{"id":749,"date":"2024-07-01T18:08:53","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T10:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/16-things-to-know-before-visiting-the-usa\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:03","slug":"16-things-to-know-before-visiting-the-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=749","title":{"rendered":"16 things to know before visiting the USA"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The United States is supersized, from its sprawling big cities to its epic natural splendors. And its citizens? When it comes to friendliness and national pride, we can be a little \u201cextra\u201d too.<\/p>\n

Yes, the political rhetoric these days could be described as divisive, but political views don\u2019t typically seep into small talk or day-to-day interactions. Take my city, a college town in the South. Pickup trucks with gun racks are parked beside ecofriendly cars with “Coexist” bumper stickers, and their owners are getting coffee at the same coffee shop and grumbling about the heat.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning a trip to the USA, we\u2019ve provided a few pointers to help you navigate planning, etiquette, and health and safety issues on your visit.<\/p>\n

1. Pick a region \u2013 don’t do it all<\/h2>\n

With 50 states, 63 national parks and 4 million miles of highways, the USA can feel like a beast to be tamed when it comes to trip planning and getting around. One solution? A deep dive into one region.<\/p>\n

The continental USA \u2013 which stretches 3000 miles from coast to coast \u2013 is loosely broken into about nine areas: New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the West, which can be further broken into the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest and California.<\/p>\n

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Beyond the continental US, you\u2019ve got Alaska and Hawaii. Seemingly refusing to join a category is Texas, which is diverse enough \u2013 or maybe stubborn enough \u2013 to defy regional stereotypes.<\/p>\n

2. How long do you need to visit the US?<\/h2>\n

Exploring a major metropolitan area like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles or Washington, DC could easily fill a week, especially if you include day trips to outlying parks and beaches. You may be able to cover a small state, like Vermont or West Virginia, in a week too.<\/p>\n

To really dig into a region, however, you\u2019ll want at least 10 days, especially if you\u2019re flying in from overseas. With a week and a half, you can visit two or more cities and a handful of outlying attractions. It\u2019s also enough time to explore a couple of national parks in one region, particularly in California or the Southwest.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t overplan your days<\/h2>\n

It is tempting to look at a map, calculate your mileage and assume you can make four or five different stops in a day. But be careful with this thought and always expect delays.<\/p>\n

Two-lane roads are common in and around national parks, and Winnebagos, wildlife and gorgeous scenery will slow you down. Smaller roads are also the norm in mountains and rural areas, and passing slowpokes can be stressful.<\/p>\n

You may find yourself wanting to extend your stay at one of your destinations \u2013 leave room for serendipity in your itinerary.<\/p>\n

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Popular hikes in some national parks, such as Angels Landing in Zion, require advance reservations \u00a9 blazg \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Sometimes getting outdoors requires a reservation<\/h2>\n

You have to prebook your hike? Unfortunately, the answer is sometimes yes.<\/p>\n

With enormous jumps in visitation, several national parks now require reservations to hike their most popular trails. You need a reservation to hike Half Dome in Yosemite, Angels Landing in Zion, and Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah.<\/p>\n

Some national parks require reservations for park entry or popular activities. You need a reservation to drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, for example. Arches National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park require reservations for entry during their busy seasons. You need a permit to watch the sunset at Haleakal\u0101 National Park on Maui.<\/p>\n

Yosemite and Glacier have run pilot reservation programs \u2013 for entry into Yosemite and for travel in certain regions in Glacier. Check park websites for details well before your trip.<\/p>\n

5. Museums might need a reservation too<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not just national parks that are crowded. Temporary exhibits at large metropolitan museums can be extremely popular, and many have timed entry requirements, which are secured by reservations.<\/p>\n

Small, niche museums in busy tourist areas may also require prebooking. Tickets for the Georgia O\u2019Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, for example, can sell out daily.<\/p>\n

Cavern tours often fill up a day or two in advance. Check the reservation system on the website to be safe, especially in summer when families are traveling.<\/p>\n

6. Mondays can be quiet<\/h2>\n

Many restaurants and small museums are closed on Mondays. Because of staffing shortages, many are also closed on Tuesdays, especially in small towns. Closures can be even more bedeviling in remote tourist towns, with restaurants and attractions not opening until midweek.<\/p>\n

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If you want to dine and explore to the fullest in Bisbee, Arizona, or Marfa, Texas, plan to visit Thursday through Sunday.<\/p>\n