The
country is made up of 48 contiguous states of the continental
USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of Canada,
and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, 2,000 miles (3,219km)
out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories,
which include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway
Islands and US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly
in the great cities such as New York and Washington, as
well as sunshine states such as Florida, California and
Hawaii.
However the mind-blowing landscapes, found in the wealth
of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone
and the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like
the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are what make
the USA
so unique. With all this on their doorstep, it’s
easy to understand why most Americans have never bothered
getting
a passport.
Essentials:
Time: The USA
is Divided into six time zones. Eastern Standard Time is
GMT -5, and Pacific Standard Time is GMT -8, Alaska is GMT
-9, and Hawaii is GMT -10. Other than Indiana, Arizona, and
Hawaii, all states observe daylight saving time in the summer.
Electricity: Electrical
current is 110 volts, 60Hz. American style flat two-pin
plugs are standard, However three-pin plugs are also
widely used.
Money: The currency
used is the US Dollar (US$), which is divided into 100 cents.
Notes are in denominations of $100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Only
major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and
credit cards and traveller cheques (US Dollars) are widely accepted.
Language: The
official language is English.
Health: There
are no specific health risks associated with travel within
the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive.
Only emergencies are treated without prior payment, and treatment
can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of
funds. Good medical insurance is essential.
Tipping: A 15%
tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and
waiters, but don't tip in fast food or self-service restaurants.
It is normal to tip in up-market hotels. In more expensive
accommodation there is sometimes a bed tax, often as high as
15%, and it is worth checking that this is included within
the quote.
Safety: Travel
within the United States is generally trouble-free, however travellers
should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world an increased
threat from terrorist incidents. In May 2004 the US government increased
its security measures, especially at airports. Visitors are cautioned
that terrorist attacks in the past have occurred in public areas and
there is a risk of being caught up in any future incidents. Travellers
should also be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities
and should use common sense and take basic precautions. Visitors should
avoid wearing expensive jewellery and walking in run down areas and try
to stick to main highways and use well-lit car parks. Do not sleep in
your vehicle on the roadside or in rest areas and avoid leaving luggage
on display in cars. If hit from behind while driving, indicate to the
other driver to follow you to a public place and call for Police help.
Authorities are concerned that Mt St Helens volcano in Washington State
may errupt in the near future and visitors to the area are advised to
follow local advice and keep up to date with reports on its activity.
Customs: Laws vary from state to state, including speed limits, the age
of consent and the age at which you may legally buy and consume alcohol,
but this is usually 21 years.
Communications: The international country
dialling code for the US is +1. The outgoing code is 011, followed by the
relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom). Mobile networks
cover most of the country, including all urban areas, however unless you
have a tri-band phone it is likely your cellular phone from home will not
work in the United States. A better option is to hire a phone for the duration
of your visit. Internet cafes are available in most towns and cities.
Weather: Being
such a large country, the climate varies depending on which
area one visits. Climates are mostly temperate, but tropical
in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the
great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the
Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in
the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and
February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of
the Rocky Mountains.
So
let's talk about how you'll get around the USA and then
we can tell you what you must see.
Car
Rental: If
you wish to drive and stay in hotels/motels, we can offer
you a choice of 3 companies, Avis, Alamo and Hertz.
Cars can be picked up in the USA and also driven into Canada at no extra charge.
One of the great things about travelling in the USA, and Canada for that matter,
is that the rates include most extras like airport fees, taxes, licensing fees
and no excess on the insurance. The only extras generally are things like additional
driver fees and if you are under 25.
For details on our car rentals, click on http://www.drivetravel.com/carrent/usa.shtml
Motorhomes: If
you are a family and want real 'freedom' - consider a motorhome.
Unpack just once !! You don't have to eat hotel or restaurant
meals everyday and you can have fun trying out new things
in the local supermarkets. For a choice of 5 motorhome companies,
offering a wide variety of vehicles - click on http://www.motorhomesworldwide.com/motorhome/usa.shtml
If you
would like to know about the Public holidays for the USA,
click on
http://www.opm.gov/fedhol/2004.asp
Now
here are some must see cities and attractions:
New
York:
To many
New York City is New York State, but there is much more to
this historic and scenically diverse state than the Big Apple.
Within an hour’s drive visitors can find the beaches
of Long Island or escape to the Catskill Mountains to fish,
hike or ski. A little further north, on the Hudson River,
is the state capital Albany, which is a good base from which
to explore 'upstate' New York. In the centre of the state
the solitude of the Adirondacks region can be found – home
to some of the highest and most dramatic mountains in the
eastern United States, attracting the energetic with a range
of activities including hiking, skiing, horse riding and
mountain biking. Statue
of Liberty
One of the best-known U.S. landmarks, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed millions
of emigrants to the United States. It is located on a small island in the harbor
off the southern tip of Manhattan. You can take an excursion boat from Battery
Park to see the big lady up close and to visit the immigrantion museum on nearby
Ellis Island. If you are lucky enough to arrive on one of the rare days that
the elevator is working, you will be whisked to the top of the 156 ft. pedestal
in no time. Otherwise, you will find yourself climbing up endless stairs, first
to the top of the pedestal, and then, using an ever- narrowing staircase, the
12 floors to the statue's crown. (Visitors are no longer allowed to go up to
the torch.) You may be weary, but the thrill of peering out the tiny portholes
at New York make the trip well worthwhile. Getting into the statue itself is
free, but to get to Liberty Island, you will have to pay for the ferry which
leaves from Battery Park. The ferry schedules according to the season and expected
volume.
Staten
Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is the best sightseeing bargain in New York City. The
one-hour round-trip ride to Staten Island and back takes you across New York
harbor with a great view of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
The price is absolutely free for all pedestrians!
Empire
State Building
One of the enduring symbols of New York, and once again the city’s tallest
structure, the Empire State Building stands 436ft (145m) high. Completed in 1931,
this Art Deco behemoth remains one of the most impressive engineering feats of
all time; it was built in just 410 days and remains the fastest rising major
skyscraper ever built. The building has been immortalised in many films – most
famously the classic King Kong. The observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors
offer magnificent views of the city. Opening times: 9:30am - Midnight. Admission:
approximately US $9.00.
Niagara
Falls
Straddling
the United States and Canadian border, 340 miles (547km)
north west of New York City, the Niagara Falls are one of
the most popular natural attractions in the country attracting
about 12 million tourists a year. The Niagara River has been
flowing for about 12,000 years but the eroded escarpment
over which the falls flow today is much older, having been
formed during the ice age. The river plunges over a cliff
of dolostone and shale to make it the second largest waterfall
on earth, after the Victoria Falls in southern Africa. The
mighty torrent is best appreciated from a spray-filled boat
tour. The falls have attracted daredevils over the years,
who have gone down them in various contraptions – most
have survived. The most famous stunt was done by the Frenchman
Jean François Gravelot who crossed the Niagara Falls
on a tightrope in 1859. The falls are a major honeymoon destination.
Central
Park
With great foresight, the founders of New York set aside 340 hectares (840
acres) of central Manhattan as a public space. Central Park was officially
opened in 1873 and today provides an essential 'green lung' within the concrete
jungle that is New York. Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert
Vaux, the park contains themed gardens, tennis courts, lakes and even a small
zoo. Much of the park is infused by the city’s bustle and in nice days
swarms with joggers, skaters, buskers and tourists, but there are areas beyond
the range of baseballs and frisbees where tranquillity can be found in this
beautifully landscaped park. During winter two ice-skating rinks open up in
Central Park, the Wollman Rink (mid-Park at 62nd St) is one of the most picturesque
in the world, set among the trees and rolling hills and against the backdrop
of Manhattan's skyscrapers.
California:
The
legend of California, the embroidered image portrayed
by Hollywood’s worldwide film and television industry,
really does exist. Days are warm and sunny, the mansions
of Beverley Hills are the height of luxury, beautifully-sculpted
bodies roller-blade along the beachfront boardwalks,
blonde-haired surfers compete for waves and the allure
of Hollywood’s fame and fortune is as strong as
ever.
San
Francisco
The most attractive of American cities and regularly voted the best city in the
USA, San Francisco is adored because of its colourful history, dramatic setting
and its laissez-faire atmosphere, a quality missing from synthetic Los Angeles.
It is a regular trendsetter in everything alternative, from flower-power to ‘free
love’ and gay liberation; it prides itself on being individualistic, down-to-earth
and cultured.
Golden
Gate Bridge
The rust-coloured towers, graceful suspension and supportive cables of the
Golden Gate Bridge make this famous symbol of San Francisco the most photographed
bridge in the world, and visible from almost any high point in the city, although
it is often shrouded in rolling fog. Walking across the bridge, under the towers
that loom 65 storeys above the water, is one of the best ways to experience
the immensity of the structure.
Alcatraz
Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, or ‘The Rock’,
is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s most popular destinations.
The notorious escape-proof island with its dreaded maximum-security prison
once held the likes of Al ‘Scarface’ Capone, and George ‘Machine
Gun’ Kelly. Visitors can explore the prison as well as learn about its
history. Thousands of tourists flock here each year and take the excellent
self-guided audio tours that contain commentary from former guards and prisoners
about life on the island. The view from the island looking across to San Francisco
is awesome.
Los
Angeles
Millions of visitors arrive each year in Los Angeles eager to experience for
themselves the epitome of the American Dream; to find the self-indulgent living
soap-opera-style lives, to experience firsthand the images that are strangely-familiar
thanks to the 'big screen', and to walk in the footsteps of the stars. The fantasy
worlds of Disneyland and Hollywood, the famed extravagance of Beverley Hills
and Malibu, and the sun-soaked beach culture are just some of the attractions
within this 'City of Angels'. Los Angeles offers a dazzling variety of attractions
and world-famous amusements. Downtown is a mixture of cultures and local communities:
the traditional herbalists of Chinatown’s Bamboo Lane; Little Tokyo with
its sushi bars and Japanese gardens; and the narrow Latino-influenced Olvera
Street.
Hollywood
Los
Angeles is the film and entertainment capital of the
world and the name ‘Hollywood’ is the embodiment
of glamour, success and money; the place where films
are made, television shows are recorded and stars take
up residence. The famous Hollywood sign on the hills
above the city has become the enduring symbol of the
movie industry and of Los Angeles itself - the 50ft-high
(15m) white letters can be seen from miles away. The
historic heart of the movie industry is centred on Hollywood
Boulevard where millions of visitors flock to see landmark
attractions and museums.
Disney
Land Restort
Claiming to be ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’, Disneyland is an
integral part of an American childhood and was the world’s first mega
theme park designed for the family by Walt Disney in 1955. It is one of America’s
most famous attractions and despite competition from other similar parks in
Florida, Paris and Tokyo, nothing can compare to the original. It is an enchanted
kingdom of fantasy and imagination filled with magical entertainment and attractions.
The park is divided into eight ‘lands’ and each one features different
rides, dining experiences and entertainment as well as daily live-action shows
and parades. Adventureland, Fantasyland, Critter Country, Frontierland, Mickey’s
Toontown, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square and Main Street USA. Open daily
from 8am - 1am in Summer, and Monday -Friday from 10am - 6pm, Saturday from
9am - Midnight, Sunday from 9am - 10pm. Admission: Tickets to each park are
Approximately USD $47 (adults), USD $37 (children under 10 years). Prices subject
to change.
Washington:
Washington
State, in the north-western extremity of the United States
bordered by Canada and the Pacific Ocean, offers a unique
opportunity for visitors to blend the fun of a vibrant
city vacation with an exciting wilderness experience,
all within a relatively short distance of each other.
In the scenically set young city of Seattle, hugging
the shores of the Puget Sound, high-tech attractions
both educate and entertain at the foot of the city’s
famous landmark, the soaring Space Needle. It is just
a step from the waterfront of this dynamic metropolis
onto a ferry, which transports you to the wild windswept
Pacific beaches, or the emerald green islands of the
Sound.
Seattle
Seattle is known as “the Emerald City”, and just like the home of
the Wizard of Oz in the fairy tale, it is a magical place. Rated as one of the
world's most liveable cities, after Melbourne and Montreal. The city’s
emergence as a trend-setting and fashionable metropolis with sky-high property
prices has occurred in less than 200 years, since it was founded in 1869.
The
Space Needle
Anyone who has followed the Hollywood movies will be familiar with Seattle’s
internationally recognised symbol, the futuristic creative Space Needle building.
From afar it looks like a spinning top, with the needle aerial pointing skywards.
Visitors can ascend the 607ft (185m) building as far as a revolving observation
deck 520ft (158m) above the city, where high-powered telescopes are positioned
to allow you to pick out the city sights. There is also a restaurant on top
of the tower. Opening times: Daily Sunday - Tursday from 9am - 11pm, Friday
and Saturday 9am - Midnight. Admission: USD $12.50 (adults), USD $10 (children
11 - 17 years), USD $5 (children under 11 years).
Pioneer
Square
Billed as “where Seattle begins”, the historic district of Pioneer
Square features more than 20 city blocks of historic buildings, more than 30
galleries, a vibrant retail sector and the city’s most exciting nightlife.
The district is south of the main downtown area, and encompasses two major
attractions. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park recalls the days
when Seattle was a jumping off point for hopefuls heading for the goldfields.
Another visitor favourite is the unique Underground Tour, taking in the sunken
storefronts of the original “Skid Road”.
Snoqualmie
Falls
About
an hour’s drive into the Cascades Mountains east of
Seattle is the resort of Snoqualmie Falls, where the Salish
Lodge and Spa is famous for having been the setting for many
scenes from the hugely popular television series, Twin Peaks.
The dramatic falls plunge 270ft (82m) down a precipice into
a pool of deep blue water, close to the town of North Bend.
There are several hiking trails in the area and picnic sites
with a view of the waterfall. Snoqualmie also boasts four
ski slopes: Alpental, Snoqualmie Summit, Ski Acres and Hyak.
Mount
St. Helens
One Sunday morning in May 1980, Mount St Helens, one of the snow-covered peaks
of the Cascades Mountains, lying about 168 miles (271km) south of Seattle,
erupted, causing a massive landslide and devastating a vast area of forest.
The volcano continued erupting intermittently for six years. Today the area
is being preserved as the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, being
left to revive naturally from the experience while scientists continue to monitor
the volcano and the environment of the surrounding landscape. The Monument
has become a fascinating tourist attraction equipped with numerous viewpoints
and miles of trails enabling it to be explored by car or on foot. Forest Interpreters
host visitors during the summer months organising activities like walks and
amphitheatre presentations, while in winter the mountain slopes provide cross-country
ski and snowmobile trails. Climbers take on the journey to the crater rim and
five visitor centres operate on State Road 504 on the west side of the mountain
providing information about the volcano and the environment. A gift shop at
the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center offers hand-crafted items made from Mount
St. Helens ash.
Nevada
Situated east of California, Nevada is split up into territories such as Cowboy
Country, Pioneer Territory and Pony Express Territory. This is the great American
marketing machine putting a gloss on the fact that the majority of the state
is a fairly desolate desert only capable of supporting snakes, lizards and
cacti. But well known, Las Vegas is best known for its non-stop entertainment,
massive casinos, and luxurious hotels--for those wanting a good time, look
no further than Las Vegas. The city is an amazing feat of engineering since
it was built out of nothing in the early 20th century: no irrigation, no roads,
no people. But everything has changed since then. Have a look at Las Vegas
and lose yourself in the excitement!
Las
Vegas
Set in the middle of the vast Mojave Desert, Las Vegas was created entirely to
entertain and has been described as the world’s largest theme park. This
psychedelic city of sin is home to over a million people and welcomes 35 million
more each year to its lavish hotels and casinos. Visitors today are amazed that
only 70 years ago this thriving metropolis was a backwater with less than a thousand
inhabitants whose only guests were railway passengers stopping off to stretch
their legs on the long journey between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
The
Casinos
Casinos and gambling are the main attractions in Las Vegas; but if you are
not a gambler, you will still find plenty of entertainment in Vegas. The portion
of Las Vegas Boulevard known as "The Strip" will amaze you with its
incredible display of extravagance and glitz. Within a short distance, you
can see an immense glass pyramid, a huge multicolored castle, a replica New
York skyline complete with Statue of Liberty, a full-scale pirate cove, a fire-spewing
volcano, a scale model Eifel Tower, miles of neon signs and billions of colored
lights. Besides gambling, the casinos offer spectacular shows, plenty or free
entertainment, a wide variety of restaurants and lots of shopping opportunities.
If you have strong will power, you can wander into any casino, view all the
wonderous sights, enjoy the free entertainment and not spend one dollar. Naturally,
the casinos are betting that you will spend some money during your visit.
The
Grand Canyon
The Grand
Canyon is one of the great natural wonders of the world and
it is less than 150 km east of downtown Las Vegas. If you are
planning a trip to Vegas, you should visit the Grand Canyon.
A mile deep, 277 miles (446km) long and up to 18 miles (29km)
wide the breathtaking grandeur of the Grand Canyon is so impressive
that pictures or words simply cannot do it justice. It was
formed by the cutting action of the Colorado River over millions
of years, the harder rock formations remaining as great cliffs,
pinnacles and buttes, and the different layers of rock possessing
colours that range from purple, fiery red and pastel pink,
to yellow, brown, grey and soft tones of blue. Whether by foot
or on horseback, from a plane or helicopter, aboard a raft
down the mighty Colorado River or by merely gazing in awe from
the rim, the canyon’s seemingly infinite depths can be
experienced in a variety of ways and is a landscape not to
be missed.
Florida
Florida, the "Sunshine State", is located on a large peninsula at
the southern extremity of the eastern coast of the United States. It is just
over 1000 miles south of New York City. This flat sandy spit of land is approximately
100 miles wide by 400 miles long. It is blessed with a very hospitable semi-tropical
climate and has over a thousand miles of ocean shoreline with many hundreds
of miles of white sand beaches.
Florida
Beaches
Sun and sand, salsa and style, the dazzling cities around Florida shines brightly
in the Sunshine State, pulsing with excitement day and night: a playground for
everyone, from celebrities to Mr and Mrs America, young and old. There are a
lot of beaches to choose from in Florida. The state is surrounded by ocean on
three sides and has over 800 miles of beach front with thousands of miles of
additional shoreline on the many bays and inlets.
Miami
The state's biggest city, Miami, echoes the vibrancy of the rest of this holiday
Mecca, with its soft white sandy beaches vying for attention with the city's
numerous attractions and colourful neighbourhoods. Its famous Art Deco
district and Latin American quarter are constantly thronged with visitors,
many of them passengers from the hundreds of cruise ships that come and
go in the bustling port. If
you can tear yourself away from the beach, you might want to visit the
Parrot Jungle and Gardens, the Monkey Jungle, the Metrozoo, Vizcaya (a
fabulous Italian Renaissance-style villa), the Metro-Dade Cultural Center,
or the Holocaust Memorial. You can also take tours by boat, plane, helicopter,
walking or driving. All sorts of water sports are available like boating,
fishing, skin diving, snorkeling and water skiing. Golf and tennis are
popular. Horse racing, greyhound dog racing and Jai alai are favorite spectator
sports.
Walt
Disney World - Orlando
Walt Disney
World in Orlando, Florida is not just a theme park, but a huge
resort complex covering 47 square miles. The resort contains
four separate theme parks, three water parks and 99 holes of
golf on several different courses. Miles of outdoor recreation
are available including hiking, biking, boating and swimming.
It has three separate areas containing shopping, dining and
entertainment facilities as well as a fourth area with nightclubs.
No other Disney resort comes close to the size and diversity
of Disney World Florida. If you have previously visited one
of the other Disney resorts such as Disneyland California,
Disneyland Paris or the new Disneyland Tokyo, you should still
visit Disney World in Orlando, Florida. All other Disney resorts
consist of a single theme park and are quite small compared
to the massive resort complex in Florida.
Kennedy
Space Centre
The John
F. Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, 46 miles (74km)
southeast of Orlando on Florida’s east coast, is one
place in this fantasyland state where fact is just as entertaining
as fancy. Visitors to the centre follow the story of NASA’s
exploration of space through interactive exhibits, movies
and tours. Guests can tour a full-size replica of the space
shuttle ‘Explorer’; walk through a giant model
of a module from the new International Space Station; view
films about Mars and the Pathfinder exploration; view historic
authentic rockets, like that piloted by pioneer astronaut,
John Glenn; and marvel at the Apollo/Saturn Centre, which
houses all the artefacts from the historic moon landing.
Silver
Springs
Silver
Springs is a hidden treasure in north central Florida that
is usually missed by most tourists. It is located near Ocala,
Florida just 75 miles (120 km) north of Orlando. Located
at the headwaters of the Silver river, the springs gush nearly
550 million gallons (over 2,000 million liters) of crystal
clear water every day creating the largest natural artesian
spring formation in the world. You can visit Silver Springs
and view the underwater creatures in a glass-bottomed boat,
take a jungle cruise, visit the wildlife park, petting zoo
and alligator farm. You can stroll through the botanical
gardens, watch an animal show and listen to a concert.
Lets
hope you don't need this...But if you need to contact
your embassy, these are the details:
British
Embassy, Washington DC: +1
202 588 6500
Canadian Embassy, Washington
DC: +1 202 682 1740
Australian Embassy, Washington DC: +1
202 797 3000
South African Embassy, Washington DC: +1
202 232 4400
Irish Embassy, Washington DC: +1
202 462 3939
New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC: +1
202 328 4800
Emergencies: 911
If you would like to call us to make a reservation we are pleased
to offer FREE Reservations phone numbers from:
Australia: 1800 338 817
USA + Canada: 011 800 8781
1120
New Zealand: 00 800 8781
1120
United Kingdom: 00 800 8781
1120
Germany: 00 800 8781 1120
Israel: (Berak) 013 800 8781
1120 - (Bezeq) 014 800 8781
1120
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