Travel in North America

North America lies in the Northern and Western hemispheres. On its north side is the Arctic Ocean, on the East the North Atlantic Ocean, while on the Southeast the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west the North Pacific Ocean. It has an area of about 9.5 million sq. miles which is almost five percent of the earth’s surface, or approximately a sixth of its land area. North America has nearly 524 million people. After Asia and Africa it is the largest continent in the world and fourth largest in population.
Most of North America is on the North American Tectonic Plate of the earth’s crust. It was once joined to Europe and Africa, before it separated about 170 million years ago. As North America drifted west, the plate underlying the Pacific Ocean thrust under the North American plate, causing folding, which created high mountains along the western coast that are so well known in today’s geography.
The first inhabitants of North America were of Asian origin that crossed over to Alaska from North East Asia twenty thousand years ago. European discovery and settlement of North America began in the 10th century. Christopher Columbus’s exploration established English claims to the continent. Spanish and French expeditions also explored much of North America.
North America was hardly populated until the settlement by Europeans changed everything. The Europeans decimated and displaced the indigenous peoples, and the living style changed. The present population of North America is mostly European in background, but it also contains many others.
The nations of North America are at varying levels of economic development. The United States and Canada are the most advanced, with over 90 percent workers in non-agricultural sectors. Mexico has a fairly diversified economy and a growing industrial sector. In most of North America the service industries has the greatest share of jobs followed by wholesale and retail trade and the tourism industry.

Travel in Canada

Sometimes stereotyped as the land of beer-drinking hockey players, who pass the time producing maple syrup or being lumberjacks, you’ll find the great land of Canada. Sometimes looked at as adrift politically and culturally to the USA, and also as a second thought to its much publicized neighbor to the south, Canada still proves to be a great place to see. Although you’ll find that some of these stereo types are true, there is also much more to Canada. Also referred to as the Great White North, Canada is an outdoor paradise all year round; the summers rival the likes of New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil for their spectacular natural beauty. Winter sports in this area are wonderful, and there are also lots of winter festivals. During the summer months you’ll find that there are great opportunities to hike, mountain bike, raft, canoe or camp. There are many different cultures that make up this area, which makes it nice, since no matter where you are from you’ll likely feel right at home.

Canada is definitely considered tourist friendly. From coast to coast, you’ll find that there is an extensive range of hostels and different budget accommodations. You’ll also find that there are many campsites to choose from if that is more your style. Canada is an area that is considered affordable as well as safe, especially when compared to the USA and parts of Western Europe. Although it would take a very long 2 month trip to tour the whole country, it is guaranteed to be worth the long trip.

Cost: Around US $50- $75 per day

Travel in the USA

This it’s the world’s most dominant economy, military power, and the origin of so much mass culture. The USA is the world’s third most populous country, and it’s fourth biggest in area. Also, it is the host of the world’s most exciting cities and also a good chunk of its best scenery. People that are found in this area are remarkably diverse, including Cajuns of Louisiana, to the Cowboys of Montana, or even Little Italy in the New York area. American’s reading this may find this a little strange to hear, but America as a whole is every bit as strange and culturally bizarre to other nationalities as somewhere in Asia might be to Americans. Everyone has their own opinions of America and its citizens. There are many close-minded independent travelers that object to American foreign policy or American mass culture who don’t bother to travel the country; this unfortunately is their own loss.

Cost for Budget Traveling: US $75-$100 per day

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