From surfing in sunny California to taking in the views atop the Empire State Building, every corner of America is jam-packed with adventure and new experiences.
Its size and never-ending "must-see" list can feel daunting when planning a holiday, so we've rounded-up some of the most iconic American holiday experiences on offer. So, whether you're looking to have an epic roadtrip or to try being a cowboy for a day, we've got you covered.
Iconic American holidays
Hurray for Hollywood
The Hollywood sign
Jeremy Bishop
If there’s anything more American than the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee, in LA’s Griffith Park, we don’t know what it is. LA has long been a draw for us Brits, as we love its associations with glamour, A-listers, and the movies. Amp up the thrills with a walking tour with Bikes and Hikes LA, which will take you as close to the sign as you can get, then make a pilgrimage to the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, to see the names of celebrities from Amy Adams to Renee Zellweger.
Several film studios offer tours, such as Warner Bros (where the likes of Blade Runner, Big Bang Theory and, of course, Friends, were made), Universal (Batman) and Sony (Breaking Bad).
Do the desert in an Airstream
Airstream setup
Polished, shiny, aluminium trailers, Airstreams have been a classic symbol of Americana ever since they were invented in California in 1927; over the years they evolved to become motorhomes, although they’re now rarely seen on America’s roads.
You can still stay in one, however; AutoCamp has several locations, from Utah to Texas, where you can spend the night in one of these distinctive, shimmering mobile units with all the mod-cons you need for the 21st century, from a private bathroom to a fully-working kitchenette.
One of the most beautiful places to do it is in Joshua Tree, California; settle into an Adirondack chair steps from your front door, light the firepit, toast a marshmallow or two, and watch the sun sink into the sky in a blaze of scarlet glory.
A seven-day trip to California, including three nights at AutoCamp Joshua Tree, flights and car hire, starts from £1,895pp.
I heart NY
New York skyline
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge… cheering on the Yankees... taking the Staten Island Ferry… there are so many iconic things to do in New York City, it’s no wonder they named it twice. Take in a Broadway show, fly high over Manhattan in a helicopter, or buzz up and down the Hudson in a speedboat.
Don’t forget to soak up some of NYC’s world-class culture, either; check out contemporary artists ranging from Jeff Koons to Andy Warhol at MOMA, or the likes of Georgia O’Keefe and Paul Cézanne at the Met.
Make sure you scoff a hotdog while at a basketball game, have ‘what she’s having’ at Katz’s Deli, and order a slice of the best pizza in the city at… well, whichever of the city’s many pizza parlours lay claim to serving it at present. A six-day Icons of New York trip starts from £1,900pp, including flights, accommodation, and tickets for various attractions and activities as outlined.
Go stargazing in a dark sky park in Utah
Stars over Utah Dark Sky Park
Bret Edge
Ever wished you could, well, wish upon a star? America has over 60 dark sky parks, communities and reserves, as officially designated by the International Dark-Sky Association. One of the most beautiful – despite the somewhat unprepossessing name – is Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab in eastern Utah.
Often compared to the Grand Canyon for its dramatic views, it sits above the beautiful White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park and offers far-reaching vistas of Moab, the La Sal Mountains to the south, and the Colorado River 2,000ft below.
Recognised as a Dark Sky Park, it is one of the best places to see the Milky Way in the state. You might also recognise the area for its use in the iconic final ‘Grand Canyon’ scene in Thelma & Louise (1991).
A seven-night trip around the state, including a visit to Dead Horse Point, starts from £1,910pp including accommodation, transport and activities (flights cost extra).
Saddle up for the Houston rodeo, Texas
Rodeo arena
Vasu Pendyala
Channel your inner cowboy (or girl) with a trip to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the world’s largest livestock exhibition and rodeo. Also known as RodeoHouston, it’s been going since 1932 and, for the past 22 years, has been held at the purpose-built NRG Stadium, as the show just got too big for its previous venue, the Astrodome.
Of course, the entertainment includes watching professional riders wrestling steer, roping calves, barrel racing and bareback riding, but there are also concerts, carnivals and barbecues.
Past performers include Gene Autry and Elvis Presley, while more recently, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande have played here. Get your tickets now for the next instalment, taking place between March 4 - 23, 2025; if you’re really brave, you can even take part in some of the competitions yourself. Yeehaw!
Get into the space race at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Rockets at the Kennedy Space Center
It was the USA which put the very first man on the moon – Neil Armstrong set foot on its rocky, silvery surface on July 21, 1969 – and you can learn all about America’s space exploration history at the Kennedy Space Center, originally known as NASA Launch Operations Center, on Florida’s Merritt Island.
You’ll be able to visit early rocket launch sites, check out the Atlantis space shuttle, and see the US Astronaut Hall of Fame. The Center has also been used as a filming location for movies including Armageddon, Apollo 13 and, more recently, Fly Me to the Moon.
Get a little bit country in Nashville
Nashville guitar sign
From Dolly Parton to Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus, the list of musicians who were either born in, lived in, or performed in Nashville is impressive. Somewhat bizarrely, Nashville evolved into its alter ego, Music City, thanks to an insurance company; in 1925 the National Life and Accident Insurance Company had the ingenious idea of launching a radio station here to promote its business, and reserved Saturday nights for an evening of live (and lively) country music.
It became so popular they had to build an auditorium to accommodate the performers and audience, and the weekly show was renamed in 1927 as the Grand Ole Opry.
Today you can still go there and hear live performances, but don’t miss checking out the honky tonk bars along Broadway, a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, or a more intimate evening at the legendary Bluebird Cafe, where famous songwriters perform acoustic sets.
Explore the wild west
On the ranch
Bailey Alexander
Immerse yourself in the culture of the Old West with an unforgettable trip around Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Admire the peaks of the Grand Tetons, watch Old Faithful put on a show at Yellowstone, and gaze at the dusty vastness of South Dakota’s Badlands.
You can relive the adventures of an 1850s, westbound wagon train at the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho, learn more about the time of cowboys and Native Americans at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West in Wyoming, and marvel at the vast Lakota warrior represented at the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota.
You’ll also get the chance to see the faces of former American presidents etched in the stone cliffs of Mount Rushmore.
A nine-day Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos trip starts from £2,966pp, including accommodation, meals, guide and various experiences (flights extra).
Hit the road in an RV
RV adventure
The mighty recreational vehicle is every big American family’s transport of choice; something with multiple wheels, swivel chairs, and everything from comfortable beds and hot showers to microwaves, washing machines and satellite dishes.
They are used on long-distance journeys, where networks of RV parks allow you to stay overnight in some of the country’s most beautiful regions, many with fancy facilities of their own, from restaurants to swimming pools. Take one for a spin around New England – preferably in the fall – with the fam, or a bunch of friends.
A Cruise America C-25, which sleeps up to four adults and one child, and features a hot shower, kitchen and automatic transmission, starts from just £83.93 per night from April 2025.
Check out an amusement park in Connecticut
Lake Compounce amusement park
Parkineer
Let’s be honest, the theme parks and Disneyfication of Florida and California feel a bit too obvious. Why not hark back to a more innocent age, and visit Lake Compounce, Connecticut: it’s the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the USA.
It first opened in 1846, when its main attractions included rowing boats, a gazebo for lakeside concerts, and several rudimentary rides. Over the decades, it’s always had a wooden rollercoaster - the first one was opened in 1914 - and today it features waterslides, a big wheel, free-fall rides, a carousel and more.
Who needs Mickey? Single-day tickets from £24.25.
