For five centuries, the "land of opportunity" has attracted travelers with grand dreams and hopes. Anyone visiting the United States today still brings with them very specific expectations. American influence is so pervasive worldwide that on a first visit, one has less of a feeling of setting foot on foreign soil than of encountering the familiar at every turn. Long since familiar from film and television are the big-city skylines, the yellow taxis, the sound of American police sirens, the endless highways lined with diners, and the mailboxes that seem to have sprung from a Peanuts comic strip.
 With the present travel guides, "USA: The East" and "USA: The West," two valuable travel companions from the Stefan Loose series are now available. Both books were developed in collaboration with the English-language travel guide, "Rough Guide." The authors present the USA as a travel destination comprehensively and in detail, knowledgeably and enthusiastically. Numerous color photos provide a first impression, and a wealth of tips on travel options, accommodations, and restaurants round out the diverse information. A new addition is the 16-page color atlas. As in all Loose travel guides, tips for entry requirements, background information on the country and its people, politics, and the environment are also included.