Typically American Activities

Things to See and Do That Are Uniquely American

While not always exclusive to the USA, some activities and themes are so deeply rooted in the country that they’ve almost become "signature" experiences.

American History

Cowboys, Native Americans, and the Conquest of the West

This is a chapter—sometimes far from glorious—of American history. As a visitor, you can explore both tourist-oriented sites and more "authentic" ones.

The last traces of East Coast Native Americans are found in the Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina) and the Everglades (Florida). Further west, Oklahoma, where several tribes were forcibly relocated in the mid-19th century, has some interesting sites and museums. It’s also here, as well as in neighboring Kansas and northern Texas, that several towns have preserved the (touristy) image of "cowtowns" and the "Wild West."

But the strongest remnants are clearly in the American West: Native American reservations and sites in northern Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, and Colorado; ranches, rodeos, and ghost towns in western Texas and beyond; traces of the Gold Rush in California. The same holds true in the north, in South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with memories of the last Native American battles, old mining towns, and the "Oregon Trail," the route taken by wagon trains.

Historical Reenactments

Casinos and Theme Parks

Casinos

For a long time, casinos were limited to Las Vegas (a must-see!) and the rest of Nevada, plus Atlantic City (New Jersey). Now, they’re legal in other places too (no surprise, given the revenue they generate). Among the "newcomers," those along the Mississippi River (St. Louis, Vicksburg...) and Deadwood (South Dakota) might be worth a detour.

Theme Parks

The U.S. is the land of theme parks, and some have become "must-sees," like Disney World in Orlando (Florida), Disneyland in Los Angeles, and SeaWorld in San Diego (California). Many other smaller or themed parks exist across the country.