United States of America

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Quick Facts
Capital Washington, D.C.
Government federal republic
Currency US dollar (USD)
Area 3,755,241 miles2 (9,631,418 km2)
Population 307,212,123 (July 2009 est.)
Electricity 120V / 60Hz
Country code +1
Time Zone UTC -4 to UTC -10


The United States is largely regarded as the world's wealthiest and most powerful nation. The country continues to play a dominant role in the world's cultural landscape, and is famous for its wide array of popular tourist destinations, ranging from the skyscrapers of Manhattan and Chicago to the natural wonders of Yellowstone to the warm, sunny beaches of Florida, Hawaii and Southern California.











The Great Plains & Midwestern states also experience tornadoes from the late spring to early fall, earlier in the south and later in the north. States along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, may experience hurricanes between June and November. These intense and dangerous storms frequently miss the the U.S. mainland, but evacuations are often ordered and should be heeded.



Cool and damp weather is common in the northwest (the states of Oregon, Washington and the northern part of California). Rain is most frequent in winter, snow is rare, especially along the coast and extreme temperatures are uncommon. Rain falls almost exclusively from late fall through early spring along the coast.



The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

America was once populated by people who are believed to have migrated from northeast Asia. In the United States their descendants are known by uncomfortable appellations such as Native Americans, or American Indians. While the Indians are often portrayed living a singular, usually primitive lifestyle, in fact, prior to European arrival, the continent was densely populated with sophisticated societies. The Cherokee, for example were part of the overarching Mississippian culture which built huge mounds and large towns that covered the landscape while the Anasazi built sophisticated cliff-side towns. The primitive existence depicted of Native Americans is generally the result of mass die-outs triggered by Old World diseases — in effect they were a post-apocalyptic people.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, parts of the region were colonized by European nations including Spain, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Russia, and/or their religious missionaries. The British colonies in Virginia and Massachusetts were the kernel of what we now know as the United States of America. Religious immigrants from Massachusetts, run by a Puritan theocracy, would found most of the New England colonies, creating a highly religious and idealistic region. Virginia would become the most populous and influential of the southern slave societies. The southern areas, because of a longer growing season, had richer agricultural prospects, especially for cotton and tobacco. As in Central and South America, African slaves were forced to cultivate large plantations.

By the early 18th century, 13 colonies ranged along the Atlantic coast from Georgia to Maine.

In the late 18th century, colonists declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. They achieved their freedom in a War of Independence also known as the Revolutionary War. The colonies formed a federal government, with its Constitution inspired by Enlightenment-era ideas about individual liberty. The Treaty of Paris that negotiated the end of the War of Independence gave Americans all British land between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River.

As American and European settlers pushed farther past the Appalachians, the United States gradually admitted new states in the Midwest. This was only enabled by the displacement and decimation of the Native American populations through warfare.

In the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 acquired a former French territory along the Mississippi River. The country fought the War of 1812 with Britain in an attempt to reassert its authority and try to capture Canada. The war ended in a virtual stalemate, and territorial boundaries between the two nations remained nearly the same. Nevertheless, the war had disastrous consequences for the western Native American tribes that had allied with the British, for now they were left completely to the mercy of the land-hungry Americans.

Florida was purchased in 1813 from the Spanish after the American military had effectively subjugated the region. The next major territorial acquisition came after American settlers in Texas rebelled against the Mexican government, setting up a republic that was absorbed into the union. The Mexican-American War of 1848 won the northern territories of Mexico, including the future states of California, Arizona, and New Mexico, giving the continental US the rough outlines it has today. The Native Americans were concentrated in the west by treaty, military force, and by the inadvertent spread of European diseases.

In mid-1800s, many Americans were calling for the abolition of slavery. The industrializing North did not need slaves anyway, and favored national abolition. Southern states, on the other hand, believed that individual states had the right to decide whether or not slavery should be legal. The Southern states, fearing domination by the North, decided to secede from the Union, sparking the American Civil War. To date, it is the bloodiest conflict in U.S history , costing hundreds of thousands of lives. The North won. Slavery was abolished, but the former slaves and their descendants were to remain an economic and social underclass in the South.

The US purchased Alaska from the Russians in 1867, and Hawaii was annexed in 1898. The Spanish-American War gained the first "colonial" territories: Cuba (granted independence a few years later), the Philippines (also later granted independence) and Puerto Rico (which voluntarily remains a US territory).

In the Eastern cities of the United States, Southern and Eastern Europeans, and Russian Jews joined Irish refugees to become a cheap labor force for the country's growing industrialization. Many Southern African-Americans fled rural poverty for industrial jobs in the North. Other immigrants, including many Scandinavians and Germans, moved to the now-opened territories in the West and Midwest, where land was available for free to anyone who would develop it. A network of railroads crisscrossed the country, accelerating development.

With its entrance into World War I in 1917, the United States established itself as a world power. Real wealth grew rapidly in this period. In the Roaring 20s stock speculation created an immense "bubble" which, when it burst in October of 1929, contributed to economic havoc, known as the Great Depression. Socialists and Communists seized the opportunity to win converts.

At the end of 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a military base in the Pacific, plunging the United States into World War II. In alliance with the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, the U.S. defeated the fascist regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan. At the end of this war, the United States was the dominant economic power in the world, responsible for nearly half of the world's production. It was the only force capable of containing the Communist Soviet Union, giving rise to what is now known as the Cold War.

After WWII, America experienced far greater affluence. A civil rights movement emerged that eliminated most institutional discrimination against African-Americans during the 1960s; a revived women's movement also led to wide-ranging changes in American society. Post WWII saw a shift to an economy primarily based on technology rather than agriculture. Today, many of the leading technology companies are based in the United States (especially on the Pacific Coast). The U.S. also took the lead in military and space technology, especially beginning in the 1960s.

The 1950s saw the beginnings of a major shift of population to the suburbs and largely contributed to the United States giving rise to the car culture and the convenience of fast food restaurants. The Interstate Highway System, constructed primarily from the 1960s–1980s, became perhaps the most comprehensive freeway system in the world. Major chain stores began popping up in cities across the country, and some later spread to foreign countries. The American consumer culture, as well as Hollywood movies and many forms of popular music, has arguably established the United States as the cultural center of the world.


The United States is a federation of 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, with each of the states retaining considerable autonomy within the federation. Each of the states has its own state government, with laws differing slightly between state.

The Federal Government consists of the President and his administration acting as the executive body, as well as the United States Congress acting as the legislative body. The President is elected indirectly by the people via an electoral college, and serves as both the Head of Government and Head of State. The Congress is bicameral, comprising an upper house, known as the Senate, and a lower house, known as the House of Representatives. Both houses are directly elected by the people. While more seats are given to more populated states in the House of Representatives (eg. 53 for California, but only 1 for Alaska), the Senate is equally represented by each state, which each state getting 2 seats regardless of population. For presidential elections, the number of electoral votes assigned to each state is equal to the total number of representatives and senators from the state. The District of Columbia has no representation in either house of Congress, though it is given 3 electoral votes in Presidential elections.


The South's famous Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana



The US has a number of holidays — official and/or cultural — of which the traveler should be aware. Note that holidays observed on Mondays are usually treated as weekend-long events. (A weekend consists of a Saturday and a Sunday.) Federal holidays—i.e., holidays observed by the US federal government—are indicated in bold italics.

  • New Year's Day (January 1) — most businesses closed; brunches and football parties.
  • Chinese New Year (January — variable date) — chinese cultural celebration
  • Super Bowl Sunday (usu. first Sunday in February) — the most-watched sporting event of the year; supermarkets, bars, and electronics stores busy; big football-watching parties.
  • St. Valentine's Day (February 14) — private celebration of romance and love. Most restaurants are crowded. Finer restaurants may require reservations made well in advance.
  • Presidents Day (third Monday in February) — (officially Washington's Birthday) — government offices and banks closed; many stores have sales.
  • St. Patrick's Day (March 17) — Irish-themed parades and parties. Expect bars to be crowded. They will often feature themed drink specials. The wearing of green or a green accessory is common.
  • Passover (one week around Easter) — Jewish religious observances.
  • Memorial Day (last Monday in May) — most non-retail/tourism businesses closed; some patriotic observances; trips to beaches and parks; beginning of summer tourism season.
  • Independence Day / Fourth of July (July 4) — most businesses closed; patriotic parades, cookouts and trips to beaches and parks, fireworks at dusk.
  • Labor Day (first Monday in September) — most businesses closed; cookouts and trips to beaches and parks; traditional ending of summer tourism season.
  • Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (autumn) — Jewish religious observances.
  • Columbus Day (second Monday in October) — many government offices and banks closed; sales.
  • Halloween (October 31) — trick-or-treating, parades, and costume parties.
  • Veterans Day (November 11) — government offices and banks closed; some patriotic observances.
  • Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) — government offices and most businesses closed; family dinners, on Friday major Christmas shopping begins.
  • Christmas (December 25) — most businesses and restaurants closed the evening before and all day; exchanging gifts, Christian religious observances.
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) — many restaurants and bars open late; lots of parties, especially in big cities.

For more information




Map of the USA
Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming)
Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah)
Like the Southwest, California has a history under Spanish and Mexican rule and is heavily influenced by Spanish and Mexican culture. California offers world-class cities, deserts, rain forests, snowy mountains, and beautiful beaches. Northern California (around the Bay Area) and Southern California (around Los Angeles) are culturally distinct.
Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon)

Politically, the U.S. is a federation of independent states each with its own rights and powers (hence the name). The U.S. also administers a motley collection of non-state territories around the world, the largest of which are Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean plus American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in Oceania.


White House south facade, Washington, D.C.


  • Los Angeles — home of the film industry, with beautiful mild weather, great natural beauty from mountains to beaches, and endless stretches of freeways and smog
  • San Francisco — the City by the Bay, featuring the Golden Gate Bridge, vibrant urban neighbourhoods, and dramatic fog

Other destinations


Get in


The US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have slightly looser entry requirements from the rest of the country; see those pages for details.


Visa-free entry


Citizens of the 36 countries within the Visa Waiver Program [3], as well as Canadians, Mexicans living on the border (holding a Border Crossing Card) and Bermudans (with British Overseas Territories passports) do not require advance visas for entry into the United States. In the case of Canadians and Bermudans, the entry period is normally for a maximum of six months. However, since 2009, even visa-free travelers must now apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval online [4] before their flight, preferably 72 hours before travel. An ESTA approval is valid for two years (or until your passport expires) and costs US$ 14 [5]. Approvals issued before September 8, 2010 (i.e. those which were free at the time) remain valid until their expiry date.

Travel under the Visa Waiver Program is limited to 90 days for tourism or business purposes only; neither employment nor journalism is permitted with a Visa Waiver. The 90-day limit may not be extended nor will travel to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean reset the 90-day limit. All potential visitors with criminal records, including Canadians and Bermudans should consult a US embassy for advice.



Citizens of the Bahamas may apply for visa-free entry only at the US Customs preclearance facilities in the Bahamas, but a valid police certificate may be required for those over the age of 14. Attempting to enter through any other port of entry requires a valid visa.

Persons holding a passport from the Cayman Islands, if they intend to travel directly to the US from the Cayman Islands, may obtain a single-entry visa waiver for about $25 prior to departure.

Visa Waiver Program Requirements

Passports issued after October 26, 2005 need digital photographs embedded on them, and passports issued after October 26, 2006 must be biometric passports, which have a chip embedded with the user's information. Some countries, e.g. France, did not have biometric passports available at that date, meaning that citizens from these countries with newer passports but not biometric passport have to obtain a tourist visa, which can be a cumbersome, costly and time-consuming process. If you have a non e-passport issued after October 26, 2006 and you are from a Visa Waiver country, try having your government exchange it for an biometric passport, explaining that you wish to travel to the U.S.

Entry under the VWP from air or sea also requires entry via an approved carrier. It is a somewhat safe assumption that most major airlines and sea carriers are approved, but make certain that the carrier is approved to carry Visa Waiver visitors. Notably, however, this means that flying private aircraft or chartering a vessel to the United States requires a full visa.

Travelers must also have a return/onward ticket out of the United States. If the return/onward ticket terminates in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or any Caribbean island, the traveler must be a legal resident of that country/territory. If traveling by land, there is a $7 fee when crossing the border. Before VWP travellers commence their journey, they must apply electronically for authorisation to travel (ESTA) through the ESTA website [6]. If approved, it allows the traveller to commence his journey to the US but doesn't guarantee outright entry yet.

The I-94W form (see below) has a checklist of conditions that may deny visa waivers. Most of these are not a problem for most visitors ("Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage, sabotage, terrorist activities, genocide?"), but the important one is that if you have ever been denied a US visa for any reason or overstayed on a previous visa, you will be denied entry. Having a criminal history with convictions for "crimes of moral turpitude", controlled substance (drug) offenses, or jail terms of more than five years total are also disqualifying factors.

Obtaining a visa

For the rest of the world, the visa application fee is a non-refundable US$140 (as of 4 June 2010) for visas that are not issued on the basis of a petition and US$150 for those that are. The Immigration and Nationality Act states that all persons requesting entry into the United States as non-immigrants are presumed to be immigrants until they overcome that presumption by showing evidence of "binding ties" to your home country as well as sufficient proof that your visit will be temporary. When the US rejects visa applications, it is usually because the applicant does not have enough binding ties to his own country to convince the consular officer that he or she is not planning to be an immigrant. Face-to-face interviews (where the official needs to be convinced that you are not a "potential immigrant") at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate are required for many nationalities, and waits for interview slots and visa processing can add up to several months.

Depending on your nationality and the category of visa you are requesting, you may need to pay an additional fee (ranging from US$7 to US$200) only if the visa is issued. This is called a reciprocity fee, and is charged by the US to match the fees charged by other countries on US citizens.


Statue of Liberty, New York City

Arriving in the United States


If you are not a citizen or resident of the United States, you will go through a short interview at immigration, where the official will try to determine if the purpose of your visit is valid. Of most concern to immigration officials is that you have the funds to support yourself, and that you do not intend to work or perform any activity not authorized by the your visa. Be prepared to show proof. If you are on a business visit, have an invitation letter from the company you are visiting, or the registration details of the conference you are attending. If you are a tourist, you may need to demonstrate you have funds available to you. In both cases proof of onward travel may be required. Usually, the determination of admissibility is made in a minute or less, however if there are any doubts, you may be referred to further questioning in a more private area. At this stage they will likely search your possessions, and may read any documentation, letters or diaries in your possession. Do not bring anything that will imply you will immigrate (e.g. photographs typically kept at home, excessive luggage, pets). Once they decide to let you in, you are fingerprinted and a digital photograph is taken. As in most countries, assume that customs official are humorless about any kind of security threat; even the most flippant joke implying that you pose a threat can result in lengthy interrogation.

For non-residents, your entry forms will need to state the street address of the location where you will be staying; this should be arranged in advance. The name of your hotel, hostel, university, etc. may not be sufficient; you must provide the street name and number. If staying in multiple locations, provide the address where you will be spending the first night of your stay. If it is a hotel, have a reservation under your name. If it is a private address, make sure that the people there know that they are expecting you that day, as if your plans are doubted border control officials may phone them and ask them for the name of the guest they are expecting. Make sure you have their contact details (especially phone numbers where they can be reached immediately), and save any text messages or emails in which your hosts mention inviting you to stay at their residence.

For technical and scientific fields of work or study, processing non-immigrant visa application can take up to 70 days, as it can require 8 weeks for receiving an approval from authorities in Washington. This especially applies to military and dual-purpose fields which mentioned in a so-called technical alert list (a copy can be found at [8]).

At customs

Travelers should avoid bringing meat or raw fruit or vegetables into the U.S., but may bring cooked nonmeats, such as bread. See APHIS [9] for details. The U.S. Customs process is straightforward. Most articles that are prohibited or restricted in any other country are prohibited or restricted in the USA. The only rule that is unique to America is that it is generally prohibited to bring in goods made in countries on which the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions, e.g., Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Myanmar (Burma). Besides their personal effects which will go home with them, visitors are allowed to import $200 of merchandise duty free, including 1 liter of alcohol (21 and older only) and 1 carton of cigarettes. If you are bringing in more than US$10,000 or its equivalent, you must declare it on your customs form and you will be given a special form to fill out. After you are admitted into the U.S. and you retrieve your bags, you will proceed to the secondary inspection area (customs checkpoint). Hand your customs declaration to the officer. Most of the time, the officer will point you to the exit and that will be it. The officer may ask you some routine questions and then let you go. The officer may refer you to the x-ray to have your bags inspected, or may refer you for a manual search of your bags. Customs has the right to search your person and your bags, but any search more intrusive than a bag search is rare, and is usually indicated only if some sort of probable cause has been established through questioning or during the bag search to suggest suspicious activity.

After customs

Since all inbound citizens, nationals, and visitors must pass through immigration and customs at their first point of entry, this obviously presents a problem for persons whose final destination is another airport inside the United States. The standard solution at nearly all major hubs is that after you exit U.S. Customs, there is a special exit for travelers with "Connecting Flights." This takes you to a conveyor belt manned by airport baggage handlers who will take your baggage from you and check them through to your final destination. From there, you enter the secured departure area of the airport and proceed to the gate for your connecting flight.

Alternatively, after you re-load your luggage, you may have to exit the terminal you are in and proceed to the terminal of your departing flight. There is also a recheck-in lane at the arrival hall and you can proceed to your next flight. Make sure you have requested the staff at your port of departure to check you through to your final destination. If this is not possible or there are no check-through agreements between the airline that took you to your port of entry and the next airline, you will have to proceed to the terminal of your next flight and check-in as usual.

Leaving the United States

Travel Warning WARNING: If you overstay the period granted at passport control or violate your terms of entry, this will automatically invalidate your visa, even if it was just by one day. In addition, overstaying your authorized stay or violating the conditions will make it extremely difficult to re-enter the United States for any purpose, and this may, in some cases, bar you from re-entry for at least three years if not permanently.

Unlike most countries, the US doesn't have a formal passport control checkpoint for those exiting the country, especially for those travelling by air or sea. As such, airline, cruise or Canadian/Mexican border staff will take the I-94(W) card stapled in your passport from you on departure, but it is ultimately your responsibility to check if the card was removed by them so insist before leaving if you will leave the US permanently on your trip. If you leave the country with it still in your possession, contact U.S. officials about how to return it and update your departure records to avoid entry hassles in the future. If you leave by a commercial carrier, your departure will also be verified with the airline or shipping company. US Customs and Border Protection has information [10] about what to do if your slip is not collected. If you intend to leave for Canada or Mexico by land for a side trip and return to the US within 30 days or the allowed time of your stay (whichever is shorter), you don't have to return the I-94 card on your first exit from the US but you will only be admitted for the remaining time left in your allowed stay. If you return the I-94 while on the side trip, you will have to apply all over again to enter the US (and this can mean a new visa for single-entry visa holders) and be subject to the usual questioning an alien has to go through to prove he doesn't have any intentions of immigrating, working or doing something not authorised by his visa.

There are additional pilot security measures dubbed US-VISIT [11] that will eventually require non-resident aliens to be fingerprinted and photographed upon their exit. This is applicable at a majority of land, sea, and air entry ports. Check the website dhs.gov/usvisit for more information.

By plane


  • From the west Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu are the primary points of entry from Asia and other transpacific points of departure. Seattle has some international flights, and Portland (Oregon) has a daily flight to Tokyo. Of course, if you arrive in Honolulu, you must take another flight to get to the mainland. Foreign airlines are not allowed to transport passengers to/from Hawaii or Alaska and the other 48 states (except for refueling and in-transit). If you are flying into the west coast to transit to another destination, San Franscisco airport has a free frequent skytrain linking terminals and short security queues, compared to Los Angeles which will see you exposed to the elements catching a shuttle bus or walking between terminals.

Note that the United States requires entry formalities even for international transit, and the current state of international affairs means that this is not going to change anytime soon. You must have a valid visa to enter the United States if required by your citizenship, even if you are immediately continuing on a flight to a different country. If your citizenship requires a visa to enter the U.S., avoid transiting through the U.S. unless you want to spend time and money to obtain a C-1 transit visa. Further, when booking flights to the U.S. note that you will be required to clear customs and immigration at your first U.S. stop, not at your final destination, even if you have an onward flight. Allow at least 2 hours of stop-over (ideally more than 3) at your first U.S. stop.

By car

As of June 1, 2009, ALL persons wishing to enter the United States by land must possess a valid passport; NEXUS, FAST, or passport card; Laser Visa; or an "enhanced driver's license" (issued by certain US states & Canadian provinces)

Traffic travels on the right hand side (as it does in Canada and Mexico).

If you are entering under the Visa Waiver Program, you will need to pay a US$6 fee, in cash, at the point of entry. No fee is payable if you are simply re-entering and already have the Visa Waiver slip in your passport.

The US-Canada & US-Mexico borders are two of the most frequently crossed borders with millions of crossings daily. Average wait times are 0-30 minutes, but some of the most heavily travelled border crossings may have considerable delays—approaching 1-2 hours at peak times (weekends, holidays). Current wait times (updated hourly) are available on the U.S. customs service website [12]. The US-Mexico border is lucrative for drug trafficking, so vehicles crossing may be x-rayed or searched by drug-sniffing dog. If there is suspicion, your vehicle may be searched. Since this is an all-too-common event, expect little patience from border agents.

By boat


Some passenger ferries exist between Canada and the U.S., notably from the Atlantic Provinces to New England, and from Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle.


By train

Amtrak offers international service from the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal into the U.S.

By foot

There are many border crossings in urban areas which can be crossed by pedestrians. Crossings such as those in/near Niagara, Detroit, Tijuana, Nogales, & El Paso are popular for persons wishing to spend a day on the other side of the border. In some cases, this may be ideal for day-trippers as crossing by car can be a much longer wait.

Get around

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California

The size of the U.S. and the distance separating major cities make air the dominant mode of travel for short-term travelers. If you have time, travel by car or rail can be interesting.

By plane



Discount air carriers are becoming more dominant. Southwest Airlines [13] is the largest and best known.

There are a number of ways to save money when flying within the United States. See Cheap airline travel in North America.

By private plane

The advantages of private plane travel are:

  • You can fly directly to small, more remote airports that would be inaccessible by commercial flights.
  • You can fly at the time and schedule of your choosing, and on short notice.
  • You can bring pets on board the aircraft.
  • You can often avoid the hassles of airports and security and receive personalised service throughout your journey.



By train

See also: Rail travel in the United States




Travelers choosing Amtrak should be prepared to pad their schedules somewhat. Since Amtrak does not own the rails on which they operate their trains, they must yield to the whim of the freight operators who do own them. In general it's a good idea to pad the schedule by 25% when planning connections with other trains or other transport modes, especially for those few Amtrak lines which cross the Canadian border. If you plan to board an Amtrak train at a location other than the train's initial place of departure, its usually a good idea to call ahead before you leave for the station to see if the train is running late. Expect to wait two hours; 6 or 8 hour delays are not unheard of.

A major Amtrak line in regular daily use by Americans themselves is the Acela Express [15] line, running between Boston and Washington, D.C.. It stops in New York, New Haven, Philadelphia and many other cities on the way. This line is electrified, with top speeds of 150 miles per hour (though the average speed is a good deal slower). The Acela Express has first class service, but can be quite expensive. Given the difficulty and expense of getting from the center of some of the major Northeastern cities to their respective airports, trains can sometimes be more convenient than air travel. There are also frequent, slower regional trains covering the same stations along the Northeast Corridor for lower fares.







By car

America's love affair with the automobile is legendary, and most Americans prefer car travel for getting to nearby cities in their state or region. The need for a car depends greatly on the cities or regions being visited. A car can be necessary even to get around in a city such as Phoenix or Dallas, while in places such as New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago driving a car is not only unnecessary, but discouraged. Travelers from outside the country may not sufficiently appreciate the need for an automobile here. However, in most medium-sized American cities, particularly in the west and south, cities are very spread out and public transportation thin. Taxis are often available, but except at airports you may have to phone for one and wait a half-hour or so to be picked up, and make similar arrangements to return. Even in some very large cities (such as Los Angeles and Atlanta), a private car is your most practical option. Gas stations have traditionally sold regional and national maps, although many drivers have begun to obtain driving directions on their home computers before beginning a journey; MapQuest and Google Maps are popular websites for obtaining directions. Drivers can obtain directions in the midst of their travels by calling 1-800-Free411, which will provide text message directions, or they can stop and ask locals for nearby directions. Generally, Americans are happy to give directions to travelers.

Great American Road Trip


Interstate System

There's always a road going your way


Speed limits on the interstate highways can vary from state to state, as setting the speed limit is up to each individual state. For example, Interstate 70 from east to west is 65 miles per hour in Maryland, 55-65 miles per hour in Pennsylvania, 65 miles per hour in Ohio, 70 miles per hour in Indiana, 65 miles per hour in Illinois, 70 miles per hour in Missouri and Kansas, and up to 75 miles per hour in Colorado and Utah.


Commercial rest areas were outlawed on the interstate system by the federal government. As a result, the vast majority of rest areas are state-operated rest areas with public toilets, parking, tourist information, vending machines, and a small picnic area, but no restaurants, gas stations, or stores. The only exceptions, which do offer many commercial services, are on turnpikes that predated the interstate system and were grandfathered in. Therefore, on the vast majority of interstate highways, drivers must exit the highway at an interchange to access commercial services located on private lands off the highway.

Driving laws




International visitors aged 18 and older can usually drive on their foreign driver's license for up to a year, depending on state law. Licenses that are not in English, must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified translation. Persons who will be in the United States for more than a year must obtain a driver's license from the state they are residing in. Written and practical driving tests are required, but are usually waived for holders of valid Canadian, Mexican, and some European licenses.

Traffic signs often depend on the ability to read English words. Drivers who can read English will find most signs self-explanatory. The country has gradually begun adopting signs with internationally understood symbols, with English "translations" for those not yet familiar with them. However, progress is very slow. Distances and speeds will almost always be given in miles and miles/hour, without these units specified. (1 mile = 1.6 km). Some areas near the Canadian border may feature road signs with distances in both miles and kilometers.

Car rental

Renting a car in the U.S. usually runs anywhere from $20 and $100 per day for a basic sedan, depending on the type of car and location, with some discounts for week-long rentals. The major rental agencies are Enterprise Rent-A-Car [17] (+1 800 RENT-A-CAR); Hertz [18] (+1 800 230 4898); Avis [19] (+1 800 230 4898); Thrifty Car Rental [20]; and Dollar Rent A Car [21]. There are no large national discount car rental agencies but in each city there is usually at least one. A couple discount car rental companies, usually restricted to areas of the country, are Advantage Rent A Car, E-Z Rent-A-Car [22] (+1 800 277 5171) and Fox Rent A Car. The internet or the Yellow Pages are the easiest ways to find them. One widespread chain is Rent-A-Wreck [23] (+1 800 944 7501). It rents used cars at significantly lower prices. Most rental agencies have downtown offices in major cities as well as offices at major airports. Not all companies allow picking up a car in one city and dropping it off in another (the ones that do almost always charge extra for the privilege); check with the rental agency when making your reservations.


Most rental agencies accept an International Driver's Permit only when presented along with a valid driver's license from your country. You may wish to join some kind of auto club before starting a large American road trip, and having a cell phone is a very good idea. Most rental agencies have some kind of emergency road service program, but they can have spotty coverage for remote regions. The largest and most popular club in the United States is the American Automobile Association [24] (1-800-391-4AAA), known as "Triple A". A yearly membership runs about $60. AAA members also get discounts at many hotels, motels, restaurants and attractions; which may make it worth getting a membership even if you don't drive. Alternatively, Better World Club [25] (1-866-238-1137) offers similar rates and benefits as AAA with often timelier service and is a more eco-friendly choice (1% of revenue is donated to environmental cleanup programs). Note that some non-US automobile clubs have affiliate relationships with AAA, allowing members of the non-US club to take full advantage of AAA road service and discount programs. Among these clubs are the Canadian Automobile Association, The Automobile Association in the UK, and ADAC in Germany.

Also for international tourists, note that most American tourists renting cars are covered for loss or damage to the rental car either by their credit card or their own private vehicle insurance policy. Without appropriate loss/damage waiver cover, you could be liable for the entire cost of the car should it be written off in an accident. For international tourists without a US credit card, car rental excess cover included in International Credit Card Travel Insurance policies may not be applicable. Therefore purchasing loss/damage waiver cover and supplemental liability insurance is recommended and may add up to $30/day to the price of a rental. Often if you visit the car rental website and identify your country of origin, you may be given a quote which includes the loss/damage waiver and liability insurance.


Gasoline ("gas") is sold by the gallon. The American gallon is smaller than the UK gallon, and equals 3.785 liters. The U.S. octane scale is different from that used in Europe; a regular gallon of U.S. gasoline is rated at 87 octane, the equivalent of about 92 in Europe. Diesel is not as common, but still widely used and available at most stations, especially those catering to truckers. Untaxed "offroad diesel", sold in rural areas for agricultural use, is dyed red and should not be used in cars, as there are heavy fines if you're caught.

Despite increasing petroleum prices worldwide and some increases in gas taxes, the American consumer-voter's attachment to his automobile, combined with abundant domestic oil reserves and relatively low taxes on gasoline, has kept retail fuel prices much lower than in many parts of the world. Prices fluctuate by region and season, generally ranging from around $2.30 to $3.00/gallon as of August 2010.

By bus



Megabus [27] offers inexpensive daily bus service in the Midwest from their hub in Chicago to Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Iowa City, Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, Bloomington-Normal, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Champaign-Urbana, and Memphis. They also offer bus service in the Northeast from their hub in New York City to Boston, Albany, Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Atlantic City, Pittsburgh, State College, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C..


By recreational vehicle (RV)

Main article: Car Camping


By motorcycle



By thumb

Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri in the Midwest






Almost all Americans speak English. They generally use a standard accent (native to the Midwest), popularized in the 20th century by radio, TV and movies. In many areas, especially the South and Texas, in New England, in New York City, and in the upper Midwest, you'll find distinctive regional accents and dialects. Nowhere should this pose any problem to a visitor, as Americans often admire foreign accents and most will approximate the standard accent to help you understand them, or try to speak your language if they can. You may occasionally need to repeat yourself in order to be understood. Some words with short vowel sounds can be hard for some Americans to understand, and without necessarily imitating an American accent it can help to lengthen them for understanding. If the clerk at the travelers' assistance desk doesn't understand you when you say "locker," try lah-ker. If you have difficulty ordering the "salad" at Wendy's, try sah-lid.

Visitors are generally expected to speak and understand English. Many Americans are familiar with Spanish, or French, but few are fluent in languages other than English, unless they are from immigrant communities. Even popular tourist sites may have signs only in English, or perhaps one or two other languages.

Spanish is the primary second language in many parts of the U.S. such as California, the Southwest, Texas, Florida, Chicago Metropolitan Area, and the New York Metropolitan Area. Spanish is also the first language of the U.S. territory Puerto Rico as well as a large minority of residents, mostly immigrants from Mexico or Latin America. The United States has the fifth-largest Spanish speaking population in the world. Although it's rare to be in areas where no one speaks English, a good handle on Spanish can make communications easier in some areas.

French is the primary second language in rural areas near the border with Quebec, in some areas of Louisiana, and by immigrants from West Africa. Haitian immigrants primarily speak Haitian Creole, a separate language derived from French, as their second language, although a substantial number also speak French. Hawaiian is the native language of Hawaii, and in the various Chinatowns in major cities, Cantonese and Mandarin are common. Smaller immigrant groups also sometimes form their own pockets of shared language, including Russian, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese, and others. Chicago, for instance, is the city with the second largest ethnic Polish population in the world, behind Warsaw. The Amish, who have lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio for generations, speak a dialect of German. Some Native Americans speak their respective native languages, especially on reservations in the west.




Lighthouse, Portland, Maine, in New England




Natural scenery





Historical attractions

Americans often have a misconception of their country as having little history. The United States does indeed have a tremendous wealth of historical attractions—more than enough to fill months of history-centric touring.




Monuments and architecture





Museums and galleries





  • Basketball Hall of Fame — Springfield, Massachusetts
  • Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Children's Museum of Indianapolis — Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Exploratorium — San Francisco, California
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame — Los Angeles, California
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium — Monterey, California
  • Museum of Science & Industry — Chicago, Illinois
  • National Aquarium in Baltimore — Baltimore, Maryland
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame — Canton, Ohio
  • San Diego Zoo — San Diego, California
  • Strong National Museum of Play — Rochester, New York




Baseball in Daytona Beach, Florida
    • NBA [33] — The National Basketball Association is the world's premier men's basketball league and has 30 teams (29 in the US, and one in Canada). Season runs November to April, with playoffs in May-June.
    • NFL [34] — The National Football League, with 32 teams, is the leading promoter of American football in the world, a sport which has virtually nothing in common with football in the rest of the world (which Americans call "soccer"). The day of the championship game, called the Super Bowl, is an unofficial national holiday. Season lasts from September to December, with playoffs in January ending with the Super Bowl in February.
    • NHL [35] — The premier league for ice hockey in the world, featuring 30 teams (24 in the US and 6 in Canada). A slight majority of players are Canadians, but the league has players from many other parts of the world, mainly the United States, the Nordic countries (primarily Sweden and Finland), Russia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Originally in Northern markets, recent expansions have each major region covered with a NHL team.
    • MLS [37] — The 16-team Major League Soccer (15 in the US, and one in Canada) is the latest attempt to kick start American interest in soccer. While it may not be as popular with the media, MLS is still widely viewed and enjoyed. Foreign travelers can find particularly vibrant and familiar fan experiences in several cities, notably Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Houston, and Seattle.

    • Memorial Day — commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by America's war dead. It is not to be confused with Veteran's Day (November 11th) which commemorates the service of America's military veterans. It is the also the unofficial start of summer -- expect heavy traffic in popular destinations, especially National Parks and Amusement Parks.







Major credit and debit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. Although technically prohibited, some independently-owned stores specify a minimum amount of money (usually $10) for credit card use, as credit-card transactions cost them around 30-50 cents (this practice is also common at bars when opening a tab). Other cards such as American Express and Discover are also accepted, but not as widely. Almost all sit-down restaurants, hotels, and shops will accept credit cards. Authorization is made by signing a paper sales slip or a computer pad. When making large purchases, it is typical for the shop to ask for photo identification, even though Mastercard and Visa prohibit such a practice in the U.S. Shops may also ask for photo identification for foreign issued cards.

Gas station pumps, selected public transportation vending machines, and some other types of automated vending machines often have credit/debit card readers. Some automated vending machines accepting credit cards ask for the zip code of the US billing address for the card, which effectively prevents them from accepting foreign cards. At gas stations you can use a foreign issued card by paying the station attendant inside.

Sales tax




Places for shopping

Shopping malls. America is the birthplace of the shopping mall, and suburbs in particular have miles and miles of strip malls, or long rows of small shops with shared parking lots, usually built along a high-capacity road (the "strip"). Large cities still maintain central shopping districts that can be navigated on public transport, but pedestrian-friendly shopping streets are uncommon and usually small.





Auctions. Americans did not invent the auction but may well have perfected it. The fast paced, sing-song cadence of a country auctioneer, selling anything from farm animals to estate furniture, is a special experience, even if you have no intention of buying. In big cities head to the auction chambers of Christie's or Sotheby's auctioneers, and watch paintings, antiques and works of art be sold in a matter of minutes at prices that go into the millions.


Bald Eagles in Homer, Alaska






  • Full-service restaurants: 15-20%
  • Bartenders: $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15% of total
  • Shuttle bus drivers: $2-5 (optional)
  • Private car & limousine drivers: 15-20%
  • bicycle messengers: $3-5

The important one here is restaurants. In almost every state the minimum wage for waiters and waitresses is significantly lower than that for other jobs (maybe $2.50/hr rather than the standard $7.25/hr) and thus tips are the majority of a waiter's income. The rest of the service staff may also depend on their share of the tip as well. If you receive exceptionally poor or rude service and the manager does not correct the problem when you bring it to their attention, a deliberately small tip (one or two coins) will express your displeasure more clearly than leaving no tip at all.

If paying your bill by cash, leave a cash tip on the table when you leave (there is no need to hand it over personally or wait until it's collected), or if paying by credit card you can add it directly to the charge slip when you sign it. For larger parties (sometimes over 6, almost always over 10) it is common for "gratuity" of 18% or so to be added to the bill and included in the total. In this case, an extra tip is optional but not necessary. This will be stated somewhere on the menu, but you should also review the bill carefully before paying to determine whether or not the tip is already included.


Certain individuals are not customarily tipped, and would likely refuse them, such as doctors and dentists. Never try to offer any kind of tip to a government employee of any kind, especially police officers; this could be construed as attempted bribery (a felony offense) and might cause serious legal problems.




A majority of states ban smoking in restaurants and bars by law, and many other restaurants and bars do the same by their own policy. Some have designated smoking areas. Check local information before lighting up. In recent decades, smoking has acquired something of a social stigma—before lighting up with company, remember the obligatory phrase: "Do you mind if I smoke?"

Types of restaurants



Chain sit-down restaurants are a step up in quality and price from fast food, although those with discerning palates will probably still be disappointed. They may specialize in a particular cuisine such as seafood or a particular nationality, though some serve a large variety of foods. Some are well-known for the breakfast meal alone, such as the International House of Pancakes [41] (IHOP) which serves breakfast all day in addition to other meals. A few of the larger chain restaurants include Red Lobster [42], Olive Garden [43], Applebee's [44] and T.G.I. Friday's [45], to name a few. These restaurants generally serve alcoholic beverages, though not always.






Types of Service


Continental Breakfast is usually a cheap way of getting food in the morning. Normally only cold foods such as cereal, breads, muffins, fruit, etc. are available. Milk, fruit juices, hot coffee and tea are the typical beverages. There is usually a toaster for your bread. Most frequently seen at hotels and motels.


Dinner, the main meal. Depending on culture, region, and personal preference, is usually enjoyed between 5 and 9pm. Most restaurants will be willing to box up your leftover food. Making reservations in advance is a good idea if the restaurant is popular, "up-scale", or you are dining in a large group.



Types of food

Rib tips in Memphis

While many types of food are unchanged throughout the United States, there are a few distinct regional varieties of food. The most notable is in "the South" (actually the southeast), where traditional local fare includes grits (ground maize/corn porridge), collard greens (a boiled vegetable, often flavoured with ham and a dash of vinegar), sweet tea (tea mixed with sugar and served with plenty of ice), barbeque(not unique to this region, but best and most common here), catfish(served deep-fried with a breadcrumb coating), cornbread, okra, and gumbo(a stew of seafood or sausage, rice, okra, and sometimes tomatoes).

Barbeque, BBQ, or barbecue is a delicious American specialty. At its best, it's beef brisket, ribs, or pork shoulder wood smoked slowly for hours. The brisket and ribs are usually sliced thin, and the pork shoulder can be shredded into a dish known as pulled pork. Sauce of varying spiciness may be served on the dish, or provided on the side. Various parts of the US have unique styles of barbeque. Generally, the best barbeque is found in the southeast, with the most distinct styles coming from Kansas City, Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. However, barbeque of some variety is generally available throughout the country. Barbeque restaurants differ from many other restaurants in that the best food is often served at very casual establishments. A typical barbeque restaurant may have plastic dinnerware, picnic tables, and serve sandwiches on cheap white bread. Barbeque found on the menu at a fancy chain or non-specialty restaurant is likely to be less authentic.




Middle Eastern and Greek foods are also becoming popular in the United States. The "gyro" (known as "Doner Kebab" or "Schwarma" in Europe) is a popular Greek sandwich of sliced, processed lamb on a pita bread topped with lettuce, tomatoes and a yogurt-cucumber sauce. "Hummus" (a ground chickpea dip/sauce) and "baklava" pastries are frequently found in supermarkets.

Vegetarian food is easy to come by in big urban areas. As vegetarianism is becoming more common in the US, so are the restaurants that cater to them. Most big cities and college towns will have vegetarian restaurants serving exclusively or primarily vegetarian dishes. In smaller towns you may need to check the menu at several restaurants before finding a vegetarian main course, or else make up a meal out of side dishes. Wait staff can be helpful answering questions about meat content, but be very clear about your personal definition of vegetarian, as dishes with fish, chicken or even small quantities of beef or pork flavouring may be considered vegetarian. This is especially common with vegetable side dishes in the southeast. Meat-free breakfast foods such as pancakes or eggs are readily available at diners.





Table manners, while varying greatly, are typically European influenced. Slurping or making other noises while eating are considered rude in most restaurants, as well as loud conversation (including phone calls). It is fairly common to wait until everybody at your table has been served before eating. It is common to keep your napkin on your lap. Offense isn't taken if you don't finish your meal, and most restaurants will package the remainder to take with you, or provide a box for you to do this yourself (sometimes euphemistically called a "doggy bag", implying that the leftovers are for your pet). Visitors wishing to use this service option should ask the server to get the remainder "to go"; this term will be almost universally understood, and will not cause any embarrassment. Some restaurants offer an "all-you-can-eat" buffet or other service; taking home portions from such a meal is either not allowed, or carries an additional fee.


When invited to a meal in a private home it is considered polite for a guest to ask if they can bring anything for the meal, such as ice or a dessert. The host will usually refuse except among very close friends, but it is nonetheless considered good manners to bring along a small gift for the host. A bottle of wine, box of candies or fresh cut flowers are most common. Gifts of cash, prepared ready to serve foods (except at a potluck dinner), or very personal items (eg toiletries) are not appropriate.



While most American beer drinkers prefer light lagers – until the 1990s this was the only kind commonly sold – a wide variety of beers are now available all over the U.S. It is not too unusual to find a bar serving a hundred or more different kinds of beer, both bottled and "draft", though most will have perhaps a dozen or three, with a half dozen "on tap". Microbreweries – some of which have grown to be moderately large and/or purchased by one of the major breweries – make every kind of beer in much smaller quantities with traditional methods. Most microbrews are distributed regionally; bartenders will know the local brands. Nowadays all but the most basic taverns usually have one or more local beers on tap, and these are generally more characterful than the big national brands. Some brew pubs make their own beer in-house, and generally only serve the house brand.

Vineyards in Palisade, Colorado





America's native spirit — bourbon, straight up

Hard alcohol is usually drunk with mixers, but also served "on the rocks" or "straight up" on request. Their increasing popularity has caused a long term trend toward drinking light-colored and more "mixable" liquors, especially vodka, and away from the more traditional darker liquors such as whiskey and bourbon that older drinkers favor.



Most towns ban drinking in public (other than in bars and restaurants of course), with varying degrees of enforcement. Almost all communities have some sort of ban on "drunk and disorderly" behavior. Drunk driving comes under fairly harsh scrutiny, with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% considered "Under the Influence" and many states considering 0.05% "Impaired". If you're under 21, however, most states define a DUI from 0.00-0.02%. Drunk driving checkpoints are fairly common during major "party" events, and although privacy advocates have carved out exceptions, if a police officer asks a driver to submit to a blood-alcohol test or perform a test of sobriety, you generally may not refuse (and in certain states such as New York it is a crime in its self). Penalties for DUI ("driving under the influence") or DWI ("driving while intoxicated"), can include thousands of dollars in fines and a jail sentence. It is also usually against the law to have an open container of alcohol within reach of the driver. Some states have "open bottle" laws which can levy huge fines for an open container in a vehicle, sometimes several hundred dollars per container.


The bright lights of Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada




Classic 1950s motel in Seligman, Arizona, along Route 66



















If you are seeking to adjust visa status or to enter the U.S. on a working visa you should first check the official government websites of the US Department of State[54], which issues visas abroad, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [55] which administers immigration programs within the United States. Unfortunately, con artists both in the U.S. and overseas often prey on people's desire to travel or work here. Keep in mind that visa applications do not usually require an attorney or other intermediary; be wary of and verify any "advice" offered by third parties.


Stay safe


It is true that for an industrialized nation, the U.S. has a fairly high violent crime rate; however, most crime is concentrated in inner city neighborhoods. Few visitors to the U.S. experience any sort of crime. Much crime is gang- or drug-related or the result of family / personal disputes, and it usually occurs in areas that are of little interest to visitors. You can all but ensure that you won't experience crime by taking common-sense precautions and staying alert to your surroundings.




Being a highly industrialized nation, the United States is largely free from most serious communicable diseases found in many developing nations; however, the HIV rate — especially among gays, IV drug users, sex workers, and certain ethnic minority groups — is higher than in Canada and Western Europe, with about a 0.5% infection rate in the overall population.

One disease of which one should be wary while visiting the United States is Rabies, especially in the eastern region of the country. While human cases are rare, have all bites inflicted upon your person by mammals examined by a doctor and discuss prophylaxis, especially if the animal was exhibiting the common symptoms of this fatal infection (hydrophobia, aggression, foaming at the mouth, etc.).

Other diseases endemic to the United States include Lyme disease (particularly in the eastern half of the country), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, West Nile Virus, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis (particularly in the mid-west region), and Hantavirus (in the western regions). All of these are extraordinarily rare and the medical system of the United States is very much able to handle all of them.


American police are generally polite, professional, and honest. If stopped by a police officer, you should stay calm, be exceedingly polite and cooperative, avoid making sudden movements, and explain in advance what you are doing if you need to reach for your purse or wallet to present your identification. Remember that in America, police consider every encounter with the public could end in a variety of possible ways, some of them unpleasant, and therefore may be more formal and cautious than police in other nations. Also remember that American police officers are always armed, unlike police in many other Western nations. Do not attempt to offer a bribe under any circumstances; you will be arrested on the spot. If you need to pay a fine, the officer can direct you to the appropriate police station, courthouse, or government office.

Natural disasters

The U.S. is a huge country with very varied geography, and parts of it are occasionally affected by natural disasters: hurricanes in June through November in the South including Florida, tornadoes mostly in the Great Plains region, earthquakes in California and Alaska, floods in areas of the Midwestern United States and wildfires in the late summer and early fall on the West Coast, particularly California. See the regions in question for more details.


Gay and lesbian

Homosexual relations are legal throughout the US. Many states and cities have anti-discrimination codes, including public accomodations in hotels, restaurants and transport. Several states have legalized gay marriage or civil unions, though this is not recognized at the federal level.





Illicit drugs







If you are staying in one area, it may be helpful to have the phone numbers for the local emergency services so as to get through directly to the local dispatch. Moreover, in most locations, 911 calls are recorded and are open, public records, while the conversation with the local emergency dispatchers cannot be accessed by the public. Do remember that if you dial emergency dispatchers directly, E911 (the technology that allows 911 operators to trace calls) services may not be available.

Firearm-Related Issues

It's true: many - but by no means all - Americans own a firearm of one sort or another; except certain classes of people (e.g. convicted felons and domestic violence offenders, drug users, and the mentally unstable), firearm ownership is legal in most locales with varying degrees of restriction by state. Contrary to popular belief, most Americans are responsible with their firearms and use/carry them appropriately and within the limits of the law (though the limits of American gun laws themselves tend to stretch the definition of 'responsible' in the eyes of many fellow First World visitors). The vast majority of Americans are non-violent except in defense.

Your chances of a firearm-related injury in the U.S.A. are not too great, but please keep the following in mind:

  • In the city, encountering somebody with an openly visible firearm is more of a cause of concern than seeing somebody with one in the country, and may be a sign of oncoming trouble. (note, however, that many states permit "open carry" for legal firearm owners and, while uncommon in cities, you may encounter somebody with a holstered firearm. Don't be too concerned, but use common sense in assessing the situation.)
  • Hunting is a popular sport in rural America. If venturing out into the hinterlands, it is a good idea to inquire if any hunting is currently afoot and where. If in an active hunting area, wear bright colors (particularly "Blaze Orange") to differentiate yourself from terrain and prey. If you have a dog with you, you should also put a blaze orange vest on it as well. You can find these vests at most camping, sport, and pet stores, and they should be relatively inexpensive. In some states, mainly ones in which hunting is very popular, you will need to get a permit to hunt from the Department of Natural Resources for that state (DNR). Some states require simply an application to receive a hunting permit, while others require that the person take a Firearms Safety class. While hunting in most states, there are restrictions on the number of game you can kill, and some require that you "tag" the animal with DNR provided tags. Also, some states require the color Blaze Orange to be worn at all times.
  • A number of American states have "concealed-carry" laws which enable people to possess a firearm in their handbag, jacket, car glovebox, etc. Should these people encounter a life-threatening situation, they may react with lethal force. Very few criminal incidents by people possessing these permits have been recorded. Don't cause trouble, and this should pose no danger to you.
  • Property owners may defend their homes with firearms. If in rural areas, do not cross land posted as private property without permission from the owner.

Stay healthy







  • It is polite to shake hands when meeting someone or being introduced. It is often omitted in less formal situations. * Unless it is really crowded, leave about an arm's length of personal space between yourself and others.
  • Social kissing as done in some parts of Europe is not practiced. Best to take your cues from others' behavior toward you.
  • Avoid speaking directly to children, especially if no parent or chaperone is nearby. American children are trained not to talk to strangers, and there will usually be someone nearby who will jump to the wrong conclusion about your intentions.



By phone

U.S. telephone numbers have a fixed format XXX-YYY-ZZZZ. The first three digits (XXX) are the area code, which is unique to a specific region of a state or sometimes a section of a city. You must sometimes dial "1" before the area code, if the area code differs from your phone's number. All of the digits must usually be dialed, even if "XXX" and "YYY" matches your phone's number. (In the smaller cities, XXX need not be dialed for local calls.) Calls to Canada and certain Caribbean islands can be dialed as if they were in the U.S. (some Caribbean islands are expensive); calls to other locations require an international access code (011). At some locations (businesses and hotels with internal phone systems), you will need to dial an access code (usually "8" or "9") to reach an outside line before dialing the number.

Numbers with the area code 800, 888, 877, or 866 are toll free within the U.S. Outside the country, dial 880, 881, 882, and 883 respectively, but won't be toll free. The area code 900 is used for services with additional charges applied to the call (e.g. "adult entertainment"). This is also true of "local" seven-digit phone numbers starting with 976.

Most visitor areas and some restaurants and bars have books with two listings of telephone numbers (often split into two books): the "white pages", for an alphabetical listing; and the "yellow pages", an advertising-filled listing of business and service establishments by category (e.g. "Taxicabs"). Directory information can also be obtained by dialing 411 (for local numbers) or 1-areacode-555-1212 (for other areas). If 411 doesn't work locally, try 555-1212 or 1-555-1212. Directory information is normally an extra cost call. As an alternative, directory information is available for free via 1-800-Free411, which is ad-supported. Information directories are also available online at each regional telephone company's web site (AT&T, Verizon, Bell South, and Qwest), as well as www.free411.com. Although each claims to have all the local phone numbers of the others, using the site of the region you are searching for yields the best results (i.e. AT&T for most of California, Verizon for the Northeast, etc.) Many residential land-line phones and all cellular (mobile) phones are unlisted.



American mobile phone service (known as cell phones regardless of the technology used) is not very compatible with that offered elsewhere. While GSM has been gaining popularity, the U.S. uses the unusual 1900 and 850 MHz frequencies; check with your operator or mobile phone dealer to see if your phone is a tri-band or quad-band model that will work here. The two largest GSM network operators are T-Mobile USA [57] and AT&T [58]. Roaming fees are high and text messages may not always work due to compatibility issues between networks. Alternatives to using your own phone include renting one (most larger airports have a shop, with rental fees starting at $3/day) or buying a cheap local prepaid phone. If you unlocked your home phone, you can remove your home sim and purchase a prepaid sim . Be aware, however, that prepaid mobiles in the U.S. are not nearly as common as in Europe; per-minute fees for prepaid service are generally high (usually around $0.25/minute). In addition, you will be charged for receiving calls or SMS

By mail

Diamond Head & Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii

First class airmail postcards and letters (if not oversized, or over one ounce/28.5 grams) are $0.75 to Canada and Mexico and $0.98 elsewhere. All locations with a USPS zip code are considered domestic, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, U.S. Navy ships at sea, etc. Domestic postcards are $0.28, and small letters up to an ounce are $0.44. If you put a solid object like a coin or keys in an envelope, you'll pay a surcharge.


John Doe
General Delivery
Seattle, Washington 98101-9999


By Internet


If you bring your own computer:

  • Many coffee shops and bookstores provide free wireless Internet access, though you may need to make a purchase first. Starbucks, the country's largest coffee chain, now offers free public WiFi at all company-owned stores.
  • Public libraries frequently offer free WiFi.
  • Most colleges and universities offer free WiFi in their libraries and student centers (sometimes called "student union"). Public access to these buildings varies from school to school. Some institutions severely restrict library access—for example, very few library buildings at Harvard University are open to the general public. Public (state-supported) schools generally open their library buildings to the general public. If you happen to be near a college or university with more than one library, note that the school's main library is generally open for longer hours than a subject-specific library or the student center. In any case, it doesn't hurt to check with the school's library regarding public access to buildings and WiFi.

If you don't have your own computer:

  • Nearly all public libraries have PC terminals with broadband internet access (and usually productivity software such as Microsoft Word) available for free, public use (this is the reason why the U.S. lacks internet cafes!). You may need a library card to access services, although staff will frequently make exceptions for visitors.
  • The best bet for computer rental is a "photocopy shop" such as FedEx Kinko's, now in the process of rebranding as FedEx Office [59] (+1 800 2KINKOS/+1 800 254 6567), which is a national chain.
  • Another, albeit less likely, possibility is a university library. While they almost invariably have computers with internet access, many schools require a student login to access computer terminals - additionally, some larger institutions (e.g. Harvard University) will not even permit you in the library building itself if you aren't a full time student.