It would take many lifetimes of visiting the United States to see even a fraction of the many of the top USA tours. This made putting together this ‘Ultimate USA Travel Guide’ particularly difficult. Still, we’ve searched high and low and think we’ve put together a list of ten experiences that define the United States. We’re sure not everybody will agree 100% with this list, and some people may like to squeeze an extra experience or two in there. However, we’re fairly confident that whether you’re a new traveler to the United States or a seasoned one, you’ll find at least one or two experiences on this page that’ll catch your attention.
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While you can quite easily stand and gaze at Niagara Falls, we reckon that taking a tour is the best bet. In fact, this is one of the best USA tours out there. There’s a few around the area. Some will have you getting up close and personal with the Falls, others will have you on a boat ride and touring caves. Some will even have you visiting both the USA and the Canadian side of the falls, just for a complete experience (make sure you bring your passport here).
We highly recommend that you look for tours that will take you to the observation deck with a view over the falls. The memory will stick with you for a lifetime.
Address: Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Also Read: Top Tourist Attractions in New York City
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. When countless people emigrated to the USA, it was the first thing they saw as they entered New York City. It became a symbol. It still is. You cannot even think about traveling around the New York City area without heading to the Statue of Liberty. It is tremendous up close, so make sure that you take the boat ride out and prepare to be awestruck.
Address: Liberty Island, NY
Also Read: Top Tourist Attractions in New York City
We know that Walt Disney World may not be to everybody’s tastes, but there is no denying that it is the most ‘magical’ theme park in the world. It is certainly the most well-known. It is a monument to excess. Head to Walt Disney World, and you’ll get to ‘ride’ many of the movies that you enjoyed growing up. Meet many of the characters, and have a fantastic time. If you don’t like theme parks, you’ll probably still love Walt Disney World. It is more than a theme park; it is an experience. If you have kids, take them there. We bet both you and them will be completely frozen in place the second you spot that iconic castle coming into view.
The only downside is that if you’re heading to Walt Disney World, you need to make it a whole trip. A good week and, even with that, you won’t see a fraction of what there is to do there.
Address: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL 32830
Also Read: Top 5 Things To Do In Walt Disney World and The Best Amusement Parks in Florida
There are few things more iconic than the Las Vegas Strip. Bright lights. Excess. A city that really doesn’t sleep. This is why a trip to the casinos of Las Vegas should be on the cards at least once. You don’t even have to gamble there. The experience of being in the city is fantastic. Plus, there’s plenty to do around the area. You’ve got museums, some quality restaurants, clubs, and a thriving music scene. This is literally a city built for tourism.
Stretching over 2,000 miles, Route 66 is the most iconic road in the United States. For decades, people would travel across the length of the road, staying at the countless motels, and dining at all the tremendous diners along the route. Along the way, some weird and wacky attractions popped up too. While the road is now far from its heyday, it is still a tremendous trip.
While we don’t anticipate that you’ll be driving the full length of the road, even driving a couple of hundred miles of it can be a great experience. Pick where you want to start, look at a few attractions, and head there.
When visiting the USA, there are loads of national parks to visit, and some great state parks too. Honestly, we could probably tell you to visit any one of them, and you’ll have a great time. We’re sticking with Yellowstone National Park as our number one recommendation, though. It’s the largest in the United States and is home to some fantastic views. Experience sweeping landscapes, forested areas, and loads of animals.
There are plenty of ways to explore Yellowstone. We suggest you make a trip out of it and look for one of the many great campgrounds. For a day? You can also head out on a hike or two.
Also Read: Top Tips for Visiting Yellowstone National Park
This is a bit of a left-field suggestion. All of the other USA experiences we mentioned on this list are globally known. Not the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival. For nine days every October, over 500 hot air balloons fly through the sky. They all have weird and unique designs, and every hot air balloon owner tries to outdo the others. At any time, you could have hundreds of balloons in the sky. It is no wonder it is one of the most photographed events in the world.
Address: 5000 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
If you’re looking for one of the most majestic views in all of the United States, then a trip to the Grand Canyon needs to be on the cards. Gaze into the canyon, and you’ll see millions of years of history in those rocks. It is beautiful. You could sit here for hours and see the stunning colors.
Of course, there is also plenty to do around the Grand Canyon, including hikes, horse rides, and, for the more daring among you, river rafting. You’ll also see evidence of the thousands of years of human occupation around the area, including small ancestral houses carved into the rocks.
If you’re pressed for time, just driving across the Golden Gate Bridge will be a stellar experience. One you’ll be thinking about for decades to come. It’s a mile long, so not that much of a hefty journey, unless you’re in the blistering San Francisco heat.
If you really want to make this an experience to remember, then it might be worth cycling across, just to get those views. You can then get a ferry back and get some beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Plus, it means you don’t have to put the effort into cycling back.
There are plenty of places to rent a bike around the area, so don’t worry if you don’t have one in tow.
There are plenty of places to bar hop around the United States, but no city does things better than Nashville. Plenty of live music every single night (especially country music), and some great alcohol and food to try. Again, somewhat of a unique experience that we don’t think many people will even think about. However, we have bar-hopped in many cities in the US, and nothing even comes close to the experience that Nashville offers, especially if you love country music.
As we mentioned, we have barely scratched the surface of the unique experiences available in the United States. Even if we wrote a list involving the top 1000 USA tours, we wouldn’t even come close to everything we consider amazing. We think this list of 10 is a great place to start, and even if you’ve been traveling the USA a few times, you’ll find at least one thing to love.