America is a treasure trove for tourists. Due to its sheer size there is so much to do that it would take a decade to even scratch the surface. Neil Gaiman said when asked what the difference was between the US and the UK, ‘Britain has history whereas America has geography’ … or words to that effect. America is a landmass in the true sense of the word and with so much to see it can be hard to know how. You can click here for more information on guided tours that will mean you won’t miss a thing, or you can follow some advice I’ve picked up on the best cities in America and more importantly, the best times of the year to see them.
Washington DC
The capital of the US. It’s a striking city that often gets ignored by tourists in favour of some of the other locations on this list; however there is one time of year you must visit and that’s Spring. Which will be in time for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival that was started when in 1912 the major Tokyo gifted Washington DC with their own cherry blossom trees as a sign of the growing friendship between the two nations (if only they knew what was to come). The city looks stunning and if you arrive on the day of the festival there will be balloons and floats galore!
San Francisco
San Francisco was the centre of hippy culture in America and the famous/infamous summer of love. If you want to be a hippy with flowers in your hair, then San Francisco is the only place you can be. The city is striking and beautiful at all times of year due to the interesting road structure and hilly terrain (just check out Vertigo), but in summer when the sun is blazing and the place is dressed in flowers, there is nowhere quite like it in the world.
Chicago
The penultimate stop on our year long journey: Chicago is best in Autumn (or Fall, seeing as we’re in America), in my opinion. Lake Michigan and the surrounding trees look best when hued with reds, oranges, yellows and not only that, but the city comes alive in September with World Music Festival, punk festival Riot Fest, and Jazz Festival in Hyde Park (not the London one) and then to top that all off there is the famously whacky Great Chicago Fire Festival .
New York
A city, that many would argue, is perfect to visit at any time of the year due to its history, charm, and culture, but I believe that the city is best seen in the snow. There is nothing quite like New York in white. We’ve all seen the films, from a blanket across Times Square to skating in central park; a white Christmas transforms New York into a winter wonderland.