This larger than life holiday destination came in as the 3rd most visited country in the world in 2018 hosting over 79.6 million visitors! [sourced UNWTO Highlights July 2019]
America in one word - BIG! Big portion sizes, Big theme parks, Big architecture. Just BIG!
From Six Flags to Las Vegas (Sin City), from the Grand Canyon to the Rocky Mountains, from the French Quarter to Rodeo Drive, from Times Square to the White House, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge. America is not a place for the faint of heart. It screams extra, oversized everything, but a place that needs to be experienced to believed!
Did you know?
- The United States is 35x the size of New Zealand.
- There are more famous icons in the compact island of Manhattan than any other place in the world.
There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.Simone De Beauvoir
New York City (also known as the Big Apple) lives up to it’s reputation of being the city that never sleeps. It has an endless list of things to see and do. Time Square is only the beginning–there are hidden little quirks within the city which more often than not are discovered by accident.
The Upper East Side with true New Yorker homes, the opportunity for cheesy Instagram photos in Dumbo Brooklyn, cookies from the Levain Bakery, restaurants, shopping in Soho and more! It is no wonder Manhattan Island is one of the most visited places in the world.
Let's watch the video below to get a glimpse of the TOP 10 must-see attractions of New York City.
The Statue of Liberty is situated in New York harbour, in the city of New York. The statue was a gift from France and it represents friendship and freedom.
The Statue is located on a 12 acre block of land called Liberty Island, (formerly known as Bedloe’s Island) in the Upper New York Bay.
Once on the island, In the lobby, visitors can experience the original torch, the exhibit, then proceed to the promenade area for an up-close view of the statue and a spectacular view of New York Harbour. However when planning your trip to the Statue, you must factor in time... as you must go through security screening which can take a while.
Did you know?
The Statue of Liberty is made of copper 3/32in.thick, the same as two pennies put together.
Getting to the Statue
Statue Cruises is the official provider for Statue of Liberty tickets. They offer various tour departures throughout the day from both from New York City and New Jersey.
There are 3 different options in terms of visitor access to the statue, there are:
- Reserve only – access the grounds of the statue only
- Reserve & Pedestal Access
- Reserve & Crown, includes Pedestal Access
Fun Facts...
- There are 25 windows on the crown
- The statue is green due to the oxidation of the copper it is made from
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tickets
Ticket prices start from $21.50 per adult and $12 per child (aged 4-12yr) for ‘crown reserve only’ access.
Audio tours are included with every ticket purchase, and are available in various languages including Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish.
New York City Pass
Statue Cruises also offer ‘attraction passes’ which incorporate a visit to the Statue of Liberty with other major tourist attractions in New York City.
New York CityPASS includes 6 must-see attractions combined in one deeply discounted ticket booklet. This pass can save visitors up to 42% and allows them to skip most lines!
Cost: Adult $132; Youth (6-17) $108.
CityPASS ticket booklets are valid for nine-days beginning with the first day of use.
Includes:
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or Cruiseline sightseeing Cruises
- Empire State Building Experience
- American Museum of Natural History
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Top of the Rock observation deck OR Guggenheim Museum
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
Las Vegas, America’s Playground, Sin City, whatever you wish to call it, is a resort city and the entertainment capital of the world. It is famous for it’s casinos and gambling, shopping and entertainment. Las Vegas will blow your mind on the outside, but it is within the luxurious casinos that you set foot into a world beyond your wildest dreams. Within the walls of the casinos, you can get lost with no concept of time amongst the shopping centres and the restaurants with food that will awaken the palette leaving you wanting more. From Gondola rides in the Venetian, roller coasters at New York! New York!, flamingos at the Flamingo, a volcano at Treasure Island or a stunning water show at the prestigious Bellagio (and that is just to name a few) Las Vegas leaves you overwhelmed with its enormity but it is an experience like no other.
The Strip
The most popular part of ‘Vegas’ is ‘The Strip’ which is the main street in the city (about 6.7km long). The Strip is home to many of the largest hotel and resort complexes in the world.
One of the most visible aspects of the Las Vegas cityscape is its use of dramatic themes. The themes within each hotel usually inspire the luxurious décor of the rooms and add a sense of individuality.
The illusion of the interior of the hotels is like a desert mirage when you imagine yourself in one place when in actual fact you are in another. The casinos, hotels and restaurants give Las Vegas the title of one of the most popular destinations for tourists.
Stratosphere Tower
There is nothing quite like the Stratosphere Tower. Not only is it a hotel and casino, no no, this is Vegas! It is something much more which is why it is the standout hotel. For 100 floors (900ft ) above Las Vegas at the very top of the Stratosphere tower is a theme park!
The theme park of the Stratosphere Tower has four extreme thrill rides;
- X-scream
- Big Shot
- Insanity
- Skyjump
If you are afraid of heights, do not look down!
Strap yourselves in and take a look at the ‘insanity’ of what are the thrill rides at the top of the tower...
Las Vegas Strip Apollo Night Tour
This exciting Las Vegas tour begins with a glass of champagne before you board your luxurious A-Star Jet Helicopter for your tour flight over Las Vegas. When you rise above the City of Lights, you will see spectacular views of the dazzling Las Vegas "Strip" from the comfort of your jet copter! Millions of lights will dazzle you on this tour over Las Vegas as you cruise past New York – New York, Bellagio, Paris and The Venetian.
You will also see Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Stratosphere Tower which rises 1,149 feet into the air, Fremont Street, and historic Downtown Las Vegas. On your return you will pass the space beam of the Luxor Pyramid. Allow 2.5 hours hotel to hotel. Flight distance is approximately 35kms/22 miles. Ticket includes free return Las Vegas hotel transfer.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon, the name itself indicates something incredible.
It is approximately a 4 hour drive from Las Vegas, or 25-30 minutes in a helicopter in the state of Arizona.
Mother Nature truly outdid herself with the true royalty of one of Arizona’s best kept beauties. Located in the Grand Canyon National Park, this true wonder compels nearly five million people each year.
The Grand Canyon is a twisting 1.8 km deep and 446 km long gorge, formed around six million years ago from geological activity and erosion by the Colorado River. Ongoing erosion by the rivers produces impressive waterfalls and rapids of washed-down boulders along the length of the canyon. There are 150 named rapids.
The river divides the park into the North Rim and South Rim which overlook the 16 km wide canyon.
People come from all over the world to view the breathtaking scenery best taken in from lookouts such as Desert View and Village or by car various locations around the South Rim.
Scanning the gorges where you see layer upon layer of earthy, rich terracotta rock when absorbed in silence truly offers appreciation for this natural masterpiece.
Take a break from the reading, and go on a 5 minute adventure to the Grand Canyon.
California is commonly known as the Sunshine state. Located on the west coast of the country, it is home to several tourist destinations including the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Within these cities, the sky is the limit when it comes to attractions and activities. From the Hollywood walk of fame, feeling fancy on Rodeo Drive, Star Struck in Beverley Hills, letting go of inhibitions and revisiting childhood in Disneyland, enriched with history at Alcatraz, stamina across the Golden Gate Bridge and the awe that is San Diego zoo! (Just to name a few)
Disneyland Resort California
The ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ is the descriptor given to Disneyland in Anaheim, Orange County- South of the city of Los Angeles.
Disneyland is now over 60 years old and the area is comprised of two resorts; famous Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park.
Disneyland takes you on a mesmerizing journey of enchantment and magic where your imagination comes to life. It is enriched with fun family attractions, dining and shopping.
The extravagance is highlighted with 8 themed lands within Disneyland itself:
- Main Street, U.S.A.,
- Tomorrowland, Fantasyland,
- Mickey's Toontown, Frontierland,
- Critter Country,
- New Orleans Square
- Adventureland.
Take a trip to Disneyland by watching the following video
Commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C, this city/district is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an Act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Territory into a single entity called the District of Columbia. It is for this reason that the city, while legally named the District of Columbia, is known as Washington, D.C.
The Nation’s Capital offers famous monuments and memorials rich with history, stunning neighbourhoods offering a home away from home experience for adults and children alike.
Since 1800, the White House has been a symbol of the United States government, the president and the people of America. It has also served as the home of every U.S. president except George Washington. Remodeled and restored many times over the years, the White House is recognized around the world as an emblem of American democracy. For many, the most famous room in the residence is the Oval Office where the president conducts business and meets with his advisers. Maintaining a stately presence in the nation’s capital, the White House is one of most significant landmarks in Washington, D.C.
Did You Know?
There is a ghost cat in the Capital
In the Supreme Court chamber inside the Capitol, there are cat paw prints just outside the door. The floor was set before it arrived at the U.S. Capitol, so no one knows where they really came from, but legend tells of a ghost cat lingering.
There are underground tunnels beneath the Capitol
Miles and miles of tunnels are for senators and members of the House only and are never seen by the public.
Two American Presidents kept alligators at The White House
It’s true; both Herbert Hoover and John Quincy Adams had pet alligators in the White House.
Monuments by Moonlight Tour
Washington DC's spectacular Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour is not to be missed! This 2 ½ hour tour is fully narrated and departs daily from Union Station.
See and experience famous memorials including the Iwo Jima Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veteran and Korean War Memorials – and you will definitely want to bring your camera.
When the sun goes down, Washington turns into a different city, and Old Town Trolley Tours know just the right way to show off the Capital City at night.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of this truly magnificent city as you join the professional tour guides for entertaining anecdotes and historical information along with a sprinkling of bewitching ghost stories of the spirits that haunt the nation’s capital.
Reference
Trolley Tours, Washington DC (11th May 2020 ) Historic Tours of America