35 years ago I made that leap as a 17 year old from a 3rd world country. All I had at that time were nice brochures sent to me by the schools. There was no internet, no google earth, no youtube. I had never even left my little town or travelled on a plane.
You can tour most campuses on google earth, street view. Most schools have virtual tours on their website. Youtube has many videos, official and unofficial of many schools. Read forums like this to get a feel. Many if not most US kids dont get to visit all the schools they apply to either.
Make the best decision you can with the data you can get. Then come with your eyes, ears and heart open to get the best experience you can.
Good luck.