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Festivals, North America, Sport and Adventure, Travel Tips

Experience the American Culture: 7 All-Time Classics

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If you’ve decided to spend your vacation in America, you’re in for a treat. A myriad of exhilarating activities and mesmerizing sights will leave you breathless for sure, but only if you know what experiences to look for. In the sea of fabulous destinations and activities, you’ll have to choose only a few on your short travel through the USA, and here are the top seven experiences that’ll help you immerse into American culture completely.

Gathering of Nations

Every April, Albuquerque becomes the center of events for many indigenous tribes from across North America. This is the time when the Gathering of Nations is held to offer Americans a weekend of dancing and celebration. The Pit arena floor becomes a temporary home for hundreds of dancers, where numerous dance competitions and demonstrations, as well as food and music, make one weekend in April special. If you’ve thought about having a unique American experience, feel free to visit precisely at that time of the year and attend the largest gathering of tribes in the world.

Native American, dance
Photo credit Pixabay

Drink whiskey

Want to know more about whiskey? Well, there’s no place in America better than the home of Jack Daniel’s liquor to do it. Take a nice little walk down Tennessee and listen to stories about Jack himself. Use a unique opportunity to visit the distillery and taste the fine whiskey, or if you don’t drink, just enjoy a “dry tour” and relish in the thrilling history.

Cooking class

Louisiana is the place to be if you want to improve your cooking skills. Move forward from the good old chicken stir-fry, and spend four days in Lafayette on a “culinary tour” at the Louisiana School of Cooking. If you’ve been a true master chef of various barbecue specialties before, now you’ll learn how to prepare a jambalaya and a seafood gumbo, and have a unique culinary experience.

barbecue, BBQ, fire
Photo credit Pexels

Be a cowboy for a day

Can you even say you’ve been to America if you haven’t visited a ranch? We don’t think so; which is why you should definitely think about going to a cow ranch in Idaho and meeting an authentic cowboy. Not only will you get to hang out with him, but you’ll also be introduced to all the peculiarities of this riveting job. Learn to ride, herd livestock, shoe horses and all the other interesting stuff known to cowboys until today.

Enjoy the Colorado Springs

If you’re a spa lover, Colorado Springs is the destination you can’t miss. However, you’ll have to be prepared for an 8.5-mile hike before you can lay eyes on this natural wonder because natural heated pools are located some 11,200 feet above sea level. So, if you want to mix a little bit of adventure with a lot of indulging, later on, head to the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness area and soak in the steamy water while admiring the fascinating views of the spectacular Colorado mountain landscape.

Colorado Springs, mountain peak
Photo credit Pixabay

Watch a basketball game

Americans are probably one of the nations who worship sports the most. That’s precisely why attending a game anywhere in America must be a one-of-a-kind experience you should not miss out on. If you end up in Indianapolis by any chance, make sure you watch a basketball game in Hinkle Fieldhouse.  The building has also been placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, which makes it an even more unique site for you to visit and watch a game at.

Seaside boardwalks

The first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City in 1870 as one of the ways to prevent sand from filling shorefront hotel entryways. While Atlantic City remains the oldest city to own a boardwalk, you can easily find more than 60 others all over America’s coasts. One of the most interesting boardwalks to visit is definitely the Venice Boardwalk in California with its bodybuilders, artists, trinket sellers, magicians and boutique shops. If you choose the East coast, Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York is a boardwalk worth visiting, because you can take a ride on a roller coaster, have fun with carnival attractions, and try Nathan’s Famous hot dogs.

Final thoughts

America is probably one of the most thrilling countries to visit since every part of it is so diverse. If you ever decide to spend your holiday in the United States, make sure you try at least some of the aforementioned seven experiences so you can get to know the mentality and culture of Americans at least to a certain extent.

Australia, Travel Tips

More Than Sydney: 5 Reasons to Visit New South Wales

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Nobody will blame you if the very mention of New South Wales conjures up the images of Sydney’s captivating cityscape. It’s easy to be enraptured by this bustling metropolis and a global hub that represents all the promise of Western civilization. However, this is also truly unfair to the rest of the country that has its fair share of wonders. If you are interested to see more than Sydney, here are 5 reasons to visit New South Wales.

Road trips are a delight

If you are excited about road trips as a vacationing format, then you’ll fall in love with New South Wales if you decide to hit the road trip from Sydney to Canberra, the capital of the entire continent. It is practically a short drive – only three hours – but it will give you a good idea of what this corner of the Land Down Under has to offer when it comes to natural beauties.

If you were to pick a particular route, go down the Illawarra Highway so you’ll get a chance to cut through the Southern Highlands. The idyllic suburban townscapes (Bowral is a special highlight) and the staggeringly diverse flora that surrounds them will surely alter your opinion of Australian landscapes forever.

road sign
Photo credit Pixabay

Canberra is incredible

The capital of Australia technically belongs to the Australian Capital Territory, but this federal district is a small patch of land surrounded with New South Wales. It is more of an administrative matter than anything else. The reason you have to visit this city while you are darting about New South Wales is not only because it is a capital of Australia but also due to its unique layout. The city on Lake Burley Griffin is conceived from ground up as an expansive architectural marvel that echoes the spectacular appearances of monumental cities from the age of antiquity. This modern rendering of a perfect city will leave you gasping with wonder.

The beaches are captivating

The coastline of New South Wales is known for its impeccable preserved beauties and spectacular sights. Due to the high quality of air, mild climate and a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors, it has become the focal region for establishment and proliferation of numerous luxury retirement resorts. Most of such resorts are situated near the beachfront that is practically a treasure trove of idyllic surprises and concealed tropical lagoons.

Of course, some of the most renowned beaches of New South Wales are in Sydney, but as you travel across the countryside, give the other ones a chance. Hyams Beach is the station for aquatic activities such as snorkeling and Byron Bay is a wonderful hub of an impressive array of activities for all generations. It is a hippy commune of outdoor festivals, a spa center, and a beachside escapade.

beach, Australia, sunset
Photo credit Pixabay

The Blue Mountains are wondrous

After you’ve visited a few towns and beaches, your road-tripping activities around New South Wales are far from over. If you are a fan of mountain slopes and hiking, head to the Blue Mountains the first chance you get. As soon as its endless ranges enter your view, you’ll realize how this region earned its name – the blue haze of eucalyptus trees devours the horizon that stretches on into forever.

This is indeed a World Heritage Area that serves as a cobweb of forking paths into some truly amazing national parks. Make sure you bring all the necessary hiking equipment to explore this wilderness. If you are within your financial means to rent truly rustic yet luxurious accommodation (the type has become really popular in the region), you can spend as much time as you want to explore the greenery of New South Wales.

Blue Mountains, Australia, Three Sisters
Photo credit Pixabay

Vineyards are decadent

Australia is renowned around the world for its high-quality wines (as well as its rivalry in this field with New Zealand). New South Wales is an especially potent region for the cultivation of grapes due to the decidedly Mediterranean “demeanor” of the climate. If you are an avid connoisseur of decadent wines and delicious gourmet food, New South Wales will not disappoint. Visit the famous Hunter Valley for an exciting tour of wine cellars that will only leave you thirsty for more!

New South Wales is a staggeringly diverse region of spectacular coastlines, bucolic valleys and epic mountain ranges. Sydney is arguably the crown jewel of this proud state, but its other “ornaments” are well worth your attention. If you get a chance to explore its countless regions, you are bound to be surprised and delighted around every corner. Travelling across New South Wales is an experience you’ll hardly forget till the end of your days.