As an intern on the Mountbatten Institute New York Programme, I had one year to make the most of my time. I'd scour the internet for the 'the top things to see and do', 'what to see & do in USA' and the 'best places to visit in America' but seldom find anything beyond the obvious. And so after a year of exploring I decided to create this website to help people put together their own adventure. I hope the top 30 things to see and do in America inspires you and leads you on to some great experiences in the USA.
10. "Don't Mess With Texas"... or Louisiana
You know you've entered the state of Texas when, after hours of broken road in Louisiana, it suddenly becomes smooth. Visit any of the major cities to get a feel for the state and head south, past the gargantuan oil refineries, to Surf Side Beach for the break of dawn. Driving west leads towards San Antonio; east will take you along the coast to Galveston – devastated by Hurricane Ike in 2008. The retired off-shore oil rig is a brilliant attraction and there's a free car ferry to take you back in the direction of Louisiana. Seeing alligators along the bayou is the highlight of this troubled state. I really wanted New Orleans to be a great city but I found it a huge disappointment – the French Quarter is touted as the best part but it's very weak. Overall the two states make a nice trip but Texas would be worth exploring on its own. http://www.oceanstaroec.com/
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9. Spend time with an American family
I hope this choice isn't misconstrued. I'm not saying an American family are a top 'tourist attraction'; I'm saying that if you get the opportunity to stay with a family, it's one of the best experiences you'll have. I stayed with three different families: one family in New Jersey before Halloween and two different families in Pennsylvania over Thanksgiving. Some of my fondest memories of the year are from living with an American family for a weekend. Maybe I just got lucky as the families willing to have me were unbelievably nice, so generous, and probably didn't even realize what great ambassadors they were for their country. All this was arranged through the truly excellent organization, One To World (based in New York): http://one-to-world.org/
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8. Be an astronaut and see a shuttle launch
NASA is an icon of modern America so get yourself a flight to Orlando, rent a car, and head out towards the Kennedy Space Center. If you're not afraid of your geeky side, do the astronaut training (but be realistic and expect a severely diluted tourist version) as you'll also get to meet a real astronaut and ask him anything you like. KSC is a top attraction and well worth the money but, as with all these attractions, get there early! The highlight of all this is to go for a planned shuttle launch. Our launch was 'scrubbed' at 04:30 am when it was due to take-off at 04:37 am. NASA try to reschedule for the following day, weather dependent, so make sure you have a return flight that leaves at least a day or two after. Family and dignitaries get the best view so if you're not the son of Buzz Aldrin, NASA causeway is 2nd choice, which you can buy as part of your KSC ticket (limited numbers). If not, head to the end of Broad Street, Titusville (it's free but really busy) or stay at KSC for the launch on big screen video. http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
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7. Hustle around New York City
NYC is a fantastic place to visit for a few days and the must see and do attraction is the city itself! There are two main areas of Manhattan to visit: Midtown and the Financial District in Downtown (look out for the free walking tours in both of these areas). Midtown is home to Time Square, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Central Park, etc. The Financial District is where you'll find Wall Street on your way to the Brooklyn Bridge, and South Street Seaport for ferries taking you to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. There's also a free ferry that passes the iconic landmark on its way to Staten Island. Make sure you visit the World Trade Center Site, formerly known as Ground Zero, which will stir your memories and emotions. If you don't have much time in the city, an open-top hop-on/hop-off bus tour will show you everything and act as your weekend transportation costs too. If you want to get high above the city, helicopter tours, Empire State Building or Top of the Rock are your best options. Of the two buildings, choose the Rock for a view over the city and Central Park. Still, the main highlight of a true melting pot city is free: just absorb the buzz!
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6. Revert to childhood at the City Museum, St. Louis
The City Museum is the reason I created this website. It is for those of us who want to find something a bit different. Most cities in the US have copy & pasted each other’s cultural attractions but the City Museum is like nothing you'll find anywhere else. It's a weird and wonderful, adventure playground for 'grown-up children'. It's brilliant! They do a 'lights out' night every week but this isn't worth coming back for as it's busy and they only turn off some of the lights. Try to go early (turn up just before 9 am and you'll have the place to yourselves for a good 30 minutes) and/or go on a weekday when the kids are at school. The only thing I can't understand is why more places haven't copied & pasted this! While you're in St. Louis, take a trip in a capsule to the top of the Gateway Arch (book in advance online) and enjoy the interactive urban art sculptures throughout the city. http://www.citymuseum.org/
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