Usa - A Land Of Subcultures

By Author: Roberto Raffa
Total Articles: 10
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America represents such an overwhelmingly vast patchwork of often wildly disparate possibilities for the prospective visitor that deciding where to start really can be an intimidating prospect. In the end it probably comes down to what you want from your visit because this epic nation really does have it all.

The multiplicity of subcultures crammed into this vast land means that even a single state can offer as much variety as some countries can muster in their entirety. Take California, a state which contains within its boundaries such remarkable diversity, both cultural and physical, that a thorough tour taking in everything from the arid deserts of the south to the brisk, verdant terrain bordering Washington State might not feel too dissimilar to a round the world trip.

We've compiled a summary of three of our favourite cities in the hope of providing some sort of entree into this mind bogglingly varied nation:

San Francisco
There can be few more immediately pleasant cities to visit than San Francisco. With its picturesque bay views (completed, of course, by the imposingly iconic Golden Gate ...
... Bridge), it's pleasingly relaxed vibe and the fact that, particularly when compared with the inaccessible sprawl of LA, San Fran is surprisingly compact and easy to take in, it's not hard to see why ‘Baghdad by the Bay' is such a popular tourist destination.

In fact San Francisco is pretty close to being the complete package, combining natural beauty, diverse period architecture, an idiosyncratic cultural scene and an intriguing history, and all with an easy grace that it is hard not to be charmed by. The city is not short of big draws - the aforementioned Golden Gate Bridge, the ever popular Alcatraz tours and the tourist magnet that is Fisherman's Wharf - but once you've got these out of the way you'll find that San Francisco's real magic is best experienced away from this altogether too frantic tourist trail.

Chicago
You might say that Chicagoans have a bit of a chip on their collective shoulder with regards the global perception of the Windy City's ‘greatness' relative to the limelight stealing metropolises on either coast. But then you can hardly blame them - Chicago, as visitors will very quickly recognise, simply doesn't deserve the frankly rather galling ‘second city' tag it's often given. In pretty much every respect this is as rewarding and wholly incomparable a city as America has to offer.

So, how does Chicago measure up in comparison with America's more frequently visited metropolitan centres (I'm talking about New York and LA by the way)? Well, it has culture by the bucket load: For a start its justly celebrated musical riches run from the legendary blues scene that gave the world the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Bo Diddley (check out still thriving clubs like the Checkerboard and Lee's Unleaded Blues for an authentic taste of Chicago Blues and don't miss Blues Fest in June) to consistently innovative and soulful Jazz to more contemporary sounds (notably, Kanye West emerged from Chicago and the city plays host to a thriving Indie rock scene).

Chicago also boasts a diverse array of museums that can hold its own next to any city in the world. In particular, the Art Institute of Chicago which houses a spectacular collection that spans classical, impressionist and Modern art, and the Museum of Science and Industry are must-visit attractions.

Boston
It would be easy to characterise Boston as a city defined by its history and, hell, it does have an awful lot to offer on that front. From its origins as the puritans ‘shining city on a hill' Boston (dubbed rather imposingly ‘The Cradle of Liberty') has consistently commanded a position at the forefront of America's cultural and political landscape and still exudes an undeniable gravitas.

Given this steadily acquired image one could be forgiven for imagining a city weighed down by a sense of staid historical self importance. Such off-putting preconceptions do Boston a great disservice however; visitors will find a city that is indeed rich in history, pretty green expanses and period architecture but equally overflowing with a more contemporary energy. In fact Boston is experiencing something of a cultural renaissance right now, with a thriving visual arts scene, forward thinking architectural developments and impressive new landmarks like the Institute for Contemporary Arts.

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