Marvel at the thunderous spectacle of 12,000-year-old Niagara Falls in northern New York, or seek an antidote to urban chaos amidst the flat farmland of the Midwest. Then there are the black hills of South Dakota, the dramatic mountain and ocean landscape of California’s Pacific Coast Highway and the world-famous Grand Canyon.

The third-largest country in the world (after the Russian Federation and Canada), the USA has an enormous diversity of geographical features, including mountains, plains, and coastal zones. Though there are many cities that are densely populated with more manmade features than natural ones, there are also vast rural areas that are far more sparsely populated. The climate ranges from subtropical to arctic, with a corresponding breadth of flora and fauna.

Electricity

120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs have two flat pins with or without a third round grounding pin.

General business opening hours

Business hours are officially Mon-Fri 0900-1730, although an extended working day is very common in certain sectors and it is not unusual for people to be working well into the night or over the weekend.

2018

New Year’s Day: 1 January 2018
Martin Luther King Day: 15 January 2018
President’s Day: 19 February 2018
Memorial Day: 29 March 2018
Independence Day: 4 Juyi 2018
Labor Day: 3 September 2018
Columbus Day: 8 October 2018
Veterans Day: 12 November 2018
Thanksgiving Day: 22 November 2018
Christmas: 25 December 2018

All information subject to change.

Every year thousands of revellers flock towards San Diego’s vibrant Gaslamp Quarter for its sensational Mardi Gras parade. Held on Shrove Tuesday, the event is one big outdoor party that includes live music, dancing, entertainers and street upon street selling delicious food and drinks.

This three-day fiesta celebrates Hispanic culture and history with music, crafts and regional cuisine. Live entertainment and music comes in the form of Banda, Norteno, Mariachi, Cumbia and other Latin rhythms. A spectacular equestrian show keeps everyone’s attention riveted, followed by a re-enactment of the 1862 Battle of Puebla.

Festivities include a mile-long parade with giant balloons, a two-day festival with multiple performance stages and various arts events and Pride parties in the weeks leading up to the main event. The weekend begins on Friday night with an outdoor rally at the festival’s main stage in Balboa Park to commemorate 1969′s Stonewall uprising in Greenwich Village, NY, a seminal moment in the history of the gay and lesbian rights movement.

A popular youth football tournament, the annual San Diego Surf Cup is a series of soccer tournaments aimed at promoting the sport in the US. The tournament attracts crowds of up to 28,000 over each weekend (under 10s to under 15s on the first weekend; under 16s to under 19s on the second). A female youth tournament is held later in the year in November.

This Half Marathon begins at historic Cabrillo National Monument, then it follows scenic San Diego Bay and Harbor Island along the Embarcadero to The Star of India, winds through downtown San Diego and ends in beautiful Balboa Park. It is also possible to take part in a 5km (3-mile) run/walk along a course in Balboa Park.

Taking place in San Diego’s vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, the city’s dining, shopping and entertainment district, this competitive five-day event screens more than 75 American and international features, documentary and short films. The festival also provides visitors with an opportunity to interact with film professionals through Q&A sessions, workshops and a screenwriting contest and conference.

Held over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, the annual San Diego Jazz Festival attracts a range of bands from across America as well as some from further afield. Audiences can expect a great line-up of musicians performing classic jazz, Dixieland and swing.

San Diego’s annual December Nights in Balboa Park has all the festive ingredients needed to get visitors in the Christmas spirit. Attractions and entertainment include carol singing performances, nativity scenes, dancers and live musical performances.

The La Jolla Christmas Parade attracts 20,000 people to the sidewalks of the village each year to watch the spectacle pass by. Some 1,200 people, from all over San Diego, take part in the parade, whether in the marching bands, drill teams, scout troops or among the dancers, float builders, equestrians, car aficionados, politicos or promotors. In addition to the parade, YMCA’s Holiday Festival, a street fair along Silverado Street with arts, crafts, and food for sale and entertainment, helps make this a great event for the La Jolla community.