Teleport to the USA – From the Big Apple to Hollywood and Hawaii
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Welcome to the United States of America!
The United States of America is the third-largest country in the world consisting of 50 states and a population of over 328 million people.
As it is so large, there are a variety of different regions in the United States, each consisting of “its own rich history and cultural identity.” Author Colin Woodard claims that the USA can be divided into 11 distinct sub-nations! (See his book "American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.")
You will find a completely different cultural experience in the United States by exploring New England rather than the Northern Mountain States, by exploring the Midwest rather than the Southwest, or by exploring the West Coast rather than the Deep South.
However, the primary differences are in the landscapes, the wildlife, the character of the people, and the cuisine more than the language and the general feeling of the country.
The United States is also:
home to the famous city that never sleeps, New York - with Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty, as well as
a place infamous to die-hard fans of movies and celebrities - L.A., California, with its Hollywood Walk of Fame and nearby Disneyland!
And that goes without mentioning Waikiki, Hawaii; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Orlando, Florida.
Visiting the U.S. is not always easy:
It can be expensive to people of just about every other country in the world and visas are not always easy to obtain.
Plus, once you arrive, it is so gigantic in size that even exploring the highlights of the whole country could be considerably difficult as public transportation across the USA is extremely limited and slow.
However, with these virtual tours, you’ll be able to experience the best aspects of the U.S. without all of that trouble and still have a blast!
Virtual Vacations aren’t for everybody, but they are the perfect answer for hundreds of millions of people. Eat Wander Explore has crafted this Virtual Vacation in such a way to “teleport” you to the United States.
Our goal is to help you feel, see, taste, smell and hear what the United States is really like - drawing from your senses to give you the most real experience you can have without actually being there in person. You might say we are recreating the United States in your house, in much the same way that Disney recreated many other countries at Epcot. You’ll be talking with actual Americans who are in the United States.
Take advantage of each of the “Teleport Here” recommendations to experience your personal teleportation to the United States today. They set the mood and make the experience more authentic.
Prepare to meet your American hosts in advance by picking up your pocket-sized customs & cultural guide. This will give you the mindset that you’ll need to truly understand your American guides, the way that they - and other Americans - talk and think, to enjoy your experience in the United States in the best way possible - from a fresh cultural perspective.
“Short, sharp and humorous, they deal with the richly rewarding human dimension of foreign travel by telling you about the beliefs and attitudes of the people you will meet and about situations you may encounter. Each guide includes concise chapters on the local customs, traditions and values of the country's inhabitants, and crucially, the key historical and cultural events that have shaped them. ‘The true voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.’”
Photo Credit: See 30+ Top New York Sights.Fun Guide! via Airbnb
Northeastern United States Experiences
The Heart of NYC: Midtown Highlights Virtual Tour
The empire city of New York is a huge city filled with numerous skyscrapers and iconic buildings.
The city never sleeps - there are always cars and pedestrians bustling around no matter the time. New York must be on your list when traveling to the USA - whether in person or virtually.
Times Square in New York is the most visited destination in the US, as well as in the whole world.
If you wish to visit this busy city from your home sweet home, you can join this virtual field trip to New York City. You will discover amazing stories and mysteries behind the construction of the United Nations and Tudor City - an apartment complex on the East side of Manhattan.
You’ll get a chance to virtually explore iconic buildings on the corridor of 42nd street that have been featured in dozens of Hollywood movies!
The host will also guide you to the
magnificent New York Public Library and
the stunning Grand Central Terminal
while feeding you all of the information about the places.
Of course, the tour won’t end without the guide showing you the famous landmarks of New York - the Empire State Building and the Chrysler!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to NYC:
SOUND: The Subways of NYC are filled with musicians - Listen to them
SMELL: Homesick: NYC scented candle
TOUCH: From T-Shirts and Totes to Bottle Openers and Coasters
See Also: Virtual Tour of New York Crime with Retired Police Guide
Photo Credit: The Genie Journey with Michael James Scott via Airbnb
The Genie Journey with Michael James Scott
One of the things that are famously known in the States are the Broadway musical shows. There is a special street in New York that houses the Broadway Theatre where all of the famous musicals are performed - including The Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge!, and various Disney musical shows like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen!
During this Broadway backstage tour, you’ll virtually meet Michael James Scott, an award-winning actor who has extensive experience in Broadway.
You might also recognize him as the live-action Genie from Disney’s Aladdin!
You’ll get a chance to learn what it’s like to bring an iconic character to life on the Broadway stage.
You can ask him everything about musical performances while eating a pack of your favourite chips!
This online session is filled with endless chats, laughs, and even singing!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Broadway:
You may also enjoy: Sing Holiday songs with a Broadway star – hosted by a main actor in “The Lion King” on Broadway.
Photo Credit: Broadway Backstage with the Dressers via Airbnb
Broadway Backstage with the Dressers
If you’re a fan of the musical performances, you should join this Broadway backstage tour hosted by Jessica, an international performer who also worked backstage for several famous shows like Hamilton and Disney’s Frozen.
In this online experience, you’ll be joining the others via Zoom and connecting with Jessica - who will tell you the secrets of Broadway.
You’ll get to join a virtual backstage tour with dressers and learn how they prepare the costumes for the stars!
The host will be sharing her behind the scenes knowledge of costumes and wardrobes and explain to you their lives in the theatre. You can even ask her any burning questions about Broadway that you have in your mind.
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Broadway:
SMELL: Homesick: NYC scented candle
TOUCH: Souvenirs from Hamilton, the Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and more!
Also check out: Ghost Hunting in a Haunted Opera House
Photo Credit: A Historic Boston Tour via Airbnb
A Historic Boston Tour
Founded in the 1630s, the Boston neighborhood of North End is considered the oldest part of the city. This 0.36 square miles small neighborhood has almost a hundred establishments and interesting tourist attractions.
You can also find a lot of Italian restaurants in this part of the city since it is well-known for its Italian-American population.
For those who are looking for a different kind of experience, this Boston underground tour is for you. The tour is hosted by Kurt who will be sharing you the dark side of the city’s neighborhood with a bunch of:
historic photographs
drawings
and videos
so that you can fully imagine the events that had happened in the North End.
You’ll get to learn more about the city’s:
early red-light district
police station bombings
anarchist riots
the biggest bank heist in Boston
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Boston:
SOUND: The essential Boston Album
SIGHT: Turn your room into Boston
TASTE: Try some Boston Baked Beans
TOUCH: Pick up a copy of "The Truth about Baked Beans" or a nice little charm
Kurt offers an impeccable presentation that will keep you engaged for the entire time. He’s also happy to answer every question that you have about the neighborhood.
Photo by Bryan Gomes from Pexels
A Virtual Street Art Experience in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City with plenty to do – you can spend your day visiting the museums, wandering around the parks, go to the trendy nightclubs or, even better, admire the stunning street art on the walls!
By signing up for the virtual Brooklyn street art tour, you’ll be joining other travelers to look deeper into the city’s creative arts without even leaving your comfy sofa!
You’ll be virtually walking around the back streets of Brooklyn where you can see various colorful artworks and graffiti on the wall. The host will also be sharing:
information about the masterpieces and their artists
as well as the culture of the area.
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Brooklyn:
TASTE: Coney Island hot dogs, pizza, cheesecake, and bagels
The friendly host knows everything about art, so you can hit him with any art-related questions!
Photo Credit: Art & Soul of Black Broadway via Airbnb
Art & Soul of Black Broadway
The U Street in Washington DC, or also known as Black Broadway is where you can find a vast array of food options and different genres of music playing all night long.
Presented by Tim, who is a former teacher and a museum educator, this virtual tour will bring you to the streets and back alleys of Black Broadway where you can see the beautiful murals, theatres, and music venues that make the spot special.
He will also virtually bring you to the memorials at the street while telling you all of its histories.
You’ll also get to know more about the profound part of the history of Washington D.C., which is jazz!
To make the tour even more fun, Tim even prepared a playlist filled with different kinds of music that you can listen to while virtually walking around the street!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to U Street in Washington, D.C.:
SOUND: You’ll already have some great music in this experience - but also check out: The Essential Duke Ellington
TOUCH: Ben's Chili Bowl, a biography of U Street, or Images of America: Greater U-Street
Also from this region: Consider learning how to prepare a Chilled Cucumber and Mint soup with Alaskan King Crab with Award-winning Chef - Gabriel Kreuther!
Western United States Experiences
Virtual Guided Cultural Tour of Los Angeles
The lively metropolis of Los Angeles is the home of the Hollywood entertainment industry. It is the perfect destination for movie fans since there are a lot of film studio tours that you could participate in.
With this Los Angeles virtual tour hosted by Adam, you’ll get to visit the top favorite spots around the city.
The host will walk you to Venice Beach, an eclectic beachfront neighborhood, and Sunset Strip, a boulevard known for its boutique restaurants and colorful billboards.
You’ll also get to
see the iconic Hollywood sign perched on Mount Lee
as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame where you can see more than 2,600 brass stars containing the names of famous celebrities and figures embedded in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Los Angeles:
SOUND: This album by The Beach Boys
SIGHT: A sunset print with palm trees and the skyline or some LA Lakers posters
TASTE: Some California Style hot sauce to put on your Los Angeles favorites such as: Burgers and fries, Sushi, Hot dogs, French dip sandwiches, Mexican food, Chicken Parmigiana, Ricotta Toast, and Apple Pie. This cook book is amazing!
#FunFact: Muhammad Ali’s star is the only one mounted on the wall since the legendary boxer didn’t want the name of Muhammad to be stepped on.
Photo Credit: Secrets of Hollywood Sound FX via Airbnb
Secrets of Hollywood Sound FX
Have you ever wondered how certain sound effects in a film are made? Do they have a specific instrument to make the sounds of the bones cracking or the sound a bow makes when it is drawn?
Then this Hollywood Backstage Tour is for you!
You can satisfy you curiousity with this online experience hosted by Adam DeCoster, a 4-time Emmy-nominated Foley Artist in Los Angeles. He has worked for huge Hollywood titles and video games such as:
Jumanji 2
The Good Doctor
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Adam will begin the fun 60-minute session by introducing you to Foley and:
its importance in the TV and film industry
and how it is recorded and used
Then, check out some of the props used in the actual TV shows such as:
a stethoscope in the Good Doctor
handcuffs from the show Orange Is the New Black
He’ll also demonstrate a footstep technique which is used for different characters and show how the sounds are edited and enhanced using professional software!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Hollywood:
SIGHT: Your very own Hollywood Star, a Movie Clapboard, or some Red Velvet Ropes
TASTE: Some California Style hot sauce to put on your Los Angeles favorites such as: Burgers and fries, Sushi, Hot dogs, French dip sandwiches, Mexican food, Chicken Parmigiana, Ricotta Toast, and Apple Pie. This cook book is amazing!
Photo Credit: Untold Stories of San Francisco via Airbnb
Untold Stories of San Francisco
Did you know that the Chinese fortune cookie is believed to be invented by a Japanese immigrant in San Francisco?
Other than known for the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary that once held America’s most notorious criminal, Al Capone, San Francisco has a lot of hidden histories that might surprise you.
You can learn more about San Francisco’s hidden gems by joining Poppy, who has been living in the popular city and knows all of its secrets.
During this virtual tour, you can get a glimpse into the lavish lives of the “American Royalty” and learn their secrets.
Poppy will also transport you to San Francisco by using interactive storytelling - she’ll make use of photos and videos that she took and insert a bit of humor to make sure you’re having the best experience ever!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to San Francisco:
SOUND: Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Starship
SIGHT: A print of the Golden Gate Bridge or the San Francisco Skyline, or perhaps a Cable Car
SMELL: Homesick: San Francisco or Homesick: Northern California scented candles
TASTE: Some California Style hot sauce to put on your San Francisco favorites such as: abalone, Dungeness crab, sand dabs, bay shrimp and crusty sourdough French bread. A Little Taste of San Francisco will help!
Photo Credit: Secrets of Seattle’s Disappearing Hill via Airbnb
Secrets of Seattle’s Disappearing Hill
Home to the Space Needle, Seattle is the biggest city in the state of Washington. The city is the birthplace of Starbucks, the world’s largest coffeehouse chain.
You can even find one of the vibrant neighborhoods in Seattle called the Denny Triangle - an area that once had steep terrains known as Denny Hill.
Since the whole area of the neighborhood had a strange “Wild West” topography, a huge project called Denny Hill Regrade was done to remove the Denny Hill.
In this online experience, the host, David who is an award-winning author, will walk you through the history of the Denny Triangle.
During this virtual tour, the host will spill all the secrets of Seattle including why and how they removed the hill. You’ll be shown a series of maps and historic photos about the old hill as well.
David is an exceptional narrator of the Denney Hill’s history and at describing the landscape of the neighborhood which will make you feel as if you are in Seattle!
Also check out: Dinosaurs Rock Fossil Adventure Tour
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Seattle:
SOUND: Jimi Hendrix, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana
SMELL: Homesick: Washington or this Fraser Fir, Pine Needle, & Cedarwood scented candle
TASTE: Known for its Seafood, Cream Cheese Hot Dogs, Coffee, and Craft Beer.
Photo Credit: Explore Hidden Reefs in Hawaii via Airbnb
Explore Hidden Reefs in Hawaii
If you’ve had enough of the bustling cities and need more outdoor tours, this online experience by Cliff will fulfill your wish.
The host, Dr. Cliff was born on the eastern shores of Hawaii and is a professional surfer, chemist, and journalist!
In this one-hour Hawaii virtual snorkeling tour, you’ll be taking an adventure to Hawaii’s gorgeous hidden reefs.
Cliff will virtually take you to the islands and tell you about the people who first arrived in Hawaii.
You’ll also get to learn more about the Hawaiian cosmology and get an opportunity to visit Hilo where you can find stunningly beautiful secret reefs full of colorful corals and fishes using the 360 VR video.
Plus, all of the fees paid for this online experience will go to The Road to the Sea Foundation - a group that develops innovative technologies to protect our ocean.
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Hawaii:
SOUND: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Keali'i Reichel, and Na Leo Pilimehana
SIGHT: Some pineapple or green sea turtle decor, plumeria lights, Aloha sign or a tapestry of Diamondhead
SMELL: Homesick: Hawaii or Coconut & Pikake Lei scented candle
TASTE: Known for its shave ice, poke, poi, spam musubi, laulau, kalua pork, loco moco, and malasadas. We recommend picking up this guidebook to help you prepare it fresh!
Southern United States Experiences
Nashville Concert with Emmy Nominated Host
This fun online experience hosted by a lovely couple, Jackie and Denise, is suitable especially for music enthusiasts out there.
Jackie is a highly experienced musician who has worked with many renowned music artists such as Paramore, Kesha, and Billy Ray Cyrus while
Denise is a talented TV host!
In this one-hour online session, you’ll be joining concerts in Nashville where you’ll be singing along to the songs that Jackie is playing on his guitar.
He will also walk you through his beautiful guitar collections and Denise will share interesting stories about the couple’s time on the road.
The best part of this Music City virtual tour is that you can request for your favorite music to sing along to!
Also check out: Songwriting with a Nashville Musician
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Nashville:
SOUND: Apart from enjoying this amazing experience itself, consider these great Nashville bands: Lonestar, Kesha, Paramore, and Billy Ray Cyrus
TASTE: Known for their biscuits and gravy, fried pickles, mac and cheese, banana pudding, catfish, and cornbread. Check out Nashville Eats for more recipes.
TOUCH: Pick up something special from Nashville's Music City
Photo Credit: Southern Food with a Pro Chef via Airbnb
Southern Food with a Pro Chef
The USA is well-known for its wide variety of delicious cuisines. If you would like to prepare a delicious southern dish in your kitchen, this online cooking class is for you!
In this New Orleans cooking experience, you’ll be joining Nick, the host who was born and raised in Mississippi.
He will be sharing his family’s recipe while telling you about his Mississippi farm, its products, and the cultural importance of the dishes that he will be teaching you to cook.
You can either:
watch him demonstrate how to prepare the dishes from scratch
OR cook along with him!
He will also teach you the best techniques that you can use in the kitchen!
By the end of this class, you will be able to prepare a full menu of traditional Southern Classics such as:
Braised Collard Greens,
Creamy Grits,
Fried Catfish,
and delicious Cornbread!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to New Orleans:
SOUND: New Orleans Party Classics and/or New Orleans Jazz Classics
TASTE: Take what you learn from this class and really turn your kitchen into New Orleans!
Also consider: Latin Pastries from my Miami Kitchen
Photo Credit: Fun Cuban Cocktails with a Miami Insider via Airbnb
Fun Cuban Cocktails with a Miami Insider
Miami is not only known for its iconic tourist attractions and the subtropical climate, but it is also famous for its juicy Cuban cocktails!
You can now learn how to prepare those cocktails in your kitchen by joining this class by Grace, who is a culinary and cultural expert from Miami!
During this session, she will teach you:
how to convert the ingredients into a refreshing Cuba Libre.
After having a couple of sips while getting to know each other, she will then walk you through the steps to craft Cuba’s national drink, Mojito.
Since Grace is a cultural expert, she will be sharing with you the different cultures and food customs in Miami while you enjoy the drinks that you have made yourself!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to Miami:
SOUND: This Miami Music Compilation and/or Istmo Nights Miami
SIGHT: Miami favorites - turn your place into Miami, Florida
TASTE: Enjoy the taste of your amazing cocktails and then check out this book on Miami cooking
Photo Credit: Guide to American Craft Beer Culture via Airbnb
Guide to American Craft Beer Culture - Austin, Texas
Do you prefer beers over cocktails? Don’t worry!
In this American Craft Brewery tour, you’ll be teleported to a craft beer brewery to meet your bubbly host, Elle - the female-lead for the Lady Brew Crew and owner of AirBrewNB in Austin, Texas!
You’ll also get to learn fun trivia and facts about beers such as:
the four pillars of the beer,
popular beer lingo,
and the correct way to order at a brewery!
Elle is also a living beer encyclopedia so she’s able to answer all of your questions.
What’s best is that you can even get a discounted group rate if you book for your friends or family in a single booking!
TELEPORT HERE: To fully immerse and teleport yourself to this Austin Craft Brewery:
SOUND: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson, and Carson McHone
SIGHT: Get everything you need to decorate your craft beer home pub
TASTE: Once you have your own craft beer brewing kit, grab How to Brew and make your own
TOUCH: Grab everything you need for your own brewing operation
Photo Credit: Explore the Everglades National Park via Airbnb
Explore the Everglades National Park
The Everglades National Park is named the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States of America.
With 1.5 acres of land, this park is an important habitat for various species of endangered animals such as the fierce Florida Panther and manatee.
This Everglades virtual tour is guided by Paul, who is a lead teacher of the Academy of Marine and Environmental Science.
Along with other travelers on this tour, you’ll be:
exploring the unique wilderness and
admiring the grassy river that has become the habitat for hundreds of rare animal species.
Paul will provide you with numerous photographs and videos of the animals found in the national park such as:
the American Alligators,
herons,
woodpeckers,
and even dolphins!
You’ll also end the tour by sitting by the campfire during sunset while chatting about the journey together!
Midwest United States Experiences
Virtual Tour of the Lake Erie Shoreline via Coastal Trail
Unlike the other online experiences where you’ll be interacting with the hosts using a video call, this Ohio virtual tour is in a documentary format which you will be able to download and use as a travel guide.
In this tour, you’ll be going to the shoreline of Lake Erie, the eleventh largest lake in the whole wide world, via Coastal Trail - the second-longest byway in Ohio.
You’ll also get to learn more about the rich history of the towns that you can find along the shoreline.
The documentary will talk about:
the lighthouses,
pop culture,
the underground railroad as well as
the indigenous people of the area!
You’ll gain a lot of tips about what to do at each location mentioned, a detailed description of each place as well as the best spots to eat and stay for the night.
This comprehensive guide will help you plan your visit to the lake one day!
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class
The origin of Chicago-style deep dish pizza is often credited to Pizzeria Uno’s founder, Ike Sewell back in 1943. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria also has a hand in the origin of the famous pie, as Lou’s father, Rudy, was the former pizza chef at Pizzeria Uno’s and sometimes credited for the original recipe.
There are some Chicago-style pizza pie chains across the US, and if you live in the states you may be able to order a frozen pie to ship directly from one of the famous Chicago pizza pie joints to your house.
But you’ll want to take this online cooking class to really bring the feeling of being in Chicago into your home. This virtual experience includes:
interacting with a Chicago-native
an introduction to US culture and cuisine
and recipes for not only a Chicago-style deep dish pizza but also red velvet brownies!
Must Do Experiences in the United States
Being one of the top three largest countries in the world, the United States of America sure does have endless attractions that you can experience.
To get the best overview of such a large and diverse country, we recommend choosing at least one activity from each region. Our top picks to get a feel of the US are:
A Historic Boston Tour – to learn a bit of history
Explore Hidden Reefs in Hawaii – explore a bit of nature and beauty
Nashville Concert with Emmy Nominated Host – enjoy live American music and entertainment
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class – learn how to make an iconic dish
Let us know which ones you decide to try! Enjoy your virtual travels to the US!
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