Emancipation Day

📣 Traveler notes

The United States features diverse geography, including major cities (e.g., Manhattan, Chicago), natural sites (e.g., Yellowstone, Alaska), coastlines (e.g., Pacific Northwest, Florida, Hawaii), and desert regions (e.g., Southwest).

• Federal offices (including post offices and banks) are generally closed on federal holidays, but private businesses may operate.
• If a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the observance often shifts to the nearest weekday.
• The period between Thanksgiving and January 1 is known as the 'holiday season,' characterized by crowded airports, roads, and stores.
• New Year's Day (January 1) is a federal holiday, causing closures at most non-retail businesses.
• Wait until all diners at a table have been served before starting to eat. When attending a private meal, a small hostess gift is appropriate but not mandatory. When leaving a restaurant, ask the server for 'to go' containers instead of using the term 'doggy bag'.