Things to do in USA

Activities in the United States

There is plenty to do in the United States - the question is whether you have the time to do them all!

1. Attend Music Concerts
   Mid-size to large cities often draw big ticket concerts, especially in large outdoor amphitheaters. Small towns sometimes host concerts in parks with local or older bands. Other options include music festivals such has San Diego's Street Scene or South by Southwest. Classical music concerts are held year round and performed by semi-professional and professional symphonies. Boston, for instance, occasionally puts on free concerts in the Public Park. Many cities and regions have unique sounds. Nashville is known as Music City because of the large number of country artists that live in the city. It's home to the Grand Ole Opry, one of the most famous music venues in the country. Seattle is the home of many grunge rock bands.
2. Watch Professional sports
   The United States has a professional league for every sport, including pillow fighting. A few of the most popular leagues are:
   • MLB - Major League Baseball is very popular and the sport of baseball is often referred to as "America's pastime" (being one of the most widely played in the country). The league has 30 teams (29 in the US and 1 in Canada). Season lasts from April to September with playoff games held in October. With 30 teams playing 162 games per team per season and the cheapest seats usually $10-20, this is possibly the best sporting event for international travelers to watch.
   • NBA - The National Basketball Association is the world's premier men's basketball league and has 30 teams (29 in the US, and one in Canada). Season runs November to April, with playoffs in May-June.
   • NFL - The National Football League, with 32 teams, is the leading promoter of American football in the world. Fans of football are loyal to their preferred team. The day of the championship game, called the Super Bowl, is an unofficial national holiday. Season lasts from September to December, with playoffs in January ending with the Super Bowl in February.
   • NHL - The premier league for ice hockey in the world, featuring 30 teams (24 in the US and 6 in Canada). A slight majority of players are Canadians, but the league has players from many other parts of the world, mainly the United States, the Nordic countries (primarily Sweden and Finland), the former Soviet Union, and the former Czechoslovakia. Originally in Northern markets, recent expansions have each major region covered with a NHL team.
   • MLS - Major League Soccer has 14 teams (including one in Canada) and is the top professional football (known as "soccer") league in the United States.
3. Attend Festivals and Fairs
   Nation-wide celebrations include Memorial Day, Independence Day (a.k.a. Fourth of July), and Labor Day. Othermajor holidays like Thanksgiving Day are marked by private festivities. Many towns and/or counties throw fairs, to commemorate the establishment of a town or the county with rides, games, and other attractions. See also Holidays of the United States.
   • Memorial Day - commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by America's war dead. It is the unofficial start of summer. It is not to be confused with Veteran's Day (November 11th) which commemorates the service of America's military veterans.
   • Independence Day - Celebrates America's independence from Great Britain. The day is usually marked by parades, festivals, concerts, outdoor cooking and grilling and firework displays. Almost every town puts on some sort of festivity to celebrate the day. Large cities often have multiple events. Washington, D.C. celebrates the day on the Mall with a parade and a fireworks display against the Washington Monument.
   • Labor Day - The US celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of September, rather than May 1st. Labor Day marks the end of the summer social season. Some places, such as Cincinnati throw parties to celebrate the day.
   • Burning Man Festival: The Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada is a festival of self-expression.
4. Hit the Great Outdoors
   The vast interior of the US offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities, including Recreational shooting, ATV riding, hiking, bird watching, prospecting, and horseback riding.

More info on USA available in the USA Tourist Information main page.

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