20 unremarkable things to do in the united states

2010-09-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

1 Ellis Island Tour
One of the touchstones of America's cultural diversity, and among the most moving museums you can visit.

Between 1892 and 1954 this immigration depot processed the greatest tide of humanity in US history - nearly 12 million people. Situated in New York Harbour, it is accessible via the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry.

2 The US Masters
Arguably the world's greatest golf tournament (April 7-13), held on one of America's most challenging and picturesque courses - the Augusta National in Georgia. Tickets do not go on general sale but can be arranged (at some expense) through selected tour operators.

3 Ski in Steamboat Springs
It is not the most famous ski resort in the Rockies but it is one of the best, especially for families. It has an excellent variety of pistes and a fantastic record for light, fluffy powder snow. This year has been better than ever, with 268in (680cm) falling last month.

4 Tornado tourism
Across much of East Coast America, the onset of autumn means only one thing: hurricane season. If you are fascinated by the destructive force of hurricanes, there is a company that can now take you to the eye of the storm.

5 South by SouthWest music festival, Austin, Texas
As well as being a great music city in its own right (home of the Geezinslaws, Austin City Limits, the Broken Spoke and the Armadillo World Headquarters), Austin is also host to one of the great international music festivals (March 7-16).

6 Desert drive from Las Vegas to LA
To leave the cacophony of Vegas and cruise out into the peace and quiet of the Mojave Desert in a sports car with the top down is pretty much our idea of heaven. You can interrupt your journey with a stop at Bodie, an authentic Wild West ghost town, on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada range.

7 Indy 500, Indianapolis
"Gentlemen, start your engines," brings a deafening roar from the 30 or more racing cars and the 500,000 spectators around the concrete oval. Known as the Brickyard, the sprawling Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts more than just a race. People camp out for three days beforehand just to be part of the spectacle.

8 Superbowl, Tampa Bay, Florida Tomorrow, Glendale in Arizona
hosts the sporting event of the year in the United States. Next year the winners of the two conferences - the National Football League and the American Football League - will come face to face in Tampa Bay, Florida. It is likely to be a rowdy night, so you might want to unwind with a trip to the Everglades, the Keys or the beaches of Miami.

9 New York Restaurant Week
Fancy a cheaper bite in the Big Apple? Every season, New York hosts a restaurant week, during which more than 200 of the city's finest restaurants offer three-course lunches from just $24 (£12) and dinners from $35 (£17.50). The eateries include Michelin-starred Café Boulod, Devi, Fleur de Sel, Gotham Bar and Grill and Vong.

10 Skiing in Jackson Hole
In the heart of Wyoming, this resort offers some of North America's best terrain. With narrow chutes and steep couloirs, it has been regarded only as a playground for advanced skiers. But appeal has broadened as visitors have discovered that the sweeping pistes and tree-lined runs on Rendezvous Mountain offer fantastic skiing for all abilities.

11 Pipeline Masters Surf Championships, Oahu, Hawaii
If you want to learn from watching the best, then head to Hawaii, the epicentre of surfing. Seven-times world champion Kelly Slater calls Oahu the "yardstick by which all breaks are measured", so expect the Pipeline Masters in December to attract all the world's best surfers once more.

12 World Rodeo Championships, Las Vegas
Pack your Stetson for the Superbowl of rodeo. The world's top 45 riders, attracted by the $1million prize, will try to cling on to the bucking bulls for eight seconds over two consecutive weekends at the end of October at Las Vegas's Thomas & Mack Center.

13 Best Beach: Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
Voted by Dr Stephen Leatherman (aka Dr Beach) as the finest beach in the US in 2007, this, the southernmost of a string of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, will not disappoint. Better known as the Outer Banks, the unspoilt beaches are accessible only by ferry or private plane.

14 Olympic Bobsleigh, Lake Placid
Lake Placid proves to be anything but when you hitch a white-knuckle ride with a professional driver and brakeman in a four-person bobsleigh down the state-of-the-art Olympic bobsleigh track. Feel the G-force as you round the banked curves at up to 90mph.

15 Zero Gravity flights, Cape Canaveral
Take the weight off your feet with a parabolic flight from the Kennedy Space Center, near Orlando. The flight - used by Nasa to train its astronauts for the past 45 years - is the only way to experience zero gravity without actually going into space.

16 Big Fight Night, Las Vegas
Few events create more of a gladiatorial atmosphere than a big fight night in Sin City. Last year, 30,000 fans descended on the Strip to watch Ricky Hatton's doomed attempt against Floyd Mayweather. Similar numbers are expected to watch Wales's Joe Calzaghe fight Bernard Hopkins in April.

17 Dude ranch in Texas or Arizona
If your daily life revolves around commuting on overcrowded trains, a trip to the Wild West could be the holiday of your dreams. Two ranches that provide the perfect ambience are the Mayan Dude Ranch in Texas and the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.

18 Elton John and the Red Piano, Las Vegas
There is nothing quite like a Vegas show and Sir Elton's long-running, seemingly endless, gig at Caesars Palace is certainly one to catch through 2008. With visuals and set design by the outrageous David LaChapelle.

19 Graceland
No one can pass through Memphis without visiting the home of Elvis, open for tours since 1982. It is surprisingly small and unsurprisingly hillbilly in taste and style. Prices from $27 to $68.

20 Broadway musical
To understand fully the pizzazz and sheer energy of Broadway productions, all you have to do is see an equivalent show (Chicago or The Producers for example) in London's West End. Be warned: tickets to the big hits are hard to come by and often expensive, but worth it.

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20 unremarkable things to do in the united states