Sjedinjene Američke Države - United States of America

COVID-19 informacija: SAD imaju najveći broj potvrđenih slučajeva COVID-19 u svijetu, a pogođene su sve države. Sve razine vlasti provele su mjere za suzbijanje širenja. Mnogim je strancima zabranjen ulazak u SAD, ovisno o nedavnoj povijesti putovanja i drugim čimbenicima, a svi putnici (uključujući američke državljane) podliježu ograničenjima koja se mogu promijeniti u kratkom roku. Vidjeti Uđi ispod. Mnoge državne i lokalne vlasti ograničile su kapacitete za restorane i druge tvrtke. Izbjegavajte mjesta gdje su gužve i okupljanja u grupama i držite se najmanje 2 metra od drugih. Nosite pokrivalo za lice na javnim mjestima; ovo se preporučuje u cijeloj zemlji i zahtijeva za većinu oblika prijevoza, u zračnim lukama te u mnogim državama i gradovima. Pojedine države i gradovi uspostavili su dobrovoljne ili obvezno samokarantene za neke posjetitelje iz drugih država. Oni također mogu zahtijevati da se testirate prije ili poslije dolaska i prijavite informacije o svojim putovanjima i kontaktima lokalnim zdravstvenim službenicima. Ispitivanje i karantena možda neće biti potrebni ako se u potpunosti cijepi protiv COVID-19. Provjerite s CDC te s državnim i lokalnim vlastima za najnovije detalje.

(Podaci posljednji put ažurirani 7. travnja 2021.)

The Sjedinjene Američke Države je prostrana zemlja u Sjeverna Amerika oko polovine veličine Rusija i otprilike iste veličine kao Kina. Također ima treću najveću populaciju na svijetu, s više od 330 milijuna ljudi (2020. godine). Obuhvaća gusto naseljene gradove s prostranim predgrađima i ogromna nenaseljena područja prirodnih ljepota. Predstavljajući najveću svjetsku ekonomiju s poviješću masovne imigracije iz 17. stoljeća, to je "talište" kultura iz cijelog svijeta.

Smatrana najmoćnijom i najutjecajnijom zemljom na svijetu, igra dominantnu ulogu u svjetskom kulturnom krajoliku, a poznata je po širokom spektru popularnih turističkih odredišta, počevši od nebodera Manhattan i Chicago, prirodnim čudima Yellowstone i Aljaska, do kanjonskih krajeva Jugozapadno, do toplih, sunčanih plaža Florida, Havaji i Južna Kalifornija.

Regije

Sjedinjene Države obuhvaćaju 50 Države i glavnom gradu nacije Washington DC., koji su za potrebe Wikivoyagea grupirani u sljedeće regije:

Karta Sjedinjenih Država

Nova Engleska (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Otok Rhode, Vermont) Dom crkava sa sljemenicima, rustikalnih antikviteta i uronjen u američku povijest, Nova Engleska nudi plaže, spektakularne morske plodove, surove planine, česte zimske snjegove i neke od najstarijih gradova u zemlji, na teritoriji dovoljno malom za obilazak (užurbano) u tjedan dana .

Srednjoatlantski (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC.) U rasponu od New Yorka do Washingtona, DC, u Srednjem Atlantiku smješteni su neki od najgušće naseljenih gradova, povijesnih mjesta, valovitih planina i morskih odmarališta.

Jug (Alabama, Arkansas, Gruzija, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Sjeverna Karolina, Južna Karolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Zapadna Virginia) Jug se slavi po gostoprimstvu, domaćoj kuhinji i bluesu, jazz, rock 'n' roll, bluegrass i country glazbene tradicije. Ova bujna, uglavnom suptropska regija uključuje prohladne, zelene planine, plantaže i ogromne močvare čempresa.

Florida Sjeverna Florida je sličan ostatku juga, ali u odmaralištima u Orlando, umirovljeničke zajednice, pod utjecajem tropskih Kariba Miami, Evergladesi 1.900 km pješčanih plaža.

srednji zapad (Illinois, Indijana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin) Regija jednostavnih i gostoljubivih ljudi, poljoprivredno zemljište, šume, slikoviti gradovi, industrijski gradovi i Velika jezera - najveći sustav slatkovodnih jezera na svijetu, koji čini Sjeverna obala SAD-a

Teksas Druga po veličini država je poput zasebne države (i to je nekada i bila), sa snažnim kulturnim utjecajima iz svoje španjolske i meksičke prošlosti. Teren je prilično raznolik, s močvarama na jugoistoku, ravnim zemljištima i farmama pamuka na južnim ravnicama, pješčanim plažama u južnom Teksasu i planinama i pustinje u krajnjem zapadnom Teksasu.

Velike ravnice (Sjeverna Dakota, Južna Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma) Nekadašnja pogranična zemlja divljeg zapada, koja se često opisivala kao "ravna od palačinke", ova se regija nekada sastojala od nepreglednih travnjaka. Većina je to sada jedna velika farma za drugom, s povremenim gradovima, ali preostale su prerije još uvijek prostrane i pomalo puste.

Stjenjak (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming) Spektakularni snijeg prekriven Stjenoviti nude planinarenje, rafting, izvrsno skijanje, pustinje i neke velike gradove.

Jugozapadno (Arizona, Nevada, Novi Meksiko, Utah) Pod velikim utjecajem španjolske, meksičke i indijanske kulture, ovo je područje dom nekih od najspektakularnijih prirodnih atrakcija i procvjetalih umjetničkih zajednica. Iako su uglavnom prazne, pustinje regije sadrže neke velike gradove.

Kalifornija Poput jugozapada, Kalifornija je pod velikim utjecajem svojih bivših španjolskih i meksičkih vladara, a također i azijske kulture i kuhinje. Kalifornija nudi svjetski poznate gradove, pustinje, prašume, snježne planine i prekrasne plaže.

Pacifički sjeverozapad (Washington, Oregon) Ugodno blagi pacifički sjeverozapad nudi aktivnosti na otvorenom i kozmopolitske gradove. Teren sadrži spektakularne kišne šume, slikovite planine i vulkane, prekrasne obale i stepe i pustinje prekrivene kaduljom.

Aljaska Petina veća od ostatka Sjedinjenih Država, Aljaska seže duboko do Arktika i sadrži planinsku divljinu, uključujući najvišu planinu Sjeverne Amerike, Denalii zavičajna aljaška kultura neviđena drugdje u Sjedinjenim Državama.

Havaji Vulkanski arhipelag u tropskom Tihom oceanu, 3.700 km (3 700 km) jugozapadno od Kalifornije (najbliže države), opušteni Havaji raj je za odmor.

SAD također upravlja zbirkom nedržavnih teritorija širom svijeta, uglavnom u Karibi (Portoriko i Američki Djevičanski otoci) i Oceanija (Guam, Američka Samoa, Sjeverni Marijanski otocii razni nenaseljeni otoci i otočne skupine). Budući da se s putničkog gledišta ove zemlje sasvim razlikuju od 50 država, pokrivene su zasebnim člancima. Vidjeti Američki kolonijalizam za odredišta na kojima možete saznati više o trenutnim i bivšim prekomorskim teritorijima SAD-a.

Gradovi

Južna fasada Bijele kuće, Washington, D.C.

Sjedinjene Države imaju preko 10 000 gradova, mjesta i sela. Slijedi popis devet najznačajnijih. Ostale gradove možete pronaći u njihovim odgovarajućim regijama.

• 38.904-77.0161 Washington DC. - glavni grad države, ispunjen velikim muzejima i spomenicima
• 42.358-71.0632 Boston - najpoznatiji po kolonijalnoj povijesti, strasti prema sportu i sveučilištima
• 41.836-87.6843 Chicago - srce Srednjeg zapada, prometno središte nacije i najveće svjetsko središte za trgovinu robom, s masivnim neboderima i drugim arhitektonskim draguljima
• 34.05-118.254 Los Angeles - dom filmske industrije, glazbenih umjetnika i surfera, s lijepim blagim vremenom, velikom prirodnom ljepotom od planina do plaža i beskrajnim dijelovima autocesta
• 25.775-80.2085 Miami - ovaj grad s živahnom karipskom kulturom pod utjecajem latinskog privlači sjevernjake željne sunca
• 29.95-90.0666 New Orleans - "The Big Easy", rodno mjesto jazza, poznato je po svojoj neobičnoj francuskoj četvrti, prepoznatljivoj kuhinji i godišnjoj proslavi Mardi Grasa
• 40.712-74.0057 New York City - najveći grad u zemlji, dom Wall Streeta, velikih medija i oglašavanja, kuhinje svjetske klase, umjetnosti, arhitekture i kupovine
• 37.783-122.4168 San Francisco - Grad uz zaljev, koji sadrži most Golden Gate, živopisne urbane četvrti, dramatičnu maglu i visoku tehnologiju
• 47.609-122.3339 Seattle - bogati muzeji, spomenici, rekreacija i svemirska igla

Ostala odredišta

The Grand Canyon u Arizona

Ovo su neka od najvećih i najpoznatijih odredišta izvan većih gradova.

• 63.069-151.0071 Nacionalni park Denali - zabačeni nacionalni park s najvišim vrhom Sjeverne Amerike, Denalijem (nekada Mt. McKinley)
• 36.3-112.62 Grand Canyon - najduži i najposjećeniji kanjon na svijetu
• 35.562-83.4983 Nacionalni park Great Smoky Mountains - nacionalni park na jugu Apalača
• 37.183-108.4884 Nacionalni park Mesa Verde - dobro očuvane nastambene stanove na stijenama Puebloan
• 43.878-103.4595 Mount Rushmore - ikonski spomen na četvoricu bivših predsjednika urezan u liticu
• 43.079-79.0746 Slapovi Niagare - masivni slapovi koji prolaze pored granice s Kanadom
• 28.385-81.5637 Svijet Walta Disneya - najpopularnije odmaralište na svijetu
• 44.6-110.58 Nacionalni park Yellowstone - prvi nacionalni park u SAD-u i dom gejzira Old Faithful
• 37.85-119.559 Nacionalni park Yosemite - dom El Capitana, Half Domea i poznatih stabala Giant Sequoia

Shvati

Kapital	Washington DC.
Valuta	Američki dolar (USD)
Populacija	331,4 milijuna (2020)
Struja	120 ± 6 volti / 60 herca (NEMA 1-15, NEMA 5-15)
Kod države	1
Vremenska zona	UTC − 12: 00 do UTC 12:00 i središnja vremenska zona, vremenska zona Aljaske, planinska vremenska zona
Hitne slučajeve	911
Vozačka strana	pravo
uredi na Wikipodacima

Sjedinjene Države (poznate i kao "SAD", "SAD" ili samo "Amerika") nisu Amerika televizije i filmova. Velika je, složena i raznolika, s različitim kulturnim i regionalnim identitetima. Zbog udaljenosti koje putuju, putovanja između regija mogu biti dugotrajna i skupa.

Geografija

Apalačani u Gruzija

The susjedne Sjedinjene Države ili "Donji 48" odnosi se na teritorij isključujući Aljasku i Havaje. Velik dio stanovništva živi na obalama Atlantika, Tihog oceana ili Meksičkog zaljeva ili duž Velikih jezera. Jedine kopnene granice s kojima su obje prilično dugačke dijele se Kanada prema sjeveru i Meksiko prema jugu. The kontinentalni dio Sjedinjenih Država su 48 susjednih država, D.C. i Aljaska, ali isključuju Havaje.

Veliki Tetoni, Stjenjak, Wyoming

Zemlja ima tri glavna planinska lanca. The Apalačani protežu se od Kanade do Alabama, nekoliko stotina kilometara zapadno od Atlantskog oceana. Oni su najstariji od tri lanca i nude spektakularna razgledavanja i izvrsna mjesta za kampiranje. The Stjenoviti su u prosjeku najviši u Sjevernoj Americi, protežući se od Aljaske do Novi Meksiko, s mnogim područjima označenim kao Nacionalni parkovi koji nude mogućnosti za planinarenje, kampiranje, skijanje i razgledavanje grada. Kombinirano Sijera Nevada i Kaskada rasponi su najmlađi. Sijere se protežu preko "okosnice" Kalifornija, s web mjestima kao što su Jezero Tahoe i Nacionalni park Yosemite, zatim ustupiti mjesto još mlađem vulkanskom lancu Cascade, s nekim od najviših točaka u zemlji.

U središtu zemlje je Velike ravnice, koji uključuje cjelokupni Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Južna Dakota, Sjeverna Dakotai dijelove okolnih država. Ovu regiju karakteriziraju dugi dijelovi ravnog kopna i područja blagog kotrljanja. Sastoji se uglavnom od obradivog zemljišta i prerije.

Meksički zaljev je jugoistočno od Teksas, južno od Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama i Floridaje Panhandle i čini zapadnu obalu Floride.

The Velika jezera definiraju velik dio granice između istoka Sjedinjenih Država i Kanade. U unutrašnjosti mora više slatke vode od jezera, nastala su pritiskom povlačenja ledenjaka na kraju posljednjeg ledenog doba. Pet jezera proteže se stotinama kilometara, graničeći se s državama Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indijana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania i New York, a njihove obale variraju od netaknutih divljih područja do industrijskih gradova s ​​"pojasom hrđe".

Klima

Iako velik dio SAD-a ima umjereno klime, također postoji velika raznolikost od arktičke tundre na Aljasci do tropskog vremena na Havajima i Južna Florida. The Velike ravnice su suhe, ravne i travnate, pretvarajući se u pustinja na Dalekom zapadu i Mediteran uz kalifornijsku obalu.

U zima, veći gradovi na sjeveru i srednjem zapadu mogu vidjeti 60 ft snijega u jednom danu, uz hladne temperature. Ljeta su vlažna, ali blaga. Temperature preko 100 ° F (38 ° C) ponekad napadaju Srednji zapad i Velike ravnice. Neka područja na sjevernim ravnicama tijekom zime mogu osjetiti hladne temperature od -34 ° C. Temperature ispod -18 ° C ponekad dosežu i jug Oklahoma.

Klima na Jug također varira. Ljeti je vruće i vlažno, ali od listopada do travnja vrijeme se može kretati od 60 ° F (16 ° C) do kratkih hladnoća od -7 ° C ili otprilike.

Doživljavaju i Velike ravnice i države Srednjeg Zapada tornada od kasnog proljeća do rane jeseni, ranije na jugu i kasnije na sjeveru. Države duž atlantske obale i Meksičkog zaljeva mogu doživjeti uragani između lipnja i studenog. Ovim intenzivnim i opasnim olujama često nedostaje kopno SAD-a, ali evakuacija se često nalaže i na njih treba obratiti pažnju.

Stjenoviti su hladni i snježni. Neki dijelovi Stjenjaka u sezoni vide preko 1300 cm snijega. Čak i tijekom ljeta, temperature su hladne u planinama, a snijeg može padati gotovo tijekom cijele godine. Opasno je ići u planine zimi nepripremljen i ceste kroz njih mogu biti vrlo zaleđene.

Pustinje Jugozapadno vruće je i suho tijekom ljeta, s temperaturama koje često prelaze 100 ° F (38 ° C). Oluje s grmljavinom mogu se očekivati ​​na jugozapadu često od srpnja do rujna. Zime su blage, a snijeg neobičan. Prosječna godišnja količina oborina je niska, obično manja od 250 mm.

Prohladno i vlažno vrijeme uobičajeno je veći dio godine na obalnom sjeverozapadu (Oregon i Washington zapadno od lanca Cascade i sjeverni dio Kalifornije zapadno od obalnih područja / kaskada). Ljeta (od srpnja do rujna) su obično prilično suha s niskom vlagom, što ga čini idealnom klimom za aktivnosti na otvorenom. Kiša je najčešća zimi, snijeg je rijedak, osobito uz obalu, a ekstremne temperature su rijetke. Kiša pada gotovo isključivo od kasne jeseni do ranog proljeća uz obalu. Istočno od kaskada, sjeverozapad je znatno suši. Velik dio kopnenog sjeverozapada je ili polusuh ili pustinja, posebno u Oregonu.

Gradovi na sjeveroistoku i gornjem jugu poznati su po ljetima s temperaturama do 32 ° C ili više, s izuzetno visokom vlagom, obično preko 80%. To može biti drastična promjena s jugozapada. Visoka vlažnost znači da temperatura može biti vruća od stvarnih očitanja. Sjeveroistok također doživljava snijeg, a najmanje jednom svakih nekoliko godina bit će odlaganja bijelog u ogromnim količinama.

Povijest

Američki domoroci, ili Američki Indijanci, stigao je prije 13.500 do 16.000 godina iz migracijskih naroda sjeveroistočne Azije koji su prelazili Beringov tjesnac u Aljaska, i predstavljao je širok spektar sofisticiranih društava koja su postojala prije prvog dolaska Europljana krajem 15. stoljeća. Mississippian kulture izgradile su ogromna naselja na jugoistoku, a Anasazi izgradili složene gradove na litici na jugozapadu. Ta su društva desetkovana bolestima Starog svijeta poput malih boginja, a ratovanjem i zadiranjem u europske doseljenike potisnute su na zapad. Njihov smanjeni broj doveo je do daljnje marginalizacije, iako danas njihove kulture traju i nastavljaju pridonositi američkom iskustvu.

Europska kolonizacija započeo u 16. i 17. stoljeću. Engleska, Španjolska, i Francuska stekao velike posjede; the Nizozemska, Švedska, i Rusija također osnovane ispostave. Prve engleske kolonije, osnovane u Jamestown, Virginia (1607.) i Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620.), stvorili su jezgru onoga što je danas poznato kao Sjedinjene Države.

Na sjeveru, Massachusetts naselili vjerski imigranti - Puritanci - koji se kasnije proširio i osnovao većinu ostalih Nova Engleska kolonije, stvarajući visoko religioznu i idealističku regiju. Druge vjerske skupine također su osnivale kolonije, uključujući kvekere u Pennsylvania i rimokatolici u Maryland. Srednje kolonije New York, New Jersey, Delaware i Pennsylvania postao sjeverno kozmopolitsko središte.

Duže sezone rasta u južnim kolonijama, kojima je i dalje dominirala Virginia, dale su im bogatije poljoprivredne izglede, posebno za pamuk i duhan. Kao u Latinska Amerika i Karibi, uvedene sluge, osuđenici i kasnije Afrički robovi bili uvezeni i prisiljeni obrađivati ​​velike nasade. Ropstvo se prakticiralo i na sjeveru i na jugu, ali njegova veća važnost za ekonomiju Juga na kraju je izazvala ogromne preokrete.

Dvorana Neovisnosti u Philadelphia bila mjesto gdje su izrađeni Deklaracija o neovisnosti i Ustav

Početkom 18. stoljeća, Velika Britanija je kolonizirao atlantsku obalu iz Gruzija sjeverno u današnju Kanadu. Posljednja velika britanska migracija na teritorij koji će postati Sjedinjene Države dogodila se srednjim desetljećima tog stoljeća kada je naseljena regija Apalačija. 1763., britanska dominacija u Sjevernoj Americi uspostavljena je nakon globalnog sedmogodišnjeg rata. Djelomično za financiranje sjevernoameričkih ratnih kampanja, poznatih kao Francuski i Indijski rat, Britanija je nametnula nepopularne poreze i propise svojim kolonistima. Ova ubrzana revolucija 1775. i 4. srpnja 1776. kolonisti iz 13 kolonija proglasili su neovisnost. The Revolucionarni rat trajalo do 1783. godine, kada su nove Sjedinjene Američke Države stekle suverenitet nad svim britanskim zemljama između Atlantika i Južne Amerike Rijeka Mississippi. Oni i dalje odani Britancima uglavnom su bježali prema sjeveru do današnjeg dana Kanada, koja je ostala pod britanskom vlašću.

Prepirke oko formiranja nacionalne vlade trajale su do 1787. godine kada je dogovoren ustav. Njegove ideje iz razdoblja prosvjetiteljstva o individualnoj slobodi nadahnule su osnivačke uredbe mnogih država. George Washington, vrhovni general revolucionarne vojske, izabran je za prvog predsjednika. Na prijelazu u 19. stoljeće novoizgrađeni Washington DC. je uspostavljen kao nacionalni glavni grad.

Stvarane su nove države dok su se bijeli doseljenici selili na zapad, izvan Apalačkog gorja. Indijansko stanovništvo raseljeno je i dodatno pogođeno ratom i bolestima. 1803. godine Louisiana kupnja francuskih zemalja zapadno od Mississippija (ucrtao Ekspedicija Lewisa i Clarka) je efektivno udvostručio veličinu nacije i pružio "indijski teritorij" u današnjoj Oklahomi za mnoštvo indijanskih plemena s istoka koja su prisilno preseljena tijekom Trag suza 1830-ih.

Daljnja neslaganja s britanskom trgovinskom politikom koja su proizašla iz napoleonskih ratova i impresije Kraljevske mornarice dovela su do Rat 1812. Bilo je više od dvije godine dramatičnih akcija na kopnu i moru koje su uključivale invaziju na Kanadu i paljenje Bijele kuće i javnih zgrada u Washingtonu, DC Gotovo da nikakve promjene teritorija nisu proizašle iz rata, ali rat je potaknuo odvojene američke i kanadske identiteta. Državna himna, "Zvijezdani stijeg", začeta je tijekom ovog rata. Zapadna indijanska plemena koja su stala na stranu Britanaca jako su patila jer je njihov teritorij dobivao bijele naseljenike.

Nakon rata, industrija i infrastruktura uvelike su prošireni, posebno na sjeveroistoku; vidjeti Američka industrijska turneja. Ceste i kanali bili su na prvom mjestu i pomogli ljudima da se šire u unutrašnjost. 1825. godine Erie kanal povezao Atlantik s Velikim jezerima. Krajem 1860-ih željeznice i telegrafske linije povezivale su istočnu i zapadnu obalu industrijskim čvorištem Chicago u srednji zapad. Početkom 19. stoljeća, niz vjerskih preporoda, Drugo veliko buđenje, doveo je do različitih reformskih pokreta koji su težili ciljevima kao što su umjerenost, ukidanje ropstva i biračko pravo žena.

Bitka kod Alama 1836. (San Antonio, Teksas) bio je presudan trenutak Teksaške revolucije.

Američka ekspanzija na jug i zapad usjekla je španjolski i meksički teritorij. Španjolska prodala Florida 1813. godine nakon američke vojne intervencije i pobune američkih naseljenika iz Meksika u Teksasu 1836. godine osnovali su neovisnu republiku koja je deset godina kasnije apsorbirana u Uniju. Ovo je potaknulo Meksičko-američki rat u kojoj je Meksiko izgubio ovo što je sada Kalifornija, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, i Novi Meksiko, a susjedne Sjedinjene Države u osnovi su poprimile svoje moderne obrise. Indijanci su bili odbačeni u rezervate i dalje su bili čišćeni sporazumom, vojnom silom i bolestima naseljenika na Oregonska staza i drugim pravcima prema zapadu. (Vidi također "Stari zapad".)

Savezno je upravljanje bilo lagano, a države su bile vrlo autonomne. Do 1850-ih postojala je nepomirljiva razlika između industrijaliziranih i urbanijih sjevernih država, koje su sve zabranile ropstvo unutar tri desetljeća nakon revolucije, i ruralnog Juga koji je ovisio o plantažama. Mnogi sa sjevera htjeli su nametnuti nacionalnu zabranu širenja ropstva, dok su južne države ropstvo nastojale proširiti na nove teritorije. Abolicionisti su operirali Podzemna željeznica vodeći odbjegle robove u sjevernim državama do slobode u Kanada. 1861. godine, jedanaest južnih država, plašeći se marginalizacije i priznatog predsjednika protiv ropstva Abraham Lincoln, otrgla se od Unije i osnovala neovisnu Konfederacijsku Ameriku. Slijedi Američki građanski rat ostaje najkrvaviji sukob na američkom tlu i usmrtio je stotine tisuća ljudi. 1865. prevladale su snage Unije koje su čvrsto učvrstile vlast savezne vlade nad državama. Ropstvo je ukinuto u cijeloj zemlji, a države Konfederacije ponovno su primljene u Uniju tijekom razdoblja obnove. Bivši robovi i njihovi potomci trebali su ostati ekonomski i socijalni podrazred, posebno na Jugu.

Rusija je prodala svoj alaskanski teritorij koji je bio pod kontrolom 1867. godine, a neovisni Havaji pripojeni su 1898. godine. Odlučujuća pobjeda Sjedinjenih Država nad Španjolskom 1898. Španjolsko-američki rat stekao kolonijalne teritorije: Kuba (dodijeljena neovisnost nekoliko godina kasnije), Filipini (dodijeljena neovisnost ubrzo nakon Drugi Svjetski rat), Portoriko i Guam (koji ostaju američke ovisnosti). Granice Sjedinjenih Država imale su oblik kakav danas poznajemo 1959. godine, kada su teritoriji Aljaske i Havaja dobili državnost.

Krajem 19. i u 20. stoljeću Južni i Istočni Europljani, ruski Židovi i Irci poticali su trajnu industrijalizaciju istočnih gradova pružajući jeftinu radnu snagu. Mnogi su Južnoafroamerikanci pobjegli iz ruralnog siromaštva i rasizma tražeći industrijske poslove na sjeveru. Ostali imigranti, uključujući mnoge Skandinavce i Nijemce, preselili su se na novootvorene teritorije na zapadu i srednjem zapadu, gdje je zemljište dobivalo svatko tko bi ga razvio.

Ulazak Sjedinjenih Država u prvi svjetski rat 1917. označio je početak ere u kojoj će postati svjetska sila. Međutim, ubrzo nakon pobjede, SAD su izbjegli međunarodno sudjelovanje i odbili se pridružiti novonastaloj Ligi nacija, učinkovito osakativši organizaciju. Stvarno bogatstvo brzo je raslo, a u Roaring 20-ima špekulacije s dionicama stvorile su golem financijski "balon". Pukao je 1929., što je dovelo do globalne ekonomske pustoši od Velika depresija. Rezultirajuća privacija potaknula je kulturu žrtvovanja i napornog rada koji bi dobro služio zemlji u nadolazećem sukobu. Uvela je i predsjednika Franklina D. Roosevelta. Njegov je "New Deal" bio niz vladinih programa koji su izgradili tisuće zgrada i mostova širom zemlje, stvarajući pritom osnovu američke socijalne države.

USS Arizona Memorial u Pearl Harbor

1941. Japan je napao Pearl Harbor, havajska pomorska baza, koja je zaronila Sjedinjene Države u Drugi Svjetski rat na strani savezničkih sila - vidi Svjetskog rata u Europi i Pacifički rat. SAD su razvile atomske bombe i bacile ih dva puta na Japan 1945. godine, naglo okončavši rat. Do kraja rata Sjedinjene Države su se čvrsto utvrdile kao dominantna svjetska gospodarska sila odgovorna za gotovo polovicu globalne industrijske proizvodnje. Tijekom slijedećeg Hladni rat, Sjedinjene Države i Sovjetski Savez natezani za vlast, udvarajući se vlastitom međusobno osiguranom uništenju nuklearnim oružjem. Iako se rat između dviju velesila nikada nije dogodio, obje su strane bile neizravno uključene u tajne operacije i vojne napore kroz razne proxy države koje i dalje (često negativno) utječu na pogled ljudi na Sjedinjene Države i njihovu ulogu u globalnoj politici.

Stoljeće nakon građanskog rata, crnci, premda tobože ravnopravni građani prema izmjenama i dopunama američkog Ustava nakon građanskog rata, patili su od snažne socijalne, ekonomske i političke diskriminacije i segregacije pod sankcijama države, posebno na jugu. Pokret koji se bori za puna građanska prava crnaca Amerikanaca ojačao je nakon Drugog svjetskog rata, kada su se vraćeni crnci veterani koji su se borili protiv rasizma u inozemstvu vratili kući i utvrdili da su i dalje teško diskriminirani. The pokret za ljudska prava žestoko, ali uglavnom mirno, zalagao se za jednaka prava. S Martin Luther King, ml., karizmatični propovjednik, kao njegov najvidljiviji vođa, pokret je došao do vrhunca 1963. kada je 200 000–300 000 ljudi preplavilo glavni grad da ga slušaju. Značajni Zakon o građanskim pravima koji je donesen 1964. godine zabranio je diskriminaciju na temelju rase, boje kože, vjere, spola ili nacionalnog podrijetla, iako takva diskriminacija još uvijek postoji, uglavnom u manje očitim oblicima. Tek na izborima Baracka Obame 44 godine kasnije 2008. godine, zemlja će dobiti svog prvog afroameričkog predsjednika. Oživljeni ženski pokret 1960-ih također je doveo do širokih promjena u američkom društvu.

Poslijeratnu Ameriku karakteriziralo je bogatstvo i industrijalizacija. Ljudi su napustili poljoprivredu i preselili se u gradove kako bi postali dio ekonomije koja se sve više temelji na tehnologiji. Američka automobilska kultura pojavila se pedesetih godina prošlog stoljeća, a podržana je izgradnjom sveobuhvatnog međudržavnog autocesta. Ovi su trendovi također doveli do uspona predgrađa i pada javnog prijevoza i željezničkih putovanja, što je turneje učinilo Sjedinjene Države bez automobila posebno teška do danas. Oni su također rezultirali bijeli let u predgrađa mnogih američkih gradova, ostavljajući mnoge crnce iza zaostalih gradskih četvrti. Američka potrošačka kultura, holivudski filmovi i mnogi oblici popularne glazbe uspostavili su Sjedinjene Države kao kulturnu velesilu u svijetu. SAD je prerastao u jedno od glavnih svjetskih središta visokog obrazovanja, a sada je dom mnogih najprestižnijih svjetskih sveučilišta, privlačeći više međunarodnih studenata nego bilo koja druga zemlja.

Od raspada Sovjetskog Saveza, Sjedinjene Države su jedina svjetska velesila, i dok se njegov hegemonizam sve više osporava ponovnim porastom Kina i Rusija, i dalje igra dominantnu vojnu, ekonomsku, političku i kulturnu ulogu u svjetskim poslovima. Nada da se nakon pada američkog glavnog suparnika skupi, a ponekad i pogubni ratovi (poput Vijetnamskog rata) odnijeli u prošlost, nažalost nisu se pokazale istinitima. Uprave od završetka hladnog rata morale su se u jednom ili drugom obliku nositi s onim što nazivaju prijetnjom "skitničkih država", terorizmom i globalnim političkim krajolikom koji se brzo mijenja. Teroristički napadi 11. rujna 2001. još su uvijek otvorena rana i utječu na političku raspravu do danas, a pojačane mjere sigurnosti u zračnim lukama samo su jedan od načina na koji je terorizam (ili strah od njega) utjecao na putnike. Ekonomski, "Velika recesija", pokrenuta 2007. kolapsom balona na stambenom tržištu, završila je 2009. godine, ali prosječni Amerikanac i dalje osjeća negativne učinke dugi niz godina.

Vlada i politika

Sjedinjene Države su savezna republika. Njegovi su glavni sastojci 50 država i Distrikt Columbia (Washington D.C.); ona također ima razna otočna područja na Karibima i Pacifiku koja su snažno - ali često i ne u potpunosti - integrirana u uniju.

Savezna vlada svoju moć izvodi iz američkog ustava, koji je najstariji pisani ustav u kontinuiranoj uporabi. Unutar sveobuhvatnih saveznih zakona, svaka država zadržava svoj ustav, vladu i zakone, i tako zadržava znatnu autonomiju unutar federacije. Državni zakoni mogu se razlikovati u detaljima, ali su, uglavnom, prilično jednoliki od države do države.

The predsjednik bira se svake četiri godine i šef je savezne vlade i šef države. Predsjednik i njihova uprava čine izvršnu vlast. Dvodomni Kongres (koji se sastoji od donjeg Zastupničkog doma i gornjeg Senata) također je narodno izabran i čini zakonodavnu vlast. Vrhovni sud je na vrhu pravosudne vlasti. Državne vlade organizirane su slično, s guvernerima, zakonodavnim tijelima i sudstvima.

Dvije glavne političke stranke dominirale su na državnoj i saveznoj razini od završetka građanskog rata: Republikanska stranka (često se naziva GOP, skraćenica od "Velika stara stranka") i Demokratska stranka. Od šezdesetih republikanska stranka postala je općenito više desničarska ili "konzervativna" stranka, dok je Demokratska stranka obično ljevičnija ili "liberalnija" od dviju stranaka. Iako postoje manje političke stranke, izborni sustav svih pobjednika znači da rijetko uspijevaju na bilo kojoj razini. Iako u većem dijelu svijeta crvena i plava označavaju stranke lijeve i desne strane, u SAD-u su obrnute tako da su republikanci crveni, a demokrati plavi.

Kultura

Južna poznata ulica Bourbon, New Orleans, Louisiana

Sjedinjene Države čine mnoge raznolike etničke skupine, a kultura se uvelike razlikuje na ogromnom području zemlje, pa čak i unutar gradova - grad poput New Yorka imat će na desetke, ako ne i stotine, različitih etničkih skupina predstavljenih unutar susjedstva. Unatoč toj razlici, postoji snažan osjećaj nacionalnog identiteta i određenih prevladavajućih kulturnih obilježja. Općenito, Amerikanci imaju tendenciju snažno vjerovati u osobnu slobodu i odgovornost i da pojedinac sam određuje svoj uspjeh ili neuspjeh, ali postoje mnoge iznimke. Utvrdit ćete da se Mississippi na jugu u kulturnom pogledu razlikuje od sjevernog Massachusettsa.

Religija je vrlo važna u Sjedinjenim Državama jer se 80% ljudi identificira s vjerskom pripadnošću. Trenutne su procjene da 49% Amerikanaca pripada kršćanskoj protestantskoj crkvi, a još 23% je rimokatoličke vjere. 5% Amerikanaca pripada nekršćanskim religijama poput židovstva, islama, hinduizma i budizma. Mnoga poduzeća i institucije zatvorene su nedjeljom, a brojna područja na jugu i srednjem zapadu zabranjuju obavljanje određenih aktivnosti nedjeljom, dok se neka židovska poduzeća zatvaraju subotom u petak i navečer.

Iako su ustavnopravno sekularna država, Sjedinjene Države u praksi su religioznije od ostalih zapadnih zemalja poput Australija, Kanada i većina Europskim zemljama. Međutim, ovaj se trend uvelike razlikuje po regijama, s tim da su zapadna obala i sjeveroistok uglavnom sekularni i Američki Jug biti jako evanđeoski kršćanin. Razlike u religioznosti često su u korelaciji s politikom, pa su gradska područja sjeveroistoka, zapadne obale, Havaja i Chicaga općenito progresivna i demokratska; većina južnih i jako mormonskih država poput Utaha, Idaha i Wyominga vrlo su konzervativne i republikanske; i veći dio ostatka zemlje (npr. nekoliko država Srednjeg zapada, Jugozapada / Stjenovite planine i južnih obalnih država) gotovo je ravnomjerno podijeljen između demokrata i republikanaca. However, even this can be misleading, as many conservative states have college towns and major cities that are very liberal, while liberal states often have rural areas that are very conservative. A trend of the last few decades is one of increasing geographic political polarization. Most Americans now live in counties where their political inclination has a majority of 20% or greater and cities are - on the whole - becoming more and more liberal while rural areas are becoming more and more conservative with the middle ground disappearing.

Holidays

There are no nationwide, mandatory public holidays. Federal holidays are the most centrally coordinated holidays, but they are only mandatory for the federal government and banks. All federal government offices, post offices and banks close on federal holidays, but private businesses may choose whether or not to observe them.

Nearly all states and localities observe the federal holidays; most also observe an additional handful of their own. If a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the observance will be shifted to the nearest weekday (either Friday or Monday), with closures similar to Presidents Day in February. The festivities and major retail closings will occur on the annual date, even if it's the weekend.

The time between Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) and January 1 has such a high concentration of major holidays that it is commonly called "the holiday season." Many people take vacations during this period, with people visiting family and friends. Airports, interstate highways, bus stations, and train stations will be very crowded near the major holidays. If you must travel, allow extra time to check in and clear security. This is also a major gift-giving season: most shopping malls and department stores will be crowded, especially on the day after Thanksgiving, the week before Christmas, and the day after Christmas.

As in most other countries where alcohol is legal, be careful on the roads at and around major holidays, such as New Year's, Memorial Day, or Independence Day, as there are more drunk drivers on the roads then.

In the list below, federal holidays are listed in bold italics. In addition to federal holidays, the following list includes holidays that may inconvenience travelers, and nationwide celebrations of other events that may be of interest to travelers:

• New Year's Day (1 January) — most non-retail businesses closed; parades; brunches and football parties.
• Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January) — many government offices and banks closed; people volunteer in their communities; speeches, especially on African-American history and culture.
• Chinese ili Lunar New Year (January/February — varies based on the lunar calendar) — Chinese-, Korean- and Vietnamese-Americans hold cultural celebrations.
• Super Bowl Sunday (usually the first Sunday in February) — This annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) is the most-watched sporting event of the year; supermarkets, bars, and electronics stores busy; big football-watching parties.
• (St.) Valentine's Day (14 February) — private celebration of romance and love. Most restaurants are crowded; finer restaurants may require reservations made well in advance.
• Presidents Day ili Washington's Birthday (third Monday in February) — many government offices and banks closed; many stores have sales.
• St. Patrick's Day (17 March) — Irish-themed parades and parties. Expect bars to be crowded. They will often feature themed drink specials. The wearing of green clothes or accessories is common.
• Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) — Christian (especially Catholic) religious observances. Some restaurants and shops close. The governments of some states with large Catholic populations (e.g. New Jersey) observe the holiday and close government offices on this day.
• Easter (a Sunday in March or April) — Christian religious observances. Many fast-food restaurants are closed, but sit-down restaurants are more likely to be open. Major retailers generally open; smaller shops may or may not close.
• Passover (varies based on the Jewish calendar, eight days around Easter) — Jewish religious observances. Many American Jews invite non-Jews to their Seder on one of the first two nights. Expect very heavy traffic on Seder afternoons and evenings in areas with large Jewish populations such as the New York Metro Area and South Florida.
• Cinco de Mayo (5 May) — A minor holiday in Mexico that celebrates the 1862 Battle of Puebla against the French, but a major cultural celebration for Mexican-Americans. Expect bars to be crowded, even in places without large Mexican-American communities.
• Mother's Day (second Sunday in May) — Children and adults give gifts to their mothers. Most restaurants are crowded, especially for brunch and lunch; finer restaurants may require reservations made well in advance.
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May) — most non-retail businesses closed; some patriotic observances; trips to beaches and parks; traditional beginning of summer tourism season.
• Father's Day (third Sunday in June) — Children and adults give gifts to their fathers. Many restaurants and sporting events are crowded, although not to the same extent as Mother's Day.
• Juneteenth (19 June) — Commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.; not yet widely celebrated outside majority-Black areas, but observance is spreading as of 2020; civic ceremonies and speeches.

4th of July fireworks in Washington D.C.

• Independence Day/Fourth of July (4 July) — most non-retail businesses closed; patriotic parades and concerts, cookouts and trips to beaches and parks, fireworks at dusk, often continuing well into the night. Almost every town puts on some sort of festivity to celebrate the day.
• Labor Day (first Monday in September) — most non-retail businesses closed; cookouts and trips to beaches and parks; many stores have sales; traditional ending of summer tourism season.
• Rosh Hashanah i Yom Kippur (varies based on the Jewish calendar, September or early October) — Jewish religious observances.
• Columbus Day (second Monday in October) — many government offices and banks closed; some stores have sales. Italian-themed parades in some cities. Columbus Day can be controversial, especially among Native Americans and Latinos, and is not as widely observed as it was in the past. In some places, Columbus Day has been renamed as Indigenous People's Day, with celebrations of tribal cultures occurring.
• Halloween (31 October) — Children dress up in costume and go trick-or-treating (knocking on other houses' doors to get candy and other treats). There are spooky attractions, such as haunted corn mazes, hayrides and costume parties. Some small family-owned shops and restaurants may close early in the evening. Adults get in on the action too: boozy Halloween parties and bar-hopping in costume is common.
• Veterans Day (11 November) — government offices and banks closed; some patriotic observances.
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) — Family dinners with roast turkey as the centerpiece; many people fly or drive to visit extended family. New York City i Chicago host parades, Detroit and many other cities hold races. Many other smaller events fill the landscape, including a recreation of the original Thanksgiving dinner in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Airports are extremely crowded on the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Most businesses closed, including grocery stores and many restaurants.
• Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) — Major Christmas shopping traditionally begins, most stores have sales and many open in the very early morning (with a few now opening on Thanksgiving night). Most non-retail employees are given Friday off or take it as a vacation.
• Hanukkah/Chanukah (varies based on the Jewish calendar, eight days usually in December) — Jewish religious observances, often culturally associated with Christmas.
• Christmas (25 December) — Families and close friends exchange gifts; Christian religious observances. Almost all businesses, grocery stores, and many restaurants closed the evening before and all day. Some government offices close at noon on the 24th, with everything closed on the 25th. However, many Chinese and Jewish businesses remain open.
• Kwanzaa (26 December – 1 January) — African-American cultural observances.
• New Year's Eve (31 December) — many restaurants and bars open late; lots of parties, especially in big cities. Some government offices close at noon.

All U.S. embassies are closed on the federal holidays in addition to the holidays of the host country.

Units of measure

Vidi također: Metric and Imperial equivalents

The United States is the only industrialized country that eschews the metric system. Instead it uses "customary units" (feet, miles, gallons, pounds, etc.), which are largely derived from the English units of the 18th century, and are sometimes different from the imperial units that occasionally linger in Britain. Road distances are given in miles and speed limits in miles per hour (1 mile is 1.61 km, or 1 km is 0.62 miles). One of the more confusing things is that an "ounce" can be either a measure of weight or (as a "fluid ounce") a measure of volume. The U.S. fluid ounce is also slightly larger than its imperial counterpart, while U.S. gallons, quarts and pints are smaller than their counterparts. Gasoline and other liquids are usually sold per gallon, quart, or fluid ounce (a U.S. gallon is 3.78 liters, so a U.S. quart [a quarter gallon] is slightly less than a liter). Beverages such as soda are sometimes sold by the liter and other times sold by the fluid ounce, with just under 34 ounces to a liter. Temperatures are usually reported in Fahrenheit only; 32° is actually freezing, not warm! Most cars' speedometers show both miles and kilometers per hour (good for trips to Canada and Mexico), and almost all packaged foods and other products are labeled in both systems. Outside of science, medicine and the military, there is little day-to-day exposure to the metric system, so Americans will assume you understand the U.S. customary measures.

There is no formal regulation of clothes or shoe sizes, and the only thing you can count on is that sizes tend to be consistent within the same brand. For shoe sizes some trial and error will be needed for each model.

Vremenske zone

Time zones of the U.S. as of 2007; nowadays, some Indiana counties have moved to Eastern time

Taking into consideration even the small territories in the Pacific Ocean (some of which cannot be easily accessed) the U.S. spans eleven time zones. Just four time zones are used in the contiguous 48 states, with an additional two covering Alaska and Hawaii. Time zone borders do not always correspond to state borders.

• Eastern Time (UTC-5): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Michigan except extreme northwestern counties, Indiana except the southwest and northwest corners, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida except western part of panhandle.
• Central Time (UTC-6): Wisconsin, Illinois, the southwest and northwest corners of Indiana, western Kentucky, western and middle Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, north and east North Dakota, eastern South Dakota, middle and eastern Nebraska, most of Kansas, Oklahoma, most of Teksas, part of western Florida(panhandle).
• Mountain Time (UTC-7): southwest North Dakota, western South Dakota, western Nebraska, a sliver of Kansas, Montana, a sliver of Oregon, southern Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, a corner of Teksas, West Wendover, Nevada
• Pacific Time (UTC-8): Washington, northern Idaho, most of Oregon, Kalifornija, Nevada except West Wendover
• Alaska Time (UTC-9): Alaska, except the Aleutian Islands
• Hawaii-Aleutian Time (UTC-10): Hawaii, the Aleutian Islands

Most parts of the U.S. observe Daylight Saving Time; Hawaii and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) do not.

Razgovor

Almost all Americans speak Engleski. Most Americans speak in accents that are recognizably similar to one another and to one traditionally associated with the Midwest, which was popularized in the 20th century by American radio, TV and movies. Although many Americans can discern differences between quite a few accents, the ones most likely to be heard as distinctive by foreign visitors include those commonly spoken in the South and Texas, the Boston area, the New York City area, the upper Midwest and Hawaii.

American English differs somewhat from the English spoken in other parts of the English speaking world. These differences are mostly minor, and primarily around minor spelling and pronunciation differences. One important difference, though, is that dates are always written MM/DD/YYYY or MM/DD. See the article on English language varieties for a detailed discussion.

Many African-Americans and some other Americans also speak African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), which has somewhat different grammar and vocabulary from styles of American English usually regarded as standard. Nearly all African-Americans can switch back and forth between AAVE and standard American English effortlessly. Generally, if you are not African-American, you should not try to speak AAVE, even if it's spoken to you; it would be considered odd and possibly offensive. Spanglish — an admixture of Spanish and English — is similarly commonplace in many areas with large Hispanic populations, and code-switching between Spanglish and standard American English is similarly commonplace.

Visitors are generally expected to speak and understand English. While many Americans study a foreign language in school (overwhelmingly Spanish followed by French), few progress past the basics. Popular tourist sites often have signs and information available in other languages. Americans have a long history of immigration and are very accommodating towards foreign accents, and will sometimes take the effort to help you by speaking in a more standard accent. Major cities often have groups of foreign language learners who meet up regularly to practice their language skills, and these can be a good way to meet locals if you speak the language in question. Meetup.com is the most popular web-site listing many of these groups, though other less well-known web-sites also exist.

Spanish is the first language of Puerto Rico and a large minority of residents on the mainland (with the fifth-largest Spanish speaking population in the world). Spanish speakers in the United States are often Puerto Ricans or first- and second-generation immigrants from Latin America. As a result, the Spanish spoken is almost invariably a Latin American dialect. Spanish is the primary second language in many parts of the United States such as California, the Southwest, Texas, Florida, and the metropolitan areas of Chicago and New York City. Many of these areas have Spanish-language radio and television stations, with local, national and Mexican programs. Most publications from the federal government, and those of some state and municipal governments are available in Spanish. Many establishments and government offices in major commercial and tourist areas have Spanish-speaking staff on duty, and it is possible with some difficulty to get by in the major cities and main tourist attractions speaking only Spanish.

You may encounter other languages in some regions, like Hawaiian, French, American Indian languages (Navajo being the most commonly spoken one), Yiddish, and Pennsylvania Dutch. These are covered in regional articles.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the dominant sign language in the United States. When events are interpreted, they will be interpreted in ASL. Users of French Sign Language and other related languages may find ASL intelligible, as they share much vocabulary, but users of Japanese Sign Language, British Sign Language, or Auslan will not. Closed-captioning on television is widespread, but far from ubiquitous. Many theaters offer FM loops or other assistive listening devices, but captioning and interpreters are rarer.

For the blind, many signs and displays include Braille transcriptions of the printed English. Larger restaurant chains, museums, and parks may offer Braille menus and guidebooks, but you'll likely have to ask for them.

Uđi

COVID-19 information: Entry will be denied to foreign nationals who have been to China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil or South Africa in the past 14 days, except immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The Canadian and Mexican borders are closed to non-essential travel. All air passengers permitted to travel to the U.S., including U.S. citizens, must take a COVID-19 test within three days of their departure with a confirmed negative result, or show documented proof that they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines have been directed to refuse boarding to those who do not meet these requirements. All travelers, upon arrival in the United States, should stay home for 10 days per the guidelines established by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This time is shortened to 7 days for those who choose to take a COVID test 3-5 days after arrival. Travelers that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least 14 days since the final dose): Must still present a negative COVID-19 test result before departing for the United States Do not need to quarantine upon arrival in the United States, and Should take a COVID test 3-5 days after arrival Note that state and local mandates may supersede all of these recommendations, even if fully vaccinated, so it is important to check on any requirements prior to travel.

(Information last updated 07 Apr 2021)

The United States has exceptionally onerous and complicated visa requirements. Read up carefully before your visit, especially if you need to apply for a visa, and consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Travellers have been refused entry for many reasons, often trivial. Since 2019, visitors to the US have also been required to fully document mobile phone numbers, e-mail addresses and on-line identities they've used in the past five years, during the application process.

Planning and pre-arrival documentation

Visa-free entry

Welcome!

Citizens of the 38 countries within the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as well as Canadians and Bermudians do not require visas for entry into the United States. Canadians i Bermudians are normally allowed to visit for up to six months. Permanent residents of Canada are ne eligible for visa-free entry, unless they are also citizens of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program, or one of the separate provisions for a few other countries.

The Visa Waiver Program permits visa-free stays of up to 90 days; it applies to citizens of Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (must include ID card number), and the United Kingdom (must have right of abode in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man).

Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau may enter, reside, study, and work in the U.S. indefinitely with only a valid passport.

Citizens of the Bahamas may apply for visa-free entry only at the U.S. Customs pre-clearance facilities in the Bahamas, but a valid police certificate that was issued within the last six months is required for those over the age of 14. Attempting to enter through any other port of entry requires a valid visa.

Citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands may enter the U.S. without a visa only if they are travelling on a direct flight from there, but a valid police certificate issued within the last six months is required for those over the age of 14. Attempting to enter from any other country requires a valid visa.

Cayman Islands citizens, if they intend to travel directly to the U.S. from there, may obtain a single-entry visa waiver for about $25 prior to departure. A valid police certificate that was issued within the last three months is required for those over the age of 13. Attempting to enter from any other country will require you to have a valid visa.

With only a few exceptions — traffic violations, civil infractions (npr. littering, noise violations, disorderly conduct), purely political offenses (npr. non-violent protest in countries where it is not allowed), and offenses committed before the age of 16 — a criminal record will likely revoke any right to visa-free travel to the U.S. Anyone with a criminal record, including Canadians and Bermudians, should seek advice from a U.S. embassy on whether they need to obtain a visa.

Visa Waiver Program requirements

Visa restrictions: Under new rules passed in 2015, travellers who have visited Iran, Irak, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria ili Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, are not eligible to enter under the VWP. They remain eligible to apply for a regular tourism or business visa – at the expense of more cost and hassle than with the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).Similarly, dual citizens who hold the citizenship of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria in addition to a nationality otherwise eligible for a visa waiver cannot enter under the VWP.

The program is open only to travellers who are in the United States for tourism or business purposes. You cannot be coming to the U.S. for formal education, to get a job, or to conduct journalism; if you are, you must get an appropriate visa in advance no matter how short your trip to the U.S. may be.

The 90-day limit is not extendable. A short trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean will not allow a fresh 90 days upon return to the U.S. An extended absence to the neighboring countries may reset the limit, particularly if your first trip to the U.S. was short. Take care if transiting through the U.S. on a trip around North America that exceeds 90 days.

Having a criminal record, having been refused entry, or having been denied a U.S. visa will make you ineligible to enter on the VWP; you will have to apply for a U.S. visa instead.

Entry under the VWP by air or sea requires the completion of an online form and a payment of $14, preferably 72 hours before arrival. The form is called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA approval covers multiple trips and is valid for two years (unless your passport expires earlier). This requirement is waived if entering by land.

All passports must be biometric. If your passport is an older one that was issued before biometric passports were available, you will need to obtain a new passport to travel to the U.S. on the VWP.

Entry under the VWP by air or sea requires travel with a signatory carrier. Any commercial scheduled services to the U.S. will be fine, but if you are on a chartered flight or vessel you should check the status of the carrier, as you may require a visa. Flying your own personal aircraft, or sailing your own personal yacht to the U.S. will require you to obtain a tourist visa in advance.

Travellers entering by air or sea should also have a return or onward ticket out of the United States. This requirement is not necessary for residents of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean.

Entry under the VWP does not allow you to change your immigration status, and if you are denied entry, the decision can't be appealed and you will immediately be placed on the first flight out.

Obtaining a visa

For the rest of the world, the visa application fee is a non-refundable $160 (as of October 2018) for visas that are not issued on the basis of a petition and $190 for those that are; this fee is waived under very limited circumstances, namely for people requesting certain exchange visitor visas.

Depending on your nationality and the category of visa you are requesting, you may need to pay an additional fee (ranging from $7–200) only if the visa is issued. To se naziva a reciprocity fee and is charged by the U.S. to match the fees charged by other countries on U.S. citizens.

Additionally, Chinese (PRC) citizens (that is, anyone travelling to the US on a PRC passport) must enroll u Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) for travel into the United States on any 10-year B-type visa. The enrollment is valid for two years (or until passport/visa expiry, whichever comes first) before it needs to be updated again.

The Immigration and Nationality Act states that all persons requesting entry into the U.S. as non-immigrants are presumed to be immigrants until they overcome that presumption by showing evidence of "binding ties" to their home country, and sufficient proof that the visit will be temporary. Applicants also need to demonstrate that they are genuinely entitled to the visa they are applying for. Face-to-face interviews at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate are required for almost all nationalities, and waits for interview slots and visa processing can add up to several months.

Embassies are closed on U.S. holidays i on holidays of the host country, so you need to know both holidays when setting dates to apply for a visa. You should start planning your trip far in advance, as the application process is known to take up to six months.

Do not assume anything. Check on documentation requirements with the U.S. State Department or with the nearest U.S. consulate.

Your visa is generally not tied to your permitted length of stay; for example, a 10-year visa does not allow a stay of 10 years. On the other hand, you can enter the country on the last day of validity of your visa and still be allowed to stay, for example, up to 180 days as a tourist.

Statue of Liberty, New York City

Travel to U.S. possessions

America's overseas possessions have slightly different rules. See each destination's article for details.

In brief, Guam, Portoriko, the Američki Djevičanski otoci i Northern Mariana Islands all have the same entry requirements as the 50 states. However, Guam and the Northern Marianas apply the visa waiver program to a few additional countries, while the U.S. Virgin Islands also allows visa-free entry to citizens of the British Virgin Islands.

American Samoa lies outside the federal immigration jurisdiction and has separate entry requirements.

Arriving in the United States

Immigration

Vidi također: Global Entry, NEXUS

On arrival, you will be questioned briefly at immigration to determine if your purpose of entry matches your visa class. If you are unable to convince immigration officers that you intend to abide by the terms of your visa, you will be refused entry and deported.

Once they decide to let you in, you are fingerprinted and a digital photograph is taken. Entry will be denied if either of these procedures is refused.

At selected airports, Canadian and VWP nationals may be able to use automated passport control (APC) kiosks to record their passport and biometric details. Household members traveling together can do this at once. VWP nationals need to have ESTA clearance, and have entered the U.S. at least once since 2008. If successful, the traveller gets a receipt and goes to the designated CBP desk to continue the inspection process. Canadians and other selected nationals may be eligible to participate in various trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry i NEXUS, which allow pre-approved passengers to use a designated kiosk for the inspection process. Unlike APC, these programs require prior application, background checks, an interview, and an application fee, but allows the passenger to bypass intense questioning and skip the lines at immigration for up to 5 years.

Because marijuana is illegal under federal law, if you have consumed marijuana or invested in the marijuana industry, you can be banned from entering the United States. This is true even if marijuana is legal in your country and even if it's also legal in the state you're trying to enter. Border officials don't usually ask about marijuana, but if they see a reason to ask, they might. Even a single copy of "High Times" magazine or anything similar is enough to draw suspicion. If you admit to having used marijuana (or any other drug illegal under U.S. federal law) or invested in the industry, or if you are caught lying about it, you can be turned back and banned for life from entering the country. To appeal the ban, you have to apply for a $585 waiver.

Customs

Each household (i.e. family members living and traveling together) needs to complete one customs declaration form. Travellers eligible for APC, as well as Global Entry and NEXUS members, can do this electronically using the respective kiosks and need not fill up the paper form. Those eligible for Mobile Passport Control (U.S. citizens and some Canadian citizens) also do not need to fill out the form, provided they have completed the app's questions and have a QR code ready to go. Detailed and up-to-date information on prohibited and restricted items can be found at the relevant government website.

Do not attempt to import items originating from countries against which the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions (Cuba, Iran, Syria i Sudan); they will be confiscated by customs if discovered. An exception to this rule is cigars and alcoholic beverages (mainly rum) originating from Cuba. With the ongoing thaw in U.S.–Cuban relations, the U.S. has lifted sanctions against importation of these items for personal use (limits are the same as for tobacco and alcohol originating elsewhere).

The United States has very strict biosecurity laws, and imposes restrictions on the types of food that may be brought into the country. In general, fresh food may not be brought into the country, though some types of processed, commercially packaged food may be allowed, depending on the country of origin. Check with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for more details. All food and plant items being brought into the country must declared and inspected by customs, even if permitted. Failure to declare agricultural products can result in a fine, or in serious cases even prosecution.

Besides your personal effects, which will go home with you, you are allowed to import individual gifts with a value of $100 or less per item. If you're 21 years of age or older, you may also import limited quantities of tobacco i alcohol products duty-free:

• Up to 200 cigarettes (one carton), or up to 50 cigars, or up to 2 kg of loose tobacco products such as snuff, or a proportional combination thereof.
• Up to 1 liter of alcohol. Unlike some countries, the one-liter restriction applies irrespective of strength: a fifth of Scotch at 40% ABV or a standard 750 mL bottle of wine at 14% ABV are both within the allowance, but a six-pack of 12-ounce beers at 5% ABV is almost 2 liters and is over the duty-free allowance.

If you are over the alcohol exemption by a small amount (e.g. a six pack of beer or a second bottle of wine) most customs officers will let this slide for wine and beer if you've made a full and accurate declaration. Anything more than this, or any hard spirits over the limit will likely result in duty and tax being assessed, the amount of which depends in part on the state you're entering to and the country the goods are from. (Duty from Canada, for example, is minimal owing in part to NAFTA.) Customs officers do not show this leniency with tobacco products; expect to pay if you are even one cigarette over!

A reasonable quantity of perfume ili cologne can also be imported provided the brand is not under a "Trademark Restriction in the United States". There is no restriction on the amount of money you can bring into or out of the U.S. However, if you are travelling with $10,000 or more (or its equivalent in foreign currency) per household, you must declare it on your customs form and you will be given a special form to fill out; not declaring exposes you to a fine and possible seizure of that cash. Checks, bonds and other financial instruments must also be declared. ATM/Debit cards linked to non-U.S. bank accounts carrying the said amount do not need to be declared (although your bank may impose some withdrawal restrictions and fees to access this money in the U.S.).

The U.S. possessions of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands are outside the federal customs jurisdiction and each have their own separate requirements. Travel between these regions and the rest of the U.S. requires a customs check. There are some differences (mostly larger) in duty exemptions for U.S. citizens returning from these destinations.

Leaving the United States

Thinking of Overstaying?: Overstaying the period granted at passport control or violating your terms of entry (e.g. work on a B1/B2 status) will automatically invalidate your visa. It will also make it extremely difficult to re-enter the United States and may also bar you from re-entry for at least three years, if not permanently. If you overstayed on the Visa Waiver Program, you will need a visa for all future visits. If you overstay for compelling reasons such as medical emergencies and flight delays or cancellations, you will need to keep immigration officials informed of your situation in order to avoid any of the above sanctions.

Unlike most countries, the U.S. has no formal passport control upon exit, especially for those travelling by air or sea. As such, your airline or shipping company will document your departure and report it to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The CBP then updates your immigration record. Aliens who arrived in the U.S. by air or sea after mid-2013, and depart by air or sea do not need to do anything further.

If you fall into one of the following categories, you may need to take further action to actively prove that you left the U.S. on time:

1. last arrived in the U.S. before mid-2013 through any means (when the paper I-94 card was still physically issued to foreigners): turn over the I-94 card to the airline staff at check-in, or to the Canadian or Mexican immigration officer if departing by land
2. arrived in the U.S. via land or private vehicles (paper I-94 cards are still issued here): turnover the I-94 card to the airline staff at check-in, or to the Canadian or Mexican immigration officer if departing by land
3. left the U.S. via land or private vehicles: save any evidence that you were outside the U.S. before your authorised stay expired

In any case, on future visits, consider bringing the necessary documents to prove you left legally. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has information about what to do if your slip is not collected.

If you take a side trip to Canada or Mexico by land and return within 30 days or the allowed time of your stay (whichever is shorter), you may re-enter the U.S. provided that you do not yet return any issued I-94 card before you proceed to Canada or Mexico. This can also be done even if you entered the U.S. on a single-entry visa, or the visa you entered the U.S. with has expired. However, you will only be admitted for the remainder of your original allowed time; the deadline to leave the U.S. won't be extended by just leaving for somewhere else in North America. If you return the I-94 while on the side trip, you will have to apply all over again to enter the U.S. (which means a new visa for single-entry visa holders) and be subject to the usual questioning.

Try to avoid re-entering the U.S. a few days, weeks or months after one visit. Even if you don't overstay, planning several U.S. visits spaced shortly after each other may be interpreted by immigration officers as "immigrant intent" and cause you grief.

Avionom

Enhanced Security Measures: Passengers on flights to the United States are subject to rigorous checks and security measures prior to boarding. This may include a comprehensive bag search, and rigorous questioning by security personnel for all passengers prior to being allowed to board the aircraft. Arrive at the check-in counter at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure time, and at the boarding gate early so you have enough time to complete all security procedures.

Seattle skyline

Most visitors from outside Canada and Mexico arrive in the United States by plane. While many medium sized inland cities have an international airport, there are limited flights to most of these and most travelers find themselves entering the U.S. at one of the major entry points along the coasts. The international airports in Atlanta (ATL ^IATA), New York City (EWR ^IATA & JFK ^IATA; for all airports, NYC ^IATA), Los Angeles (LAX ^IATA), Chicago (ORD ^IATA; for all airports, CHI ^IATA), San Francisco (SFO ^IATA), Seattle (MORE ^IATA), Miami (MIA ^IATA) i Houston (IAH ^IATA) are the main points of entry to the United States by plane.

Diamond Head & Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii

In general, major cities on the east coast have the best connections to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East, while major cities on the west coast have the best connections to East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Most sizeable cities would be served by at least one flight to a major Canadian city, while New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Houston generally provide the best connections to Latin America. Direct air travel from Cuba was restored to Miami after a 55-year embargo was relaxed in 2014, but some restrictions continue to apply; see the Americans in Cuba članak.

The "big three" carriers, United Airlines, American Airlines i Delta Air Lines, are among the largest airlines in the world, and operate flights from various cities around the globe into their respective hubs. Other smaller U.S.-based airlines also fly internationally, though options are usually limited to destinations within the Americas. Većina europskih i istočnoazijskih zrakoplovnih kompanija također leti iz svojih zemalja u nekoliko glavnih čvorišta, s British Airways posebno imajući jednu od najopsežnijih mreža u američkim gradovima iz njihovog središta u LondonHeathrow.

SAD zahtijeva pune formalnosti ulaska čak i za međunarodni tranzit. Ako vam je obično potrebna viza za posjet SAD-u, a ne možete izbjegavajte tranzit, trebat će vam barem tranzitna viza C-1. Ako prelazite na domaći let, morate proći carinu i imigraciju na svojoj prvoj američkoj stanici; pobrinite se da ostavite dovoljno vremena za bilo kakve transfere.

Većina zračnih luka ima blizu izlaza zid s "uslužnim telefonima" s opisom i cijenama motela u tom području. Ove motele možete nazvati besplatno i zatražiti sobu, a po vas će doći aerodromski prijevoz. Prijevoznici su obično besplatni, ali trebali biste dati napojnicu vozaču.

Osiguranje zračne luke

TSA odobrena brava sa simbolom

Sigurnost u američkim zračnim lukama je teška, posebno u vrijeme užurbanih praznika. Ostavite dovoljno vremena (najmanje 15 minuta, ponekad i više od 1 sata) i spakirajte što je moguće lakše. Sigurnošću se bavi Uprava za sigurnost prijevoza (TSA). Odrasli moraju pokazati odobreni ID fotografije (dovoljna je putovnica).

Pri spajanju s međunarodnog leta, svi putnici moraju proći sigurnosni pregled kako bi nastavili s daljnjim letom nakon čišćenja imigracijskih i carinskih inspekcija. To znači sve tekućine i zabranjeni predmeti (prema TSA pravilima) koji su kupljeni u Duty Free trgovini ili im je dozvoljeno provođenje iz inozemne zračne luke moraju se ponovno spakirati u prijavljenu prtljagu nakon izlaska iz carinskog područja i prije ponovne provjere prtljage. U većini zračnih luka postoji recepcija izvan ili pokretna traka izvan carine za putnike u tranzitu radi ponovne provjere prtljage. Predmeti se ne mogu pakirati ili preuređivati ​​prije carinskih pregleda u području za povrat prtljage.

Postoje ograničenja na tekućine (uključujući gelove, aerosole, kreme i paste) u ručnoj prtljazi. Obavezno držite tekućinu u posudama koje nisu veće od 100 ml. Svi spremnici moraju se smjestiti u jednu plastičnu vrećicu s patentnim zatvaračem koja je velika 1 kvart (946 ml) ili manje. Po putniku je dopuštena samo jedna takva vreća, s koliko god tekućine. Lijekovi (uključujući fiziološku otopinu za kontaktne leće) i prehrana za dojenčad i djecu izuzeti su, ali podliježu dodatnim ispitivanjima; obavijestite TSA agente ako nosite ove predmete, pohranite ih odvojeno od ostalih tekućina i unaprijed ih jasno označite.

Ako želite zaključati svoju prijavljenu prtljagu, TSA zahtijeva upotrebu posebnih brava s sustavom zaključavanja Travel Sentry TSA. Ove brave službenici TSA mogu otvoriti pomoću glavnog ključa ako žele pregledati vašu torbu. Ako vaša brava nije jedna od TSA odobrenih brava, TSA će je otvoriti i nećete imati pravo na naknadu štete.

Prethodno odobrenje

Iz Kanade

Putnici čija putovanja započinju u glavnim kanadskim zračnim lukama i uključuju američke ili kanadske prijevoznike obično biti u mogućnosti razriješiti američke formalnosti ulaska (kontrolu putovnica i carine) u njihovoj kanadskoj luci izlaska. Ti se letovi tretiraju isto kao i američki domaći letovi, a većina kanadskih prijevoznika smještena je u američkim domaćim terminalima ili dvoranama u većini zračnih luka. Neke zračne luke (poput zračne luke LaGuardia u New Yorku) koje nemaju carinu i imigracijske ustanove dobivaju unaprijed odobrene letove iz Kanade.

Putnici na američko-kanadskim letovima koje obavljaju strani prijevoznici poput Philippine Airlinesa i Cathay Pacifika te oni iz manjih kanadskih zračnih luka koji nemaju uređaje za prethodnu provjeru, i dalje će naići na formalnosti ulaska po dolasku na svoje prvo američko stajalište; kanadska tranzitna viza može biti potrebna čak i ako su putnici cijelo vrijeme tranzita zatvoreni u području zadržavanja.

Neke zračne luke u Kanadi, uključujući Vancouver Međunarodna zračna luka, terminal 1 od Toronto- Zračna luka Pearson i Montréal-Zračna luka Trudeau obično ne zahtijeva da putnici u tranzitu iz inozemstva prolaze kanadsku carinsku i imigracijsku kontrolu prije nego što prođu američke formalnosti za prethodno odobrenje. Međutim, čak i ako prolazite kroz ove zračne luke, pobrinite se da su vam papiri omogućeni da uđete u Kanadu: ako ne možete putovati u SAD istog dana kada prođete pročišćenje, ako nemate dozvolu za ulazak u Ujedinjene države, ili ako vas i / ili vašu prtljagu ne provjeri barem vaše prvo odredište u Sjedinjenim Državama, morate se prijaviti kanadskoj carini; možda će biti potrebna kanadska tranzitna ili privremena boravišna viza. Ovaj se aranžman ne odnosi na obrnuti smjer, što znači da prilikom leta morate proći kanadsku carinu i imigraciju.

Iz drugih zemalja

Objekti za prethodno čišćenje dostupni su u međunarodnoj zračnoj luci Queen Beatrix u Aruba, Grand Bahama i međunarodne zračne luke Lynden Pindling u Bahami, Bermuda Internacionalna zračna luka, Dublin i Shannon Međunarodne zračne luke u Irska, i Abu Dhabi Međunarodna zračna luka u Ujedinjeni Arapski Emirati.

Putnici na letovima British Airwaysa iz London do New Yorka u tranzitu preko Dublina ili Shannona u Irskoj, mogu iskoristiti američku kontrolu putovnica i carinsku carinu u Dublinu ili Shannonu.

Automobilom

	COVID-19 informacija: Granice SAD-a s Kanadom i Meksikom zatvorene su zbog nebitnih putovanja.
	(Podaci posljednji put ažurirani 11. prosinca 2020.)

Ograničenja viza: Sve osobe koje žele ući u Sjedinjene Države kopnenim putem mora posjedovati važeću putovnicu; NEXUS, BRZO, Globalni ulazak, SENTRI ili putovnica; Laserska viza; ili "poboljšana vozačka dozvola" (koju su izdale određene države SAD-a i kanadske provincije)

Granice SAD-a i Kanade te SAD-a i Meksika dvije su najčešće prelazeće granice s milijunima prijelaza dnevno. Prosječno vrijeme čekanja je do 30 minuta, ali neki od najprometnijih prijelaza nailaze na znatna kašnjenja - približavajući se 1-2 sata u vrhuncu (vikendima, praznicima). Aktualno vrijeme čekanja (ažurirano svakog sata) dostupno je na Web mjesto američke carinske službe. Granica između SAD-a i Meksika unosna je za trgovinu drogom, tako da pas koji šmrče drogom može rendgentirati ili pretražiti vozila. Ako postoji sumnja, vaše vozilo može biti pretraženo. Budući da je ovo prečest događaj, ne očekujte strpljenje graničnih agenata.

Stranci koji ulaze kopnom dužni su platiti 6 dolara pristojbe za prelazak granice. Naknada se ne plaća ako ste putovali u Kanadu ili Meksiko i jednostavno ponovno ulazite u SAD

Autobusom

Greyhound nudi jeftinu prekograničnu uslugu iz Kanade i Meksika. Neke rute, poput Toronta do Buffala, imaju satnu uslugu. Megabus SAD također svakodnevno putuje iz Toronta (također središta za Megabus Kanadu) do New Yorka putem Buffalo za samo 1 USD.

Jedna od ruta gradskog autobusnog sustava grada Windsor, Ontario (autobus tunela) vodi putnike do Detroit - pješaci ili bicikli nisu dozvoljeni na mostu, u tunelu ili na trajektu.

Putnici autobusa često se podvrgavaju većem nadzoru američkih carinika nego putnici automobila ili vlakova.

Otok Ellis, glavni povijesni kraj za imigrante koji dolaze iz Europe, Afrike, Bliskog Istoka i dijelova Južne Amerike.

Brodom

Ulazak morem danas nije baš uobičajen. Najčešća ulazna mjesta za privatne brodove su Los Angeles, ili Florida i druge istočne obalne države. Postoje neki putnički trajekti iz Kanade, uglavnom između Britanska Kolumbija i Država Washington ili Aljaske.

Cunard nudi transatlantsko brodsko putovanje između Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva i New Yorka.

Trajekti između Britanska Kolumbija i Washington države tretiraju se kao kopneni granični prijelazi, a ne kao ulazne točke mora. To znači da, iako ESTA nije potreban za posjetitelje VWP-a, posjetitelji koji ulaze u SAD na ovaj način morat će platiti ulaznicu od 6 dolara naplaćenu na kopnenim graničnim prijelazima.

Vlakom

Amtrak nudi međunarodnu uslugu iz kanadskih gradova Vancouvera (Amtrak kaskade u Seattle), Toronto (Javorov list do New Yorka putem Slapovi Niagare) i Montreal (Adirondack do New Yorka preko Albanyja).

U međunarodnim vlakovima iz Montreala i Toronta, imigracijske formalnosti provode se na granici; ovo traje znatno više vremena nego što bi bilo u autobusu, što znači da je autobus često jeftiniji i brži od vlaka.

Putnici iz Vancouvera raščišćavaju američku imigraciju i carine na pacifičkom centralnom kolodvoru prije nego što uđu u sam vlak, baš kao što to čine i za zračna putovanja. Svakako ostavite dovoljno vremena za inspekcije.

Iz Meksika su najbliže stanice Amtrak san Diego, Yuma, Del Rio i El Paso. Vlakovi Amtraka ne prelaze granicu s Meksikom pa putnici do granice nastavljaju lokalnim javnim prijevozom ili taksijem od stanice Amtrak. Nema putničkih vlakova do granice s bilo kojeg mjesta u Meksiku.

Pješice

Mnogo je graničnih prijelaza u urbanim sredinama kroz koje mogu prijeći pješaci. Prijelazi poput onih u blizini ili u blizini Slapovi Niagare, Detroit, Tihuana, Nogales, i El Paso popularni su za osobe koje žele provesti dan na drugoj strani granice. U nekim slučajevima ovo bi moglo biti idealno za izletnike, jer prelazak automobilom može biti puno duže čekanje.

Zaobiđi se

COVID-19 informacija: CDC, iako obeshrabruje nebitna putovanja, najavio je da domaći putnici u potpunosti cijepljeni protiv COVID-19 (najmanje 14 dana od konačne doze) ne trebaju slijediti preporuke za test ili karantenu za putovanja. Putnici prema CDC-ovom mandatu moraju nositi maske na svim javnim prijevozima u Sjedinjenim Državama, osim kada aktivno jedu ili piju. Maske nisu potrebne za djecu mlađu od 2 godine ili za putnika koji je ne može nositi zbog invaliditeta.

(Podaci posljednji put ažurirani 7. travnja 2021.)

Most Golden Gate u San Franciscu u Kaliforniji

Veličina SAD-a i udaljenost koja razdvaja glavne gradove čine zrak dominantnim načinom putovanja na daljinu za kratkoročne putnike. Ako imate vremena ili putujete na kratku udaljenost, putujte automobilom, autobusom ili šina može biti zanimljivo.

Neke države nude informacije o prometu i javnom prijevozu biranjem broja 511 na telefonu.

Ograničenja karantene su na mjestu kada putuju između kontinentalnog dijela SAD-a i Havaji.

Avionom

Vidi također: Letenje u Sjedinjenim Državama

Najbrža i često najprikladnija metoda međugradskog putovanja na velike udaljenosti u SAD-u je zrakoplovom. Putovanje obalom do obale traje oko 6 sati s istoka na zapad i 5 sati sa zapada na istok (varira zbog vjetrova), u usporedbi s danima potrebnim za kopneni prijevoz. Većinu velikih gradova u SAD-u opslužuju jedna ili dvije zračne luke; mnoga manja mjesta imaju i zračni prijevoz putnika, iako ćete možda trebati zaobići glavnu zračnu luku do tamo. Ovisno o tome s kojeg mjesta krećete, možda je jeftinije putovati autobusom, vlakom ili automobilom do obližnjeg velikog grada i letjeti ili, obratno, letjeti do velikog grada u blizini vašeg odredišta i putovati kopnom do vašeg odredišta.

Najveće zrakoplovne tvrtke su American Airlines, Delta, i Ujedinjen i dva niskotarifna prijevoznika u zemlji, Jugozapadno i JetBlue. Alaska Airlines i Hawaiian Airlines su veliki regionalni prijevoznici, dok su manji zračni prijevoznici Duh, Granica, Alegantna i Sun Country pokušavaju provaliti. Postoje i manje regionalne zrakoplovne tvrtke koje su podružnice glavnih prijevoznika i mogu se rezervirati preko roditelja.

Glavni prijevoznici natječu se za posao na glavnim rutama, a putnici koji su spremni rezervirati dva ili više tjedana unaprijed mogu se dogovoriti. Međutim, većinu manjih odredišta opslužuje samo jedan ili dva regionalna prijevoznika, a cijene tamo mogu biti skupe. Gotovo da više nema razlike u naknadama i uslugama između "low-cost" i "mainline" prijevoznika. Niskotarifni prijevoznici povremeno nude više pogodnosti od glavnih prijevoznika, poput zabave na letu čak i za kratke letove ili besplatne prijavljene prtljage. Primjerice, Southwest Airlines omogućuje putnicima prijavu do dva komada torbi po osnovnoj cijeni.

Sigurnost

Vidjeti § Sigurnost pod, ispod § Uđite - Avionom

Privatnim avionom

Vidi također: Opće zrakoplovstvo

Cijena najma najmanjeg privatnog aviona započinje s oko 4000 USD po satu leta, s tim da je trošak znatno veći za veće zrakoplove većeg dometa, a jeftiniji za manje propelerske avione. Iako privatno letenje nikako nije jeftino, četveročlana ili više obitelji često mogu letjeti zajedno po cijeni sličnoj ili čak povoljnoj za kupnju prvorazrednih komercijalnih zrakoplovnih karata, posebno do manjih zračnih luka u kojima su redovni komercijalni letovi najskuplji, a privatno letenje je najjeftinije. Iako ćete možda smatrati da je to jeftinije nego leteti četveročlanom međunarodnom prvoklasnom obitelji, to je rijetko slučaj, osim kada putujete iz zapadne Europe. Opće zrakoplovstvo najpraktičniji je način doći do vanjskih četvrti grada Aljaska.

Zračna povelja odnosi se na unajmljivanje privatnog zrakoplova za jednokratno putovanje. Jet karte su unaprijed plaćene kartice koje vlasniku daju pravo na određeni broj sati leta u određenom zrakoplovu. Budući da su svi troškovi unaprijed plaćeni na kartici, ne morate se baviti vremenom bez veze, povratnim letovima, naknadama za slijetanje itd.

Mnoge zračne luke u malim gradovima na američkim granicama pozdravljaju male zrakoplove u pojedinačnom vlasništvu. Dajte im sat ili dva unaprijed obavijesti kako bi mogli po granične službenike upoznati sićušni privatni avion iz egzotičnih i stranih zemalja Brockville, a vi ste dali samo izgovor koji im je trebao da dodaju "Međunarodna zračna luka" svojim imenima.

Vlakom

Vidi također: Putovanje željeznicom u Sjedinjenim Državama

Šef jugozapadnog smjera prema zapadu u Koloradu

Zbog popularnosti letenja i automobila, putnička željeznička mreža u Sjedinjenim Državama sjena je onoga što je bila prije jednog stoljeća. Iako Sjedinjene Države još uvijek imaju najdužu željezničku mrežu na svijetu, ona se danas prvenstveno koristi za prijevoz tereta. Osim određenih koridora (uglavnom na sjeveroistoku gdje je drugi rođak brza željeznica dostupan je), putnički vlakovi u Sjedinjenim Državama mogu biti iznenađujuće oskudni, spori, nepouzdani i skupi. Nacionalni željeznički sustav, Amtrak☏ 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245), pruža usluge mnogim gradovima, a često je skuplja od leta. U urbanijim lokacijama Amtrak može biti vrlo učinkovit i udoban, ali u ruralnim područjima kašnjenja su česta. Planirajte unaprijed kako biste osigurali da je putovanje vlakom između vaših odredišta dostupno i prikladno. Ne postoji namjenski brza željeznica mrežom u Sjedinjenim Državama, a vožnja sama često će biti brža od vožnje vlakom kada putujete na velike udaljenosti.

Amtrak ima promotivne popuste od 15% za studente i starije osobe i 30-dnevnu željezničku kartu SAD-a samo za međunarodne putnike. Ako planirate kupiti redovnu kartu u roku od tjedan dana putovanja, isplati se provjeriti web stranicu za ponekad značajne "tjedne akcije".

Amtrak nudi brojne pogodnosti i usluge koje nedostaju drugim načinima prijevoza. Amtrakove rute prelaze neka od najljepših područja Amerike. Putnicima s ograničenim vremenom putovanja vlakom možda neće biti zgodna, jednostavno zato što je to država velik, a ta se "veličina" posebno očituje u mnogim slikovitim područjima. Za one koji imaju dovoljno vremena, putovanje vlakom nudi neusporediv pogled na SAD. Neke od najživopisnijih ruta uključuju Kalifornijski Zephyr koja se provlači između Emeryville u Područje zaljeva San Francisco od Kalifornije do Chicaga i Graditelj carstva koji ide od Chicaga do Seattla ili Portlanda. Oboje nude dnevni boravak s prozorima od poda do stropa i dvospratne automobile.

Tijekom uobičajenog američkog vremena godišnjeg odmora, neki se vlakovi na velike udaljenosti (izvan sjeveroistoka) mogu prodati tjednima ili čak mjesecima unaprijed. Rana rezervacija također rezultira općenito nižim cijenama za sve vlakove. Rezervacije za isti dan obično su jednostavne, a ovisno o pravilima cijene karte koju ste kupili, možete promijeniti plan putovanja na sam dan bez naknade.

Mnogi veći gradovi nude vrlo pouzdane prigradski vlakovi koji prevoze putnike iz predgrađa ili drugih relativno bliskih područja. Neke prigradske željezničke stanice imaju opremu za parkiranje i vožnju kako bi prigradskim vlakom mogli doći do gradske jezgre u središtu grada gdje promet i parkiranje otežavaju upotrebu automobila. Neki sustavi i usluge prigradskih vlakova ne rade vikendom i praznicima, a čak i oni koji često imaju znatno smanjenu frekvenciju, pa je najbolje provjeriti web stranicu sustava kako biste unaprijed planirali. Kupiti karte prije uđete u vlak jer ćete se suočiti sa znatno skupljom cijenom karte ili pozamašnom kaznom.

Djeluje i nekoliko velikih gradova podzemna željeznica ili laka željeznica usluga za lokalna putovanja unutar grada ili područja metroa.

Brodom

Amerika ima najveći sustav unutarnji plovni putovi bilo koje zemlje na svijetu. Potpuno je moguće brodom ploviti unutar Sjedinjenih Država. Vaš izbor plovila varira od samohodnih kanua i kajaka do složenih kućnih brodova i krstarenja riječnim brodovima.

Rijeke i kanali bili su ključni za razvoj zemlje, a putovanje brodom daje vam jedinstvenu perspektivu nacije i jedinstveni krajolik. Neki primjeri plovnih putova otvorenih za rekreativne plovidbe i / ili zakazana krstarenja su:

• Sustav kanala države New York upravlja četiri kanala (uključujući i poznati Erie kanal) koji obuhvaća 843 km plovnog puta otvorenog za rekreacijsku i komercijalnu upotrebu. Vidjeti Država New York za detalje.
• Morski put sv. Lovre sada je primarna luka ulaska velikih brodova u Sjevernu Ameriku. Rekreativni nautičari dobrodošli su, međutim, Seaway je dizajniran za vrlo velike brodove i primjenjuje se minimalna duljina broda od 6 m (20 ft). Seaway započinje u istočnoj Kanadi i ide do Velikih jezera.
• The Rijeka Mississippi omogućuje pristup sjever-jug kroz unutrašnjost SAD-a Meksičkom zaljevu i povezuje se sa svim glavnim unutarnjim plovnim putovima, uključujući Missouri i Rijeke Ohio.

Svake godine mnogi nautičari s uspjehom plove tim plovnim putovima. Bilo koja vrsta plovidbe zahtijeva određenu pripremu i planiranje. Općenito, vlasti obalne straže, kanala i morskih putova trude se pomoći nautičarima. Također će ponekad davati upute kojih se očekuje da ih odmah poštujete. Na primjer, od male letjelice može se zatražiti da ustupi mjesto većoj letjelici na kanalima, a vremenski uvjeti mogu zahtijevati da zaustavite ili promijenite rutu.

Redovni trajekti postoje do raznih odredišta duž obala. Na sjeverozapadu zemlje možete putovati trajektima iz Sustav morskih autocesta na Aljasci iz Bellingham (Washington) sve duž južne obale Aljaske do Nizozemska luka-Unalaska. Kao bonus možete uživati ​​u prekrasnom krajoliku planina i arhipelaga. Štoviše, mnogim dijelovima Aljaske izvan utabanih staza može se pristupiti samo brodom. Ne postoji komercijalna putnička usluga između kontinenta SAD-a i Havaji.

Automobilom

Vidi također: Vožnja u Sjedinjenim Državama

Razmjena pet razina "High Five" u Dallas

Američka ljubavna veza s automobilom legendarna je, pa putujući po Sjedinjene Države bez automobila može biti teško. Većina američkih gradova razvila se imajući u vidu automobile, pa je iznajmljivanje ili donošenje vlastitog automobila obično vrlo dobra ideja. Postoji samo nekoliko većih gradova u kojima je korištenje javnog prijevoza poželjnije od vožnje: New York City, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco i Washington. Ostali vrlo veliki gradovi poput Los Angelesa, Atlante i Miamija imaju ograničene mogućnosti javnog prijevoza, a opcije se pogoršavaju samo u manjim gradovima. Taksiji i usluge prijevoza često su dostupni, ali mogu postati skupi, a taksije (posebno) je teško pronaći izvan zračnih luka. Iako većina Amerikanaca rado daje upute za vožnju, nemojte se iznenaditi ako mnogi nisu upoznati s lokalnim mogućnostima javnog prijevoza.

Glavni međudržavni sustav autocesta uglavnom povezuje samo veće gradove svake države. Američka autocesta i državne rute mogu vas dovesti do mnogih zanimljivih znamenitosti izvan utabanih staza, ako vam ne smeta zaustavljanje na semaforima i obračun s pješacima. Većina dionica cesta je besplatna za upotrebu, ali postoje neke koje naplaćuju pristojbe.

Veliko američko putovanje

Put 66, autocesta koja povezuje Los Angeles i Chicago. U osnovi glavna ruta za putovanje Great American Roadom. Također se poziva na nostalgiju u jugozapadnim državama.

Romantični apel vezan je uz ideju putovanje automobilom na daljinu; mnogi će vam Amerikanci reći da "pravu" Ameriku ne možete vidjeti osim automobilom. S obzirom na oskudicu javnog prijevoza u većini američkih gradova, gubitak vremena tijekom putovanja između gradovi automobilom, a ne letenjem, mogu se nadoknaditi udobnošću vožnje unutar gradovima nakon što stignete. Osim toga, mnogi od glavnih u zemlji prirodne atrakcije, kao Grand Canyon, gotovo je nemoguće doći bez automobila ili autobusne ture. Ako imate vremena, klasično američko putovanje unajmljenim automobilom vrlo je jednostavno postići. (Možda ćete morati malo kupiti u jednosmjernom najmu. Obratite pažnju na to koliko vam kilometara omogućuju da prijeđete na vozilo, jer vjerojatno želite zaobići obilazak grada.) Zbog udaljenosti, ovakva vrsta putovanja mogu značiti mnogo dugih dana za volanom, zato obratite pažnju na udobnost automobila koji koristite. Putovanje od obale do obale s više od jednog vozača i nekoliko zaustavljanja potrajat će najmanje 5 dana (4½ ako imate jake mjehure).

Vozački zakoni

Amerikanci voze s desne strane u vozilima s lijevom volanom, isto kao i Kanada i Meksiko. Vozački zakon prvenstveno je stvar državnog zakona, a provodi ga državna i lokalna policija. Iako postoje neke manje varijacije između država, pravila puta su prilično dosljedna u cijeloj zemlji.

Strani posjetitelji u dobi od 18 godina i stariji obično mogu voziti na svojoj stranoj vozačkoj dozvoli do godinu dana, ovisno o državnom zakonu. Licence koje nisu na engleskom moraju biti popraćene međunarodnom vozačkom dozvolom (IDP) ili ovjerenim prijevodom.

Signal od 5 svjetala (lijevo) koji ukazuje na to da i pravi i promet koji skreće ulijevo ima prednost. Da je prikazan samo zeleni krug, bez zelene lijeve strelice, promet koji skreće ulijevo morao bi ustupiti dolazećem prometu.

Većina američkih vozača obično vozi mirno i sigurno u stambenim naseljima. Međutim, ulice na centru grada i brze autoceste često postaju pretrpane puno "užurbanih" vozača, koji će prekoračiti ograničenja brzine, napraviti nesigurne promjene trake ili slijediti druge automobile na nesigurnoj bliskoj udaljenosti ("tailgating"). Provođenje ograničenja brzine je nepredvidljivo i uvelike varira od države do države. Držanje koraka s drugim vozačima obično će izbjeći probleme. Čuvajte se malih gradova uz ruralne ceste velike brzine (i prigradske ceste srednje brzine); strogo se primjenjuju donja ograničenja brzine u tim gradovima.

Autobusom

Vidi također: Putovanje autobusom na daljinu u Sjedinjenim Državama

Međugradska autobusna putovanja raširena su, ali nisu svugdje dostupna. Služba između obližnjih većih gradova česta je i često povezuje mnoga manja mjesta s regionalnim gradovima. Obično se smatra načinom putovanja „niže klase“, ali je općenito pouzdan, siguran i pristupačan. Međutim, autobusne stanice u nekim su gradovima smještene u surovim četvrtima (npr. Los Angeles).

Autobusne linije hrtova (☏ 1-800-231-2222) i nekoliko povezanih linija poput Bolt Bus imaju pretežni udio američkih autobusnih putovanja u 45 država. Popusti su dostupni putnicima koji svoje karte kupe 7-14 dana prije datuma putovanja. Autobusi za hrtove obično prometuju u segmentima od 5-7 sati, a u to vrijeme svi putnici moraju izaći iz autobusa kako bi mogao biti servisiran, čak i ako je sredina noći. Putnici koji se nastavljaju ukrcavaju se prije onih koji tek ulaze. Sjedenje je prema redoslijedu, tko ne dođe, osim u nekim gradovima, gdje možete platiti naknadu od 5 dolara za prioritetno sjedenje.

Megabus, Najveći konkurent Greyhoundu, djeluje uglavnom u 30 država na Srednjem zapadu i istočnoj polovici zemlje, između gradova Atlante, Chicaga, Dallasa, New Orleansa, New Yorka, Washingtona DC i nekoliko drugih gradova koji okružuju i između čvorišta. Također nudi veze do Montreala i Toronta u Kanadi. Također ima nekoliko ruta na zapadu, koje nisu povezane s onima na Srednjem zapadu i Istočnoj obali.

Autobusi iz Kineske četvrti male su neovisne tvrtke koje pružaju odlaske sa strane ruba za jeftinu standardnu ​​gotovinsku kartu. Te linije prometuju uglavnom na sjeveroistoku između Bostona, New Yorka, Philadelphije, Washingtona i Baltimorea. Neki nastavljaju dalje prema odredištima na Srednjem zapadu i Jugu sa sjeveroistoka. Drugi djeluju između Kalifornije, Nevade i Arizone. Pogledajte relevantne gradske vodiče i GoToBus.com za više informacija.

Latinoameričke autobusne kompanije imaju najčešće prostrane autobuse u zemlji. Mnoge su udružene marke ili podružnice meksičkih autobusnih kompanija koje nude prekogranične usluge izvan pograničnih područja sjeverno do Chicaga, istočno do Atlante i južnije od Mexico Cityja. Vidjeti Putovanje autobusom na velike udaljenosti u SAD-u

Razne manje tvrtke nude autobusne usluge po cijeloj zemlji. Nekoliko ih je grupirano pod Staze robne marke, koju ćete često naći u dijeljenju prostora s hrtom.

Svi, osim najmanjih gradova, imaju neku vrstu lokalni autobusni prijevoz, ali često će biti ograničen u usporedbi s gradovima slične veličine u drugim zemljama. Općenito se u SAD-u lokalni autobusi ne zaustavljaju na svakom stajalištu. U nekim će se gradovima zaustaviti ako vide nekoga kako čeka na autobusnoj stanici, ali u drugima ćete možda morati malo mahnuti kako biste im javili da želite ući. Ako ste u autobusu i želite izaći na sljedećoj stanici, obično postoji gumb koji trebate pritisnuti ili žica za povlačenje kako biste signalizirali vozaču.

Vozilom za rekreaciju

Glavni članak: Kampiranje automobila

Rekreacijska vozila - velika, ponekad i autobusna vozila koja uključuju spavaće i dnevne prostorije - izrazito su američki način krstarenja državom. Neki RV-ovci vole pogodnost što mogu voziti svoj dom bilo gdje žele i uživati ​​u drugarstvu koje nude RV kampovi. Drugi ljudi ne vole gnjavažu i probleme održavanja koji dolaze s RVingom. I nemojte ni razmišljati o vožnji RV-a u ogromnu metropolu poput New Yorka. Ipak, ako želite intenzivno voziti po Sjedinjenim Državama i ako vam je ugodno rukovati velikom opremom, iznajmljivanje RV-a opcija je koju biste trebali razmotriti.

Motociklom

Uzbuđenje i uzbuđenje tijekom putovanja kroz zemlje povećavaju se kada idete motociklom. Harley Davidson je istaknuta američka marka motocikala, a Harley upravlja tvrtkom program iznajmljivanja motocikala za one koji imaju licencu i sposobni su za upravljanje motociklom pune težine. U nekim dijelovima zemlje možete unajmiti i druge vrste motocikala, poput sportskih, turističkih i dvostrukih sportskih bicikala. Za one neiskusne s motociklima, Harley i drugi zastupnici nude satove za početnike. Nošenje kacige, iako nije obavezno u svim državama, uvijek je dobra ideja. Praksa vožnje između traka sporijih automobila, poznata i kao "dijeljenje traka" ili "razdvajanje traka", ilegalna je, osim u Kaliforniji, gdje se tolerira i raširuje. Pojedinačni motociklisti mogu legalno koristiti trake za "zauzeća" ili "carpool" tijekom svog radnog vremena.

Američki entuzijazam prema motociklima doveo je do motociklističke subkulture. Moto klubovi su ekskluzivni klubovi za članove posvećene vožnji određene marke motocikla u okviru visoko strukturirane klupske hijerarhije. Jahački klubovi može ili ne mora biti organiziran oko određene marke bicikala i ponuditi otvoreno članstvo svima zainteresiranim za vožnju. Motociklistički reliji, poput poznatog u Sturgis, Južna Dakota, ogromna su okupljanja motociklista iz cijele zemlje. Mnogi motociklisti nisu povezani ni s jednim klubom i odlučuju se za samostalnu vožnju ili s prijateljima. Općenito, motociklizam se smatra hobijem, za razliku od praktičnog prijevoznog sredstva; to znači, na primjer, da većina američkih motociklista radije ne vozi po lošem vremenu. Bez obzira na to da li se odlučite za vožnju, i koju god vrstu bicikla više voljeli, motociklizam može biti uzbudljiv način za vidjeti zemlju.

Palcem

Prolazni luk, St. Louis, Missouri na Srednjem zapadu

Duga povijest planinarenje dolazi iz SAD-a, s evidencijom automobilskih autostopera već 1911. Specifičnosti zakona razlikuju se od države do države, ali općenito je samo stopiranje legalno u većini zemlje, iako uglavnom ne na međudržavnim autocestama (gdje pješacima je obično zabranjeno) ili dok stoje unutar prometnih traka (obično označeni punom bijelom linijom na ramenu ceste). Ako planirate stopirati, najbolja praksa je vožnja palcem na ulaznim rampama ili (još bolje) odmorištima na autocesti.

Međutim, zbog sve veće upozorenosti na moguće opasnosti (djelomično potaknute senzacionalističkim pričama u vijestima), autostopiranje u SAD-u mnogo je rjeđe nego što je bilo prije. Međunarodni putnici u SAD trebali bi izbjegavati ovu praksu, osim ako nemaju posebno snažan osjećaj za društvenu avanturu ili izuzetno malo novca. Čak bi se i mnogi Amerikanci osjećali ugodno "voziti se" samo kad bi dobro poznavali lokalitet, a američki vozači iz istih razloga također budu oprezni.

Craigslist ima dio vožnje, što se ponekad pokaže korisnim za unaprijed dogovaranje vožnje. Ako ste otvoreni za svoje odredište, gotovo je uvijek moguće pronaći vožnju negdje u zemlji, a plaćanje je često dijeljenje troškova goriva.

Vidjeti

Svjetionik Portland Head, Portland, Maine, u Nova Engleska

Sjedinjene Države izvanredno su raznolike po svom nizu atrakcija. Nikada vam neće ponestati stvari za vidjeti; čak i ako mislite da ste iscrpili ono što jedno mjesto nudi, sljedeće odredište udaljeno je samo putovanje.

The Veliko američko putovanje (vidjeti iznad) je najtradicionalniji način razgledavanja raznih znamenitosti; samo uskočite u automobil i krstarite Interstatesom, zaustavljajući se po potrebi prikladnim hotelima i restoranima uz cestu i zaustavljajući se u svakoj zanimljivoj turističkoj zamci putem, sve dok ne dođete do odredišta.

Neopisivo lijep krajolik, povijest koja se čita poput scenarija, mogućnosti zabave koje vam mogu potrajati danima i neke od najvećih svjetskih arhitektura - bez obzira na vaše zadovoljstvo, možete ih pronaći gotovo bilo gdje u Sjedinjenim Državama.

Prirodni krajolik

Jordan Pond u Nacionalni park Acadia, Maine

Od spektakularnih ledenjaka na Aljasci do šumovitih, zavremenih vrhova Apalachia; od onostranih pustinjskih krajeva jugozapada do golemih voda Južnog Zapada Velika jezera; nekoliko drugih zemalja ima tako raznolike prirodne krajolike kao što ih imaju Sjedinjene Države.

Američka Nacionalni parkovi su izvrsno mjesto za početak i razgledavanje Sjevernoamerička divljač. Nacionalni park Yellowstone je bio prvi istinski nacionalni park na svijetu, i dalje je jedan od najpoznatijih, ali postoji 60 drugih. Veliki kanjon je možda najspektakularnija klisura na svijetu; Nacionalni park Sequoia i Nacionalni park Yosemite obojica su dom najviših živih organizama na svijetu; Nacionalni park Glacier izvrsno je mjesto za vidjeti ogromne ledene ploče; Nacionalni park Canyonlands lako se mogu zamijeniti s Marsom; i Nacionalni park Great Smoky Mountains sadrži obilje divljih životinja među lijepo pošumljenim planinama. A ni nacionalni parkovi nisu samo za razgledavanje; svaki ima i puno aktivnosti na otvorenom.

Nacionalni park Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, Novi Meksiko, u Jugozapadno.

Ipak, nacionalni parkovi su tek početak. Djeluje i služba Nacionalnog parka Nacionalni spomenici, Nacionalni spomenici, Nacionalna povijesna mjesta, Nacionalne obale, Područja nacionalne baštine ... popis se nastavlja i nastavlja. I svaka država ima svoje državni parkovi that can be just as good as the federal versions. Most all of these destinations, federal or state, have an admission fee, but it all goes toward maintenance and operations of the parks, and the rewards are well worth it.

Those aren't your only options, though. Many of America's natural treasures can be seen without passing through admission gates. The world-famous Slapovi Niagare straddle the border between Canada and the U.S.; the American side lets you get right up next to the onrush and feel the power that has shaped the Niagara gorge. The "purple majesty" of the Rocky Mountains can be seen for hundreds of miles in any direction, while the placid coastal areas of the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic have relaxed Americans for generations. And, although they are very different from each other, Hawaii and Alaska are perhaps the two most scenic states; they don't just have attractions—they jesu attractions.

Historical attractions

Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the largest pre-Columbian settlements in the southwest.

The U.S. has a tremendous wealth of historical attractions—more than enough to fill months of history-centric touring.

The prehistory of the continent can indeed be a little hard to uncover, as most of the Native American tribes did not build permanent settlements. But particularly in the Zapad, you will find magnificent cliff dwellings at sites such as Mesa Verde i Bandelier, as well as near-ubiquitous rock paintings (Petroglyph National Park has some of the best rock art in the country, and it is located only 17 km outside of Albuquerque). The Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC. is another great place to start learning about America's culture before the arrival of Europeans colonists.

The first successful British colony on the continent was at Jamestown, Virginia, although the settlement at Plymouth, Massachusetts, may loom larger in the nation's mind. The eastern states of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the South have more than their fair share of sites from early American history as they make up what are known as the 13 Original Colonies.

In the 18th century, major centers of commerce developed in Philadelphia i Boston, and as the colonies grew in size, wealth, and self-confidence, relations with Great Britain became strained, culminating in the Boston Tea Party and the ensuing Revolucionarni rat.

There are a large number of historic sites related to the Američki građanski rat, the most destructive conflict on American soil.

Monuments and architecture

Americans have never shied away from heroic feats of engineering, and many of them are among the country's biggest tourist attractions.

Washington DC., as the nation's capital, has more monuments and statuary than you could see in a day, but do be sure to visit the Washington Monument (the world's tallest obelisk), the stately Lincoln Memorial, and the incredibly moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The city's architecture is also an attraction—the Capitol Building and the White House are two of the most iconic buildings in the country and often serve to represent the whole nation to the world.

A number of American cities have world-renowned skylines, perhaps none more so than the concrete canyons of Manhattan, part of New York City. There, a new World Trade Center tower has risen on a site adjacent to the fallen twin towers, and the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building still stand tall, as they have for almost a century. Chicago, where the skyscraper was invented, can no longer claim the tallest building in the country, but it still has an awful lot of really tall buildings. Other skylines worth seeing include San Francisco (with the Golden Gate Bridge), Seattle (including the Space Needle), Miami, and Pittsburgh.

Abraham Lincoln's tomb, in Springfield, Illinois.

Some human constructions transcend skyline, though, and become iconic symbols in their own right. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan, the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, and even the fountains of the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas all draw visitors to their respective cities. Even the incredible Mount Rushmore, located far from any major city, still attracts two million visitors each year.

Museums and galleries

In the U.S., there's a museum for practically everything. From toys to priceless artifacts, from entertainment legends to dinosaur bones—nearly every city in the country has a museum worth visiting.

The highest concentrations of these museums are found in the largest cities, of course, but none compare to Washington, D.C., home to the Smithsonian Institution. With almost twenty independent museums, most of them located on the National Mall, the Smithsonian is the foremost curator of American history and achievement. The most popular of the Smithsonian museums are the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, and the National Museum of Natural History, but any of the Smithsonian museums would be a great way to spend an afternoon—and they're all 100% free.

New York City also has an outstanding array of world-class museums, including the Guggenheim Museum, American Museum of Natural History,the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Metropolitan Museum of Art, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

You could spend weeks exploring the cultural institutions just in D.C. and the Big Apple, but there are also many other cities with world class museums such as Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Pittsburgh i Boston. Many universities also operate small museums that have interesting exhibits and are often free to enter, while those interested in specific sports or topics will often be able to find museums even in some small towns that suit their tastes.

Itineraries

Here is a handful of itineraries spanning regions across the United States:

• Appalachian Trail — a foot trail along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine
• Braddock Expedition — traces the French-Indian War route of British General Edward Braddock (and a younger George Washington) from Alexandria, Virginia through Cumberland, Maryland to the Monongahela River near Pittsburgh
• Interstate 5 — the primary interstate highway along the west coast from the Mexican border with California to the Canadian border with Washington state, passing through the major west coast cities and the capitals of three states
• The Jazz Track — a nation-wide tour of the most important clubs in jazz history and in jazz performance today
• Lewis and Clark Trail — retrace the northwest route of the great American explorers along the Missouri River
• Oregonska staza — the mid-19th century path taken by western settlers from Missouri to Oregon
• Pacific Crest Trail — one of the original National Scenic Trails; travels along the west coast from Mexico to Canada
• Pony Express National Historic Trail — commemorates the mail service route through the Old West, between St. Joseph, Missouri and San Francisco, California
• Put 66 — tour the iconic historic highway running from Chicago to Los Angeles
• Santa Fe Trail — a historic southwest settler route from Missouri do Santa Fe
• Touring Shaker country — takes you to one current and eight former Shaker religious communities in the Mid-Atlantic, New England and Midwest regions of the United States
• Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail — follows the route of the forced westward migration of many American Indian tribes in the 1830s
• U.S. Highway 1 — travelling along the east coast from Maine to Florida

Čini

Arts and music

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 as San Diego's Street Scene ili South by Southwest u Austin. Classical music concerts are held year round and performed by semi-professional and professional symphonies. Many cities and regions have unique sounds. Country music is popular throughout the U.S. but is particularly concentrated in the South and rural West. Nashville is known as "Music City" because of the large number of country artists who live in the city. It's home to the Grand Ole Opry, the most famous country music venue in the nation, and numerous other live music venues. African-Americans in the South gave rise to jazz i blues, with numerous music scenes and venues in cities nationwide. Many of the most popular mainstream bands are based in Los Angeles due to the large entertainment presence and concentration of record companies.

America is considered to be the spiritual home of musical theater, and many of the world's most famous musicals have had a run on Broadway in New York City at one time or another. No trip to New York would be complete without catching at least one musical on Broadway. The United States is also home to one of the world's premier opera companies, the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

A quintessential American experience is the marching band festival. You can find these events almost every weekend between September and Thanksgiving throughout the country and again from March to June in California. Check local event listings and papers to find specifics. Also notable is the Bands of America Grand National Championship held every autumn in Indianapolis. To see the best of the best, get tickets to the "finals" performance, where the ten best bands of the festival compete for the championship. Both "street" or parade marching bands as well as "field" or show bands are found at almost every high school and university in America.

Sports

Baseball in Daytona Beach, Florida

The United States has a professional league for virtually every sport, including pillow fighting. America's passion for sports is rivaled hardly anywhere in the world, with the leagues with the world's highest attendance both per game (NFL) and total (MLB) and other leagues that are the best and most popular in their respective sport. Watching a game is a good way to meet and interact with the locals. A few of the most popular sports are:

• Baseball, often referred to as "America's pastime", is one of the most widely played sports in the country. The U.S. is home to 29 of the 30 MLB (Major League Baseball) teams. The season lasts from April to September with playoff games held in October, with the championship games known as the World Series. With each team playing 162 games per team per season and the cheapest seats usually $10-20, this is possibly the best sporting event for international travellers to watch. There are also several hundred minor league teams scattered across the U.S.; while quality of the games is lower, prices are cheaper (even free in a few leagues).
• The U.S. is home to 29 of the 30 NBA (National Basketball Association) teams, and the world's premier men's basketball league. The season runs from November to April, with playoffs in May–June. Its counterpart the WNBA (Women's NBA), which plays during the NBA offseason, is one of the most stable and popular women's team sports leagues in the world.
• The NFL (National Football League), with 32 teams (all in the contiguous U.S.) is the leading promoter of American football in the world. It has virtually nothing in common with association football (Americans know da sport as soccer). It developed from rugby football, and still has some things in common with its cousin from England. It is extremely popular, and the day of the championship game, the Super Bowl, is an unofficial national holiday and perennially the most watched event in American sports. Most games are on Sundays, and watching games in the stands or on TV on Sunday is an important tradition for many Americans. The season lasts from September to December, with playoffs in January ending with the Super Bowl in February.

• The NHL (National Hockey League) is the premier ice hockey league in the world. 24 of its 31 teams are in the U.S., with another U.S. team to be added in 2021. Slightly under 50% of players are Canadians, another 25% Americans, and the rest come from many other parts of the world, mainly northern and eastern Europe. The season runs from October to April, followed by playoffs that culminate in the Stanley Cup Finals in June, the titular cup of which is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America.
• Auto racing draws big crowds all over the country, with hundreds of thousands attending the marquee events—the Indianapolis 500 for the open-wheel IndyCar series, and the Daytona 500 for the NASCAR stock car circuit. IndyCar racing is closer, faster, and arguably far more dangerous than that of NASCAR. NASCAR almost exclusively races on oval tracks, while IndyCar competes on a wide variety of tracks including city streets. Both sports' seasons run from late winter through mid-fall, with races almost every week. There is also the United States Grand Prix, a race on the Formula One calendar that is usually held in Austin, Teksas every year.
• As of the 2020 season, MLS (Major League Soccer) has 26 teams—23 in the U.S. plus three in Canada—with four more U.S. teams to be added by 2022. While it may not be as popular with the media, MLS is still widely viewed and enjoyed (particularly by Hispanic communities), and is a preferred destination for top players from European leagues who are past their prime. The season does not coincide with soccer in most other countries: the regular season runs March to October, with MLS Cup playoffs from October to December. The women's equivalent is the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which has 9 teams, all in the US, with another US-based team confirmed to be joining in 2021 and plans to expand to 12 or 14 teams in the early 2020s.

One unique feature of the American sports landscape is the extent to which sports are associated with educational institutions. In many regions, especially the South and Midwest, college sports enjoy followings that rival or surpass those of major professional teams, especially football and men's basketball. (In fact, 8 of the 10 largest non-motorsports stadiums in the world — all seating more than 100,000 spectators — are for U.S. college football teams, and the country's three largest basketball arenas house college teams.) The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) has over 1,000 member schools, including almost all of the country's best-known colleges and universities. The college football i college basketball seasons roughly coincide with their professional counterparts; the NCAA Division I men's basketball playoff tournament, "March Madness", is especially widely followed even by casual sports fans. Rowing enthusiasts may wish to watch the Harvard–Yale Regatta, a 4-mile-long (6.4 km) race held in Connecticut every year modeled after The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge in the Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, between the men's coxed eight rowing teams.

Many communities also take great pride in their high school sports teams, and especially in smaller locales, those teams are a major part of local culture. From August to May, a high school game can be a great (and cheap) way to meet locals and discover the area in a way many visitors never experience. The most popular sports are usually football and boys' basketball (and to a lesser extent girls' basketball), plus hockey in New England and the upper Midwest. In some areas, a particular high school sport enjoys an elevated cultural position. Examples include football in Texas, basketball in Indiana, hockey in Minnesota, and wrestling in Iowa.

The United States is home to many of the world's most famous golf courses. The most famous is the Augusta National Golf Club, which is the home of the Masters, one of the world's most prestigious professional golf tournaments, and also one of the four majors in men's golf. The U.S. is also home to 2 of the other 3 majors in men's golf, namely the U.S. Open i PGA Championship, which rotate between different golf courses in the U.S. every year. Golf is popular both as a participation and spectator sport, and the U.S. supports several major professional tours. Vidi također Golf#United States of America.

The United States hosts many tennis tournaments in the ATP and WTA tours, with the US Open being the most prestigious among them. It is regarded as one of the four Grand Slams. The US Open is held every year from late August to Early September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center u New York City.

The rodeo celebrates the traditions of the Stari zapad, especially in Teksas i Velike ravnice. A subset of rodeo, bull riding, enjoys a moderate degree of popularity as a standalone event, with the main circuit being Professional Bull Riders.

Festivals and fairs

The Iowa State Fair, one of the most well-known state fairs. Common sights at state fairs include food stalls, amusement rides, and local booths selling goods.

Many towns and/or counties throw fairs to commemorate the establishment of a town or the county with rides, games, and other attractions. Almost every state has one or more state fairs. These began as competitions and shows to promote agriculture and livestock; now they include industrial product exhibitions, concerts, and carnival rides and games.

Nature

There are numerous Nacionalni parkovi throughout the United States, especially the vast interior, which offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, including Recreational shooting, ATV riding, hiking, bird watching, prospecting, and horseback riding. National parks are the crown jewels of the much larger National Park System, which also includes historic and cultural landmarks.

• National Trails System is a group of 21 "National Scenic Trails" and "National Historic Trails", and over 1,000 shorter "National Recreation Trails" for a total length of over 50,000 mi (80,000 km). While all are open to hiking, most are also open to mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping and some are open for ATVs and cars.

Amusement parks

The United States is the birthplace of the modern amusement park, and to this day, amusement parks form an integral part of American childhood and teenage culture. The first-ever permanent amusement park was built on Coney Island u New York City, and while not as glamorous as some of the newer ones, is still home to a famous historic wooden roller coaster and numerous other attractions.

The Los Angeles i Orlando areas in particular are home to numerous well-regarded amusement parks, with giants Universal i Disney operating parks in both locations. Another chain of amusement parks that is well-regarded locally, though not so well-known internationally, is Six Flags, which has multiple locations throughout the country, and is particularly known for its innovative roller coasters and other thrill rides. Other chains include the marine-themed SeaWorld, which is known for its marine mammal shows, and Cedar Fair.

Kupiti

Novac

The 2018 series of U.S. $100, $50, $20, $10, $5, $2 and $1 bills. Older styles are still frequently seen in circulation.

The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar ($), divided into 100 cents (¢, but often written as decimal dollars). Foreign currencies are almost never accepted, though some major hotel chains may accept traveller's checks in other currencies. Establishments close to the Canadian border accept Canadian currency, though usually at poor exchange rates. The Mexican peso can also be used (again at poor exchange rates) in border towns like El Paso i Laredo. Japanese yen is sometimes accepted in Havaji.

The dollar is sometimes colloquially known as a buck, so "5 bucks" means $5. Common American banknotes (or bills) are the $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The $2 bill is still produced but rarely seen in circulation and is occasionally refused as payment; bills beyond $100 haven't been produced since the 1960s and are removed from circulation when found. The $100 and sometimes $50 bills are too valuable for small transactions, and may be refused. All $1 and $2 bills and older bills of the other denominations are greenish and printed with black and green ink (thus the nickname "greenbacks"). Newer versions of the $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills are slightly more colorful. All the bills are the same size. Banknotes never expire and several designs of each note can circulate together, but older designs that lack modern anti-counterfeiting features may (rarely) be refused by some retailers.

The standard coins are the penny (1¢, copper color), the chunky nickel (5¢, silver color), the tiny dime (10¢, silver color) and the ridged-edge quarter (25¢, silver color). These coins only have their values written in words, not figures: "one cent", "five cents", "one dime", and "quarter dollar". When it comes to value, size doesn't matter: the dime is the smallest coin, followed by the penny, nickel, and quarter. Half dollar (50¢, silver) and dollar ($1, gold or silver; not to be confused with the quarter) coins exist but are uncommon. Coin-operated machines usually only accept nickels, dimes, quarters, and $1 bills, though some may also accept dollar coins. Larger vending machines, such as for buses or postal stamps, may take $5, $10, or even $20 bills. Though Canadian coins are sized similarly, machines usually reject them. Humans, on the other hand, generally won't notice (or care about) a few small Canadian coins mixed with American, particularly in the northern parts of the country. As with most currency, coins are generally not exchangeable abroad and UNICEF provides donation boxes at airports to let you dispose of them for a good cause before flying abroad.

Currency exchange and banking

Currency exchange centers are rare outside the downtowns of major coastal and border cities, and international airports. Some banks also provide currency exchange services, though you may sometimes be required to call in advance. Due to the high overhead of exchange rates and transaction fees, it is often better to acquire U.S. dollars in your home country before travel; rates at currency exchange desks in airports, tourist areas and shopping areas in particular are often terrible.

ATMs can handle foreign bank cards or credit cards bearing Visa/Plus or MasterCard/Cirrus logos. They usually dispense bills in $20 denominations and generally charge about $2-4 to cards issued by other banks. Smaller ATMs in restaurants, petrol stations, etc., often charge higher fees (up to $5). These fees are in addition to your card issuer's own fees. Some ATMs, such as those at courthouses or other government buildings, have no fee. As with anywhere else in the world, there is a risk of card skimmers installed on these machines that can steal your credit card details.

Another option is withdrawing cash (usually up to $40 or $60 over the cost of your goods) when making a debit card purchase at a supermarket, convenience store, or a large discount store such as Walmart. Stores almost never charge for this service (though it may be contingent on signing up for the store's loyalty program, which is also usually free); however, the bank that issued your card may impose a fee.

Opening a bank account in the U.S. is a fairly straightforward process, and there are no restrictions on foreigners having them.

Credit and debit cards

Major credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard (and their debit card affiliates) are widely used and accepted. Nearly all large retailers will accept credit cards for transactions of all sizes, even as small as $1 or $2. However, some small businesses and independently-owned stores specify a minimum amount of money (usually $2 or $5, but sometimes $10) for credit card use, as such transactions cost them $0.30–0.50 (this practice is also common at bars when opening a tab). Almost all sit-down restaurants, hotels, and shops will accept credit and debit cards; those that do not post a sign saying "Cash Only." Other cards such as American Express and Discover are also accepted, but not as widely. Many retailers have a window sticker or counter sign showing the logos of the credit cards they accept.

JCB, UnionPay (China) and RuPay (India) have alliances with Discover, so they can be used at any retailer that accepts Discover cards even if the store does not display the logo on its window.

Shops may also ask for photo identification for foreign-issued cards. When making large purchases, it is typical for U.S. retailers to ask to see some form of photo identification. Sometimes, credit/debit cards are the only means to perform a transaction. If you do not have one, you can purchase a prepaid card or gift card with Visa, MasterCard or AmEx logo in a good number of stores, but you may have to provide identification before the card is activated.

Transaction authorization is made by signing a paper sales slip or a computer pad, although many retailers will waive the signature requirement for small purchases. The U.S. is implementing the EMV "chip-and-PIN" credit card authorization system used overseas. Cards and devices (e.g. iPhones and Apple Watches with Apple Pay) issued abroad with contactless or near-field communication (NFC) capabilities may not work in some merchants where NFC/contactless is used; in such cases, swipe or 'chip-and-pin' will be used.

Gas station pumps, some public transportation vending machines, and some other types of automated vending machines often have credit/debit card readers. Many of these ask for the ZIP code (i.e., postal code) of the U.S. billing address for the card, which effectively prevents them from accepting foreign cards (they are unable to detect a foreign card and switch to PIN authentication). At gas stations, you can use a foreign-issued card by paying the station attendant inside. If you have a Canadian Mastercard, you can use it at all pumps that require a ZIP code by entering the digits of your postal code (ignoring letters and spaces) and adding two zeroes to the end. When using a debit card, some stations will place a hold on your account for a specified amount (a notice will be present on the pump, typically $75) and then update the charge once you've filled up (but there is often a 1-2 day delay between removing the "hold" and updating the amount charged).

Sales tax

There is no federal sales tax (such as VAT or GST), so you cannot claim a tax refund when you leave the U.S.

Most states have a retail sales tax between 3% and 10%, as do some cities. The goods that are taxed and those that are exempt (often groceries, and pharmaceuticals) vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Restaurant meals are usually taxed.

Taxes are usually not included in posted prices but are added to your bill, so be prepared for the total to be higher than the listed prices would indicate!

Some cities have tax zones near airports and business districts that are designed to exploit travellers — sales taxes can vary up to 2% in a matter of a few miles. Regional price variations, however, will usually have more impact on a traveller's wallet than the savings from seeking out a low- or no-sales-tax destination. Some municipalities, such as New York City, also impose a hotel tax on accommodation, which is levied on top of the sales tax.

Places for shopping

Vidi također Shopping in the United States

Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota

America is the birthplace of the modern enclosed shopping mall and the open-air shopping center. In addition, American suburbs have miles and miles of small strip malls — long rows of small shops with shared parking lots. Large cities have central shopping districts that can be navigated on public transport, but pedestrian-friendly shopping streets are uncommon and usually small. American retail stores are gigantic compared to retail stores in other countries, and have some of the longest business hours in the world, with many chains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Department stores and other large retailers are usually open from 10AM to 9PM most days, and in November and December, may stay open as long as 8AM to 11PM. Discount stores tend to stay open as late as 10PM or midnight, or may be open 24 hours a day. Most supermarkets are open late into the evening, usually until at least 9PM, and many stay open 24/7. Sunday hours tend to be somewhat shorter, or the stores may close.

The U.S. pioneered the factory outlet store, in which branded goods are sold for bargain prices, and in turn, the outlet center, a shopping mall consisting primarily of such stores. Outlet centers are found along major Interstate highways outside of most American cities.

If you see a driveway or yard full of stuff on a summer weekend, it's likely a garage sale (or yard sale), where families sell household items they no longer need. Churches often hold rummage sales, with proceeds generally going to their church or a mission or project they support.

Flea markets (called "swap meets" in Western states) have vendors selling all kinds of usually inexpensive merchandise. Bargaining is expected.

Thrift stores are retail stores run by churches, charities, and not-for-profit organizations that take in unwanted or un-needed household items as a donation and re-sell them to support projects they are engaged in.

Costs

Bald Eagles in Homer, Aljaska

The U.S. is generally considered expensive although the cost of living is typically lower than in many other Western countries, whose residents often come to the U.S. to shop.

A bare-bones budget could be $30–50/day, and you can double that if you stay at motels and eat at cheap cafés. Add on a rental car and hotel accommodation and you'll be looking at $150/day and up. There are regional variations too: large cities like New York i San Francisco are expensive, while prices go down in rural areas. Most U.S. cities have suburbs with good hotels that are often much cheaper than those in the city center. Thus, if you plan to rent a car and drive between several major cities on a single visit to the U.S., it is usually a better idea to stay at safe suburban hotels with free parking, rather than downtown hotels that charge exorbitant parking fees.

If you intend to visit any United States National Parks, such as the Grand Canyon ili Nacionalni park Yellowstone, it is worth considering buying a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which gives you access to almost all of the federal parks and recreation areas for one year.

Many hotels and motels offer discounts for members of certain organizations which anyone can join, such as AAA (the American Automobile Association). If you're a member, or are a member of a club affiliated with AAA (such as the Canadian Automobile Association, the Automobile Association in the UK, or ADAC in Germany), it's worth asking at check-in. Many chain motels/hotels also have frequent customer plans that offer loyalty discounts.

Napojnice

Napojnice is widely practiced in the United States. Standards vary, but gratuities are always given to servers in restaurants and bars, taxi drivers, parking valets, and bellstaff in hotels. The salaries made in these professions, and even their taxes, take into account that they will be tipped, so it really is inappropriate to leave them out.

Tipping in the United States is so common and expected in some cases that in many service establishments, such as hair salons and restaurants, customers who did not tip are often asked to pay a tip, or in rare cases verbally scolded by staff for "stiffing" them.

While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are:

• Taxis — 10–20%. For livery cabs, if you hail the cab on the street and negotiate the fare in advance, then pay the negotiated amount plus an extra $1–2.
• Shuttle bus drivers — $2–5
• Private car & limousine drivers — 15–20%
• Parking valet — $1–3 for retrieving your car (unless there's already a fee for parking)
• Tour guides/activity guides — Between $5 and $10 depending on the size of the group (tips are lower in large groups), the cost of the tour, how funny/informative the guide was.
• Full-service restaurants — 15–20%; tip higher (~20%) in higher-cost cities like New York and San Francisco. Many restaurants include a mandatory service charge for larger groups, in which case you do not need to tip an additional amount – check the bill.
• Food delivery (pizza, etc.) — $2–5, 15–20% for larger orders
• Bartenders — $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15–20% of total
• Housekeeping in hotels — $1–2 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays
• Porter, skycap, bellhop, hotel doorman — $1–2 per bag if they assist ($3–5 minimum), $1 for hailing a taxi or calling a cab
• Hairdressers, masseuses, other personal services — 10–15%
• Bicycle messengers — $3–5

The legal minimum wage for restaurant waitstaff and other tip-earners is quite low (just $2.13/hour before taxes in some states where minimums for other workers are $7.25 or more). Therefore, tipping for this service is regarded as even more essential. If you receive exceptionally poor or rude service and the manager does not correct the problem when you bring it to their attention, a deliberately small tip (one or two coins) will express your displeasure more clearly than leaving no tip at all (which may be construed as a forgotten tip).

If paying your bill by cash, leave a cash tip on the table when you leave (there is no need to hand it over personally or wait until it's collected), or if paying by credit card you can add it directly to the charge slip when you sign it. Look carefully, as the bill will generally inform you whether a gratuity or "service charge" has already been added, in which case you do not need to leave an additional tip; this is especially common with large groups.

The rules for tipping at fast-food places are different and a bit more complicated. The key thing to remember is that tipping is associated with table service. The procedure at fast-food restaurants and when ordering takeout (even from what is otherwise a sit-down restaurant) is inherently self-service, therefore tipping is not necessary. Some eateries, mostly in the fast-casual sector, have a "tip jar" at the checkout station, but tipping in that scenario is purely optional, and you wouldn't be expected to contribute much more than the coins you're handed back as change. Na cafeterias i buffets, a small tip is expected since staff often clear the table for you and provide refills of drinks and such.

The rules for tipping concierges are also arcane. For most services — asking for maps, information, tours, etc. — a tip is not expected. But for things above and beyond like special, unusual, time-consuming requests, if you receive a lot of attention while others are waiting, or even just for an exceptionally high level of service, tips should generally be large, usually starting at $5 (a $1 tip would be insulting).

Tipping well can make you look good in front of your American friends, dates and business partners, and could even earn you preferential treatment from staff, with the reverse also being true for tipping poorly.

Jesti

Glavni članak: American cuisine

American cuisine is far more than the bland McDonald's/Coca-Cola monolith that international stereotypes make it out to be. It's as diverse as the American people themselves, sporting regional variations between different parts of the country and incorporating localized versions of ethnic dishes from around the world.

The variety of restaurants throughout the U.S. is remarkable. In a major city such as New York, it may be possible to find a restaurant from nearly every country in the world. In addition to the usual array of independent restaurants, the U.S. possesses a singularly baffling array of fast food and casual chain restaurants; even if you think you know U.S. fast food from the chains' international outlets, the sheer variety domestically is immense.

Many restaurants, especially those serving fast food or breakfast, do not serve alcohol, and many others may only serve beer and wine. Portions are generally huge, regardless of restaurant style, although this trend has moderated as customers are becoming more health-conscious. Many restaurants offer several portion options, though it may not be immediately obvious. Ask when ordering if portion choices are available. Taking home "leftovers" is very common and is a good way to get two meals for the price of one. Ask for a to-go box at the end of your meal if you have not cleared your plate.

In much of America, home-cooked food is as good as or substantially better than typical restaurant fare. This is particularly true in rural areas and small towns. If you have the opportunity to attend a potluck ili carry-in dinner, this is a chance not to be missed.

Places to eat

Large cities host many examples of every type of restaurant imaginable from inexpensive neighborhood eateries to extravagant full-service restaurants with extensive wine lists and prices to match. Most medium-sized cities and suburbs will also field a decent selection. In the most upscale restaurants, rules for men to wear jackets and ties, while once de rigueur, are becoming more relaxed. Check with the restaurant if in doubt.

Takeout food is common in larger cities for meals that may take a little longer to prepare than in a fast-food place. Place an order by phone or online and then go to the restaurant to pick it up and take it away. Many places also offer delivery; in some cities, it is easier to have pizza or Chinese food delivered than to find a sit-down restaurant. Pizza and Chinese are especially ubiquitous for delivery or takeout in the U.S.; towns as small as 5,000 typically have at least one pizza shop and one Chinese takeout/delivery restaurant, and often more than one. Hardcore pizza fans will usually prefer local pizza places to the big national chains; many such restaurants also offer takeout and delivery.

Fast-casual restaurants offer a fast-food dining style (i.e. no table service), but the meals tend to be fresher and healthier. The food takes a bit longer to prepare — and costs a few dollars more — than at fast food joints, but it's generally worth it. Some fast-casual places even serve alcohol.

Diners are quintessentially American and have remained popular since their heyday in the 1940s and 50s. They are usually individually run, open 24-hours and found on major roads, though they also appear in large cities and suburbs. They offer a wide variety of huge meals that often include soup or salad, bread, beverage and dessert. They are usually busy for breakfast, in the morning, at the end of factory shifts, or after the bars close.

No compendium of American restaurants would be complete without mentioning the truck stop. Ova mjesta ćete susresti samo ako vozite međugradskim automobilom ili autobusom. Nalaze se na međudržavnim autocestama i udovoljavaju autoprevoznicima. Bit će na raspolaganju dizel gorivo i odvojeno parkiralište za "velike platforme" te tuševi za vozače koji spavaju u svojim kabinama. Ovi bajkoviti restorani poslužuju ono što prolazi putem za "običnu domaću kuhinju": vrući sendviči s pečenom govedinom, mesni štruci, pržena piletina i naravno sveprisutni sendvič ili hamburger i pomfrit, posluženi u velikim obrocima, često 24 sata dnevno. Obiluje švedski stol i "sve što možete jesti". Kamiondžije znaju kako jedu: ako vani ima puno kamiona, bit će dobro.

Lanac sjedeći restorani imaju predvidljiviju razinu kvalitete i cijene u usporedbi s lokalnim restoranima i stajalištima za kamione, iako će oni s pronicljivim nepcima vjerojatno još uvijek biti razočarani. Neki su se specijalizirali za vrstu hrane (npr. Morski plodovi, cjelodnevni doručak) ili određenu nacionalnu kuhinju, dok drugi imaju širu ponudu.

Za putnike s naprtnjačama ili one s vrlo ograničenim proračunom, američki supermarketi ponuditi gotovo neograničenu raznolikost pakirane ili prerađene hrane koja je ili spremna ili gotovo spremna za konzumaciju, uključujući žitarice za doručak, rezance od ramena, juhe iz konzerve i smrznuta jela.

U najvećim gradovima, kutne trgovine obilovati. Ove male prodavaonice nude razne grickalice, pića i pakiranu hranu. Za razliku od većine trgovina, njihovi se proizvodi prodaju po relativno niskim cijenama (posebno prema urbanim standardima) i mogu pružiti grickalice ili čak jednostavne obroke za proračun koji ne prelazi 5 dolara dnevno.

Vrste hrane

Cheeseburger

Popularni američki prehrambeni proizvodi uključuju hamburgere, hrenovke, pizzu, sladoled i pitu. Iako su mnoge vrste hrane nepromijenjene diljem Sjedinjenih Država, postoji nekoliko različitih regionalnih sorti hrane (ponajviše u Jug).

Brza hrana restorani su sveprisutni, ali raznolikost ove vrste restorana u SAD-u je zapanjujuća: hamburgeri, hrenovke, pizza, pržena piletina, roštilj, TexMex i sladoled tek ih se počinju doticati. U tim se restoranima ne poslužuju alkoholna pića; bezalkoholna pića su standardni. Nemojte se iznenaditi kad naručite sodu, ako vam se doda papirnata šalica i očekuje se da je sami napunite iz fontane soda (punjenje je često besplatno). Kvaliteta hrane varira, ali zbog strogo ograničenog jelovnika općenito je dobra, posebno po danu. Također su restorani obično čisti i svijetli, a usluga je ograničena, ali prijateljska. Nekoliko restorana, tzv ubacivanja, poslužuju vas izravno u vašem automobilu. Većina mjesta brze hrane nude voziti kroz usluga koja vam omogućuje da izvršite narudžbu s izbornika ustanove postavljenu na bočnoj strani posebne prometne trake, a zatim je platite i predate (upakirano) na zasebnom bočnom prozoru prije vožnje do vašeg sljedećeg odredišta.

Vrhovi rebara u Memphis

U najboljem slučaju, roštilj (često skraćeno "BBQ") su svinjska ili goveđa rebra, goveđa prsa ili svinjska lopatica polako dimljena drvom satima. Rebra se poslužuju kao cjelina ili polurezak ili se režu na pojedinačna rebra, prsa se obično tanko narežu, a rame se može usitniti ("povući") ili nasjeckati. Umaci različite pikantnosti mogu se poslužiti na jelu ili sa strane. Postoje i jedinstveni regionalni stilovi roštilja, od kojih se najbolji mogu naći u Jug. Meso s roštilja može se poslužiti s raznim stranama, uključujući čili, kukuruz u klipu, salatu od zelja i krumpir salatu. Restorani s roštiljem su nepretenciozni, a najbolja hrana često se nalazi u vrlo ležernim objektima. Očekujte plastično posuđe, stolove za piknik i sendviče na jeftinom bijelom kruhu. Roštilj koji se nalazi na jelovniku u modnom lancu ili nespecijaliziranom restoranu vjerojatno će biti manje autentičan. Rebra i piletinu jedu se prstima; ulovite svinjetinu ili briškulu ili vilicom ili u sendviču. Neki Amerikanci (iako nikad južnjaci) koriste "roštilj" kao sinonim za "kuhanje": zabava na kojoj se poput piletine, hamburgera i hrenovki peče na otvorenom (umjesto da se puši). To može biti zabavno, ali ih ne smijemo zamijeniti s gore navedenim.

S bogatom tradicijom useljavanja, Amerika ima široku paletu etnička hrana - sve, od etiopske kuhinje do laoške hrane, dostupno je u većim gradovima s velikom imigrantskom populacijom - i oni čak počinju unakrsno oprašivati ​​u fuzija restorani s jelovnicima koji su kombinacija dvije ili više različitih vrsta kuhinje.

Ove kriške pizze dolaze iz New Yorka, ali ovakvu pizzu možete dobiti u mnogim pizzerijama širom sjeveroistoka i šire

talijanska hrana je možda najrasprostranjenija od etničkih kuhinja u Americi, gotovo do te mjere da je o njezinoj "inozemnosti" diskutabilno. Iako je autentičnija hrana sigurno dostupna u otmjenijim restoranima, talijanska hrana u SAD-u često je krenula drugim smjerom od onog u kojem je Italija sama po sebi, posebno u pogledu pizze, koja U Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama dostupan je u bezbroj domaćih stilova koji su poznati u regiji, a ponekad i u cijeloj zemlji, ali u Italiji nepoznati. Postoje i restorani specijalizirani za grčki i Srednji istok kuhinje (sa feta sir i humus prilično raširena na šalterima supermarketa), a u nešto manjem broju također njemački i francuski restoranima.

Sushi je jedno od najčešćih azijskih jela u SAD-u

Kineska hrana široko je dostupan i prilagođen američkim ukusima. Autentična kineska hrana može se naći u restoranima u kineskim četvrtima, pored zajednica s velikim brojem kineskog stanovništva. japanski suši, vijetnamski, i tajlandska hrana također su prilagođeni za američko tržište, s namjenskim restoranima u većim gradovima. Indijanac i korejski restorani su također prisutni.

Također je vrlo popularan Latinoamerička kuhinja, posebno meksička, koja je dugi niz godina dolazila gotovo isključivo u obliku Tex-Mex kuhinja: domaći hibrid izvorno razvijen u Teksas ali temeljeno na amerikaniziranoj interpretaciji kuhinje Sjeverni Meksiko. Ipak, mali autentični Meksikanac taquerias koji su nekada bili ograničeni uglavnom na Kalifornija i Jugozapadno sada su se proširile po cijeloj zemlji. Također ćete pronaći kubanski hrana u Južna Florida i portorikanski i Dominikanski restorani u sjeveroistočnim obalnim gradovima, koji općenito poslužuju autentičniji i manje amerikaniziran proizvod.

The Židovska zajednica je dao puno na kulinarskoj sceni. Dok punopravni Košer delis su umiruća pasmina koja se danas uglavnom iseljava u New York i druga mjesta s izuzetno velikom židovskom populacijom, neki specijaliteti poput kiflice i pastrami ušli su u kulinarski mainstream i Amerikanci svih vrsta sada uživaju u cijeloj zemlji. Većina američkih židovskih kuhinja (poput većine američkih Židova) podrijetlom je iz Aškenazija; Hrana za Sephardija i Mizrahija uglavnom je nepoznata u SAD-u

Dijetalna ograničenja

Restorani s uslugom vegetarijanci postaju sve češći u SAD-u. Većina velikih gradova i sveučilišnih gradova imat će restorane koji poslužuju isključivo ili prvenstveno vegetarijanska jela. U manjim gradovima možda ćete imati veći izazov. Konobar može odgovoriti na pitanja o stavkama izbornika, ali jela s aromom govedine ili svinjetine, ribe, piletine ili jaja može smatrati vegetarijancima. To je osobito često kod povrćnih priloga na jugu. Hrana za doručak bez mesa, poput palačinki ili jaja, lako je dostupna u restoranima. Veganska restorani (i veganske mogućnosti u drugim restoranima) sve se više pojavljuju, posebno u velikim gradovima.

Ljudi na dijeti s niskim udjelom masti ili s malo kalorija trebali bi biti prilično dobro posluženi u SAD-u. Čak i restorani brze hrane na jelovniku imaju nekoliko zdravijih opcija, a na zahtjev mogu pružiti tablice brojanja kalorija i masti.

Svijest o alergije na hranu varira. Pakirana hrana mora biti označena ako sadrži mlijeko, jaja, ribu, školjke, kikiriki, orašaste plodove, pšenicu ili soju. Pakirana hrana također mora navesti sastojke, iako to može uključivati ​​nespecifične stavke poput "začina", "začina" ili "dodane boje". Ali obično nema obveze označavanja alergena u nepakiranoj hrani, na pr. u restoranima, pekarnicama i svježoj hrani u trgovinama (ali zakoni se razlikuju ovisno o državi). Neki restorani označavaju alergene i udovoljavaju onima koji imaju alergiju na hranu. Lanac brze hrane i lanaca restorana često je sigurnija oklada za ljude koji imaju alergije na hranu jer imaju dosljedne sastojke i metode. U sjedećim restoranima obavijestite svog konobara, postavljajte pitanja, a ako vaš konobar ni u što nije siguran, neka ga ponovno provjere ili inzistiraju na razgovoru s kuharom. Veliki izbor bez glutena dostupna je hrana, ali kao i drugi alergeni, i zakoni o označavanju (moraju sadržavati manje od 20 ppm glutena) primjenjuju se na pakiranu hranu, ali ne i na restorane.

Ljudi dalje vjerske dijete ne bi trebali imati problema s pronalaženjem onoga što im treba u većim gradovima. Većina većih gradova ima barem jedan halal i košer mesara, a često postoje i restorani koji poslužuju te zajednice. Halal momci jedinstveni je američki lanac halal restorana koji posluje u mnogim većim gradovima. Međutim, takva hrana često uopće nije dostupna u malim gradovima i ruralnim područjima.

Etiketa

Obično je neprimjereno pridružiti se stolu koji već zauzimaju drugi gosti, čak i ako ima neiskorištena mjesta; Amerikanci više vole taj stupanj privatnosti kad jedu. Iznimke uključuju blagovaonice u stilu kafeterija s dugim stolovima i prepune neformalne blagovaonice i kafići u kojima ćete možda uspjeti pitati neznanca možete li dijeliti stol za kojim sjede. Započinjanje razgovora u ovoj situaciji može i ne mora biti dobrodošlo.

Iako su različiti, obično su pod utjecajem Europe. Šuškanje ili ispuštanje drugih zvukova dok jedete smatra se nepristojnim, kao i glasan razgovor (uključujući telefonske pozive). Prilično je uobičajeno čekati dok se svi za vašim stolom ne posluže prije jela. Trebali biste položiti platnene salvete preko krila; to možete učiniti s papirnatim salvetama ili ih držati na stolu.

Mnogi su proizvodi brze hrane (sendviči, pljeskavice, pizza, tacos, itd.) Namijenjeni ručnoj jesti; nekoliko namirnica gotovo se uvijek jede ručno (pomfrit, slanina, rebarca s roštilja i mnoga predjela) čak i u umjereno lijepim restoranima. Ako niste sigurni, jesti takozvanu "hranu za prste" vilicom i nožem vjerojatno nikoga neće uvrijediti; ručno jesti hranu od vilica i noževa.

Prekršaj se ne poduzima ako ne dovršite obrok; većina restorana spakirat će ostatak da ga ponesete sa sobom ili će vam pružiti kutiju da to sami napravite (ponekad eufemistički nazvana "vrećica za pse", što podrazumijeva da su ostaci za vašeg ljubimca). Ako to želite učiniti, zamolite poslužitelja da ostatak "ostavi"; to će biti gotovo univerzalno shvaćeno i neće uzrokovati neugodnosti. Neki restorani nude bife "sve što možete jesti" ili drugu uslugu; uzimanje kućnih dijelova takvog obroka ili nije dopušteno ili nosi dodatne troškove.

Kad vas pozovu na obrok u privatnoj kući, možete pitati možete li nešto doprinijeti obroku, poput deserta, priloga, vina ili piva, ili za kuhanje na otvorenom, nešto korisno poput leda ili šalica za jednokratnu upotrebu ili tanjura . Domaćin će često odbiti, pogotovo jer ste putnik. Ako se od vas ne traži da doprinesete obroku, smatra se dobrim manirima ponijeti sa sobom mali poklon za domaćina (koji se često naziva poklon domaćice). Najčešće su boca vina, kutija bombona ili svježe rezano cvijeće. Ne biste trebali očekivati ​​da se uz obrok poslužuje i vaš poklon, ako je to hrana; domaćin je već odabrao sastojke obroka. Pokloni u gotovini ili vrlo osobni predmeti (npr. Toaletni pribor) nisu prikladni.

Iznimka je potluck ili nositi u obrok, gdje svaki gost (ili grupa / obitelj) donosi jelo koje će podijeliti sa svima; ta zajednička jela čine čitav obrok. Obično su jela grupirana (npr. Salate, glavna jela ili tepsije, prilozi, predjelo, deserti); trebali biste pitati domaćina žele li da donesete nešto posebno. Idealna jela za potluck treba poslužiti iz velike sobe lonac, jelo ili zdjelu, a obično se poslužuju na bazi švedskog stola - otud naglasak na salatama, tepsijama i hrani veličine zalogaja. Ove vrste obroka obično nude širok asortiman dobro pripremljene hrane i možda su najbolji način za iskusiti autentičnu američku kuhinju - a vaš strani specijalitet možda je upravo glavna atrakcija!

Pušenje

Hoćete li pušiti u baru ili restoranu ili nekom drugom javnom zatvorenom prostoru varira između država, pa čak i unutar njih. U većini slučajeva je zabranjeno. Ako postoji znak "Zabranjeno pušenje", osvjetljenje vas može izbaciti, kazniti ili čak uhapsiti, osim prljavog izgleda.

Pušenje je steklo društvenu stigmu, čak i tamo gdje je to dopušteno. Možda biste htjeli pitati ljude oko sebe da li im smeta prije nego što se upale. Mnoge države imaju zakone o pušenju u blizini javnih ulaza: pripazite na istaknute znakove koji navode minimalnu udaljenost od vrata, iako provedba nije dosljedna. Ako nađete pladanj za pepeo ili stražnju stanicu, tamo sigurno pušite.

Od 2018. godine neke su države legalizirale rekreacijsku i / ili medicinsku upotrebu kanabis. U državama u kojima je kanabis / medicinska marihuana legalna, zeleni križ - sličan logotipu Crvenog križa i zbunjujuće sličan znakovima za uobičajene ljekarne u drugim zemljama - predstavlja tvrtku koja prodaje medicinsku marihuanu. Prodaja u nekim područjima može biti ograničena na lokalno stanovništvo ili na ljude s određenim medicinskim stanjima. Uz to, savezni zakon zabranjuje rukovanje kanabisom, a prijevoz kanabisa u zemlju ili preko državnih granica, čak i između država u kojima je kanabis legalan, predstavlja zločin. Nadalje je nejasno kako se državni zakoni (ili nadležnost indijskih rezervata) i savezni zakon sudaraju u pogledu kanabisa.

Piće

Američki izvorni duh - burbon, uredan

Piće u Americi jednako je raznoliko kao i porijeklo mnogih ljudi. U gradovima možete pronaći sve, od teških lokalnih barova "pucati i pivo" do luksuznih martini barova; urbani barovi i noćni klubovi često će služiti samo jednostavnu hranu ili je uopće neće poslužiti. U predgrađima se alkohol uglavnom poslužuje u restoranima, a ne u barovima. A u ruralnim područjima linija između "bara" i "restorana" često je zamagljena do besmisla; s nekoliko objekata u blizini, mještani odlaze na isto mjesto kako bi objedovali i noćni život. Nekoliko država ima suhe županije, mjesta na kojima je ilegalno prodavati alkohol za lokalnu konzumaciju; to su uglavnom u ruralnim područjima.

Zakoni

Dob pijenja je 21 u cijeloj SAD-u osim na većini udaljenih teritorija (gdje ih ima 18). Provedba ovoga varira, ali uvijek nosite valjani identifikacijski dokument sa slikom u slučaju da ste kartonirani. Općenito prihvaćeni oblici osobne iskaznice su američka vozačka dozvola, državna iskaznica ili putovnica. Neki lokali i trgovci zahtijevaju osobne iskaznice za sve transakcije, a neki možda neće prihvatiti stranu vozačku dozvolu (osim moguće Kanade), pa se preporučuje preporuka da imate putovnicu na raspolaganju prilikom kupnje alkohola. U nekim državama ljudi mlađi od 21 godine ne mogu legalno ući u bar ili prodavaonicu alkoholnih pića - pa čak i tamo gdje zakon to dopušta, pojedinačni lokali i dalje mogu odlučiti ne primati maloljetnike.

Prodaja alkohola obično je zabranjena nakon 02:00, iako postoje neki gradovi u kojima su barovi otvoreni kasnije ili čak cijelu noć. U nekim državama većina trgovina može prodavati samo pivo i vino; žestoka pića prodaju se u namjenskim prodavaonicama alkoholnih pića. Nekoliko "suhih okruga" - uglavnom u južnim državama - zabranjuje neke ili sve vrste alkohola u javnim ustanovama; privatni klubovi (s nominalnom članarinom) često se osnivaju kako bi se to zaobišlo. Nedjeljna prodaja u nekim je područjima ograničena.

Većina gradova zabranjuje pijenje na otvorenom s različitim stupnjevima provedbe. Čak i ako je dopušteno, vidljiva bočica (umjesto one u maloj vrećici) ili je ilegalna ili opravdava policijsku pozornost. Biti „pijan i neuredan“ je protuzakonito. Vožnja u pijanom stanju dolazi pod prilično oštru kontrolu. Razina alkohola u krvi od 0,08% smatra se "pod utjecajem", a mnoge države smatraju razinu od 0,05% "oštećenom". Ako ste mlađi od 21 godine, većina država ima ograničenja od 0,00-0,02%. Američka policija oštro pazi na pijane vozače (posebno tijekom prazničkih vikenda) i na raspolaganju ima čitav niz alata koji mogu brzo utvrditi jeste li pod utjecajem. Ako vas uhvate u vožnji pod utjecajem alkohola, gotovo ćete sigurno biti uhićeni. Stranci će se obično deportirati, čak i dobro uspostavljeni stalni stanovnici. Također je obično protiv zakona otvaranje spremnika s alkoholom bilo gdje u automobilu, osim u prtljažniku; ovo može biti teško kažnjeno. Ako se nađete u situaciji da ste popili malo više nego što ste namjeravali i niste sigurni trebate li voziti, taksi kabine prilično su plodne u srednjim i velikim gradovima, a aplikacije za pozdravljanje vožnje imaju vozače čak i u malim gradovima. Mnogi automobilski klubovi nude telefonske linije za pronalazak vožnje kući.

Pića

Pivo i vino su glavna destilirana alkoholna pića, sa viski glavni žestoka pića (tj. destilirano piće). Tvrdi jabukovača je alkoholno piće iz fermentiranih jabuka; iako je oduševljeno konzumirana prije dva stoljeća, njegova popularnost tek sada oživljava nakon desetljeća nejasnoća. "Jabukovača" bez daljnje kvalifikacije samo je nefiltrirana sorta soka od jabuke, iako se u kontekstu šanka podrazumijeva da se riječ odnosi na alkoholno piće.

Pivo čini približno polovicu alkohola konzumiranog u SAD-u. Nacionalno poznati lagani lageri (koji su jeftini i osrednji) i dalje su najzastupljeniji, unatoč pojavi drugih vrsta piva od 1990-ih. Mikropivovare, koji su se specijalizirali za maloserijska, visokokvalitetna piva proizvedena tradicionalnim metodama, dodaju prijeko potrebnu raznolikost. Mikropivovi, koji se nazivaju i "craft piva", često su inventivni i eksperimentalni; neki su izvrsni primjeri klasičnih stilova piva, dok drugi pomiču granice i razvijaju nove, jedinstvene okuse. Većina ih je dostupna samo lokalno, no dosta ih je doseglo regionalnu ili čak nacionalnu distribuciju. Neki barovi i restorani poslužuju zanatska piva, dok drugi ne, naizgled slučajno. Većina trgovina (čak i prodavaonica) ima barem nekoliko, a mnoge imaju širok izbor. Pivnice u pivnicama kombinirajte mikropivovaru i bar i poslužite visoko cijenjeno pivo koje se proizvodi u prostorijama.

Vino dostupan je u cijelom spektru kvalitete. Američka vina obilježava prvenstveno sorta grožđa. Grubi vodič za kvalitetu dolazi u specifičnosti označavanja. Sama boja ("crvena", "bijela" i "ružičasta" ili "ružičasta") označava najniži ešalon. Iznad toga, regije su označene državom (npr. "Kalifornija"), područje države (npr. "Središnja obala"), županije ili druge male regije (npr." Willamette Valley ") ili određenog vinograda (npr." Dry Creek Vineyard ").

Najjeftinije vino dolazi u plastičnoj vrećici zatvorenoj u kutiji. "Utvrđena vina", poznata kao "bum wine", sušta su suprotnost visokoj europskoj luci, sherryju ili Madeiri.

Svih 50 država bavi se nekakvim vinarstvom, premda 90% američkog vina - uključujući i ono najcjenjenije Dolina Napa-je kalifornijski. Vina iz Oregona Dolina Willamette i Država Washington predstavljaju dobru vrijednost jer su manje poznati. Michigan, Vinska zemlja Koloradai države New Yorka Jezera s prstima proizvode bijelce u njemačkom stilu koji su pobjeđivali na međunarodnim natjecanjima. The Llano Estacado regija Teksas također je značajna po svojim vinima.

Pjenušava vina dostupni su u bocama u otmjenim restoranima, a ponekad se poslužuju i na čaše. Najbolja kalifornijska pjenušava vina ocijenjena su usporedivo s vodećim francuskim šampanjcima, ali obično se ne prodaju u supermarketima izvan Kalifornije.

Pjenušava jabukovača je obično bezalkoholno piće koje dolazi u obliku boce šampanjca i može se aromatizirati. Tvrdi jabukovače su oni koji u sebi sadrže alkohol.

Većina barova, osim urbanih vinskih barova, poslužuju neuobičajena vina. Neki restorani vino shvaćaju prilično ozbiljno, ali kao i kod svih ostalih alkoholnih pića u restoranima, očekujte da ćete bocu platiti i do četiri puta više od cijene alkoholnih pića.

Tvrdi alkohol (tj. žestoka pića) obično se pije s miješalicama, ali služi se i "na stijenama" (s ledom) ili "ravno" (nemiješano, bez leda, naziva se i "uredno"). Viski, tradicionalni izbor, i dalje je popularan unatoč povećanoj popularnosti votke i ostalih bistrih alkoholnih pića. Viski destilira se iz mnogih različitih žitarica. Glavne vrste su raž, slad (od uglavnom ječma) i burbon (od uglavnom kukuruza, tj. Kukuruza).

Noćni život

Svjetla grada greha, Las Vegas, Nevada

Noćni klubovi u Americi imaju uobičajenu lepezu različitih glazbenih scena, od diskoteka s top 40 plesnih melodija do opskurnih klubova koji poslužuju sitne dijelove opskurnih glazbenih žanrova. Plesni klubovi country glazbe, ili honky tonks, položeni su prilično debeli na jugu i zapadu, posebno u ruralnim područjima i dalje od obala, ali jedan ili dva mogu se naći u gotovo svakom gradu. Također, homoseksualni / lezbijski noćni klubovi postoje u gotovo svakom gradu srednje ili veće veličine.

"Sretan sat", razdoblje koje obično traje od 30 minuta do tri sata, obično između 17 i 20 sati, donosi značajne popuste na odabrana pića. "Ženske noći", tijekom kojih žene dobivaju popust, sve su češće.

Do 1977. jedina američka država s legaliziranim kockanjem bila je Nevada. Država dopušta igre na sreću od 1930-ih, stvarajući gradove odmarališta poput Las Vegas i Reno u procesu. Nazvan "Gradom grijeha", posebno se Las Vegas razvio u igralište za odrasle krajnjeg odredišta, nudeći mnoge druge aktivnosti izvan radnog vremena poput zabavnih parkova, noćnih klubova, striptiz klubova, emisija, barova i restorana s četiri zvjezdice. Kockanje se od tada proširilo izvan Nevade u mnoštvo američkih gradova poput Atlantic City, New Jersey i Biloxi, Mississippi, kao i riječnim brodovima, obalnim krstarenjima i indijskim rezervatima. Državne lutrije i "ogrebotine" još su jedan, popularan oblik legaliziranog kockanja. Međutim, internetsko igranje i klađenje na sport preko državnih linija i dalje su ilegalne u SAD-u.

Bezalkoholna pića

Sjedinjene Države imaju široku paletu gazirana pića s nekim od najpoznatijih brandova koji ovdje potječu. Dok se Pepsi i Coca-Cola prodaju po cijelom svijetu, neki okusi teško su poznati izvan Sjeverne Amerike. Pjenušava voda, nekad viđena kao europska zanimljivost, postala je sve popularnija kao zdravija alternativa slatkim bezalkoholnim pićima i sada je dostupna u većini trgovina. Voda iz pipe obično se poslužuje besplatno u restoranima, a u većini dijelova zemlje, osim područja New Yorka, obično ćete dobiti besplatna punjenja kave, čaja i (nešto rjeđe) bezalkoholnih pića. Amerikanci vole stavljati puno leda u svoja pića, pa ako izričito ne zatražite drugačije, očekujte da svako bezalkoholno piće koje naručite u restoranu (uključujući vodu) sadrži veliku količinu kockica leda. Prilikom naručivanja vode u restoranima brze hrane može se pretpostaviti da se koristi flaširana voda ako ne navedete vodu iz slavine.

Spavati

Klasični motel iz 1950-ih Seligman, Arizona, zajedno Put 66

Daleko najčešći oblik smještaja u ruralnim dijelovima Sjedinjenih Država i duž mnogih međudržavnih država je motel. Pružajući jeftine sobe putnicima u automobilima, većina motela je čista i razumna s ograničenim nizom pogodnosti: telefon, TV, krevet, kupaonica. Motel 6 (☏ 1-800-466-8356) je nacionalni lanac s razumnim cijenama (30–70 USD, ovisno o gradu). Super 8 moteli (☏ 1-800-800-8000) pružiti razuman smještaj i u cijeloj zemlji. Rezervacije su obično nepotrebne, što je prikladno jer ne morate samovoljno prekidati dugo putovanje; možete jednostavno voziti dok se ne umorite i naći sobu. Često će također upaliti svoj znak vani kako bi znali ima li slobodnih mjesta, a u tom slučaju možete jednostavno ući ako ih imaju. Međutim, neke odrasli koriste rezervirajući noć za seks ili nezakonite aktivnosti, a mnogi se nalaze u nepoželjnim područjima.

Poslovni hoteli ili hoteli s produženim boravkom sve su više dostupni širom zemlje. Mogu se naći u manjim gradovima na Srednjem zapadu ili u obalnim urbanim područjima. Općenito su skuplji od motela, ali ne toliko skupi kao hoteli u cjelini, s cijenama od oko 70 do 170 dolara. Iako se čini da su hoteli veličine motela, oni mogu ponuditi pogodnosti većih hotela.

Neki hoteli s produženim boravkom usmjereni su na poslovne putnike ili obitelji na dugoročni boravak (koji se često preseljavaju zbog korporativnih odluka). Ovi hoteli često imaju kuhinje u većini soba, popodnevna društvena događanja (obično uz bazen) i poslužuju kontinentalni doručak. Takvi "suite" hoteli približno su jednaki usluženi stanovi viđen u drugim zemljama, iako se taj pojam obično ne koristi u američkom engleskom jeziku.

Hoteli dostupni su u većini gradova i obično nude više usluga i sadržaja od motela. Sobe obično koštaju oko 80–300 USD po noćenju, ali u većini većih gradova mogu se naći vrlo veliki, glamurozni i skupi hoteli koji nude luksuzne apartmane veće od nekih kuća. Vrijeme prijave i odjave gotovo je uvijek u rasponu od 11:00 do 14:00 i 14:00 do 16:00. Neki hoteli u SAD-u neće primiti osobe mlađe od 21 godine ako se ne prijave sa starijim osobama. Mnogi američki gradovi sada u predgrađima imaju "rubne gradove" koji nude visokokvalitetne luksuzne hotele namijenjene bogatim poslovnim putnicima. Ovi hoteli često imaju sve pogodnosti svojih rođaka u centru / CBD-u (i više), ali po manje pretjeranim cijenama. Manjina hotela je pogodna za pse, a još manje dopušta druge vrste kućnih ljubimaca; u svakom slučaju, vjerojatno ćete trebati platiti nadoplatu i povrat štete. Sadržaji poput Wi-Fi-ja i doručka obično su besplatni u hotelima srednje klase, ali često nisu dostupni u najjeftinijim motelima i dostupni su samo po pretjeranim cijenama u luksuznim hotelima.

Mnogi noćenja s doručkom nalaze se u starim, starinskim ili povijesnim kućama

U mnogim ruralnim područjima krevet i doručak (B&B) smještaji mogu se naći u preuređenim kućama. Noćenja s doručkom nude više smještaj poput doma, uz besplatan doručak. Noćenja s doručkom kreću se od oko 50 do 200 američkih dolara po noćenju i mogu biti lijep odmor od bezličnosti lančanih hotela i motela. Za razliku od Europe, većina američkih noćenja s doručkom nema oznaku.

Dva najpoznatija vodiča za hotele koji pokrivaju SAD su AAA (nekada Američko automobilsko udruženje; obično se izgovara "Triple-A") TourBooks, dostupna članovima i povezanim autoklubovima širom svijeta u lokalnim uredima AAA; i Mobilni turistički vodič dostupan u knjižarama. Postoji nekoliko web stranica koje rezerviraju hotele putem interneta; imajte na umu da mnoge od ovih stranica dodaju malu proviziju na cijenu sobe, pa je možda jeftinije rezervirati izravno kroz hotel. S druge strane, neki hoteli naplaćuju više od "rezerviranih" soba ili soba koje su stekli agenti i brokeri, pa vrijedi provjeriti oboje.

Hosteli za mlade zapravo nisu poletjeli u SAD-u, ali postoje u cijeloj zemlji. Neki su povezani s Američki omladinski hostel organizacija (član udruge Hostelling International). Kvaliteta hostela varira u velikoj mjeri, ali cijene su od 8 do 24 dolara po noćenju, a cijene su nenadmašne. Unatoč imenu, članstvo u AYH otvoreno je za ljude bilo koje dobi. Dostupni su i hosteli koji nisu za AYH, posebno u većim gradovima. Hosteli su skupljeni na turističkim mjestima: ne pretpostavljajte da će svi gradovi srednje veličine imati hostel, a čak i vrlo veliki gradovi mogu imati samo jedan ili dva.

Kampiranje također može biti pristupačna opcija smještaja, posebno uz lijepo vrijeme. Loša je strana što je većina kampova izvan urbanih regija, pa to nije velika opcija za putovanja u velike gradove. Postoji ogromna mreža Nacionalni parkovi (☏ 1-800-365-2267), s tim da i većina država i mnoge županije imaju vlastite parkovne sustave. Većina državnih i nacionalnih kampova izvrsne su kvalitete, s prekrasnim prirodnim okolišem. Očekujte da ćete prilikom ulaska platiti 7–20 USD po automobilu. Kampovi u Americi (KOA) ima lanac komercijalnih franšiza u kampovima diljem zemlje, znatno manje šarma od njihovih ekvivalenata u javnom sektoru, ali s priključcima za rekreacijska vozila i sadržaje poput praonica rublja. Nebrojeni privatni kampovi u neovisnom vlasništvu razlikuju se po karakteru.

Neki neobično Mogućnosti smještaja dostupne su u određenim područjima ili uz prethodni dogovor. Na primjer, možda ćete uživati ​​boraviti na kućica na splavu u Jezero Tahoe ili Erie kanal. Ili ostanite u a kućica na drvetu u Oregonu. Konvencionalnije smještaje možete pronaći u studentskim domovima na fakultetima ili sveučilištima, od kojih nekoliko iznajmljuje sobe putnicima tijekom ljeta. Napokon, u mnogim turističkim područjima, kao i u velikim gradovima, možete iznajmiti namještenu kuću svakodnevno.

Naučiti

Glavni članak: Studira u Sjedinjenim Državama

Vidi također: Obilazak prestižnih i zapaženih sveučilišta u SAD-u

Redovni studij u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama izvrsna je prilika za mlade odrasle koji traže napredno obrazovanje, priliku da vide stranu zemlju i bolje razumijevanje SAD-a i njihovih ljudi. To se može učiniti samostalno prijavljivanjem izravno fakultetu za upis ili putem "studija u inozemstvu" ili "deviznog" odjela fakulteta u vašoj zemlji, obično na jedan rok ili godinu dana. Ovo drugo je obično najlakše; dvije će se institucije nositi s velikim dijelom aranžmana i ne morate se obvezati na četiri godine života u čudnoj zemlji. SAD je dom mnogih najprestižnijih svjetskih sveučilišta i privlači više međunarodnih studenata nego bilo koja druga zemlja na svijetu, a puno se kulturne raznolikosti može vidjeti na svim vrhunskim sveučilištima.

Raditi

Glavni članak: Rad u Sjedinjenim Državama

Sjedinjene Države, kao najveće gospodarstvo na svijetu, mame strance mogućnostima zaposlenja u čitavom nizu razina vještina i gospodarskih sektora. Kao i druge zemlje, i SAD je usvojio zakone o imigraciji i vizama s ciljem davanja prednosti stanovnicima SAD-a. Obavezno shvatite s kojim pravnim preprekama se susrećete pri zapošljavanju u SAD-u. Ne pokušavajte raditi ilegalno u SAD-u, jer biste potencijalno mogli biti podvrgnuti uhićenju, deportaciji i zabrani ponovnog ulaska. Ilegalni radnici također riskiraju zbog nesigurnih uvjeta rada.

Ostati siguran

Zločin

Glavni zločini koji privlače naslove daju SAD-u reputaciju zločina, ali malo posjetitelja ima bilo kakvih problema; zdrave pameti i oprez uglavnom su dovoljni da se izbjegnu nevolje. Nasilni kriminal obično je povezan s bandama i drogom u određenim četvrtima te s žestokim sporovima. Izbjegavajte te i bit će vam dobro. Urbana turistička područja su pod strogom policijom i zaštićena su od svih, osim sitnih zločina.

Rural crime in America tends to be very rare and very local, occurring primarily in very poor, troubled communities which are easy to avoid. Urban areas tend to have homeless people who may aggressively ask for money. If you feel harassed, say "No" firmly and walk away.

Illegal immigration and drug smuggling, and the authorities' heavy-handed treatment of them, make the Mexican border undesirable to visit. Official border crossings are safe to use.

There has been a reported increase in mass shootings and white nationalist terrorism since 2016, albeit against the backdrop of a declining number of homicide deaths overall. While these occur in random locations that are nearly impossible to predict, as a tourist, your chances of encountering one are slim.

Police

Officers of the Los Angeles Police in a patrol car

The police are generally polite, professional, and honest. The police will however draw and use their weapons much faster and with more deadly force than police forces in other Western countries. When in uniform, they are more formal, cautious, cold and sometimes aggressive than police in, say, Europe or Latin America—especially in large cities. If stopped by police, do not feel scared or anxious. Stay calm, be polite and cooperative, avoid making sudden movements, and state what you are doing if you need to reach for your purse or wallet to present your identification. It is particularly important for you to appear calm and cooperative if you are a person of color, since non-white people are much more likely to be subjected to police harassment.

If you have been pulled over by a police officer, turn on your car's lights and keep your hands on the wheel; do not exit the vehicle unless told to do so.

Čini ne offer bribes to a police officer under any circumstances. U.S. police culture categorically rejects bribes, and even the mere suggestion can result in your immediate arrest. If you need to pay a fine, don't try to pay the officer; he or she can direct you to the appropriate police station, courthouse, or government office. Most minor traffic infractions can be paid by mail. Increasingly fines can be paid online or over the phone within a matter of minutes of receiving the ticket, though often for a convenience fee of a few dollars. Instructions are often printed on the ticket. Unlike in much of the world, fines are not tied to income and can be rather steep as many towns and counties—controversially—rely on them as a major source of revenue. You should thus be especially careful to comply with the less obvious rules.

There are three types of police you are most likely to encounter: state police or highway patrol units on major highways, rural areas and/or state government offices, deputy sheriffs employed by county governments in rural areas, and police officers employed by city or town governments in urban areas. There are also smaller police departments, like transit or airport police which patrol public transportation, and university or campus police which patrol universities. Federal law enforcement officers, such as FBI agents, are generally found only in or near federal facilities, such as ports of entry, national parks, and federal government offices. If you encounter them elsewhere, it is usually because they are investigating specific allegations of federal crimes.

Emergency services

Dialing 911 at any telephone will reach the emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, etc.). Any U.S. phone, regardless if it is "active" or not, must be able to dial 911 if it is connected to the network, and such calls are always free. Unless you are calling from a mobile or Internet-based phone, the operator should be able to locate you from the phone you are using even if you do not say anything. Modern cell phones will send a GPS fix of your location down to a few meters within a few seconds of dialing 911. Dialing 911 and leaving an open line will bring all 3 emergency services to your location in under 5 minutes in most populated areas. Response time may be longer in sparsely populated areas or along the Interstates.

On any GSM mobile phone (the standard technology in most of the world, especially in Europe), you can also dial 112, which is the standard emergency number for GSM networks worldwide. U.S. GSM carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and smaller regional operators) automatically redirect 112 calls to 911.

Border Patrol

The United States Border Patrol works near both the Canadian and the Mexican borders, as well as in Southern coastal areas like the Florida Keys. They can verify immigration status and enforce immigration laws in the "border zones"—generally within 40 miles of Canada and 75 miles of Mexico (although the law allows for 100 miles from any border, including sea and the Great Lakes). Near Canada they tend to be unobtrusive and generally focus their work on long-distance buses and trains. Near the southern border, systematic vehicle checkpoints or being stopped on the street with a friendly "Papers, please..." is much more likely. They tend not to target tourists specifically.

Foreigners are always required to carry their passports, visas, and landing cards (or Green Cards). Being found without them near the border could lead you to being detained until your status is verified, or possibly fined. If your documents are in order, you generally won't be questioned. In most states (Arizona is a notable exception), police and other local authorities are not allowed to question you about your immigration status or to ask to see your passport or visa unless you're arrested and charged with a crime, and then only for the purpose of connecting you with your embassy. As a result of the 9/11 attacks, some statistics have shown that Muslims or those who are assumed to be Muslims may be disproportionately targeted for additional screenings at airports despite claims that passengers are chosen at random.

Natural disasters

Tornadoes are more common in the United States than in any other country

The U.S. is a huge country with very varied geography, and parts of it are occasionally affected by natural disasters: uragani i tropical storms from June through November in the Jug and along the East Coast, blizzards u Nova Engleska, near the Great Lakes, and in the Stjenjak, tornada mostly in the Velike ravnice and Midwest, earthquakes on the West Coast and in Aljaska, floods in areas of the Midwest and Teksas i wildfires in the late summer and early fall in the western half, particularly Kalifornija i Jugozapadno. See the regions in question for more details.

Because tornadoes are so common between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, this area has earned itself the colloquial name Tornado Alley. Hawaii contains several active volcanoes, but they are not usually a threat to life and limb. The last high profile eruption in the mainland U.S. was that of Mount Saint Helens in 1980.

In the case of a natural disaster, local, state or federal authorities can issue a warning over the Emergency Alert System. It has a very distinctive electronic screeching followed by a sound similar to a dial tone prior to any message. It will override AM/FM radio broadcasts as well as TV systems. Smartphones sold since about 2011 will often receive an alert message based on the current location of the phone (depending on the phone's settings, this may include a loud alert tone). Coast Guard weather is broadcast continuously on VHF marine radio for seafarers; a separate system (seven frequencies around 161 MHz) provides conditions ashore. Special "weather radios" are able to monitor the frequency, even in standby mode, and sound the alarm if deadly storms (such as tornadoes or hurricanes) are brewing. In most tornado-prone regions, a system of sirens will sound when a tornado warning is issued. If you hear the siren, seek shelter immediately. (For more information, see sigurnost od tornada.)

Gay and lesbian

Castro Street pedestrian crosswalk with Rainbow Flag Colors

In general, the U.S. is a safe destination for gay and lesbian travelers, though as a whole, homosexuality is not quite as well accepted as in Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Western Europe. Most Americans take a live-and-let-live approach to sexuality, and anti-gay violence is very uncommon (though not totally unheard of), but you may receive unwanted attention or remarks in some situations or regions. In general, acceptance of homosexuality is most widespread (to a degree generally on par with Western Europe) in larger cities, college towns, in the Northeast and along the West Coast. However, this is just a general rule of thumb: you'll find homophobes (and, conversely, LGBT-accepting folks) in all corners of the country.

The rainbow flag ili gay pride flag is widely known even outside the gay community, and is commonly used by both individuals and businesses to signal that they (as individuals) are LGBT themselves or tolerant thereof, or that they (as businesses) are LGBT-owned and/or welcoming to LGBT customers. Other symbols (such as the pink triangle, or specific flags for bisexual or transgender people) exist but are much less widely recognized.

Gay-friendly destinations include New York's Chelsea, Austin, Chicago's Boystown, Seattle's Capitol Hill, San Francisco's Castro Street, Washington's Dupont Circle, Miami Beach's South Beach, Atlanta's Središnjem gradu, Los Angeles' West Hollywood i New Orleans. An increasing number of resort areas, too, are gay-friendly, including Fire Island, Key West, Asheville, Provincetown, Ogunquit, Rehoboth Beach, Saugatuck, i Asbury Park. Even leaving aside major tourist destinations, most cities have specific neighborhoods where gay people tend to congregate, and many have resource centers for LGBT people.

If you're married to someone of the same sex, you may encounter some difficulties in more conservative areas of the country, but Supreme Court rulings have made it clear that no municipal, state or federal authority is allowed to treat same-sex relationships differently from opposite-sex ones, and employers are also not allowed to discriminate against employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. In most jurisdictions, individual businesses remain free to refuse service to gays and lesbians; fewer than twenty states list sexual orientation as a protected category (like race and gender) and fewer still extend these protections to transgender persons. While transgender persons are not prohibited from travel, some have reported undue scrutiny at airport security checkpoints. A few large cities have enacted local anti-discrimination ordinances, and many places have alternative monthly or weekly publications providing LGBT-relevant news and event listings. National LGBT publications include Out magazine and The Advocate.

Men planning to engage in any sexual activity should be aware of the heightened risk of HIV and other infections in the United States. A gay American man is 44 times more likely to contract HIV than a heterosexual one, and 46 times more likely to contract syphilis. This risk grows greatly among men likely to engage in one-night stands and other higher-risk behavior. In a nation where 0.5% of the population are infected with HIV, unprotected sex is a very real risk. Precautions, including using protection, are strongly advised during your stay. Most cities have affordable or free testing and treatment centers for STIs, though hours may be limited and waits may be long. Planned Parenthood clinics are often an affordable alternative. Seeking healthcare elsewhere can be very pricey.

Drugs

Bilješka: You can be turned away from the U.S. border if you are carrying any substance prohibited by U.S. federal laws, including marijuana. You can also be turned away if you are employed in the cannabis industry where this is a legal activity. You can be banned from entering the U.S. for life if you lie to a customs official. Crossing the U.S. border with any quantity of cannabis in any form is a federal offense.

In general, U.S. drug laws can be pretty severe: even possession or transportation of small amounts can lead to prison or deportation. However, laws and attitudes concerning the most commonly available drug, marijuana, vary wildly from state to state. States like Louisiana and Florida impose large fines and lengthy prison sentences, while in other states marijuana use has been largely decriminalized. 18 states allow medical use of marijuana, where persons can obtain marijuana for medicinal use with a doctor's prescription and a "medical marijuana card". In some states, particularly cities on the West Coast, medical marijuana dispensaries are so commonplace that they seem almost ordinary. Many states also allow limited recreational use of marijuana, as does the District of Columbia, although the status of legalization there is in doubt due to the District's unique Federal status.

In 2020, Oregon became the first U.S. state both to decriminalize the use of hard drugs and to fully legalize the use of psilocybin (so-called "magic mushrooms"). Additionally, some more liberal-minded cities (npr. Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Ann Arbor) have decriminalized hard drugs by municipal law.

However, both marijuana and hard drugs remain illegal under federal law. Under no circumstances should they be transported across state lines (even when it's legal on both sides of the border), onto Indian reservations, onto federal lands or properties (such as federal office buildings, military bases, and post offices), onto flights or across international borders (including Canada, where marijuana is legal). Doing so is considered drug trafficking and subject to the aforementioned harsh penalties. Airports such as Denver International increasingly have "cannabis amnesty boxes" pre, and sometimes bizarrely post security, where one can get rid of any cannabis products without facing a penalty.

Prostitution

Prostitution is illegal except at licensed brothels in rural Nevada. Tolerance varies considerably between states. Police officers occasionally pose as prostitutes to catch and arrest anyone offering to pay for sex.

Guns

"No recreational shooting", Roxborough State Park, Colorado

It's true: the U.S. has a strong gun culture, and many (but by no means all) Americans own a firearm. Possession of firearms is regulated by individual states, and while these regulations (obtaining necessary permits, the kinds of arms permitted) vary greatly from state to state and, sometimes, from city to city within the same state, the U.S. is generally considered to be a place with lenient attitudes towards firearm ownership, especially compared to Europe and Asia.

Although U.S. citizens have a constitutionally guaranteed right to own and carry firearms, non-immigrant aliens present in America for fewer than 180 days cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition, unless they travelled specifically for hunting or sport shooting, ili they have a valid hunting license from the state they are shooting in. Entry in a recognized shooting competition also qualifies. Anything else is strictly illegal.

Warning: People who have renounced U.S. citizenship are not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition, even for sporting purposes.

Your chances of getting shot are very low, but:

• In a city, a civilian with an openly visible firearm is generally a rare sight, and thus potentially more of a concern than one in the country. Nonetheless, since many states do permit "open carry", you may encounter somebody with a holstered firearm. Police officers, even detectives who wear civilian clothes on duty, will almost always carry firearms. Many states also have "concealed carry" laws which permit the possession of a concealed firearm in clothing or in a vehicle. Keep in mind that people with permits to carry a firearm, openly or concealed, are usually not criminals and not going to harm you. Though if you witness somebody brandishing a gun, dial 911, as brandishing a firearm is a crime in many states.
• Hunting is popular in rural America. Use of marked trails is generally safe, but if you plan to venture off the beaten path, find out where any hunting may be afoot. If so, everyone in your party (including your dog!) should wear bright colors, particularly "Blaze Orange", to be highly visible to the hunters. The timing and length of hunting seasons, and any applicable permits and regulations, vary between states—see respective state government websites for more information. Hunting is not normally allowed in national or state parks, but is permitted in some national forests.
• Target shooting is a popular sport. Many ranges welcome tourists and will have a variety of firearms available to rent and shoot at the range. Many implement a "two person minimum" rule and consider it unsafe to rent firearms to lone individuals.
• The legal carrying of firearms for protection by individuals hiking, exploring or camping in the wilderness is on the rise due to a small number of highly publicized incidents along well-known hiking trails. This is a controversial issue in the hiking/camping community, with strong arguments on both sides. The proponents argue that legal possession of a firearm does not increase the level of danger for bystanders: those who carry may very well have military or police backgrounds and be more than willing to assist others in an emergency.
• Private property is more strongly protected in the U.S., both in law and in custom, than it is in many other parts of the world. In some areas, it is legal for owners to shoot people in defense of their property. While such incidents are rare, don't risk it - make sure you avoid taking shortcuts across land that might be privately owned, even if unfenced. In all cases, it's considered to be trespassing, which is a crime. If you are in an urgent situation where you have to seek refuge on someone's property, be sure to appropriately notify the owner, or you risk being mistaken for a trespasser.

Mass shootings occasionally make headlines in the U.S., but in such a huge country the risk to any individual is very low. to je extremely unlikely to happen to you on your visit. If you would like to prepare for this remote possibility anyway, see this section.

Racism

Compared to many European and Asian countries, the U.S. is, at least publicly, a racially tolerant country. The U.S. Constitution, coupled with both state and federal law, prohibits racial discrimination in a range of public spheres such as employment, university admissions and receiving services from retail businesses. However, the Constitution also guarantees freedom of speech to a greater degree than in most other Western democracies, so it is unfortunately possible to encounter racist comments (both blatant and subtle) in public forums.

Still, most Americans are, or at least profess to be, tolerant of other races, and it is uncommon to face open aggression from random people solely as a result of one's race. The country goes through occasional periods of increased animosity toward racial minorities or immigrants, but the longer-term trend has been one of increasing tolerance and acceptance.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a spike in racist incidents targeting people of East Asian descent, with some East Asians having become victims of hate crimes including assaults.

Ostati zdrav

Tap water is potable, but sometimes avoided due to the taste imparted by the chlorine used to purify it. It's of good quality in many places, including New York City; however, it tastes bad in certain low-rainfall areas, such as Santa Barbara, so you might prefer to drink bottled water or seltzer in those places. Bottled water is near ubiquitous and available for a variety of prices. Quality tends to be high and the chemical difference between a 50 cent bottle of water and a 5 dollar bottle of water is oftentimes negligible. Lead plumbing is still a problem in some places, as became evident in the high profile case of Flint, Michigan, but hotels and public water dispensers are unlikely to be affected.

Disease

Being a highly industrialized nation, the United States is largely free from most serious communicable diseases found in many developing nations; however, the HIV rate is higher than in Canada and Western Europe, with about a 0.5% infection rate in the overall population.

For the latest in traveler's health information pertaining to the United States, including advisories and recommendations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for health information for travellers to the United States.

There are two infectious diseases that are worth becoming educated about:

• Human cases of rabies are quite rare in the United States, though the disease is more prevalent in eastern regions of the country. Rabies is usually contracted from animal bites or saliva. If you are bitten by any mammal, even if it's "just a scratch", see a doctor as soon as possible. If you wait until you get symptoms of rabies, you are almost certain to die; if you get the vaccine before symptoms occur, you have a high chance of surviving. Bats and other small, wild animals are especially prone to carry the rabies virus. If you happen to find a bat in the room (particularly upon waking up, or in the room of an unattended child), call or see a doctor since there may have been an unnoticed bite. Avoid other wild mammals like raccoons, skunks, and foxes, even if they seem tame and approachable.
• Lyme disease is spread via the deer tick, which is prevalent in the woodlands and open fields of many rural areas. There have been cases of Lyme disease in every state, but the great majority have been reported in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic states and Great Lakes states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota i Illinois. When venturing into the outdoors, it is a good idea to apply an insect repellent onto exposed skin surfaces that is effective against deer ticks. Should you get flu-like symptoms after hiking through wooded areas, make sure to get tested for Lyme disease, as it is often confused with other diseases, and early treatment is usually quite effective.

Other diseases that are endemic within the United States, but are of far less concern, include Hantaviral Pulmonary Syndrome (found in western regions), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (mostly in the Rocky Mountain region), West Nile Virus (all regions) and Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis (particularly in the Midwest).

Due to the high amount of travel and the fact that diaspora communities from almost every country in the world have some presence here., the U.S. is somewhat more likely than other places to have "imported" cases of pandemics, as seen in the case of the Ebola epidemic of 2014. Again this is unlikely to be of concern to you.

Health care

American health care is generally first-class, but very expensive. Make sure that your putno osiguranje is valid for the U.S. Given the high costs, some "world-wide" insurance specifically does not cover the U.S. But if you can afford it, the U.S. is by far the world's leading nation in medical research, and you have at your disposal the most cutting edge treatments that are often not available anywhere else. Long-term visitors to the U.S. (e.g., work or student visa holders) are generally required to take up private health insurance as part of their visa conditions. If you are planning to work in the U.S., check with your employer to see if health insurance is provided as part of your employee benefits.

To the patient, America's public (20%), private for-profit (20%), and private not-for-profit (60%) hospitals are generally indistinguishable. Inner city public hospitals may be more crowded and less well maintained, but as a whole both costs and service levels are consistently high in all types. No hospital can refuse a life-threatening emergency case. Private hospitals may only stabilize such patients before sending them to a nearby public hospital, which will generally act as the regional center for 24-hour emergency treatment.

Ambulance in Pittsburgh

In a life-threatening emergency, dial 911 to summon an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital emergency room ("ER"), or in less urgent situations get to the hospital yourself and register at the ER's front desk. Ambulance fees typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and though they will never refuse to transport you in an emergency, the ambulance fees will be billed to you at a later date. Emergency rooms treat patients regardless of their ability to pay, even though their services are not free. Expect to pay at least $500 for a visit, plus the cost of any specific services or medications you are given. Avoid using ERs for non-emergency walk-in care; they are 3–4 times more expensive than other options and your non-urgent condition means you will have a wait of hours or maybe days. Most urban areas also have minor emergency centers (also called "urgent care", etc.) for conditions that don't require a visit to the emergency room (e.g. superficial lacerations). Their hours may be limited; few are open at night.

Walk-in clinics can provide routine medical care; to find one, check the yellow pages (see By phone below) under "Clinics", or call a major hospital and ask. Patients see a doctor or nurse practitioner without an appointment (but often with a bit of a wait). They are typically very up-front about fees, and always accept credit cards. Make sure the clerk knows you will be paying "out of pocket"; if they assume an insurance company is paying, they may inflate the bill with unnecessary extras.

Dentists are accustomed to explaining fees over the phone, and most will accept credit cards. Health insurance typically does ne provide dental coverage; you will need to take up separate dental insurance for that.

Government-supported clinics offering free or low-cost testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases are widespread. Local Health Departments will provide more details. Planned Parenthood (1-800-230-7526) is a private agency with clinics and centers around the country providing birth control and other reproductive health services.

Note the difference between a red cross and a green cross: in the United States, anything medically related will have a red cross, whereas medical marijuana dispensaries will have a green cross.

Snaći se

Religious services

Christian visitors looking to attend religious services should have no problem locating a house of worship, even in small towns. A typical medium-sized American town or city probably has one or more Catholic parishes, several Protestant churches (the most common being Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and Episcopal/Anglican), and possibly other houses of worship depending on the demographics of the area (such as synagogues or mosques).

Most churches in the United States practice an "open table", meaning they welcome you to participate in worship, and some or all rituals, even if you're not a member of their religious denomination. Some churches, and some entire denominations, welcome LGBT individuals.

Some churches also have after-church luncheon for free or at a nominal cost. Visitors are always welcome to stay for lunch and fellowship as a way to meet locals.

News and media

The United States has a free and vibrant press industry, with a wide array of news outlets covering the gamut in terms of focus, factual accuracy and political biases.

Though it's not as ubiquitous as before the advent of the Internet, print media isn't dead yet. Just about every mid-sized city (and many small ones) has a daily newspaper covering local news and often some national news. Major metropolitan areas will usually have more than one paper to choose from. With a few exceptions (mostly tabloids like the New York Post i New York Daily News), most papers provide reasonably balanced coverage of hard news, with their political biases manifesting themselves only in their editorial or opinion sections.

The national paper of record is The New York Times ($2.50 daily, $6 Sunday); its coverage of national and international issues makes it daily reading just about anywhere in the country. For financial news, The Wall Street Journal (also based in NYC, $2) is similarly well-respected and widely read. For a more casual but still informative format, USA Today ($2) is published five days a week; it's the most widely circulated print newspaper in the country. Many hotels offer free copies of either the local paper or USA Today; ask at the front desk. Other widely read papers include the Los Angeles Times (known for its West Coast coverage) and The Washington Post (with exemplary political reporting from the nation's capital). Time i Newsweek are newsmagazines published weekly that offer more in-depth feature coverage.

Major metropolitan areas also have a full suite of broadcast television stations; small cities might have only two or three local stations, especially if they're within broadcast range of a larger city. The major broadcast networks are ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, i PBS (taxpayer-subsidized public broadcasting); each has local stations in each market that broadcast local and national news, syndicated shows, and in-house TV series. Almost the entire country is wired for cable TV, with hundreds of channels running the gamut from news to sports to entertainment.

Broadcast radio is a much more fragmented market than television; major cities have dozens of stations on both AM and FM bands. The AM band is mostly used for talk formats; music stations are almost exclusively found on the FM band. Many rental cars come equipped with satellite radio iz SiriusXM, which offers hundreds of channels of music, comedy, news, talk, and sports, without the need to keep finding new stations as you drive across the country.

Poštovanje

Burning Man, Nevada

The United States is a very diverse country, meaning that cultural norms can vary significantly from region to region, and it is difficult to generalize what could be offensive and what could not. For instance, while making homophobic statements would be very offensive in a liberal area like New York City, the opposite could be true in a strongly Evangelical rural town in the South.

• It is polite to firmly shake hands when meeting someone or being introduced, and when concluding a business meeting or departing for a long time, though handshaking is often skipped in less formal situations. In casual situations, some people may offer a fist bump, a more complicated handshake or even a hug. Just follow along; mistakes in those situations are no big deal at all. Kissing on the cheeks in greeting is rare and usually done only between close friends and family.

• As an adult, once you're introduced to someone, you can usually call them by their first name. If someone gives only their first name when being introduced, you can definitely call them that way. Calling someone by their last name is more formal, and with rare exceptions (e.g. sports teams) is always done with "Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss", or with a professional title (e.g., "Doctor [last name]" or "Professor [last name]" or "Officer [last name]"). Such professional titles can also be used alone without a name ("Doctor" [only for a medical doctor], "Professor" or "Officer"), but not so with "waiter", "bus/taxi driver", "flight attendant", etc., which are jobs, not titles. If you don't know someone's name, use "sir/ma'am".

  If you're still not certain, and there are no locals around to set an example, it's safer to be overly polite and use last names. Many people will soon respond with "Please, call me [first name]". Alternatively, you can ask someone how they would like to be addressed.

  • Students should call teachers "Professor [last name]" or "Professor" (at college level), or "Dr. [last name]" or "Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss [last name]" (at any level) depending on whether the teacher has a doctoral degree. "Instructor" and "teacher" are jobs, not titles, so you can talk about "my instructor" or "your teacher", but should not call someone "Instructor" or "Teacher". That being said, it is fairly common for PhD students to address their supervisors by first names; when in doubt, just follow the example of your fellow students.

    There's no set way to address a college TA (teaching assistant); calling them "Professor" is totally inaccurate, and "teaching assistant" is not a title. Sticking with "Mr./Ms." is a safe option, although since TAs are fellow students, most will accept or prefer first names.

  • At a homestay, a safe choice is to call your homestay parents "Mr./Mrs. [last name]" (in this instance, you don't need to use "Dr." in place of "Mr./Mrs."); in most of the country, that's what their children's friends would normally call them. Depending on the family, they may ask you to call them by their first names, or even to call them "mom" and "dad".
• Unless it is really crowded, leave about an arm's length of personal space between yourself and others.
• Punctuality is valued: being five minutes late is not usually a problem, but if you will be any later, try to call ahead in order to give a warning.
• Americans often draw a strong distinction between their work i personal life. As a general rule, it is inappropriate to ask people more than superficial details about their family and other aspects of their personal life.
• As a result of the country's history of racial discrimination and the modern push toward equality, Americans are exceptionally touchy about issues of race. If you have to reference race, Black ili African-American, Asian, Latino ili Hispanic, Native American ili American Indian, Pacific Islander, i White ili Caucasian are acceptable terms.
  • There are some racist tropes that have historically appeared in caricatures, and it is best to avoid alluding to any of them in normal conversation. A lot of this is probably common sense, but there are a few that might not be obvious to some foreign visitors to the United States. For example, African-Americans have been caricatured in print and film countless times eating fried chicken and watermelon, so tread carefully when asking an African-American where to get these.
  • Do not tell jokes about race or ethnicity; some of these may be told casually in many other countries, but they are very likely to cause offense in the U.S.
  • Avoid showing or talking about Confederate symbols, especially Confederate flags or the song "Dixie". Although regarded by some as an integral part of Southern identity, these are controversial throughout most of the country and increasingly associated with white supremacy, racism and other negative stereotypes about the South.
  • The Swastika symbol is very offensive in the U.S. owing to its association with anti-Semitism, Nazism and white supremacy. You should avoid displaying the symbol, even for religious reasons.
• Gender i sexuality are also sensitive issues and best avoided as conversation topics with people you don't know well. As with race, jokes about these are also very likely to offend and best avoided.
• Tamo su Indian reservations scattered throughout the country. Many of these reservations are home to sites that are sacred to the tribe, and certain places may be off-limits to all but tribe members. If you enter a reservation, respect its land and people.
• Gun control is a very polarizing and sensitive issue. Visitors (particularly to rural areas, which tend toward vehement opposition to any legal restrictions on firearm ownership whatsoever) should avoid this topic of conversation if at all possible, and tread very lightly otherwise.
• Since at least the 1990s, the trend has been for Americans to become increasingly polarized in their political beliefs, and nowadays, political allegiance can take precedence over reason and civility. If it even sounds like you are saying something positive about a political figure or policy that someone is against (or speaking ill of a figure or policy they support), you may receive some verbal hostility. However, physically violent reactions to political statements remain rare.

Also see the section on tipping, and the section on smoking.

Dress

Dress in the U.S. tends to be fairly casual. For everyday clothes, jeans and T-shirts are always acceptable, as are shorts when the weather is suitable. Sneakers (athletic shoes) are common; flip-flops and sandals are also popular in warm weather. In the winter seasons in northern states boots are commonly worn.

In general, dress code is a bit more formal in the metropolises of the East Coast, and in the South (where "Southern style" is a surviving concept), and more relaxed the further west you go.

Generally, Americans accept religious attire such as yarmulkes, hijabs and burqas without comment.

At the workplace, business casual (slacks, understated collared shirts without a tie, and non-athletic shoes) is now the default at many companies. More traditional industries (e.g. finance, legal, and insurance) still require suits and ties. Other industries (e.g. computer software) are even more casual, allowing jeans and even shorts for everyday wear; as a business visitor, a safe choice would be business casual, or jeans and a collared shirt.

When dressing up for nice restaurants or upscale entertainment, a pair of nice slacks, a collared shirt, and dress shoes will work almost everywhere. Ties for men are rarely necessary, but jackets are occasionally required for very upscale restaurants in big cities (such restaurants will almost always have jackets to lend).

At the beach or pool, men prefer loose bathing trunks or boardshorts, and women wear bikinis or one-piece swimsuits. Nude bathing is not generally acceptable and is usually illegal except at certain private beaches or resorts; even women going topless is not usually accepted by most people, and is also illegal in some states.

Breastfeeding in public can be a touchy subject. While most mothers in the U.S. do breastfeed at home for at least a little while, a woman doing so in public, whether covered or not, can elicit complaints about indecent exposure, often from other mothers. All states/territories except Idaho and Puerto Rico have laws explicitly allowing women to breastfeed in public, and 29 states plus D.C. and the Virgin Islands also exempt breastfeeding from prosecution for public indecency or indecent exposure; some businesses have also changed their policies in the last few years to allow and protect breastfeeding mothers. However, public attitudes vary, and a mother breastfeeding in public, particularly uncovered, may receive some unwanted stares and in rare cases negative comments.

Spojiti

By phone

Phone charging station at Newark airport

Domestic calls

The country code for the U.S. is 1. The long-distance prefix (trunk code) is also "1", so U.S. telephone numbers are frequently written as an eleven-digit number: "1-nnn-nnn-nnnn". The rest of the telephone number consists of ten digits: a three-digit area code, and a seven-digit number. There can be many area codes in large cities, and only one or two for the entirety of a mostly rural state. The area code does not indicate whether a number is a mobile or a landline. Also, many Americans do not change their numbers when they move, so the area code of their mobile number may not match landlines in the region.

From a mobile phone, a domestic call is simple: always dial ten digits without the "1".

From a fixed line, you can usually dial a local number using ten digits. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago i San Francisco require eleven digits. Regions with only one area code usually allow seven digits. If a number is written or given without the area code, you can usually dial it like that locally, but dialing ten digits also works. For long-distance and toll-free, always dial eleven digits.

Domestic calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833 are toll-free. From a fixed line, they must be dialed using the full 11-digit pattern. With few exceptions (such as Canada or, rarely, Mexico) these are not reachable from abroad. (VoIP i korisnici Skypea možda će moći zaobići ovo ograničenje pozivanjem putem mrežnog prolaza sa sjedištem u SAD-u.)

Međunarodni pozivi

Da bi nazvali inozemstvo iz SAD-a, međunarodni pristupni kod je 011. Na mobilnom telefonu "" također će raditi.

Kanada, teritoriji SAD-a, Bermudi i 17 karipskih država dio su Sjevernoamerički plan numeriranjai imaju isti 1 pozivni broj države kao i američki. Pozivi upućeni između tih zemalja biraju se pomoću punog 11-znamenkasti broj, bez pristupnog koda "011" ili "", ali gotovo svi se naplaćuju po međunarodnim cijenama. Pozivi između SAD-a i njihovih teritorija mogu biti skuplji od poziva unutar susjednih 48 država i DC-a, ili čak pozivi između kopna SAD-a i Kanade (koji se obično naplaćuju po višoj tarifi od domaćih, ali niži od ostalih međunarodnih poziva) . Aljaska i Havaji mogu doplatiti čak i za domaće pozive, ovisno o mobilnom operateru i tarifi.

Telefoni i imenici

Telefoni s govornicom može biti teško pronaći. Vjerojatno se lokacije uključuju u ili u blizini trgovina i restorana, ulaza u trgovački centar i u blizini autobusnih stajališta. Većina ima kovanice (četvrtine, novčanice i nikle) i ne prihvaćaju novčanice. Cijene su obično 0,50 USD za prve tri minute i 0,25 USD za svaku sljedeću minutu. Internetski imenik telefonskih govornica može se naći na Imenik telefonskih govornica. Pozivi na 911 (za prijavu hitne situacije) i pozivne brojeve s besplatnim pozivima (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 i 833) besplatni su s telefonskih govornica. Nekoliko komercijalnih besplatnih brojeva blokira dolazne pozive s američkih govornica.

Telefonski imenici često su podijeljeni u dvije knjige: bijele stranice popis telefonskih brojeva abecedno prema prezimenu i žute stranice navesti tvrtke po kategorijama (npr. "Taksi taksi"). Mnogi stambeni fiksni telefoni i svi mobilni telefoni nisu na listi. Pomoć u imeniku može se dobiti (uz nadoplatu) biranjem 411 (za lokalne brojeve) ili 1-[pozivni broj]-555-1212 (za ostala područja). Ako 411 ne uspije, pokušajte 555-1212, [pozivni broj]-555-1212 ili 1-[pozivni broj]-555-1212. Besplatni podaci iz imenika (s oglasima) je dostupno: nazovite 1-800-FREE-411 (1-800-3733-411) ili pregledajte free411.com ili 411.info. Web stranice regionalnih telefonskih tvrtki (najčešće AT&T, Verizon ili CenturyLink) također pružaju podatke iz imenika. Korištenje web stranice tvrtke koja posluje u regiji koja vas zanima daje najbolje rezultate.

Telefon na daljinu posjetnice dostupni su u većini trgovina. Općenito su usmjereni na određene vrste poziva (npr. Domaći ili u određene zemlje). Kredit se često može nadopuniti telefonom pomoću kreditne ili debitne kartice, ali strane bankovne kartice mogu se odbiti. Karticni pozivi s govornica putem besplatnih brojeva otisnutih na karticama mogu biti skuplji. Moguće su i efektivne naknade po vezi, kao i po minuti; neke kartice također nose skrivene tjedne ili mjesečne troškove koji iscrpljuju njihovu vrijednost.

Mobiteli

Tri najveće mobilne mreže u SAD-u su AT&T, Verizon Wireless, i T-Mobile. Svi oni imaju dobru pokrivenost praktički svih urbanih / prigradskih i mnogih ruralnih područja zemlje, iako svaka mreža ima jaka i slaba područja.

Ne postoji nadoplata za pozive na mobitel (pozivi na mobitele naplaćuju se jednako kao i pozivi na fiksne mreže), a mobiteli ne plaćaju nadoplate kada pozivaju domaće daljinske telefone. Umjesto toga, sami se mobiteli naplaćuju za svu upotrebu, odlaznu i dolaznu. Drugim riječima, poziv na / s mobilnog telefona nosi isti trošak na taj mobitel, ali nije važno je li lokalna, domaća na velike udaljenosti ili besplatna. Kreditni paketi od 25 USD mjesečno omogućuju vam pozive u vrijednosti stotinama minuta. Neuspjeli poziv (ili "propušteni poziv") naplatit će se jer vam se naplaćuje od trenutka kada pozovete.

Ako želite imati mobilni telefon u SAD-u dok putujete, imate nekoliko mogućnosti:

• Korištenje telefona od kuće je moguće ako je kompatibilno. Sjeverna Amerika i zapadna polovica Južne Amerike koriste frekvencije od 850 i 1900 MHz, umjesto 900 i 1800 MHz koje se koriste drugdje. Ako imate telefon iz iste regije ili telefon koji je tro- ili četvero-opsežni (što uključuje mnoge moderne telefone), trebali biste biti dobro; u suprotnom, ova opcija neće raditi za vas. Svi operatori koriste isti 4G LTE standard koji se koristi na međunarodnoj razini. Međutim, za 3G telefone također morate obratiti pažnju je li vaš telefon GSM / UMTS (koriste ga AT&T i T-Mobile; uobičajeno u Europi) ili CDMA (koriste Verizon i bivši operater Sprint, koji je danas podružnica tvrtke T-Mobile). Usluga samo s 2G GSM postupno se ukida i bit će nedostupna nakon 2020.
  • Usluga rominga (upotreba vašeg kućnog telefonskog broja jednostavnim pozivanjem putem američke mreže) skupa je i ovisit će o mrežama s kojima vaš kućni pružatelj usluga ima ugovore, kao i naknadama vašeg davatelja usluga. Internetski podatkovni planovi su sveprisutni u SAD-u, ali normalno visoke cijene postaju pretjerane kad se dodaju naknade za roaming.
    • Kanadski mobiteli mogu putovati po cijeni od 1,50 USD / minuti ili više, iako se planovi razlikuju; Korisnici pripejd gotovine možda uopće neće lutati. Freedom Mobile nudi dobar paket.

  • Kupnja SIM kartice je bolji način korištenja vašeg osobnog telefona; ako instalirate SIM karticu u svoj telefon, imat ćete lokalni američki telefonski broj s pretplatom bez ugovora, pozive vrijedne stotine minuta i velike količine podataka. Cijene ga čine ekonomičnijim za dulje boravke, ali pogodnost jeftinih poziva i podataka čine ovu atraktivnu opciju za svakog posjetitelja.

    SIM kartice dostupne su za kupnju u većini elektroničkih trgovina, kao i kod nekih maloprodajnih prodavača, uključujući Wal-Mart i Target. Provjerite nije li telefon zaključan na SIM kartici te je li kompatibilan sa SIM karticom i frekvencijama mreže. Pažljivo pročitajte uvjete jer se neki planovi ponavljaju mjesečnim ugovorima, a ne jednokratnim pretplatničkim planovima.

    Davatelji usluga koji prodaju pretplaćene SIM kartice uključuju AT & T-ov GoPhone, Kriket (koje je u vlasništvu AT&T), Straight Talk donosi svoj vlastiti telefon i T-Mobile.

• Kupnja pretplaćenih minuta i osnovnog mobitela je vaša sljedeća najbolja opcija. To se mogu naći u nekim trgovinama, u većini trgovina elektronikom, uredskim priborom i trgovinama, i naravno na mreži. Osnovni telefon (bez pristupa Internetu) i 60–100 minuta vremena mogu se kupiti za manje od 50 USD. Osim minuta, neke pretplaćene usluge naplaćuju fiksnu naknadu mjesečno (npr. 20 USD mjesečno) ili naknadu za dane kada se telefon stvarno koristi (npr. 1,25 USD dnevno). Usluga mobilnog telefona s pretplatom i bez ugovora dostupna je kod mnogih davatelja usluga koji plaćaju samo unaprijed, kao što je Boost Mobile, Kriket, Ravan razgovor, TracFone, i Virgin Mobile SAD, kao i ograničena ponuda glavnih prijevoznika: AT & T-ov GoPhone, T-Mobile, i Verizon Prepaid Wireless.
• Iznajmljivanje telefona košta oko 3 USD dnevno, a može se obaviti u trgovinama u većini većih zračnih luka. Ovisno o tome koliko dugo ostajete i koliko planirate nazvati ili upotrijebiti podatke, možda je jeftinije ili lakše koristiti pretplaćenu SIM karticu ili pretplaćeni telefon.
• Dobivanje telefonskog ugovora može imati smisla ako planirate ostati duže. Ako nekoliko mjeseci ne živite u SAD-u, nećete imati kreditnu ocjenu koju priznaju američki pružatelji usluga i neće se moći pretplatiti na te planove (iako će vam neki pružatelji omogućiti da dobijete jedan s pologom , obično najmanje 500 USD). Ugovori obično zahtijevaju obvezu od 24 mjeseca (naknade za otkazivanje mogu doseći 300 USD!) Prema mjesečnom tarifnom planu, a u zamjenu subvencioniraju troškove telefona (tako da su osnovni telefoni „besplatni“, a pametni telefoni „koštaju“ samo 50–200 USD) ).

Preko maila

Samoposlužni poštanski centar

Adresiranje pošte s pravilno oblikovanom adresom ubrzat će putovanje s Poštanska služba Sjedinjenih Država (USPS, ne treba ga zamijeniti s privatnim brodskim UPS-om). The Poštanski broj (poštanski broj) je važan, a vi to možete potražite poštanske brojeve i ispravite formate adresa na liniji. Petocifreni poštanski broj identificira glavni poštanski ured; četveroznamenkasto proširenje (preporučeno, ali neobvezno) može ovo suziti na jednu tvrtku ili pojedinačnu zgradu. Adrese treba ispisati u tri do četiri retka s imenom primatelja, kućnim brojem i nazivom ulice, stana ili stana ili broja zgrade, grada ili mjesta, dvoslovnom kraticom države, poštanskim brojem, npr .:

Zaklada Wikimedia, Inc.
149 New Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94105-3739

Prvorazredne razglednice i pisma međunarodne zračne pošte (do 28 grama) koštaju 1,20 dolara. Sve lokacije s poštanskim brojem smatraju se domaćim, uključujući 50 država, američki posjed, Mikronezija (FSM), Marshallovi Otoci, Palau i inozemne vojne baze, brodovi (APO ili FPO) i diplomatska mjesta (APO ili DPO). Domaće razglednice koštaju 0,35 dolara, a obična slova do unče 0,55 dolara (2019). Marke "Forever" dostupne su za prvu uncu domaće i međunarodne poštarine i štite od budućih povećanja. Slanje debelih ili krutih predmeta ili nestandardnih oblika povećava troškove poštarine.

Poste Restante, naziva se primanje pošte u pošti, a ne na privatnoj adresi Poste restante. Ova usluga se ne naplaćuje. Za preuzimanje pošte morate pokazati osobnu iskaznicu, poput putovnice. Pošta će obično držati poštu do 30 dana. Ako je grad dovoljno velik da ima više poštanskih ureda, samo jedan (obično u središtu centra grada) omogućit će opću dostavu.

FedEx i UPS također imaju opciju "Zadrži za preuzimanje" i imaju lokacije u većim gradovima u SAD-u Iako su obično skuplji, možda su bolja opcija kada primate nešto važno iz inozemstva.

Internetom

S obzirom na sveprisutnost privatnog pristupa Internetu, Internet kafići jesu rijetko izvan većih gradova i turističkih područja. Međutim, imate neke mogućnosti, osim možda u najseoskijim područjima. Pristupne Wi-Fi mreže su, međutim, uobičajene.

Bežični

Najopćenitije korisna Wi-Fi mjesta nalaze se u kafići, lanci brze hrane i knjižare, iako ćete možda prvo morati nešto kupiti. Neki gradovi također pružaju besplatni Wi-Fi u svojim središtima.

Nekoliko manje očiglednih Wi-Fi mjesta možete pronaći u:

• Narodne knjižnice - Besplatni Wi-Fi je gotovo uvijek dostupan, iako ćete se možda trebati prijaviti s informacijskog pulta. Mreža je možda dostupna 24 sata dnevno, 7 dana u tjednu, pa čak i ako je knjižnica zatvorena, možda ćete moći sjediti vani i surfati.
• Hoteli - lančani hoteli obično ga imaju u sobama i zajedničkim prostorijama; manji neovisni hoteli variraju. Precijenjena opcija u vrhunskim hotelima, ali uključena u standard u većini lanaca usluga s ograničenom ekonomijom.
• Fakulteti i sveučilišta - mogu imati mreže u svojim knjižnicama i studentskim centrima otvorene za studente. Neki imaju mreže dostupne u cijelom kampusu, čak i na otvorenom.
• Zračne luke - čak i manji regionalni nude Wi-Fi. Ipak često koštaju. Saloni u zračnoj luci obično nude neograničen besplatni Wi-Fi.
• Plaćeni Wi-Fi lanci - omogućuju vam pristup brojnim žarišnim točkama za malu naknadu, npr. Boingo.

Mobilna širokopojasna mreža putem USB modema također je opcija. Davatelji usluga uključuju Verizon Wireless i Virgin Mobile (koji koristi mrežu Sprint). Prije kupnje provjerite kartu pokrivenosti, svaka tvrtka ima velika područja s lošom pokrivenošću ili bez pokrivenosti. Također, ovi planovi podliježu ograničenjima podataka koja je lako nesvjesno premašiti! Izbjegavajte gledanje videozapisa putem mobilne mreže.

Javni PC terminali

Internet kafići još uvijek se može naći u nekim većim gradovima. Zračne luke i trgovački centri nude terminale za pristup Internetu za brzu upotrebu, iako oni uglavnom nestaju. Pristup obično košta 1 USD za 1-2 minute web vremena. Bilo koje javno računalo vjerojatno će blokirati pristup nepoželjnim web mjestima.

Također možete uzeti u obzir:

• Narodne knjižnice - imate računala sa širokopojasnom mrežom za javnu upotrebu, ali možda će vam trebati knjižnična kartica. Neke knjižnice daju besplatne internetske kartice koje nemaju privilegij posudbe knjiga za posjetitelje izvan područja.
• Fotokopirnice - imat će računala dostupna za javnu upotrebu (uz naplatu), npr. Ured FedEx (☏ 1-800-GOFEDEX (4633339); kada vas to zatraži glasovni izbornik, recite da je "FedEx Office" ili pritisnite "64") otvoren 24 sata i radi u cijeloj zemlji. Neki su i agenti za primanje komercijalne pošte (poput The UPS Store) i nude uslugu faksa.
• Hoteli - svi osim većine spartanaca imaju "poslovne centre" s računalima, pisačima, a ponekad i fotokopirnim uređajima i faks uređajima.
• Trgovine elektronikom - izložena računala često su povezana s Internetom. Brza e-pošta tolerirat će se s osmijehom; šest sati Warcrafta neće. Apple Store posebno je izdašan i omogućit će pregledavanje bez namjere kupnje; međutim, neke su web stranice, poput Facebooka, blokirane.
• Sveučilišne knjižnice - dok privatna sveučilišta mogu ograničiti ulaz svojim studentima i fakultetima, javne sveučilišne knjižnice po zakonu općenito moraju biti otvorene za javnost, a mogu imati i računalo ili dva za javnu upotrebu.