The sheer size of the US prevents any kind of all-encompassing statement about the typical American experience. From the state-of-the-art skyscrapers of New York City to the scenic country lanes of New England, the United States of America is a place of astonishing beauty and extraordinary diversity. Nothing can remotely prepare you for your first glimpse of the glorious Golden Gate Bridge, the glistening Empire State building, the neon lights of Las Vegas, or the iconic Statue of Liberty. Not to mention the natural treasures on offer - the country’s beautiful national parks are home to some of the world’s most treasured wildlife and landscapes; the west and east coasts are strewn with spectacular beaches, and the Rockies provide endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. In fact, it is a country of such epic proportions that you could easily spend a lifetime in the US and still feel like you have barely scratched the surface.
Aside from being a hub for visitors wishing to get up close and personal with the ski slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the capital of Colorado is a destination city in its own right. Highlight activities include: visits to Denver Botanic Gardens, the Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Zoo, Forney Transportation Museum, Coors Baseball Field, and a trip along the scenic byway to Mount Evans. There are a number of extreme-tour companies and rental agencies for the brave hearted, but for something more mellow, join a beer tasting or Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Tour, or visit the picturesque Balistreri Vineyards.
Montana is a state in the northern/northwestern United States which is characterised by diverse landscapes ranging from the towering Rocky Mountains to the wide open expanses of the Great Plains. This diverse terrain provides an ideal environment for a variety of outdoor activities including: hiking, cycling, horse riding, hunting, and fishing in summer; or skiing and snowboarding in winter. Montana is home a number of renowned national parks. These include among others: the Yellowstone National Park, one of the largest and most famous national parks in the world with more than two million acres of geysers and bubbling hot springs simmering between mountains, rivers and canyons; and the Glacier National Park, a land of mammoth mountains and ice-hewn valleys dotted with spectacular aquamarine lakes, forests, waterfalls and glaciers. What Montana lacks in big name cities, it more than makes up for in spectacular natural appeal.
The laid-back, Wyoming town of Jackson serves as an excellent base for travellers looking to take advantage of the numerous outdoor recreational opportunities on offer in the remarkable surrounding wilderness of Jackson Hole Valley. As the town is situated close to the south end of the impressive Grand Teton National Park, it is known as a gateway to two of America’s most renowned national parks, Grand Teton itself and Yellowstone. While wintertime skiing is the name of the game with plenty of facilities available in the nearby ski resorts, in summer the town transforms into a mecca for travellers looking to admire and participate in boundless summer beauty and activities. Don't miss: the famed Elk Horn Gates that lead into the town's lovely, tree-shaded town square where locals come to relax. Jackson’s combination of beautiful mountain scenery, Old West heritage, tourist amenities and celebrity residents give this small town a unique atmosphere which is simultaneously cosmopolitan and frontier.
Conveniently located southeast of Salt Lake City and bordered by the craggy Wasatch Mountains, the historic Park City is Utah’s premier ski village and is home to the largest ski resort in North America. The city’s magnificent slopes shot to fame after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics and are now the permanent base for the United States ski team. The town boasts three stunning ski areas, many beautiful hiking trails, and a range of comfortable accommodation options, including ultra-luxurious lodges and hotels. Park City is known as an entertainment hub, featuring excellent performing arts events, a variety of innovative restaurants, and some of Utah’s liveliest nightspots. An array of fun activities over the summer months keep the town entertained, including fishing, hot air balloon trips, and various exciting outdoor concerts and film festivals.
An oasis of bustling activity in a vast expanse of desert, Moab in southern Utah is a prime adventure hub. Use the town as a base camp to freshen up after day trips to Arches or Canyonlands National Parks – you’ll find plenty of late-night shopping. Over the summer, the area fills up with 4x4 enthusiasts eager to join the annual Moab Jeep Safari, mountain bikers lured by the extensive trails in the area, and other fans of rugged living. Thrill-seekers can go rock climbing, white-water rafting in Westwater Canyon, or kayaking, hiking and backpacking. (Visitors are encouraged to use existing trails to preserve the desert lands.) For a more laid-back experience, pop into Hole ’n the Rock, or take in the surprise offerings at the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage.
Located in Garfield County in southwestern Utah, the small town of Bryce Canyon City serves as a popular base for travellers exploring the incredible scenic attractions of the Grand Circle - Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Zion National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park. This charming company town consists solely of Ruby’s Inn and the Syrett family, its third-generation owners. Even though the town is home to only 195 permanent residents, it hosts thousands of visitors each year. The town organises several major events including the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival, Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo and the Bryce Canyon Rim Run and Walk. Ruby’s Inn offers lodging, restaurants, activities such as horse riding, and easy access to Bryce Canyon National Park via a free shuttle.
Located in the Dixie region of Utah's Washington County, Springdale serves as the gateway to the world-renowned Zion National Park. This popular tourist destination provides an excellent stopover or base from which to explore the scenic surrounding area, and is watched over by the awe-inspiring cliffs of Zion, which provide fantastic hiking and nature photography opportunities. Other popular activities include cycling and camping, among others. Explore the wider Zion National Park too, which features soaring red cliffs and unique rock formations. The town also offers an array of art galleries, buzzing cafes and excellent restaurants.
Straddling the Utah-Arizona border, Canyon Point is an isolated oasis stretched across the heart of the Grand Circle in southern Utah, USA. Hidden in the sculpted Four Corners Region, the area is an outdoor enthusiast's and nature lover's dream, featuring deep canyons, towering plateaus and sweeping vistas of magnificent desert landscapes. A wonderfully natural playground, visitors to Canyon Point can enjoy fantastic hiking trails, horseback riding, superb stargazing, scaling rock formations and hot-air ballooning over the exquisite scenery. The shimmering beauty of Lake Powell invites watersports such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, and water-skiing. Canyon Point is also within easy distance of the surrounding national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Grand Canyon Village is a portal to one of the most enchanting geological sites on the planet. The town sits on the precipice of the Grand Canyon's South Rim and is the gateway to the famously hypnotic views of the canyons carved deeply by the Colorado River over the past 5 to 6 million years. Marvel at Mother Nature's handiwork when you descend into the canyon or explore the rim’s well-marked hiking trails, either on foot or horseback. Less strenuous options include taking the free shuttle bus to the area’s best viewpoints or experiencing the jaw-dropping vistas from the sky via a helicopter or plane tour. The town itself is filled with fascinating historic buildings, including Hopi House, where visitors can see (and buy) incredible native arts and crafts.
While Sedona boasts some exquisite natural beauty amidst the remarkable Red Rocks, mother nature is not the only artist at work in this bustling Arizona desert town. For decades Sedona has been a mecca in the Southwest for artists, photographers, natural healers and free-spirited creatives drawn in by the town’s impressive array of art galleries and the reported mystical quality of the natural surrounds. The area is equally attractive to outdoor enthusiasts keen to take advantage of the hiking and mountain biking opportunities among the incredible pinnacles, spires, buttes and domes of the surrounding canyons. Whether you are seeking wonderful spa facilities, world-class vineyards, a thriving arts scene, phenomenal restaurants or simply some outstanding natural landscapes to explore, you are bound to find plenty to enchant you in and around the extraordinary town of Sedona.
Far removed from the ancient Hohokam people who occupied these lands in pre-European history, Scottsdale is a modern city in Arizona with a dazzling array of luxury spa resorts and exclusive golf clubs. With year-round sun and an array of upmarket shopping venues and restaurants, the town is a Mecca for leisurely indulgences. Once the sun sets, a buzzing nightlife bursts into action and an array of watering holes will keep visitors entertained long into the moonlit night. For some exercise and to get a sense of the Old West, take a 30-minute drive out of the city to ‘Tom's Thumb Trailhead’, a moderate hike with scenic vistas.
