The land of the free, the home of the brave, and the place you can find many experiences you cannot – and perhaps wouldn’t want to – anywhere else.
1.) Drinking Games
Beer pong is a college tradition that every American has experienced, but the game has made its way to other parts of the world as the message is spread by college kids on Euro trips and through to older generations as adults struggle to let go of their youth. The concept is centred around a ping pong table where cups of beer are arranged in a triangle formation. Two teams then compete to see who can most accurately throw the ping pong ball into their opponent’s beer cups, forcing those opponents to ‘down’ the beer as quickly as possible – and get legless in the most efficient manner.
Loitering outside colleges hoping to be invited in for a game is probably not the best idea unless you are Bill Murray, but in major cities in particular there are lots of places to find beer pong if one only knows where to look.
2.) A meal at a highway-side diner
A lonely traveller sitting at the counter in a diner drinking cup after cup of coffee is a familiar scene from the movies and countless TV shows, which often ends in some big realisation, some shocking message on the television relevant to that person alone causing them to abandon their seat in a hurry, or a meet cute. The diner is the place to go when you don’t know where else to go, and for good reason. You can find friendly service, decent prices, and all sorts of food at diners – mostly stereotypically American foods such as burgers and oversized breakfasts. These are especially great options for a revitalising breakfast after your night of beer pong.
3.) Driving along Route 66
A road trip is obviously not only possible in the US, but America can be credited with popularising the concept and making the idea of driving for hours on end fun – provided there are some catchy tunes to go with it. Tour USA with a company and you’re getting a road trip thrown in! Route 66, though no longer an official route but still recognised as a historic highway, is one of the most famous roads in the country. You can find all sorts of places, people and sites along the 2,451-mile, which stretches from California, runs through south-western states such as Arizona and Texas, before finishing in Illinois. The best idea is to have a very limited plan and simply set off, but be sure to have a playlist or two ready to go.
4.) A rodeo in Texas
Experience the true Americana that is a full-blown rodeo in the heart of cowboy country. Rodeos are not only a Texan thing, but Texas is the most famously associated with the tradition of cow roping and barrel racing, extreme patriotism, wide-brimmed hats and that irresistible southern drawl, so why settle for less?
5.) A sports game
The US is home to many sports where the best athletes in that discipline play regularly in front of huge crowds in enormous stadiums. American football, basketball and baseball are three of the most typical, and definitely offer travellers the chance to experience something they probably have not before. Baseball tends to boast the cheapest ticket options (for non-prime seats), and the atmosphere and tradition at these games is great. If basketball and even more so American football are more your thing, be prepared to hand over a little extra dough for your ticket.
Be sure to tuck into some staple game cuisine such as a hot dog while you sit back and watch other the people on the field burn calories rather than add them.
6.) Thanksgiving and shopping on Black Friday
Whether you agree with the tradition or not, Thanksgiving is one of the most significant holidays on the American calendar. Preparing the meal with family or friends is a big part of it, but if you are on the road this is not the most likely scenario. However, plenty of restaurants offer special Thanksgiving meals with reservations most often required.
The day after Thanksgiving roll yourself out of bed nice and early to hit the Black Friday sales – but be aware that this activity is for the brave only. Black Friday sees the biggest sales of the year across the country, but it is a rather crazy event with consumers acting a little nutty in order to snag the best bargains. Elbows may be required to attend.
7.) Visiting Gettysburg
Tour USA and get to Gettysburg, one of the most important battlefields, cemeteries and war memorials in the US. The battle that took place here on July 1-3, 1863 saw the most deaths of any during the Civil War and represents a major turning point in the conflict, and it was on this site that Abraham Lincoln delivered one of his most renowned speeches: the Gettysburg Address. For history buffs it is a must, but it is also a good one to add to your itinerary if you are only to include one historic site.
8.) Catching a ferry in New York City
The iconic view of the Manhattan skyline is part of every movie or TV show set in The Big Apple. One of the best ways to enjoy it is to take a ferry ride out to Staten Island. The skyline can also be savoured from Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty now stands, or Ellis Island, where immigrants were processed from 1892 to 1954 as they arrived to live the American dream. The view you will see from the ferry is the same the new arrivals would have looked upon with hope and dreams of the Sbarro’s and bagel traditions they would create there, with a few adjustments to the architectural layout of course.
9.) Celebrity spotting in Hollywood
Hollywood is a place of its own, and you will be sure to feel the certain atmosphere of dream creating and crushing palpable in the neighbourhood no matter what you do here. For die-hard Hollywood-gossip lovers a tour that takes you past homes of the stars could be a fun activity, while others might enjoy spotting their favourite names along the Hollywood Walk of Fame or visiting the Chinese Theatre. Alternatively, research upcoming premiers to station yourself for some red-carpet watching, or park yourself in a Starbucks and spot the next big script writers at work.
10.) Riding a roller coaster at a big-name theme park
The US is dotted with famous theme parks, with some of the best-known including Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland. Thrill-seekers will enjoy El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure or GateKeeper at Cedar Point, while Disney’s California Adventure is a great family option – alongside the famous namesake park naturally.
Ready to start your tour USA itinerary? Scroll down.
Author’s Bio: Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC.
