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Check Out The US Hotspots

By: Roberto Raffa

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Don’t even bother looking for the ‘real’ America because such a notion really does miss the point of this vast and varied nation. However expensive the USA’s physical parameters it still manages to pack in more cultural diversity across its 50 states than many continents. Imagine spending one day reveling in the decadent tropical heat of Miami and the next bracing the arctic wilderness of Alaska then boggle at the fact that two such disparate experiences are somehow contained within the borders of one country.

Yep, it’s pretty much impossible to accommodate the awe inspiring breadth of the American experience in one visit but, on the upside, this is a nation that really does have something for everyone. The only thing left for anyone considering a visit is to decide which version of America they fancy. Below is an overview of three of our favourite cities in the US, our attempt at some sort of an introduction to the many and varied possibilities:

Las Vegas
On visiting Vegas for the first time it quickly dawns on you that it really is exactly how you imagined it would be - a huge plastic tribute to American consumerism and shallow cultural simulation. Money is in gaudy evidence everywhere, from the quarters silver haired gambling addicts pump blankly into the millions of slot machines to the brazenly unsubtle displays of wealth favoured by the hordes of Prada clad nouveau rich to the stupefying excess of the casinos themselves.

Take The Venetian, a $1.5 billion casino/resort that attempts to recreate the streets of Venice, complete with a canal that winds through the casino and shopping mall and is (inevitably) traversed by singing gondoliers. There is surprisingly convincing mock Venetian architecture, a Titian-esque sky painted on the vast ceiling for that Truman Show fake environment vibe and a liberal sprinkling of Renaissance style frescos.

Whatever your take on the Vegas experience it’s hard not to be awed by the overwhelming spectacle of it all and, for a few days at least (anymore and you may find your grasp on reality is beginning to slip), there really are few more fun and exciting cities to visit.

Chicago
You might say that Chicagoans have a bit of a chip on their collective shoulder with regards the global perception of the Windy City’s ‘greatness’ relative to the limelight stealing metropolises on either coast. But then you can hardly blame them – Chicago, as visitors will very quickly recognise, simply doesn’t deserve the frankly rather galling ‘second city’ tag it’s often given. In pretty much every respect this is as rewarding and wholly incomparable a city as America has to offer.

So, how does Chicago measure up in comparison with America’s more frequently visited metropolitan centres (I’m talking about New York and LA by the way)? Well, it has culture by the bucket load: For a start its justly celebrated musical riches run from the legendary blues scene that gave the world the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Bo Diddley (check out still thriving clubs like the Checkerboard and Lee's Unleaded Blues for an authentic taste of Chicago Blues and don’t miss Blues Fest in June) to consistently innovative and soulful Jazz to more contemporary sounds (notably, Kanye West emerged from Chicago and the city plays host to a thriving Indie rock scene).

Chicago also boasts a diverse array of museums that can hold its own next to any city in the world. In particular, the Art Institute of Chicago which houses a spectacular collection that spans classical, impressionist and Modern art, and the Museum of Science and Industry are must-visit attractions.

Boston
It would be easy to characterise Boston as a city defined by its history and, hell, it does have an awful lot to offer on that front. From its origins as the puritans ‘shining city on a hill’ Boston (dubbed rather imposingly ‘The Cradle of Liberty’) has consistently commanded a position at the forefront of America’s cultural and political landscape and still exudes an undeniable gravitas.

Given this steadily acquired image one could be forgiven for imagining a city weighed down by a sense of staid historical self importance. Such off-putting preconceptions do Boston a great disservice however; visitors will find a city that is indeed rich in history, pretty green expanses and period architecture but equally overflowing with a more contemporary energy. In fact Boston is experiencing something of a cultural renaissance right now, with a thriving visual arts scene, forward thinking architectural developments and impressive new landmarks like the Institute for Contemporary Arts.

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