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I agree Miami (well South Beach) is everything it's portrayed to be. Sexy people, night life, beaches, neon lights, art deco, expensive cars etc.
LA it really depends where you go because it is so huge and spread out. However, there are also a ton of movies that show the dark side of LA too, so one shouldn't expect it is 100% glamorous.
I found Orange County such as Laguna Beach to be the same as it is portrayed in shows. It's very upscale, laid-back and beautiful.
Agreed. I attended a week long convention in Dana Point near Newport Beach, and it was much more in line with my expectation, but I still felt disappointed overall. Miami to me, though much smaller, packed more of a punch.
Fortunately for the human species, American culture has steadily lost it's appeal and influence on the globe over the past two decades. American music is still big but Hollywood has been exposed. There is a reason the only people still immigrating to the USA are uneducated and hungry.
Yes, it's that, after two devastating European wars, the American model has been adopted by that continent raising the living standards so that emigrating is no longer a necessity.
There are still a lot of young Americans crossing the border to party in Mexico, but partying in Mexico isn't exactly a rich, cultural experience and definitely not something to brag about as "I've been to Mexico, so I am more worldly than my peers." I no longer go to Tijuana because of the escalating drug violence there.
My friends and family have all been to Mexico and Canada and once again, it's nothing to brag about because Canada feels almost the same as the US besides maybe Montreal and Mexico's tourism isn't exactly rich in culture either unless you go to Mexico City. Most of my friends have traveled overseas and many went on study abroad trips during college.
Once again, it depends on who you choose to be your friends. I don't have any friends that say, "America is the best, there is no reason to visit other countries etc." I honestly don't have 1 friend with that mentality. I know there are people like that who exist, but you make it sound like the majority of people talk like that, which isn't true.
I actually hear more Americans talking crap about this country than praising. I lived in Australia and have family in South Korea and Germany. I consider myself well traveled and find Americans to be one of the most friendly people. Many countries if you buy an item at a store, they don't even say thank you. Or if you hold the door open for the person behind you, they just walk right in and don't say a word to you. When that happens here, it's unusual and you say in your head, "that b***!" lol.
America is far from perfect, but it has a lot of great things and Americans while being sometimes obnoxious are some of the friendliest people at least in my experience and from what my international friends tell me when they visit me. Everything isn't black and white as you imply. Most people fall into the grey area and those goes for most people no matter what country.
This is usual in Australia too, unless you lived in parts of Sydney or Melbourne, particularly some of the more ethnic areas where this sort of politeness is not so common.
Plenty of Brits are fascinated by it, why shouldn't it be, America offers tons of things the UK does not (I've been to both, and travelled throughout the countryside of both) and vice versa. They're just so different so I don't know why you'd even compare them as tourist destinations. Visitors to America are after totally different things to those that visit the UK. Have you been to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Rockies, Glacier NP? Obviously, the UK can't offer anything like it. Likewise, the US doesn't have anything like Windsor Castle or those medieval towns.
The US and Australia are more similar in terms of landscape (suburban nature), culture. We were very influenced by American city planning so it's no surprise. San Diego was the most Australian-feeling city in the US, at times it almost felt like here, even the gum trees, but much of America is still pretty different, and I found Americans pretty different too.
No, I don't. It's funny some accuse me of bashing it. I'm just explaining what went on in my mind, and how I still think it's an amazing country but I also experienced the reality of it. I'd still rather live in Australia long term.
No offence but the UK is more intertwinned with the United States than Australia will ever be. The thousands and thousands of miles will make that impossible.
Australia is nothing like USA outside its buildings.
No offence but the UK is more intertwinned with the United States than Australia will ever be. The thousands and thousands of miles will make that impossible.
Australia is nothing like USA outside its buildings.
What do you mean more 'intertwined'? Surprisingly the US is the fourth most popular destination, even if it's so far away, and we're so influenced by American culture. Our lifestyle is more similar to the American one than any other nation except Canada. That's not an entirely good thing. We have planes now, and LA is still like 11 hours from London and 14 hours to Sydney, so not a great deal of difference.
Yes, it's that, after two devastating European wars, the American model has been adopted by that continent raising the living standards so that emigrating is no longer a necessity.
What do you mean more 'intertwined'? Surprisingly the US is the fourth most popular destination, even if it's so far away, and we're so influenced by American culture. Our lifestyle is more similar to the American one than any other nation except Canada. That's not an entirely good thing. We have planes now, and LA is still like 11 hours from London and 14 hours to Sydney, so not a great deal of difference.
Um we are far closer to america. A six hour flight to boston on a narrowbody is like flying cross country in your country. 5 hour time difference, really not that far away.
Um we are far closer to america. A six hour flight to boston on a narrowbody is like flying cross country in your country. 5 hour time difference, really not that far away.
Think you will see we are culturally intertwinned.
Yes, maybe. But what does this have to do with the question, which is about the US as a tourist destination and it being not impressive for Brits? How can you speak for all Brits? I travelled with a bunch of Brits and they sure were impressed by America.
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