Street Life: America" s Finest Cities
Dont even bother looking for the real America because such a notion really does miss the point of this vast and varied nation. However expensive the USAs physical parameters it still manages to pack in more cultural diversity across its 50 states than many continents. Imagine spending one day reveling in the decadent tropical heat of Miami and the next bracing the arctic wilderness of Alaska then boggle at the fact that two such disparate experiences are somehow contained within the borders of one country.
Yep, its pretty much impossible to accommodate the awe inspiring breadth of the American experience in one visit but, on the upside, this is a nation that really does have something for everyone. The only thing left for anyone considering a visit is to decide which version of America they fancy. Below is an overview of three of our favourite cities in the US, our attempt at some sort of an introduction to the many and varied possibilities:
San Francisco
There can be few more immediately pleasant cities to visit than San Francisco. With its picturesque bay views (completed, of course, by the imposingly iconic Golden Gate Bridge), its pleasingly relaxed vibe and the fact that, particularly when compared with the inaccessible sprawl of LA, San Fran is surprisingly compact and easy to take in, its not hard to see why Baghdad by the Bay is such a popular tourist destination.
In fact San Francisco is pretty close to being the complete package, combining natural beauty, diverse period architecture, an idiosyncratic cultural scene and an intriguing history, and all with an easy grace that it is hard not to be charmed by. The city is not short of big draws the aforementioned Golden Gate Bridge, the ever popular Alcatraz tours and the tourist magnet that is Fishermans Wharf but once youve got these out of the way youll find that San Franciscos real magic is best experienced away from this altogether too frantic tourist trail.
Los Angeles
Its probably foolish to attempt a succinct summary of LA and, likewise, highly unlikely that a short visit will do this sprawling collection very distinct districts any sort of justice. The clichs are easy of course - LA is LaLa Land, a city built on dreams and fantasy, where impossible glamour veneers an all too real underbelly of rough edges and disappointment , where Hollywood sparkle flickers seductively across a surface of smog and traffic that stretches out into a seemingly endless suburban mass.
Perhaps its best not to bother trying to deconstruct the City of Angels thoroughly self mythologized image, for the tourist LA is most likely a more manageable section of metro area at the heart of the city Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Downtown. The itinerary seems likely to include such quintessential LA sites as Hollywood Boulevard, mansion gawping in Beverly Hills, window shopping in Rodeo Drive, hitting a beach or two, a rambling drive along Mulholland Drive or up to Malibu and, for those anxious to cram in a little culture a visit The Getty Centre.
All this might not get you any closer to really understanding this chimera of a city but, hey, what do you expect, this is LA after all.
Seattle
Seattle seemed suddenly to appear on everyones cultural radar at some point in the nineties; there was grunge of course, its iconic figurehead Kurt Cobain in particular, there was Starbucks and its (soon to invade every high street in the developed world) version of coffee culture, there was Bill Gates and the commodification of vaguely hippyish values. All this somehow became part of the Seattle brand, a brand it must be said that has endured and proliferated pretty well over the last 15 years or so. Grunge excepted of course.
However influential Seattle has been its never really joined the frontline of American tourist destinations, perhaps because this brand has been so successful that aspects of it have sprouted up in everyones hometown. Maybe its time to discover what Seattles really all about.
The first thing to realise about Seattle is that much of its appeal lies in the natural beauty of its setting; the city is surrounded by rugged, mountainous splendour and broad expanses of water and this proximity to the great outdoors has lent Seattle and its Gore Tex favouring citizens something of an outdoorsy vibe. Indeed, if you like the idea of holiday that combines time spent exploring a thriving modern city with a chance to get out and discover some of North West Americas exhilarating natural scenery then there really is nowhere better to base yourself.
Yep, its pretty much impossible to accommodate the awe inspiring breadth of the American experience in one visit but, on the upside, this is a nation that really does have something for everyone. The only thing left for anyone considering a visit is to decide which version of America they fancy. Below is an overview of three of our favourite cities in the US, our attempt at some sort of an introduction to the many and varied possibilities:
San Francisco
There can be few more immediately pleasant cities to visit than San Francisco. With its picturesque bay views (completed, of course, by the imposingly iconic Golden Gate Bridge), its pleasingly relaxed vibe and the fact that, particularly when compared with the inaccessible sprawl of LA, San Fran is surprisingly compact and easy to take in, its not hard to see why Baghdad by the Bay is such a popular tourist destination.
In fact San Francisco is pretty close to being the complete package, combining natural beauty, diverse period architecture, an idiosyncratic cultural scene and an intriguing history, and all with an easy grace that it is hard not to be charmed by. The city is not short of big draws the aforementioned Golden Gate Bridge, the ever popular Alcatraz tours and the tourist magnet that is Fishermans Wharf but once youve got these out of the way youll find that San Franciscos real magic is best experienced away from this altogether too frantic tourist trail.
Los Angeles
Its probably foolish to attempt a succinct summary of LA and, likewise, highly unlikely that a short visit will do this sprawling collection very distinct districts any sort of justice. The clichs are easy of course - LA is LaLa Land, a city built on dreams and fantasy, where impossible glamour veneers an all too real underbelly of rough edges and disappointment , where Hollywood sparkle flickers seductively across a surface of smog and traffic that stretches out into a seemingly endless suburban mass.
Perhaps its best not to bother trying to deconstruct the City of Angels thoroughly self mythologized image, for the tourist LA is most likely a more manageable section of metro area at the heart of the city Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Downtown. The itinerary seems likely to include such quintessential LA sites as Hollywood Boulevard, mansion gawping in Beverly Hills, window shopping in Rodeo Drive, hitting a beach or two, a rambling drive along Mulholland Drive or up to Malibu and, for those anxious to cram in a little culture a visit The Getty Centre.
All this might not get you any closer to really understanding this chimera of a city but, hey, what do you expect, this is LA after all.
Seattle
Seattle seemed suddenly to appear on everyones cultural radar at some point in the nineties; there was grunge of course, its iconic figurehead Kurt Cobain in particular, there was Starbucks and its (soon to invade every high street in the developed world) version of coffee culture, there was Bill Gates and the commodification of vaguely hippyish values. All this somehow became part of the Seattle brand, a brand it must be said that has endured and proliferated pretty well over the last 15 years or so. Grunge excepted of course.
However influential Seattle has been its never really joined the frontline of American tourist destinations, perhaps because this brand has been so successful that aspects of it have sprouted up in everyones hometown. Maybe its time to discover what Seattles really all about.
The first thing to realise about Seattle is that much of its appeal lies in the natural beauty of its setting; the city is surrounded by rugged, mountainous splendour and broad expanses of water and this proximity to the great outdoors has lent Seattle and its Gore Tex favouring citizens something of an outdoorsy vibe. Indeed, if you like the idea of holiday that combines time spent exploring a thriving modern city with a chance to get out and discover some of North West Americas exhilarating natural scenery then there really is nowhere better to base yourself.