New Year is celebrated all over the world with media coverage hitting our screens every year of major cities every time zone passing the memorable annual mark in succession providing a visual feast of fireworks and lights, starting with Auckland in New Zealand and Sydney in Australia, following to Berlin and London in Europe and finally, panning form the East to the West of America. Like so many other celebrations, the Americans never like to feel inferior to the rest of the world, and arguably put on the best celebrations for everybody to welcome in the new year.
New York - one of the most important places for New Year in America is Times Square in New York. This is New Yorks busiest attraction, and for the celebration, thousands of people flock to the iconic land mark to watch the ball drop during the countdown to the beginning of the new year and to celebrate. Sometimes it is predicted there are a million people in the square itself to witness the event. As well as the ball dropping, there are parties all over the city, long into the morning, and the streets are filled with lights, colours, and people creating an unforgettable atmosphere. On New Year's Day, there is a Polar Bear Swim at Coney Island where thousands of people take the icy plunge to work off the hangover, and to raise funds for the Camp Sunshine Charity.
Los Angeles - While less centralised and organised than the parties in New York, Los Angeles is also an excellent place to welcome in the new year. There is also a ball drop at Union Station, although attended by far less people and hosted in a much more intimate setting. Finding a high vantage point like Griffith Park or 71Above, the tallest restaurant west of Mississippi, are excellent places to observe fireworks all over the city as the clock strikes midnight. LA is also home to a fantastic party scene, from Santa Monica and Venice Beach for a more relaxed bohemian atmosphere, to the grand parties of Downtown LA or those who want to dance the night away, long into the early hours.
San Francisco - All along the waterfront, from the Ferry building right up to the Bay Bridge, there is a vibrant display of fireworks which can be observed from the land, or from a plethora of cruises operating in the bay. From party boats and bar crawls, to concerts and small, intimate romantic dinners, San Francisco's world renowned free spirit will be sure to make a memorable evening.
Washington DC - You can enjoy the iconic city skyline and fireworks from a relaxed cruise along the Potomac River, or you can witness the fireworks from many organised events at places such as Baltimore and Winchester. Georgetown Waterfront hosts a number of parties to welcome in the new year and there are sports bars and clubs all over town to accomodate for everybody.
Whether it's a romantic dinner cruise to watch the fireworks, or an energetic party until 7am, America is one of the greatest countries to celebrate the new year.