USA family-friendly travel guide

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you intend to return to Australia.

Upon arrival, all international visitors must register with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Biometric Identity Management program, which entails having your fingerprints scanned and a digital photo taken.

The United States administers a strict entry regime to transit passengers. You won’t be allowed to board a plane bound for the United States if you don’t have a visa waiver or entry visa.

If you’re visiting the United States for business or pleasure for 90 days or less, you may be eligible to enter without a visa, under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The program allows people from certain countries (including Australia) to acquire an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the US without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism only. It must be approved prior to boarding your flight. If you don’t qualify for an ESTA, you will be required to apply for a visa, even for transiting.

More information:

• Embassy of the United States of America in Australia
• United States Department of State Visa Information

Criss crossing the enormity of the United States is made easy by Greyhound bus, Amtrak trains and plentiful flights. But with everything from classic coastal routes to the iconic Route 66, hitting the open road in the USA is an incredible experience. Just remember you will need to adjust to driving on the right-hand side of the road. It’s also worth noting that Australian driving licences are generally acceptable in the US, but those on a learner’s permit or provisional license will not be eligible for car rentals.

There are numerous international airports throughout the United States; from Australia, you’re pretty likely to be flying into LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). The domestic air system in the USA is thoroughly connected and reliable, with hundreds of airports and thousands of flights daily.

Taxis can be hailed around major cities.

For maximum flexibility and convenience, and to truly see the most and best of the USA, a car is essential. Although gas prices are high, you can often score fairly inexpensive rentals.

Buses are a cost-effective option for travelling, particularly between major towns and cities. Greyhound is the major long-distance bus company, and routes generally trace major highways and stop at larger cities.

You could spend a lifetime eating your way across America and barely scratch the surface. American-style dining could include munching on a plate of cheese fries in Texas to eating incredible seafood on San Francisco’s waterfront. In addition, waves of immigrants have shaped American cuisine, shaking up traditional dishes and adding a bit of variety, such as Italian pizza and Mexican huevos rancheros. Be sure to look up restaurants in your location to uncover some of the best food around and go beyond the food chains, even if you are just after a hamburger.

Chicago

It’s the birthplace of the Twinkie and chocolate brownies, but the deep-dish pizza is Chicago’s most famous culinary icon. The Italian beef sandwich and jibarito (a breadless, crispy plantain sandwich) are two more Chicago originals. And don’t miss Chicago-style hot dogs with wads of mustard, onion, tomato and sweet pickle relish, dill pickles, and pickled sport peppers.

New York

You can’t go past a Reuben sandwich, a concoction of fried corned beef, cheese and sauerkraut. Though a slab of thin and crispy New York-style pizza or hot dogs smothered with onions, mustard and sauerkraut at Yankee Stadium might be more your family style. New York also loves bagels so much, you’ll find them in hues that would make a unicorn proud.

New England

For seafood lovers, the Atlantic coast’s Maine lobster and Baltimore blue crabs are a must. As is slurping down a steaming bowl of New England clam chowder and eating your fill at a waterfront shrimp shack. Not a fan of the fishy stuff? Then dive right into a bowl of Boston baked beans and an iced Boston bun chaser.

New Orleans

A unique cuisine influenced by its Cajun, Creole, and French roots makes New Orleans one of America’s culinary capitals. Get your fill of spicy gumbo (seafood stew), a smoky jambalaya (a Louisiana-style rice dish), oyster po’ boy (fried seafood roll) or a bucket of boiled crawfish. Just leave enough room for a bag of beignets, a sugar-dusted fried pastry morsel.

Texas

Texas is the land of barbecue and there’s nothing quite as good as a beef brisket that’s been slow-smoking all day, except perhaps a serve of sauce-slathered barbecue pork ribs. Then there’s the Tex-Mex taco truck treats like fajitas and chimichangas stuffed with cheese and beans. The breakfast taco is another Texas staple, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Texan who doesn’t love a slice of good ol’ pecan pie.

California

Start with California’s famous cobb salad and America’s own take on sushi, the California roll. Fries in a burrito? Welcome to Cali! And Baja fish tacos see crispy beer-battered cod cocooned in a soft tortilla and topped with cabbage slaw and smoky chipotle sauce. Oh, and it’s practically a visa requirement of California to devour an In-N-Out burger during your stay.

Anyone who likes shopping has found paradise on earth in USA’s bustling hub of New York. Often grouped with Milan, Paris and London as one of the fashion capitals of the world, New York City provides visitors with boundless shopping options. Stores don’t seem to have standard opening hours, but most come alive after 10am and stay open until around 7pm.

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is also not to be missed. This 13-block shopping mecca boasts more than 460 stores that range in size, style and budget… a shopaholics dream!

Considered the West Coast version of New York City, San Francisco is also an incredible destination for shoppers. Union Square boasts brand-name department stores and expensive designer boutiques, while dozens of one-of-a-kind shops can be found on Haight Street.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to the 5.6 million-square-foot Mall of America. A destination unto itself, the country’s biggest mall (which can fit nine Yankee Stadiums inside) boasts more than 520 stores, which means it is virtually impossible to leave without a few bags of goodies in tow.

While tipping in Australia is appreciated but not essential, it is an integral part of everyday life in America. Service providers depend on gratuities to live, and you will be expected to offer a tip for services. Common consensus is that 15-20 per cent is considered a normal tip for waiters, bar staff and taxi drivers. Hang on to your dollar bills to pay hotel housekeepers (around US$5 per day) and porters (US$1 per bag), accompanied by a smile and a thank you.

Dependent on the region, in summer, you can make do with little more than shorts and a shirt, but in winter you’ll need to bring a full range of winter paraphernalia, from warm coats to scarfs, gloves and woollen hats.

Thanks to our widespread consumption of American media, you and your family should have a fairly effortless integration to cultural customs in the USA.

Electricity mainly operates on 220 volts. You will need a power adapter for the USA.

It’s next to impossible to do the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip justice in a photo, but that doesn’t stop visitors from trying. No matter where you go on the strip, you can spot visitors furiously snapping away, trying to capture the essence of this neon-lit spectacle.

The Seattle Space Needle is one of the most recognisable structures in the world. Whether you’re on the ground observing the fabulous Seattle cityscape or up on the observation deck, the views are simply incredible.

Whether you approach the falls by boat, fly over them in a helicopter or walk behind them on the pathways, you’re in for a big treat at this thunderous spectacle. Te falls draws visitors from all over the world who come to witness 150,000 gallons of water per second!

Located in California’s Sierra Nevada ranges, this national park is internationally renowned for its ancient sequoia trees, Half Dome, the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.

This is a true USA icon, internationally recognised by those who’ve never even been to the New York Harbour. At an incredible 93 metres tall, this goddess of liberty is a must-see.

USA Travel Insurance

The United States has some of the world’s best but most expensive health care.

With no reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, adequate health coverage within your travel insurance is a non-negotiable, especially if you’re travelling with children. Hospitals and medical centres can demand payment up-front for treatment if you don’t have health insurance or proof you can pay. With a quick consultation costing as much as US$300 and a visit to the ER around US$2000, your bank account might also feel unwell if you aren’t properly covered.