# What's so special about the USA, that tourists won't be able to get elsewhere **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629 "2012-02-03T05:05:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/41 "2012-02-03T15:23:23Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Fwiw, as a toursist destination, the US holds no interest for me. Pretty much bottom of the list. I don’t know about my fellow Yanks, but I’m heartbroken. How will we find any reason to go on living, if YOU’RE not here? Sob… ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/42 "2012-02-03T15:25:20Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I think the OP was more talking about things you CAN’T experience in any other country. Saguaro cactuses aren’t just in the US, they are in Mexico too. There are strong similarities between New England towns and towns in the Maritime Provinces. Yeah, a tourist can visit the Maritime Provinces, then jet to the the Sonora Desert in Mexico. Well, not really. There’s bus time or train time or driving time to get from either location to the nearest international airport. I love Mexico but would not recommend driving around the Border area right now… The OP was not very clear. He hasn’t been back to this thread & we don’t even know his location. So I’d say we’re able to make rather broad recommendations. Doesn’t the entire travel experience count more than checking off a list of unique spots? New York City is unique; New York State is beautiful. Other Northern cities, towns & countryside could be bundled into that vacation. (Hey, they could swing by part of Canada, too!) Any visitor interested in US history could enjoy DC. The Old World is full of museums, but nothing like our National Air & Space Museum. The [National Museum of the American Indian](http://www.nmai.si.edu/) opened after my last visit. Military history? Lots of Civil War sites within striking distance. The Grand Canyon & other sights Way Out West are iconic. Not far from Las Vegas–which is some folks’ idea of real fun. Or you can rent a car in San Diego & drive north, through LA & SF. Then keep going, with the Pacific on your left… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/43 "2012-02-03T15:32:26Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Any visitor interested in US history could enjoy DC. I think we can all accept that people interested in US history are likely to find the US a good place to visit. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/44 "2012-02-03T15:56:39Z")
Other than the obvious landscape stuff (Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Redwoods, Hawaii) the big attractants in the US for me would be the NASA/Air&Space Museum/Smithsonian stuff; the Paleo stuff like La Brea and Dinosaur State Park and Petrified Forest NP; and the Native stuff like Chaco Canyon and Cahokia. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/45 "2012-02-03T16:10:29Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Yeah, a tourist can visit the Maritime Provinces, then jet to the the Sonora Desert in Mexico. Well, not really. There’s bus time or train time or driving time to get from either location to the nearest international airport. I love Mexico but would not recommend driving around the Border area right now… > > The OP was not very clear. He hasn’t been back to this thread & we don’t even know his location. So I’d say we’re able to make rather broad recommendations. Doesn’t the entire travel experience count more than checking off a list of unique spots? > > New York City is unique; New York State is beautiful. Other Northern cities, towns & countryside could be bundled into that vacation. (Hey, they could swing by part of Canada, too!) > > Any visitor interested in US history could enjoy DC. The Old World is full of museums, but\*\* nothing like our National Air & Space Museum. \*\* The [National Museum of the American Indian](http://www.nmai.si.edu/) opened after my last visit. Military history? Lots of Civil War sites within striking distance. > > The Grand Canyon & other sights Way Out West are iconic. Not far from Las Vegas–which is some folks’ idea of real fun. Or you can rent a car in San Diego & drive north, through LA & SF. Then keep going, with the Pacific on your left… (My bolding). That museum is actually very similar to sections of the Science Museum in London. Apart from the Grand Canyon, you can get pretty much all of those things in other countries - they’re cool and all, but don’t make the US unique. > [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > I think we can all accept that people interested in US history are likely to find the US a good place to visit. DC does showcase US history particularly well, though. I absolutely loved the place, having had very few expectations of it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/46 "2012-02-03T16:18:45Z")
In my roadtrips throughout the west, foreign visitors always mention the wide open spaces and how “there’s nothing like this where we live”. Granted there are wide open spaces in other parts of the world, but they don’t live in the cultural imagination in quite the same way. Another aspect, depending on where tourists are from, is a favorable exchange rate. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/47 "2012-02-03T16:20:54Z")
May I recommend the Everglades and Okefenokee? Both are coastal marshes that will not here forever. And if you haven’t seen the mighty Mississippi from Memphis, then I recommend that as well. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/48 "2012-02-03T16:22:51Z")
The USA has American culture (Elvis, cowboys, Hollywood, NYC, DC, etc), wide-open spaces, it’s generally safe, well developed, and civilized (for the most part.) Many different landscapes in one country; forests, plains, mountains, desert, cold rocky beaches, warm white sand beaches and more. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/49 "2012-02-03T16:23:02Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > God, if only there were somewhere on earth that had a representation of a 4,500-year-old stone monument in England, except using automobiles. Might have to build one myself - in Belgium. I can’t believe Top Gear hasn’t done this already. As for “what does the USA have that tourists can’t get anywhere else” I’m going to go with “solitude”. Really. Even in the national parks I went to in the UK and France there were crowds of people. You want real solitude, go to the Allegheny National Forest. Or the Appalachian Trail. Or any one of hundreds of local, state, and national parks all around the country. For a loner like me, you can really get away from everybody, even if it’s just for a few hours. It’s beautiful. I suppose Canada’s parks could offer the same thing, but in the US the outdoor season is longer and there’s significantly more biodiversity. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/50 "2012-02-03T16:31:40Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > And CARHENGE, people. What, you’re too good for Wall Drug? We also have Rock City. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/51 "2012-02-03T16:38:51Z")
We’ve got Washington, DC - if you’re not an American, I guarantee you that your government pays very careful attention to what goes on here. If you come to the US, you can see it all first-hand. Not just the tours of the Capitol or the Supreme Court or what-have-you - you can watch the day-to-day deliberations of the greatest imperial capital the world has ever seen. Take in lectures at Brookings, or Heritage, or AEI, or SAIS, or the Center for American Progress, or any of the other grad schools or think-tanks that cover the city, and you’ll watch American domestic and foreign policy theory in the making. This stuff matters, and it can take place right in front of you. Plus, the DC metro area has better Ethiopian than anyplace outside of Ethiopia or (possibly) Israel. And the Smithsonian is simply a world-class set of museums. And there are very, very few cities that can match DC for its thoughtful use of green space - take a walk through Rock Creek Park! DC is very badly under-rated as a world city. Come visit! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/52 "2012-02-03T17:21:58Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > We’ve got Washington, DC - if you’re not an American, I guarantee you that your government pays very careful attention to what goes on here. If you come to the US, you can see it all first-hand. Not just the tours of the Capitol or the Supreme Court or what-have-you - you can watch the day-to-day deliberations of the greatest imperial capital the world has ever seen. Take in lectures at Brookings, or Heritage, or AEI, or SAIS, or the Center for American Progress, or any of the other grad schools or think-tanks that cover the city, and you’ll watch American domestic and foreign policy theory in the making. This stuff matters, and it can take place right in front of you. Cool. Do they sell tickets for the meetings of the NSC? ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/53 "2012-02-03T17:30:28Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > The USA has American culture (Elvis, cowboys, Hollywood, NYC, DC, etc), That’s pretty much it, for me. Everywhere has cool places and sights; no matter where you go you’ll find them. The thing I enjoy most about visiting the US is the culture - it’s different enough from home as to be noticeable, but not so different that it takes too long to acclimatize and join in. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/54 "2012-02-03T17:32:06Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Cool. Do they sell tickets for the meetings of the NSC? Nope, but former security VIPs give lectures all the time in this city, and a lot of them have good odds of ending up back in power someday. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/55 "2012-02-03T17:41:48Z")
We have the best beer in the world. It’s called Pliny the Elder. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/56 "2012-02-03T17:54:52Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Come visit! I’ll definitely consider it. After you’ve laid off the xenophobic paranoia and ridiculous “safety” precautions in your airports. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/57 "2012-02-03T18:07:45Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I’m not sure there’s such a marked difference between say Texas/New Mexico/Arizona or Oregon/Idaho/Washington or Illinois/Wisconsin/Indiana. Then again, I’ve never actually been to these places, so. There are vast differences among the states and regions you stated. You really do need to get out more. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/58 "2012-02-03T18:16:40Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Nope, but former security VIPs give lectures all the time in this city, and a lot of them have good odds of ending up back in power someday. How unique! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/59 "2012-02-03T18:22:02Z")
Many people from the U.S. often visit the U.S. and feel the same way others have mentioned: I’ve seen this on television! Most people in the USA know their home town and maybe Disney World. Well… maybe just ‘too many’. . ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629/60 "2012-02-03T18:27:35Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > This is a tinsy-bit of a troll-topic, but I am genuinely interested. > What does America have that other tourist destinations don’t? > > For the purposes of the discussion, don’t bring up friends/family, or the hassle of applying for visas to multiple countries. > > Also, is there any single country that offers more unique stuff to visitors? self-loathing american? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-special-about-the-usa-that-tourists-wont-be-able-to-get-elsewhere/611629.md?page=4)