About the USA: information for medical tourists

The United States of America hardly needs an introduction, either as a country or as a medical tourist destination. With an area of almost 4 million square miles and a population of 317 million, it is one of the largest and most influential nations on earth. It is also one of the most diverse, with a wide range of climates and landscapes, from the deserts of Arizona, to the glorious forests of New England, from the frozen tundra of Alaska to the sunshine beaches of Hawaii.

The USA’s capital is Washington DC, but this is largely an administrative centre and the country is far better represented by larger cities, such as New York on the East Coast and Los Angeles on the West. There are 48 mainland states, plus Alaska to the north and Hawaii, a vast collection of Pacific islands, to the south west. Many of these states are bigger than a lot of countries and have their own culture and identity, as well as their own legal and economic systems. For example, if California were a country, it would be the 8th largest economy in the world and the 35th most populous nation.

The USA has many world famous tourist attractions that bring in visitors by the millions from both home and abroad, and there really is something for everyone. Florida is a big draw with attractions such as Disneyworld, Epcot and Universal Studios, as well as dependable sunshine and miles of beautiful beaches. In complete contrast, New England on the eastern seaboard of the USA offers an altogether more sedate way of life, with miles and miles of outstanding scenery, especially in the ‘fall’ or autumn time, when the trees turn spectacular shades of red and gold.

Like California, New York is almost a nation on its own, with a population of over 8 million people and a unique attitude to life you simply won’t find anywhere else. Other places in the USA that many people dream of visiting include the gambling and show cities of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the breathtaking landscapes of the Grand Canyon and the Sierra Nevada with its awesome Giant Redwoods reaching up to 85m tall, and the Cajun culture of the Mississippi delta states.

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the laid-back approach of San Francisco, the epic industrial landscapes of Chicago and Philadelphia and the countless other diverse and distinct landscapes and lifestyles across this vast country make the USA a nation of endless contrasts and contradictions, yet one that somehow remains solid in its identity.