Frequently Asked Questions
Travel - Tourism
Questions
- How can I visit the White House?
- How do I obtain travel information about the United States?
- What are some of the main attractions in the United States?
- What is the weather like in the United States?
- What kind of accommodation is available in the United States?
- What public transportation is available in the United States?
- What time is it in the United States?
- Where can I find maps of the United States?
Answers
How can I visit the White House?
Public tours of the White House are available for groups of ten (10) or more people. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.
How do I obtain travel information about the United States?
If you are planning a trip to the United States and you have access to the internet, we suggest you search for the specific locations you wish to visit. All states, big cities, and well-known tourist attractions have their own websites.
Your local public library may offer access to the internet or you may ask a librarian to help you find books about the area you would like to visit.
- For visitors to the United States
- Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
- See America
- Travel & tourism sites for the 50 states & U.S. territories
- Travel Warnings
- Travelers' health
- Travel advice for the USA (Smartraveller)
- Visiting the USA (Voice of America)
What are some of the main attractions in the United States?
Some websites you may find useful:
- America's byways
- Battlefields & military parks preserved in the National Park System
- Civil War Preservation Trust
- National historic route 66
- National Park Service: find a park by state
- National register of historic places travel itineraries
- National Wildlife Refuge System
- Recreation areas by state
- SixNewThings: guide to what's new in 70 locations across North America
- Travel & tourism sites for the 50 states & U.S. territories
- U.S. Distance Calculator
- Washington D.C.
- World Heritage sites in the U.S.
What is the the weather like in the United States?
Some websites you may find useful:
- Intellicast
- National Weather Service
- Weather channel
- World climate
- World weather information service
What kind of accommodation can I find in the United States?
Some websites you may find useful:
What public transportation is available in the United States?
You can drive, fly, ride a bus, or take a train.
Some websites you may find useful:
- Air Safe.com
- Airport maps
- Amtrak train network
- Distance calculator
- FAA flight delay information
- Greyhound bus network
- Local & state transit links
- Seat guru
- Traffic cameras
What time is it in the United States?
The continental United States is divided into four times zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii are each in their own time zone. The continental states observe daylight savings time during the summer months.
Some websites you may find useful:
Where can I find maps of the United States?
Some websites you may find useful:
Contact Information
If your question is not here, please contact us:
- Postal Address
-
U.S. Information Resource Center
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Embassy
Canberra, ACT
Australia - Phone
- (02) 6214-5874 (then press 4)
- info@usembassy-australia.state.gov
Note: Please do not send visa questions to the IRC mailbox. Visa questions should be directed to amvisa@state.gov.
Last update Monday, 12 May 2008
