7 days in United States Itinerary

More than the country of car-packed streets seen in TV shows and movies, the United States of America is a complex and diverse home to over 300 million people living in a wide range of landscapes and climates. From its big-city skyscrapers to its sprawling natural parks, the country's ''melting pot'' combines many ethnic groups that share a strong sense of national identity despite their cultural differences. A country of road trips and big blue skies, the United States harbors orderly cities filled with restaurants, parks, museums, and innumerable sightseeing opportunities, as well as pristine natural areas perfect for a holiday in the great outdoors. To see as much as you can of this diverse land quickly, drive over some of the more than 6 million km (4 million mi) of highways leading through deserts, mountain peaks, fertile fields, and giant urban centers.

One of the country's smallest and least populous states, New Hampshire's wealth of recreational offerings make it a popular vacation destination. Its many pristine natural areas attract skiers, snowmobilers, hikers, and mountaineers from around the world. Named after a county in England, New Hampshire was the first of the North American colonies to establish a government independent of Great Britain's authority. Though New Hampshire's official nickname refers to its extensive granite formations and quarries, the state's license plates carry the motto "Live Free or Die," reflecting the sense of independence prized by the famously terse natives. Find out why America's artists continue to find inspiration in New Hampshire by taking a trip to its quaint villages and sightseeing in the area's old colonial towns.