Must-Sees - The US East Coast
From Cape Cod to New Orleans, prepare to be amazed and surprised by the fascinating metropolises of the East Coast of the United States. With wild, untamed nature sitting side by side with some of the oldest cities in the country, each nurtured and shaped by a range of multicultural influences, this part of the world is an absolute dream for art lovers and fans of wide-open spaces and the outdoors.
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The Essentials - East Coast USA
From Boston to Key West, the East Coast of the United States is best explored as a multi-stop tour, with dazzling, sunny Florida included as a key destination. To ensure nothing spoils the pleasure of your adventure, here are some useful tips and quirky facts and insights to help you.
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Explore US East Coast
Must-Sees - The US East Coast
From Cape Cod to New Orleans, prepare to be amazed and surprised by the fascinating metropolises of the East Coast of the United States. With wild, untamed nature sitting side by side with some of the oldest cities in the country, each nurtured and shaped by a range of multicultural influences, this part of the world is an absolute dream for art lovers and fans of wide-open spaces and the outdoors.
Enjoy the delights of the gentle way of life of Martha's Vineyard
Less well-known than its neighbour Cape Cod, the island of Martha’s Vineyard – or simply the Vineyard – is one of the pearls of New England. A favourite holiday destination of American presidents, who've been attracted by its tranquil calmness and mild oceanic climate since the 1960s, the island is also home to picturesque architectural treasures, ranging from the white houses of Edgartown to the toothed roofs of the colourful residences of the former Methodist community of Oak Bluffs – a charming "gingerbread village" like something straight out of Hansel and Gretel.
Strolling and wandering the old town of New Orleans
Founded ex nihilo in 1718, New Orleans stands at the heart of the Louisiana bayou between the banks of the Mississippi and the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Sometimes languid, sometimes frenetic, but always festive and full of life, The Big Easy, as it's also known, is one of the most fascinating cities in the United States. Both the cradle of jazz and blues and the birthplace of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, the city positively gleams with its cosmopolitan identity. From the French Quarter – the courtyards, fountains, gardens and wrought iron balconies of which bear witness to a rich colonial past – to the streets of the traditionally authentic and Bohemian neighbourhood of Faubourg Marigny, an enchanting melting pot of European, Native American, African, Creole and Cajun influences come together, granting New Orleans a wonderfully endearing soul.
Explore Everglades National Park in southern Miami
Six thousand square kilometres of wet meadows and marshes populated with cypress, mangrove and pine: Everglades National Park, at the southern tip of Florida, makes up the largest natural subtropical habitat on the North American continent. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park extends like a long river of grass flowing out to the sea from inland. This is one of the richest – and most fragile – ecosystems in the world, providing an important refuge for several hundred species of birds, mammals, fish and reptiles. Included amongst these are 36 endangered species, such as the Florida panther, the American crocodile and the West Indian manatee.
Immerse yourself in the cultural and artistic melting pot of the streets of Miami
Sitting at the crossroads of the Americas and the Caribbean, between the national parks of the Everglades and Biscayne, Miami stands out as the very symbol of a multicultural Florida. It goes without saying that Miami is, of course, the endless sands of Miami Beach, dotted with those iconic lifeguard towers and washed by the turquoise waters of the Atlantic. But Miami is also the warm, friendly atmosphere of Little Havana and the high-class luxury of Coconut Grove. There are the Art Deco wonders of the South Beach neighbourhood, with its pastel-coloured apartment blocks and whimsical architecture. And then there are the immense murals of the Wynwood Art District, a global Mecca for street art. Multifaceted, diverse and highly colourful, Miami stands out as one of the most creative cities of the US East Coast.
The Essentials - East Coast USA
From Boston to Key West, the East Coast of the United States is best explored as a multi-stop tour, with dazzling, sunny Florida included as a key destination. To ensure nothing spoils the pleasure of your adventure, here are some useful tips and quirky facts and insights to help you.
Useful tips
Americans are not in the habit of kissing as a form of saying hello or goodbye. Opt instead for a handshake, or if greeting friends, a hug and a gentle pat on the back.
Quirky facts and insights
Key West, lying 200 kilometres from the continental mainland at the extreme tip of the Florida Keys archipelago, is the most southern point of the United States (excluding Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean). The island is in fact closer to Cuba, and the inhabitants of Key West have no hesitation in marking themselves out as different from their American compatriots. In 1982, as an act of protest against a road blockade set up by the US authorities, they declared their independence by creating a micronation named the Conch Republic.
Food & gastronomy
In Florida, fish and seafood, particularly crabs and oysters, are especially popular. Alligator meat (farmed), a somewhat more unusual and exotic option, is also widely available. Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine, imported by the region's sizeable communities of people with a background in these countries, also form part of the local culinary landscape. One particularly notable speciality is the Cuban sandwich: ham, grilled pork and melted cheese on soft white bread.
Culture
Books. Florida, by Jean Dytar, tells the story of a little-known episode in the history of colonisation. Written in the form of a graphic novel, it deals with the tragic fate of a group of French colonists, the Huguenots, who set out for Florida at the end of the 16th century with the aim of conquering the New World. Very few of them would survive the tropical climate and the famine they encountered. Amongst the few who did survive this expedition was the cartographer Jacques le Moynes, who opted to set up home in England with his wife and two children instead – a decision that enabled him to escape the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre but not the vague colonialist desires of the nations of Europe.
Music. Music is an integral part of the cultural landscape of Florida. The existing Afro-American heritage was added to in the 1960s by Latin music imported by Cubans and Haitians: salsa, bachata, merengue, zouk, calypso… Disco then enjoyed a wave of popularity in Miami in the 1970s, followed later by hip hop.
Film. In The Departed (2006), Martin Scorsese used the streets of the Charlestown and Chinatown neighbourhoods of Boston as the setting for a drama in which the police and the mob play a dangerous double game. Starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg, this great film brought together a stellar cast.
Facts and figures
1630Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Cambridge, a city in the Boston metropolitan area, has the notable distinction of being the home of Harvard University, which was first established in 1636 and is the oldest higher education institution in the entire country.
