20 Reasons Canadians think the USA is Awesome
~ Words by Vickie Sam Paget, Sky Blue Content ~
Why do so many Canadian travellers flock to our southern neighbour on vacation? Because it’s awesome, that’s why! Here are just 20 reasons why…
AWESOME REASON #1
Desert Landscapes: Tucson’s Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the place to learn about the fascinating flora and fauna of the south west. It’s a great place to get up close and personal with an iconic Saguaro cactus too.
AWESOME REASON #2
Beautiful Bricks: Omaha’s Old Market District is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places because this collection of 18th century red brick buildings made up the city’s first commercial district. Today it features a host of independent restaurants, gift shops, art galleries and boutiques.
AWESOME REASON #3
Epic Comebacks: Galveston’s historic Pleasure Pier was at the heart of entertainment on the island until it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla and Hurricane Ike. Rebuilt in 2012, the pier now features carnival games, souvenir shops, family restaurants, the Iron Shark rollercoaster and the Galaxy Wheel—a Ferris wheel that boasts some amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico.
AWESOME REASON #4
Scandinavian Style: Every fall the small town of Minot in North Dakota celebrates the art and culture of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands at its annual Norsk Hosfest.
AWESOME REASON #5
Green City Spaces: Proud of its moniker as the ‘Best Little City of America’, the green city of Sioux Falls features 70 parks and greenways and offers plenty of paved paths for walking, biking, running along the shoreline of the Big Sioux River.
AWESOME REASON #6
Famous Residents: In San Francisco, all roads lead to Pier 39, which is close to Chinatown, North Beach and Embarcadero. At the Pier it’s all about shopping, dining, seeing street performers, riding the carousel and visiting the Pier’s famous residents: the California sea lions.
AWESOME REASON #7
Historic Cities: Located in the heart of Utah’s Cache Valley, Logan is a regular stop for those interested in history. The city has numerous historical buildings, including the Logan Temple, Utah State University and the Logan Tabernacle.
AWESOME REASON #8
The Can-Am Connection: The subtropical town Myrtle Beach welcomes 14 million annual visitors because of its stunning beaches, amazing golf courses and its annual Can-Am Days Festival in March. The festival has been welcoming snow-escaping Canucks since 1951.
AWESOME REASON #9
History and High Waves: Ventura in California attracts Canadians with its historic Mission San Buenaventura and the majestic Ventura Theatre, which showcased musical talent like Jimi Hendrix and Van Halen. The coolest surfers make tracks there for the perfect swells that attract surfing’s top stars.
AWESOME REASON #10
Pristine Performances: The annual Fall Festival in the Park at Charlotte’s Freedom Park in North Carolina has been celebrating the performing arts since 1964, offering music, visual art, dance and culture.
AWESOME REASON #11
Old Time Charm: In Florida, St Pete’s historic Pass-a-Grille District provides a taste of old time Florida, from its diverse outdoor art to its popular fishing piers and the perfect stretches of sand for watching the sunset.
AWESOME REASON #12
Ancestral Lands: Just outside Durango in Colorado, the Mesa Verde National Park offers access to the ancestral lands of the Pueblo people. There you can see the fascinating remains of their unique cliff dwellings, which were built over 700 years ago.
AWESOME REASON #13
Retro Boardwalks: Home to America’s first boardwalk, a stroll along Atlantic City’s waterfront is a pop culture bonanza. It combines the past and present with its vintage restaurants, souvenir shops, arcades, street performers and historic Boardwalk Hall.
AWESOME REASON #14
Medieval Marvels: Each spring Phoenix transforms its fairgrounds for the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Who would have thought that you could see jousting and take part in Medieval feasting in the Grand Canyon State?
AWESOME REASON #15
Unique Museums: In Oklahoma City you’ll find the world’s most extensive collection of American rodeo memorabilia at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which also features the Hall of Great Western Performers.
AWESOME REASON #16
Amazing Chefs: In Last Vegas, the Cosmopolitan attracts A-listers with an unrivalled passion for dining, thanks to its 11 restaurants that include options from world-renowned chefs like Scott Conant, David Myers and Jose Andres.
AWESOME REASON #17
Beer, Glorious Beer: Since 1982, Denver has been welcoming craft beer brewers from across the US at the Great American Beer Festival. With 100 judges sampling craft brews from across the country, this is the US’ largest beer festival.
AWESOME REASON #18
Incredible Architecture: In Buffalo, New York, architecture-fans will appreciate Darwin Martin House National Historic Landmark, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. A significant project of Wright’s Prairie School Period, the landmark features four residential homes, a conservatory and pergola in downtown Buffalo.
AWESOME REASON #19
Fabulous Festivals: Seattle says goodbye to the summer each year with its famous Bumbershoot Festival, one of the largest arts and culture festivals in the US.
AWESOME REASON #20
It Knows How to Party: New Orleans has been celebrating one of the biggest parties on earth, Mardi Gras, since the 1730s.
Image: Arizona Renaissance Festival
This feature first appeared in America Yours to Discover, an annual newsstand publication for Canadian travellers that’s created in collaboration with Discover America-Canada.
