30 American Experiences Every Tourist Should Have, Insights From Internet Users

The vast expanse of American highways, the tantalizing aroma of sizzling burgers, and the cherished ideal of personal freedom are not merely attributes confined to the United States. However, the nation stands as a beacon of uniqueness, distinguished by its sheer size, history, and vibrant diversity.

Consequently, it comes as little surprise that individuals from all corners of the globe harbor a profound curiosity to explore its landscapes and unravel the mysteries of its culture. In a recent digital quest for insight, one intrepid netizen sought to uncover the quintessential American experiences that every visitor to the land of opportunity should aspire to encounter.

The responses poured in, painting a vivid picture of the essence of Americana. From the breathtaking vistas of its revered national parks to encounters with the assertive guardians of law and order, the suggestions offered a kaleidoscope of adventures awaiting the eager traveler.

Indeed, the journey through America promises to be filled with moments both familiar and unexpected. Alongside the allure of its natural wonders and the grandeur of its urban landscapes, one cannot ignore the striking phenomenon of American portion sizes, which defy comparison and serve as a testament to the nation's penchant for abundance.

So, as we embark on this virtual expedition, buckle up, for the journey ahead promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.

1. Walmart

"My first USA tourist experience was watching two soccer moms fistfight in a Walmart in Florida. 10/10 would watch again."

Mistah-J-Valentine

2. One week in America not enough.

"The quintessential American experience for tourists from Europe is discovering that you can't combine all the ideas in these comments in one week because there's so much distance and traffic between them. You're better off thinking of the state you land in as the 'country' you're visiting."

hat-of-sky

3. National park

"Visiting a national park. The United States has a lot of things, both good and bad, but its abundance of breathtaking and well-maintained national parks is probably one of its biggest strengths... next to its number of aircraft carriers, of course, lol."

HardToPeeMidasTouch

4. Explore Highway 101 along the Oregon-California coast.

"Drive the coast! Highway 101 from Oregon to California. Beautiful beaches. Great camping. Small towns quite often. Redwood Forest."

Pacific_Northwest

5. Experience the majesty of the redwoods.

toxboxdevil

6. Enjoy a classic cheeseburger and fries.

"Have a cheeseburger and fries in a 24-hour diner, ideally one that has a lot of chrome and looks unchanged since the 1950s."

Nonsenseinabag

7. Appalachian Trail

The_Goat_that_Wrote

8. Yellowstone.

Other-Historian6256

9. A journey by car.

Flavaflavius

10. Explore museums in NYC or DC.

"Go to the museums in NYC or DC.

Americans have a real way with museums; it might be a mix of the love of big spaces, a certain kind of insatiable curiosity, and incredible avarice. There are few places in the world with this many truly amazing museums of so many kinds in just one place, and pretty close together.

Even the museum stores at some of these places are better than the best museums in other cities.

EDIT: I want to add here that I am a real museum hound and go to every museum I can wherever I travel or live. I’ve lived or spent multiple long visits in probably about 15 different cities, including Chicago, San Francisco, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Montreal, Toronto, and Buenos Aires. For art, there are several cities that equal or even exceed NYC and DC, but if you want science and history as well, you really cannot beat these two cities."

zazzlekdazzle

11. Go to a rodeo.

"1) Visit any of the National Parks. Glacier, Yellowstone, or Yosemite are the big ones. Just leave the animals alone.

2) Find a BBQ shack made out of corrugated metal (bonus points if the floor is dirt). Go nuts on pulled pork, ribs, and brisket.

3) A beer and a hot dog at a baseball game is a must.

4) Go to a rodeo. Not one held in some major city. Go find a county fair or rural rodeo.

5) Develop a stance on the best type of pie. Different regions have VERY strong opinions on this. (Pecan is the best. Fight me.)

6) Tour the Bourbon Trail.

7) Eat a bison steak."

Montana_Big_Man

12. Experience live American music.

"Go to a live performance of blues, jazz, or bluegrass/country; all are unique American music styles."

hairbrush-singer

13. Attend county fair.

"Go to a county fair, eat a bunch of fried Oreos, and then ride sketchy carnival rides until you feel sick."

hawround

14. Halloween

"On October 31, dress in costumes, attend parties, visit haunted houses, and eat Halloween candy."

SuvenPan

15. Waffle

ObnoxiousCrow

16. Experience the excitement of minor league baseball!

"Check out a minor league baseball game! They have awesome stadiums, great fans, and it's usually pretty inexpensive!"

SeanBartlettGlass

17. Visit the Smithsonian in DC, with the National Air and Space as a must-see.

Muh2021account

18. Driving through open highways.

flamingknifepenis

19. Grand Canyon

"Here's what I'd recommend from my trip to the U.S. back in 2015.

Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park, eat at a 50s-themed diner, eat BBQ ribs, go to Vegas, don't gamble but do other stuff, go to Texas and feel like a big man at the gun range (so many guns, I wanted to shoot them all; my favorite was the .44 Magnum; it's got style), go to New Orleans, eat some good home-style southern food made by an old black woman who calls you 'sugar,' go gator hunting in the bayou on an airboat with rednecks; if you snag one, eat some gator steak. Get drunk in Alabama, get drunk in Georgia, go to Miami, smoke some Cubans while losing at dominoes to Cubans, hit Miami Beach, see the sights, go north, go to New York, get followed two blocks by a group of guys yelling stuff at you, have a civil conversation with one of the many crazy subway guys, see a few shows, then go home broke but cured of your depression.

I was in a really dark place in my life; my friends had all moved away, my girlfriend just got sick of me and left, and my job got taken over by a new guy who fired me because he considered my job redundant (I used to drive the delivery truck for lumber and plumbing supply deliveries, did all the loading and unloading while the trades handled installations and whatnot). But I'd saved up a good bit of money; my mom told me that I could move back with her if I went broke, but I should travel and do something to get me out of that rut. I came back broke but happy. Best damn month and a half of my life.

My favorite moment was actually in New Mexico; I was staying the night in the spare room of this crystal shop owner lady she was using as an Airbnb. We were sitting around her backyard fire pit, me, her, her boyfriend, and one of her friends, drinking a few beers, smoking a few cones, and talking. Dunno why, but I guess since the part of Australia I'm from is usually really cold, rainy, cloudy, and very pastoral, being out in the desert, such an alien place to me, with these really chill people, I felt at peace.

Were it not for the U.S.'s messed-up healthcare and all the rest, I think I'd move out there."

Ottomanbrothel

20. Marshmallows

"- Eat a s'more if you are going camping... It is a pleasantly simple treat: marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate.

- Go to a national park if you can. Camp if you can.

- If snow cones are available, get ice cream on the bottom and/or a bit of condensed milk on the top. It's another simple treat.

- Go to a Costco and check out the giant bottle of ibuprofen.

- Look and see if there are any local events going on in the area you are staying at... farmers markets, fairs, berry picking, etc.

- If you haven't had Mexican food, get it at a family-owned restaurant. Ask locals about this one.

- If you smell good BBQ, try it.

- Go to a sporting event, maybe tailgate.

- Go to multiple states across the country so you can see the differences... (Hawaii is going to be vastly different from Montana, which is going to be different from Louisiana, which is going to be different from Oregon... etc.)"

Drawn-Otterix

21. Thanksgiving

JuicyTaints

22. BBQ grill.

waldobloom92

23. Visiting a national park.

JustAnotherAviatrix

24. Southern California

Levitins_world

25. The North Shore.

TamarackSlim

26. Route 66.

MissCeylon

27. "Being covered in sauce from eating ribs and wings"

ButtholeQuiver

28. West Coast.

alhailhypnotoad

29. Texas.

LovesMeSomeRedhead

30. Hospital bill.

"A bill from the local hospital for $17,365.14 because you got food poisoning. Who knew children shouldn't be in charge of food safety?"

downwardspiralstairs

As we wrap up our look at what makes America so special, whether you're enjoying the great outdoors in our national parks, driving on our busy roads, or staring in awe at our huge portion sizes, one thing's for sure: America sure knows how to make things interesting!

So, as you go on your American adventure, may you have loads of fun, enjoy some tasty burgers, and soak up all the unique experiences this country has to offer. Here's to America – where everything's bigger, brighter, and always a little bit wild!