USA holidays

National Parks in the USA

America has an astonishing 62 official National Parks and a total of 423 protected parks and reserves. If you’re looking for cheap holidays to the USA, hire a motorhome and set off to explore.

• Yellowstone National Park is known for its remote wildernesses and geothermal wonders. Don’t miss Old Faithful, its most famous geyser, and the magnificent Grand Prismatic Spring.
• Utah’s Zion National Park is less visited than some of its neighbours in the Southwest, but no less magnificent. Hike the Narrows, or embark on the steep trek to Angel’s Landing.
• To really go off grid, explore Glacier National Park. There are some 700 miles of hiking trails here, along which you might spot black bears, elk, lynx and mountain lions.
• On Hawaii’s Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park protects extraordinary biodiverse landscapes in the shadow of the active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
• Climbers flock to Yosemite National Park. Scaling Half Dome’s sheer granite rock face is the ultimate professional challenge, but it’s a much easier hike to Yosemite Falls, the park’s highest waterfall.

For more information check out our essential guide to US national Parks

History and culture in the USA

From Washington’s monumental monuments to Mesa Verde’s ancient cliff dwellings, there are no shortage of destinations where you can pack your American holiday with cultural and historical insight.

• It’ll take you at least a few days to see Washington DC’s most famous sights. As well as the White House, the Capitol Building and the National Mall, don’t miss the fascinating National Air and Space Museum and beautiful Washington National Cathedral.
• In Atlanta, you can visit the childhood home of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and learn more about his legacy at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
• The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde were inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans, who lived here from 600 to 1300 CE. The homes they left behind have fascinated visitors since they were discovered in the late 1800s.
• Rocky Alcatraz Island, off the coast of San Francisco, has an eerie history. Home to one of the country’s most notorious prisons for years, these days it can be toured with the help of audio guides and tours.
• Few cities have as rich a history as Boston, for many the most likeable and easy-to-explore city on the East Coast.

Food and drink in the USA

The USA’s rich food culture goes far beyond burgers and fries. From fine wine to award-winning fusion cooking, these are a few of the experiences to seek out on holidays to the USA.

• For true American barbecue, head South. Every city has its speciality, from ribs in St. Louis, Missouri, to Kansas City’s molasses and hickory smoke-heavy styles.
• Napa Valley is where America’s wine scene really took off. If you like buttery, rich Chardonnays and intense, oaky Pinot Noirs, you’ll be in heaven.
• Don’t confuse authentic Mexican cooking with Tex-Mex, but be sure to get your fill of burritos, tacos, enchiladas and chili con carne in Texas.
• There are 38 distilleries to visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, road trip-style route connecting some of the state’s most famous producers. Bourbon is only made in the USA – and 95 percent is produced in Kentucky.
• San Francisco regularly tops lists of the foodiest cities in America. Not only will you find fantastic fine dining here, but a glut of farm-to-table restaurants showcasing California-grown ingredients.

Regional dishes to try in the USA

America’s range of regional cuisines is as vast and varied as the country’s landscapes.

• USA breaks aren’t complete without some all-out Americana. Get your fix with a Chicago-style hot dog, ideally eaten at a baseball game.
• In Maine, they don’t mess around when it comes to the state speciality. The best lobster rolls are the simplest, the lobster seasoned with little more than mayo or melted butter and served in a brioche bun.
• New York City’s bagels are famous for good reason. Get yours filled with bacon, egg and cheese at breakfast time or go classic with cream cheese and lox (smoked salmon)
• A true Philly cheesesteak is an artform, a crusty Italian-style roll filled with sliced rib eye steak and (traditionally) smothered in Cheez Wiz. Less-neon versions opt for provolone cheese sauce, caramelised onions and peppers.
• There’s only one place to sample an authentic key lime pie: in the Florida Keys. Condensed milk, key lime juice, egg yolks and sugar form the basis of the filling, which is baked in a graham-cracker crust.

Best cities to visit in the USA

Big-city buzz in America is simply unlike anywhere else. When it comes to USA city breaks, you’re spoiled for choice.

• New York might not be America’s political capital, but it is arguably the country’s cultural capital. The city that never sleeps will wow you with architecture and museums as well as bars, restaurants and shops.
• Americans famously love or hate Los Angeles, but once you’ve spent the morning on the beach and the afternoon at the Getty, you might find yourself falling in love with LA life.
• The party never stops in New Orleans, a city that lives and breathes jazz well beyond the French Quarter. Nowhere is America’s complex history as evident, from the city’s creole cuisine to its Victorian shotgun houses.
• For a family trip that’s full of adventure, base yourself in Orlando. In the theme park capital of the world, you’re more likely to find yourself on a swamp tour than climbing a skyscraper.
• You’ll find America’s adult playground in the middle of the Nevada desert. Las Vegas and its casinos are pure fantasyland and the city’s see-it-to-believe-it Strip needs no introduction.

Top 5 things to do in the USA

America overflows with bucket-list worthy experiences. These are just a few of the best.

• Wherever you are in the country, America’s natural wonders are never far away. Gazing across the rim of the Grand Canyon or leaf-peeping on the East Coast in autumn are memories that last a lifetime.
• Get ready to eat, eat and eat some more. Almost every cuisine from around the world is represented in the USA alongside home-grown obsessions for barbecue and burgers.
• Holidays in the USA aren’t complete without hitting the open road. Route 66 isn’t the only route worth driving. Consider Highway 1, the Blue Ridge Parkway or the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).
• American culture is significantly more diverse than Hollywood would have you believe. You could delve into the country music scene in the South or learn about Native American history in the Southwest.
• America’s reputation for excess rings true at the country’s theme parks, where coasters and rides are just part of your immersion into myriad magical realms.

USA family holidays

The USA is a family holiday paradise for kids of all ages, whether you’re looking for peace and quiet or endless adventure.

• Florida’s Magic Kingdom is the country’s most visited theme park, bringing to life the magic of Disney like nowhere else. Come to meet the Pirates of the Caribbean, scream your way around Space Mountain and catch the parades on Main Street.
• The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter is one of the biggest draws nearby at Universal Studios Florida, but there’s plenty more to discover besides, plus some superb seasonal events.
• Are your kids more into sport more than sightseeing? Nothing beats seeing the action up close at a basketball, American football or ice hockey match.
• Sweet-toothed kids will be in heaven on a tour of Ben & Jerry’s original ice-cream factory in Vermont.
• You can keep inquisitive scientific minds happy at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral on Florida’s so-called Space Coast. Tours even include the chance to visit the space shuttle launchpads.

USA luxury holidays

Looking to add a bit of glitz and glamour to your holiday in the USA? Look no further.

• For all-out indulgence, you can’t beat a weekend in Miami. From the beach to the bars, the fun literally never stops – and the hotels here are some of the country’s most luxurious.
• Hollywood glamour might no longer be what it was in the golden age, but you can still visit many of tinseltown’s iconic restaurants and movie theatres before shopping on Rodeo Drive.
• Zip down the slopes at Jackson Hole in Wyoming or Aspen, Colorado, where the rich and famous come for chic ski breaks every winter.
• When summer temperatures skyrocket, follow New Yorkers to the Hamptons. The chichi towns here, and their wide, sandy beaches, are the glitziest place to spend July and August on the East Coast.
• Idyllic retreats on South Carolina’s coastline include the white-sand beaches of Hilton Head and genteel Charleston, with its cobblestone streets and antebellum houses.