Discover United States

Woody Guthrie’s classic ballad “This Land Is Your Land” sums up the beauty and vastness of the United States. The United States is the third largest country in the world as measured by land area and population.

Founded in 1787, with its landmark Bill of Rights ratified in 1791, the United States is a young democracy with a vibrant history. It broke from Great Britain, weathered the epic turmoil of the Civil War, came through World Wari and World War II and endured the Great Depression to become a major world player. Along the way, innovators such as Alexander Graham Bell, Meg Whitman, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Samuel Morse, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and Henry Bessemer exemplified the pioneer spirit of the United States. America has given the world heroes: Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr. These heroes are immortalized in historical sites you can visit.

As Guthrie’s song states (“This land was made for you and me”), and as expressed in the first three words of the Declaration of Independence (“We the People”), the United States celebrates its diverse citizens and welcomes a constant stream of tourists from all over the world.

From the natural beauty of the now-recovering Gulf Coast to New York with its Statue of liberty, museums and the excitement of Broadway, the United States of America has many incredible travel opportunities. Whether you visit the wilds of Alaska, the rivers or Montana and Idaho, the movie glamour of California or the monuments of Washington D.C., you can be assured of finding a destination that you’ll enjoy exploring. You can see the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, visit the volcanoes and beaches (where surfing is a state pastime) of Hawai’i, fish the Great Lakes in Michigan, enjoy the art and pizza in Chicago, marvel at the wildflowers of Texas, see where rock and roll originated in Memphis, Tennessee, or enjoy the energy and fast pace of Las Vegas.

While Americans are as varied as the geography, with each region having its own flavor, there’s a spirit of openness and acceptance all over the nation. Your lodging options are endless: bed-and-breakfasts, rock-and-roll hotels, destination spas or mountain lodges. From Creole cuisine to Chicago dogs, California Fusion to the classic Memphis barbeque, you’ll find much to delight the palate.

No tour would be complete without visits to the United States\' many national parks and indulgence in adventure travel. Whether you prefer the cosmopolitan city life or the unspoiled expanse of nature, the United States is waiting for you.

Do I really need a car? Outside New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and San Francisco, almost certainly yes. Public transport elsewhere ranges from thin to absent, and the country was rebuilt around the Interstate system from 1956 onwards. The usual pattern is to stay car-free in those five cities and collect a vehicle on the way out.

What identification do I need for a domestic flight? Since REAL ID enforcement began on 7 May 2025, a compliant licence or another acceptable document is required. A passport is accepted in its place, which is what most foreign visitors will use -- carry it for internal flights, not only for arrival.

Why do the rules keep changing as I drive? Because states make their own law. Speed limits, turning on red, alcohol sales and licensing all change at a state line, and the change is immediate rather than phased.

Is the train a realistic way to cross the country? Not as transport. Amtrak reaches over 500 destinations in 46 states, but outside the Northeast Corridor most long-distance routes run about once a day. Take them as journeys; fly when you need to arrive.

Is there a pass for the national parks? Yes -- the America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance and standard day-use fees across National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers land, with the resident annual pass at $80. It pays for itself quickly on a multi-park trip.