Making a statement in the States!

Part of living the American Dream is being caught in the bright lights and bourgeois that the USA has to offer. The country which gave us the mass appeal of celebrity is understandably one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, due to its vast size and countless different cultures and experiences a trip to America simply must be broken down. So here we pick our five favourite places for getting caught in the flashing lights of the paparazzi and making a statement.

New York

Would there be anywhere better to start than the self-proclaimed ‘Capital of the World’, New York City. As a destination New York entices tourists by the million each and every year, partly for the landmarks and the world-renown shopping and partly for the iconic atmosphere. Holiday to New York never seem to get any less popular and as a destination it has also become one of the most sought after city breaks despite the long-haul travel for Europe, simply basking in the shadows of the glass and chrome giants seems more than enough to keep the tourists coming back. New York has Hollywood running through its veins, the number of films which have been set within the city itself are countless, from Tom Hanks cult classic BIG to The Godfather and from Taxi Driver to Home Alone.

With Major attractions such as the Statue of Liberty (which was originally a gift from the French), the Empire State Building and of course the bright lights of Times Square, New York has more things to see and do than almost anywhere else in the world. The diverse weather in New York is also alluring quite like nowhere else in the world, depending on preference some will visit to see Central Park in full bloom, mid-summer whereas others are equally as drawn by the winter snow. Sport is also a pivotal part of the life of a New Yorker therefore when visiting try to visit Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks is action or indeed to hide away from the fierce winter winds.

Hawaii

From one end of the scale to the other, the quickening pace of NYC life can be somewhat draining hence why it is becoming more and more popular to pair your trip with a week in Hawaii. Located in the Pacific Ocean, south-west of the USA, it is difficult to find island life anywhere which measure up to the luxurious relaxation of Hawaii. It was 1959 that Hawaii officially became the 50^th State and ever since it hasn’t looked back. Despite being made up of 8 larger islands, Hawaii is in fact made up of 137 if you are to include all atolls and reefs. So culturally diverse is Hawaii that every ethnicity is a minority, I know that’s difficult to get your head around but there is no numerically dominant ethnicity on Hawaii.

Hawaii’s location allows its grass and foliage to grow luscious and vibrant across the islands, white sand beaches and world-famous surf are what to expect as you laze away the days in a beach paradise. There is always something to do when visiting Hawaii, culturally and historically there are countless trips and excursions which offer the budding tourist a chance to fully immerse themselves in island life.

Nevada

We are technically going to talk about Las Vegas in this section but as it doesn’t fit the theme, we will use Nevada as the title. Located in the Mojave Desert is Las Vegas, the place where all the modern-day celebrities go for a much needed blow-out. Aptly named Sin City, Vegas is the global home to twenty-four-hour gambling, drinking and all other kinds of debauchery. The strip itself is home to countless five-star hotels some of which are themed to mimic other global attractions, the Pyramid and the Eiffel tower for example.

While the dark of the desert falls and brings revelry aplenty it’s actually during the daytime when the most glitzy and glamorous parties take place. From the star-studded Daytime pool party at Mandalay Bay to Encore Beach Club at the Wynn Encore where celeb DJ’s are playing the music and the lifestyles of the rich and famous take champagne spilling centre stage.

California

California is the most populous state in the whole of the USA and is home to two of the biggest cities and most popular travel destinations, Los Angeles and San Francisco. California really is the celebrity state, perfectly named ‘The Golden State’ California has an almost $3 Trillion economy, meaning if it was a stand-alone country it would have the fifth largest economy in the world. California is home is Disneyland, which is a good enough reason on its own to visit, but that is just the start of what this fantastic state has to offer.

California offers so much variance as a holiday destination that those adventurers amongst us can lose themselves in the Yosemite National Park, one of the most beautiful scenic areas in the whole of the USA. Natural beauty goes hand in hand with man-made grandeur in California, The Golden gate bridge is one of the most iconic structures in the world and is sure to take your breath away. Of course you have the home of the stars Los Angeles, the city of angels where revellers and stars go hand-in-hand, and the chance of you being captured by the paparazzi is at an all time high. 

Florida

OK, I know what you’re thinking… Straight away it’s all about Disneyland! Yes, of course, Disneyland is an option but let’s leave that on the backburner for now. The ‘Sunshine state’ goes about its business in around 20 Celsius heat all year around therefore life just gravitates towards the fabulous beaches for which it is universally famous. Florida as a state boasts more coastline than any other state apart from Alaska and has major cities such as Miami and Jacksonville situated so perfectly near the shore.

In recent years Florida has revitalised its image, no longer is visiting all about surf and sea, Miami has become progressively commercial and increased its ranking globally as a hub for fashion and culture. But for those wanting typical Florida, you have Tampa Bay, where white sand beaches and the relaxing flow of the Mexican Gulf just lapping at your feet is a given. For somewhere in-between the charm of Florida Key’s is second-to-none, a collection of islands connected by an over water highway bring that wooden beach-bum feel, while also playing home to an abundance of history and entertainment. The snorkelling is unbeatable too.