Set on the Pacific Coast in a basin of Southern California, Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States and the nation’s entertainment capital. The vast metropolis brims with movie stars, musicians, surfers, and plenty of glamorous A-list action, and is known for its cultural diversity and Mediterranean climate. The city comprises a number of wildly disparate neighborhoods including the legendary celebrity hotspot of Hollywood, the inviting beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu, and the hidden gems of Koreatown and Little Tokyo. Top attractions include the Warner Bros Studio, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Petersen Automotive Museum, among many more. Spot a movie star, sip a cocktail on a rooftop bar, slip on a pair of designer shoes in an ultra-luxurious boutique in Beverly Hills, or dance the night away in a starlet-filled club.
Las Vegas is a glitzy, world-renowned casino hub situated in the state of Nevada, at the heart of the Mojave Desert. Officially known as the City of Las Vegas, America’s fastest-growing metropolis is infamous for its mega-resorts and over-the-top atmosphere, with a club scene that rivals Ibiza, extravagant shows that give Broadway a run for its money, and a huge variety of restaurants that could easily make a trip here all about eating. ‘The Strip’, the city’s ‘Sin City epicentre’ is the best place to start an exploration, filled with models of famous landmarks like the Sphinx, Eiffel Tower, and Statue of Liberty. Other adrenaline-inducing highlights include the Viva Vision light show at the Fremont Street Experience, the creepy Mob Museum, and the magnificent High Roller at The LINQ.
Dubbed ‘America's Riviera’, Miami Beach is a coastal resort city set on a small barrier island and connected by bridges to mainland Miami. The city is at once a vibrant urban metropolis and a natural wonderland - offering world-class amenities and fringed with breathtaking beaches lined with rows of palms. Families will delight in the kid-friendly beaches and the inviting oceanfront shops and restaurants of North Miami Beach, while culture enthusiasts have plenty to keep them busy at the galleries, museums, and theaters of Greater Miami (the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Phillip and Patricia Museum of Science are particular highlights). The high-end boutiques, cutting-edge fusion restaurants, exclusive nightclubs, and Art Deco architectural delights of star-studded South Beach complete the package of this superbly sunny, seaside city.
Known for its gleefully over-the-top showmanship and for possessing more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world, Orlando offers all that and much more for the savvy traveller. With its excellent shopping deals, charming boutique hotels, and restaurants that indulge every taste imaginable, Orlando is just as much a playground for grown-ups as it is for the little ones. Outdoorsy visitors can hike, swim or canoe at the Ocala National Forest, Wekiwa Springs State Park or one of the area's many other sparkling springs. If that sounds slightly too adventurous, there are plenty of museums on offer at Winter Park, where you can enjoy some high-end shopping and dining on Park Avenue. With all of this diversity on offer, it is little wonder that Orlando comes out on top as the most popular family destination on earth.
Set on the banks of the mighty Niagara River, in the western part of New York State, the city of Niagara Falls is named after its star attraction, the breathtaking Niagara Falls. These impressive waterfalls are considered one of the great natural wonders of the world and, while not among the world's highest, they remain unrivalled in terms of their sheer volume of water. Six million cubic feet of water drop over the precipice every minute, creating so much spray that visitors are likely to see the rising mist long before they see the falls themselves. The falls are protected by the Niagara Falls State Park, which features a conveniently located Observation Tower offering panoramic views of all three waterfalls. Visitors can also look forward to exploring the Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre and the Aquarium of Niagara, which is home to a fascinating array of wildlife including seals, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins.
From Wall Street's skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square and Central Park's leafy paths, New York City is widely regarded as the heart of the US. It pulses with vibrant energy during the day and is magical at night. From incredible art galleries and museums to some of the best restaurants and most iconic buildings in the world, the Big Apple’s vibrant cultural scene makes for an unparalleled experience for visitors. There is so much to see and do that it is impossible to cover every cultural highlight in a single trip. Visitors with limited time should head for the main attractions: the Statue of Liberty, MoMa and the Empire State Building, while those with more time can begin to explore the city’s lesser-known neighbourhoods and outlying green spaces. No matter how you choose to spend your time and no matter how high your hopes are, New York is guaranteed to exceed even the highest of expectations.
