Tourism in the United States grew rapidly in the form of urban tourism during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. By the 1850s, tourism in the United States was well-established both as a cultural activity and as an industry. New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, all major US cities, attracted a large number of tourists by the 1890s. By 1915, city touring had marked significant shifts in the way Americans perceived, organized and moved around in urban environments.

There is a wealth of accommodation in the USA to suit all travelers including budget lodging, travel lodges, bed and breakfast and luxury hotels.

Places to visit in The United States of America are endless and there is something to suit everyone with sporting venues, museums, art galleries, theme parks, beaches, landmarks, monuments, festivals, top entertainment and quality shopping.

Capital
Washington, DC

Population
310,232,863 (July 2010 est.)

Geography
Bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the United States of America occupies a territory of 9,522,0572 square km primarily in the mid latitude region of the North American continental landmass. The non-contiguous territory comprising the state of Alaska is located in the extreme northwestern part of the continent and is separated from the 48 contiguous states by Canada. The Hawaii islands in the mid-Pacific form the 50th state of the United States.

Flag
Thirteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white; in the canton, 50 white stars on a blue field. The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include the "Stars and Stripes".

National Anthem
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet.

Currency
United States Dollar (USD)

Country Code
+1

Dialing Codes
International Direct Dialing Code: 011
National Dialing Code: 1

Total Area:
3,717,813 sq mi
9,629,090 km2

Land Area:   
3,536,294 sq mi
9,158,960 km2

Water Area
181,519 sq mi
470,131 km²

Latitude
38°0' N

Longitude
97°0'W

Coastlines:   
12,380 miles
19,920 km