April 2016 - Welcome to Brand USA's monthly media newsletter with all the top stateside news spanning the next few months. Please include the URL www.VisitTheUSA.com / www.VisitTheUSA.co.uk to entice your readers with more USA adventures.

Free access to all U.S. National Parks throughout National Park Week

National Park Week, running from 16 – 24 April 2016, is the USA's largest and presidentially proclaimed celebration of national heritage. Visitors can explore amazing places, discover open spaces and venture across miles of trails with free admission. On 16 April, families can take part in National Junior Ranger Day, as children can earn a junior ranger badge or become a Centennial Junior Ranger. On 24 April parks will host a range of activities to encourage healthy lifestyles and physical and mental wellbeing on Park Rx Day, visitors can take part in a poetry walk at Olympic National Park, journey through Cuyahoga Valley National Park by train and hike back on the 7.5 mile Buckeye Trail or join a junior ranger discovery walk at Joshua Tree National Park. www.VisitTheUSA.com/outdoors / www.nps.gov

Nevermind leaves mark on Seattle music scene, 25 years on

Seattle and the Pacific Northwest have been at the epicentre of musical culture since Nirvana's release of album Nevermind 25 years ago. The city remains a mecca to music fans, from the father of grunge – Kurt Cobain – whose memorial stands next to his former residence at 171 Lake Washington East, in addition to being the hometown of Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam. Travellers to Seattle can explore the music culture with a visit to the EMP music museum (pictured), focusing on the history and exploration of popular music with rare Nirvana artefacts and Wild Blue Angel – Hendrix Abroad exhibition showing currently, including personal items from Hendrix's height of fame as he performed more than 500 times across the globe from 1966 – 1970. Visitors can also take a tour of the control room, live room and overdub suites in the major recording studio, London Bridge Studio, in which bands such as Soundgarden, Blind Melon, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains have recorded albums; or sample live music at art-deco venue The Showbox at the Market. www.VisitTheUSA.com/Seattle / www.empmuseum.org / www.facebook.com/LonBridgeStudio  (Picture Credit: Tim Thompson)

Colorado rocks as Amphitheatre turns 75

Born from a vision of artists performing on stage nestled in the surroundings of Red Rocks, Colorado's scenic Red Rocks Amphitheatre has welcomed world-acclaimed musicians for 75 years this June, after its completion in 1941. In this milestone anniversary season, more than 130 shows will be played in the 9,525 capacity venue from this month until September. Highlights include The 1975, Disclosure, The Lumineers, Bob Dylan and Duran Duran. The extraordinary venue can also be experienced from a different perspective – the downward dog – as Yoga on the Rocks brings together 2,000 Yogis in an awe-inspiring venue. Tickets go on sale on 8th April for sessions running from June – August. www.VisitTheUSA.com/Colorado / www.VisitDenver.com / www.redrocksonline.com

North Carolina raises a glass as Beer Month begins

Throughout April 2016, the North Carolina Beer Festival invites visitors to explore the state's booming beer culture and discover the origins of the state's craft brews, from the mountains to the coast. Events take place throughout the month including Wilmington's Port City BrewHaHa Tour when beer and comedy combine as visitors explore Wilmington's best breweries aboard the beer bus until 30 April. The original state-wide beer festival, Hickory Hops, will feature hand-crafted beer from more than 50 microbreweries and host the Carolina Championship of Beers competition on 21st April. www.VisitTheUSA.com/NorthCarolina / www.NCBeerMonth.com

Palm Springs welcomes festival season with Coachella

The city of Palm Springs will welcome some of the biggest names in music to the desert stage this month including headline acts Guns 'n' Roses and Calvin Harris. This year the festival is expecting to attract 80,000 festivalgoers, spanning two weekends, 15 – 17 and 22 – 24 April 2016, with six stages of music, a retro funfair and renowned celebrity sightings. The arrival of Coachella also marks the city's music festival season, visitors can also enjoy legendary pool parties throughout Palm Springs including The Hard Rock Hotel with international DJs spinning their decks poolside. www.VisitTheUSA.com/California / www.VisitCalifornia.com

New Orleans sets the scene for film and music this April

New Orleans showcases its rich culture and diversity this month as the city hosts the acclaimed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival from 22 April – 1 May 2016, welcoming Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed with the sounds of local jazz artists. Dramatic sci-fi blockbuster, Midnight Special, will hit UK cinemas from 8 April 2016, starring Adam Driver, Michael Shannon and Kirsten Dunst, using New Orleans and its surrounds for its filming. A father and son go on the run after the dad discovers his child possesses super powers, with scenes of woodlands, sprawling fields and spectacular sunrises. New Orleans continues to welcome visitors with the opening of Ace Hotel New Orleans in the city's warehouse district, taking residence in a historic 1928 Art Deco building with a signature restaurant fusing deep-south flavours with an Italian influence, the brainchild of Memphis James Beard Award finalists Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman.www.VisitTheUSA.com/NewOrleans / www.neworleanscvb.com

NYCxDesign

From 3 – 17 May 2016, New York City will host the annual NYCxDesign citywide celebration of design. Design events will take place throughout all five boroughs, encouraging visitors to discover the influential artists, designers and institutions within New York City. Events include Frieze Art Fair from 5 – 8 May and BKLYN Designs, showcasing a cross section of design, architecture and art with emerging designers and established brands including jewelry, textiles, art and furniture. www.VisitTheUSA.com/newyork / www.nycgo.com (Picture Credit: Joe Buglewicz)

Trek America launches Big Eastern Tour

Launching this month, visitors can now explore East Coast cities and the Deep South on a 21-day itinerary encompassing 18 states. Beginning with bustling New York City, the tour includes world heritage city, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and the Carolinas before changing pace as it heads through the music scenes of New Orleans and Nashville with live jazz, blues and country before returning north to experience Niagara Falls and walk the freedom trail in Boston. Tours are available April - September from £1,919 including lodging. www.VisitTheUSA.com / www.trekamerica.co.uk

-ENDS-

Discover this land, like never before VisitTheUSA.com

Brand USA is the public-private partnership responsible for promoting the United States as a premier travel destination and communicating U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures. Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, the organisation's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States while working in partnership with the travel industry to maximise the economic and social benefits of travel. These benefits include creating jobs essential to the economy and fostering understanding between people and cultures. For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com.

For information about travel to and around the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website at VisitTheUSA.com / VisitTheUSA.co.uk

For further Brand USA, UK/Ireland press information, contact:

Polly Beech / Sarah Barnett / Allie Williams

pbeech@thebrandusa.co.uk / sbarnett@thebrandusa.co.uk / awilliams@thebrandusa.co.uk

020 7845 6359 / 020 7845 6378 / 020 7845 6384