Welcome to North America. Officially the world’s third largest country, the USA is made up of 50 unique states! With 9.8 million square kilometres covered, it’s no surprise the landscape varies so incredibly.
From the barren, dusty deserts of California, the ancient yet luscious Yosemite National Park, Florida’s white sand beaches and the powerful rush of the Grand Canyon. Not to mention its larger-than-life cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York which we have previously visited ourselves!
North America is positively bursting with things to do to suit any travel preference!
More posts about North America:
Los Angeles
San Francisco
North America Facts
The four main symbols of the USA are:
– National Animal: American Bison
– National Tree: Oak tree
– National Bird: Bald Eagle
– National Flower: Rose
Across the United States, there are six different time zones – Hawaii-Aleutian, Alaska, Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern time (Something to absolutely keep an eye on as you pursue your America travels)! Arizona and Hawaii do not adhere to their daylight savings time.
The National holiday of the USA is the 4th July, known as ‘Independence Day’!
Incredibly, 1 in 8 people in the United States have been employed by McDonalds!
The typical American way is to borrow money to buy things – racking up credit, medical, mortgage, car and student loan debts!
There is no official language in the United States! Though the majority speak, there is also a huge population of residents who speak Spanish. In total, there are more than 350 languages in the US!
If there was a way to distribute all of the wheat produced in Kansas, it would feed everyone in the world for two weeks!
Longview, a town in Washington, has installed suspended treetop bridges to help squirrels safely cross the road, called the “Nutty Narrows Bridge”.
Logistically, it would take you more than 400 years to spend a night in all of Las Vegas’s hotel rooms.
Morgan Island, is an island full of wild monkeys off the coast of South Carolina, which is not accessible to humans!
The US has more than 2,500 National Historical Landmarks, and only two can move: San Francisco’s cable cars and New Orleans’s St. Charles streetcars. (Psst! The San Francisco Cable car is included in our San Francisco itinerary!)
How much to tip in North America:
USA TIPPING
Tipping is an expected and common practise throughout the USA, especially at restaurants. Many service employees have low set wages, resultantly relying on tips for much of their income. Definitely something to keep in mind during your America travels!
USA TIPPING SUGGESTIONS:
Restaurants / dining-in: 15-20% of total bill.
Bartenders: $1 per dink, or 15-20% of total bill.
Hotel bell staff: $1-2 a bag.
Taxi drivers: 10-18% of total fare.
Tour guides: 10-20%
Spa treatments + hairdressers: 10-20%
North America Weather & Seasons:
Summer
The USA’s Summer months are between June – August. States in the North enjoy pleasantly warm days and cooler nights, whereas the Southern states and tropical areas experience very hot average temperatures
Autumn
The USA’s Autumn (otherwise known as “Fall”) months are between September – November. Temperatures begin to cool across the country, bringing brilliant autumnal hues of orange, red and golds in Northern states.
Winter
The USA’s Winter months are between December – February. Southern states experience a relatively mild Winter. Northern states however experience fairly cold temperature, often bringing heavy snow.
Spring
Australia’s Spring months are between September-November. The The USA’s Spring months are between March – May. Springs brings slightly warmer temperatures, as well as the occasional thunder and rainstorms across the country as it progresses to Summer.
North America’s Capital City
WASHINGTON
The capital city is Washington, located on the East side of the United States!
It is also home to The White House, the infamous Presidential Home and Government office.
North America Wildlife
American Bison
Otherwise known as the “American Bison”, these magnificent mammals used to freely roam across the USA plains. Today, they can only be found in protected areas. Known as a ‘Keystone species’, they play an important role creating habitat for many bird and plant species, breaking the soils as they forage and encouraging growth of native seeds.
Grizzly Bear
The Grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of the Brown bear. They are usually solitary mammals, found roaming the river banks, with the exception of mother and cub. Though, mass gatherings of Grizzly bears do occur in prime Alaskan fishing spots when salmon swim upstream. Wild grizzly bears are mainly found in Yellowstone National Park in the USA.
West Indian Manatee
The West Indian Manatee (nicknamed the “Sea Cow”) is a slow-moving, docile aquatic mammal, mainly found in Southern-Eastern USA, especially Florida throughout the whole year. You can see them up close and personal at Three Sister Springs in Florida’s Crystal River National Park.
Moose
Find the majestic Moose roaming the Rocky Mountains of the USA. Spot their towering long-legs, dark fur colour and immensely sized antlers (males “bulls” only). Particularly through the calving season, they must defend themselves from Grizzly bears, black bears and wolves. In North America, they are called Moose – derived from the word moosh (“stripper and eater of bark” – however in Europe, Moose are actually called ‘Elk” instead.
Rattle Snake
The most common Rattlesnake species found in North America is the ‘Timber Rattlesnake’ in the East, and the ‘Prairie Rattlesnake’ in the West. Shy and timid in nature, they are not aggressive unless provoked. However, a bite can be extremely painful and dangerous.
Bald Eagle
Crowned the USA’s National Bird in 1782 due to its fierce appearance and independence, the Bald Eagle is also the only native eagle to North America. Find them proudly soaring inland habitat and lakes, with a jaw-dropping wing-span of up to 2 metres wide!
Black Bear
The Black Bear (also known as the “American Bear”) is the most common species found throughout North America! Though classed as a carnivore (killing moose calves and deer fawn in the Spring), Black bears mainly have an omnivorous diet – eating a wide range of fruits, plants, acorns and nuts. They can live up to 20 years in the wild.
American Alligator
The American Alligator is commonly found all across South Eastern USA, from Texas, Florida and North Carolina. They prefer slow-moving rivers and fresh water lakes, and eat turtles, fish, small mammals and birds. They range from 2-4 metres in length, with the males being far larger!
Californian Condor
The Californian Condor is an obscure, vulturous-looking and the largest flying bird species in North America. They are critically endangered, and were once the sacred birds to Native Americans. They can now only be found on the rocky cliffs of Southern California deserts, and small populations in Arizona and Utah. Incredibly, they can live up to 60 years in the wild!
Grey Wolf
Otherwise known as “timber wolves”, spot the iconic grey fur with unique white / brown / black markings. Find them roaming in packs in the Yellowstone National Park of Wyoming, and smaller populations in areas such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana and Idaho. They are carnivores, preferring to eat large roofed mammals (i.e. deer, moose and bison).