Vacationing In The USA!

First I would like to say welcome! I love to travel outside of the US, but I realize there are many of my readers that are outside of the US and would love to travel here! So, this post will include tips to help you plan!

Book Accommodations Early!

The US tourist market is huge, and for this reason, you’ll want to book your accommodation way in advance. There are many sites that you can use to assist making your trip as affordable as possible. One fantastic vacation spot is Hawaii! I went to Maui in the 90’s and had an absolute amazing time! While it can be very expensive, Maui also has budget-friendly places to stay  You can also look at VRBO destinations and stay at a home vs a hotel which can make your trip more enjoyable! 

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Here are a few other amazing destinations to consider.

Virginia

Virginia is located on the southeastern coast of the United States. The Capital is Richmond and is in the middle eastern part of the state. State bird is the Cardinal with the State flower and tree being the Flowering Dogwood. It’s one of the original 13 colonies, with historic landmarks throughout the state, golf courses, and so much more!

Alabama

From the rolling hills and mountains in north Alabama to the Spanish moss and beaches in south Alabama, I’m sure you’ll find something to love. If not, we absolutely have the best state theme song. Cue some Lynyrd Skynyrd. Also, Reese Witherspoon made a movie about us. Wait, it was filled with awful stereotypes.  Is it bad that I still love it?

Maine 

Rocky shores, splendid isolation and enough hiking and biking to keep the family busy – has it all, whether you want water (ocean or lake) or mountain. Visitors will appreciate the state the most, by doing as Mainers do: packing a picnic and immersing in the landscape, or packing a week’s worth of supplies and heading out on treks into the wilderness that’ll be remembered for a lifetime.

Enjoy the Local Cuisine

I live in the South and we love to eat! I have lived in many parts of the country and find that the food in the south has so much variety and while it may be a bit worse for your waistline, it is delicious! One of my favorites is BBQ! Being from NC originally we all debate on eastern vs western BBQ and yes there is a huge difference. Of course there are many different foods each state is known for, but BBQ happens to be a favorite of mine!

Tips are to be Expected

Sure, there might not be any requirement for you to tip service staff in the US, but you do look bad if you don’t. Waiters, housekeepers and even taxi drivers count on tips as their primary income.  Unless you have been given a service that could only be perceived as being dreadful, it is recommended to tip 20% on top of your dining bill. Same for bartenders etc. 

The USA is Huge

Did you know that in the US, there are over 9 million square kilometers to cover? The US is a huge place and a lot of people who live there won’t be able to see but a fraction of the country that they live in. It’s important to be aware that if you do want to explore San Francisco and NYC, the flight time is over six hours, and this will eat away at a lot of your vacation time. It’s truly impossible to see everything and if you want to make the most out of your travel, it’s a good idea to narrow things down to a few must-see locations. If you can do this, then you will be able to see everything you want without being disappointed.