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A Hispanic family in the United States
When you go on vacation, do you want to explore centuries-old Spanish missions nestled along the picturesque landscape of the Pacific coast? Or perhaps you would rather celebrate by dancing a little merengue and savoring some delicious fried plantains and a plate of ropa vieja. You could even want to catch up on current events by reading a newspaper or watching a news program in Spanish while drinking your café con leche. You might think that to do all this you would have to catch a flight to some distant country in the Spanish-speaking world, but actually you can enjoy all these activities right here in the United States. All you need is a desire to explore the rich Hispanic heritage found in all corners of the country.
The United States is home to more than 55 million Hispanics or Latinos, and Spanish is spoken by more than 12.5 percent of the population. What’s more, those numbers are expected to keep growing. This presents an exciting opportunity for those yearning to discover a new and fascinating culture full of good food, great music, beautiful art, and welcoming people. The best part is that you don’t have to go too far—you may not even have to leave your neighborhood. Cities across the United States boast restaurants offering a wide variety of food from the Spanish-speaking world, from succulent Caribbean seafood to charbroiled steaks from Argentina. If you feel like dancing to some Latino rhythms, then tune in to a radio station that offers a great selection of music like salsa, bachata, or reggeatón. And what better way to practice reading than to pick up a newspaper that delivers local, national, and international news in Spanish? You can even go on a scavenger hunt to find evidence of the Spanish explorers who led expeditions throughout the United States.