DavidUSA specialist

USA expert

Why do you love the USA so much?

I love the relentless enthusiasm that spills out for the state you are in; whether it’s in the food that’s served up, the scenery of the local area, the music that originates from the region or in the craft beers and wines that are produced locally. Then there’s the natural beauty and wonders of each state, along with the passionate support of sports teams big and small. It’s impossible not to be swept up in ‘Americana’ and enjoy the embrace of being welcomed to someone else’s hometown!

When did you first visit USA and what was your first impression?

My first visit to the USA was 2003 when a friend & I bought tickets to watch ‘Wrestlemania 19’ in Seattle, despite neither of us knowing exactly where Seattle was or how to get there. Cue a crazy, multi-flight journey to take in the event, staying in a hotel in ‘the wrong part of town’, and I was hooked – I needed to see more of this country, and I’ve never looked back.

How many states have you visited? And how much time have you spent in the USA?

I’m up to 34 states explored in great detail across numerous visits.

What is your all-time favourite place in the country?

It has to be Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (the ‘U.P.’); so remote and largely untouched, yet home to some of the state’s best scenery and views out over the expansive Lake Superior, as well as home to some excellent craft breweries. It really is a location that feeds the imagination as locals will question how you’ve found this area – with many proclaiming that most people on the Southern Peninsula haven’t even ventured to the U.P!

What’s been your most memorable experience in the USA?

There have been a few really special ones (including a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon, a 1970’s Cadillac Tour of L.A. and meeting Muhammad Ali’s brother at their childhood home in Louisville) however, surfing (albeit abysmally) in Venice Beach stands out as one of the most memorable experiences I’ve enjoyed.

What would be your top recommendation for someone visiting the USA for the first time?

Try not to overload the trip – although you may want to jam-pack the agenda, don’t underestimate how rewarding it is to have a ‘day-off’ every few days to catch up and enjoy where you are and what you’ve seen and done so far.

What’s your insider tip?

Tipping is a major part of the US culture and there’s nothing worse than only having a $50 note and wanting to give a tip of a dollar or two. Plan in advance and get a wad of $1 bills from a currency exchange before you travel, so you have plenty of smaller denominations to avoid that awkward moment.

Recommendations for USA

What’s the perfect souvenir to bring back from the USA?

I’m a huge fan of hot sauce and finding an artisan variety to grace my collection is always on the agenda. If hot sauce isn’t your thing, fridge magnets are always good fun – think road signs (Route 66, Highway 1, etc), license plates or iconic symbols of Americana from somewhere you’ve visited on your trip.

What’s been your best foodie experience in the USA? And what’s one dish you have to try while in the USA?

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is a foodie experience that lives long in the memory! You can see why these pizzas are referred to as ‘pies’, oozing with rich tomato sauce, heaps of mozzarella and lashings of toppings. It’s not just overweight baggage that you should be concerned with after a trip to Chicago!

Is there somewhere you haven’t had a chance to visit yet that you’d love to go?

Hawaii is still on my ‘must get to’ list! A state like no other with each island offering such different appeal.

What’s one place in the USA that you could go back to again and again?

Nashville. There’s amazing live music, great restaurants, interesting things to see and do, friendly people and it’s easy to get to.