The millions of tourists who come
to the United States each year
soon discover that the United States
is a large country and that many
of its famous attractions are thousands
of miles apart. It is just not
possible to see everything on a
single, or even a series of visits.
So planning ahead is essential.
Although the government does not
maintain a national tourism bureau,
the Travel Industry Association
of America [http://www.seeamerica.org] and
each of the states offer extensive
information on things to see and
do [http://www.statelocalgov.net/50states-tourism.cfm].
Travel agencies, automobile clubs,
hotels, and other businesses also
provide tourist information and
can be located on the Internet.
How
Far is it to...?
The
United States is a
large country. When
planning your trip,
be sure to take into
account the distances
between many of the
most popular U.S. attractions.
This map shows the
straight distance in
kilometers between
several major cities;
driving routes can
be quite a bit longer.
Click here for
a larger image of the
map. |
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There are many ways to organize
a vacation: you might settle on
a single city and the area around
it—such as Miami, Florida
or San Francisco, California, or
a particular region of the country—such
as New England or the Great Lakes
of the upper Midwest, or a particular
sight—such as Grand Teton
National Park in Wyoming or the
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
in Missouri.
In the next two essays, we supply
some additional organizing suggestions:
pianist and award-winning music
historian Dr. John Edward Hasse
proposes a trip arranged around
America's musical heritage; this
is followed by a photo-story of
other tourist possibilities such
as fairs, farms, and vineyards,
historical reenactments, enjoyable
U.S. eccentricities, and sporting
events.
The United States is diverse in
its people and its geography, offering
something for everyone.
Whatever your preferences, we're
sure you'll find something of interest.
Wherever you go, you will find
people of openness, generosity,
and warm hospitality.
