That's more like it, Brydie714 ;D
Ohhh... those places sounds really good! A close friend of mine went to San Francisco recently, and said it's worth visiting.
I'd love to travel through the USA - was thinking of Texas, Florida, Washington, New York, etc.
That's a big list!
Understand that the United States is very diverse from region to region, from the way people talk to the culinary specialities....
Each region has it's uniqueness....so I'll do my best in telling you what there is to do and see.
The New England states--there is a lot to see, especially in Boston--from Paul Revere's famous ride and the fight for Independence. North Boston is an enclave of Italian immigrants and anytime I visit, I kind of feel like I am in Italy. Hop on a boat and ride out to Cape Cod, Provincetown--which is a party town in the summer months and worth a visit as well. Maine is a beautiful state to visit--my favorite spot is Ogunquit, ME. Small and quaint. If travelling during the Fall season--check out Vermont, the fall foliage is worth seeing.
Mid-Atlantic states--That area is NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, VA, and Washington DC. Again-- a lot of history dedicating to the formation of America from Revolutionary battlesites to the American Civil war ( Gettysburg, PA ). New York has a lot to offer especially New York City--you may even ask Jiro to give you a tour-- from Broadway shows, Statue of the Liberty, Ground Zero, but remember that there is also upstate New York such as Niagara Falls, Rochester--home of NTID, etc. Pennsylvania has sites to see such as Philadelphia--Independence Hall, Hershey--home of the Hershey kisses chocolate factory, Pittsburgh. State Maryland has Baltimore, home of Fort Henry, Inner Harbor. Maryland also has Ocean City and just north of there is Rehoboth Beach, DE. Both places are nice to go to. When in Baltimore--try the Maryland blue crabs with beer! Wonderful dish. Washington DC has a lot to see from the Smithsonian Museum to the Capitol to Gallaudet University and again--ask Authentic to give you a tour.....
The Southeast--Again a lot of history pertaining to the American Civil War and my favorite is Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. Both cities have a lot of charm and oozes with history. There are some places in the Southeast where one can stayon a plantation and experience what it was like to be a slave. The city of New Orleans, LA is a good city to check out especially around Mardi Gras--that town knows how to drink and party~ As for culinary--try fried foods like fried alligator, fried twinkies, okra, sweet potato pie, pecan pie and my favorite sweet tea.
Florida is different from Southeast due to the close proximity to the Carribean and if you get the chance--hop on the boat to the Bahamas or fly to Puerto Rico and USVI as they are American territories and you would get the Carribean experience as well. Florida has Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
Texas--what can I say about Texas? Everything is BIG! Bar-be-que is everywhere in Texas. Texas has a mixture of white influence and Hispanic influences as well. Cuisine is very good and hearty in Texas. Visit the Alamo in San Antonio. Austin has a good jazz and blues scene if you are into music.
The MidWest--MI, OH, IN, IL, KY, WI, MN, IO, MO, KS, NE, SD, ND--this area is known as the "breadbasket of America" as it is predominately agriculture. There are many wonderful things about the MidWest from Chicago to St. Louis to Cincinnati to Cleveland, Detroit, Minnenapolis, Indianapolis, etc. Each city has its own flair and contribution to history. You can visit many Presidential homes in Ohio to Lincoln's home in IL. The food is very midWestern--hearty and wholesome! There are several amusement parks such as 6 Flags, Cedar Point, King's Island. Also in SD--there is Mt Rushmore as well as the Badlands of the Dakotas. If travelling--check out Wall Drug, SD. Its a tacky tourist trap but worth it!
The Rockies--home of many national parks such as Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, Devil's monument, Crowe Indian reservation, and many state parks as well. The scenery is breathtaking. Also--if you travel through the Rockies, just try to stay at a "working ranch", who knows, you might get lucky with an cowboy!
The Southwest has a lot to offer as well. Again, many influences of Hispanic and Native American art. The Grand Canyon and Sedona are both worth checking out. Sedona is home to the Red Rock Canyon whereas Grand Canyon is one of the 7 wonders of the world. In New Mexico--there is a town called, Roswell, home of the UFO crash which is fascinating and makes one wonder if there is life out in outer space.
The Pacific Northwest which includes OR, WA and AK has a lot to offer as well. From Portland to Seattle to Anchorage--each city is surronded by geogrpahical beauty of the mountains, and water. There is Crater Lake in southern oregon which was caused by an implosion of a volcano as well as the Oregon coast which extends up into Pacific county, WA. ( My home.) as it is sandy beaches. Portland, OR has a lot of history as well as art. My weird place to visit in Portland is the Voo Doo Donuts as well as the Chinese Gardens. In Seattle--check out Pike Place market, Capitol hill, take a ferry boat ride to Bainbridge Island. Again the cuisine is difference as it is focused on seafood and there is a lot of Asian influence due to close proximity to the Orient.
Now I hope this helps and remember this is a general summary of what to expect when travelling in the USA.
If you want specifics to an area--let us know!
I'm excited to hear more from you all!
