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All American Travel

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No matter where in the world you want to go, we can help get you there. Our experienced agents will take the time to answer your questions and listen to your ideas, before making expert recommendations that fit your budget. We believe extraordinary vacations begin with careful planning, that's why we are devoted to ensuring our clients always have the best possible experience—both before they leave and while they're away.

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North america.

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Destination Must-See's

Washington, D.C.:

A tour of the United States can mean many things. Each region has its own culture and history. From Paul Revere’s ride through the New England countryside to San Francisco’s Golden Gate the promise of America rings true. Few other places offer so much. You may find yourself listening to jazz in New Orleans or meeting the cowboys of Jackson Hole. It could be the wilds of Yosemite or the back roads of Boston; either way few countries can offer so much.

Niagara Falls:

The truth is we would run out of space (and adjectives) if we tried to fit in all the things that make Canada such a remarkable country. From the shores of the Canadian Maritimes to the European style of Quebec City and Montreal to epic Banff National Park and on to the forests of Vancouver, there is always more Canada to explore. Come along and explore the vibrant culinary scene, breathtaking landscapes and more.

Grand Canyon:

Breathtaking panoramas and layers of vibrant color tell the story of earth’s geological past. You will come to know why it draws nearly 5 million visitors each year who come to see this natural wonder of the world. The canyon’s massive span and dramatic hues dazzle the senses and inspire the spirit. This western wonder is so vast, it rises nearly a mile from the floor with the barely recognizable Colorado River flowing below.

New York City:

From Little Italy to Greenwich Village, New York City is a destination even the most seasoned traveler can enjoy. It’s home to beautiful Central Park and glittering Times Square and famous for its renowned Broadway shows. The island of Manhattan is flanked by the Hudson River where you find the iconic Statue of Liberty and historic Ellis Island. The poignant 9/11 Museum sits quietly but prominently in Lower Manhattan. “Start spreading the news!” This is “the Big Apple.”

Destination Must-Do's

Canadian Rockies:

The highlight of the spectacular Canadian Rockies is a drive along the incredible Icefields Parkway. Paralleling the Great Divide, this special roadway is home to some of the most dramatic vistas in all of North America. Snowcapped mountains engulf the landscape, casting shadows on the adjacent glacial streams. Take time to stop at the Columbia Icefield – a dramatic 200 square mile stretch of land filled with glaciers. Here you may ride across a 1,000 foot thick glacier or walk on the Glacier Skywalk.

New Orleans French Quarter

Nestled along the legendary Mississippi River, this historic cultural hub of the city has an old-world feel that attracts writers, musicians and artists. Its streets are lined with art galleries, antique stores, jazz clubs, nightclubs and restaurants. Its eclectic architectural style is a blend of Spanish, French, Creole and American influences. Cobblestone streets are lined with brick buildings that feature charming walled courtyards, ornate cast iron balconies, and copious stoops and porches, all creating the perfect atmosphere for people watching.

Denali National Park:

This vast land has a fascinating ecosystem and is more than a park — it is a wildlife reserve. And perhaps its biggest claim to fame is being the home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, ascending more than 20,000 feet. This massive park is now more than 6 million acres, an area that can be compared to the size of Massachusetts. The park is home to nearly forty different varieties of mammals, but the most popular residents are moose, caribou, and wolves, and of course brown and grizzly bears. Denali is Alaska’s heartland and brings you up close to its majestic beauty and natural wonders.

Canadian Maritimes:

Lush forests, soaring cliffs and limitless scenic vistas fill your journey through one of the world’s most spectacular coastal regions. You will find wonders like nowhere else including the dramatic tides of the Bay of Fundy and the stunning beauty of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. From the spirit of the outdoors to the old world Gaelic and French influences, you will be enthralled from start to finish.

Expert Advice

Featured Tours to North America

America's National Parks & Denver

Grand Hawaiian Adventure Four Islands featuring O'ahu, Big Island, Maui and Kauai

Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise featuring a 7-night Holland America Cruise

Costa Rica: A World of Nature featuring Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano & Manuel Antonio National Park

National Parks of America

Montana: Exploring Big Sky Country featuring Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks

Maritimes Coastal Wonders featuring the Cabot Trail

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks featuring San Diego and California’s Central Coast

Brochures that feature our north america tours, destinations in north america, united states.

The United States of America is truly the land of the beautiful from sea to shining sea. With easy access to thousands of miles of beautiful coastline and beaches, mountain ranges on both sides, even residents of its 50 states can’t take it all in in a lifetime. It is the most culturally diverse place on earth and birthplace of modern jazz, rock and blues. So whether you are young or old, a sports enthusiast, foodie, musician, historian or nature lover, the United States of America is right here waiting for you.

Welcome to Costa Rica (Rich Coast), a place teeming with an endless variety of life. From the inspiring rainforests to majestic volcanoes to fine sandy beaches and lovely resorts, discover the wonders of a tropical paradise. Upon arrival you will understand why this has become the world’s most popular eco-destination. Despite a sterling reputation Costa Rica remains much as it was before the world "discovered" it as a destination. This Central American nation still protects 25% of its land it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. Now comes your time to enjoy biodiversity at its best!

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As the world’s only superpower and biggest economy by a huge margin, almost everyone on the planet knows something about the USA, even if they’ve never been. The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State, the Hollywood sign, Las Vegas neon, Golden Gate and the White House have long been global icons, and American brands and images are familiar everywhere, from Apple computers and Levi’s to Coca-Cola and hot dogs. Yet first-time visitors should expect some surprises .

Where to go in the USA

Outdoor activities in the usa, sports in the usa, usa: the musical melting pot.

Though its cities draw the most tourists – New York, New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco are all incredible destinations in their own right – America is above all a land of stunningly diverse and achingly beautiful landscapes . In one nation you have the mighty Rockies and spectacular Cascades, the vast, mythic desert landscapes of the Southwest, the endless, rolling plains of Texas and Kansas, the tropical beaches and Everglades of Florida, the giant redwoods of California and the sleepy, pristine villages of New England.

You can soak up the mesmerizing vistas in Crater Lake, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks, stand in awe at the Grand Canyon, hike the Black Hills, cruise the Great Lakes, paddle in the Mississippi, surf the gnarly breaks of Oahu and get lost in the vast wilderness of Alaska. Or you could easily plan a trip that focuses on the out-of-the-way hamlets, remote prairies, eerie ghost towns and forgotten byways that are every bit as “American” as its showpiece icons and monuments.

The sheer size of the country prevents any sort of overarching statement about the typical American experience, just as the diversity of its people undercuts any notion of the typical American. Icons as diverse as Mohammed Ali, Louis Armstrong, Sitting Bull, Hillary Clinton, Michael Jordan, Madonna, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, Mark Twain, John Wayne and Walt Disney continue to inspire and entertain the world, and everyone has heard of the blues, country and western, jazz, rock ’n’ roll and hip-hop – all American musical innovations.

There are Irish Americans, Italian Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans and Latinos, Texan cowboys and Bronx hustlers, Seattle hipsters and Alabama pastors, New England fishermen, Las Vegas showgirls and Hawaiian surfers. Though it often sounds clichéd to foreigners, the only thing that holds this bizarre federation together is the oft-maligned “American Dream”. While the USA is one of the world’s oldest still-functioning democracies and the roots of its European presence go back to the 1500s, the palpable sense of newness here creates an odd sort of optimism, wherein anything seems possible and fortune can strike at any moment.

Indeed, aspects of American culture can be difficult for many visitors to understand, despite the apparent familiarity: its obsession with guns; the widely held belief that “government” is bad; the real, genuine pride in the American Revolution and the US Constitution, two hundred years on; the equally genuine belief that the USA is the “greatest country on earth”; the wild grandstanding of its politicians (especially at election time); and the bewildering contradiction of its great liberal and open-minded traditions with laissez-faire capitalism and extreme cultural and religious conservatism. That’s America: diverse, challenging, beguiling, maddening at times, but always entertaining and always changing. And while there is no such thing as a typical American person or landscape, there can be few places where strangers can feel so confident of a warm reception.

Every trip to the USA is unique and that's why it's essential to stay protected. With our go-to travel insurance provider, Heymondo , you get great value and 24/7 support wherever you are.

The most invigorating American expeditions are often those that take in more than one region. You do not, however, have to cross the entire continent from shore to shore in order to appreciate its amazing diversity; it would take a long time to see the whole country, and the more time you spend simply travelling, the less time you’ll have to savour the small-town pleasures and backroad oddities that may well provide your strongest memories. Unless you’re travelling to and within a centralized location such as New York City, you’ll need a car – that mandatory component of life in the USA.

The obvious place to start for most people is New York City – international colossus of culture and finance, with a colourful history and numerous skyscrapers to prove its status as the essential American city. While you could easily spend weeks exploring the place, just a little more effort will take you into the deeper reaches of the Mid-Atlantic region to the north. Here, whether in upstate New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, major cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh border a landscape of unexpected charm and beauty, from the bucolic hamlets of Amish country and the wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains to iconic sights such as Niagara Falls and holiday favourites like the Catskills. Next door, New England has a similarly varied appeal; most visitors know it for the colonial and history-rich city of Boston, but there’s much to be said for its rural byways, leading to centuries-old villages in Vermont and New Hampshire, bayside Massachusetts and the rugged individualism of the lobster-catching harbours and mountains of Maine – which take up nearly half the region.

Seven hundred miles west lie the Great Lakes, on the whole the country’s most underappreciated region; vigorous cities including Chicago and Minneapolis, isolated and evocative lakeshores in Michigan and Minnesota, and rousing college towns such as Madison, Wisconsin, reward any visitor with more than a few days to explore. Bordering Ohio to the east, the nearby Capital Region is the home of Washington DC, capital of the nation and centrepiece for its grandest museums and monuments. Nearby Baltimore is one of the region’s few other big cities, and to the south the old tobacco country of Virginia holds a fair share of American history while coal-mining West Virginia has a scattering of curious natural treasures.

Although Virginia is technically part of the South, for the purest experience you’ll need to venture even further to get the feel of its charismatic churches, BBQ dinners, country music and lively cities such as Atlanta and Memphis. The “deepest” part of the South lies in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and in these states – with their huge plantations and long history of slavery – you’ll get a very different view of American life than anywhere else in the country. Other Southern states have their own unique cultures: Florida is a mix of old-fashioned Southern manners and backwater swamps leavened with ultra-modern cities including Miami, Latino culture, miles of tempting beaches and the lustrous Keys islands; Louisiana offers more atmospheric swamps and “Cajun” culture, with New Orleans one of the few spots in the USA with a strongly Catholic, yet broadly indulgent culture of drinking, dancing and debauchery; and Texas is the country’s capital for oil-drilling, BBQ-eating and right-wing-politicking, with huge expanses of land, equally big cities and plenty of history.

The Great Plains, which sit in the geographical centre of the country, are often overlooked by visitors, but include many of America’s most well-known sights, from Mount Rushmore in South Dakota to the Gateway Arch in St Louis and the Wild West town of Dodge City in Kansas. To the west rise the great peaks of the Rockies, and with them a melange of exciting cities such as Denver, beautiful mountain scenery like Montana’s Glacier National Park, the geysers of Yellowstone and great opportunities for skiing throughout at places like Idaho’s Sun Valley. Bordering the southern side of the Rockies, the desert Southwest region is also rich with astounding natural beauty – whether in the colossal chasm of the Grand Canyon, striking national parks at Zion and Canyonlands or the Native American heart of the Four Corners region – along with a handful of charming towns and less interesting big cities.

The country’s most populous state is, of course, California, synonymous with the idea of “the West Coast” and its freewheeling culture of surfing, libertine lifestyles and self-worship. However, the further from the water you get, the less the stereotypes hold, especially in the lava beds and redwoods of the far north, the ghost towns and magnificent Yosemite in the Sierras and the intriguing deserts of Death Valley. To the state’s north, Oregon and Washington – the rain-soaked pair making up the Pacific Northwest – offer pleasantly progressive towns such as Seattle and Portland and some of the most striking scenery anywhere in the USA: the stunning landscape of the Columbia River Gorge, the pristine islands of the San Juans, the snowy peaks of the Cascades and more.

Beyond the lower 48 states, Alaska is a winter wonderland of great mountains and icy spires, with few roads and people, but much to offer anyone with a zest for the outdoors and the unexpected. Hawaii is the country’s holiday paradise, a handful of splendid islands in the central Pacific with remote jungle settings and roaring volcanoes.

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Coated by dense forests, cut by deep canyons and capped by great mountains, the USA is blessed with fabulous backcountry and wilderness areas. Even the heavily populated East Coast has its share of open space, notably along the Appalachian Trail, which winds from Mount Katahdin in Maine to the southern Appalachians in Georgia – some two thousand miles of untrammelled woodland. To experience the full breathtaking sweep of America’s wide-open stretches, however, head west: to the Rockies, the red-rock deserts of the Southwest or right across the continent to the amazing wild spaces of the West Coast. On the downside, be warned that in many coastal areas, the shoreline can be disappointingly hard to access, with a high proportion under private ownership.

National parks and monuments

The National Park Service administers both national parks and national monuments. Its rangers do a superb job of providing information and advice to visitors, maintaining trails and organizing such activities as free guided hikes and campfire talks.

In principle, a national park preserves an area of outstanding natural beauty, encompassing a wide range of terrain and prime examples of particular landforms and wildlife. Thus Yellowstone has boiling geysers and herds of elk and bison, while Yosemite offers towering granite walls and cascading waterfalls. A national monument is usually much smaller, focusing perhaps on just one archeological site or geological phenomenon, such as Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. Altogether, the national park system comprises around four hundred units, including national seashores, lakeshores, battlefields and other historic sites.

While national parks tend to be perfect places to hike – almost all have extensive trail networks – all are far too large to tour entirely on foot (Yellowstone, for example, is bigger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined). Even in those rare cases where you can use public transport to reach a park, you’ll almost certainly need some sort of vehicle to explore it once you’re there. The Alaska parks are mostly howling wilderness, with virtually no roads or facilities for tourists – you’re on your own.

Most parks and monuments charge admission fees, ranging from $5 to $25, which cover a vehicle and all its occupants for up to a week. For anyone on a touring vacation, it may well make more sense to buy the Inter-agency Annual Pass, also known as the “America the Beautiful Pass”. Sold for $80 at all federal parks and monuments, or online at store.usgs.gov/pass, this grants unrestricted access for a year to the bearer, and any accompanying passengers in the same vehicle, to all national parks and monuments, as well as sites managed by such agencies as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service and the BLM. It does not, however, cover or reduce additional fees like charges for camping in official park campgrounds, or permits for backcountry hiking or rafting.

Two further passes, obtainable at any park but not online, grant free access for life to all national parks and monuments, again to the holder and any accompanying passengers, and also provide a fifty percent discount on camping fees. The Senior Pass is available to any US citizen or permanent resident aged 62 or older for a one-time fee of $10, while the Access Pass is issued free to blind or permanently disabled US citizens or permanent residents. While hotel-style lodges are found only in major parks, every park or monument tends to have at least one well-organized campground. Often, a cluster of motels can be found not far outside the park boundaries. With appropriate permits – subject to restrictions in popular parks – backpackers can also usually camp in the backcountry (a general term for areas inaccessible by road).

Other public lands

National parks and monuments are often surrounded by tracts of national forest – also federally administered but much less protected. These too usually hold appealing rural campgrounds but, in the words of the slogan, each is a “Land Of Many Uses”, and usually allows logging and other land-based industry (thankfully, more often ski resorts than strip mines).

Other government departments administer wildlife refuges, national scenic rivers, recreation areas and the like. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has the largest holdings of all, most of it open rangeland, such as in Nevada and Utah, but also including some enticingly out-of-the-way reaches. Environmentalist groups engage in endless running battles with developers, ranchers and the extracting industries over uses – or alleged misuses – of federal lands.

While state parks and state monuments, administered by individual states, preserve sites of more limited, local significance, many are explicitly intended for recreational use, and thus hold better campgrounds than their federal equivalents.

Camping and backpacking

The ideal way to see the great outdoors – especially if you’re on a low budget – is to tour by car and camp in state and federal campgrounds. Typical public campgrounds range in price from free (usually when there’s no water available, which may be seasonal) to around $30 per night. Fees at the generally less scenic commercial campgrounds – abundant near major towns, and often resembling open-air hotels, complete with shops and restaurants – are more like $20–35. If you’re camping in high season, either reserve in advance or avoid the most popular areas.

Backcountry camping in the national parks is usually free, by permit only. Before you set off on anything more than a half-day hike, and whenever you’re headed for anywhere at all isolated, be sure to inform a ranger of your plans, and ask about weather conditions and specific local tips. Carry sufficient food and drink to cover emergencies, as well as all the necessary equipment and maps. Check whether fires are permitted; even if they are, try to use a camp stove in preference to local materials. In wilderness areas, try to camp on previously used sites. Where there are no toilets, bury human waste at least six inches into the ground and 100ft from the nearest water supply and campground.

Health issues

Backpackers should never drink from rivers and streams; you never know what acts people – or animals – have performed further upstream. Giardia – a water-borne bacteria that causes an intestinal disease characterized by chronic diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fatigue and weight loss – is a serious problem. Water that doesn’t come from a tap should be boiled for at least five minutes, or cleansed with an iodine-based purifier or a giardia-rated filter.

Hiking at lower elevations should present few problems, though near water mosquitoes can drive you crazy; Avon Skin-so-Soft or anything containing DEET are fairly reliable repellents. Ticks – tiny beetles that plunge their heads into your skin and swell up – are another hazard. They sometimes leave their heads inside, causing blood clots or infections, so get advice from a ranger if you’ve been bitten. One species of tick causes Lyme Disease, a serious condition that can even affect the brain. Nightly inspections of your skin are strongly recommended.

Beware, too, of poison oak, which grows throughout the west, usually among oak trees. Its leaves come in groups of three (the middle one on a short stem) and are distinguished by prominent veins and shiny surfaces. If you come into contact with it, wash your skin (with soap and cold water) and clothes as soon as possible – and don’t scratch. In serious cases, hospital emergency rooms can give antihistamine or adrenaline shots. A comparable curse is poison ivy, found throughout the country. For both plants, remember the sage advice, “Leaves of three, let it be”.

Mountain hikes

Take special care hiking at higher elevations, for instance in the 14,000ft peaks of the Rockies, or in California’s Sierra Nevada (and certainly in Alaska). Late snows are common, and in spring avalanches are a real danger, while meltwaters make otherwise simple stream crossings hazardous. Weather conditions can also change abruptly. Altitude sickness can affect even the fittest of athletes: take it easy for your first few days above 7000ft. Drink lots of water, avoid alcohol, eat plenty of carbohydrates and protect yourself from the sun.

Desert hikes

If you intend to hike in the desert, carry plentiful extra food and water, and never go anywhere without a map. Cover most of your ground in early morning: the midday heat is too debilitating. If you get lost, find some shade and wait. So long as you’ve registered, the rangers will eventually come looking for you.

At any time of year, you’ll stay cooler during the day if you wear full-length sleeves and trousers, while a wide-brimmed hat and good sunglasses will spare you the blinding headaches that can result from the desert light. You may also have to contend with flash floods, which can appear from nowhere. Never camp in a dry wash, and don’t attempt to cross flooded areas until the water has receded.

It’s essential to carry – and drink – large quantities of water in the desert. In particular, hiking in typical summer temperatures requires drinking a phenomenal amount. Loss of the desire to eat or drink is an early symptom of heat exhaustion, so it’s possible to become seriously dehydrated without feeling thirsty. Watch out for signs of dizziness or nausea; if you feel weak and stop sweating, it’s time to get to the doctor. Check whether water is available on your trail; ask a ranger, and carry plenty with you even if it is.

When driving in the desert, carry ample water in the car, take along an emergency pack with flares, a first-aid kit and snakebite kit, matches and a compass. A shovel, tyre pump and extra petrol are always a good idea. If the engine overheats, don’t turn it off; instead, try to cool it quickly by turning the front end of the car towards the wind. Carefully pour some water on the front of the radiator, and turn the air conditioning off and the heat up full blast. In an emergency, never panic and leave the car: you’ll be harder to find wandering around alone.

Adventure travel

The opportunities for adventure travel in the USA are all but endless, whether your tastes run towards whitewater rafting down the Colorado River, mountain biking in the volcanic Cascades, canoeing down the headwaters of the Mississippi River, horseback riding in Big Bend on the Rio Grande in Texas or Big Wall rock climbing on the sheer granite monoliths of Yosemite Valley.

While an exhaustive listing of the possibilities could fill a huge volume, certain places have an especially high concentration of adventure opportunities, such as Moab, Utah or New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Downhill ski resorts can be found all over the USA. The eastern resorts of Vermont and New York State, however, pale by comparison with those of the Rockies, such as Vail and Aspen in Colorado, and the Sierra Nevada in California. Expect to pay $45–100 per day (depending on the quality and popularity of the resort) for lift tickets, plus another $30 or more per day to rent equipment.

A cheaper alternative is cross-country skiing, or ski touring. Backcountry ski lodges dot mountainous areas along both coasts and in the Rockies. They offer a range of rustic accommodation, equipment rental and lessons, from as little as $20 a day for skis, boots and poles, up to about $200 for an all-inclusive weekend tour.

Watch out for bears, deer, moose, mountain lions and rattlesnakes in the backcountry, and consider the effect your presence can have on their environment.

Other than in a national park, you’re highly unlikely to encounter a bear. Even there, it’s rare to stumble across one in the wilderness. If you do, don’t run, just back away slowly. Most fundamentally, it will be after your food, which should be stored in airtight containers when camping. Ideally, hang both food and garbage from a high but slender branch some distance from your camp. Never attempt to feed bears, and never get between a mother and her young. Young animals are cute; their irate mothers are not.

Snakes and creepy-crawlies

Though the deserts in particular are home to a wide assortment of poisonous creatures, these are rarely aggressive towards humans. To avoid trouble, observe obvious precautions. Don’t attempt to handle wildlife; keep your eyes open as you walk, and watch where you put your hands when scrambling over obstacles; shake out shoes, clothing and bedding before use; and back off if you do spot a creature, giving it room to escape.

If you are bitten or stung, current medical thinking rejects the concept of cutting yourself open and attempting to suck out the venom. Whether snake, scorpion or spider is responsible, apply a cold compress to the wound, constrict the area with a tourniquet to prevent the spread of venom, drink lots of water and bring your temperature down by resting in a shady area. Stay as calm as possible and seek medical help immediately.

As well as being good fun, catching a baseball game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on a summer afternoon or joining the screaming throngs at a Steelers football game in Pittsburgh can give visitors an unforgettable insight into a town and its people. Professional teams almost always put on the most spectacular shows, but big games between college rivals, Minor League baseball games and even Friday night high-school football games provide an easy and enjoyable way to get on intimate terms with a place.

Specific details for the most important teams in all the sports are given in the various city accounts in this Guide. They can also be found through the Major League websites: mlb.com (baseball); nba.com (basketball); nfl.com (football); nhl.com (ice hockey); and mlssoccer.com (soccer).

Major spectator sports

Baseball, because the Major League teams play so many games (162 in the regular season, usually at least five a week from April to September, plus the October playoffs), is probably the easiest sport to catch when travelling. The ballparks – such as Boston’s historic Fenway Park, New York’s famed Yankee Stadium, LA’s glamorous Dodger Stadium or Baltimore’s evocative Camden Yards – are great places to spend time. It’s also among the cheapest sports to watch (from around $10–15 a seat for the bleachers), and tickets are usually easy to come by.

Pro football, the American variety, is quite the opposite. Tickets are exorbitantly expensive and almost impossible to obtain (if the team is any good), and most games are played in huge, fortress-like stadiums far out in the suburbs; you’ll do better stopping in a bar to watch it on TV.

College football is a whole lot better and more exciting, with chanting crowds, cheerleaders and cheaper tickets, which can be hard to obtain in football-crazed college towns in parts of the South and Midwest. Although New Year’s Day games such as the Rose Bowl or the Orange Bowl are all but impossible to see live, big games like USC vs UCLA, Michigan vs Ohio State or Notre Dame vs anybody are not to be missed if you’re anywhere nearby.

Basketball also brings out intense emotions. The protracted pro playoffs run well into June. The men’s month-long college playoff tournament, called “March Madness”, is acclaimed by many as the nation’s most exciting sports extravaganza, taking place at venues spread across the country in many small to mid-sized towns.

Ice hockey, usually referred to simply as hockey, was long the preserve of Canada and cities in the far north of the USA, but now penetrates the rest of the country, with a concentration around the East Coast and Great Lakes. Tickets, particularly for successful teams, are hard to get and not cheap.

Other sports

Soccer remains much more popular as a participant sport, especially for kids, than a spectator one, and those Americans that are interested in it usually follow foreign matches like England’s Premier League, rather than their home-grown talent. The good news for international travellers is that any decent-sized city will have one or two pubs where you can catch games from England, various European countries or Latin America; check out Live Sport TV for a list of such establishments and match schedules.

Golf, once the province of moneyed businessmen, has attracted a wider following in recent decades due to the rise of celebrity golfers such as Tiger Woods and the construction of numerous municipal and public courses. You’ll have your best access at these, where a round of golf may cost from $15 for a beaten-down set of links to around $50 for a chintzier course. Private golf courses have varying standards for allowing non-members to play (check their websites) and steeper fees – over $100 a person for the more elite courses.

The other sporting events that attract national interest involve four legs or four wheels. The Kentucky Derby, held in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, is the biggest date on the horse-racing calendar. Also in May, the NASCAR Indianapolis 500, the world’s largest motor-racing event, fills that city with visitors throughout the month, with practice sessions and carnival events building up to the big race.

Some of the world’s greatest musical genres took root in cities and small towns across America, products of the collisions of European, African and indigenous cultures.

The blues was forged from a combination of African and gospel sounds into a simple twelve-bar form during the late nineteenth century. You can still catch Mississippi blues in Delta juke joints, and electrified urban blues in the gritty clubs of Chicago.

Jazz took root in the Creole culture of New Orleans, blending African traditions with western techniques to create a distinctly American art form. Jazz is still dance music in New Orleans; cooler urban stylings can be enjoyed in clubs in New York.

Nashville remains synonymous with country and western ; outside the cities, rural Appalachia brims with backwoods fiddlers and Louisiana’s sleepy bayous are alive with Cajun and zydeco.

Rock ’n’ roll has come a long way since its blues-based infancy, when young trucker Elvis Presley shook up white country with raw R&B in 1950s Memphis. Spiky New York punk, quirky Ohio industrial, furious LA hardcore, slacker Seattle grunge, and spaced-out neo-psychedelia are but a few of the rock genres that continue to thrive in the USA.

In the 1960s, the heartfelt soul of masters like Otis Redding preceded the explosion of talent that came to define the Motown era, born in Detroit.

Loaded with attitude, street-style and political savvy, hip-hop was born on the streets of New York, and later LA. Today any city with a major black population has a distinctive rap scene, including in the so-called “Dirty South”, where rappers play on the raw call-and-response stylings of early blues.

Modern dance music had its genesis in Chicago house , New York garage and Detroit techno , though club culture is now a global phenomenon.

Top image: Monument Valley © corumov/Shutterstock

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From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system on Nov. 8

• The U.S. is launching a new travel system on Nov. 8.
• Vaccinated foreign air travelers will need to show proof of full vaccination and test for COVID-19.
• The new travel system also adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

The United States is about to make it much easier for vaccinated international travelers to visit.  

The White House announced that a new air travel system will take effect Nov. 8, allowing entry for fully vaccinated foreign tourists .  The system is set to launch nearly two years after the U.S. began imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . 

The move by the White House will essentially have the U.S. drop its travel ban on dozens of countries while also making entry more challenging for the unvaccinated. The new system will allow entry for foreign nationals only with vaccinations approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and would add testing requirements for unvaccinated Americans.

Here’s what we know about the new travel requirements:

What are the entry requirements for foreign nationals?

Starting Nov. 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers   will need to show proof of full vaccination as well as a pre-departure negative coronavirus test taken within three days of travel before they can board a plane to the U.S. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include:

• Digital or paper verifiable record, such as a vaccination certificate or a digital pass with a QR code.  
• Nonverifiable paper record, such as a printout of a COVID-19 vaccination record or COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• Nonverifiable digital record, such as a digital photo of a vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record, downloaded vaccination certificate or a mobile phone application without a QR code.  

The U.S. will accept nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR tests, and antigen tests. The rules will go into effect for passengers on planes leaving for the U.S. at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 8.  

Airlines will collect basic personal contact information   from all U.S.-bound travelers for contact tracing. Airlines are required to keep the information on hand so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   can reach out to travelers who may have been infected or exposed to COVID-19.

Masking will be required, but there will be no quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers or unvaccinated children .

► US  travel bans: How COVID-19 travel restrictions have impacted families and couples

The change will make entering the U.S. possible for travelers from countries now listed on the U.S. travel ban, which prohibits entry for travelers who have been in any of the regions within the past 14 days. The travel ban  took effect in early 2020 and includes :

• United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• The European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City)

Currently, the U.S. asks international air passengers only to get tested within three days of their flight to the U.S. and show either the negative test result or proof of recovery  from COVID-19 before boarding. 

What about the land borders with Mexico and Canada?

New travel rules will also take effect for foreign nationals arriving by land or passenger ferry.

Starting Nov. 8, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can cross the land borders for nonessential reasons such as tourism or visiting friends and family . These travelers will need to verbally attest to their reason for travel and vaccination status and be prepared to show proof of vaccination  upon request. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will accept both digital and paper records showing proof of vaccination, including documents not in English.   Foreign nationals will also need appropriate travel documentation to enter the country.  

CBP will spot-check travelers' vaccination documents, and those without documented proof of vaccination can be denied entry. Travelers under 18 will be exempt from the vaccination requirement as long as they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, according to Matthew Davies, CBP's executive director of admissibility and passenger programs.  

The new travel rules will go into effect as soon as a port of entry opens on Nov. 8, or at midnight for ports that operate 24 hours a day changes will go into effect at midnight on Nov. 8 for ports that operation 24 hours a day.  

U.S. citizens reentering the country should also bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document, such as a valid passport, trusted traveler program card, enhanced driver's license or enhanced tribal card. 

Entry rules along the border will change again in early January, with all travelers – including those traveling for essential purposes – required to show proof of full vaccination. 

► US land borders: Travelers in Mexico and Canada plan their next US visit after new land border policy announced

Which vaccines does the US accept for travel?

The CDC has announced that vaccines approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization will be accepted for air travel. White House officials expect the CDC to approve the same vaccines for travelers entering the U.S. by land or ferry.  

The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use during the pandemic: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech, the last of which has received the FDA's full stamp of approval.

Vaccines with WHO approval for emergency use include:

• Johnson & Johnson
• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield 

The CDC confirmed that it would accept a mix-and-match approach to vaccinations. Travelers who have any combination of FDA- or WHO-approved vaccines will be considered fully vaccinated.

The new travel policy does not accept foreign travelers who have had COVID and received just one shot in a two-dose series. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the administration will "continue to review" its entry requirements.  

► Covaxin gets WHO emergency approval: Travelers vaccinated with Covaxin can enter US   

► 'You feel lonely and left out': These fully vaccinated travelers want to visit the US. They may not be allowed in.

How do the new rules affect kids? 

Foreign nationals under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two will not need to take a pre-departure COVID test.

Kids 2 and older traveling with a fully vaccinated adult can test three days prior to departure, while children traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults will need to get tested within one day of departure. 

Currently, all air passengers 2 or older, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, need to show a negative coronavirus test to fly to the U.S.

What are the entry requirements for Americans?

The new travel system adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

Starting Nov. 8, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need to take a test one day before departure and test again upon arrival in the U.S. 

► New travel rules: What US travelers need to know about the new COVID rules for international flights

Entry requirements will not change for vaccinated Americans. They will still need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before departure. 

Americans will not need to be fully vaccinated to board international flights to the U.S.

Are there any exemptions?

There is a limited set of travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement for entry.

Children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants and travelers with adverse reactions to the vaccines – such as people who have had severe anaphylactic allergic reactions to a prior COVID-19 vaccine –  will be exempt.

People traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with less than 10% of its population vaccinated who need to enter the U.S. for emergency or humanitarian reasons are also exempt from the vaccine requirement. There are about 50 countries considered to have low vaccine availability at this time.

These exempt travelers will generally need to show that they will comply with public health mandates, including a requirement to be vaccinated in the U.S. if they plan to stay more than 60 days.  

Unless they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days, unvaccinated travelers  must agree to be tested with a COVID-19 viral test three to five days after their arrival and quarantine for seven days, even if their post-arrival test comes back negative. 

Unvaccinated travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must also agree to self-isolate if their post-arrival test is positive or if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. 

Unvaccinated children under 18 will not need to quarantine but will still need to take a post-arrival test. 

► Who is exempt?: These select groups of unvaccinated foreign travelers can enter the US

The CDC will not give exemptions  to people who object to the vaccinations due to religious or moral convictions. 

There will also be testing accommodations for travelers who can prove they recently recovered from the coronavirus. These travelers will need to show a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before their flight's departure and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official saying they are cleared for travel.  

Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz . 

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The American Dream. The Greatest Country in the World. The World’s Biggest Superpower. America’s position in recent history often makes it feel arrogant, but a trip to the US makes you realize just how wrong those notions are. Sure, America is forward-thinking, fast-moving and has one step into the future. But it also knows how to live. During a trip to USA you come across a number of beautiful traditions, great cuisines and spectacular attractions and there is no shortage of natural beauty either. 

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USA - Tour Highlights and Travel Tips

Sure, cities like Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles find their way into many traveler itineraries. They even offer more than enough to keep you occupied for weeks at a stretch. But America’s true beauty can be found in its wine regions, national parks, picturesque drives, exotic coastline and quaint little towns. 

Tour Highlights

• Ride to the top of the Empire State Building
• Gawk at the majestic Grand Canyon National Park
• Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
• Explore the natural phenomenon of Yellowstone National Park
• Take the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty
• Test your luck on the Las Vegas slot machines
• Get lost in Florida's many theme parks

Travel Tips

• The US is a massive country, covering 3.8 million square miles. Unless you’re planning on a (very) extended visit, be sure to do plenty of research beforehand and identify the attractions you most want to see.
• Bear in mind that the US does not use the metric system like most of the world. This is especially important if driving a car, as speed limits and distances are measured in miles rather than kilometres.
• Because it’s such a large and diverse country, you’ll find plenty of differences as you travel from state to state. The people, the cuisine, the accent and even the terminology changes between states. A soft drink might also be called a soda or a pop, depending on where you are.
• Be sure to purchase health insurance before travelling to the US, as healthcare costs can be very expensive.
• You want it? You got it. No matter the time of day or day of the year, you’ll always find an open shop or restaurant as you travel through the US - from fast food chains to old 24-hour highway diners.
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15 Small Towns In America That Should Be On Your Travel Bucket List

• These scenic small towns in the US are great vacation spots for a relaxing, peaceful, and even an affordable getaway in some cases.
• Truckee, California, is a historic slice of the Golden State with beautiful nature and ski resorts.
• Sedona, Arizona, is another one of the bucket list small towns America has in store, with stunning red rocks, hiking trails, and a walkable downtown area.

The smaller towns in the United States are ideal for those looking for underrated vacation spots. Everyone knows about busy cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, where the tourism numbers always remain high.

The desire to visit the bigger cities is often strong, but not everyone wants to deal with the hustle and bustle on a vacation. Instead, a more relaxing, peaceful, and even a more affordable vacation can be had in any of the abundance of beautiful small towns in America.

To celebrate the charm of small dots on the US map (and inspire travelers to visit them, of course!), this article will look at some of the small town destinations in America that have smaller populations but a world of fun and beauty. From budget-friendly small towns in the South to coastal locales and scenic small towns right next to major national parks (or within them, in some cases - hello, Gatlinburg!), there's truly a tiny American town for every taste.

Perhaps most entertaining of all, these small areas won’t typically attract big groups of visitors, which makes them even more appealing for those wanting a quiet retreat. What's more, each of the following small American towns has its own standout attractions that will make for a good bucket list trip.

UPDATE: 2024/01/30 11:08 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Explore Even More Charming Towns In The USA This Year!

This article has been refreshed with additional small charming US towns to add to the American bucket list, plus a refresh of all existing spots. Population figures have been included, all from official Census/city websites. Have fun, and try something new!

These Small Towns On the Great Lakes Are Perfect For Retirement

Truckee, california, this town has around 17,000 residents and a lake, with a history dating back centuries.

For anyone wanting to explore the Sierra Nevadas and visit an iconic lake in Northern California, Truckee is an amazing stop and easily earns is place among the small towns in America that should be on a travel bucket list. Here, visitors can experience a truly historic slice of the Golden State, as well as get out in nature.

Visitors here close to the Nevada state line in Truckee, making cities like Reno also readily available. While in town, it may be worth walking the historic downtown district, stopping in the local shops, and trying a scenic hike around Donner Lake.

Moreover, there are amazing ski resorts here for winter travelers, plus great hotels near the lake during warmer seasons. There's no 'bad' time to see Truckee!

• Population: ~17,000
• Things to do: Northstar California Resort, Sugar Bowl Resort, Boreal Mountain California, Donner Lake, Donner Memorial State Park, Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort, Donner Ski Ranch, Soda Springs Mountain Resort, Donner Pass

Sedona, Arizona

Nearly 9,700 people and red rocks scenery that leaves visitors speechless.

Sedona, Arizona, is one of the most recognizable towns in Arizona, as well as being a global destination for travelers. With red rocks for miles, stunning resorts, delicious food, and spas galore, this rocky town is not only charming but iconic.

Sedona is not home to many people, with this number floating closer to 9,700. Visitors have hiking and rock climbing here, as well as a walkable downtown area filled with things to do. Sedona, although smaller, is mighty in appeal.

Any time of the year here will be stunning, although spring or fall specifically are recommended seasons to visit Sedona.

• Population: ~9,700
• Things to do: Chapel of the Holy Cross, Cathedral Rock Trail, Sedona / Red Rock Country, Sedona Heritage Museum, Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, Broken Arrow Trail, Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art

Underrated, But Scenic: This Small Town In Arizona Is A Great Alternative To Sedona

Casey, illinois, ~2,300 residents and a town full of "big things" (literally).

Just a few thousand residents call Casey in Illinois home. Situated just off Interstate 70, the town could be missed as another small speck in The Prairie State, but visitors will notice something peculiar about the place when they enter its center.

Indeed, this town takes its motto, "big things in a small town," very seriously; it's peppered with larger-than-life "things" - yes, literal giant objects. That may sound bizarre, but it's true; Casey's big things make it one of the most unusual towns in America, yet one overflowing with personality and a ton of cool photo ops with said gigantic features. Moreover, the tiny Illinois town of Casey has over 10 "huge" world records of giant objects !

Of course, Casey has plenty of excellent eateries, cute shops, and local attractions to enjoy as well. Still, the most eye-catching items are, naturally, the massive fixtures - eight of which so far are official Guinness World Record holders for being the planet's "biggest" such-and-such.

From the world's largest rocking chair and the planet's biggest mailbox to the most humongous wind chime and truck key on the planet - and more - Casey is a tiny town with a big persona, with tons more astronomical attractions to scope out via treasure hunt during a visit. It may even make a whimsical stop-off as part of a ' unique Illinois roadside attractions ' hunting road trip!

• Population: ~2,300
• Things to do: World's Largest Rocking Chair, World's Largest Mailbox, World's Largest Pitchfork, World's Largest Wind Chime, World's Largest Golf Tee, World's Largest Teeter Toter, ASA Softball Hall Of Fame

Williamsburg, Virginia

Around 15,400 people , coupled with old world charm, the largest living history museum, and more.

Although Williamsburg in the Virginia Peninsula is a town steeped in American history, it is actually a relatively new one. The downtown area was restored in the twentieth century, attracting visitors to discover its enchanting atmosphere as they walk in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers.

The town boasts numerous olden establishments rooted in stories of the past, including the largest living history museum in the US and even America's first psychiatric hospital , among plenty of other old-time buildings.

Furthermore, Williamsburg even has talented people in costumes acting as these important historical figures and telling their stories.

However, as novelty as this may sound, these acts are an authentic part of the town's culture and history, as Williamsburg and its nearby locales, including Yorktown and Jamestown, are monuments to some of the most famous historic figures in the US, such as George Washington and Patrick Henry, as well as John Smith, Pocahontas and many more.

• Population: ~15,400
• Things to do: Williamsburg Winery, Ltd., Water Country USA, Patrick Henry Square, West Duke of Gloucester Street, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Williamsburg, Haunted Williamsburg, Colonial Williamsburg

If you need food recommendations for Williamsburg , there will be plenty to snack on here.

Red rocks, 5,300+ residents , and clear starry skies make Moab shine

Acting as a glorious gateway to the unearthly rock formations of Arches National Park and the canyons in Canyonlands National Park, the picturesque eastern town of Moab in Utah may be small. Still, it packs in everything guests would desire from a quintessential vacation in the Beehive State.

Sure, one of the main reasons Moab is so famous is that it's close to the legendary national parks nearby, where outdoor thrills and adventures attract wannabe Indiana Joneses to trek Martian paths and marvel at majestic rocky creations of nature.

However, the town on its own is also a treasure trove of fun and fascination, with top Moab attractions including the town's Moab Giants dinosaur museum and park, offering guests the chance to discover these parts' incredible history. What's more, the town also hosts lots of festivals, such as the Moab Folk Festival, the Moab Music Festival, and Moab ArtWalk.

• Population: ~5,300
• Things to do: Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hell's Revenge, Corona Arch

10 Small Towns On Long Island That Feel So Removed From New York City

Gatlinburg, tennessee, nearly 3,600 people , family attractions, and access to great smoky mountains national park.

Gatlinburg town in Tennessee is not one that instantly stands out since the population only features a little over 3,600 in the area. However, it's one of the most interesting small towns in Tennessee for travelers looking for a blend of national parks, local fun, and attractions worthy of a tiny-town getaway bucket list.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in Gatlinburg and has been around for a long time as a historical attraction. Other fun attractions include the 400-foot-tall Space Needle, the unique Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, and the Hollywood Star Cars Museum. There are also quite a few free things to do in Gatlinburg , making it perfect for families on a budget.

• Population: ~3,600
• Things to do: Ober Mountain, Anakeesta, Gatlinburg Space Needle, Hollywood Star Cars Museum, Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum, Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, Crockett's Breakfast Camp

St. Augustine, Florida

14,300 residents , stunning coastal views, and a charming historic downtown.

Florida is a top tourist attraction for theme parks, beaches, and, officially, the best sunsets in the world . However, St. Augustine town is not a place most instantly think of as an ideal destination because it's quite different from many of the typical bustling modern cities and beach destinations in Florida. That makes it quite underrated, especially considering the variety of things to do when taking a trip there.

St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in the US with lots to see , with particular emphasis on its tons of old-school architecture, making it look like a throwback visually.

The Lightner Museum is another top attraction worth making a full-day experience out of during one's trip. Most people would enjoy just soaking in the beautiful décor of the area along with the usually relaxing weather of this part of Florida.

• Population: ~14,300
• Things to do: St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Lightner Museum, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

Cooperstown, New York

Nearly 2,000 people , art museums, and the baseball hall of fame.

New York City is among the top tourist destinations in the US, but there are some fun towns outside of the Big Apple that provide a different experience. Cooperstown is an underrated part of New York State, with a few different attractions giving it relevance.

A small population of just under 2,000 residents gives it a small town allure, but it also has the perk of the Baseball Hall of Fame continuously updating its presence, making it a must-see town for anyone into baseball. The Fenimore Art Museum is one of the most underrated museums in town. Overall, Cooperstown gives a lot to do in a generally quiet area for a relaxing getaway.

• Population: ~2,000 people
• Things to do: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers' Museum, Leatherstocking Golf Course, Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard

Mystic, Connecticut

~4,500 people , coastal charm, museums, aquariums, and cool weather give mystic its name.

The film Mystic Pizza is what most people associate with Mystic town in Connecticut . Only about 4,000-or-so people reside in the area, to show just how small of a town it is. Despite the smaller size and fewer residents, it’s a great place to visit, with more attractions than you’d expect.

The Mystic Seaport is an impressive place with a museum of old ships and the setup of an older village. There’s even the local Mystic Aquarium with sea animals like beluga whales and rare penguins worth checking out.

• Population: ~4,500
• Things to do: Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport Museum, Olde Mystic Village, Mystic Museum of Art, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic Pizza

These Are The 12 Most Beautiful Towns In Connecticut You Should Visit

Ketchum, idaho, about 3,500 people live in this old mining town with seasonal festivals, hiking, and skiing.

Anyone with a passion for outdoor activities may be won over by the town of Ketchum in Idaho . Despite only about 3,500 people living in the area, there are quite a few fun things to indulge in. Many people in the area love to take advantage of the scenery with hiking or skiing trips.

Labor Day marks an annual celebration for the Wagon Days festival. Ketchum is an old mining town that pays tribute to its history along with having enough fun experiences to make it worth checking out. Visitors will never have to feel overcrowded during a vacation in this small charming town.

• Population:
• Things to do: Sun Valley Museum of Art, Visit Sun Valley, Gail Severn Gallery, Bald Mountain, Gilman Contemporary, Living With Wolves

Taos, New Mexico

6,500 people , old-school pueblos, and over 80 galleries call this town home.

The artistic appeal of Taos, New Mexico (also known as the Soul of the Southwest) , makes it another strong choice for an ideal small town worth visiting. Taos is populated with about 6,500 people and a few attractions to give a fun trip without an overbearing crowd of people to take away from it.

There are plenty of things worth doing in Taos during one's vacation in this sublime little dot on the map of New Mexico, from visiting churches and engaging in snow sports in the valley to checking out the famous pueblos on the reservation - and so much more.

In fact, old-school pueblo houses already give the town a unique look, but there are many art museums to check out some incredible pieces of work. This is actually one of the best small art towns in the US ; Taos has over 80 art galleries in the town despite the smaller number of people living there. This is clearly the art capital of New Mexico!

• Population: ~6,500
• Things to do: Harwood Museum of Art, Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, Kit Carson Home & Museum, Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, Couse-Sharp Historic Site, Millicent Rogers Museum, Ernest L. Blumenschein House

Camden, Maine

~5,200 people , scenic beaches, and hiking trails make up this weekend's getaway town.

Maine is one of the most underrated destinations in America , which makes it less surprising there are a few great smaller towns in the area. Camden stands out as an ideal destination based on the fun offered during a short trip there.

Camden is one of the many beautiful small towns in the USA to visit on the East Coast, home to beautiful beaches, impressive hiking trails, and many other destinations plush with nature.

Plus, fans of opera music can check out the Camden Opera House for incredible performances in the area. Only 4,850 people reside in Camden, but that is part of the appeal of visiting.

• Population: ~5,200
• Things to do: The Camden Snow Bowl, Camden Hills State Park, Mount Battie, Mount Battie Trail, Mount Megunticook, Curtis Island Lighthouse, Laite Memorial Beach

10 Scenic Road Trips In Maine That Offer Stunning Coastal Views

Breckenridge, colorado, 5,000 friendly faces and top-rated ski resorts make this little town an attractive spot.

Breckenridge town in Colorado is home to 5,000 people, which is a relatively small population, given that it's quite hot spot for outdoor adventure and the arts. The art scene here features many art museums and galleries

Skiing is extremely popular in the state, and this little dot on the Colorado map is a highlight. In fact, some of the best ski resorts in Colorado near Denver are found here, attracting slope sliders both seasoned and new to the sport.

The town’s Victorian flair gives it a standout look, too, with the architecture paying tribute to the past with enough modern appeals for the best of both worlds.

• Population: ~5,000
• Things to do: Main Street, Boreas Pass Road, Breckenridge Nordic Center, Sapphire Point Overlook, Breckenridge Distillery

Traverse City, Michigan

15,678+ people , wineries, museums, and the national cherry festival make this town charming.

Traverse City definitely deserves a place among Michigan's top-rated attractions . Although it's one of the bigger US small towns to visit on this list, it is still relatively small compared to ta lot of towns and cities.

The annual National Cherry Festival brings in big crowds, as this town is well known for producing the most tart cherries in the United States. It's also famous for wineries, much to vino lovers' delight!

Denos Museum Center is a highly respected art museum that adds some culture to the area. There is also the City Opera House, designed in the old-school Victorian style. Traverse City gives a lot of options to spend many days there while having a big city experience without the crowds. Again, Michigan is filled with fun stuff to do , so visitors can easily extend their trip beyond Traverse City if they decide they love it.

• Population: ~15,700 people
• Things to do: Dennos Museum Center, Clinch Park, City Opera House, Left Foot Charley, Boardman Lake Trail, Clinch Park Beach, Great Lakes Children's Museum

Michigan Is Now Home To America's Most Beautiful Town

Jacksonville, oregon, 3,020 people , scenic hikes, and the arts modernize this old gold rush town.

Jacksonville is a town in Oregon that is among the most unique and underrated places to visit in the United States . Only about 3,000 people reside in the area, making it quite empty, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to explore.

The Woodland Trails and Forest Park provides great hiking trails along with a generally beautiful atmosphere. Jacksonville used to be a Gold Rush town in the 1800s, but it is known for its modern fun today. The Britt Music and Arts Festival is another attraction with the locals and visitors getting to appreciate great music along with works of art.

• Population: ~3,000
• Things to do: Red Lily Vineyards, Quady North Winery Tasting Room, Jacksonville Cemetery, Applegate River Lavender Farm, Nunan House

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13 Best U.S. Resorts for Reconnecting With Nature — Hot Springs, Hiking Trails, and Open-air Massages Included

From Alaska to Maine, these U.S. nature resorts beautifully combine wilderness and wellness.

Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and photographer covering culture and adventure for Travel + Leisure Outside, and more.

Few things reduce stress like quality time in the great outdoors, but getting into nature doesn't require far-flung treks or bare-bones camping. Nature resorts across the U.S. pair wilderness with a touch of pampering — think on-site hot springs after a day of desert exploration and open-air massages to recover from long hikes on the trails.

If the coast, desert, or mountains are calling, these splendid wilderness-focused resorts could be the answer. Each getaway offers exciting adventures, jaw-dropping scenery, wellness amenities, and the ultimate natural attraction: dark, starry skies. These are the 13 best nature resorts in the U.S.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, New Mexico

Head to northern New Mexico's Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa for an immersive back-to-nature experience that includes a scenic hot-spring soak. This property, tucked between the otherworldly cliffs along the Ojo Caliente River, boasts one of the country's only thermal springs with four healing minerals: lithia, soda, arsenic, and iron. Guests can sleep in the property's adobe homes and wake to desert views. The splurge-worthy itineraries include movement classes in the yoga yurt, hiking or biking in the high-elevation desert, and unwinding beneath the canyons at the farm-to-table Artesian Restaurant.

The Green O, Montana

The adventure experts at Montana's renowned Resort at Paws Up took their nature-escape offerings up a notch with The Green O , a luxury-meets-adventure getaway tucked away on Paws Up's 37,000 woodland acres. The adults-only property offers serious nature-centered TLC, from the 12 forest-flanked "haus" accommodations with hygge-inspired fireplaces to the on-site trails, heart-pumping ATV tours, and scenic paddle excursions. The nightcap to any Green O adventure? Soaking beneath the stars in a private hot tub after a culinary safari at the Social Haus , the property's restaurant, bar, and communal gathering space.

Sheldon Chalet, Alaska

For a once-in-a-lifetime back-to-nature adventure, it's hard to top Alaska's far-flung Sheldon Chalet in Denali National Park. Let's start with the superlatives. The property is 10 miles from the soaring Denali summit. It's 50 miles from civilization and dwarfed by the colossal Don Sheldon Amphitheater peaks surrounding it. It also sits atop Ruth Glacier. With all of that, it's hardly surprising Sheldon Chalet prioritizes outdoor adventures like ice climbing, snow-cavern spelunking, and crevasse exploration. The post-excursion relaxation is almost as extreme, with five-star dining followed by arguably one of the best northern lights shows.

Amangiri, Utah

Amangiri treats its guests to some of the Colorado Plateau's most jaw-dropping desert vistas. The sleek, nature-inspired property blends seamlessly into a landscape studded with cacti and rock formations, from the canyon-view suites to the property's neighboring Camp Sarika tented pavilion. Amangiri delivers on the high-end Aman-brand promise, but here, luxury is tempered by the chance to get your hands dirty. Heart-pumping adventures include a via ferrata, expert-guided Colorado Plateau hikes, and outings to the region's beloved national parks: Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion. Once sunset hits, prepare to be wowed by the constellations and galaxies that feel within arm's reach.

Wild Rice Retreat, Wisconsin

Part artist's escape, part wellness resort, Wisconsin's new Wild Rice Retreat gives guests the perfect opportunity to unwind and recenter in the calming forests of northern Wisconsin. The retreat sits on the rocky shore of Lake Superior, where steady waves provide a soothing soundtrack for activities like yoga and meditation in the Peace Pod or detoxification in the sauna. Property trails invite travelers to get their blood pumping between meditation sessions, while farm-to-table outdoor dining leaves guests nourished and ready for more.

Twin Farms, Vermont

One of New England's best nature immersions awaits on Twin Farms ' 300 private acres in Vermont. Here, the Green Mountains provide a backdrop that's as calming as the property 's bucolic meadows. Twin Farms, roughly 90 minutes from Burlington, features 10 tree-canopied cottages, a private nine-acre pond, and numerous hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing trails to help guests work up an appetite for those locally sourced meals. For the ultimate back-to-nature experience, take Twin Farms up on its indulgent picnic-by-the-pond offering. Or, grab a boxed lunch and enjoy it during your bike ride. Just don't miss the elegant fireside dinners in the rustic-chic Main House dining room.

Post Ranch Inn, California

Perched atop the rugged cliffs of California's Central Coast with views across the Pacific Ocean, Post Ranch Inn provides more than a Big Sur base camp. The entire property is centered on immersing guests in the mountain-meets-ocean surroundings. The 40 opulent guest rooms and private homes feature sweeping sea-view windows and patios that make Big Sur the star of the show. Meanwhile, resort experiences like falconry, morning yoga, forest meditation, and guided nature walks further integrate guests into the environs. The scenic dinners, featuring ingredients from the chef's garden, are the cherry on top of this natural California retreat.

Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton, Florida

At Baker's Cay Resort in Key Largo, Florida, nature isn't just a nice-to-have feature; it's the property's raison d'être. This ocean-flanked escape and its panoramic balconies promise guests the kind of tranquility only teal waters can provide. Just as important: Baker's Cay offers travelers a chance to give back to the nature they're here to enjoy. The resort hosts monthly beach and underwater cleanups, and partners with 1000 Mermaids and Ocean Rescue Alliance for coral-restoration initiatives. Beyond that, guests can learn about the fragile Florida Keys ecosystems through eco-educator nature walks. This green ethos extends to the fare, too; Baker's Cay was the first U.S. resort to partner with Dock to Dish, an initiative that helps diners support small-scale and sustainable fishing communities.

Amara Resort and Spa, Arizona

Don't just visit Sedona's red rocks. Wake up to sun-splashed views of them from Amara Resort and Spa , a modern escape set along the calming Oak Creek Canyon, just two blocks from Sedona's bustling uptown. Amara's natural allures run the gamut: complimentary mountain bikes, hot-air balloon outings, and an infinity pool with a view of the red rocks, to name a few. The property's famed SaltRock Southwest Kitchen takes its cocktails seriously, serving agave-based beverages like craft margaritas that perfectly complement those crimson backdrops.

Terramor Outdoor Resort, Maine

Nature hits differently in Maine, and glamping getaway Terramor Outdoor Resort helps visitors make the most of it. The retreat , less than a 20-minute drive from Acadia National Park, delivers awe-striking wilderness with a touch of luxury across its 64 canvas tents. On-site activities include morning yoga, massages in the open-air wellness tent, and adventures like birding and kayaking. Terramor's raved-about evening experiences promise the perfect recipe for refueling: campfires, live music, beer tastings, and craft s'mores.

Lake Placid Lodge, New York

Get your nature fix and feel like royalty at Lake Placid Lodge , a posh mountain getaway in the heart of New York's Adirondacks. The lodge's digs are about as mesmerizing as the undulating scenery. Admire hand-hewn wood beams and stone fireplaces artfully crafted by local masons in one of 30 accommodations. But don't spend too much time indoors — the lodge's pristine waterfront setting provides the perfect jumping-off point for outdoor adventures. Try kayaking, boating, or fishing; after the latter, chefs will cook and prepare your fresh catch. For land-based fun, tackle the Adirondacks' trails by foot or bike. End the day with a candlelit meal in Lake Placid Lodge's upscale Artisans restaurant.

Camp V, Colorado

Western Colorado's Camp V is a choose-your-own-adventure nature escape. Enjoy the desert with cozy comforts in one of the property's hip cabins. If you prefer to get closer to nature, opt for glamping, camping, an Airstream stay, or a canyon-view Jupe , a pod-like shelter crafted by designers from Tesla and SpaceX. No matter the accommodations, expect outrageous desert fun. Head to Camp V's on-site pond for sunrise stand-up paddleboarding. Then, hit one of the hiking or biking trails right from your cabin or tent door.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Michigan

There's an aura of ease that welcomes travelers the second they cross the bridge from Lower Michigan into the Upper Peninsula — and that serenity gets kicked up a notch for those who journey all the way to the Keweenaw. The Lake Superior-flanked Keweenaw Peninsula is about as wild as the Midwest gets, and one of Michigan's northernmost resorts, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge , immerses guests in this unspoiled beauty. Adventure is woven into Keweenaw Mountain Lodge's DNA. This property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has its own web of mountain biking and hiking trails. In 2022, the area around the lodge became the first International Dark Sky Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, making it one of the best places to catch auroras in the lower 48 states.

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It's not too late to book summer travel deals, these expert tips make it easier

For anyone still in planning mode for summer vacation , some experts say right now may be the best time to book the trip.

Founder of The Points Guy Brian Kelly explained to "GMA" that the best booking timeframe, known as the goldilocks window, can offer travelers serious savings.

"When traveling internationally, you wanna book at least 60 days in advance and domestic, the sweet spot is usually 45 days," he said.

While airlines are already bracing for record travel this summer, Kelly said to go with the deals rather than the specific destination.

"Demand for travel is strong, especially intergenerational travel," he said. "I recommend -- choose the destination where the deals are so you can spend less on airfare and hotels and spend more at your destination."

Whether you prefer road trips or all-inclusive resorts or cruises, travel experts are seeing deals across the board if you know where to look.

"We've seen great airfares this summer to Hawaii -- JFK to Honolulu we're seeing in the $400 [range] which is 40% below historical prices."

International hotspots this summer like Europe for example, has airfare that's 10% less on average than the same time last year, according to travel booking site Hopper. The average summer airfare, Hopper found, is $325 domestically and $1,000 internationally.

Hot summer airfare deals this week

Boston to Barcelona can be booked for as low as $493 round trip.

Chicago to Paris has airfare as low as $571 round trip.

And Kelly reminded that the key to getting the best deal is knowing how and where to save.

"There's not one day of the week where cheap fares magically appear. If you travel on Tuesdays and Saturdays in general, those days are cheaper than flying on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday," he said.

Golden rule for booking flights: Advanced purchase requirement

Travel expert Scott Keyes of Going.com and formerly Scott's Cheap Flights, regularly reminds people to follow his golden rule of air travel : back-timing when to book based on your departure date, in order to align with an airline's "advanced purchase requirement" found in the fine print of the fare terms and conditions.

"Pull up a calendar and circle 21 days before your travel date," he said. "That needs to be your sort of drop-dead date to get your flights booked by."

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Up next in travel—.

Airbnb launches stays at 'Up' house, 'Inside Out' headquarters and more 'Icons'

Tips to travel Iceland on a budget, plus travel expert-approved gear

It's not too late to book summer travel deals, these expert tips make it easier

Southwest Airlines CEO says airline may reevaluate open seating after financial loss

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Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points: From business class flights to Europe to Hawaii

Editor's Note

It's no secret that American Express Membership Rewards are one of our favorite points and miles currencies .

TPG's latest valuations give Membership Rewards 2 cents per point value. However, leveraging the right transfer partners makes it easy to get even more value out of your points.

To prove this value to you, we'll look at some of the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards points in this article. From high-end business class redemptions to domestic flights around the U.S., there are ways to stretch your points for the best possible travel experience.

Related: Best American Express Credit Cards of 2024

How to earn Membership Rewards points

The best way to do this quickly is by utilizing welcome offers on Amex's top credit cards. Here are some of our favorites:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. However, some readers have been targeted for up to a 100,000-point bonus using the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• American Express® Gold Card : Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of card membership. However, some readers have been targeted for an even higher welcome offer using the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express : Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.

How to use your Membership Rewards points

You're likely to get the most value from your Amex points by transferring them to partner programs. Membership Rewards partners with 18 different airlines, including Air Canada , JetBlue and British Airways . You also have the option to transfer your points to three hotel chains: Hilton , Marriott and Choice.

You can book flights or hotels directly through Amex Travel , but redeeming points with a transfer partner usually results in a better redemption value. This is because Amex Travel only lets you redeem at a set 1 cent per point value for flights, while transfers can yield a much higher value.

Most Membership Rewards transfers process instantly, while others can take up to 48 hours. Check out our guide to Membership Rewards transfer times for more information.

Here are some of the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards by transferring them to partners.

Business class to Europe for 50,000 miles

If you want to travel to Europe comfortably, consider transferring your Membership Rewards points to Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program. The program prices award tickets dynamically, so on peak dates, you can be charged more than 100,000 miles for a flight to Europe. However, on dates with less demand, you can fly from North America to Europe from as low as 20,000 miles one-way in economy, 35,000 miles in premium economy and 50,000 miles in business class.

Remember that fuel surcharges on these awards can be a little hard to handle — close to $400 per person if you book round-trip business-class flights. Still, 40,000 miles for round-trip economy flights and about $120 in cash is still a great deal.

Flying Blue's monthly Promo Awards are worth checking out as they can offer 25% discounts on the prices above to select destinations.

Related: Is KLM premium economy worth it on the 787 Dreamliner?

Book Delta and ANA flights with Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club charges 50,000 points (so 50,000 Amex points) from the U.S. to Europe in Delta One business class. This pricing applies to all nonstop Delta tickets from the U.S. — connecting tickets are subject to extra mileage.

This is substantially cheaper than transferring points to Delta SkyMiles for the same award ticket, where 375,000 miles for a flight to Europe in business class is not uncommon.

Related: Dynamic airline award pricing is out of control — here are some ways to beat it

Always check Virgin Atlantic first to book a Delta One ticket to Europe. It consistently offers lower prices than Delta and other SkyTeam programs on these routes.

Availability can be hard to come by (though it is usually more available last minute than well in advance). You may wish to consider investing in an award search tool like Seats.aero , with its handy Delta One search finder to easily see availability. Then, you can book directly on Virgin Atlantic's website.

Virgin Atlantic's ANA award chart must be one of the best sweet-spot redemptions in the entire points-and-miles world. The chart below shows round-trip prices:

This means you can fly round-trip from West Coast airports to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda International Airport (HND) in ANA first class for only 145,000 miles or in business class for 90,000 miles. That's less than some airlines charge for a one-way ticket.

ANA first-class tickets sometimes cost $16,000 or more , so this is an easy way to get more than 10 cents per point in value.

Again, availability can be difficult to find and won't show on Virgin's website. It's best to use a partner site like United MileagePlus to check availability and then call Virgin Atlantic to book.

United and Alaska flights to Hawaii

From the great city of Honolulu to the vast beaches of Maui and Kona, the Hawaiian islands truly have everything. You can book flights to the islands on United and Alaska Airlines by transferring your Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer .

You'll pay just 12,000 Krisflyer miles for a one-way flight from California, Oregon, or Washington to any Hawaiian island. Just note that Singapore doesn't let you book Alaska flights with stops, so you're restricted to booking flights from one of Alaska's various hubs. You also need to call in to book these awards.

Those based elsewhere in the country can book nonstop or connecting flights with United Airlines. You'll pay 19,500 KrisFlyer points for a one-way economy ticket or 39,000 for business class.

Fly the world's longest nonstop flight in comfort

Singapore Airlines operates two of the world's longest flights : Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Of course, you're not going to want to spend 18 hours in an uncomfortable seat, so use your Membership Rewards to fly business class.

Both routes cost 111,500 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer points plus taxes and fees one-way — a small price for comfort on such a long flight.

Related: 18 hours in nonstop style: Singapore business class on the world's longest flight

Iberia flights to Madrid

Booking premium-cabin award flights to Europe can be a complicated and expensive endeavor, but Amex's transfer partner, Iberia Plus, uses a distance-based award chart. This is one of the best options to consider when searching for nonstop flights to Spain.

Here are the one-way award prices:

Off-peak business-class flights offer the best deal. You can fly from JFK and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Madrid for just 34,000 Avios in economy, 50,000 in premium economy and 68,000 in business class. Yes, those are round-trip prices . Considering that most airlines charge at least 50,000 miles for a one-way business-class flight to Europe, this is an absolute steal.

Related: Private suites and high-tech touches: What it's like flying Air France's new business class

Book Choice hotels around the world

The Choice Privileges program is lesser-known than the bigger chains like Marriott and Hilton, but it's still worth a look. You can still get value by transferring Membership Rewards to Choice Privileges, with awards starting at just 8,000 points per night.

The company's hotels sit conveniently outside major cities. For example, you can use 10,000 points per night to book the Comfort Inn near the Six Flags theme park in Gurnee, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. This can be a good option for a staycation or a stop on a long road trip.

Things get more exciting when you travel abroad. A handful of properties in Tokyo can be booked for 8,000 points per night. The centrally located Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kanda is one of them. The rooms look solid and are within walking distance of public transit.

Book short-haul flights with British Airways Avios

You don't have to jet halfway around the world to get a great redemption.

Using British Airways Avios is the best way to book domestic flights operated by American and Alaska Airlines. The program uses an unpublished distance-based award chart, so you'll pay more Avios for longer flights; short and mid-haul domestic flights are the award chart's sweet spots for Oneworld flyers.

Flights that are 1,151 miles or shorter can be booked for just 11,000 Avios, and for the shortest flights up to 650 miles in length, you'll need just 8,250 Avios on any date with availability. This is a solid way to use your points if cash flights are otherwise expensive. Think of peak travel times like holidays, conferences and school breaks.

One thing to note about Avios: It charges per leg. This means you'll pay more for connecting flights. In most cases, you should only use Avios to book nonstop flights.

Related: Here's why you should care about British Airways Avios

Bottom line

Whether you're looking for first-class airfare, an economy flight home for the holidays or a road trip hotel, you can use Membership Rewards to cover it all. Use these examples as inspiration for your next big trip. Not only will you have a better experience, but you'll spend significantly less out of pocket, too.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here .