Prepare for fireworks. This year’s 4th July celebrations promise to be extra-special as the USA marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
All eyes have been firmly on the county since the World Cup celebrations kicked off in June: so those who won’t be carousing might well be watching Canada face off with Morocco or Canada battle it out with France. But, away from the pitch, not many countries have so many opportunities for exciting adventures – no matter what type of traveller you are.
From frenetic shopping breaks in the Big Apple to peaceful getaways in empty national parks, the USA has it all. And to celebrate its extra special occasion, we’ve rounded up the best holidays in the country – from theme park jaunts to epic road trips.
A musical trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains
© Getty ImagesAmerica’s bluegrass and blues scene was born in the Appalachian mountains and hearing its music in situ is an emotional, evocative experience, heightened by the scenery of remote mountain towns and wonderfully old-fashioned cities. Hay’s Travel’s Mountains, Music & More ticks off the dramatic rock formations and pretty meadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a motorhome trail, between stops in Cincinnati, Louisville and Nashville.
Best for: couples
How to book: From £2,299pp, self-catering, including motorhome hire and flights (haystravel.co.uk).
A not-so-classic California theme park itinerary
For rides with added museums, boutiques and even a baseball game or two, skip Orlando in favour of Disney’s first outpost in Anaheim, California. This city has more to offer than its parks (Disneyland, Universal Hollywood and Knott’s Berry Farm), making for a well-rounded, family-friendly adventure that should prevent mouse-fatigue setting in. Combine it with a wider Californian sojourn and you can visit national parks, sandy beaches and buzzy San Francisco too.
Best for: families
How to book: Bon Voyage has a California Family Adventure itinerary from £3,995pp, including flights and SUV hire (bon-voyage.co.uk).
A group road trip to Route 66
© Getty Images/iStockphotoEmbrace a penchant for picture-taking during Riviera Travel’s group Grand Journey from the Deep South to Route 66, which stretches over nearly three weeks and covers a series of sites straight from postcards. Snap New Orleans’ lively French Quarter, Graceland’s kitschy interiors, the huge expanse of the Grand Canyon and the tarmac-side diners and open skies of the great open road. It’s a very special year for this road too – it turns 100 in November.
Best for: empty nesters
How to book: The trip costs from £5,399pp, B&B, including flights (rivieratravel.co.uk).
A cruise into icy Alaska
Leave the kids at home and board one of Virgin Voyages adults-only ships for a one-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska, bound for the icy fjord of Endicott Arm and the imposing Dawes glacier. Sailing from Seattle, the brand’s six-night trip aboard Brilliant Lady passes the empty landscapes of the Tongass National Forest and the snow-tipped peaks of Sitka en route to British Columbia.
Best for: couples
How to book: From £792pp, full-board, excluding flights (virginvoyages.com). Virgin Atlantic flies to Seattle.
Take a walk on the wild side in Yellowstone National Park
Wolves, elk and bison may not have featured in the adventures of Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, but they are as much of an attraction at the real Yellowstone National Park as the grizzlies. See them on Journeyscape’s new week-long Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure. The park is best in winter when it sees less than two percent of its visitors, making wildlife easier to spot and offering up the chance to snowshoe or dog sled through the wilderness.
Best for: older families
How to book: From £1,050pp, including some meals and international flights (journeyscape.com).
The ultimate girls weekend in New York City
© AFP via Getty ImagesYou have to visit New York City at least once in your lifetime. The Big Apple is an all-encompassing melange of Carrie Bradshaw-style shopping, hip neighbourhoods and must-see sights. Kuoni has a bite-sized, three-night trip that can be tailor-made to take in as much of the magic as possible – from exploring local secrets on a walking tour to heading up the Empire State Building.
Best for: friends
How to book: From around £1,000, room only, including flights (kuoni.co.uk).
