern Florida is similar to the rest of the South, but head further south into the megaresorts of Orlando, retirement communities, and tropical latin Miami. Don't forget to visit the Everglades, although you certainly wouldn't want to live there.
• Texas -- The second biggest state in the nation, it's like a whole other country (and in fact, once was). Terrain ranges from Southern swamplands to the cattle-ranching South Plains to the Mountains and desert of west Texas. And, it's even got its own distinctive cuisine.
• The Midwest -- More diverse than its reputation would suggest, the Midwest is home to rolling farmland, large forests, and picturesque towns as well as many bustling industrial cities. Many of these states border the Great Lakes, the largest system of freshwater lakes in the world, forming the North Coast of the U.S.
• The Great Plains -- Travel westward through these seemingly flat states, from the edge of the eastern forests through the praries and onto the High Plains, an enormous expanse of steppes (shortgrass prairies) as desolate as it was in the frontier heyday.
• The Rocky Mountains -- The spectacular snow-covered Rockies offer outdoor pursuits such as hiking, rafting, and skiing on some of the greatest snow on Earth. There are also other significant mountain ranges, deserts, and a couple of large cities.
• The Southwest -- Heavily influenced by Hispanic culture, the arid Southwest is home to some of the nation's most spectacular natural attractions, and a flourishing artistic culture. Although mostly empty, the region's deserts have some of the nation's largest cities.
• California -- California offers world-class cities, incredible vistas, national parks, mountains, deserts, rain forests, snow (and great skiing), and a famous beach lifestyle.
• The Pacific Northwest -- The pleasantly cool Pacific Northwest offers outdoor pursuits as well as cosmopolitan cities. The terrain ranges from spectacular rain forests to scenic mountains and volcanoes to sage-covered steppes and interior deserts.
• Alaska -- One fifth as large as the rest of the United States, Alaska reaches well into the Arctic, and features expansive mountainous wilderness.
• Hawaii -- A volcanic archipelago in the tropical Pacific, 2,300 miles from California (the nearest state), laid-back Hawaii has long been a vacation paradise.

Politically, the USA is divided into semi-independent states (thus the name); see list of American States for a full listing.

Cities

America has over 10,000 cities, towns, and villages. The following is a list of nine of the most notable. Other cities can be found in their corresponding regions.

• Washington (D.C.) - The national capital, home to America's most grand public buildings as well as a thriving multi-cultural community.
• Boston - The capital of Massachusetts retains much of its colonial charm, but is kept young by its multitudes of students.
• Chicago - The "Windy City" or "Second City", bustling heart of the Midwest, transportation hub of the nation, notable for its large number of architectural gems and massive skyscrapers.
• Los Angeles - The home of Hollywood and the film industry, palm-fringed Los Angeles offers mountains, beaches, sunshine and everything else visitors look to find in California.
• New Orleans - The Crescent City is famous for its atmospheric French Quarter and annual Mardi Gras celebration.
• New York - the "Big Apple" is America's largest city and a global economic and cultural capital.
• San Francisco - One of the most photogenic cities in the world, San Francisco offers a diverse array of attractions, and is a popular gateway to the California coast and Yosemite National Park
• Miami - Nicknamed the "Magic City", Miami is home to one of the best beaches in the country and is has one of the largest ports in the country. It is mainly the place where people from Latin America and the Caribbean come to for a chance to make in the US.
• Seattle - This green and rainy city is home to international giants Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Starbucks.

Other destinations

These are some of the larger and more famous destinations outside of major cities.

• The Grand Canyon
• Yellowstone National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Death Valley
• Glacier National Park aka Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

See United States National Parks for a list of all national park areas.

Understand

The USA is difficult to characterize because of its size and diversity, diversity in both geography and in people, but an overview will help travelers to see these differences and perhaps help to find what it is that interests them most, since it is not realistic to see a little of everything unless one has a very long time to spend indeed. Part of the States' appeal is that you can experience so much diversity in one country.

Geography

The USA is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of area (at roughly 9.6 million sq km, it's about half the size of Russia) and around the same size as China (though, even with nearly 300 million residents, it's far behind China and India in terms of population).

The continental United States (the 48 states other than Alaska and Hawaii) is bound by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with much of the country's population living on these two coasts. Its only borders are shared with Canada to the north, and Mexico to the south.

There are three major mountain chains in the U.S., the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the combined Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. The Applachians extend north from Canada, southwards to the state of Alabama, a few hundred miles (kilometers) west of the Atlantic Ocean. The Appalachians are the oldest of the three mountain ranges, and are not particularly high (the highest peak is 6,684 ft., 2,040 m), but offer spectacular sightseeing and excellent camping spots.

The Rocky Mountains, often simply called the "Rockies," are the highest mountains in North America, extending from Alaska to New Mexico. Much of the mountain areas are protected by the U.S. Government in national parks and are very rural. They offer spectacular natural wonders, hiking, camping, and sightseeing opportunities free from the congestion of the major cities.

The Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges are the youngest of the three major mountainous regions. The Sierra Nevada extend across the "backbone" of California, and feature famous sites such as Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. Formed by granite bedrock shoved up through the Earth's surface by fault action less than 3 million years ago, the Sierras give way in northern California to the even younger volcanic Cascade range. While the Rockies have the vast majority of high peaks, the highest point in the continental US is Mount Whitney, in the Sierra Nevada; and the fifth-highest, Mount Rainier is in the Cascade range.

The Great Lakes define much of the border between the United States and Canada, also known as the North Coast. Formed by the pressure of glaciers retreating north at the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago, the five lakes touch the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The great lakes span hundreds of miles, and their shores offer everything from pristine wilderness areas to industrial "rust belt" cities. The great lakes are the largest source of freshwater in the world not including the frozen polar ice caps.

Climate

The climate is mostly temperate, with some amazing exceptions. Alaska is an arctic state, while Hawaii, essentially in the middle of the Pacific ocean, and Florida are tropical. The western half of the country is covered by plains and mountains. The Great Plains are dry, flat and grassy turning further west into arid desert with startling outcrops of rock columns and deep canyons. As with all places, anyone planning to visit a place in the US should familiarize themselves with the local climatology and pack clothes or items as appropriate.

Seasons vary dramatically in some locations in the US, including the northern and mid-western major cities. During the winter, Northern cities such as New York, Chicago, or Boston see a great deal of snow (in some cases as much as two feet (61 cm) or more during a single snowstorm) and can experience bitterly cold temperatures. Summers, however, are usually mild and on some days very humid. However, temperatures over 100°F (38°C) sometimes invade the entire Midwest and Great Plains region. Some areas in the northern plains can experience dangerously cold temperatures of -30°F (-34°Celsius) during the winter. Temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) sometimes invade as far south as Kansas or even Oklahoma.

The Great Plains & Midwestern states also experience tornadoes from the late spring to the early fall. Tornado season generally runs from Spring-early Summer in the south to Summer-early Fall in the north. If you plan to visit an area in these parts of the country you might want to visit the Tornado Safety page, be sure to stay alert to the weather forecast and to keep an eye on the sky for ominous clouds. Many areas also have warning sirens which will sound, indicating a tornado is nearby and cover should be sought.

The climate of the Southeastern states is chracterized by the phrase, "the long, hot, summer" - sticky too, one might add. Humidity and high temperatures make warmer months in these states good for little but sipping iced tea and plunging oneself into cool bodies of water. Winter is another matter entirely. Bright, clear, warmer-than-average days make outdoor activities possible nearly every winter day. Autumn is balmy and exhilarating, when color flows down from the mountains to the sea. A visit to the Southeast is best undertaken from October through April, when weather is glorious, and chiggers (a small insect which burrows into human flesh) and skeeters are subsiding. The Southeastern states,especially along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, may experience hurricanes. These monster storms are quite common during the summer, but few actually strike the U.S. mainland. If, however, one is forecast, do not take the situation lightly. Evacuations are often ordered for areas in the path of the storm and should be heeded.

The Rockies are very cold and snowy, with some regions seeing over 500 inches (1,200 cm) of snow in a season. Some of the world's most famous ski resorts are located in Colorado and Utah. Even during the summer temperatures are cool in the mountains, and snow can fall nearly year-round.

In the Intermountain West, (which consists of the Great Basin and several platueaus and basins extending through eastern Oregon and Washington), temperatures often drop below 0°F (-18°C) during winter and above 100°F (38°C) during summer. Snow is common during winter and precipitation scarce, averaging less than 15 inches (38 cm) annually across almost the entire region.

The Southwestern deserts are extremely arid and hot during the summer, with summer temperatures exceeding 100°F (38°C) through most of the summer. This includes such cities as Las Vegas and Phoenix. Thunderstorms can be expected in the southwest frequently from July through September due to the summer monsoon that rises from Mexico. Winters in this region are mild, and snow is unusual. Average annual precipitation is less than 10 inches (25 cm).

Cool and damp weather is common in the northwest in areas such as in Seattle or Portland. Rain is most frequent in winter, and snow is rare along the coastal regions. The Pacific coast is rainy and cool. The Pacific coast rarely sees snow and extremes in temperature are uncommon. Rain falls almost exclusively from late fall through early spring along the coast, except in Washington, where rain falls year-round.

The Missouri-Mississippi river system runs from the far north to the Gulf of Mexico, cutting the country almost in half, and giving a convenient mental border between "East" and "West." These rivers sometimes flood.

History

America, in the large sense, was once populated by Amerindian peoples. In the United States those that remain are known as Native Americans, or American Indians. With populations once in the tens of millions, most led tribal, hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Later some settlements and political enclaves based on agriculture, such as the Five Nations of the Northeast and the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest, developed.

European settlement of the area began in the 16th century with the establishment of St. Augustine in Florida by missionaries from Spain. The Spanish also established colonies in much of the Southwest, California, Texas and Louisiana as extensions of their North American stronghold in Mexico. Meanwhile, French missionaries and settlers from Canada made inroads into the Great Lakes region of the Midwest and down the Ohio and Mississippi river systems. The colony of Louisiana, centered around New Orleans, subsequently became a French stronghold in the Gulf of Mexico. Smaller colonies were established by the Netherlands in present-day New York, by Sweden on the Atlantic Coast, and by Russia in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

The founding of British colonies in Virginia and Massachusetts in the early 17th century marks the beginning of what we now know as the United States of America. By the early 18th century, 13 colonies ranged along the Atlantic coast from Georgia to present-day Maine. It also marked the beginning of the displacement of the Native American population westward and the extinction of many others, as well as the end of the embryonic Dutch and Swedish footholds.

There were distinct differences between the British settlers of the north and south: the southern areas, because of a longer growing season, had richer agricultural prospects, especially for cotton and tobacco. Large plantations developed with most of the labor being provided by African slaves, as was typical of most of Central and South America, and for the same reasons. The Northern colonies on the other hand developed as mercantile societies modelled after the "home" country, Britain. This dichotomy would later lead to a civil war.

By the late 18th century, the colonials were divided between loyalists and those who wished to separate from Britain. The revolutionaries carried the day and declared independence on July 4, 1776. This precipitated a Revolutionary War against the British, and this date has become a national holiday commemorating the establishment of the country. The American Constitution was inspired by Enlightenment-era ideas about government and human rights and remains a model that is considered by newly forming democracies around the world.

The late 18th and early 19th century were characterized by the stabilization of the Federal government and the first steps of Western expansion. Many Americans felt a Manifest Destiny to expand all the way to the Pacific ocean. Territories in the Midwest were added as new states, and the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 gave the United States nominal control of former French territory along the Mississippi River, and stretching out to the Pacific Ocean. Much of this area was however contested by Britain, especially in the northeast. Florida was purchased in 1813 from the Spanish; American settlers in Texas and California both rebelled against the Mexican government, and these areas were added to the Union. The Mexican-American War of the 1840s won the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, giving the continental US the rough outlines it has today. The marginalization of the Native Americans, and their concentration in the west by treaty, military force, and by the inadvertent spread of European diseases, continued apace.

By the mid-19th century the differences between North and South had become severe. Though slavery was not the only issue between the two, it was an important one. In particular, the question of whether the new states in the west would be "slave" or "free" became a critical issue. By the 1860s, the Southern states decided to secede from the Union and civil war broke out. It was one of the bloodiest conflicts in history, costing hundreds of thousands of lives. With the victory of the North a single country was maintained. While slavery was abolished, the former slaves by and large remained an economic and social underclass in the South.

The late 19th century saw the USA cementing its power on the continent and making tentative expansions abroad. Alaska was purchased from the Russians in the 1870s, and Hawaii was annexed in the 1890s. The Spanish-American War gained the first "colonial" territories: the Philippines and Cuba (both later granted independence) and Puerto Rico (which remains by choice a US territory).

In the Eastern cities of the United States, an immigration boom had begun. Southern and Eastern Europeans, especially Italians, and Slavs, including many Jews fleeing Russian pogroms, joined Irish refugees to become a cheap labor force for the country's growing industrialization. Many Southern African-Americans fled rural poverty for the relative security of industrial jobs in the North. Other immigrants, including many Scandinavians and Germans, moved to the now-opened territories in the West and Midwest, where land was available for free to anyone who would develop it. A network of railroads, most notably the transcontinental railroad which runs from the Atlantic to the Pacific, crisscrossed the country, allowing faster movement of people and materials, and thus accelerating development. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prevented Chinese and other Asian groups from immigrating in large numbers in the late 1800's and early to mid 1900's.

With its entrance into World War I near the end of the conflict, the United States truly established itself as a world power. The creation of real wealth grew rapidly in this period, yet in the Roaring 20s stock speculation created an immense "bubble" which, when it burst in October of 1929, created economic havoc, known as the Great Depression, across the country and around the world. This crisis exacerbated the disaffection among the working classes in the United States and around the world and led to a rise in socialist thinking that was to have a large effect on the rest of the century.

In late 1941 the United States entered World War II, which had begun in Europe in 1939. In Alliance with the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, the USA helped defeat the fascist regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan. At the end of this war of unprecedented scale, the United States, because of its relative isolation and power, became the dominant economic power in the world, producing nearly half of the world's production. The Soviet Union, a former ally, though now devastated from the war was still a powerful military power, and became a rival of the United States and the other "western" countries, giving rise to what is now known as the Cold War.

Also at the end of the war, African Americans, who had long suffered de facto disenfranchisement, demanded equal rights, with widespread demonstrations. This, and the status of women and other "overdue" societal changes that had been contained by the effort of the war, flowered into a virtual revolution. The unpopular war in Vietnam, a by-product of the Cold War, added to the social strife. Taken together these changes led to significant change in the country: the economic and political conditions for African Americans substantially improved; a majority of women entered the workplace, and this had a powerful effect on homelife, the workplace and the economy.

Culture

In some countries it can be said that there is a "culture" that typifies the country and distinguishes it from others: characteristics, for example, such as art, manners, religious outlook, and the knowledge and values of the population. This characterization is not in general possible for the United States. In part this is because the population's culture originates from numerous roots in other countries, and in part it is because of the initial dichotomy between the agricultural south and the industrial north and the related distinction between urban and rural lifestyles that is common the world over. If one visits New York City; Peoria, Illinois; Macon, Georgia; and Dallas, Texas; one should be prepared to see very distinct cultures indeed. In addition, the percentage of local population that is first-generation immigrant varies greatly depending on specific location within the United States. Generally speaking, the 2003 US Census found that 11.7 percent of the total inhabitants of the United States were foreign born. That same census stated that 6 out of 10 foreign born residents live in the West and Northwest. A minority of Americans consider these new residents to be alien cultures existing inside a general American cultural framework, whereas others consider the inclusion of immigrant communities to be an integral part of the American experience.

Yet there is a culture that is said to be American, in a way a stereotype of what America wishes itself to be, a culture that people over the globe have seen in Hollywood film, and that has energized immigrants from all over the world. Like all stereotypes there is a certain truth to it; likewise, there is a certain falsity. For example, it has been said that America is a "classless" society. This is true in the sense of class as it is traditionally known in Europe or India, where one's class at birth largely determines one's social station in life. But there is a huge disparity in the socioeconomic status of the upper and lower classes in America. The "classlessness" means that one can freely move between them if one's financial situation changes; one's outcomes – not one's origins – determine one's class.

It is also true that Americans are more materialistic and individualistic than many other cultures, though that is probably true of any very wealthy society. The wealth on display almost casually in large shopping malls all over the country might seem shocking to someone from a developing country. Yet it is also true that America is more religious than most other industrialized countries. So it is a mixed bag, and this should make it an interesting place to visit.

Politically, the country has recently been divided almost equally between its two major parties. The people on the east and west coasts (lately referred to as "blue states") tend to resemble the center-left populations of Europe in their views, while the people in the Midwest and in the South ("red states") tend to lean towards the right of center. In a similar way, urban areas tend toward the left while rural areas tend toward the right. But politics in America are very fluid and geographic allegiances have varied substantially over the decades. Americans are also highly mobile, and many people in one area may have grown up in another, bringing their political preferences with them. In the last presidential election, only three states gave more than two-thirds of their vote to a particular candidate, so most "red" states have plenty of "blue" voters, and vice versa! Americans also have a tendency toward centrism; far-right or far-left political movements that might take hold in other places tend to do poorly in America.

Many current trends in industrialized and developing countries began in the United States, and almost every modern invention, including telephones, cars, airplanes, radio, television, computers, the Internet, and many others, were either invented or first mass-produced in the United States. The dependence on cars and the national interstate system to get around has long been an American icon, and to this day the United States has one of the highest per-capita car ownerships in the world. Other traditional elements of United States culture include Hollywood films, country music, blues, jazz, rock, rap, pop music, and fast food.

Holidays

The US has a number of holidays - official and/or cultural - of which the traveller should be aware (special events, closures, changed schedules, disruption, etc.) Note that holidays observed on Mondays are usually treated as weekend-long events.

• New Years Day (January 1) - most businesses closed; hangovers from parties the previous night, football parties
• Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January) - many government offices and banks closed; diversity-awareness programs
• St. Valentine's Day (February 14) - no significant closures; romantic evenings out
• Presidents Day (third Monday in February) - (also Washington's Birthday) - many government offices and banks closed; few observances
• St. Patrick's Day (March 17) - no significant closures; Irish-themed parties in the evening. Travellers may want to be wary of the drunken revelry and associated drunk driving crackdowns.
• Easter (a Sunday in March or April) - few significant closures; religious observances
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May) - most non-retail/tourism businesses closed; some patriotic observances; extensive travel to beaches and parks; traditional beginning of summer tourism season
• Independence Day / Fourth of July (July 4) - most businesses closed; patriotic parades, fireworks after dark
• Labor Day (first Monday in September) - most businesses closed; extensive travel to beaches and parks; traditional ending of summer tourism season
• Columbus Day (second Monday in October) - many government offices and banks closed; few observances
• Halloween (October 31) - no significant closures - trick-or-treating and costume parties in the evening
• Veterans Day (November 11) - many government offices and banks closed; some patriotic observances
• Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November, unofficially the Friday and weekend after) - most non-retail businesses closed; family gatherings, Christmas shopping
• Christmas (December 25) - most businesses closed the evening before and all day; exchanging gifts, religious observances

Get in

Citizens of the 27 countries within the Visa Waiver Program , as well as Canadians, Mexicans living in the border and Bermudans, do not require an advance visa for entry into the United States, although other conditions may apply. Most notably, a machine-readable passport will be required failing which they will have to apply for a visa, and Mexicans living in the border must also apply for a reusable Border Crossing Card. Passports issued after October 26, 2005 need digital photographs embedded on them, and after October 26, 2006, e-passports, which have a chip embedded with the user's information, will be required.

The countries under the Visa waiver program are Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

For the rest of the world (including Mexicans NOT living in the border) the visa application process is onerous, expensive, and slow. The application fee is US$100 (not refundable even if your application is rejected). Face-to-face interviews (where the official needs to be convinced that you are not a "potential immigrant") at the nearest US embassy or consulate are required for many nationalities, and waits for interview slots and visa processing can add up to several months.

The best advice for travelers today, from any country, is not to assume, but to check on documentation requirements with the United States State Department or with your nearest United States consulate. In addition, if coming to the country by car, be sure to have documents including car insurance, rental agreements, drivers license, etc., before trying to enter the US, as the process has become more strict in the last few years.

All visitors go through a short interview at immigration, where the official tries to determine if the traveler's stated purpose of visit is valid. Be prepared to show proof. For example if you are on a business visit, it is advisable to have an invitation letter from the company you are visiting, and a return ticket. If you are a tourist, you'll probably need to show proof of hotel bookings, etc. Once they decide to let you in, you are fingerprinted and a digital photograph is taken. The Department of Homeland Security has now named the program of additional security measures US-VISIT and is now piloting a measure where you need to leave your fingerprint and photograph at a kiosk even while leaving. Currently, this is applicable at 12 airports and 2 seaports. Check the list, as most of the important ports of entry are covered.

Travelers from other continents may not bring meat or raw fruit or vegetables into the USA, but may bring cooked nonmeats, such as bread. See APHIS for details.

By plane

Most visitors from outside Canada and Mexico arrive in the United States by plane. While even medium sized inland cities such as, for example, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have an international airport there are limited flights to most of these airports and most travelers find themselves entering the US at one of the major entry points along the coasts. The three primary entry points to the country are:

• From the east New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, DC and Miami are the primary entry points from Europe and other transatlantic points of departure.

• From the west Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, California are the primary entry points for travelers from Asia and other transpacific points of departure.

• From the south Miami, Florida is the primary entry point from Latin America, primarily South America. Also, Dallas and Houston are major international waypoints.

Note that the United States does not recognize the concept of international transit, and you must have a valid visa to enter the United States even if you are continuing on a flight to different country. It is advisable to avoid transiting through the U.S. if you don't have a visa.

By car

As to roads from Canada and Mexico, they are too numerous to mention and travelers should consult Yahoo Maps, Mapquest or Google Maps or any other online mapping service. You will be able to get detailed itineraries from wherever you are to wherever you wish to go.

By boat

Entering the US 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 US, notable from the Atlantic Provinces to New England, and from Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle.

By train

Amtrak offers international service from Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal into the US.

Get around

The size of the US and the distance separating major cities make air the dominant mode of travel for short term travelers. But if you have time, travel by car can be interesting.

By plane

By far the most convenient form of intercity travel in the USA is air travel. Coast-to-coast travel takes about 6 hours, compared to the days or weeks necessary for land transportation. Most cities in the US are served by one or even two airports, with many small towns also having some passenger air service. A hub and spoke system of air travel is most common. In this scheme small cities' air traffic go first to a hub city where traffic is aggregated before flying on to the destination city. Transfer for bags checked at the original airport is handled automatically to your final destination. Depending on where you are starting from, it can sometimes be cheaper to drive to a nearby large city and fly from there or, conversely, to fly to a large city near your destination and drive from there.

Major carriers compete vigorously for business on major routes, and bargains can be had for travelers willing to book two or more weeks in advance. The converse of this is that most smaller destinations are served by only one or two regional carriers, and prices there can be surprisingly expensive. There are some discount air carriers in the USA and they are becoming more dominant all the time. Southwest Airlines is the largest and best known; unlike its European counterparts, there are significant penalties for not booking in advance.

Online travel agencies, such as Expedia Travelocity and Orbitz list most flights of all the airlines and you can pick and choose based on price, travel time, number of stops, etc. A little time spent familiarizing oneself with these websites can often save considerable money.

There are a number of ways to save money when flying domestically in the United States. See Cheap airline travel in North America.

By train

Passenger trains in the United States are surprisingly scarce and relatively expensive. Service is severely underfunded with respect to the other major forms of travel (highways, air), and therefore, quite limited. Passenger rail in the USA is now nationalized since private carriers dropped passenger service and focused on more lucrative freight transport, although intraregional commuter passenger travel is alive and well, carrying workers from the suburbs into some of the larger cities, including Chicago and New York City, among others. The national rail system, Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL), provides service to many cities, concentrating more on sightseeing tours than efficient intercity travel. They have promotional discounts of 15% for students and seniors, and a 30-day USA Rail Pass for international travelers only.

A major Amtrak line in regular daily use by Americans themselves is the Northeast Corridor line, running between Boston and Washington (D.C.). It stops in New York, Philadelphia and many other cities on the way. This line is electrical, with top speeds of 150 miles per hour (though the average speed is a good deal slower). The fastest trains are the Metroliner and the Acela Express, both of which have first class service, but can be quite expensive. Given the difficulty and expense of getting from the center of some of the major Northeastern cities to their respective airports, trains can sometimes be more convenient than air travel.

While some trains in the Northeast Corridor and other medium-distance lines do not require advance reservations, the premium trains and most of the long-distance trains do require such reservations. During usual American vacation times, some long-distance trains can sell out weeks or even months in advance, so it pays to book early if you plan on using the long-distance trains.

One major scenic long-distance train route, the California Zephyr, runs from Emeryville in the Bay Area of California to Chicago, via Reno, Salt Lake City and Denver. The full trip takes around 60 hours, but has incredible views of the Western deserts, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains, things that you just cannot see if you fly. Many of the sights on this route are simply inaccessible to cars. The trains run only once per day, and they usually sell out well in advance.

Amtrak also provides reasonably speedy daily roundtrips between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada and several daily trips between Seattle and Eugene, Oregon on the Amtrak Cascades line.

By car

America's love affair with the automobile is legendary, and most Americans prefer the convenience of car travel for getting to nearby cities in their state or region. Many northern "snowbirds" drive to a haven in the south for the winter so that they have their auto with them. Besides intercity travel, a car can be necessary even to get around in a single city. Travelers from outside the country may not sufficiently appreciate the need for an automobile in the USA. Of course in very large cities like New York City or Chicago there are extensive in-city bus service and large numbers of cruising taxicabs, but in most medium-sized American cities, particularly in the west and south, cities are very spread out and bus service thin. Taxis are often available, but except at airports you may have to call ahead for one and wait a half-hour or so to be picked up, and make similar arrangements to return. Even in very large cities, like Los Angeles, getting around by taxi is a very unreliable for travel, although buses run throughout the city.

A romantic appeal is attached to the idea of long-distance car travel; many Americans will tell you that you can't see the "real" America except by car. Given the dearth of public transportation within American cities, the loss of time travelling by car between cities, compared to flying, can be made up by the convenience of driving around within cities once you arrive. In addition, many of the country's major natural attractions, such as the Grand Canyon, are almost impossible to get to without an automobile.

The United States is covered with a convenient system of U.S. and Interstate highways, funded by the federal government, and built and maintained by the states. These huge roads network between major (and minor) population centers, and can make it easy to eat up long distances in record time. Enforcement of posted speed limits is somewhat unpredictable; keeping pace with slower local drivers will usually avoid a troublesome citation.

Renting a car in the USA usually runs anywhere from $30 and $100 per day, with some discounts for week-long rentals. The major rental agencies are Hertz (+1 800 230 4898); Avis (+1 800 230 4898); Thrifty Car Rental; and Dollar Rent A Car. There are no large national discount car rental agencies but in each city there is usually at least one. The internet or the Yellow Pages are the easiest ways to find them. One more or less national chain is Rent-A-Wreck (+1 800 944 7501). It rents used cars at significantly lower prices. Most rental agencies have downtown offices in major cities as well as offices at major airports. Not all companies allow picking up a car in one city and dropping it off in another, and most have higher rates for long-distance travel; check with the rental agency when making your reservations.

Most rental agencies accept an International Driver's Permit only when presented along with a valid driver's license from your country. You may wish to join some kind of auto club before starting a large American road trip, and having a cell phone is a very good idea. Most rental agencies have some kind of emergency road service program, but they can have spotty coverage for remote regions. The largest and most popular club in the United States is The American Automobile Association (1-800-391-4AAA), known as "Triple A". A yearly membership runs about $60, which is well worth the peace of mind. AAA members also get discounts at many hotels, motels, restaurants and attractions; which may make it worth getting a membership even if you don't drive. Alternatively, Better World Club (1-866-238-1137) offers similar rates and benefits as AAA with often timelier service and is a more eco-friendly choice (1% of revenue is donated to environmental cleanup programs).

Traffic signs with many English words can be very unfriendly and even dangerous to foreign drivers who cannot read English, such as signs with words only saying "NO TURNS", "NO MOTOR VEHICLES", or "NO PARKING". The country is gradually adopting signs with internationally understood symbols, usually with English "translations" for locals not yet familiar with them. Foreign drivers who cannot read English may wish to avoid driving themselves. Signs rarely use metric units; distances and speeds will almost always be given in miles and miles/hour. (1 mile = 1.6 km.)

Gasoline ("gas") is sold by the gallon. The American gallon is smaller than the UK gallon, and equals 3.785 liters. Also, octane is lower than in Europe. Despite increasing petroleum prices worldwide and some increases in gas taxes, the American voter's attachment to his automobile has kept retail fuel prices much lower than in many parts of the world. Prices fluctuate by region and season, but have generally been in the neighborhood of $2.00-$2.50/gallon the past couple years.

By bus

Intercity bus travel in the United States is widespread, but is not available everywhere. Many patrons often use bus travel when other modes aren't readily available, as buses often connect many smaller towns with regional cities. Many of the disadvantaged and elderly often use these bus lines, as automobile travel proves arduous or unaffordable for some.

Greyhound Bus Lines (+1 800 229 9424) has the predominant share of American bus travel. Their North American Discovery Pass allows unlimited travel for ranges of 4 to 60 days, but you might want to try riding one or two buses first before locking yourself in to an exclusively-bus American journey.

For bus service between large East Coast cities (particularly Washington (D.C.), New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston), travelers can purchase deeply discounted (below Greyhound prices) tickets from a number of small operators, typically called "Chinatown bus" operators, because they usually enter and depart from the Chinatown area of the cities they serve.

By thumb

A long history of hitchhiking comes out of the U.S., with record of automobile hitchhikers as early as 1911. Today, hitchhiking is not as common, but many thousands of people still take short or cross-country trips each year. The laws related to hitchhiking in the U.S. were most recently proposed by the Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) and adopted with changes in wording by individual states. In general, it is legal to hitchhike throughout the majority of the country, if not standing within the boundaries of a highway (usually marked by a solid white line at the shoulder of the road) or if not on a major interstate highway prohibiting pedestrians.

In many states interstate highways do not allow foot traffic, so hitchhikers must use the entrance ramps. In a few states it is allowed or tolerated (unless on a toll road). Oklahoma, Texas and Oregon are a few states that do allow pedestrians (ie, hitchhikers) on the highway shoulder, although not in some metropolitan areas. Oklahoma allows foot traffic on all free interstates, but not toll roads) and Texas only bans it on toll roads - and on free interstates within the city of El Paso. Oregon only bans it in the three counties that make up the tri-met transit district (Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington (Metro Portland).) Missouri only bans it within Kansas City and St. Louis city limits.

If traveling smaller highways, make sure to stay on the far edge of the shoulder and walk facing traffic. Holding a sign with your destination or raising a thumb both work, as most Americans understand that you are requesting a ride. However, hitchhiking can be dangerous (for both hiker and the one giving the ride) due to crime, is highly discouraged, and in some areas a hitchhiker may have a very difficult time finding a ride.

Talk

The USA has no official language at the federal level, but English is by far the standard for everyday use. Several states have declared their official state language as English. Some states have declared Spanish an official language as well, providing services in both languages. Visitors from Commonwealth countries may get some funny looks when using certain expressions peculiar to their dialect, and may themselves be shocked by certain American English expressions, but they should otherwise get along fine. A degree of romance is attached to non-American English accents, and people may be friendlier to you because of yours.

The majority of American accents are derived from Irish and British accents, with some Dutch influence. There are fascinating regional accents in the South and Texas, in New England, in New York City, in California, and in the upper Midwest, but aside from pronunciation and a few colorful local phrases Americans from different regions all speak English. Americans tend to speak their native dialect, but when speaking formally, they speak something similiar to a flat "Midwestern" accent, much popularized by radio, TV and movies. Many will also try to speak this way if they realize you have trouble understanding them. However, people with strong local accents may be difficult for non-native English speakers to understand.

Many African Americans, and some Americans of other ancestries, speak what linguists refer to as "African American Vernacular English." AAVE derived from the nation's southern varieties of English, likely under the influence of west African languages. To what extent these languages account for the dialect's vocabulary and grammar is, however, a matter of dispute.

In many parts of the USA, such as California, the Southwest, Texas, Florida, and New York, Spanish is the first language of a large minority of residents, mostly immigrants from Mexico or Latin America. Although it's rare to be in areas where no one speaks English, a good handle on Spanish can make communications easier in some areas. In addition to English and Spanish, French is spoken in rural areas near the border with Quebec, Hawaiian is the native language of Hawaii, and in the various Chinatowns in the US's major cities, Chinese is common.

Besides immigrants or second generation Americans, few Americans can speak a foreign language fluently. Many educated Americans have received at least limited foreign language education (Spanish being the most common choice by far), but even so they likely haven't made use of it in years. Visiting the USA without at least a rudimentary knowledge of English will be quite difficult, yet if you learn a little, even from a phrase book, you will probably do all right, and generally, if you ask, people will be glad to help you.

People may have strong and unexpected feelings about local politics and US foreign policy, and conversations about those topics need to be handled carefully.

Buy

The official US currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). Conversion rates vary daily, but approximate ratios with other major currencies (as of November 2005) follow:

• Euro: €1 = $1.18, $1 = €0.85
• Yen: 1 yen = $0.01, $1 = 119 yen
• Canadian dollar: CAD$1 = $0.85, $1 = CAD$1.17
• British pound: £1 = $1.72, $1 = £0.58
• Australian dollar: AUD$1 = $0.74, $1 = AUD$1.35

For current conversion rates you may go here.

Because of America's relative isolation, currency exchange centers are relatively rare outside the downtowns of coastal cities and international airports. However, some banks are able to convert foreign currency to U.S. dollars, although it is often unclear which banks will and won't and in any case the exchange rate is likely to be unfavorable. In addition, with some banks, the currency exchange process might take up to a week, during which the bank keeps the currency in its possession.

Most automated teller machines (ATMs) can handle foreign bank cards or credit cards, but fees of $2-$10 can apply. Also, most ATMs provide transactions in English and Spanish only.

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used. Other cards, namely popular brands such as American Express and Discover are also widely accepted, but might not be as widely available as Visa or Mastercard. Almost all restaurants, hotels, and shops will accept credit cards, and when making large purchases, it is typical for the shop to ask for picture identification.

Most Americans, except in big cities, shop at malls. These shopping centers vary from small strip malls (implying a long, straight line or "strip" of stores) with perhaps a dozen or so stores, to gigantic malls that contain hundreds of stores and acres of parking space. These will certainly include some so-called big box stores, facilities that in themselves are huge and that aggregate anything from baby shoes to lawnmowers under one roof. Generally you can get to a mall only by car, although for the larger ones bus service is usually available.

American posted prices are usually set in stone and non-negotiable. Some retail stores have student or senior discounts but you will probably have to ask. Americans love a good bargain and respect a bargain-hunter, so it never hurts to ask store personnel how to get lower prices. Every state except for Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota and Oregon have a state or county sales tax, ranging from 2.5% in less populated area to about 8-9% in larger cities and states. Tax is not included in almost any price. Exceptions include gasoline, vending machines, and food at some public attractions or events. Some states impose sales tax on (grocery) food purchases while others do not, though generally restaurant and prepared foods are always subject to sales tax.

If you intend to visit any of the National Parks Service sites, such as the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park, it is worth considering purchasing a National Park Pass - this costs US$50 and gives access to almost all of the National Parks for one year. Considering the price of admission to many parks is at least US$20 EACH, if you visit more than a couple of parks the park pass will be the cheaper solution.

Eat

The variety of restaurants throughout the US is remarkable. One thing that a traveler from Europe or Latin America will notice is that, in some locations, many restaurants do not serve beer, wine or liquor. Another is the sheer number and variety of fast food and chain restaurants. Most open early in the morning and stay open late at night; a few are open 24 hours a day.

Types of restaurants

Fast food restaurants, such as McDonalds, are ubiquitous. But the variety of this type of restaurant in the US is astounding: pizza, Chinese food, Mexican food, fish, chicken, barbequed meat, and ice-cream only begin to touch on it. Alcoholic beverages are not served in these restaurants; "soda" (called "pop" in the Midwest) or other so-called "soft drinks" are standard. The idea here is that one chooses the type of food one wishes first, and then selects a restaurant that serves it. The quality of the food served varies but, in general, because of the strictly limited menu, it is good. Also the restaurants are usually clean and bright, and the service, to the extent there is service, is friendly. In many locations away from the major cities, you will probably need a car to get to one that you want.

Take-out food is also very common. You will order by phone and then usually drive to the restaurant to pick it up and take it away. Many places will also deliver this type of food to your hotel or home.

Another type of restaurant is the chain restaurant. These are usually sit-down restaurants and many times specialize in a particular cuisine such as seafood or meat, though some serve a large variety of all types. Some are well-known for the breakfast meal alone, such as the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) which serves breakfast all day. A few of the larger chain restaurants include Red Lobster, The Olive Garden, and Chi Chis to name a few. These restaurants generally serve alcoholic beverages, though not always.

Very large cities in America are like large cities anywhere, and one may select from inexpensive neighborhood eateries to extravagantly expensive full-service restaurants with extensive wine lists. In most medium sized cities and suburbs, you will also find a wide variety of restaurants of all classes. In "up-scale" restaurants, rules for men to wear jackets and ties, while once de rigueur, are becoming more relaxed, but you should check first if there is any doubt.

In the northeast, the diner is a popular restaurant. They are individually run, 24-hr. establishments found along the major roadways, but also in large cities and suburban areas. They offer a huge variety of large-portion meals that often include soup or salad, bread, beverage and dessert. They are usually very popular among the locals for breakfast. Cost is comparable to the chain restaurant.

No compendium of American restaurants would be complete without mentioning the truck stop. You will only encounter these places if you are taking an intercity auto or bus trip. They are located on interstate highways and they cater to truckers, usually having a separate area for diesel fuel -- which is not always available in regular gas (petrol) stations -- as well as areas for parking the big rigs (Large trucks). Because long distance truckers sleep in cots inside their cabs, many of these trucker establishments have shower facilities for truckers as well. These fabled restaurants serve what passes on the road for plain home cooking: hot roast beef sandwiches, meatloaf, fried chicken, and of course the ubiquitous hamburger and fries. A general gauge of how good the food at a truck-stop restaurant is would be to note how many truckers have stopped there to eat.

In large cities you will always find large fancy restaurants. Dress is often formal and the restaurants are almost never chains. For a family of 3 or 4 you will find yourself paying over $100. New York, California, Florida and many large cities are known for these restaurants. A large number of the meals at these restaurants will consist of filet fignon, lobster or other high price foods. These restaurants are not always vegetarian friendly however.

Types of food

Barbeque, BBQ, or barbecue is uniquely USA and can be delicious. At its best, it's beef brisket, ribs, or pork shoulder wood smoked slowly for hours as the cooking method. The brisket and ribs are usually sliced thin, and the pork shoulder can be shredded into a dish known as pulled pork.

Chinese food is also widely available, though a traveler from China might find it quite "Americanized". Japanese sushi and Thai food have also been adapted for the American market in recent years. Fusion cuisine combines Asian ingredients and techniques with more traditional American presentation. Indian food outlets are available in most US cities and towns.

Along with Chinese and Thai food, Mexican food is extremely popular among most age groups. As with other cooking traditions, Americans have given it their own twist. Combining in various ways beans, rice, cheese, and spiced beef or chicken with round flatbread loaves called tortillas, dishes are usually topped with spicy salsa, sour cream, and an avocado mix called guacamole. Small shops called taquerias can be found in the Southwest of the USA (and in recent years increasingly in cities throughout the country), where a good meal can be put together for $5-$10. The North and East usually have more pricey establishments, with entrees running about $10-15. Multiple (sometimes dozens of) Mexican restaurants can be found in almost every US city.

With a rich tradition of immigration, America has a wide variety of ethnic foods; everything from Ethiopian cuisine to Laotian food is available in major cities with large immigrant populations.

Vegetarian food is easy to come by in big urban areas. Most big cities and college towns have vegetarian restaurants serving exclusively or primarily vegetarian dishes. In smaller towns you may need to check the menu at several restaurants before finding a vegetarian entree, or else make up a meal out of side dishes. Veggie-only breakfast foods such as pancakes or eggs can be found at most diners.

People on low-fat or low-calorie diets should be well-served in the USA, as there has been a continuing trend in calorie consciousness since the 1970s. Even fast-food restaurants have "lite" specials, and can provide charts of calorie and fat counts on request.

For the backpacker or those on very restricted budgets, American supermarkets offer an almost infinite variety of pre-packaged/pre-processed foods that are either ready or almost ready for consumption, e.g. breakfast cereal, ramen noodles, canned soups / "meals", etc. While the quality of these "mass-produced" foods is somewhat questionable, they are much cheaper than most restaurant meals. Foreign travelers on any budget are often amazed at the endless and (to some) excessive selection of goods at American grocers.

Tipping

Unlike much of the world, tipping in America is standard practice for customers in full-service restaurants (where a waiter takes your order at the table and delivers it). Theoretically, tipping is discretionary, but in practice, except in the most extreme cases (i.e. grossly substandard service which management refuses to address), you should always leave a tip. Ponder these points before deciding to "stiff" a server:

• In many areas of the U.S. it is legal to pay waitstaff less than the mandatory minimum wage, so tips often form the majority of their income.
• In many restaurants, the waiter is required to share the tip with the rest of the service staff, so failing to tip the server deprives them of income as well.

Because some tourists from other countries do not understand the expectation of a tip, some servers may retaliate by giving poor service to all foreigners. If this seems to be happening, it might be advisable to "ask" the waiter whether the tip will be included in the bill, or some other comment to indicate that you intend to give one. A standard rate is 15% of the total bill (before taxes or any discounts), with 20-25% being expected for better than average care. For parties of six or more, many restaurants automatically add a "tip" of 15% or more to the bill itself; check before you pay.

If you do get a server whose people skills need a major overhaul, or if you receive substandard food (e.g. food which arrives at your table cold) and the server refuses to address it, explain the situation to the manager before deciding not to leave a tip. A reputable restaurant will usually apologize and attempt to fix the problem, and a standard tip would then be expected (even if the manager gives you your meal free of charge in apology). A tip is still expected in the event of honest mistakes like spilled food, properly atoned for (e.g. an offer to pay the dry cleaning bill). If you receive poor service that is not corrected, a deliberately small tip (one or two coins) will express your displeasure more clearly than leaving no tip at all.

Tipping is not expected at restaurants (including fast-food chains and cafeterias) where patrons stand at a counter to place their order and receive their food. Some such restaurants may have a "tip jar" by the cash register, which may be used at the customer's discretion in appreciation of good service.

Etiquette

In American restaurants of all types, it is not considered appropriate to join a table already occupied by other diners even if there are unused seats available. However, there are exceptions to this rule, mainly cafeteria-style eateries with long bench tables. Additionally, in informal eateries and cafes, especially in crowded cities like New York, you may have success asking a stranger if you can share the table they're sitting at. The inverse of this, of course, is that if you are at a table with unused seats and the establishment is busy, you may be asked to share your table.

Drink

Drinking customs in America are as varied as the backgrounds of its many peoples, except the legal drinking age which is 21 years old for the entire country. With some few interesting exceptions, one will find that the countryside bars or taverns, as distinct from restaurants, are few. However in urban settings you will find numerous bars and nightclubs where food is either nonexistent or rudimentary. In very large cities, of course, drinking places run the gamut from tough, local, "shot and a beer" bars to upscale "martini bars" where you may sample anything from the traditional martini cocktail to exotics which might include "coffee" martinis and "chocolate" martinis.

While most American beer drinkers prefer light lagers – until the 1990s this was the only kind commonly sold – a wide variety of beers are now available all over the States. It is not too unusual to find a bar serving a hundred or more different kinds of beer, both bottled and "draft", though most will have perhaps a dozen or three, with a half dozen "on tap". Microbreweries – some of which have grown to be moderately large and/or purchased by one of the major breweries – make every kind of beer in much smaller quantities with traditional methods. Most microbrews are distributed regionally; bartenders will know the local brands. Some brew pubs make their own beer in-house, and generally only serve the house brand. Some states also have "3.2 beer" which is no more than 3.2% alcohol, and more loosely licensed for sale. Some states, particularly Utah and parts of Texas, have strict laws concerning alcoholic beverages. Some of these laws may seem odd to foreigners and even Americans from other states.

Wine in America is also a contrast between low-quality commercial fare versus extremely high-quality product. California wines are some of the best in the world, and are available on most wine lists in the country. California wines are labeled by the grape (merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay) rather than the regional appellation, although wine producers are trying to give names like Napa Valley some more clout on the market. French wines are available, especially in the East. Some Chilean and Australian wines can also be found, but what's imported to the US is usually of lower quality. Other countries – including Spain and Italy – are also increasingly making their way on to America's wine map. Many other U.S. regions have also undertaken winemaking, with varying levels of success and respect. Sparkling wines such as champagne and prosecco are available by the bottle in many restaurants, especially Italian restaurants, but are rarely served by the glass as they often are in western Europe. You will find that the wines served in most bars and taverns in America is of the "bulk" variety, not very good, and often not served in proper glasses. On the other hand, wine bars are becoming more common in urban areas and a wide variety of good American and foreign wines are available.

Hard alcohol is usually drunk with mixers, as elsewhere, and their increasing popularity has caused a long term trend toward drinking light-colored and more "mixable" liquors, especially vodka, and away from the more traditional darker liquors such as whiskey and bourbon that older drinkers favor.

In some places, such as as Texas, many bars only have a beer and wine license. In such places, you are allowed to bring your own hard liquor in; the bartender will then sell you juice and sodas at very high prices, known as setups. It can turn a $1 Coca-Cola into $2.50, but if you mostly are drinking liquor instead of Coke it can be a money saver on a night out on the town. Several counties in the U.S. known as "dry counties" – mostly in southern states – do not allow certain types of alcohol or any type of alcohol in public establishments. This means you should plan ahead or intend to join a private club to drink. Sunday sales are a problem in some states for hard liquor but beer and wine are almost always available after noon on Sunday.

Nightclubs in America run the usual gamut of various music scenes, from discos with top-40 dance tunes to obscure clubs serving tiny slices of obscure musical genres. Country music dance clubs, or honky tonks, are laid fairly thick in the South and West, especially in rural areas and away from the coasts, but one or two can be found in almost any city.

Sleep

By far the most common form of lodging in rural United States is the motel. Providing inexpensive rooms ($25-$80 per night as of 2004) to automotive travellers, most motels are clean and reasonable with a limited array of amenities: telephone, TV, bed, bathroom. As with most low-cost accommodations around the world, the cheaper motels tend to attract a varied clientele. Motel 6 (+1 800 466-8356) is a national chain with reasonable rates ($30-$60, depending on the city). In the North-East many inexpensive motels can typically be found at each highyway exit, particularly along the heavier travelled highways such as I-95. This can add an element of convenience since you don't have to arbitrarily interrupt a long road trip - you can simply drive until you're tired then find a room.

Hotels are available in most cities and usually offer more services and amenities than motels. Rooms usually run about $80-$200 per night, but very large, glamorous, and expensive hotels can be found in most major cities, offering luxury suites larger than some houses. An affordable and nationwide set of hotel brands exist such as Amerisuites, Hawthorn and Microtel, all boasting the amenities and services of an expensive hotel at budget to reasonable rates.AmericInn offers very nice but reasonable lodging for families and business travelers alike throughout the 50 states.

In many rural areas, especially on the coasts and in New England, bed and breakfast (B&B) lodging can be found. Usually in buildings with less than a dozen units, B&Bs feature a more homely lodging experience, with complimentary breakfast served (of varying quality and complexity). Bed and breakfasts range from about $50 to $200 per night, with some places being much steeper. They can be a nice break from the impersonality of chain hotels and motels.

The two best-known hotel guides covering the U.S. are the American Automobile Association (AAA) guides, available to members of AAA and affiliated auto clubs worldwide at local AAA offices; and by Mobil Travel Guide, available at bookstores. Major online sites offering hotel bookings include Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity and Priceline; be aware that many of these sites add a small commission to the room rate, so it may be cheaper to book directly through the hotel.

There are also youth hostels across the USA. Most are affiliated with the American Youth Hostel organization (affiliated with Hostelling International). Quality of hostels varies widely, but at $8-$24 per night, the prices are unbeatable. Despite the name, AYH membership is open to people of any age. Independent hostels (not affiliated with AYH) are also available, particularly in larger cities (use a hostel guide to find them). Be aware that hostels are clustered in more touristy locations, do not assume that all mid sized towns will have a hostel.

Camping can also be a very affordable lodging option, especially with good weather. The downside of camping is that most campgrounds are outside urban regions, so it's not much of an option for trips to big cities. There is a huge network of National Parks (+1 800 365-2267) in the US, with most states and counties having their own park system, too. Most state and national campgrounds are of excellent quality, with beautiful natural environments. Expect to pay $8-$20 per car on entry. Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has a chain of commercial campground franchises across the country, of significantly less charm than their public-sector equivalents.

Some hotels in the US charge more for "drop-in" business than reserved rooms or rooms acquired through agents and brokers. Travel websites such as Hotwire.com , Hotels.com , Travelociy , Orbitz and Expedia typically offer rooms for considerably less than booking directly with the facility.

Learn

Education in the United States is quite varied. Its elementary and secondary schools, in terms of relative quality, stand somewhere in the lower middle of the advanced countries (depending on how such matters are objectively measured), yet there are many excellent schools at this level throughout the country. Schools are publicly funded at the county or city level of government, generally in the form of a tax on property. There are also numerous private schools at this level, most often religiously affiliated and funded through tuition or donations, or a combination of both. Both the organization and the funding of public schools at this level is currently a subject of hot political debate. Homeschooling is also prevalent in parts of the United States, especially in areas and among those with strong (Protestant) religious convictions.

At the college or university level the United States, by almost any measure, has no peer. The types of universities and colleges run the gamut from large state university systems to a great variety of privately funded colleges and universities. Virtually all colleges and universities are funded by "tuition", that is a fee charged to the student. However for citizens there are government guaranteed loans, available from most banks at reduced rates of interest, and payments are deferred while the student attends school. Details can be found at the website of the US Department of Education. In addition, schools themselves often provide subsidies, or outright grants, ranging from a small supplement to one hundred percent of the tuition and room and board for very low-income families. Most of this money comes from the universities' "endowments" (gifts donated to the school from former students or from wealthy benefactors). As the most extreme example, Harvard's endowment stands (in 2004) at nearly $20 billion. Many colleges—Harvard is again a notable example—are or were religiously affiliated, and many, though not most, remain so; though today this may be more reflected in spirit than in academic teachings.

One reason for the general excellence of these schools is attendance by top caliber foreign students, especially in graduate programs. This also has had a significant beneficial effect on the financing of college level learning, since these students contribute substantially in the form of tuition. Often financial aid for foreign students is provided by their home country, but some aid does exist in the US for international students via private organizations. Usually such programs will require a US citizen to guarantee that this form of assistance will be repaid.

State university systems are subsidized by state governments, and while they are not restricted to residents of the state, residents of that state may attend at sharply reduced rates of tuition. A large state university may have up to twenty campuses spread around the state, with tens of thousands of students.

Medium and large cities often have what are known as commuter colleges, oriented towards education for both regular students and for working adults as well. These schools provide little in the way of student housing or a "campus culture," but are benefitial for those unwilling or unable to move away from their current residences.

All states and most counties also have community colleges which offer common basic courses needed in the first two years of a standard bachelor's degree. These colleges are substantially cheaper than Universities such that students often attend a community college close to their home for two years before entering the workforce or transferring to a University.

Private technical institutes, which provide an education aimed at obtaining a specific job such as computer science or business management are also quite common. Some of these schools are state subsidized, in full or in part, while others are fully private, with the entire cost born by students in the form of tuition.

Application fees for college usually run from $50-$150, with no guarantee that you will be accepted. Casual students simply looking to improve their knowledge will find city colleges an excellent deal—you can take one or two courses for a few hundred dollars on any of a variety of subjects, and admission is usually open to all comers. Part-time study is usually not sufficient to get a student visa, though; student visas require either half or full time enrollment.

There are any number of student exchange programs for full-time students in foreign universities who want to spend a term or a year in the United States. You can ask at your university's student exchange center for details. Be forewarned, however: many of the state universities are located in remote towns, hundreds or thousands of miles from any big urban centers. Be prepared for a lot of small-town living, and don't expect to spend your weekends in New York if your college is in North Dakota.

U.S. colleges and universities, almost without exception, operate Web sites (in the .edu domain) with information for visitors. Information on touring a handful has been collected into Touring famous universities in the U.S..

Work

America is a mecca for job-seekers from around the globe, but it can be difficult to get documentation to work legally in the US. Some work permits are given out on a quota system according to the seeker's country of origin. The safest course for an applicant is to find work in the USA before arriving, and let the company you plan to work for sponsor you for a work visa, but this can be quite difficult to do, and is usually time-consuming. The best opportunities in this regard are for people who bring skills currently in short supply in the USA.

Stay safe

The US has a reputation in other parts of the world as a hotbed of random crime and murder. There's some merit to this stereotype; America has the highest rate of shootings in the industrialized world and a high level of personal gun ownership. Other types of crime, however, are lower or on par with other developed countries. Like most things in the US, crime varies greatly depending on the area. Larger cities have higher crime rates, as might be expected. Even within cities, some areas are safer than others. Outside of major cities and urban areas, however, crime is usually very low. It would probably be advisable to familiarize yourself with the area you wish to visit by learning where the less-desirable neighborhoods are located and to avoid them, especially in major cities and some suburban areas.

Standard cautionary procedures for traveling in high-crime areas should be observed. In most cities, avoid walking alone in city centers after dark. Don't let anyone in your car you don't know; if anyone reaches for your car's doorhandle, drive away immediately. It's best to keep the car doors locked and the windows up, especially while driving at night. Keep any personal belongings in the trunk of your car, out of view of curious passersby. Picking up hitchhikers is generally considered to be unsafe, and is illegal in some states.

Note that Americans rarely carry large amounts of cash with them, and this causes thieves to often target foreign tourists.

Gay-bashing is rare, but physical attacks can and do happen, especially in cities and states where there's not an established gay and lesbian population.

The entire country is federally required to support the 911 program. Simply dialing 911 at any telephone will connect you to an area call center for all the emergency services in the area (police, fire, ambulance, etc.). Calls to 911 are free from payphones. Dispatchers will send appropriate personnel to deal with accidents, serious sickness, criminal or any other emergency situations. Unless you are calling from a mobile phone, the 911 call center can almost always trace your call to locate the caller. Abuse of the 911 program for non-emergency purposes can result in a heavy fine. Only use it if life, limb, or property are in immediate danger. Some cities have a 311 number for situations which are not of immediate danger.

Stay healthy

The USA is the only industrialized nation in the world with no national, universal healthcare system. Americans generally use private health insurance, paid either by their employer or out of their own pocket. As a traveler, make sure you have either traveler's insurance or insurance provided by your government, before arriving in the USA. Getting health care in the US without insurance can be quite costly.

The medical infrastructure is mostly handled at a city or county level. Many hospitals are private, not-for-profit institutions, with the rest managed by big business, city governments, religious, or charitable organizations. Some will not admit patients who are not members of a health insurance program with which they are affiliated.

A certain amount of free health care for the poor is available at all hospitals that accept government subsidies, and that is a very large percentage. Hospital "emergency rooms" are required by law not to turn anyone away—emergency or not. The waiting time can be long (hours) except for a serious emergency. Note that emergency room care costs about 2-3 times as much as care from a regular doctor. Some cities provide free clinics, or low-cost walk-in clinics, but these often provide only limited services and are not recommended for those with insurance.

Planned Parenthood (1-800-230-7526) has clinics and centers around the country providing birth control and other reproductive health services, as well as general healthcare services for any mother or child under the age of 18.

Contact

By telephone

Prior to the popularity of personal cell phones, pay phones" were ubiquitous on sidewalks all over the United States, and commonplace in other standard locations such as stations. Today, however, many phone companies have had them removed or have increased their charges substantially. You will probably have to enter a store or restaurant to find one.

US telephone numbers (as in all of North America) have a fixed format XXX-YYY-ZZZZ. The first three digits (XXX) are the area code. Area codes originally covered very large areas but an explosion in the deployment of telecommunications services has required the introduction of many more codes in order to provide enough numbers. In many larger cities, it is mandatory to use the area code. The second three digits (YYY) are termed the prefix or exchange. Generally, a single telephone office will serve one or more exchanges. The final four digits complete the phone number. At some locations (businesses and motels), you will need to dial an access code (often "8" or "9") to reach an outside line before dialing the number.

Long distance calls usually require an initial "1" while calls placed to locations outside of North America require an international access code (011).

Most visitor areas and some restaurants and bars have two books of telephone numbers: the "white book", for an alphabetical listing of telephones; and the "yellow book", a listing of business and service establishments by category, for example, "Taxicabs". Directory information can also be obtained on the Internet or telephone, usually by dialing 411. This is normally an extra cost call, unless dialed from a pay phone.

Unfortunately there are no international standards for cell phones. It should also be noted that the receiver pays for all calls and text messages. Consequently, one you purchased in another part of the world will probably not work in the US. Most mobile providers in the US now support text messaging both within their own networks and frequently among each other's networks, though large delays are sometimes associated with inter-carrier messaging. Third generation, or 3G, mobile technology is slowly being deployed in the US but many carriers are still working on upgrading their first- and second-generation networks. There are a handful of nationwide carriers in the US who operate nationwide GSM networks, but they operate on different frequency bands from the rest of the world for regulatory reasons (the 900/1800MHz bands were already allocated for other uses). Nevertheless, they do have extensive domestic and international "roaming" co-agreements, so international travelers who have GSM "world phones" can likely roam in the US (check with your home provider for further information). Still, international travelers who are planning long trips should be advised that it may be less expensive to buy a local pay-as-you-go or prepaid phone, especially if you're planning to make many calls within the US. All post paid accounts require two year contracts with a few providers offering an option of one year, so the majority of travelers will use prepaid services.

Long-distance telephone calling cards are available at most convenience stores. Most calling cards have specific destinations in mind (domestic calls, calls to particular countries), so make sure you get the right card.

By Internet

Over 75% of Americans have Internet access, mostly in their homes and offices. Internet cafes, therefore, are not common outside of major metropolitan areas. However, the situation is better if you bring or hire a laptop. The best bet for computer rental is a "photocopy shop" such as FedEx Kinko's (+1 800 2KINKOS/+1 800 254 6567) which is a national chain. Most hotels are equipped with Internet connections. Some of these have "business centers" where you can use a computer connected to the internet, fax a message, and use a computer printer and make limited copies. Other hotels assume you will be using your own laptop and they provide in-room internet connections or in the business center. Sometimes access is wireless. Often this service is billed as a separate cost, but increasingly it is not extra and is part of the cost of the room. All public libraries now provide Internet access, free of charge, but you may have to wait in line and their hours of operation are limited. Many libraries limit user access to 30 minutes at a time. There is also an increasing trend in coffee shops, bookstores, and other establishments, to provide free wireless internet access for laptop computers.

Some cities also have free WiFi connectivity, although this movement is still in its early stages.

For more information

The Federal system of government in the USA puts the states in charge of tourism and the federal government in charge of foreign policy.

The result of which is that the Federal government provides the best information about legal requirements for entry, while the most detailed information about places to visit and see will be provided by the state tourism bureaus which will be happy to send you maps and literature. Contact information will be available in the individual state entries. If you are travelling within the United States by vehicle you'll likely notice the frequent rest stop along the major highways. At state borders, these usually serve as Visitor's Centers as well and often have a plethora of travel and tourism information and material for that state. If you call or write the state Commerce department, this is often the information they will mail you.