| America represents such an overwhelmingly vast | | | | can be no denying that Miami has long been, and |
| patchwork of often wildly disparate possibilities for the | | | | continues to be, party central. |
| prospective visitor that deciding where to start really | | | | Nestled at the south east tip of Florida, Miami is the sun |
| can be an intimidating prospect. In the end it probably | | | | dazed repository for all of America's most gaudily |
| comes down to what you want from your visit | | | | decadent and downright hedonistic inclinations. There |
| because this epic nation really does have it all. | | | | really is nowhere better suited to letting your hair down |
| The multiplicity of subcultures crammed into this vast | | | | and revelling amidst a hazily glamorous mirage of cool |
| land means that even a single state can offer as | | | | Art Deco architecture, unabashedly brazen displays of |
| much variety as some countries can muster in their | | | | wealth and the feisty rhythms of Latino culture. |
| entirety. Take California, a state which contains within | | | | Miami is, unapologetically, a good time city and whilst at |
| its boundaries such remarkable diversity, both cultural | | | | times the stark juxtaposition of beautiful people |
| and physical, that a thorough tour taking in everything | | | | spending a lot of money with the genuine poverty that |
| from the arid deserts of the south to the brisk, verdant | | | | often accompanies recent immigration might be hard |
| terrain bordering Washington State might not feel too | | | | to take, that's Miami for you - a sultry, vibrant melting |
| dissimilar to a round the world trip. | | | | pot surrounded by swampland and ocean that might |
| We've compiled a summary of three of our favourite | | | | be a bit, well, crazy but remains a vital and utterly |
| cities in the hope of providing some sort of entree into | | | | unique expression of the American dream. |
| this mind bogglingly varied nation: | | | | Seattle |
| Las Vegas | | | | Seattle seemed suddenly to appear on everyone's |
| On visiting Vegas for the first time it quickly dawns on | | | | cultural radar at some point in the nineties; there was |
| you that it really is exactly how you imagined it would | | | | grunge of course, it's iconic figurehead Kurt Cobain in |
| be - a huge plastic tribute to American consumerism | | | | particular, there was Starbucks and its (soon to invade |
| and shallow cultural simulation. Money is in gaudy | | | | every high street in the developed world) version of |
| evidence everywhere, from the quarters silver haired | | | | coffee culture, there was Bill Gates and the |
| gambling addicts pump blankly into the millions of slot | | | | commodification of vaguely hippyish values. All this |
| machines to the brazenly unsubtle displays of wealth | | | | somehow became part of the Seattle brand, a brand it |
| favoured by the hordes of Prada clad nouveau rich to | | | | must be said that has endured and proliferated pretty |
| the stupefying excess of the casinos themselves. | | | | well over the last 15 years or so. Grunge excepted of |
| Take The Venetian, a $1.5 billion casino/resort that | | | | course. |
| attempts to recreate the streets of Venice, complete | | | | However influential Seattle has been it's never really |
| with a canal that winds through the casino and | | | | joined the frontline of American tourist destinations, |
| shopping mall and is (inevitably) traversed by singing | | | | perhaps because this 'brand' has been so successful |
| gondoliers. There is surprisingly convincing mock | | | | that aspects of it have sprouted up in everyone's |
| Venetian architecture, a Titian-esque sky painted on | | | | hometown. Maybe it's time to discover what Seattle's |
| the vast ceiling for that Truman Show fake | | | | really all about. |
| environment vibe and a liberal sprinkling of | | | | The first thing to realise about Seattle is that much of |
| Renaissance style frescos. | | | | its appeal lies in the natural beauty of its setting; the |
| Whatever your take on the Vegas experience it's | | | | city is surrounded by rugged, mountainous splendour |
| hard not to be awed by the overwhelming spectacle | | | | and broad expanses of water and this proximity to the |
| of it all and, for a few days at least (anymore and you | | | | great outdoors has lent Seattle and it's Gore Tex |
| may find your grasp on reality is beginning to slip), there | | | | favouring citizens something of an outdoorsy vibe. |
| really are few more fun and exciting cities to visit. | | | | Indeed, if you like the idea of holiday that combines |
| Miami | | | | time spent exploring a thriving modern city with a |
| Think of Miami and one thing inevitably springs to mind | | | | chance to get out and discover some of North West |
| - partying. And yes, however reductive a summary of | | | | America's exhilarating natural scenery then there really |
| this city's many redeeming qualities it may be, there | | | | is nowhere better to base yourself. |