Last week, we talked a bit about experiences in the United States that you should participate in in order to truly understand American culture.
In part two of American traditions you should experience, we give you 5 more American customs that you can’t miss out on during your time in the USA.
1. American football
Americans constantly debate which is the true American sport, baseball or American football. Either way, both are a quintessential part of US culture and lifestyle. During your time in the United States, go to a football game! Whether it’s a professional league game or a University game, you will get the full American football experience. Try tailgating with friends before the game. Tailgating is when you meet outside of the football stadium either in the parking lot or somewhere nearby and set up a small party area around your car to eat and drink before the game starts. Americans take tailgating seriously and some people start their parties as early as 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning! If you are able to be in the USA during the Superbowl (usually in early February) take advantage and participate in the celebrations! The Superbowl is the annual championship of the National Football League. In order to have an authentic Superbowl experience, it’s not necessary to go to the actual game – just join in on one of the many viewing parties that you will find and have fun.
2. Eat a cheeseburger
One stereotype of Americans is that they eat a lot of cheeseburgers. It’s true, they eat burgers (but not as often as the rest of the world thinks they do). If you’re in the US, make sure you eat a delicious, authentic cheeseburger, as there is nothing that compares to a real American one. Don’t go to McDonalds or Burger King – find a restaurant in your area that’s famous for its burgers and enjoy!
3. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays in the United States. It’s a time for food, family and being thankful for what you have. Americans prepare a big meal that consists of foods such as turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, vegetables, hot rolls and sweet potatoes. The most traditional dessert on Thanksgiving is a pumpkin pie served with whipped cream. In the morning there is the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade that takes place in New York City and is broadcasted to every American home. There are also football games to watch throughout the day. It’s a truly special experience and one of the most important American traditions.
4. Summer camps
If you are a child or teen (or the parent of a child or a teen) you or your kids may be interested in going to an American summer camp. It’s a longtime tradition in the US for kids to go away to camp and live in nature for the summer. Kids stay in wood cabins in the forest, normally with access to a lake for swimming and water sports. They spend the summer making friends and doing all kinds of fun outdoor activities and sports. Memories from summer camp are the most long-lasting memories. One of the most famous summer camps in the states is the YMCA summer camp, if you’re interested in going check out this link! Going to summer camp is one of the most fun American traditions you can experience as a kid.
5. Take a road trip
The USA is the third largest country in the world, which means LOTS of options for road trips. The most famous route for US road trips is Route 66 which originally started in Chicago, Illinois and ran all the way to Santa Monica, California. Now, parts of the highway have been renamed and changed but you still have the option to use this route, also known as the Main Street of America, for an amazing road trip. Another popular road trip is to take California’s Route 1 up the coast of California to see some breathtaking ocean views and cool towns. For more information on Route 1, click here. If you’re looking for a different road trip, put the cities you want to visit into Google Maps and it will create the route for you; the options are endless!
Do you have any input on American traditions you should experience during your trip to the US? Share your ideas in the comments!
