The sheer amount of things to do in the US is testament to why a great deal of American people have never bothered getting a passport – why travel when they have everything on their collective doorstep? From the ever-popular cities of New York, Washington and Chicago, through the charm of the Deep South and Texas to the sunshine of California, Florida and Hawaii (admittedly less ‘on the doorstep’) the US has a vast mix of good, great and spectacular. Those travelling for eco-tourism are sure to be pleasantly surprised by the wilderness treks and conservation efforts they can be involved in throughout the country, especially in the National Parks throughout the country.

Although it is the capital, Washington DC is not the most popular tourist spot in the US – though that isn’t to say it isn’t ideal for a visit, with the White House and numerous other monuments and buildings begging to be seen by those visiting. Easily one of the most popular (if not THE most popular) destination is the incredible city of New York – at the forefront of fashion, culture, architecture, art, cuisine and general cool, the Big Apple is a city that everyone should visit at least once in their life – the cosmopolitan atmosphere is by no means perfect, and there are remnants of the time when the city was considered unsafe, but generally visits to this part of America are both safe and spectacular. And that’s not even mentioning the shopping.

Heading a bit further south along the east coast the state of Florida soon pops up, retirement state for millions of the elderly and vacation spot for many more people of all ages. The beaches and bars give way to bayous and alligators regularly, and it’s all too easy to fall for the impressive charms of the state. The Emerald Coast, Florida Caverns State Park, Miami, The Keys – Florida has something for everyone, that’s for sure. Shooting over to the west coast and California, visitors are greeted with a different kind of sunshine state altogether – the wonderful ridiculousness of Hollywood, the strangely alluring smog of Los Angeles and the carnival atmosphere of San Francisco, as well as the home of current governator Arnold Schwarzenegger – keeping the American tradition of putting movie stars in power alive.

Those wishing to visit the middle of America, as opposed to simply skipping over it, are rewarded with a whole other experience of the US with the centre of the country great for the wilderness it offers and the plethora of national parks. The hospitality of the south should never be overlooked either, and simply travelling along a highway in America is something of a tourist attraction in itself. Put simply – there is a heck of a lot to do throughout the whole of the US, and it would take near enough a lifetime to take it all in and appreciate the subtle nuances that prevail.

The US has always been a popular country for tourists – and rightly so. The country has so much to see, so much to do and so many places to enjoy, along with some of the most genuinely friendly people in the world. It would be a mistake to overlook America as ‘too touristy’ or anything approaching that, and those that are taken in by the intoxicating atmosphere are likely to want to return again and again.