The northern state of Vermont shares a border with Canada and is also known as the Green Mountain State. This name alone reveals how impressive the nature in the state is and what you can expect on a trip. As part of New England, Vermont is also one of the historic founding parts of the United States of America and with its unique architectural style, which can still be seen today in many villages and towns of the state, there is as much to see for friends of architecture and history as for enthusiastic explorers of nature.

Peace and relaxation between mountains, forests and rivers

If you move through Vermont, you will probably quickly have the feeling that you have arrived in the seemingly endless expanses of the Canadian landscape rather than being in the USA . Everything is a bit quieter and smaller here. There are no metropolises with skyscrapers and impressive dynamism, but there are a large number of small cities that can usually trace their history back to the founding period of the United States. The state sinks a bit into the silence of nature when you move through the dense deciduous forests. Landscape and nature have always played an important role for people.

Vermont is known in the United States not only for its almost permanent autumn colors in the leaves, but also for its maple syrup. Here the proximity to Canada can be illustrated, which can also be felt in other corners of the state. In general, you feel a strong connection to your brother in the north and the 15 border crossings that can be found in the state invite you to take a little trip to the north. This is certainly also due to the fact that theoretically you are still in the same landscape.

Top attractions on a trip to Vermont

Vermont is a paradise for nature lovers. Countless activities can be carried out in the extensive forests. In winter, there’s also the chance to go on an adventure on one of the state’s many ski slopes and try out your own winter sports skills. The state is very diverse in this regard and offers just the right options for active vacations – from aforementioned hikes and ski trips to bike tours through the Indian Summer, the brown spectacle in the forests. The various lakes also usually offer many options for different tastes, from pedal boats to canoeing on the rivers.

The other side of the state is the historical heritage of the USA, which can probably not be experienced in any part of the country as much as it is in New England. A visit to Burlington is therefore definitely a must. The city attracts with old houses from the Wilhelminian period, which are well maintained and still offer a glimpse of how the first people organized themselves here in small towns. Nearby is Hildene in Manchester. The former summer house of Abraham Lincoln has now been converted into a museum about the famous American president and the founding period of the USA.

Lake Champlain is also located directly near Burlington. The huge lake was an important point for the first settlers and in the immediate vicinity there are a variety of museums and institutions that deal with this period. What’s more, you’ll find arguably the best restaurants in the state that tempt you with New England cuisine — typically rustic cuisine that works primarily with seafood and meat.

Top tips for traveling through Vermont

In general, a visit to Vermont is recommended, especially in autumn. When the colors of the foliage change and most of the state’s cultural festivals are just around the corner, you not only have the opportunity for long trips into the forests, for hikes and bike tours, excursions on the many lakes in the state, but also pleasant temperatures for your own activities. When booking, it should always be kept in mind that only about half a million people live in the state at all. Accordingly, the offers for overnight stays and hotels are a little limited. There are hardly any classic luxury hotels, but small guesthouses dominate here, which are usually set for a stay of one or two nights.

It should be said that the exploration works best if you have your own car at your disposal. Vermont may seem small, but in fact it takes a few hours to travel from state border to state border. If you want to explore the outdoors and mountains on your own, it’s best to opt for an SUV that can handle the local conditions and only add to the adventurous spirit of exploring Vermont. In addition, any papers for a trip to Canada should be applied for early – it is not so easy to get a tourist visa for a spontaneous visit to the northern brother state of the USA.

Michigan is the state of the Great Lakes, America’s industrial revolution, and home to the car city of Detroit. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, the state not only has an impressive history behind it, but is also popular with vacationers who want to discover the diversity of American nature due to its border with Canada and some of the most beautiful state parks. With Detroit, on the other hand, you have an excellent contrast to the tranquility on the lakes and can effortlessly immerse yourself in the vibrant life of a big city. So there are many good reasons why you should consider a visit to the state.

From a commercial center to America’s car manufacturer

Michigan was one of the first states to be explored by settlers on the journey west. Passing the Great Lakes, one met here in large numbers the tribes of the Native Americans, who, however, as is well known, were largely expelled. For many years, the settlers thought that the Great Lakes were a sea and only gradually did they understand that it was actually a natural border to the Canadian states in the north. It is precisely these lakes, such as Lake Michigan, that provide a large proportion of visitors to the state today. The many options for excursions and easy transit to Canada are delightful and offer many interesting options.

Fort Mackinac is a historical testimony to the development of the state. It changed hands several times over the decades, but at all times it was an important trade hub for trade between the colonial states and later an important waypoint on the way west. The fort was listed as a historic monument in the 1960s and can now be visited by tourists. Here you will not only find some interesting souvenirs, but also a lot of information about the trade and dealings with the indigenous people, who once lived in large numbers in the Great Lakes region.

Between dunes and America’s largest lakes

Michigan’s landscape is extremely diverse, even if you usually only hear about the big lakes. Of course, these play the biggest role. Lake Michigan offers many interesting options, and the expansion of the hiking trails along its shores, the many bike paths throughout the state, and the other options for excursions on the water are good reasons to consider a trip to the lake. A visit to one of the many state parks is particularly recommended. In the nature reserves, people are fighting for the preservation of nature and those who go hiking in Holland State Park, for example, will be able to discover some of the most beautiful shores of the Great Lakes.

However, since the Great Lakes are among the most important sights in various states, it is also worth taking a look at what is unique in Michigan. For example, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers a great change, especially for hikers. It goes up a few meters in altitude over the dunes and if you are not a professional at hiking, you should perhaps go to the training beforehand. After a successful climb, you will be rewarded with one of the most beautiful views over the great lakes and the landscapes of Michigan.

A visit to Mackinac Island should definitely be part of your own planning. Since it is a car-free island, you can rent bicycles here and use one of the many hiking and exploration trails to get an overview of the island. The fact that access to the island is allowed by one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, among other things, is another reason for visiting the north of the state. If you’ve had enough of nature now and would rather experience a little dynamism, you should look south – maybe you’ve already seen the skyline of Detroit from a distance.

Detroit – the capital of the American car

The close connection between Detroit and the American car industry is mainly due to the fact that General Motors has chosen the city for itself. Once the most important manufacturer of cars and trucks in the United States, it can still be seen on every corner today. But it is also true that Detroit has experienced a significant economic slump in recent decades. It is not for nothing that there are stories about the state of drinking water and entire districts in the suburbs that are no longer inhabited today.

However, there is still a lot to experience, especially in the core of the city. Historic skyscrapers such as the Guardian Building or the Fisher Building dominate the skyline and give a good impression of how powerful and important the city must have once been. Today, downtown is home to many shopping opportunities and some of the best restaurants in the state. Those who are also into American sports will find many opportunities – from Michigan Stadium to the various professional teams of the city of Detroit, there is a lot on offer for visitors in this direction.

The state of Missouri got its name from the Missouri River and the Missouri Indians and has been part of the United States of America since 1821 as the 24th state. The 180,533 km² state is located in the middle of the west of the USA, where around 6 million inhabitants live. The capital is called Jefferson City, where about 50,000 people live. Missouri borders the states of Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Oklahoma , and Kansas. As a state located in Tornado Alley, it is known for a particularly high number of tornadoes in spring.

Landscape

The state of Missouri is known for its breathtaking and diverse landscape. The most notable rivers that flow through the state are the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Both are the main transport routes in this area. The Mississippi, often called the Old Man River, has a length of 3,778 km. Many cities such as St. Paul, Minneapolis, Davenport, New Orleans, St. Louis, Memphis , and Baton Rouge are located directly on the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans .

With a delta size of more than 12,000 km², it is one of the largest estuaries in the world. The Mississippi joins the Missouri River at St. Louis. Both are a total of 6,051 km long. The Missouri River alone is approximately 4,130 km long and is considered a tributary of the Mississippi, although it is actually longer than the Mississippi. It is formed by the confluence of the Madison River and the Jefferson River in the state of Montana. Other well-known rivers in the country, which are mainly used for recreational activities such as kayaking, are the White River, the Francis River, the Osage River and the Gasconade River. In addition to the rivers, there are also numerous (reservoir) lakes in the state of Missouri. These include Lake of the Ozarks, Big Lake (Missouri’s largest oxbow lake), Bull Shoals Lake, and Truman Reservoir, which is the largest reservoir in Missouri.

Among the most famous mountains are the Ozark and the Saint Francois Mountains. With an area of 122,000 km², the Ozark is the most extensive mountain region between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. Thus, the highland region covers about 50 percent of the state of Missouri. The highest point of the mountainous region is 450 meters above sea level and can be found in the southeast of the country. This is the Saint Francois Mountains. They are the oldest volcanic mountain range in Missouri. As a mining region, lead, barite, iron, silver, manganese, nickel and cobalt are mined here. Among the highest mountains there is Taum Sauk Mountain, where the most breathtaking waterfalls in Missouri can be found. This refers to the Mina Sauk Falls. Although the state has such a diverse landscape, there are no national parks in Missouri, only state parks.

Getting to Missouri

To reach the state of Missouri from Europe, you first have to go to cities like
Las Vegas, Chicago or Washington and from there take a connecting flight to Missouri. The largest airports in Missouri include Kansas City International Airport and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Missouri can be reached by train via the routes of the Southwest Chief, the Texas Eagle and the Missouri River Runner. By car, all parts of the state are easily accessible via the extensive transport network of the interstate highways.

Well-known cities

The most famous cities in Missouri are Jefferson City, Branson, Columbia, Hermann, Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis. In the capital of the state, Jefferson City, many historic buildings and structures can be admired. The city was named in honor of the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Columbia is known worldwide as a student city. Logically, 30,000 students from the University of Missouri live here alone. The small town of Hermann is very popular with German-speaking guests due to its German roots and wine-growing region. There is even an annual May and Oktoberfest here. The Kansas City metropolitan area, which is a twin city of Hanover , is home to around 2 million inhabitants. This makes Kansas not only the most populous city in the state of Missouri, but also one of the two largest metropolitan areas in the region. In Kansas, there are many museums, boulevards and theaters to visit. The same applies to the city of Springfield. The largest city after Kansas is St. Louis, which is also very popular with visitors. Especially the landmark, the Gateway Arch, is visited very often.

Stronghold

Missouri continues to be known for its activities such as the Missouri State Fair and the Kansas City Irish Fest. The former is a folk festival in the small town of Sedina, which lasts for 11 days. In addition to exhibitions, animal shows and stalls, there are also large concerts taking place again and again. The Irish Fest in Kansas City, on the other hand, is a celebration in memory of the Irish. More than 100,000 guests a year are interested in the culture, music and history of the Emerald Isle.

Attractions in Mussouri

Finally, a small selection of sights that you should not miss during your stay in Missouri:

• The Mastodon State Historic Site
• the historic site of Harry S Truman
• the house of the Truman Farm
• the home of Mark Twain and a museum dedicated to him
• Anheuser-Busch Brewery
• The Missouri State Capitol
• the Powell Symphony Hall.