Community for asking and answering any question related to the life, the people or anything related to the USA. Non-US people are welcome to provide their perspective! Please keep in mind:
Something a lot of people especially new parents forget about are your local libraries.
I purchased too many books even second hand instead of using my library that has an amazing kids section. Tons of audio books and ebooks with apps for your phone/tablet.
Even with no kids it’s still an amazing place and resource.
Piggy backing off of this comment. Most libraries offer more than just books. CDs and digital music aside, they also check out things. My library has a telescope that can be checked out for free as well as state parks and aquarium passes. Another one has a 3d printer available that lets you print at 10cents per minute. Libraries are incredible.
Some libraries have museum passes that you can borrow.
there's also the app Libby where you can put in your library cards and get books and audiobooks on your phone!
Don’t be a nazi.
I hate Illinois nazis
If you visit the Washington DC area, all of the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are free all the time. Want to pop in and see the the Hope diamond (National Museum of Natural History) or Dorothy's ruby slippers (National Museum of American History) you can and not feel bad if you don't want to stay. Some specialty exhibits have timed tickets, but those are free too.
A couple of the really popular Smithsonian museums do require reservations though, which you can sign up for free on their websites ahead of time.
You can camp for free in national forests. Just drive out to the woods and set up a tent. Some rules apply (For example, in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, you can't create new campsites or roads, or clear ground by cutting vegetation.)
Also in the high country. I frequently drive up into the mountains in the middle of nowhere, hike as far as I can that day, camp, wake up, and hike as far as I can again before camping again. Backpacking is a very edifying activity for me, and the further I can get from civilization, the better it is.
Wait this is actually true? I always felt like it changes from forest to forest, and I usually avoid anywhere it doesn't explicitly say so. Gotta do some more research I guess.
There are some rules, but generally speaking there are spaces where you can camp up to 14 days. Probably call before you set up camp. 🙂
Yeah I immediately went and read the rules, very nice. It's annoyingly hard to get a place to camp for a couple days near me and it's fun to test out my new hiking gear. Thank you!
Car camping is for the birds. Go backpacking and experience the wonders of seclusion.
Depends, this isn’t universally true. Some popular areas (near national parks, etc) have restrictions on them. But otherwise it’s usually fair game. So worth double checking but it’s often true.
BLM land is the same way though I have been shot at by rednecks there so keep in mind some areas can be a bit lawless.
A national park isn't a national forest, they're two distinctly different things.
Yes but there’s often overflow camping from them into national forests, so the USFS controls camping more strictly near these hugely popular parks.
BLM
What's BLM, for those of us not in the group?
It's government-owned land but it's generally free to use for camping. The USA is very big.
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management. Basically after the US stole all its land and distributed the useful areas to farmers, national forests, parks, etc. anything that didn’t have an obvious use was left with the BLM. So it’s lots of empty places that no one goes, mostly in the west. And you can usually camp there, but as with USFS you’ll want to check each local area to make sure.
If you go to Minnesota, don't buy the beer you see in grocery stores or gas stations. It's a huge waste of money for the lightest beer you can buy.
Is that to say that there are liquor/package stores that are better to buy from?
Yes, if you want alcohol in Minnesota, find a liquor store. You'll get the good stuff there. The craft beer scene is top notch too, everywhere you go there's at least half a dozen local brews in every liquor store.
Thats good to know and good to hear the craft scene is going strong. Most of them in my area like to make overly hoppy brews, but I do prefer the notion of buying local/semi-local.
Where should you buy it?
Liquor stores only. Everything else is 3.2 abv
Weird. It's not like that on the west coast. So beer manufacturers make special batches for your grocery stores?
Yep, but they're almost entirely big box stuff like Coors, Busch, and other In-bev beers like it. In the Twin Cities you can also find Schell's, which is better but still one of the worst local brands.
The Superbowl is the best time to go to Costco or other super busy venues. Most people are at home eating fried shit and drinking crappy beer.
That's a good idea.
Also best time to go skiing
The USA is huge, and individual states are huge. San Francisco and Los Angeles are both in California, but you're not going to do a day trip from one to the other.
Our beer is great! Probably stay away from the big brands (unless Sierra Nevada is considered a big brand
they're still great IMHO). Try to find something from a local brewery
it can be hit or miss, but more fun than finding one you like and sticking to it.
We have a lot of social services that aren't necessarily through the federal government. Food banks come to mind
some are "proof of assistance required," others are open to anyone who feels they need the service. There is not afaik a single interface for navigating these services though, so it can be a real pain, from what I've heard. But services often do exist, if you have the time to track them down.
Libraries! Free wifi is common.
If you don't like it here, try a different part of the country. Rural town in the south is completely different than a "blue city."
Libraries. National parks. Hiking paths.
Always carry a litter bag in your car.
The Cleveland Art Museum is free to the public (other than paying to park nearby)
Pittsburgh's rail system is free for the downtown area
Racism is real, don’t believe people who say it isn’t or it’s not a big deal.
Unless you’re white, then it isn’t real.