The USA is one of the most diverse countries around the globe offering iconic cities, cultural attractions, paradise islands, and picture-perfect nature. There’s something special for every type of holiday maker in the USA, whether you’re travelling solo, embarking on a romantic getaway, planning a family holiday, or looking for the ultimate break with friends. Let’s start with New York, one of the world’s most famous cities with an incredible skyline and attractions that will leave you star struck, like Times Square and the Statue of Liberty.
Consider a city break in Las Vegas, the world’s entertainment capital filled with glitz and glamour, leisure attractions, incredible day-trip opportunities to the Grand Canyon, an impressive arts and culture scene, and colourful festivals. Another trendy USA city is Miami, Florida, which also brings the beaches, shopping, and warm sunny weather. Elsewhere in Florida is Orlando, the world’s theme park capital offering endless fun and adventure. Then there’s San Francisco in sunny California, boasting some of the finest restaurants in America, plus scenic landscapes and sightseeing landmarks.
If beach holidays to the USA are on your mind, then let us entice you to visit Hawaii. Hawaii’s capital Honolulu boasts plenty of pristine beaches and dramatic volcanic landscapes, or there’s Maui, a picture-perfect island beaming with Hawaii’s aloha cultural charm. Finally there’s Denver, the Mile High City in Colorado with a breath-taking setting at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver has it all; from museums and jazz clubs to breweries, thrilling outdoor adventures, and more than 300 days of sunshine every year. Which USA hotspot sounds like your cup of tea?
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Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of Southern California, surrounded by the lush Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills. Here you can look forward to browsing top-class museums and galleries, taking a stroll through stylish neighbourhoods, marvelling at art-deco structures, spending the day at fun-filled theme parks, and shopping until you drop at premium outlet malls. Brightsun Travel offers superb value Los Angeles holidays which you can browse and book online today.
This dazzling city is also renowned for its beautiful beaches which are often featured in films and TV shows. Santa Monica is the city’s most famous beach offering fun outdoor adventures and breath-taking ocean sunsets, and Venice Beach is another awesome beach spot with a bustling boardwalk. If you prefer to get away from the crowds, then consider a day trip to the Leo Carrillo State Beach near Malibu which has sea caves, rock formations, and tide pools.
A trip to Los Angeles is incomplete without exploring Hollywood and its epic Walk of Fame, plus the upscale Beverly Hills district where you’re likely to spot a celeb or two amidst the stylish shopping streets. Downtown Los Angeles is also worth exploring, filled with hip bars, restaurants, entertainment complexes, and top-class museums, not to mention architectural marvels and cultural enclaves including Chinatown and Little Tokyo.
We’ve seen New York in the movies and we’ve read about it in books. But physically seeing this famous city in real life is something else entirely! Take advantage of cheap holidays to New York from the UK and look forward to a myriad of incredible travel experiences, from admiring architectural marvels including the Empire State Building to browsing Times Square, taking a stroll through Central Park, and partying the night away at thriving entertainment hubs.
New York is a culinary haven with a melting pot of cultures all over the world influencing the city’s cuisine. There are thousands of restaurants in New York including fine dining establishments, hotel bars, fast food restaurants, and street vendors, so there’s something for all tastes and budgets to enjoy. The city also offers some of America’s finest shopping experiences with flagship designer stores, boutiques, famous department stores, and hip shopping streets to browse.
Look forward to immersing yourself in culture in New York; the city is a major cultural centre with an impressive theatre scene and abundant museums dedicated to art, history, science, and much more. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the city’s World Trade Center is one to note; it’s dedicated to the tragic events of 9/11 with media coverage, narratives, live talks, and artefacts, and honours the almost 3000 deceased victims.
San Francisco is one of the most wonderful travel destinations in America, filled with impressive buildings, museums, shopping hubs, and natural landscapes such as coastlines, mountains, parks, and islands. The Californian city is best known for its epic sightseeing landmarks which includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the Ferry Building. Brightsun Travel offers great value luxury holidays to San Francisco, allowing you the ultimate escape to this immense city.
San Francisco’s food scene is unlike any other; there are more than 4,500 restaurants scattered across the city catering for all budgets, from Michelin starred restaurants and gourmet hotel lounges to oyster bars, bustling cafes, and waterfront eateries. The shopping is also just as impressive here, with a diverse range of retail therapy options such as markets, boutiques, flagship designer shops, and department stores.
San Francisco is a perfect base for exploration with lots of epic daytrip opportunities. Less than a two hour drive from the city is the famed Wine Country of California, home to Napa Valley and many stunning vineyards, coastlines, and towns. The incredible Yosemite National Park is also located just a few hours away from San Francisco, where you can admire some of the most scenic natural landscapes in California.
Currency: You’ll be spendings US Dollars.
Language: English is the official language, though an estimated 10% of the population speak Spanish as their first language.
Local Time: Eastern time is four hours behind GMT, while Western time is eight hours behind GMT. Central states are six hours behind GMT.
Flight Time from the UK: Approximately seven hours to New York, ten-and-a-half hours to California, and nine hours to Colorado.
Tourist Information: Visit the official USA tourist information site for lots of helpful information regarding upcoming events, where to go, what to do, and how to get around.
Health/Travel Restrictions:To travel to the United States of America, British citizens need a valid passport and a visa or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). For up to date travel advice and health recommendations visit the government’s USA travel advice.
A: Yes, but an alternative is an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
A: It's so varied in climate you can visit any time
A: It's sensible as healthcare fees are astronomical.
A: Currently, you'll need proof of vaccination.
All American states have a varied selection of exciting activities. Themed attractions are particularly popular. California has Old Wild West museums such as the Oakdale Cowboy Museum where original photographs and artefacts from the era are on display. The Pioneerland frontier town, that was purposely built as a 1850s film set, includes a replica stagecoach. There are even re-enactments of the legendary gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone.
Walking and cycling tours are a great way to learn more about cities such as New York, Chicago and Washington DC. In Honolulu, pleasure cruising in a glass-bottomed boat allows passengers to observe sea creatures. One of the most atmospheric tours takes visitors inside Alcatraz, the notorious prison that was built on an island near San Francisco in 1934.
American cities usually have plenty of green spaces. New York's Central Park was created in 1858. It features 18,000 trees and eight lakes. Botanical gardens in Chicago and Washington DC offer relaxation amongst landscaped planting schemes. Visitors can watch professional baseball and football in every city. Alternatively, they can join in sporting activities such as skateboarding and go kart racing.
East, north and mountainous regions usually have cold winters with temperature falling to -25°C (32°F). The hottest month in every state is usually July with temperatures of 29.4°C (85°F). The wettest months across the US vary between April, May and July.
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