In terms of frequency of visits, the main reason I go to the USA is to visit close friends there. That's more to do with where they live than the USA. However I also go to the USA a lot for tourism, and even when I am visiting friends, I generally enjoy it.

Some of the things I like are:
* The huge variety of natural landscapes - forests, mountains, lakes, plains, deserts, coast, all on a scale and variety far greater than near where I live. The most recent natural landscape I went to see in the USA was the California coastal redwood forests, something you just can't see in Northern Europe.
* The big cities with great museums, architecture, an interesting history, often good food (definitely in any of the coastal cities).
* The views of the country as you fly across it - I can't understand anyone who takes a US internal flight and doesn't want a window seat!
* Hotels are usually reliably good (or at least predictable), and fairly cheap outside the most popular destinations.
* Good roads (though the other side of that is you have to drive almost everywhere, so you have to rent a car most of the time to go most places)
* More clothes for tall people than most of Europe, and sometimes technology is cheaper too.
* Usually there is little language barrier, people are usually friendly and give good service in the service industries, and by now I know how the country works so I can get around easily

I've been to a lot of European countries and I'm working my way around Asia (and Australia and NZ), but I still go back to the USA regularly too. I'm not nearly done with it.

Of course there are downsides, and many parts of the USA are places I have no intention of going for fun, but the place is so big with so many things to do, that it's easy to avoid them.

To dismiss New York on the basis of Times Square is akin to dismissing all of London because you don't like the London Eye. It's the least authentic part of a limitless city.

Fascinating how some extol the virtues of dining in the US and some report difficulty finding anything edible. In truth we have a lot of everything, at both the junk and haute ends of the spectrum, and it's all easy to find. But even the simple diner food (I love the paean to breakfast diners in the US) is usually good and conscientiously prepared. It is also usually easy to find something good to eat here at three in the morning.

I also love how many of you have cited the US national park system -- some have named more specific parks than the average American could manage. They are among our greatest assets, but I find my British friends sometimes underestimate their size and the time it takes to "do" them. Living in Seattle I've been asked by UK visitors if (A) the Grand Canyon was "open today," as if it were Hampton Court or something, and (B) if we might drive down there for lunch.

Thank you for visiting. I know TSA, etc. makes it unnecessarily difficult these days.

As a kiwi currently living in Vancouver, Canada my reasons for holidaying state side are simple:

1. proximity,
2. the mrs is a yank...

But most of my holidays down there are for hiking. Am off to do the john muir trail in two weeks, have done a lot of hiking around hte national parks of the west. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Grand/Bryce/Zion/Canyonlands/Arches/Natural Bridges hell I love UTAH!

Otherwise it's a massively vast country with a lot to offer - but as the OP said, it's a massive world. Dont spend all your time in one place. For culture, go to San Miguel De Allende in MX. Awesome!

Interesting the differences. There is one near me, and I think it's mediocre. I went a few times and have not been back. Going to an M&S food Hall in the UK is torture for me, I see all these tasty things that I can't take home, either for practical or customs reasons. My doctor might be concerned if I could buy clotted cream here though...

Points about Gatlinburg:

* only a mile from the national park
* the town is a tourist trap but go a mile west and it's quiet
* very bad food, poor groceries - we drove to Maryville for better quality shopping
* good accommodation - we rented a three-storey log cabin with hot tub, games room, Christmas tree, fire, very pretty, no neighbours (not in a development) for about $200/night at Christmas

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg towns are like going to Patong (Phuket) or Playa de Las Americas (Tenerife) but unlike those places perhaps the adjoining national park land is properly protected and beautiful.

We would not go back but that's not to say I wouldn't recommend it.

And the County Line BBQ! Best ribs I've ever had ( although I had them in Oklahoma City)

If this is all you're seeing in the country, you've been going to all the wrong places. Or you're being too "mean" with your spending habits. There is plenty to see and do, and there is plenty to avoid as well. You need to know the difference. It's the same in any country.

The USA is great in the OUTDOORS. The mountains, the lakes, the parks, the beaches. Cities are the WORST places to holiday there, period.

I would also recommend never, ever, for any reason, turning on a TELEVISION in the US. The programming will suck every last IQ point out of your head. Same for 90 percent of rubbish shown in the UK, by the way.

Bland food? There is great food all over the place - just look around. Go to "non-franchised" restaurants - small, independently owned ones. They are often "ethnic". I can't see the food there as "bland". Go to better restaurants - they exist. They may be a little more expensive, or they may give you smaller portions, but the food is MUCH better.

Generic consumer culture is world-wide. All it takes is a little effort to turn your head and ignore it.

Where are you people eating when you go to the USA?

Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin Donuts?
Starbucks?

Try spending a little money next time!
You can find food from all over the world, prepared by people from all over the world!

Thank you, yes, I will try to get back to Rapid City - the parks around the region are fantastic - I'd love to drive the Peter Norbeck road myself, rather than the tour bus - those pig-tail bridges were great fun!

Went out to Crazy Horse, interesting you can climb up it.

The Firehouse Brewery in RC was great. Loved the beer, and I got proof of age checked. I was well chuffed at that!

Where in the world did you get this ridiculous idea?

That is utter rubbish.

I won't assume their motives but I will say that (even though I have seen much of the U.S.) I am concentrating most of my travel overseas, on the assumption that I should do it while I'm healthy and have the means to travel. You never know what tomorrow may bring.

Those people who aren't spending any time in the UK may reasonably think that it's better saved for the day when they're older and have less energy to fly 8-10 hours at a time and cross a country that's 3000 miles across.

Now if they just hate Britain, well, that's their loss. I find it fascinating.

Tipping is probably the biggest stumbling point for foreigners. There is a minimum wage in the U.S. but there's an exception for wait staff, who can be paid almost nothing if they get tips. It's just the culture here. But remember you're under no obligation*, even if the restaurant adds "service" for large parties. Leaving a small tip might remind them how bad the service was (or they may just think you're cheap).

(EDIT: *no obligation, but that shouldn't mean don't tip just because you don't want to. Look at it this way - even with the tip, it's still no more expensive than back home)

As for sales tax, while there is unfortunately nothing like VAT refunds, remember there are some states that charge no sales tax, and the states that do don't impose any responsibility on you bringing goods across state lines since you're not a resident.

If you're shopping for, say, a laptop, or expensive clothes, it may very well be cheaper for you to trek out to a mall in Delaware or New Hampshire than pay a premium price with tax in NYC.

I've been pretty lucky, but I almost always enter with the benefit of a fast-track pass. I did have to wait quite a while at Luton recently because the staff processed all the UK/EU people and then went on break, leaving the rest of us in a long line.

I did once have to wait almost an hour at Heathrow T2 so I celebrated when that beast was demolished.

Regarding the driving during your holiday objection... I can see why but honestly, the 'road trip holiday' is one of my favorite ways to see the world. I think I have driven more miles in a Hertz Mustang Convertible than in my own car. Just did another 3000 in 18 days. The US & Canada are very easy and relaxed places to drive in (once you have accepted they can't do corners and do not overtake) and you see so much from the road alone, especially if you take secondary roads.

The Road Trip is a great type of holiday and there are not that many places in the world where this is easily done. Could you imagine doing a road trip across China? It would not be that easy. In addition it is culturally very different from Europe but much more accessible because of language. The politics, social commentary are easily understood and that allows for a more comprehensive experience. I have intermittently put a lot of energy into improving my Japanese and to lesser extent Chinese (Mandarin) but I have to face the fact that I am never going to be able to sit down and watch a Japanese Fox News and understand the all that is going on. That is why going to the US for me is more fun.

Actually the food is often not that great outside of the major conglomerations.
I will leave it at that before the feather D finds me again

The Grand Canyon.

Well, not just that but also a host of other truly inspiring natural vistas. Get away from Dunkin Donuts and go there to see the landscape.

FWIW most people I know swear Lockhart is the place to go - it's 30 minutes south of Austin.