Ancient cultures and fascinating landscapes: deserts, plains, hot springs, high mountains and a boundless expanse known from the West. This is New Mexico, the fifth largest state in the USA. It is located in the southwest on the border with Mexico. Almost as big as Germany, however, it has only 2.2 million inhabitants. “Land of Enchantment” is what the locals call New Mexico: the “Land of Enchantment”. It attracts all those who like to spend their free time with outdoor activities such as horseback riding, climbing, fishing, biking, hiking or skiing.

Pleasant temperatures all year round

New Mexico has so many national parks that you can’t list them here. But the state – especially the city of Santa Fe – is also a magnet for artists who are inspired by the landscape and culture of past and living indigenous peoples. The caves carved in stone and the pueblo architecture are considered unique. The temperatures are pleasant, only in desert regions it can get very hot in summer – and in the desert very cold at night.

Downtown Albuquerque becomes a trendy district

The state’s capital, Albuquerque on the Rio Grande, has a population of 500,000. Almost half of them are Hispanics – have Latin American-Spanish roots. They speak a “New Mexican” Spanish that has mixed with Native American and English words. In New Mexico, Spanish and English are official languages. Albuquerque is crossed by the legendary Route 66, which is identical to Interstate 40. The city is currently changing and is becoming a trendy meeting place with galleries, boutiques, bars and restaurants. There, the culinary qualities of New Mexico can be tested: The burger with red and green chili sauce (“Christmas style”) already gives an idea of the exotic delicacies that will be served. On weekends, it gets crowded around the “Pueblo Deco KiMo Theater”. That’s when opera lovers flock to the building in the Indian-American Art Deco style. Be sure to check it out!

In the old town there are still old mudstone houses

Albuquerque was already settled by Indian tribes in the 12th century, and in the 16th century the Spaniards occupied the city. The Old Town was founded in 1706 by Spanish settlers and is now worth a visit for its last historic adobe buildings. Albuquerque’s modern architecture pays homage to the indigenous people of the Pueblo culture: even high-rise buildings are often built in steps and with rounded corners, and their facades shine in natural rust and clay colors. In October, visitors can’t miss the Balloon Fiesta – with hundreds of colourful hot-air balloons in the sky. If you are drawn to the Sandia Mountains, you can take the cable car to the 3000m peak.

Via the “Turquoise Trail” to the City of Art

Instead of driving from Albuquerque to Santa Fe via the highway, there is the “decelerated alternative” of reaching the city via the “Turquoise Trail” (Byway 14). This is a scenic road that leads through the mountains and some nice villages and abandoned ghost towns with former gold mines. Santa Fe is located 3000 meters above sea level. The city has around 90,000 inhabitants and is considered the oldest in the USA. The Governor’s Palace and the San-Miguel Chapel are from 1610. Jewellery is sold in front of the palace. Here, holidaymakers have the opportunity to buy Indian turquoise jewellery.

Spanish colonial buildings next to pueblo houses

The cityscape inspires every visitor: a successful mixture of the rust-red, nested houses in the Pueblo style (correctly it is called “Adobe style”) and the old Spanish colonial buildings. Santa Fe has more than 200 art galleries, making it an outstanding arts center. The New Mexico Museum of Art is worth a visit – as is the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum with paintings by the artist (1887-1986). Wacky but no less fascinating is the multi-media art in the “Meow Wolf” cultural centre.

Via the Pueblo Trail to ancient cave dwellings

Between the Chihuahua Desert and the Sangre de Christo Mountains, New Mexico offers natural wonders and important cultural sites on virtually every mile. 9.5 percent of New Mexico’s inhabitants are indigenous, mainly Pueblo Indians of the Navajo peoples. About 60 kilometers northwest of Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument is located in an area of rugged canyons and flat plateaus. The Pueblo Trail leads to the cave dwellings with hewn walls and carved rock signs. With rangers, visitors can hike the stunning Tyuonyi Overlook Trail and learn all about plants, animals, and pueblos along the way.

Holy Land for ceremonies at Chaco Canyon

If you go to the Chaco Cultural National Historical Park at Chaco Canyon northwest of Albuquerque, you will drive through “Indian country”. The canyon is sacred land of the Pueblo peoples. It was and still is a place for ceremonies. The ruins of the ancient pueblos bear witness to the highly developed culture of the First Nation, which very early applied its knowledge of astronomy and geometry to its buildings. North of Farmington is the Aztec Ruins National Monument, which is well worth seeing. You can see a large labyrinth of ruins of the Pueblo Indians, in which visitors can roam. Aztecs have never been to this place. But the first settlers in the mid-19th century thought it was Aztec settlements and left the name.

Snow-white giant dunes made of gypsum sand

In the southeast of New Mexico lies the beautiful and photogenic (!) Nationalpark White Sands National Monument. It is located 25 kilometers southwest of the town of Alamogordo in the north of the Chihuahua Desert. A 712 square kilometre gypsum field with impressively high, snow-white dunes lies in a valley, the Tularosa Basin. The grained gypsum was formed by sediment deposits, as no water could drain off here. 250 million years ago, there was a sea here that dried up due to faults. In 2009, the 23,000-year-old footprint of a Homo sapiens was found in the area.

The state of Kansas is understood as the center of the USA and is at the same time a fundamental part of the folklore around such American classics as the cowboy. The sprawling Great Plains still tell of the sheer incomprehensible size of the USA and if you want to understand the United States, you will definitely have to stop in Kansas. It is also above all this nature that attracts most vacationers to Kansas. Larger cities are the rarity here, but it is very easy to see why the Native Americans were almost all settled in this region of the states.

The folklore around Kansas

If you take a look at typical American stories, you will notice that many of them are closely connected to Kansas. There are, for example, the cowboys, who today are mainly associated with Texas , but actually had their origins in Kansas for years. The farm from The Wizard of Oz was also in Kansas. This is probably because every child has some connection to the state, which is so typical of the image of the USA that many people have. Above all, however, Kansas is now the Sunflower State. The sprawling sunflower fields are a quintessential sight of the Great Plains and have given Kansas one of many nicknames.

By the way, Kansas is also the country of the German-speaking minority in the USA. Many emigrants settled here after 1857. Previously, this was not possible, as it was a state that was assigned exclusively to the indigenous peoples after they had been expelled from other parts of the national territory. Since then, however, a very special culture has developed here and the traces of the “Indians” can still be found everywhere in the state. In addition, there are some reserves where the indigenous people can now live according to their own rights and often offer tourists a guided tour and talk about the fate of their people.

Top attractions in the state of Kansas

From historic trade routes with a close connection to the Wild West to untouched prairies, the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else in the USA, Kansas has a lot to offer. It should be mentioned here that you should always rent your own car for the exploration tour. Although Topeka is a huge urban region, the expansion of public infrastructure, especially in traffic in Kansas, is rather rare. This is not least due to the sheer size of the state, where you can also travel for a few hours by car until you reach your next destination.

The Santa Fe Trail is one of the last testimonies of the journey to the West. During Kansas City when the gateway to the west was considered, the merchant wagons moved here towards the west coast and not only had to be protected from attacks by the natives, but one or the other trading post was created, which can still be visited today if you follow this path yourself. A visit to Fort Larned, where one of the most important meetings between the natives and the new Americans took place, also fits in with this.

Even though the state borders the Rocky Mountains, it is relatively flat. Hiking and mountain bikers will therefore get their money’s worth less here. But it is mainly hikers who find the vast prairies a great way to discover this almost forgotten form of nature in the United States.

Cities, culture and other sights in Kansas

A visit to Topeka is of course an absolute must, even if it is only to take in the historic parts of the city. This is where life in the state began, and the historic State Capitol alone is worth a visit. Above all, however, you can discover some museums here, which show, for example, the eventful history of the state in connection with the tornadoes. Kansas is one of the most tornado-stricken parts of the USA and the destruction of natural phenomena is sometimes immense.

Even though Topeka is the capital of the state, Wichita is the actual urban center. Here you will not only find the international airport and thus the gateway to a visit to Kansas, but also an interesting division of the city. The Wild West meets the modern aircraft industry that has become so important to Kansas. Great restaurants and very hearty and home-style cuisine can be found in the restaurants, with the city’s excellent steakhouses in particular deserving of a special mention.

Last but not least, Hutchinson should also be mentioned. The slightly smaller city, for example, is home to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center and is therefore one of the most beautiful and interesting museums when it comes to space travel and the history associated with it in the USA. All in all, this state is an excellent way to switch between natural spectacle and urban region and experience and explore a wide variety of things.

When you think of New York, you naturally think of the Big Apple with its many sights, the many millions of people and this unique melting pot of cultures. But the state of the same name, from which the name “New York City” is actually derived, also has its very own form of highlights and sights to offer. The Empire State, as it is called, with its capital Albany is one of the oldest areas of today’s USA with an eventful history and an extremely capricious nature. And even though a trip to NYC is of course a must when visiting, you should definitely embark on an adventure in “Upstate” New York.

Life in the shadow of the Big Apple

The state of New York was one of the thirteen colonies that today play an important role in the founding myth of the USA . It was not so much the British as the Dutch who built their first base in the New World here. After some back and forth and various wars, it finally became part of the British colonies in America and quite quickly New York City developed into one of the most important ports on the east coast of the new country. Gradually, however, the state developed its own identity independently of the big city and above all the city dwellers themselves enjoyed the excursions to the countryside to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

A visit to upstate New York is likely to offer a variety of surprises for most visitors. Because even away from the big city, the state has a lot of sights to offer. From historical testimonies of the early days of the USA to breathtaking spectacles of nature, everything can be found here. In addition, of course, there is the advantage that a trip to New York City or New England only takes a few hours and therefore you have a perfect base for traveling around the northeastern part of the USA.

The most beautiful natural spectacles in New York State

One of the most famous sights in New York State is certainly Niagara Falls State Park. The famous waterfalls, which can be found next to the city of the same name, are probably one of the most impressive natural spectacles you can find in the USA and the journey from New York City is done quickly. In general, it is surprising what a diverse nature the state has to offer its visitors. Hikers and adventurers on bicycles in particular get a varied landscape to offer, which is interrupted from time to time by historical monuments.

The Long Island area also plays a special role in the state. In recent years, it has become one of the most popular retreats for city dwellers and today offers not only a wide selection of hotels and holiday homes, but above all some impressive beaches that invite you to linger. From here, you can start a deep-sea fishing tour or take advantage of one of the many offers to explore the coast by boat and discover even more of New York. But if you are just looking for a little relaxation after the strenuous sightseeing, you will get your money’s worth here and spend a great day.

The Indian Summer, the time at the beginning of autumn when the leaves change color and the entire state presents itself in rich shades of brown, is the time of hikers and hikers in New York. Especially in the Adirondacks State Park, the mountain range in the east of the state, there are many opportunities to experience this spectacle of nature first-hand. In addition, the area offers many great climbing opportunities or invites you to take an extensive mountain bike tour through the mountains.

Albany and other cities outside New York City

NYC is by no means the capital of the state, even if one would assume that, of course. Albany is the historic hub of New York and offers some interesting testimonies to history. Especially the State Capitol, which can now look back on several hundred years of history, is a real eye-catcher on a walk through Albany. Anyone who takes this opportunity to walk through one of the many shopping streets or sit down in one of the restaurants will also notice that the melting pot of cultures did not stop in NYC. From typical Italian-American cuisine to the classics of New England, everything is represented on the city’s menus and therefore offers a good selection.

Finally, of course, you should also have visited New York City itself. There is not enough space to describe all the must-see sights in the city. In general, it can be worthwhile to plan several days just for visiting upstate New York and then go to New York City. The contrasts that are lived and can be experienced here in the state are one reason why a visit to this region of the USA is always recommended.

Located in the Midwest, the US state of Iowa might seem a little boring at first glance. But far from it. Although Iowa is rural and known outside its own state borders mainly for corn cultivation and sprawling fields and landscapes, Iowa nevertheless combines some interesting to curious sights on its grounds. For example, the largest bull statue in the world and the longest double-track railway line in the world can be found there.

In addition, there are some first-class art museums to visit in Iowa, such as the Des Moines Art Center. And nature lovers will not miss out in Iowa either. With the Missouri River and the Mississippi River, there are two rivers here that can be navigated by ships. In addition, there are a large number of lakes and hiking areas. In the two major cities of the state, in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, art and culture await visitors from all over the world.

Discover the federal capital of Des Moines

The Moines has about 215,000 inhabitants, making it the largest city in Iowa. The city was named after the river of the same name that flows through it. Des Moines is internationally known above all for the Des Moines Art Center. This world-class art museum opened in 1948 and specializes primarily in paintings and sculptures. The works of American and European artists are primarily exhibited here. There are works by Andy Warhol, Edward Hopper, Claude Monet, Gerhard Richter, Mark Rothko and Paul Gaugin to marvel at.

Architecturally impressive is the Iowa State Capitol, located in the city center, which is considered the most historic building in the entire state. It can be visited both from the inside and from the outside. Particularly popular with visitors is the somewhat enchanted-looking library of the Iowa State Capitol. Des Moines is surrounded by several parks where you can hike and enjoy nature. Recommended here are, for example, the Des Moines Water Works Park and the Walnut Woods State Park, where you can also camp. In winter, the slopes of the Sleep Hollow Sports Park are full of fans of skiing and snowboarding.

The Effigy Mounds National Monument

If you are going to visit the state of Iowa, you should not miss the Effigy Mounds National Monuments on your way. This is a nature reserve that comes close to a national park in its structure and attractiveness. The Effigy Mounds National Monument is located directly on the Yellow River, on the border with the neighboring state of Wisconsin. The nature reserve is a popular destination that invites you to go camping, among other things. Bird lovers can meet a variety of different bird species here. For example, warblers, bald eagles or wood thrushes cavort here. The Effigy Mounds National Monument Information Centre provides interesting information about the Native Americans who once lived in the area. Furthermore, several well-signposted hiking trails crisscross the Effigy Mounds National Monument. These can be discovered on your own or walked as part of a guided themed hike. The local rangers offer, for example, so-called bird migration hikes, during which information is provided about the bird species that can be seen in the park.

Sports and film fans make a pilgrimage to the Field of Dreams

There is hardly anyone who does not know the 1989 film success Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner, which was filmed in Iowa. The film, which was nominated for three Oscars at the time, is one of the most famous and at the same time one of the most emotional sports films ever made in the USA . In the film, a baseball field was built in the middle of a cornfield, on which players who had returned from the past were soon cavorting, who had been victims of a sporting bribery scandal 68 years earlier. The filming location of this cinematic worldwide success is in Dyersville.

Guided tours are offered here, which lead over the original baseball field of the film, the adjacent corn fields and through the farmhouse, which is very present in the film. If you arrive in September, you can also watch high-ranking athletes at work here. Because then a baseball tournament takes place on the Field of Dreams , where no longer active baseball stars once again grab baseball bats, baseballs and gloves.

Breathe in art and culture in Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa with just under 140,000 inhabitants, and it has a lot to offer. And not only because a whole host of great actors were born here, of which Ashton Kutcher and Elijah Wood are only the two most popular. Cedar Rapids combines several art museums and galleries in its city area. You should definitely visit the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The permanent collection includes more than 7,800 works from a wide variety of eras. From Roman antiquity to the present day, everything is represented here. In addition, there are temporary exhibitions that focus primarily on North American artists. The city’s Czech Village is buzzing with life. Bars, restaurants and small shops are lined up here. In the past, a large number of Czech and Slovak immigrants lived here. Some of their descendants still reside in Cedar Rapids. The Czech heritage of the district is still recognizable and tangible in many cases today. For example, in bars that exude European flair or in bakeries that offer Czech baked goods. In the evening, the Czech Village turns into a paradise for night owls who love bar concerts, stand-up comedy and theatre.

A US contrast to sunny California and Florida awaits in New Hampshire, where the colourful autumn nature of the so-called Indian Summer in a scenery of mountains, lakes and covered bridges provides unique photo motifs. As a neighboring state of Maine and Vermont, New Hampshire spreads the typical charm of New England’s Atlantic coast. The Granite State is more than just the scenic link on Interstate 95 between Boston and Portland: from the colorful autumn worlds of the White Mountains to the picturesque Lakes Region and the white winter sports worlds of Mount Washington, a unique natural paradise unfolds here. A region that has unmistakably inspired local poets and authors such as Robert Frost, Dan Brown and John Irving.

New Hampshire’s Nature – Colorful Autumn Scenery and White Winter Sports Worlds

New Hampshire is an outdoor paradise on the Atlantic coast. The tranquil shore of the eastern US state unfolds over a length of about 29 kilometres – the shortest coastline of the US states located on the ocean. But even along these only 29 kilometers, some of the most beautiful places on the US East Coast unfold. These include Hampton Beach, which is especially worth visiting in summer, as well as beautiful beach worlds at Rye and North Hampton State Beach. Inland, however, are the real natural highlights of New Hampshire. Deep in the interior of the state, natural elevations present themselves that have always attracted the interest of nature lovers, hikers and winter sports enthusiasts. One of the most climbed mountains in the world is Mount Monadnock, which rises 965 meters in the southwest of New Hampshire. South of the White Mountains rises the mountain that once inspired Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau – and is now climbed by more than 100,000 nature lovers and hikers every year. Only well-known surveys such as Mount Fuji in Japan and the Tai Shan in China can surpass such figures.

All the allure of New Hampshire’s nature unfolds in the White Mountains, whose landscapes spread out in the White Mountain National Forest. The highest peak is the 1917-meter-high Mount Washington, which is known for its distinctive ski resorts in winter. The natural beauty of red, yellow and green in the so-called Indian Summer, the warm autumn time of the North American East Coast, unfolds visually, especially in the White Mountain National Forest, through which routes such as the scenic Kancamagus Highway lead. New Hampshire is particularly impressive at this time of year with a natural panorama including the typical covered bridges that characterize New England – whether the Albany Bridge, the Bath Covered Bridge or the Groveton Covered Bridge. Many of these bridges are located in the White Mountains, some in the Lakes Region – they provide the characteristic romantic flair of New Hampshire.

Home to a population of about 1.3 million, the Granite State owes its nickname to its many quarries, as well as the distinct rock and mineral shapes that are hidden in the midst of New Hampshire’s natural formations. In addition to the Appalachian Mountains and the White Mountains, the lakes of the Lakes Region also shape the local nature. One of the most famous is Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest of the local lakescapes. In addition, Squam Lake and Newfound Lake also make New Hampshire’s nature a multifaceted recreational region on the US East Coast.

Concord, Manchester, Portsmouth – Urban New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s historic colonial architecture gives an indication of the long history of the US state: The eastern coastal region was once one of the historic English colonies, founded in 1629 as the Province of New Hampshire. Later, it was considered the first U.S. state to present an independent government and constitution. Although New Hampshire has a much larger city in Manchester and a prominent capital in Concord, a deep historical insight can be gained especially in Portsmouth. The city on the border with Maine, located on Interstate 95 between Portland and Boston, has the historic Strawberry Banke, an open-air museum with early colonial settlements from the 17th century. The museum is one of the most famous in New Hampshire. In addition, Portsmouth offers touristically attractive urban destinations in New Hampshire’s north with its historic buildings in the city center, the historic Market Square and the tranquil Prescott Park.

The fact that New Hampshire has deep British roots is proven not only by Portsmouth but also by the name of the largest city Manchester. With the Currier Museum of Art, the city has perhaps the most important art museum in New Hampshire. The permanent collection includes works by Picasso, Monet and Matisse, as well as American art greats John Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keeffe and Frank Lloyd Wright. Historical flair also unfolds in the centrally located capital Concord, home to about 43,000 inhabitants. Here you can discover sights such as the historic New Hampshire State House or the historic Eagle Hotel: US President Ulysses S. Grant, the famous First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and the aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh once stayed in the latter. Parks like Story Land near Glen and Santa’s Village near Jefferson prove that New Hampshire also has highlights for the family. In this way, New Hampshire forms a fascinating contrast to classic US travel destinations such as California or Florida. Especially when the warm autumn shows its colors in natural New Hampshire.

The state of Massachusetts with its capital Boston is the core of the so-called “New England” region of the USA. It was from here that the history of the United States began, and from here the history of the United States took its course. The green state, which, according to its own name, is located near the large hills, is known for its mild climate, for the extensive nature and, last but not least, for the many historic buildings that date back to the Wilhelminian period of the United States. A visit to Massachusetts is automatically linked to a visit to Boston . But there is also a lot to see in the state.

Cape Cod and more – Massachusetts the natural paradise

Massachusetts is one of the founding states of the USA and there is hardly any other place where this circumstance is celebrated in the same way. When the first settlers landed on the coasts, more precisely in Cape Cod, they encountered a flourishing land full of greenery and rivers. To this day, the wild nature of Massachusetts is one of the most important reasons to visit the state. Boston is one of the most interesting cities in the USA, but you should take the time to explore New England off the beaten track and just let the attitude to life here in the state work its magic on you.

The history of the state is, of course, closely linked to American history in general. It was the Boston Tea Party that gave the final trigger for the War of Independence, and it was from here that the resistance against the attackers from the English homeland was organized. Many testimonies in the state point to the first battles and the developments of those years. After the end of the Civil War, a new self-image developed in Boston and the surrounding area and the New England region was for many years the opposite of the culture in the South or the newly discovered areas in the west of the USA. Therefore, there is still a certain cultural difference between these regions today.

Discover the beautiful nature between Cape Cod and Boston

Those who embark on the natural trails of Massachusetts will usually start in Cape Cod. Here is not only the John F. Kennedy Museum, which tells the story of this most famous of all American presidents, because he is originally from this area. Above all, Cape Cod is a testament to the picturesque east coasts of the USA. Past lighthouses and restaurants, busy coastal roads and cliffs, you experience a spectacle that can only be recreated in states like Maryland . On a trip to this natural paradise, you should take your time with the rental car, get off the beaten track and sit down in one of the restaurants. If you want to experience even more of this landscape, hop on one of the ferries to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard.

One of the most impressive sights on the coast is certainly Plymouth. The city was founded in 1620 and is extremely important for the history of the USA. In the historic harbour lies the Mayflower, which brought the first settlers to this part of the world and which many people still refer to today, tracing their roots. Plymouth is home to the oldest evidence of the colonial settlers of the United States, and there are museums and interesting sights on every corner.

If you’ve had enough of the coast, head further west and drive along almost deserted country roads through dense forests and discover the state’s much-vaunted greenery. Here, too, small and large testimonies to the long history of the state can be found on every corner. In the end, however, all roads lead from Massachusetts to Boston – and for good reason.

The city of Boston – so much to discover and experience

The city of Boston is not only home to one of the most famous universities in the world, but also marked by historic buildings and landmarks. Hardly a step in the city center without bumping into an information board about a historical event or standing in front of a building that has played a special role in the history of the USA. At the same time, it is an American city with skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle that you know from film and television. In addition, as the heart of New England, it is also home to various culinary specialties that you should definitely have used during a visit.

In addition to various museums – for example the Museum of Fine Arts or the Museum of Science – Boston has an active nightlife to offer, which is particularly noticeable for small stages and clubs. But if you want to get a little more involved with the historical history first, you should definitely have a look at the historic State House and followed the Freedom Trail. Here you can see the most important sights from Boston’s long history, which can also be visited at reasonable prices. After a long day, it is almost mandatory to go to one of the many small snack bars. Seafood is definitely on the menu, the many sandwiches also have a good reputation and in general people in Boston and the whole state simply like to fry different things.