The US has a population of about 281m people, drawn from a wide range of racial backgrounds. Native Americans have lived there since before Columbus 'discovered' it, nationalities from across the globe immigrated there, drawn by dreams of a land of plenty, and large numbers of Africans and others were forcibly brought there. Proud of its reputation as a melting pot, many of its most famous figures originally came from elsewhere - Samuel Goldwyn, Sidney Poitier, Madeleine Allbright and Frank Capra, to name but a few.
It is, however, fairly insular-looking, and its citizens are often only just about aware of what's going on in their state, let alone the rest of the world. With a patriotic spirit that would seem not quite cricket in other parts of the globe, people take their country with an incredible seriousness; visitors should never mock the Stars and Stripes (remember Sinead O Connor?).
It is easy to have preconceptions about the US since its influence stretches worldwide and every city or state is in the name of a song, TV series or film. Although extremists and loud mouths are the ones who hit the news, the States has pretty much something for everybody - from the stunning scenery in the Great Lakes, the glaciers of Alaskas, or the coastal scenery of California, to some of the world's best art galleries, almost any kind of sporting activity and friendly people who would convert even the most ardent anti-American. And they love the British accent.
News and current affairs
US online publications from the world news guide.
Language
English (although US English differs from the UK version), Native American languages and many immigrant languages, in particular, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Yiddish.
Climate
The Californian coast is temperate throughout the year, but is at its best during the summer, with temperatures in the comfortable mid to late 20s, although it can get crowded. New England is justly famous for its beautiful colours during Autumn. Winters in the East can get cold with temperatures dropping to below zero. Florida and its warm weather remain popular all year round, although July to October can be rainy and it is also the stormiest state, being at the mercy of the Atlantic.
Health
No immunisations are necessary for visiting the States. It is, however, highly recommended to have valid health insurance during your stay.
Food
Its most famous export is the burger, served in a bun with ketchup and fries (what they call chips we call crisps). Regional specialities are Latin American food - enchilladas and burritos - in California and Creole, Cajun and French influenced cuisine in Louisiana, with seafood dishes such as gumbo (a spicy stew) and jambalaya (a tomato-based stew with sausages and meat or fish). Pennsylvanian food has a German flavor; pickles, sausages and pretzels are common. Texan food is dominated by enormous chunks of beef, as well as Tex Mex specialities. Country ham from Kentucky is lengthily cured for a strong flavour. In the centre of the country, the rivers provide rainbow trout and the plains and mountains yield up buffalo and elk steaks. Freshwater fish from the Great Lakes are delicious. US beer is nothing to write home about but just about palatable with a meal - Samuel Adams is the one most likely to cater to English tastes. Californian wine is excellent, but not fantastically cheap. For something stronger, whiskies and whisky-based cocktails are worth trying, even if just to say that you drank a Manhattan in Manhattan or a Bourbon on Bourbon Street. The age to legally drink varies between states, but is generally 21and never younger than 18.
Events
Late January Park City, Utah: Sundance Film Festival - festival of new films championed by Robert Redford. Superbowl: the culmination of the American Football year. Mid-February/early March Houston, Texas: one of the largest livestock shows and rodeos, with accompanying concerts. New Orleans: Mardi Gras; takes place nationally, but at its best in New Orleans - dress up, drink and party all over the city. March 17 New York, Chicago: St Patrick's Day; Americans of Irish descent parade along the streets to honour Ireland's patron saint. April 27-May 6 2001 New Orleans: Jazz and Heritage festival; a vast line-up of big names flock to the home of Jazz. June 8-10 Oklahoma City: Red Earth Festival; Native Americans gather to perform music and dances, and parade through the streets of Oklahoma home to the most Native Americans in the States. July 4 Independence Day with festivities to celebrate no more British rule including dazzling fireworks displays. September 3 2001 Brooklyn, New York: West Indian Labor Day or the Brooklyn Carnival; the largest parade in North America and one of the most colourful as NY's West Indian community rolls along the streets in outlandish costume. Late September San Francisco: Folsom Street Fair; large, flamboyant, mainly gay street party in SF's gay area. November 2-4 Long Neck, Delaware: home-made catapults and machines compete in the World Pumpkin-Chucking Championships. November 22 2001 Thanksgiving; beware the travel chaos as Americans head home for turkey and cranberry sauce.
What to buy
What you can buy doesn't differ that much from Europe ? it is the scale of things which is astounding. For the real North American experience, try an afternoon at the mall. Both designer and high street clothes are generally cheaper in the States; they also tend to be a season ahead of the UK in style. CDs and DVDs are also cheaper than in the UK. If you want something you can't get elsewhere, pick up some reproduction Native American art and jewellery, including silver and turquoise jewellery from New Mexico and Arizona. Other local items to look out for, depending on your itinerary, are sand paintings from Arizona, Navajo rugs and pottery from Colorado, replica fruit machines from Las Vegas, embroidered quilts from Kentucky; and warm musk-ox woollens from Alaska.
Embassies and visas
UK: US Embassy 24-32 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE (020 7499 9000).
US: British Embassy 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008 (1 202 588 6500).
Visa requirements: Citizens of the EU (Greece excepted), Australia and New Zealand citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, providing they have an onward journey ticket. Canadians just need proof of citizenship.
Timezone
A range of zones from GMT -5 to GMT -10. Eastern Standard Time GMT -5, Central Standard Time GMT -6, Mountain Standard Time GMT -7, Pacific Standard Time GMT -8, Alaska GMT ?9 and Hawaii GMT -10.
Currency
£1 buys approx. US$ 1.8 (USD). For live rates, check our currency converter. ATMs are very common. Travellers cheques in US$ are easy to change, but in other currencies they are problematic; credit cards are widely accepted and often necessary to book hotels or hire cars.
Getting there
How to get there: It's possible to get a number of cheapish flights to East Coast destinations New York, Boston, Washington DC; some carriers also offer cheaper ones to central or West Coast destinations, LA, Seattle, San Francisco, or south to Orlando, Miami, Dallas, or Houston as well as plenty of other cities. The main US airlines are American Airlines, Continental Airlines , Delta Air, Northwest Airlines, Trans World Airlines and United Airlines. Many other airlines operate services from all over the world to the USA. From the UK it is possible to travel with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and others. Plenty of internal flights operate, as well as Greyhound buses and a relatively under-publicised rail system. It is also possible to arrive through border crossings by rail or road with Canada and Mexico; and by boat from the Caribbean, or even Southampton or Liverpool.
Related literature
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain - Called the quintessential American novel; hero Huck and escaped slave Jim flee their respective lives down the Mississippi river, encountering adventures and tests on the way.
LA Confidential and other titles, James Ellroy - Noir master Ellroy, many of whose books made the transition to the big screen, explores corruption and crime in and around Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald - with the Jazz Age in the background, Fitzgerald's novel exposes some cracks in the American dream.
American Psycho, Brett Easton Ellis - Picks up the thread of rich boys going bad in the late 20th century.
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck - The story of a dispossessed family from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, forced to move to the 'promised land' of California during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison - Intense account of a nameless naive black American from the South, who moves to Harlem to fight oppression, but cannot shed his disillusionment.
The Color Purple, Alice Walker - The disturbing yet touching story of Celie, a black woman in the South, told through her letters to God; also made into an Oscar winning film starring Whoopi Goldberg.
