Sunrise on Half Dome in the Forest, Yosemite National Park, California - Stephen Moehle
USA Itinerary 5 - The West Coast
The north–south journey along the Pacific starts in the rainy, forested northwest and ends at the southern deserts of California (with extensions to Tijuana and Vancouver at either end). You could travel by trains and buses as well as by car.
- Seattle, WA - The home of grunge, Microsoft and Starbucks is now a booming city, with Pike Place Market, the stunning Chihuly Garden, huge salmon and gourmet coffee.
- The Cascades, WA & OR - Travel inland through the Cascade Mountains, where the giant, snow-capped volcanic cones of Mount Rainier, Mount St Helens and Mount Hood loom over the horizon.
- Portland, OR - Rent a bike and cycle Oregon’s hippest city, soaking up the art, organic food, microbrews and kooky shows.
- Crater Lake, OR - Achingly beautiful national park, a vast, waterlogged crater surrounded by a spectacular snowy rim.
- Redwood National Park, CA - Travel south along the Californian coastline, taking in these giant natural beauties.
- San Francisco, CA - One of America’s most appealing cities: historic, progressive, beautifully sited and home to the Golden Gate and Alcatraz.
- Big Sur and Hwy-1, CA - The coastal road between San Francisco and Los Angeles is a scenic, surprisingly wild route of misty cliffs and untouched beaches.
- Los Angeles, CA - Take your pick of iconic ’hoods: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice Beach – or just hit Disneyland and Magic Mountain.
- San Diego, CA - Visit the zoo, SeaWorld or simply hang out at the beach at California’s laidback southern capital, the gateway to Baja.
USA Itinerary 6 - The Great Northern Crossing
Cross the country on the lesser travelled – but blissfully untouched – northern route, taking at least two weeks to drive between Chicago and Seattle.
- Madison, WI - The capital of Wisconsin also happens to be the most attractive college town in the USA, just 2hr 30min drive northwest of Chicago.
- Badlands National Park, SD - It’s a long day of driving across the Great Plains to the Badlands, a truly desolate, magical place, especially at sunrise.
- Black Hills, SD - Forested mountain plateau rising above the plains, home to Mount Rushmore and the equally monumental Crazy Horse Mountain.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND - Drive into North Dakota to explore the wild, untouched and multicoloured badlands created by the Little Missouri.
- Little Bighorn, MT - Cross into Montana to visit one of America’s most poignant battlefields, where Custer’s 7th Cavalry were trounced by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
- Butte, MT - This shabby old mining town in central Montana is a treasure trove of once grand architecture, old diners and even Cornish pasties.
- Glacier National Park, MT - Northern Montana is dominated by this sensational preserve of glaciers, snowy peaks, alpine lakes and historic lodges.
- Idaho Panhandle - I-90 cuts across this narrow section of Idaho, laced with inviting hiking and biking trails and home to the genuine Western town of Wallace.
- Cascade Loop, WA - End up in Washington, touring the peaks and valleys of the mighty Cascade Mountains before arriving at Seattle and the Pacific Ocean.
With 52 states to explore, you can easily visit the USA for a two-week holiday or spend a few months travelling the country at length. Whatever your timescale or budget, here are some sample itineraries to whet your appetite for travel. Find one you like? Speak to a local USA expert to book your trip today.