The third largest country in the world in population and the fourth largest in area, covering the entire midsection of North America, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. Thanks to cinema and TV we all have impressions of the United States of America. Yet nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of Manhattan`s unforgettable skyline, your first ride in a yellow cab, the ubiquitous hamburger joints, the vast expanses of prairie, the sweet strains of New Orleans jazz or the neon-lit excesses of Las Vegas. If the United States has one defining quality, it`s variety. This vast area of some 3.6 million square miles--it`s 2,500 miles from New York to Los Angeles, and that again to Hawaii--has something for everyone. Each region still speaks with its own accent, enjoys its own favourite foods, and has its own political and social attitudes. Indeed, foreign travelers often go away with the impression that it is not one nation but a blend of 50 little countries. There is nothing quite like spending an evening away from home at one of America’s thousands of public land recreational area campsites. Whether you seek the solitude of a backcountry camping site or a convenient place for you and your family to pitch a tent or park an RV, there are plenty of places to camp in our parks, national seashores, lakeshores, forests, and wilderness areas. Imagine touring the red sands of Utah's Arches National Park on your mountain bike, or riding though the Black Hills of South Dakota on your road bike. Then there are the beautiful carriage trails of Acadia National Park that you can explore on your hybrid. America's public lands offer a multitude of different types of cycling. America’s public land recreation areas provide a wonderful way to explore our history. From the birthplace of our nation at Independence Hall in Pennsylvania to the Anasazi Heritage Center in Colorado, many parks, forests, and other public lands feature cultural and historic sites that offer outstanding educational opportunities. Fishing continues to be a favourite pastime in the United States. Freshwater fishing was the most popular type of fishing with over 28 million anglers devoting nearly 467 million angler-days to the sport. Thousands of miles of trails that are as diverse as the land itself criss-cross America’s recreational areas. Hiking trails range from steep technical climbs over rocks and iron ladders, to relatively flat lakeshore paths blanketed in pine needles. Hiking is an easy, low cost way to discover the great outdoors, and there are hiking opportunities for almost anyone at any age and ability level.

Western settlers explored much of America on horseback. Today, many of our parks, forests, and wilderness areas can still be explored on the back of a horse for a unique natural adventure. Many Federal recreation areas offer trail riding as well as off-trail riding. America’s public lakes, rivers, and seashores offer some of the best water for recreation on our continent. Enjoy scuba diving an underwater nature trail at a National Marine Sanctuary or body surfing at a national seashore. More than 66 million people enjoyed watching America’s wildlife last year. The public land recreation areas offer an outstanding setting for viewing and photographing creatures in their natural habitats. Opportunities range from observing habits of the endangered Nene or Hawaiian Goose at Volcano National Park to admiring the power and grace of grizzly bears at state parks in Alaska. Many areas are open to a host of recreational opportunities unique to the season. Cross-country and downhill skiing as well as snowshoeing, snowboarding, and dog sledding are just a few of the activities that you can enjoy on public lands. Outdoor possibilities are endless in thousands of recreation areas, while indoor entertainment is equally well delivered with high quality, high brow museums of all sorts, matched by high quality low brow theme parks of every kind. The USA is the birthplace of modern 20th C music with many related attractions and a vibrant live music culture; film buffs will enjoy recognising just about everywhere. The USA is a huge country to explore, with 50 states to choose from, flanked by two oceans and covering an incredibly varied terrain.

Links by Category: