11 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.

Packed with vacation homes strung along a coastline of white sandy beaches, Galveston Island lies just 80 km (50 mi) southeast of Houston, so it attracts not only weekend revelers from the mainland, but also international tourists. At 43 km (27 mi) long and less than 5 km (3 mi) wide, the compact island is small enough to do most of your sightseeing on foot. Much of its area (with the exception of the town of Jamaica Beach) lies within the city limits of Galveston, a busy cruise ship port. If you plan to make Galveston your base on the island, visit at least one of the city's museums before heading to the beach.