Route 66, which is also known as The Will Rodgers’ Highway is in the United States, and is one of the best road trips that you will ever experience.  Starting in California, it takes you through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and finally to Chicago, Illinois.  Where you start and end is entirely up to you, but rest assured you will do plenty of sightseeing along the way.

Some of the most famous attractions include the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon.  Both of these destinations in Arizona are a must see.  Former President Abraham Lincoln was from Springfield Illinois and if you stop along Route 66 you can see his home and his final resting place.  The Meramec Caverns is near St. Louis Missouri and the locals claim that it was Jesse James hideout.  Also in Missouri is the famous Vacuum Museum where you will see the history of the world’s best cleaners. 

Texas is the Longhorn state, and if you are into strange and interesting attractions stop in at the Devil’s Rope Barbed Wire Museum.  As you leave Texas along Route 66, stop in Glenrio; sitting between Texas and the New Mexico border it is known as the forgotten ghost town.  All that is left of this small community is a deserted post office and motel. 

If you are into fast food, stop at the first McDonald’s restaurant which is located in San Bernardino, California.  Another must see attraction is the California Route 66 Museum which is literally a time machine that will transport you back to one of the most travelled highways in the United States.

Finish your trip at the Santa Monica pier where you can dine on seafood, watch the sunset and talk about the best road trip that you have ever had in your life.

Location

Austin lies within the state of Texas in the United States.  Situated in the centre of the state, Austin is quickly gaining a reputation as a great city to visit.

Getting There

Austin Bergstrom International Airport lies only six miles out of town and receives most international airlines.  In the city you can also find an Amtrak train station and Greyhound Bus Terminal.

Things To Do

As a college town, Austin has a young laid-back feel to it and has a thriving bar and café culture.  The popularity of its famous music festival, South By Southwest, has led to the city being known as the  ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ and the venues downtown on Sixth Street have live music most nights.  It is a cosmopolitan city and you experience almost any cuisine from Sushi to Italian, with the local speciality, Tex-Mex food, especially easy to find. 

If you are looking for something unique, why not take a look at the world’s largest urban bat colony living beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge.  At dusk every night you can see 1.5 million bats fill the surrounding skies.

For a look at grand architecture you can visit the state capitol building, which is open all week and is free of charge.  If not then why not look beyond the city limits and explore the rural hill country where scenic trips can be taken by steam train through the beautiful Texan landscape.

When To Go

The climate is good all year round, although summer can be extremely hot.  Spring or Autumn could be the best time to visit.

Miami is the ideal destination for anyone who loves fun and sun.  The beaches in the area are amazing, and the water stays shallow for a fair distance making it safe for youngsters to swim.  Miami is popular with the younger generation as there are many bars and clubs that cater specifically for them.

If you are not interested in the clubs and lively nightspots then there are still plenty of evening activities in Miami for you to enjoy.  There are numerous first class restaurants to enjoy a meal, and it is possible to take in a theatre production too if you like.  Miami has such a diversity of attractions that almost anything you want to do during your stay can be catered for.

If you are holidaying with children then Miami Zoo and the Seaquarium are definitely places that should be top of your ‘must see’ list.  You can easily spend a whole day at both of these places so make sure you allow enough to time see everything.

No trip to the Miami area would be complete without a visit to the Everglades National Park. The Everglades are a swamp area in the southern part of Florida, and are home to crocodiles and manatees.  You can travel through the Everglades by car, on foot or even by canoe on the actual swamp itself.  You can take trips to the Florida Keys while staying in Miami, with excursions to Key West proving very popular with tourists.

New Orleans, Louisiana in the U.S. is a city that has been hit hard by both Mother Nature and man.  Still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 BP oil spill hit the local fishermen hard.  However, the area is roaring back in a big way, and of all the locations in the world, this one probably welcomes tourists the most.  The people of the Gulf Coast are determined to survive, and to do that they are welcoming tourists with open arms.
 
New Orleans is a city made for walking.  Stroll down Garden Street or Rue Bourbon and marvel at the beautiful ironwork balconies and galleries, many of them draped with colourful flowers and filigreed ferns. In the evening, listen to the blues, zydeco, jazz and rock music that tumbles out the doors of bars and clubs.  You can wander up and down the streets with a drink in your hand, unlike many other American cities, making bar-hopping a delight on a warm, clear evening.
 
New Orleans hosts some superb restaurants, from Chef Emeril LaGasse’s restaurant (£25-£50) to the famous Blue Plate Café (£7-£18).  You will find dishes like crawfish cakes that you will not find anywhere else in the world—and do not forget Café Du Monde for some famous beignets!
 
Every type of hotel and B&B is available in New Orleans, although the ones toward Bourbon Street can be a bit noisy.  If you want quiet when you sleep, look for a hotel away from the heart of the French district; transport abounds in the Big Easy, so getting back to the action in the morning will only take you a few minutes.

While skiing in North America might not seem very economically friendly in these post depression times at first glance, look closer and you’ll find that it’s more affordable than expected. This is largely thanks to ski holiday operators who offer excellent value ski deals including flights and transfers. And for those who do brave the transatlantic flight, America’s fabled empty, wide open, tree-lined corduroy slopes await. Combine this with reliable snow, non-existent lift queues, and excellent ski tuition, consistently high levels of service and dining both on and off the mountain and you’ll soon forget any jet-lag.

North America has so many ski resorts to choose from it could be eco friendly California, deep snow of Utah, luxury Colorado, beautiful Alberta in Canada, or for the truly dedicated skier, British Columbia. Kicking Horse, Big White, Fernie, Revelstoke, Red, these names will send ripples of excitement through any ski fan, bringing to mind visions of long virgin powder runs, snowcat skiing, heliskiing and ‘ski safari’ road trips, it all awaits you in North America.

Atlanta in Georgia is a city in America’s Deep South that has had its share of heartache and history, but today you’d never know it.  It’s a town that holds all the big-city amenities you’d ever want, like dining, shopping and nightlife, but has somehow managed to maintain the small-town feel of its past. The people are genuinely friendly and helpful, and you’ll hear “Yes, ma’am” and “Yes, sir” whenever you ask a question.  Rent a villa or holiday apartment as a way to save more money for the sightseeing and fun you’ll have while here.

The city is steeped in history, primarily from America’s Civil War.  Union General William T. Sherman ordered all possible Confederate assets and all public buildings burned during his famous “march to the sea”, and little of Atlanta remained afterward. Churches and hospital buildings were spared, though, so a historical tour is a wonderful way to see modern buildings juxtaposed with pre-Civil War ones.  Don’t forget the Atlanta History Centre and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site for a more complete picture of what makes this city unique.

Modern Atlanta is home to several large corporations, and the CNN Centre and Philips Arena, which sit beside Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were held in Atlanta.  For Gaels visiting the city, try to catch a game by Clan nan Gael Men’s and Ladies’ Football Clubs.

If it’s culture you want, try the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Piedmont Park, or the Fernbank Science Centre, both in Atlanta.  The Lasershow at nearby Stone Mountain Park is a wonderful attraction for both old and young. 

If all this sightseeing leaves you hungry, stop at Fogo de Chao for steak, or Bacchanalia or Canoe for American fare with a more informal flair.  Once you’ve visited Atlanta, you’ll want to return again and again.

For great family entertainment in North America (with a healthy dose of education), SeaWorld Orlando is hard to beat. Along with all the animal exhibits, SeaWorld also has a number of rides to keep children thoroughly entertained.

With whales, dolphins, sharks, walruses, penguins, polar bears and more, there are plenty of fascinating creatures to marvel at. Many of these animals also perform in SeaWorld’s numerous live shows. Dolphins combine with human acrobats to dazzle the crowds, and even the park’s killer whales are trained to entertain. Two sea lions also perform a comical show in the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium. Frequent special shows are announced, ensuring that there is always something new to see.

Once all of the animal attractions have been seen, SeaWorld’s roller coasters provide further entertainment. Kraken is the park’s showcase ride, a high-speed floorless roller coaster. Journey to Atlantis is a boat ride which also features roller coaster elements. For younger children, Shamu Express (a junior roller coaster) and various teacup rides are ideal. The 400-foot tall Sky Tower, meanwhile, provides some spectacular views of the park and its surrounding area.

If left with time to spare after visiting SeaWorld, both the Aquatica water park and Discovery Cove are located nearby. Both have similar themes but provide a unique experience. SeaWorld Orlando is open year round from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily (opening times can vary so check in advance). The park is located in Orlando, Florida, with the main entrance on Central Florida Parkway. Florida’s airport is served by most domestic and international airlines.

One of North America’s most iconic images, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an incredible sculptural achievement. Carved into the granite mountainside, the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln represent 150 years of United States history. Each face is about 60 feet tall and sculpted in great detail.

As part of the experience, visitors first walk through the Avenue of Flags, a walkway lined with the 56 flags of the states and territories of the USA. The avenue leads to the Grand View Terrace, from where a great view can be had of the Mount Rushmore carvings. Be sure to carry on along the Presidential Trail which offers some close-up viewpoints of the famous faces.

The experience does not end there, however. At the end of the trail is the Sculptor’s Studio. This is where Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor, carried out his work. His original model can be seen here, allowing for comparisons between his initial vision and the finished work. In the Lincoln Borglum Museum, meanwhile, a short film about Mount Rushmore can be seen, as well as a collection of artwork and artefacts. If visiting during the summer, a lighting ceremony is held each night at 9.00pm, illuminating the presidential faces.

The memorial is located in western South Dakota, 23 miles south-west of Rapid City. Head for the town of Keystone on Highway 16, then take Highway 244 which leads to the memorial entrance. There is no entrance fee, and guided tours can be joined upon arrival at the site.

Picture courtesy of dean.franklin’s

If employment demand is suffering badly from the evil effects of global recession in the UK, the US, however seems to be experiencing twice the pain. Statistics, recently released, show that around 2,800 mass layoffs occurred during February, leaving almost 300,000 workers unemployed.

On average, each mass layoff resulted in around 50 workers losing their jobs. Reports also show that the manufacturing sector has been experiencing the most pain, with almost 1,300 layoffs, resulting in an estimated 153,000 unemployed workers. In the following month, layoffs increased even more, by roughly 500, increasing to over 200,000 unemployed. From December 2007, which is widely accepted as being the start of the recession and for 15 months after, to sometime in February 2009, layoff figures reached an estimated 30,000, resulting in around 3,000,000 workers becoming unemployed. The unemployment rate for the month of February 2009 was 8.1%, compared to the preceding month’s 7.6% and the previous year’s 4.8%.

February’s mass layoffs gave the western region of the country the top position for the highest number of unemployed, with 65, 792 layoffs. Next in the list was the mid-west region with 64,943 lay offs; third was the southern region with 55,542 layoffs and finally the northeast region with 32,131 layoffs.

On a more positive note, skilled professionals with special abilities are still in great demand and will be considered for visas to America, even in the midst of the recession.

American or US immigration – travelling into the United States of America – refers to the movement or migration of non-residents to the United States of America. Throughout most of United States’ history, US immigration has contributed to the cultural change and population growth of the country.

The social, political, and economic aspects of US immigration have been a source of controversy as regards religion, job trends and growth, ethnicity, settlement models, economic gains, effect on social movement, nationalities, moral vices and values, political biases, work patterns and habits, and heights of criminality. In 2006, legal US immigration was the highest in the world. The United States accepted a total of 37.5 million immigrants as permanent residents.

Whilst the influx of immigrants and new residents coming from different cultures creates challenges, the United States continually encourages this and the government is always energised by the immigrant population. In 1998, the then US president Bill Clinton, whilst delivering the commencement address from Portland University, expressed support to US immigration, which includes immigrants coming from Latin America and Asia. He stated that America has time and again drawn spirit and strength from wave upon wave of non-residents and that the influx of immigrants has constantly proved that they are the more industrious, adventurous, restless and innovative people.

On the flip side, illegal US immigration is always expensive, dangerous, and difficult, especially across the Mexico-United States border. International travel by jet has made legal US immigration easy, and the new and legal American citizens enjoy much from their new home in America.