International
Time Zones
Please
note that the USA is behind European time, when it is 12:00pm
in London, it is 6:00am in New York.
Top
10 Things to do in North America
·
Grand Canyon ·
Niagra Falls · New York City · Las Vegas · See Grizzly
bears in Alaska· Visit Elvis' Graceland mansion· Watch
live Ice Hockey in Canada· See the Superbowl· Drive through
a wedding chapel in Las Vegas ·
See the White House in Washington DC
If
you would like to give your Top 10 then please post it
on our forum
Main
Tourist Attractions
·
Grand Canyon - It'll blow you away.
·
Niagra Falls - One of the premier tourist attractions
·
New York City - A 24 hour city full of life.
·
Las Vegas - Surreal, must be seen to be believed.
·
New Orleans - Music, Mardi Gras and being redeveloped.
·
Death Valley - Second hottest place on Earth.
·
Badlands - Dakota and Nebraska stunning landscape
USA
at a glance
Size:
3,720,000 square miles (9,634,755sq km)
Capital:
Washington, DC
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar - 1$ = 100 cents
Area - 3.6 million sq miles
Population - 300 Million
Religions -Christianity 87% Islam 2% Judaism 2%
Time
Zones
The
U.S. is divided into four time zones: Pacific, Mountain,
Central and Eastern. When it is 9:00am Pacific Standard
Time, it is 10:00am Mountain Time, 11:00am Central Time
and 12:00pm Eastern Time.
Daylight
Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m.
on the first Sunday of April. Time reverts to Standard Time
at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. Daylight Saving
Time is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, and by most of Arizona (with the
exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation). Alaska (AK)
90% of Alaska is (1 hour) behind the Pacific Time Zone,
while the far reaches of the Aleutian Islands and St. Lawrence
Island enter Hawaii-Aleutian time. Arizona (AZ) (in summer)
is on Pacific Time, (in winter) on Mountain Time Exceptions
Parts of Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee
and Texas are in two time zones.
Important
Telephone Numbers
·
Dial 911 for emergencies (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
· To call outside of the USA dial - 011 + Country code
+ Area code + Local Number
· Call 1+800+555-1212 for info on toll-free numbers in
the USA
Costs
The
US is relativley cheap compared to Western Europe. Grab
a thick slice of pizza at a food stall, a bagel for breakfast
or even visit a fast food outlet and you shouldn't be spending
any more than $3. Hostel prices vary, but are usually around
$20. Sample air fare prices depend on the time of year.
Sample flights from New York to Chicago $120, Las Vegas
$130, Miami $100.
Recommendations
Route
66 is the all time great American road trip. Thousands
of people make this journey every year, most start in Chicago
and end them on the sunny beaches of California. You will
travel through eight American states and the landscapes
that made the West famous. You'll literally find thousands
of things to see and do and it is highly recommended that
you take your own transport, this way you'll be able to
stop in the various towns for as long as you like.
The
Grand Canyon is breathtaking. Few people have not heard
of the Grand Canyon, but not many have seen it. Located
in North Western Arizona, it can take some time to get to
but is well worth the visit, it is an exceptionally deep,
steep-walled canyon which is just amazing. "It is amazing
- just like in the movies!" comments Helen Anderson who
worked at Camp Canonicus. Activities include river rafting
in the Colorado River, hiking and taking lots of pictures.
Theme
Parks: America is the land of theme parks The most awe-inspiring
park has got to be Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles,
California. This is not a theme park so much as it's an
extreme park, and it's home to one jaw dropping rollercoaster
- The Viper, otherwise known as the largest looping rollercoaster
in the world. But wait, the Viper is set to lose this title
to an even taller and faster opponent with the planned unveiling
of The KingDa Ka. Towering at 456 feet and launching you
screaming at over 127 MPH, America's theme parks just keep
getting bigger, faster and meaner....almost out of control.
Advice
from people on our forum
"Greyhound,
although cheap (and sometimes flexible) isn't always the
best way to go. They aren't pleasant places to be, especially
when going from city to city - it's a long way. I went from
San Diego to Seattle a few years ago and it took 26 hours
and it wasn't comfortable. Sometimes you will find that
going by train gives you way more legroom, much more scenic
views and you can walk around and buy refreshments. It's
also easier to keep an eye on your luggage too and with
an ISIC card students get something like 20% off I believe."
Richard Small, Reading
"The
Grand Canyon is breathtaking! Hitchiking around the USA
is not recommended, it is considered especially unwise."
Paul, UK
"Use
your time after wisely, I went and stayed with some friends
in Texas, then worked my way back up to New York, have aflexible
timeline and leave your options open." Julie, Summer
Camp Counselor, PA.
"I
encorporated working at a summer camp as the start of my
Gap Year, you can get cheap flights from the USA South then
West before going back to Europe!" Ben, Sweden,
2006.
If you
are going travelleing after your summer camp experience,
you will need to book accommodation in advance, which you
can do by clicking
here.
For
more information on travel inside the U.S.A. or worldwide
visit our Travel
Section or ask a question on the
message
forum.
Essentials
