Why taking a holiday in the USA is a deffinate 'bucket list' destinationIf you are anything like me, the mere mention of a holiday to the United States conjures up images of oversized everything. Giant skyscrapers, massive portions of chips, and roads so wide you could land a small aircraft on them without bothering the locals. It is a place of grand ambition, but for those of us coming from across the pond, the real challenge is deciding which particular slice of this enormous pie to bite into first.  For the quintessential American experience, one naturally gravitates toward New York City. It is the only place on Earth where you can feel like you are on a film set simply by walking to buy a newspaper. There is an undeniable magic in standing at the base of the Empire State Building or wandering through Central Park, trying to look nonchalant while secretly hoping to spot a celebrity or, at the very least, a very talented squirrel. However, be prepared for the pace. Everyone is in a rush, usually to somewhere very important, and if you stop to check your map in the middle of the pavement, you will learn some very colourful new vocabulary.
Once the urban chaos has sufficiently rattled your tea-drinking sensibilities, the call of the coast becomes irresistible. Now, here lies the great debate: California or Florida? On the other side of the country, California offers a more laid-back, rugged sort of beauty. Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway is arguably the best thing you can do with a hire car. You have the dramatic cliffs of Big Sur on one side and the vast, shimmering ocean on the other. It is the kind of scenery that makes you want to start a podcast or move into a yurt. Santa Monica Pier provides that classic postcard moment, with its ferris wheel and the end of the historic Route 66. The Pacific is a bit nippier than the Atlantic, mind you. Dipping a toe in is less "tropical paradise" and more "invigorating shock to the system."
In the end, a holiday in the USA is about embracing the scale of it all. It is about the oddity of ordering a "small" drink and receiving a bucket, the genuine friendliness of waitstaff who call you "honey," and the sheer variety of a landscape that stretches forever. Whether you are staring up at the Statue of Liberty or watching the sunset over the Pacific, you cannot help but feel a little bit like you have stepped into the world’s biggest adventure. Just remember to pack your comfortable shoes and perhaps a little extra humility for when you inevitably get lost in a car park the size of Derbyshire. |
Florida is the land of the perpetual sun and, let’s be honest, the land of the mouse. Orlando is a rite of passage for families, though I suspect the real "magic" of the Magic Kingdom is how quickly it can make a wallet disappear. If you prefer your beaches with a side of Art Deco glamour, Miami is the spot. The sand is white, the water is warm, and the people are far more attractive than is strictly necessary. Just mind the humidity; it does things to British hair that no amount of product can fix.
If you fancy something a bit more grounded, the New England coast is delightfully charming. Places like Cape Cod or the rocky shores of Maine feel oddly familiar yet distinctly American. You can spend your days eating your body weight in lobster rolls and pretending you understand the rules of baseball. There is a quiet, windswept beauty here that feels more like a hug than a neon light show.
