introduction

The United States of America ("USA," "US," "United States," "America,") is a large country in central and north-western North America. It is the third largest nation in territory and people with a mixture of densely-populated urban areas. The country also has incredibly beautiful nature. The United States of America has 50 states as well as the city of Washington D.C., which is a federal district independent of any state. The country also has a few territories which are not states, such as Puerto Rico.

history

First inhabitants of U.S. migrated to the mainland, as well as to Alaska, from Asia. It started at least 12,000 and as many as 40,000 years ago. Some of them developed advanced agriculture, grand architecture, and state-level societies.
On the 19th of November 1493 Christopher Columbus, who was a European explorer, arrived at Puerto Rico and made first contact with the Native Americans. In the following years the majority of the Native American population was killed by epidemics of Eurasian diseases.
The earliest European colonies were established on the mainland by Spaniards, and that area got the name Florida. But during the 16th and 17th centuries, various parts of the region were colonized by several European nations and/or their religious missionaries, including Spain, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Russia.
By 1770, the Anglicised population of the colonies increased to 3 million, approximately half of British population! But in the late18th century (just after 6 years) independence from Great Britain was declared by the colonial revolutionaries and a federal government with its Constitution was formed.
Then US got the control of former French territory due Louisiana Purchase of 1803, so territories of the Midwest were added as new states. After that Florida was purchased from Spanish and northern territories of Mexico were won during the Mexican-American War of the 1840s.
By the mid-19th century the differences between North and South (slavery was a very important issue) had become a big problem and finally led to the American Civil War, known as one of the bloodiest conflicts in history. The North won, the slavery was abolished and a single country was maintained.
The US kept on gaining power; Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, and Hawaii was annexed in 1898. Philippines and Puerto Rico were gained as a result of the Spanish-American War.
The US entrance into World War I happened near the end of the conflict and the country established itself as a world power and real wealth grew rapidly in this period. But after that the Great Depression followed across the country and around the world.
At the end of 1941 the United States entered World War II to help UK and Soviet Union to defeat the fascist regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan. At the end of this war the US became the dominant economic power in the world, responsible for nearly half of the world's production.

surfing

The Unites states stands with the likes of Australia as one of the only countries in the world that can offer the travelling surfer genuine opportunities in 2 different oceans. Hardy East coast surfers from New York and Jersey are going to hate me for writing this but it has to be said that it is the west coast that offers more solid regular swell and waves.

West coast USA is the far boundary of the Pacific and a lot of the residual energy that bounces around this enormous expanse of water ends up here in one shape or form. Sitting in the t arget zone for all swell generating patterns on this coast is the surfing jewel that is California. no less than 4 seperate swell generating systems feed this magnificent coastline. The Aleutian lows that power the north Shore of Hawaii also descend upon this coast to provide well shaped powerful NW swells from OCT through to FEB.

Comig from the other direction are the hurricane storm cells of Mexico that generate southerly swell. Summertime (JUN-AUG) sees regular windswell from small bands in the north Pacific. Towards southern California (So Cal), the dominant Santa Ana wind blows striaght offshore making this a definite prospect for the traveller. Then there are the remnants of the mighty swell systems of the south Pacific that manage to steam past the equator and extinguish themselves on the US coastline on the other side of the world. These swells may suffer from serious swell decay but be sure that whatever does manage to make landfall on this coast will be of a superior shape and period - packing a very solid punch.

Depending on how long you have you could spend your entire surfing vacation in California, if you have the time however no real surfing trip would be complete without driving aross southern USA. Maybe stop in at Texas for some year round merchantman wake surfing in the Gulf of Mexico.

During the hurricane season on the Atlantic east coast (JUN-DEC) you may be lucky and score some waves off the Florida coast. If your not, head up to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The entire coastline here is like an offshore swell magnet that will attract any thing in the area. Options tend to be reduced further north of this point and you will be limited to windswell activity. Any storm cell that passes across this coast will be heading east at a great rate of knots and so groundswell activity will be fleeting. Typically all you will receive will be whatever is blown behind the cells as they truck towards Europe.

Your still not done though, not until you have surfed in the Great Lakes are you truly done and even then you still have the option of Glacier surfing in Alaska - you always have that option. We have really only covered continental USA here, there are a lot of offshore prospects that fall under the US flag like this little group of islands called Hawaii. due to the wealth of surfing potential in these places we have covered them for you elsewhere. You dig dude?

travel

If you don’t live in Canada or Mexico, the fastest way of getting to the US would be by plane. You must have a valid visa to enter the United States (if required by your citizenship), even if you are immediately continuing on a flight to a different country.
You can go by car from Canada or Mexico. And there are options for train (from Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal) and boat (from the Atlantic Provinces to New England, and from Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle) from Canada. Apart from this it is difficult to enter the U.S. by sea, other than on a registered cruise ship. Yes, and Cunard offers transatlantic ship travel between the United Kingdom and New York City.

where to stay

You shouldn’t have any problems with finding a place to sleep in the US. Motel is the most popular form of accommodation and they are usually located on the sides of the highways, so it’s very convenient for the road trippers. Don’t expect anything luxurious, but they will usually provide you with a clean room that includes the following amenities: bed, bathroom, TV, telephone. Price is also very reasonable. Motel 6 and Super 8 Motels are popular chains of motels all over the country.
Next in terms of price and comfort come business or extended-stay hotels ($70 to $170). Their number is currently increasing across the country and they can be found in smaller towns and across the Midwest or in coastal urban areas.  
Hotels can be found in most major cities, offering different levels of luxury and comfort. But there also is an affordable and nationwide set of hotel brands, such as Amerisuites, Microte, Hawthorn and Days Inn. Check out AmericInn that offers very nice services and reasonable prices.  

what to pack

It is quite wise to be prepared for all kinds of weather when you go to the US, so better have some light clothes as well as warm things.
Sunscreen, road atlas, backpack, medicines – just a usual kit. Don’t take too much and nothing too fancy as people are very laid back and casual. Aussies - take Berocca and your own Vegemite!
Yes, and prepare to have your camera working all time – doesn’t matter where you are, in a city or (even better) in the countryside, it will be difficult to stop shooting. 

dangers and warnings

Some general rules include: don’t wear expensive jewellery, watches and don’t expose your new camera in the public places (it can be a neon sign for thieves). And be careful with your money, don’t have it all in one place.  
It is better to avoid large attractions such as Disney Land, Disney World, or National Parks during the peak seasons, such as summer months and Christmas holidays when American school-age children are on vacation.
There is no National Medical System in the US, so better take care about the travel insurance.
Another important thing – after the terrorist attack (September 11, 2001) there are security checks at all the US airports, US national and state monuments and parks as well as most sport's facilities. Keep in mind that these checks may delay and frustrate you, so be patient.
If you are driving, remember that in the US parking is allowed only in one direction of travel, fines can be quite expensive. And always pay fines immediately because the fine will be charged to the rental company who will, in turn, charge it to your credit card. The traffic hours in the major cities in America are pretty much the same as in other countries, 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM. Always check the weather, especially if you're camping, and note that Pennsylvania has some of the most acidic rain, snow, fog, & sleet in the US. California is dry and every now and then forest fires are doing a lot of destruction.
Yes, and the last thing, Americans don't joke with disasters and death the same way the Europeans do, so better be a little careful with your 9/11 jokes.

restaurants, shopping and nightlife

There’s a great variety of different restaurants throughout the US. Just one thing – many of them don’t serve alcohol. The variety of fast food and chain restaurants is even more impressive. McDonald's and Burger King would be the leaders here. And it is your choice, where to eat, there definitely are some options, guys.

Shopping…if you wish to spend some money, America will help you in it, don’t worry! This country is the birthplace of the shopping mall, and suburbs in particular have miles and miles of strip malls.
You may also want to check flea markets and garage sales, which are very popular in the US. The last ones usually happen on Saturdays. Bargaining is expected.

Nightlife, parties….yes, the US is a right place to go. No need to mention Las Vegas, as well as all the major cities (New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles), the best nightlife spots can be found there: theatres, night clubs, discos, live music, classical music  concerts, operas, adult spots and lots more. Just note that you have to be 21 to get in and most of the discos close around 3am. There is a place called Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (Jackson Hole, Wyoming) with the saddles instead of the seats – cool, ha?

what to do when it's flat

One can really spend days, describing all the places that are worth seeing in America. But nature is truly amazing in this country and it is definitely worth spending some time on the road to see at least some of them. Here’s a list of the most popular ones (except the major cities, which are worth visiting as well): The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Death Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Yosemite National Park, Glacier National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Good on you if you decide to visit these places, just one warning: please, don’t feed the animals. Not only because it can be unhealthy for them, but because it can be quite harmful to you too. No matter how good your intensions are, they don’t know it and can attack just to defend themselves.

useful phrase guide

all wet: incorrect
ankle: to walk, i.e.. "Let's ankle!"
apple sauce: flattery, nonsense, i.e.. "Aw, applesauce!"
baby: sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect.
balled up: confused, messed up
bent: drunk
cash: a kiss
Cash or check?: Do we kiss now or later?
ciggy: cigarette
daddy : a young woman's boyfriend or lover, especially if he's rich.
dry up: shut up, get lost
egg: a person who lives the big life
face stretcher: an old woman trying to look young
fag: a cigarette. Also, starting around 1920, a homosexual.
fella: fellow. As common in its day as "man," "dude," or "guy" is today. "That John sure is a swell fella."
flour lover: a girl with too much face powder
fly boy: a glamorous term for an aviator
futz: a euphemism for "fuck." i.e. "Don't futz around."
get a wiggle on: get a move on, get going
giggle water: booze
glad rags: "going out on the town" clothes
goofy: in love
grummy: depressed
grungy: envious
handcuff: engagement ring
heeler: a poor dancer
hopped up: under the influence of drugs
insured: engaged
jack: money
Jake: great, ie. "Everything's Jake."
Jane: any female
java: coffee
jeepers creepers: "Jesus Christ!"
john: a toilet
neck: to kiss passionately
noodle juice: tea
nookie: sex
Not so good!: I personally disapprove.
"Now you're on the trolley!": Now you've got it, now you're right.
ofay: a commonly used Black expression for Whites
off one's nuts: crazy
Oh yeah!: I doubt it!
rag-a-muffin: a dirty or disheveled individual
rubes: money or dollars
smoke-eater: a smoker
sugar daddy: older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts in exchange for sex
swell: (1) good (2) a high class person

You must be a registered user to comment. Click here to register.