USA Tourism Board

50 Love Stories for All 50 States

Melanie Renzulli — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:02:48 +0000

You may say that I’m a day late for love story news, but I found this list of 50 love stories for all 50 states too excellent to resist. The editors at Amazon put together this list, which includes well-known classics like “Gone With the Wind” (Georgia) to lesser known gems like “Shine Shine Shine” (Virginia). In many cases, the editors had trouble settling on just one title for a state, so you’ll find lots of love story suggestions for California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington State. More…

Related Links

Maine: A Reading List

H/t Gizmodo

Beautiful Time Lapse of a USA Road Trip

Melanie Renzulli — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:29:36 +0000

I’m loving this new time lapse video of a trip across the USA. Created by Mike Matas, who drove cross-country with his girlfriend in Fall 2012, the video is rich with color and features iconic as well as lesser known spots between the coasts. Watch as Matas and friend drive and discover from San Francisco to New York.

H/T to Outside Magazine’s blog, which claims that the video is interactive on Matas’ website. I couldn’t figure out how to view details about the photos as they flashed across the screen, but maybe you can.

Related Articles:

Why Do We Celebrate Columbus Day?

Melanie Renzulli — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:00:22 +0000

Columbus Day is a strange holiday. For some, the second Monday in October is a chance to celebrate Italian-American heritage. For others, Columbus Day is a misguided commemoration of European colonization at the hands of Native Americans. The above video from CBS’s Sunday Morning program is a thorough look at the origins and controversies surrounding Columbus Day in the United States. Could we see the holiday renamed, as it has been in several states? Watch the video to find out.

The History of Rock and Roll in 100 Riffs

Melanie Renzulli — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 13:19:54 +0000

Some of the most popular articles on my USA travel guide on About.com are about music. The USA’s Top Music Festivals is consistently in the top 5 most-searched articles and a lot of visitors land on my article on Top Music Cities in the USA.

It is for that reason that I thought readers would enjoy this short video on the history of rock and roll. In it, Alex Chadwick of the Chicago Music Exchange plays 100 riffs from some of rock and roll’s most recognizable songs. While not all of them are from American artists, a big chunk of them are. Tune in to watch this very talented guitarist play everything from Chuck Berry to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A list of all 100 riffs is available on the Vimeo where this clip is hosted.

‘Texas Has More Exotic Wildlife Than Any Other Place On Earth’

Melanie Renzulli — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:38:39 +0000

Here’s a very fascinating report from 60 Minutes on the exotic animal ranches in Texas. Indeed, hunters and animal rights activists are at odds about these game preserves. But they can agree that where these animals are endangered in their native Asia and Africa, they are thriving in Texas Hill Country.

By the way, the organizations listed in this video include the Exotic Wildlife Association and Friends of Animals.

California Super 8 Road Trip

Melanie Renzulli — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:39:08 +0000

Well, here’s something refreshing. I’ve grown a little tired of time-lapse videos. As cool as they can be, they’ve just become so cliche and too…I don’t know…wondrous. Sometimes, I want something a bit more stripped down, which is why this video of a road trip to California caught my eye. It’s shot in Super 8 and has a great retro feel even though it was created last fall.

Thirtieth Anniversary of the Conch Republic (Key West, Florida)

Melanie Renzulli — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 15:26:33 +0000

An irreverent look at the independent spirit of the island of Key West, Florida, also known (by its residents, at least) as the “Conch Republic.”

USA Travel Links for June 2nd

Melanie Renzulli — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 14:07:10 +0000

These are my links for June 2nd:

Happy Birthday, USA Travel! – I just finished my first year as the USA Travel Guide for About. Help me with suggestions on what to write about in my next year on the job.
America’s Best and Worst Airports – I missed this April article from Travel and Leisure. It’s the magazine’s first-ever reader survey of the USA’s best and worst airports. It’s worth a look, if only to confirm your suspicions.
Pilgrims of Beauty: Art and Inspiration in 19th-Century Italy – An exhibition going on at the RISD Museum of Art in Rhode Island. via @travelmedia
The Myths and, More Importantly, Magic of Detroit – Writing for Perceptive Travel, my friend Brian Spencer (@BrianBSpencer) writes about his erstwhile hometown and why he still has pride in a city he “gave up on 25 years ago.”
The Killer in the Pool – Tim Zimmerman of Outside Magazine provides a detailed and harrowing account of the day killer whale Tilikum at Orlando’s Sea World turned on his trainer Dawn Brancheau. Via @simonsam.
Tornadoes in the USA – While tornadoes threatened the DC area on Friday, I decided to familiarize myself (and readers) with information about the prevalence of tornadoes in the U.S.