Select your destination above
United States
The U.S.A., or United States of America, is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. With the exception of Hawaiians and Native Americans, most Americans are products of their immigrant ancestors. Therefore, American culture can be unique to the country’s regions, towns, parts of cities, or even individual homes. U.S. culture is strongly influenced by an amalgamation of factors, including popular culture, religion, race and ancestry, national holidays, and social class.
The United States is a large country, spanning from the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific, and includes tropical, desert, and semi-arid climates. It is geographically varied: towering mountains, tropical forests, wide open plains, and deserts are found in various regions.
The country boasts some of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, diverse cuisine, and a thriving tourist industry. Every year, millions travel to and within the United States to visit destinations like the Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona, Niagara Falls in western New York, Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, the skyscrapers of Manhattan in New York City, and the pristine beaches, Everglade Forests and world-famous Disney World in the southernmost continental state of Florida.
The primary language of the U.S. is English, though Spanish makes a common appearance on restaurant menus, signs, and directives. This is due to the large South American population living within the U.S., especially in the southern states. Mexicans comprise the largest Spanish-speaking population; Southern Florida has a high Cuban populace.
The United States people are proud of the freedoms their country extols. After the American Revolution, the United States’ founding fathers issued a declaration of independence, which contains this famous quote:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Americans tend to be friendly in a more extroverted fashion than people in other countries. America is a country that promotes individualism, celebrates tolerance, and its citizens take pride in their country’s history, cultural diversity, and many freedoms. Most will go out of their way to help a stranger.
Though the United States has been in and out of a recession since 2008, it remains one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Its modern government infrastructure provides states and towns with beautiful parks, clean cities, and a multi-faceted transportation system. Within most major cities, a tourist can travel via rental car, train, underground train (or subway), taxi, or bus. Visiting remote regions may require renting a car. Mass transit is relatively inexpensive and well organized, making it easy for people unfamiliar with an area to get from one place to another.
American is famed for its incredibly diverse cuisine. Major cities offer foods to satisfy any palate and budget. Enjoy Italian, Mexican, French, India, Thai, Japanese… the list goes on and on. Visitors will of course want to sample traditional American fare: Southern Barbecue, Creole and Cajun cooking, Tex-Mex, a California roll, seafood like Blue Crab and Maine Lobster, Chicago or New York style pizza, and of course, the traditional hot dog or hamburger.
Hot dogs and hamburgers are always found at sporting events, and there’s nothing Americans love more than sports. From fall through winter, Sunday afternoons are spent glued to TV or at the stadium watching football, which is not to be confused with what Americans call soccer. Other popular sports include baseball- “the great American pastime”-basketball, golf, and hockey, and to a lesser extent, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis. Die-hard sports fan support their local college teams, dress in full regalia (including face make-up) on game day, enroll their children in various sports programs, and participate in fantasy leagues, where they create their own vitual major league sports team to compete with other virtual sports teams. Attending a sporting event is a great way to catch a true glimpse of America.
Though football may be America’s greatest religion, the States are prized for their fervent belief in religious freedom. Within any state, you will find a church, mosque, or synagogue to worship at.
U.S. citizens expect superior customer service, and this is obvious within the tourist industry. Luxury hotels, clubs, restaurants, salons, and spas are especially famous for catering to their high-end clients, which is why Homes 2 Stay has selected the U.S. as one of our offered destinations. If you’re traveling to the U.S., expect to be treated with respect, the utmost courtesy, and prepare yourself- you may even receive a spontaneous hug from a practical stranger… and you may be surprised to find yourself not minding it one little bit.
United States - Highlights