The Northeastern United States is historically and culturally one of the most significant areas of America. Encompassing New England and the states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, it is the birthplace of America. The Mayflower arrived here in 1620 and it is home to the original 13 states who came together to form the United States after the War of Independence.
It also happens to be the perfect place for a vacation. Northeastern America is home to some of the countries finest cities, biggest and most successful sports teams and almost half of the National Historic Landmarks maintained by the National Park Service in the country.
Here’s why you need to visit Northeastern America.
The cities
New York was the eighth most visited city in the world in 2017, with 12.7 million tourists visiting. That also made it the most popular destination in the US and it isn’t hard to see why with landmarks including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Northeastern America isn’t just about New York when it comes to cities though. You’ve got Boston and the huge part it has played in American history while the state of Pennsylvania has two great cities in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Check out this list of Things To Do In Philadelphia.
The National Parks
Given that Northeastern America shares a border with Canada, it goes without saying that it features some of America’s most beautiful national parks. Located in Maine, Acadia National Park includes mountains, an ocean shoreline, woodlands and lakes and is home to some 40 different species of mammalian wildlife including moose, beavers and American black bears.
The Adriondack Park was the first government-protected park in the United States and remains the largest. Found in upstate New York, it covers an area bigger than that of New Hampshire and consists of rugged, thickly wooded mountainous terrain in upstate New York. That makes it popular with climbers, skiers and hikers.
Sports
If you are a sports lover, then Northeast America will have something for you. You can watch two of the finest baseball teams in the world in the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox play a ball game and the New England Patriots have won five NFL Superbowls this century.
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to hockey with the Boston Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins while for basketball lovers, seeing a game at one the most famous arenas in the world Madison Square Garden is a real bucket list event.
Events and festivals
It isn’t just the city and countryside that makes Northeastern America a popular destination, but its events and festivals. Chief among these are the St Patricks’ Day celebrations across the region. Boston is the undisputed capital of Irish America and they recognize that fact by partying hard when it comes to celebrating the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. Their parade is the oldest in the country, dating back to 1737 while New York’s began 25 years later and is the second oldest.
The Big Apple is better known for it’s New Years Eve celebrations where one of the most extravagant parties in the country is held every December 31st in Times Square as people overflow into the neighboring bars, restaurants and parks to ring in the new year.
Given that the original Pilgrim’s arrived in Massachusetts in 1620, Thanksgiving is understandably another popular date in the Northeast American diary. That makes a visit to Plymouth Rock where William Bradford and the rest of the Mayflower Pilgrims disembarked to set up the first colony.
