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… in Austin

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Texas Polka


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Austin – a brief overview
Austin is the capital of the US state of Texas. It is regarded as an island of liberalism in what is otherwise a rather more conservative state. More than 5,500 high-tech startups and large corporations such as Dell, Apple and Google have offices in Austin. The legendary cattle barons of old have long since made way for IT professionals and computer game developers, and as part of the “Texas Hill Country” region, the Austin metro area is therefore sometimes known as “Silicon Hills.” As well as being proud of the economic strength of their metropolitan region, “Austinites” are equally proud (if not more so) of their city’s reputation as the world’s live music capital.
It is probably true to say that no other city in the United States has as many stages as Austin, whether in clubs, bars, music venues or outdoors. Every day, live music of all kinds of genres is on offer – from blues and soul to hard rock and noise rock. This diversity is reflected in the city’s slogan: “Keep Austin Weird.” The highlight of the events calendar each year is South by Southwest (SXSW), a conference and music festival that takes place in the spring. It is attended by artists and representatives from the music, film and IT industries, who turn the city into one huge zone of vibrant creativity.
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Top Ten Sights in Austin

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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Opening times:
Mon-Sat: 0900-1700
Sun 1200-1700 pm
Adorned with a huge, resplendent Texas star and located on Congress Avenue, the Bullock Museum is hard to miss. It tells the story of Texas by using artifacts, dioramas and multimedia “campfire stories” to give a chronological account of the state’s history – from the native inhabitants and the Spanish colonizers right through to the present day.
Texas State Capitol
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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Opening times:
Mon-Fri: 0700-2200
Sat-Sun: 0900-1200
The Texas State Capitol, which was officially dedicated in 1888, is surrounded by a large park. The imposing structure was built in Renaissance Revival style and has a dome 92 meters high. This makes it taller than the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., on which it was modeled. The building was extensively renovated following a fire, and underground extensions were constructed for some areas. The Capitol still houses the Texas Legislature and the office of the Governor of Texas.
Barton Springs
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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Opening times:
Sun, Mon, Fri, Sat: 0500-2200
Thur: 0500-0900 and 1900-2200
This pool in Zilker Park is fed from underground springs. The water temperature is approximately 68–70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) all year round. People meet here to swim and have picnics, and to create and listen to music. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden, which exhibits modern sculptures, is adjacent to Zilker Park.
Highland Lakes
Pocahontas Trail
Leander, TX 78641
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The Colorado River winds its way toward Austin from the northwest. From the 1930s to the 1950s, eight flood control reservoirs were constructed along its course. Six of these reservoirs are known collectively as the Texas Highland Lakes, the largest of which are Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan. These popular leisure destinations offer a variety of recreational and sporting activities – from fishing to ziplining.
Colorado River
Hyatt Regency Boat Dock
208 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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The view from the water offers a charming cityscape of Texas’s capital. By escaping the road traffic and traveling by electric boat, you can admire the promenades and parks, or cruise around the Lady Bird Lake. The evening tours are particularly popular in the summer months, when the largest urban bat colony in the world leaves its home beneath Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge to go hunting for insects.
Dr Pepper Museum
Waco, TX 76701
USA
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Opening times:
Sun-Sat: 1000-1830
Sun: 1200-1830
Along with iced tea, Coke and Pepsi, Dr Pepper is one of the most popular soft drinks in the United States. It was invented in 1885 in Waco, which is about halfway between Dallas and Austin on Interstate 35. Since 1991, the former bottling plant in Waco has been home to a museum about the company’s history, a gift store and Frosty’s Soda Shop, which serves food and drinks.
Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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The dusty slope from the State Capitol down into the city was paved in 1905, and the street has been Austin’s flagship boulevard ever since. There are numerous historical buildings on the street, including the Old Bakery & Emporium (number 1006), which is now a gallery and a hub for local artists, and the Paramount Theater (number 713). The theater, which was previously called the Vaudeville Theater and dates back to 1915, is one of the city’s popular event locations.
Brush Square Museums
409 East 5th
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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Opening times:
Wed-Sun: 1200-1700
On Brush Square, there are three charming little museums – each in a faithfully restored building. One is the Susanna Dickinson Museum, which was at one time home to a survivor of the Battle of the Alamo (1836). Another is the O. Henry Museum, dedicated to the author known by that name and housed in his former residence, a Victorian-style structure. The third, the Austin Fire Museum, is in Austin’s first fire station, which is still in use today. Admission to all three museums is free of charge.
Blanton Museum of Art
Austin, TX 78712
USA
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Opening times:
Tue-Fri: 1000-1700
Sat: 1100-1700
Sun: 1300-1700
Every third Thursday of the month: 1000-2100
This art museum belongs to the University of Texas and was opened in 2006. The collection consists of around 18,000 works from different eras, and the museum also houses temporary exhibitions. Since 2015, one of the highlights has been Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” – a walk-in kaleidoscope.
Longhorn Cavern State Park
Burnet, TX 78611
USA
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The Longhorn Cavern State Park in the hills of Burnet County is roughly an hour’s drive north of Austin. The Longhorn Cavern from which it takes its name is a water-carved limestone cave system. Thanks to its year-round temperature of a comfortable 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and its well-made paths, this natural wonder is a real pleasure to explore. For visitors looking for adventure, there’s a wild cavern climbing tour to the less accessible parts of the caves.
Country Information
Country overview
From its vast plains, snow-covered mountains, deep forests and strange rock formations, to soaring skyscrapers and a thunderous cultural scene, the USA is a collage of extremes. Nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of Manhattan’s unforgettable skyline, your first ride in a yellow cab, the ubiquitous hamburger joints, yawning expanses of prairie, the sweet strains of New Orleans jazz, or the neon-lit excesses of Las Vegas.
Marvel at the thunderous spectacle of 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.
Geography
Covering a large part of the North American continent, the USA shares borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The country has coasts on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The State of Alaska, in the northwest corner of the US, is not part of the continental US; it is separated from the rest of the USA by Canada. Similarly, Hawaii is not part of the “lower 48” states; it lies in the central Pacific Ocean.
The country’s dependent territories are offshore and have distinct geographies of their own; the majority are islands.
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.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 319 millions (estimate 2018)
Capital: Washington, DC.
Language
English, with significant Spanish-speaking minorities.
Currency
US Dollar (USD; symbol $) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of $100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, though the $2 bill is rare and is not in high circulation. Coins are in denominations of $1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.
Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs have two flat pins with or without a third round grounding pin.
Public holidays
Listed below are the public holidays for the period January 2020 to December 2021.
Note
States can recognize other days as state holidays that are not federal holidays.
2020
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2020
Martin Luther King Day: 20 January 2020
President’s Day: 17 February 2020
Memorial Day: 25 May 2020
Independence Day: 3 and 4 July 2020
Labor Day: 7 September 2020
Columbus Day: 12 October 2020
Veterans Day: 11 November 2020
Thanksgiving Day: 26 November 2020
Christmas: 25 December 2020
2021
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2021
Martin Luther King Day: 18 January 2021
President’s Day: 15 February 2021
Memorial Day: 31 May 2021
Independence Day: 4 and 5 July 2021
Labor Day: 6 September 2021
Columbus Day: 11 October 2021
Veterans Day: 11 November 2021
Thanksgiving Day: 25 November 2021
Christmas: 25 December 2021
All information subject to change.
Best of Clubs in Austin
With more clubs per head than any other place in the U.S.A., Austin is proud to call itself the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Its many venues host performances of country, rock and related genres as well as a wide range of modern music. Many open their doors at happy hour, around 6 p.m.
The Continental Club
1315 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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Open: daily, 1800–0200
There are plenty of time-honored clubs in Austin, and this one, which first opened in 1955, is possibly the most venerable. While the neighborhood has become trendy in recent years, at the Continental, time seems to have stood still. There’s a soft patina to the furniture, and a chalkboard above the bar proclaims the week’s program. The bands here play mainly rock and country – and a lot that sounds like both – to a mixed crowd of old and young at the bar and on the dance floor.
Antone’s
On Lady Bird Lake in Austin, there’s a monument to late guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who first made a name for himself with regular appearances at Antone’s – although the club then occupied different premises. The club has relocated several times since first opening in 1975, but even in its new building and with its minimalist decor, the place has an inviting feel to it. The label “Home of the Blues” is as relevant as ever today. And there’s even blues to take home here – from the record shop by the front door.
White Horse
A honky-tonk used to be the name for a bar that served alcohol and staged live music. The White Horse also calls itself a honky-tonk, and rightly so, since it has it all: beer and whiskey at the bar, musicians on the stage. This place really does recall a Wild West saloon, where older folk in Stetsons and tattooed hipsters sit side by side at the bar and tables, enjoying a program of predominantly country and related music styles. Come early to take the two step course and learn the right dance floor moves – which are a little like disco fox.
Hotel Vegas
A picture-book Texan landscape of desert, cactuses and blazing sun adorns the wall behind the stage here, while the rest of the decor does without much color. Many of the musicians who play here regard themselves as the heirs to punk and new wave, but cover bands also regularly feature on the program. For big names, the venue also has a larger stage out back, and for a cocktail in between, there’s the Volstead Lounge next door.
Saxon Pub
Wood on the outside, wood on the inside: the Saxon Pub looks like a ranch house or a saloon, which is why it is also a popular set with film crews. Musicians like to record live albums here, and for Kris Kristofferson, performing here is like playing a gig in his own front room. Country star Willie Nelson has also played here. Many country careers took off at the Saxon Pub, and big names show their gratitude by coming back here. This small venue has already hosted more than 20,000 gigs.
Mohawk
Every year in early March, the SXSW Festival draws visitors from all over the world to Austin, and the Mohawk is one of the most popular venues. It has a large outdoor stage and inside, another one in a small hall – head past the bear in pajamas at the bar to get there. The shows start later here than in most other clubs. For sure, the people who come here don’t have to get up early next day.
Take your partners for the Texas polka!
Music lovers and dance fans head to Austin every March, when the South-By-Southwest Music Festival takes over the city. Drop by the Broken Spoke (brokenspokeaustintx.net) any time of year for a live demonstration of how Texans love to party. The dance floor is crowded every night, Tuesday through Saturday, and Terri White, daughter of owner James White, holds two-step classes for beginners (Wednesday through Saturday, 8–9 p.m.). Stumbling or missing a beat on the dance floor is fine, but standing still is absolutely not an option.
South Lamar Boulevard 3201
Austin, TX 78704
USA
Restaurants in Austin
Austinites like to eat Tex-Mex food (dishes with both Texan and Mexican influences), Southern-style cuisine and barbecued food. In recent years, food trailers have become increasingly popular, and there are many in East Austin (see a list at foodtrailersaustin.com).
If you want to experience authentic barbecue cuisine – marinated meat that is cooked slowly over a smoking mesquite wood fire – you should follow the Texas BBQ Trail, which takes you to small localities to the south and east of Austin (texasbbqtrails.com).
Uchi
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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Category: Luxurious
The ambiance at Uchi is much more luxurious than you might suspect from the outward appearance of this red brick building, which is on a major road. The restaurant serves top quality contemporary Japanese cuisine. The vegetarian dishes are delicious as well.
Parkside
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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Category: Luxurious
Named after a public housing project in New York, the Parkside Projects group of restaurants runs numerous establishments in downtown Austin – of which Parkside is the oldest and the most sophisticated. In addition to high-quality “farm-to-table” cuisine, it serves oysters and has a raw bar.
Mandola’s
4700 W Guadalupe St #12
Austin, TX 78751
USA
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Category: Moderate
These family-friendly restaurants, which are run by the Mandola family, serve down-to-earth Italian food. There are four branches in and around Austin.
Torchy’s Tacos
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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Category: Budget
The city has numerous branches of Torchy’s Tacos, so every visitor to Austin is likely to pass one sooner or later. These restaurants are well worth a visit because they serve affordable, fresh Tex-Mex dishes such as tacos, fajitas, burritos and chile con queso.
Southside Market & Barbeque
Elgin, TX 78621
USA
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Category: Budget
The small town of Elgin, which is around 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Austin, lies on the “BBQ Trail” and is the self-proclaimed “Sausage Capital of Texas.” This restaurant, which also runs a store and online business (southsidemarket.com/shop), is considered to be one of the region’s top locations for meat and sausage dishes.
Hotels in Austin
Austin is the capital of the US state of Texas and a popular destination for music enthusiasts. As such, the city offers a wide range of accommodations – from boutique hotels and spa resorts to hostels for traveling musicians.
The historical buildings around Sixth Street offer very central lodgings, whereas the hotels along the Colorado River are in a more idyllic location. Visitors arriving in spring, during the South by Southwest Festivals, should always book in advance.
The Driskill – in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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Category: Luxurious
They say that everything is bigger in Texas – and that is certainly true of the Driskill, which was built in 1886 as a luxury hotel for cattle barons. The opulence of that era has been carefully preserved and supplemented with modern amenities. This centrally-located establishment is therefore regarded as the city’s finest hotel.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa
Cedar Creek, TX 78612
USA
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Category: Luxurious
This luxurious country hotel is located about a half-hour drive from the center of Austin amidst gentle Texan hills. Guests can look forward to spacious spa facilities, numerous restaurants, and a golf course.
Guild Lamar Union
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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Category: Moderate
This apartment hotel offers ten small apartments, each of which has a kitchenette and a washing machine. It has good transport connections but is also close to the West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt. Perfect for longer stays in Austin.
Habitat Suites
Austin, TX 78752
USA
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Category: Moderate
This small hotel is in North Loop, to the north of downtown Austin. Every suite has a fully equipped kitchen and a fireplace. The fruit served at breakfast is organic, and the energy is generated by solar panels. There is an outdoor pool, a garden and free parking.
Austin Motel
Austin, 78704
USA
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Category: Budget
This motel is south of the Colorado River. The interior design makes use of bold colors and creative decorative elements. There is a relaxed atmosphere, and the surrounding area offers excellent leisure opportunities – Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool are nearby.
Nightlife in Austin
In (almost) every bar, club and music venue in Austin, there is live music every day. It is claimed that there is regular live music at more than 250 locations. It is common to go from one music venue to the next. A good place to start is Rainey Street – some of the clubs here also have DJs.
You can then move north to Sixth Street. As soon as the weather is warm enough, bands and solo artists start playing outdoors too – in the Red River Cultural District, for example.
Threadgill’s
Austin, TX 78752
USA
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Threadgill’s, which was once a gas station, is now something of an institution in Austin’s music scene. Musicians (often traveling musicians) have been performing here since as early as 1933. There is live music at various times of the week, including songwriters’ evenings and Sunday brunch events.
C-Boy’s Heart & Soul
Austin, TX 78704
USA
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This club is named after Louis Charles “C-Boy” Parks (1925-1991), one of the city’s most famous blues club managers. There are soul or R&B sessions every evening in the small bar, which has a large outdoor terrace area. Another popular part of the club is the upstairs area called the Jade Room – a lounge styled after Japanese GI bars of the 1950s.
Empire Control Room
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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This club boasts three stages and is located on the eastern outskirts of the downtown area, between Red River and Interstate 35. Although the Empire looks like a warehouse from the outside, inside it is kitted out with modern sound equipment. It predominantly showcases newcomers.
Speakeasy
Austin, TX 7870
USA
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This entertainment complex has three floors and contains a music lounge, a retro-chic bowling alley, a 1920s-style speakeasy bar and a roof terrace bar with a fantastic view. You really can party all night long at this venue.
Stubb’s
Austin, TX 78701
USA
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Stubb’s is another venue where there are bands playing on various nights throughout the week. But what makes this BBQ restaurant famous is its Gospel Brunch – from 10:30 am every Sunday. The religious theme changes from week to week, but the brunch is consistently incredible.
Calendar of events
SXSW Conference and Festivals
“South by Southwest” comprises festivals for film, music, comedy and gaming, as well as an interactive festival. All of these streams combine to make SXSW the biggest event on Austin’s calendar. It has been held annually since 1987 and is now one of the world’s biggest networking events.
Bat Fest
August 2020
Venue: Congress Bridge
Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the world’s largest urban bat colony. As the sun sets, these animals leave their hiding place to go hunting for insects – and it is quite a spectacle to behold! A fair and music festival is held there on an evening in August. There is also a costume contest, with a prize for the best bat outfit.
Día de los Muertos
November 22, 2020
Venue: All over Austin
Austin is not far from Mexico, and the large population of Mexican immigrants has imported its traditions to Texas. This is why the famous Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated just as vibrantly in Austin as it is in Mexico. The deceased are honored though music, dance, colorful costumes and scary masks.
Austin City Limits
“Austin City Limits,” the music show that was first aired on US television in 1974, consolidated Austin’s reputation for music. The music festival of the same name, which always has a five-star lineup, offers performances on numerous stages in the centrally located Zilker Park.
Austin Levitation Fest
From 2008 to 2015, this event was called “Austin Psych Fest,” but it has since been renamed “Levitation Fest.” There are about 60 different shows across numerous stages in downtown Austin, Red River District and the East Side. Most of the artists are from the United States.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone/Mobile Telephone
Dialing Code: +1
Telephone
Public telephones have become a rarity, but can still be found here and there. They take coins, telephone cards and credit cards. If you are planning to make regular use of public phones, it’s best to purchase a prepaid calling card from one of the many U.S. providers.
Mobile Telephone
Not all European cell phones work on the American network, since it requires a tri-band or quad-band device. Full network coverage is not always assured outside densely populated areas. Roaming charges are high here, so it is often cheaper to buy a SIM card from a U.S. provider. Low-cost prepaid SIM cards for making calls inside the country can be ordered online before you travel.
Internet
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using unencrypted public Wi-Fi networks, it is not advisable to enter passwords, credit card details or banking credentials. We recommend using VPN app or security software to check Wi-Fi hotspots.
Shopping in Austin
Key Areas
South Congress and the surrounding area is the best place to shop for vintage clothes, second-hand books and records, and for unusual handmade items and ornaments. This neighborhood is also home to Allens Boots (allensboots.com, 1522 South Congress Avenue), one of the biggest stores for cowboy boots, belts and other leather goods, as well as hats and slogan T-shirts. A little farther westward, on South First Street, there are small boutiques and restaurants, many of which are owner-managed.
In the Second Street District (2ndstreetdistrict.com), there are sophisticated stores selling clothing and accessories, as well as cafes and restaurants. And of course in a city like Austin, where music is so important, there are countless record shops – such as Waterloo Records (waterloorecords.com, 600 A North Lamar Boulevard) and Antone’s Records (antonesrecordshop.com, 2928 Guadalupe Austin). For a wide-ranging selection of organic groceries, visit Whole Foods Market (525 North Lamar Boulevard).
Markets
At Barton Creek Farmer’s Market (bartoncreekfarmersmarket.org, 2901 South Capital of Texas Highway, Saturdays 9 am – 1 pm), you can find delicacies and regional produce. There are also food trucks available. The Sustainable Food Market in downtown Austin is also held on Saturdays (9 am – 1 pm, 422 Guadalupe Street).
Shopping Centers
One of Austin’s new malls is The Domain (simon.com/mall/the-domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace), which is home to stores for luxury brands such as Neiman Marcus and Tiffany. At Great Hills, there is also a large open-air shopping center called The Arboretum (thearboretum.com, 10000 Research Boulevard). The Barton Creek Mall (simon.com/mall/barton-creek-square, 2901 Capital of Texas Highway), which is south of the city center, features stores selling clothing, cosmetics and household items. The mall also has a multiplex movie theater.
Best time to visit
Today: Friday, 15.01.2021 07:00 UTC

sunny
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6°C
wind direction
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6.875 mphhumidity
41%7 days forecast
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Best time to visit Unites States of America
The United States has varied weather conditions, and the best time to visit depends both upon the location and the season. Spring (March, April, May) and autumn (September and October) are generally cooler, more comfortable times to visit. Summer months – June, July, and August – are generally hot regardless of the region, but winter temperatures (November-February) can vary substantially depending upon the part of the US you are visiting. The southern part of the country tends to be warmer in the winter than the north. The general climate of the continental US is temperate, but keep in mind that Hawaii is tropical and Alaska is arctic. Many of the country’s dependent territories, such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, are also tropical.
Summer is considered the peak tourist season throughout the country; other popular travel times are major American holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as Easter Week and the school holiday known as Spring Break. Certain destinations, such as New York, are perennial favourites and are busy year-round; even when the weather may not be pleasant, these destinations have particular attractions or experiences that always draw travellers. In some parts of the country, travel services may be limited during the low or off-season, largely due to weather conditions.
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absolute max | absolute min | Ø absolute max | Ø absolute min | relative humidity | Ø precipitation | days with deposit > 1mm | sunshine duration | |
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Jan | 32 °C | -18 °C | 14 °C | 3 °C | 67 % | 43.0 mm | 5 | 5.3 h |
Feb | 36 °C | -13 °C | 17 °C | 5 °C | 66 % | 55.0 mm | 5 | 6.0 h |
Mar | 36 °C | -7 °C | 22 °C | 10 °C | 64 % | 48.0 mm | 6 | 6.6 h |
Apr | 36 °C | 1 °C | 26 °C | 15 °C | 66 % | 65.0 mm | 5 | 6.9 h |
May | 37 °C | 6 °C | 29 °C | 19 °C | 71 % | 121.0 mm | 7 | 7.3 h |
Jun | 40 °C | 11 °C | 32 °C | 21 °C | 70 % | 95.0 mm | 6 | 9.5 h |
Jul | 42 °C | 17 °C | 35 °C | 23 °C | 65 % | 52.0 mm | 4 | 10.2 h |
Aug | 41 °C | 16 °C | 35 °C | 23 °C | 64 % | 52.0 mm | 4 | 9.6 h |
Sep | 40 °C | 8 °C | 32 °C | 21 °C | 68 % | 84.0 mm | 6 | 7.8 h |
Oct | 36 °C | -1 °C | 27 °C | 15 °C | 67 % | 87.0 mm | 6 | 7.0 h |
Nov | 32 °C | -6 °C | 22 °C | 9 °C | 69 % | 60.0 mm | 5 | 5.6 h |
Dec | 32 °C | -15 °C | 16 °C | 5 °C | 68 % | 48.0 mm | 5 | 5.0 h |
year | 42 °C | -18 °C | 26 °C | 14 °C | 67 % | 810.0 mm | 64 | 7.2 h |
Visa & Immigration
IATA Travel Centre
The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.
Traveller etiquette
Social Conventions
Americans are renowned for their openness and friendliness to visitors. The wide variety of national origins and the USA’s relatively short history has resulted in numerous cultural and traditional customs living alongside each other. In large cities, people of the same ethnic background often live within defined communities.
Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting in formal situations and in business meetings. As long as the fundamental rules of courtesy are observed, there need be no fear of offending anyone of any background.
Gifts are appreciated if one is invited to a private home.
As a rule, dress is casual. High-end restaurants, hotels and clubs may require more formal attire.
Smoking is increasingly unpopular in the US; it is essential to ask permission before lighting up. Smoking is not allowed on city transport and restricted or forbidden in public buildings in most states. There will be a posted notice where no smoking is requested. An increasing number of states (including California and New York) have banned smoking altogether in bars, restaurants and many public places.
Health
Food & Drink
Food in the US is safe to eat, and the conditions under which food is prepared and served are regulated by city, state, and federal health and hygiene agencies. In many jurisdictions, it is mandatory for restaurants to have a certificate of health or hygiene, as well as the current grade they have been assigned, posted visibly.
Although America is famous for its fast food and obesity rates, the local and fresh food movement is very popular in many areas, especially cities, making it easy to eat healthy. A variety of options also makes it easy for people with special dietary needs to find food that suits them, whether their needs are due to health reasons or to religious requirements.
Tap water is considered safe to drink in the US and is often offered in restaurants before bottled water. Bottled water is available throughout the country, however, both in restaurants and shops, for those who prefer not to drink tap water.
Other Risks
The US is generally considered a safe destination for world visitors. Occasional outbreaks of disease, such as West Nile Virus (a mosquito-borne illness) and H1N1 have occurred in recent years, however. Frequent hand-washing and general practices of good hygiene are encouraged to protect oneself against all types of illness.
Another concern with regard to safety is the possibility of terrorist attacks such as the one that occurred on September 11, 2001. City, state, and federal agencies have stringent anti-terrorism practices in place, however, and direct threats are infrequent.