4 American Weekend Getaways

I love the United States of America! There are so many places to see and gems to discover! I haven't done 1% of what I do want to do in his amazing place. And all I need is time and money and I will go explore more.
With my experience, however, I've picked 4 amazing cities you should definitely not miss when thinking about visiting America. I loved not only the cities but the surrounding nature and countryside. So. Enjoy my picks and plan your own trip.

1. Miami, Florida

As Will Smith, Pitbull and other artists say: Miami is the place to be if you want to party like there is no tomorrow: no work, all play, Okay? And relax on nice beaches all day long. It is a place for the rich and the beautiful, a place to spot and try to be spotted. The city attracts a large number of musicians, singers, actors, dancers, and orchestral players living the American dream, hoping to make it someday. Not a secret that they would usually have a waitressing or bar job until the big dream actually happens. Miami is a perfect place to spend your weekend getaway from the busy daily life, where you always end up staying a little longer.

The City

Miami is located on the Atlantic coast in Southeastern Florida and the culture can be described as dynamic with a serious Latin influence. Want Havana nights? Little Havana is the place to go, and they have some amazing Cuban clubs where they do the dirty dancing…

South Beach Miami, it is right next to the beach, and right next to a lot of nightlife, cafes, and restaurants. Probably the best spot for a clubbing-hungry person. So what do the rich and famous say about South Beach? In south beach Miami, the bass is high and the sun sets low. It is one big party in the city where the heat is on all night, and you find yourself on the beach until the break of dawn. 

There are clubs all over South Beach, and they are always pumping. The clubs have different “big nights” but all of them are located in roughly the same area, and it is easy to find which ones are the 'it' club of the night.

During the Day

While taking a break from beaching and clubbing, you can take a detour to view the millionaire yachts at the harbor. Now, that is a good daydreaming activity. Visiting this city looks like no work all play all day. The people living in South Beach are full-on, boob jobs and six packs everywhere, and girls wearing high heels in the sand. This is the place to be seen, and most city tours in Miami focus on going by the rich and the famous’ houses which only enhances the belief that in Miami you play hard. 

More of an indoorsy girl? Shop until you drop in the big malls and outlet malls of Miami and come home with all the brands bought on sale and look as smart as always.

2. Key West, Florida 

This is a beautiful breath hole on Florida coastline, so why not follow in the footsteps of Hemingway and spend a few days here? It is a gorgeous little island located 140 km from Cuba and the dock of lots of illegal immigrants. Home to good alcohol, quaint houses, where everyone, no matter their legal status, is friendly and helpful to a confused tourist looking for Hemingway’s old favorite bar.

The water is the clearest blue color and the coral reef off Key West is part of the only living barrier reef in North America. One of the biggest attractions in Key West is the ocean. Snorkelling, scuba diving, Eco tours, sail charters aboard tall ships and catamarans, or just ending a perfect day in Paradise aboard a sailing cruise to watch a famous Key West sunset while dancing to island music. If you have the time, do yourself the favor of stopping by.

3. Boston, Massachusetts 

Boston is considered a hub for higher education with its numerous schools and colleges that offer programs in a wide array of studies. But even if you aren’t checking out colleges or universities for yourself or your children it is still a pretty great city. 

I visited it in the glory of the autumn-color season and vivid yellow, bright orange, and deep red colors does make everything more beautiful. However, I did get completely charmed by the city’s old buildings, churches brick roads.

One way to see it all is to take a walking trip of the city. 

Boston Freedom Trail

Stroll the Boston Freedom Trail starting at the first Public park in the United States, the Boston Common, founded in 1634. It is inhabited by millions of squirrels and they are so fat. I am not sure if it was because they were fatting up for winter, or if the people and tourists of Boston grossly overfeed them because they find them adorable. But fat they were and very tame and use to people. 

From the park, you’ll have the pleasure of walking through the oldest city in America. The trail leads you over cobblestone streets and through narrow alleys to encounter some of the oldest historic buildings and sites in North American history. You’ll get a sense of how life once was when you stop by some, or all, of the 16 historically significant stops on the Freedom Trail. The trip provides you with a piece of early Boston history ranging from the oldest church to the first public school in America. Stop by the Boston Common Visitors Center and pick up some information prior to your walk if you do not want a guided tour. If you book a tour, there are plenty of people that can tell you all about the fascinating fight for independence, the crucial role the people of Boston played in freeing the slaves and their part in the Confederate war. Enjoy history in this interactive outdoor museum. Encounter some of the various notable legends such as Benjamin Franklin, who is buried in one of the churchyard stops, Wendell Phillips and Edgar Allan Poe who were all born in Boston. 

Neighbourhoods 

Boston contains hundreds of quaint neighborhoods and adorable areas to explore. Find your own favorite urban cafe or chick restaurant. With a big Italian immigration, there are a lot of options for the Italian gastronomy lovers. For the best view of the city grab a drink at the Prudential Center. At the top, they have an amazing bar and restaurant which offers live-jazz music. That was the night I fell in love with Boston. It might be a bit more expensive drinks than at the college bars, but the view and the vibe were amazing.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Who doesn't want that Southern Hospitality the film industry talk about when they mention the southern parts of America? Well, folks here is a place where you can get a taste of what all the’ people are talking about. Atlanta is the capital of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is where the weather is warm and the people are kind.

Tourist-spots in the City

One of the main tourist attractions is the Georgia Aquarium. It is located in the city-center and is, to this day, the world’s largest indoor aquarium. It is a great place to bring the children and explore the wonders under the sea up-close.

My personal favorite is the Coca-Cola museum or World of Coca-Cola featuring the history of the world's best-known brand! You get a chance to see all the commercials Coca-Cola has used throughout the years, the development of Coca-Cola and the very best is, of course, you get to taste all of Coca-Colas flavors. I didn’t count them but their webpage tells me it is over 60 different tastes from all over the world. I didn’t like very many of them and but the end, because I had to taste them all, my stomach was killing me. I’ve not gotten any smarter though because I have visited the museum twice and I’ve tasted them all both times.

Besides these two places, the CNN building attracts many tourists. The Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, this one I really liked and found the history, portraits and old war relics fascinating. I am not sure how long it will stay open though. It has been accused of being racist and discriminating so I have been told it is about to close down. The Botanical Garden, with more than 30 acres of gardens, forest, wildflower trails is another beautiful stop. And of course in the center and close to the Coca-Cola museum you’ll find the Centennial Olympic Park Home of the 1996 Olympic Games and the world's largest Olympic Ring fountain.

Food and Nightlife

When on vacation, you’ll want to try some local food. You might think because it is the US,  Atlanta only has fast food, however, Atlanta is rather famous for the city’s culinary scene, containing many ethnic restaurants serving cuisine from every corner of the world, and traditional places specializing in Southern dining. They DO, however, have a lot of fast-food options. Try the world's largest drive-in restaurant the Varsity and get your greasy, fatty fix of the day.

In terms of nightlife, Atlanta keeps the party going from day to night. Whether you're in the mood for Virginia-Highland's laid-back vibe, chic style in Buckhead or a trendy, cosmopolitan scene in Midtown, Atlanta nightlife suits every style of letting loose. You can always find a concert, theater, live music or pumping nightclub it really comes down to what you are in the mood for that day.

Stone Mountain

One thing you cannot miss while visiting the Peach State is Stone Mountain Park, home to the world’s largest piece of exposed granite rock, and longest running laser show telling the story of the civil war and playing country music even tourists can sing along to.

*all photos are private and taken by me