I guess I'm glad I didn't notice this thread earlier. I probably saved my self a lot of posts.
But I have to say
thegoderic sums it up well. To me the mono-culture aspect is the real reason I avoid the US for holidays. Culture and meeting different people from different backgrounds is the main non-business reason I travel. And most all the wonderful landscape and scenery that the US has can be found elsewhere.
It should be noted that the not that long ago, even in the 1960's, the US was not mono-culture. There was vast diversity back then. But thanks to the structure of US television and now the Internet, that is no longer true.
Originally Posted by
thegoderic
Cons
Close to being a monoculture - shops, hotels, restaurants are more or less the same everywhere
Although some cultural hotspots, not an awful lot in most places
Some of the major cities are to be avoided at all costs from a tourist perspective
Pros
Staggering diversity of landscape and scenery - from the forests of Maine via the Rockies to the deserts of the South West
With thought, you can access come of the above scenery in places that are almost empty of tourists.
Excellent National Park network - some do get crowded, but walk a mile from a trailhead and you're alone
Diversity and splendour of wildlife. As a birder, I am staggered at what you can see and how easy it is to see most of it.
A few world class cities - NY, SF, Chicago, with a supporting cast of other smaller but excellent places such as Seattle, Boston, DC.
In summary, I've visited 40+ times on business and leisure and have barely touched the surface of what there is to be seen.