Are you planning a trip to the United States? Do you want to know where to go and what to expect? How can I prepare for it? We have compiled a list of the top things you need to know before you go so that you are prepared for everything.
The United States of America is commonly referred to as the USA, the US or simply America. It is made up of 48 states, 48 of them contiguous. Alaska lies to the west and Hawaii is out in the Pacific Ocean. Washington DC is also a federal district. We also have 5 territories, including American Samoa and Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
An ESTA may be necessary
The USA’s visa waiver program covers many countries, including Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. The Department of Homeland Security website allows you to check if your country appears on the list.
The USA is really, really big
It covers 3.8 million sq. miles. It is so large that you would need to drive it for approximately 40 hours from Los Angeles to New York. It would also be extremely boring to drive a lot of the distance. Flying is the best option if you have limited time to visit the US.
Uber and Lyft Are Everywhere
Taxis are gone. You can easily get a ride in any major American city by downloading the Lyft and Uber apps. Uber drivers are more comfortable and have better cars. They also often offer water and snacks. Lyft is a bit more affordable with more chatty drivers. It all depends on your mood.
Expect to encounter a lot of diversity
People often say to us that they don’t look like Americans when we travel. We laugh and ask Americans what they look like. We all technically immigrated to the US from some other country.
Yet, we often live up to our stereotypes
You have probably seen American movies, and you may have some stereotypes. Yes, California has bleach-blonde surfers. Portland hipsters… Cowboys in Texas You should check! Check! Yes, Southern hospitality is real. Some stereotypes about America are not true, but others are.
These are not the best places to visit.
People from all over the globe dream of visiting the United States. They often think of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco as their top choices. People think of big cities, bright lights and impressive skylines.
Weather Variations are Extremely Frequent
The US is huge. It could be as high as 120 degrees F in Arizona or 2 degrees F in Montana. Before you plan your trip, make sure to check the weather and road conditions.
Remember that we are not on the Metric System
Miles are used instead of kilometers for distance measurement, feet to measure height and Fahrenheit to measure temperature. You may be asking why we don’t align ourselves with the rest. I wish I could.