The Top 10 U.S. Destinations
Author: Tanner LathamPosted on: Jun 4th 2010
Overseas tourists make a few cities their top U.S. destinations year after year for good reasons. Tanner Latham is the former travel editor of Southern Living magazine. This article appears in the May 2010 issue of eJournal USA, See You in the USA II.
Every year, most of the millions of overseas visitors (that is, excluding those from Canada and Mexico) coming to the United States spend most of their time in a few places, the top 10 listed here in order of popularity. Some of those places are for plunging into the hustle and bustle, and some are for escaping it.
New York City
New York has Wall Street, the theater district, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, world-class museums, and street vendors offering foods of the world’s nations. It commands the world’s attention. Every chef who opens a restaurant here, every designer who presents a line of clothing and every artist who hangs work in a gallery feels the buzz of excitement that threads each square block of the Big Apple. Visitors have the pleasure of absorbing that energy, whether they are bombarded by the grandiose flashiness of Times Square or given the soft sell by artists presenting their crafts in Union Square Park.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is best defined by two of its most famous neighborhoods. Hollywood offers glitz, glamour and flashes of immense fame. This is where one finds the world’s most famous movie stars. Visitors enjoy brief access to celebrity when walking down Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip, or even posing for pictures outside the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Offsetting that scene is the laid-back lifestyle found in the neighborhood of Venice Beach. Here, Oceanfront Walk — a magnet for characters from every walk of life — is one of the best places for people-watching one will ever find.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a city defined by the breezes blowing in off the Pacific Ocean. The weather dictates every decision locals and visitors make. Golden Gate Park, with its walking trails, lounging beaches and views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, attracts the most attention on a day when the sun is shining, even if there’s a hint of cool in the air. On foggy days, one might venture inland to catch a ride on the ever-dinging cable cars or schedule architectural tours, especially those including “The Painted Ladies,” the oft-photographed and -filmed Victorian and Edwardian houses lining the city’s steep hills.
Miami and Miami Beach
Like an up-tempo dance song, Miami and Miami Beach pulse with a constant beat, no matter the hour of the day. South Beach in the sunshine attracts some of the most beautiful people and even features a string of art deco-design lifeguard stations. Ocean Drive after dark — lit with bright neon reds, greens, blues, and pinks — transforms into a sleek, chic scene found nowhere else on the planet. The Hispanic culture is ever-present, reflected in the cuisine and neighborhoods such as Little Havana, where men speak Spanish, lightheartedly ribbing each other while smoking cigars and playing dominoes on Calle Ocho (8th Street).
Orlando
The Greater Orlando area is the land of ultimate escape. It is where imaginations run wild. Even the most creative visitors could not conjure the whole worlds thriving here in the Universal Studios theme parks and at Disney World, or any other attraction bearing the Disney label. But Orlando is not merely a destination of dreams, fantasy and costumed characters. Downtown visitors find an interesting blend of architecture, from Victorian-styled houses to high-rises. That area also features boutique shopping, diverse restaurants and a burgeoning nightlife. For those seeking a great natural space, Lake Eola Park offers a pedestrian-friendly walking loop.
Las Vegas
All of Las Vegas is a party. Imagine a giant adult theme park full of the brightest lights and the most decadent, over-the-top buildings. One needs only walk down the Las Vegas Strip to see that vision realized. Visitors here find everything from towering fountains to laser light displays to high-stakes casino games to variety shows headlined by perfectly choreographed performers. Sleeping is the last of any visitor’s priorities. Those tourists looking for a slightly less-flashy Vegas experience venture to Fremont Street downtown where many of the casinos feature a more old-fashioned vibe.
Honolulu
While the city of Honolulu bustles with business, museums, and the Foster Botanical Gardens (a terrific spot for a picnic), the city is best known as the jumping-off point for Hawaii’s island of Oahu. Most visitors congregate at Waikiki because of its glorious swimming beaches, shops, restaurants and abundance of outdoor activities — from surfing lessons to catamaran sailing. Speaking of surfing, most locals and visitors ride their boards in the waters around Haleiwa, a beach town on the North Shore. Those interested in U.S. naval history visit the USS Arizona Memorial honoring those killed during the December 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri, a battleship decommissioned in 1992.
Washington
Washington, D.C., encompasses the spirit of the United States. Visitors here find a convergence of history, American pride and the buzzing, never-stopping machine of American politics. The city hosts some of the country’s greatest museums (from the National Air and Space Museum to the National Gallery of Art). Though urban, the city has always preserved its green, natural spaces. One finds surprising solitude on the trails winding around Roosevelt Island, which sits peacefully in the middle of the Potomac River. And, of course, one of the greatest attractions is the National Mall, America’s front yard. Spread a blanket on the grass and relax surrounded by monuments honoring some of the country’s most important leaders.
Chicago
Known for its professional sports teams, world-class restaurants, and fascinating architecture, Chicago stands as the most prominent city in the Midwestern United States. Of all of Chicago’s monikers, “A City of Neighborhoods” seems most apt. With more than 70 unique neighborhoods — from Anderson on the North Side to Hyde Park on the South Side — each embodies an identity unto its own. This city, hugging the shores of Lake Michigan, also features wonderful shopping opportunities for visitors, especially on the “Magnificent Mile” strip of boutiques and designer stores running along Michigan Avenue.
Boston
Boston truly is the jewel of New England. One of the best ways for visitors to encounter the city is via its dynamic chain of parks, such as Boston Common, featuring the family-friendly Frog Pond. The nearby Public Garden hosts its own pond with swan boat tours, which have been in operation since the 1870s. The city honors its key role in American history, but it never focuses solely on the past. For example, Faneuil Hall, where great orators stumped their protests before the American Revolution, now anchors a pedestrian-friendly market full of shops and restaurants. Boston Harbor, the site of the Boston Tea Party, now features the popular HarborWalk, a trail that winds around the waterfront.
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