Farmers markets are one of the best destinations for foodies to get a feel for a new town or city. You'll be able to browse through some of the freshest produce from the state around, while trying goodies that are unique to the area, like pecans in Texas and South Carolina, cactus honey in New Mexico and catfish in Louisiana. Markets like these are also hubs for chefs and street food, and you'll be sure to find a food truck or humble stall to try some creative or traditional local fare.

Union Square Greenmarket

Founded in 1976, historic Union Square greenmarket is a staple farmers market in New York City. Over 140 different farmers, fishermen and bakers from the region sell their wares here, and shoppers are spoilt for choice. Open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, come here early, at 8 am in the morning to have the best pick of the produce on offer here. You'll find some of the country's best cheese, bread and flowers for sale at Union Square. It's a renowned market where you might even spot some famous faces and local chefs.

Charleston Square Greenmarket

The town of Charleston in South Carolina is well known for being a foodie haven, as the miles of lush countryside around are the perfect place to grow, hunt and gather perfectly fresh ingredients. Open every Saturday from April to December, don't miss some of the incredible produce for sale, like blueberries, pecans and grass-fed beef. If all that shopping has got you hungry, indulge in some of the street food on offer here, with local dishes like shrimp and grits providing the ultimate in southern country fare.

Santa Fe Farmers Market

New Mexico plays host to one of America's biggest farmers markets, so make sure you visit the Santa Fe Farmers Market while you're here. You'll be able to try produce from more than 150 different vendors - make sure you indulge in those which have a particularly southwestern flare. Fantastic produce grows bountifully in this state, from mesquite cactus honey to corn in every colour of the rainbow. Head over on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and even take some of the gorgeous cut flowers on display back home with you.

SFC Farmers' Market Downtown

The food in southern city Austin is world renowned, and you'll be spoilt for choice at this hip market. SFC stands for Sustainable Food Centre and you'll be blessed with a selection of local, ethically sourced goodies. Every Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm, head over to Republic Square and set up a picnic in the adjoining green space. There's often live music, and you can try local honey from Rand Rock Honey and fresh organic shiitake from Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms.

Crescent City Farmers Market

Some of the most incredible food culture in America hails from New Orleans, and you'll be able to find it all for sale at the Crescent City Farmers Market. Every Saturday, the market sets up in the downtown area and local delights like blue crabs and catfish line the stalls, particularly in the summer months. From 8 am to 12 noon, you'll also be treated to live music and cooking demonstrations, so come early and make a day of it.

Portland Farmers' Market

Every Saturday the campus of Portland State University comes alive with Oregon's most bustling farmers market. Attracting more than 150 different producers, you can try everything from locally grown chestnuts to free-range meat you may not have tried before, like boar, bison and yak. It's best to visit here in the summer months, where you can feast on punnets of raspberries and other colourful fruit and veg. Don't miss their unique fermentation section, where you can sample healthful homemade products like fizzy kombucha and freshly pressed tempeh.

Pike Place Market

One of America's most popular farmer's markets is Pike Place Market, which takes place every week in downtown Seattle. Overlooking the waterfront, it is one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the USA and attracts more than 80 different farmers here to sell their wares. Don't miss astounding local produce like huckleberries and mushrooms as you wander up and down the historic cobbled streets. You'll also find demonstrations by local chefs, so you can leave with new culinary skills to test out the produce you've found.

The huge range of dramatic landscapes in America mean it's no surprise that some of the world's most incredible races and running events can be found here. From the windswept Californian coast to the red rock scenery of the southwest, you'll be inspired by scenery that will make your jaw drop. Don't miss experiencing the cosmopolitan cities of New York and Boston as you run through their historic streets, or if you prefer encountering some of the USA's wildlife, sign up for a race through the verdant valleys of northern state Alaska. Whatever your dream race time is, you'll be sure to find a route to make sure you truly enjoy the journey.

Antelope Canyon Ultramarathon

The epic scenery of the southwest has made it home to one of the most beautiful ultramarathon routes in America. The Antelope Canyon Ultramarathon takes place in one of the most photographed places in the world, which is also a sacred place for the Navajo. Winding through a spectacular red rock landscape, you'll pass Horseshoe Bend and the Waterholes Canyon before reaching the finish line. Every March, travel to nearby hub Las Vegas before you journey out to the spectacular desert landscape the race takes place in.

New York City Marathon

Don't miss being part of what has become the largest marathon in the world. The New York City marathon winds through each of the five boroughs of New York City and attracts more than 52, 000 runners. Held annually since 1970, the race takes place every November and starts on Staten Island, before taking you through Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Harlem and Manhattan. The race finishes at Central Park, where you can take a quick nap and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Big Sur Marathon

California's most epic footrace is the Big Sur International Marathon (in photo) which takes place every April. The organisers describe it as a run on the edge of the Western world, and it was founded in 1986, and now attracts more than 4,500 participants each year. Choose between a 21-mile race or a 5km run or relay race. You'll have incredible views of the Pacific Ocean to inspire you while you run.

Little Rock Marathon

For a quiet event, sign up to the Little Rock Marathon, held in the Arkansas state capitol. You'll be running around the historic city of Little Rock along with runners from over 15 different countries. It's a magical experience to pass through the atmospheric mansion-lined streets of the hilly neighbourhood Quapaw Quarters, before travelling out of town where you'll experience the rural back country along the Arkansas River. The race also has quirky features that reflect the local southern hospitality – including a lipstick stop so you can look good for your photo at the finish line.

Boston Marathon

What better race to complete than the world's oldest marathon? The Boston Marathon began in 1897, and since then has been held on Patriot's Day - the third Monday of April – every year. One of the six major world marathons, you'll wind through the bucolic countryside and quaint towns of New England, finishing off at Boston's historic Copley Square.

Crow Pass Ultramarathon

Iconic marathon Cross Pass Crossing takes place every July - a well-chosen date considering where this epic race takes place. Winding through the wild backcountry of northern state Alaska, the 22.5-mile route takes you from Girdwood to Eagle River, and the terrain along the way includes rocky mountain tops, with snow-capped peaks all around you. You'll also run through lush river valleys covered in forest. Look out for resident bears, bees and mouse along the way - you'll be easily distracted by the epic northern flora and fauna along this route.

Little River Canyon Half Marathon

For a peaceful race in a small town, head over to Fort Payne in Alabama. This race takes places every October, and only attracts around 100 runners, so you'll often be running alone in the beautiful landscape. It's a road-based course so you have time to focus on the scenery around you - which is truly fantastic, as the route curves around the edge of Little River Canyon, so you can cool down with river views, before tapering off into the bucolic farm country surrounding the town.

America is where many of the world's most innovative musicians hail from, and so it's no surprise that its many states host a wide variety of great music festivals. From city-based affairs held in New Orleans and Brooklyn, to wild events held in some of the country's most spectacular countryside, you're sure to find a festival to suit you, and maybe one you'll want to return to every year. Get ready to discover your favourite new band, or to finally see your favourite artist live - choose from the many offerings to find the music festival that best suits you.

Sasquatch!

Every May, over Memorial Day weekend, a remote part of Washington fills with an epic line-up of musicians, particularly indie rock artists, for the renowned Sasquatch! Music festival. 2018 saw headliners like Bon Iver, Modest Mouse and the National perform, and the festival is famous for having musicians return year on year, like dark country songstress Neko Case, who has performed here nine times, and Modest Mouse, who have taken to the stage at Sasquatch! six times.

Lollapalooza

August 1-4, 2019 · Grant Park, Chicago. Beloved multi-genre festival Lollapalooza (in photo) is well worth visiting once in your lifetime. From music to comedy, dance to crafts, the picturesque Grant Park in Chicago fills with over 160, 000 revellers every August. It also provides a vital platform for political organizations, with rows of non-profit information tables to raise awareness of social and environmental issues. Previous headliners have included Arctic Monkeys, Bjork and Kanye West, and genres that play here range all the way from heavy metal to hip hop and pop.

AFROPUNK Fest Brooklyn

The home of one of the world's most iconic cultural movements, AFROPUNK and its unique blend of activism, art and music is a festival you can't miss. With headliners like Erykah Badu and Tyler, the Creator, the New York based festival attracts more than 60, 000 people and has grown from a DIY movement to a country-wide cultural sensation.

South By Southwest (SXSW)

South By Southwest is a music festival famous for launching the careers of many an indie musician, and as a favourite for journalists and media types. You'll be enjoying a showcase of the most creative and potentially ground-breaking new music and film through performances, talks and screenings. Hip Austin becomes even cooler during this yearly introduction of new international talent.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

When you think of hubs for music and creativity in America, the beautiful city of New Orleans no doubt comes to mind. Now with a broader range of genres than the jazz it began with, recent headliners at this festival have included The Rolling Stones, Katy Perry and Van Morrison. Since it began in 1970, every late April and early May has brought two weekends of vibrant music and culture which spreads across this lively and historic southern city.

Electric Forest

For electronic music fans, this is one of the best events in the USA to travel to. Electric Forest is held every June or July in the state of Michigan, near the quaint rural town of Rothbury. Past line ups have included top artists like Bassnectar and Tycho, but the biggest draw here is the location. Befitting its name, performances take place among an atmospheric, lush forest, that's beautifully illuminated by colourful lights.

Pitchfork Music Festival

Every year, the best new indie and underground musicians come to Chicago, where an award-winning festival curated by Pitchfork Media takes place. You can expect hip artists like Tame Impala and Fleet Foxes to perform, as well as highly-rated iconic musicians like Lauryn Hill. One for true music nerds, you can explore the crates of vinyl for sale between performances, or feast on some of the fantastic street food on offer.

Coachella

Arguably America's most famous music festival, Coachella is often lauded as the Glastonbury of the USA. Tickets sell out in record time for this atmospheric event held annually in the Indio Desert in northern California. Expect to see some of Hollywood's finest also attending this iconic event, joining more than 99, 000 punters who line up to see the coolest international musicians. Recent performers have included Childish Gambino and Ariana Grande, so make sure you're ready to buy tickets for this stalwart event, which takes place every April.

Emma Stone won the award for Best Actress at the 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role in the recently acclaimed motion picture La La Land. The awarded actress had the best reaction to her name being called.

Even though Emma Stone was the favorite to win the award, the 28-year-old La La Land actress looked shocked when her name was announced. Then she gave an endearing speech.

During her speech, Emma paid attention to the clock and when she was told to wrap up, she told the crowd how she feels "insecure a lot of the time, genuinely." At the end of the speech, she held her head in her hands while Jonah Hill, who happens to be her former Superbad co-star, escorted her backstage.

"Wow," she began her acceptance speech. "To be an actor, playing an actor, and receiving an actor by a guild of actors, it's pretty exceptional. Oh, they're counting me down. I have forgotten everything I have ever thought in my life."

Like many other winners, Emma took a moment during her speech to talk about the political climate right now.

"We're in a tricky time in the world and our country and things are inexcusable and scary and need action," she said. "I'm so grateful to be part of a group of people that cares and wants to reflect things back to society."

Stone thanked Chazelle, as well as her frequent co-star, Gosling. "Ryan, you're the best. That's just the truth. No one can argue it," she said as Gosling tried to stifle his laughter and briefly covered his face in embarrassment. The two co-starred in Crazy Stupid Love and Gangster Squad and now they have the leading roles in La La Land.

Stone said: "I forgot everything that I ever have thought in my life," she said, laughing on stage. That's when Gosling covered his face in a good-natured bemusement at his friend's win.

When the countdown clock urged the Golden Globe winner to wrap up her speech, she concluded, "I was just going to say that I feel insecure a lot of the time, genuinely. Feeling like I could deserve anything like this award requires a little bit of mental gymnastics for me... God, I know I have to wrap up. I feel like I'm going to faint."

Back stage, Stone continued: "We have to speak up against injustice, and we have to kick some ass. We have to speak up. Staying silent only helps the oppressor, not the victim. Right now I hope that people seeing things that are being done that are unconstitutional and inhumane would say something. I would hope that people would fight for what's right, and what's just f**king human. What's f**cking human."