United States
North America · Washington, D.C. · US
The United States spans a continent's worth of landscapes, from the hurricane-battered bayous of Louisiana to the volcanic plateaus of the Pacific Northwest and the coral archipelago of Florida Keys. Its cultural geography is equally diverse, shaped by waves of immigration, Indigenous heritage, and regional identities so distinct they sometimes feel like separate countries. The Appalachian Mountains carry the weight of centuries-old folk traditions, while the Great Plains stretch in an uninterrupted sea of grass that once sheltered bison herds numbering in the tens of millions. National parks protect some of the planet's most extraordinary geology — the Grand Canyon's layered gorge, Yellowstone's geothermal basins, and Yosemite's granite monoliths. American food culture reflects this patchwork quality, from New Orleans gumbo to New York pizza to Texas barbecue. Few nations combine such extremes of landscape, climate, and cultural expression within a single set of borders.
Overview
United States is a country in North America. Its capital is Washington, D.C. and the international dialling code is +1. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English. Local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Our guide covers 25 airports, including Boston Logan International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport. We also list 24 cities in United States: Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Boston and more.
National Parks and Protected Wilderness
The United States established the world's first national park in eighteen-seventy-two when Yellowstone was set aside as a public wonderland, and the system has since grown to include over four hundred protected areas spanning more than 85 million acres. The Grand Canyon exposes nearly two billion years of geological history in its layered walls, descending a mile deep to the Colorado River below. Zion National Park in Utah features towering sandstone cliffs that shift from cream to crimson as sunlight moves across their faces throughout the day. In Alaska, Denali National Park protects six million acres of subarctic wilderness dominated by the continent's tallest peak at twenty thousand three hundred ten feet. These parks collectively serve as living classrooms for geology, ecology, and conservation, drawing millions of visitors annually who walk the same trails once explored by early naturalists.
The American South's Culinary Soul
Southern cooking in the United States is a cuisine born from hardship, ingenuity, and the collision of West African, Native American, and European traditions. In New Orleans, gumbo simmers for hours with a roux darkened to chocolate brown, studded with shrimp, andouille sausage, and okra harvested from backyard plots. Across the Mississippi Delta, barbecue pits smoke hickory and oak to produce brisket and ribs with bark so dark and flavourful it forms its own seasoning. In the lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia, shrimp and grits reflects the Gullah Geechee heritage of coastal communities with direct ties to West African foodways. Savannah and Charleston offer historic dining rooms where recipes have been refined over generations, but the most authentic meals often appear at roadside stands and church cookbooks where tradition matters more than presentation.
New England's Autumn Splendour
Each autumn, the forests of New England undergo one of nature's most spectacular transformations as sugar maples, red oaks, and birch trees erupt in shades of scarlet, amber, and gold. Vermont's Green Mountains are ground zero for leaf-peeping culture, with covered bridges, white-steepled churches, and farmsteads providing the quintessential backdrop. New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway becomes a ribbon of colour stretching fifty miles through the White Mountain National Forest without a single traffic light or commercial development to interrupt the view. In coastal Maine, lobster boats still operate out of villages like Camden and Bar Harbor, where the contrast between fiery foliage and cold Atlantic grey creates a palette found nowhere else. Apple cider presses, pumpkin festivals, and harvest suppers make the season feel like a regional holiday, drawing visitors from around the world to witness the spectacle.
The Great Lakes and Inland Seas
The five Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — form the largest freshwater system on the planet by surface area, holding roughly twenty-one percent of the world's surface fresh water. Lake Superior's north shore in Minnesota and Ontario features boreal forest, volcanic rock formations, and some of the most remote coastline in the lower forty-eight states. Mackinac Island in Lake Huron bans motor vehicles entirely, preserving a nineteenth-century atmosphere where horses still pull carriages over limestone streets. Chicago's lakefront stretches for twenty-six miles along Lake Michigan, combining urban beaches, parks, and architectural landmarks in a public space that rivals any in the world. The lakes have shaped regional economies, weather patterns, and cultural identities for centuries, and their sheer scale — Superior alone is roughly the size of South Carolina — creates a sense of inland ocean that surprises first-time visitors.
Hawaiian Islands and Pacific Culture
The Hawaiian archipelago rises from the central Pacific as a chain of volcanic islands that support ecosystems found nowhere else on earth. Each island carries its own personality: Maui's road to Hana winds through bamboo forests and past waterfalls plunging into pools, while the Big Island's Kilauea volcano continues to reshape the landscape with active lava flows that occasionally reach the sea. Hawaiian culture, sustained by a revitalization movement that began in the nineteen-seventies, includes hula as a living oral tradition rather than mere performance, outrigger canoe navigation using stars and swells, and the concept of aloha aina, or love and care for the land. The North Shore of Oahu draws surfers from around the world to winter waves that can reach thirty feet, while the quieter islands of Kauai and Molokai preserve a rural character increasingly rare in the modern Pacific.
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- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Internet TLD
- us
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter United States.
Which nationalities can enter United States?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (25)
All airports →- Boston Logan International AirportBOS · Boston
- Charlotte Douglas International AirportCLT · Charlotte
- Chicago O'Hare International AirportORD · Chicago
- Dallas/Fort Worth International AirportDFW · Dallas
- Daniel K. Inouye International AirportHNL · Honolulu
- Denver International AirportDEN · Denver
- Detroit Metropolitan AirportDTW · Detroit
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International AirportFLL · Fort Lauderdale
- George Bush Intercontinental AirportIAH · Houston
- Harry Reid International AirportLAS · Las Vegas
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International AirportATL · Atlanta
- John F. Kennedy International AirportJFK · New York
Cities (24)
All cities →- Washington, D.C.Capital702,000 residents
- Atlanta510,000 residents
- Boston685,000 residents
- Charlotte874,579 residents
- Chicago2,664,000 residents
- Dallas1,300,000 residents
- Denver716,000 residents
- Detroit620,000 residents
- Fort Lauderdale182,000 residents
- Honolulu350,000 residents
- Houston2,314,000 residents
- Las Vegas660,000 residents
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
For the origins we track, United States requires a visa for tourism (Argentina: visa required, Japan: e-visa, Morocco: visa required, Singapore: e-visa and South Korea: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of United States?
Washington, D.C. is the capital of United States, and the country sits in North America.
What currency is used in United States?
You pay with US Dollar (USD) in United States. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in United States?
The languages we list for United States are English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for United States?
The dialling code for United States is +1 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve United States?
We cover 25 airports for United States, including Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — and 22 more.
Which cities in United States do you cover?
Our guide lists 24 cities for United States: Washington, D.C. (capital), Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte and Chicago, with more on the full list.