Montana
With just one million residents spread out over more than 38-million hectares, it is one of America’s greatest unspoiled treasures of scenic lands and wildlife. And a mix of modern and traditional cultures make it the ideal place to experience the history of the frontier and authentic small-town American life. Yellowstone National Park, accessible by car from three separate entrances in the southern part of Montana, is the world’s largest active volcano. Geysers, hot springs and other thermal features are surrounded by mountains, rivers, canyons and prairies that are home to one of the USA’s last remaining wild bison herds and two species of wolves in their natural environment.
Nebraska
The Cornhusker State has beautiful river valleys and an often stark bleakness that is entrancing. Its links to the past – from vast fields of dinosaur remains to Native American culture to the toils of hardy settlers – provide a dramatic storyline. Alongside the state’s sprinkling of cute little towns, Nebraska’s two main cities, Omaha and Lincoln, are vibrant and artful. Nebraska has wonders in every direction – vast prairies in the east, majestic cliffs and peaks in the west and sand dunes in between, making for a trip as scenic as it is fun. A visit here is a direct encounter with Western heritage.
Nevada
Nevada is defined by contrasts and contradictions, juxtaposing arid plains with skyward, snowcapped mountains, while stilettos demand equal suitcase space with ski boots. Many visitors come only for the main event: Las Vegas. Nevada’s twinkling desert jewel is a mecca for pleasure-seekers, and where privilege and poverty collide and three-quarters of the state’s population resides. A spirit of discovery runs deep in Nevada. Across the state’s adventure-packed northwest, to the metropolitan desert of Las Vegas, unlimited experiences are waiting for you to discover, explore and conquer. Make sure to stop by historic mining towns and the ruins of Fort Churchill. Find water activities at Lake Lahontan, Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire attracts visitors with jagged mountains, scenic valleys and forest-lined lakes – they lurk in every corner of this rugged state. It all begs you to embrace the outdoors, from kayaking the hidden coves of the Lakes Region to trekking the upper peaks surrounding Mt Washington. Each season yields a bounty of adrenaline and activity: skiing and snowshoeing in winter, magnificent walks and drives through fall’s fiery colours, and swimming in crisp mountain streams and berry-picking in summer. This state has New England charm in spades and knows how to show it off. In fall, a scenic drive over hill and dale takes you through rural villages and farms just when the leaves are aflame.
New Jersey
From serene to bustling, New Jersey has a range of beach experiences. Island Beach State Park, flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches. The 1,214-hectare park provides educational programs, trails, swimming and vantage points for watching birds, especially ospreys. Year-round resort towns such as Seaside Heights and Cape May are famous for their boardwalks, fishing piers and activities and events like the Polar Bear Plunge, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and seafood and barbecue festivals.
New Mexico
They call this the Land of Enchantment for a reason. Maybe it’s the drama of sunlight and shadow playing out across juniper-speckled hills, or the traditional mountain villages of horse pastures and adobe homes. Maybe it’s the centuries-old towns on the northern plateaus, overlooked by the magnificent Sangre de Cristos, or the volcanoes, canyons and vast desert plains spread beneath an even vaster sky. The beauty casts a powerful spell. Mud-brick churches filled with sacred art, ancient Indian Pueblos, real-life cowboys and legendary outlaws, chile-smothered enchiladas – all add to the pervasive sense of otherness that often makes New Mexico feel like a foreign country.
New York
Long Island and upstate New York – generally accepted as anywhere north of the NYC metro area – shouldn’t be missed. Long Island has cosy beach towns, while upstate is a dream destination for those who cherish the great outdoors. The Hudson River valley acts as an escape route from the city, leading eager sojourners north. From Albany, the 524-mile Erie Canal cuts due west to Lake Erie, passing spectacular Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Rochester. In the east, you will find the St Lawrence River and its thousands of islands, as well as the magnificent Adirondack and Catskills mountains. Head to the middle of the state and you’ll be ensconced in the serene Finger Lakes.
North Carolina
The rural, conservative Old South and the urban, liberal-leaning New South jostle for precedence in the fast-growing Tar Heel State, home to hipsters, hog farmers and high-tech wunderkinds. From the mighty mountains in the west to the ethereal islands lining the Atlantic coast, all kinds of cultures and communities manage to coexist. North Carolina has the highest mountain peaks in the eastern U.S. and 300 miles of shoreline—something for every taste. Here the dynamic natural landscape gives way to vineyards and valleys, as well as premier golf and stock car courses, historic sites, plentiful shopping and restaurants that carry on the state’s distinct culinary tradition.
North Dakota
The footsteps of many legends crossed North Dakota. On this land, Lewis and Clark, Sakakawea, George Custer and Sitting Bull lived out larger-than-life adventures. Trek the same path they traversed years ago: retrace the Corps of Discovery’s expedition as you follow the Lewis & Clark Trail or let your imagination wander through Theodore Roosevelt National Park like the Park’s bison and wild horses, and look upon the same rugged landscape that inspired the 26th President of the United States. Today, born explorers and fun seekers alike can discover what makes North Dakota legendary. Hike, bike, ride, dine and sight-see across the state, and make your own mark on history.
Ohio
Family-friendly events, recreation opportunities and culture for sophisticated palates are hallmarks of Ohio’s largest cities. In Cleveland, visit the Greater Cleveland Aquarium or Great Lakes Science Center before an outing to the House of Blues. In addition to a ballet company and symphony orchestra, Cincinnati offers art museums, theatres and music and food festivals. Lively neighbourhoods in Columbus include Short North with art galleries and boutiques, German Village and its Old World charm, and sports venues, bars and restaurants in the Arena District. The state has everything: the beaches of Lake Erie, the banks of the Ohio River and Appalachian charm, as well as world-class museums, the world’s largest Amish enclave and world-record-breaking amusement parks.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma gets its name from the Choctaw name for ‘Red People.’ One look at the state’s vividly red earth and you’ll wonder if the name is more of a literal than an ethnic comment. Still, with 39 tribes located here, it is a place with deep Native American significance. Museums, cultural displays and more abound. Museums, heritage centres and outfitters preserve the cowboy spirit while working ranches and lively auctions let you live it. The Western influence is strong in this state, which offers outdoorsy-types many classic cowboy pastimes like roping, riding and hanging out by the campfire. Oklahoma is proud of its Native American roots and gives visitors plenty of ways to connect with that history.
Oregon
It’s hard to slap a single characterisation onto Oregon’s geography and people. Its landscape ranges from rugged coastline and thick evergreen forests to barren, fossil-strewn deserts, volcanoes and glaciers. As for its denizens, you name it – Oregonians run the gamut from pro-logging conservatives to tree-hugging liberals. What they have in common is an independent spirit, a love of the outdoors and a fierce devotion to where they live. The thing about exploring Oregon’s outdoors is that you’ll never be able to do it all in one lifetime. Hike the rugged coastline or the wooded Willamette National Forest. Here you will find craft beer, micro-distilleries and 17 wine regions, as well as handcrafted sea salt, ice cream, cheese and more.
Pennsylvania
A horse and buggy trundles through the Lancaster fog before it is overtaken by a Philadelphia-bound sports car driven by a young tech entrepreneur. In Pittsburgh, children of immigrants who work as nurses in the city’s burgeoning hospitals start breaking into experimental contemporary art. In Gettysburg, descendants of Union soldiers proudly fly Confederate flags. This is Pennsylvania, which contains within her 46,000 sq miles some of the Eastern seaboard’s most striking landscapes, culture clashes and contradictions. Your Pennsylvania holiday tour begins with one of the nation’s most historic cities and birthplace of America. Philadelphia is home to Independence Hall, the famous Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island, the smallest of the US states, isn’t actually an island. Although it takes only 45 minutes to traverse, this little wonder packs in over 400 miles of coastline with some of the finest white-sand swimming beaches in the Northeast, deserted coves, rugged seaside cliffs and isolated lighthouses. Hugging the shoreline before heading inland, delightful resorts, quaint Colonial villages and extravagant mansions give way to lush fields of berry farms, vineyards, and the horse studs of Middletown and Portsmouth. A wealth of colleges and universities including Brown, the Rhode Island School of Design, Johnson and Wales – home to the world’s largest culinary school – and others provide the energy that makes this “Renaissance City” spectacular.
South Carolina
From its Revolutionary War patriots to its 1860s secessionist government to its outspoken legislators, the Palmetto State has never shied away from a fight. From the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, South Carolina offers as much variety in its terrain as it does in its attractions and activities. The state is divided into three regions. The state is divided into three regions. The upstate, anchored by the growing city of Greenville, is popular for outdoor activities and quaint mountain towns. The Midlands (Piedmont) region is home to the state capital of Columbia, famously known for its year-round summer climate. South Carolina’s coast encompasses historical gems like Charleston and Fort Sumter, as well as golf and beach havens like Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach.
South Dakota
For a premium road trip, drive Interstate 90 from east to west to take in natural wonders and roadside attractions. Nearly 3 million people a year put Mount Rushmore National Memorial on their itinerary. The locals tell visitors that sunrise is a special time here. Mount Rushmore faces east, so the best light to take photos of the four U.S. presidents carved into the side of the mountain is in the early morning. South Dakota has five other national parks – Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Missouri National Recreational River and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the Cold War.
Tennessee
Most states have one official state song. Tennessee has seven. And there’s a reason for that – Tennessee has music deep within its soul. Here, the folk music of the Scots-Irish in the eastern mountains combined with the bluesy rhythms of the African Americans in the western Delta to give birth to the modern country music that makes Nashville famous. Whether it’s hiking the Appalachian Trail, conquering the coasters at Dollywood, savouring some Jack Daniels and barbecue, making the pilgrimage to Graceland or paying your respects at the National Civil Rights Museum, it’s hard to beat the variety of things to do in Tennessee. This Southern destination mixes historic and modern in places like Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Texas
Bigger than a whole heap of countries, Texas is vast, diverse and welcoming. From big-city lights to small-town simplicity, white-sand beaches to high-country hikes. Fun-loving, vibrant and friendly. And delightfully flashy on occasion – this is oil country, after all. Dallas and Houston boast rich arts and culture districts to explore by day, as well as active nightlife. For partying, Austin is the place, with its endless live-music concerts and an outdoorsy, alternative vibe. San Antonio has pockets of bustling activity during the day, and there’s a fiesta every night on the River Walk. Beyond the cities, Texas also has countless small towns with courthouse squares, landmark cafes and eclectic antiques and boutiques to explore at a slower pace.
Utah
A road trip in Northern Utah might include motoring up Logan Canyon – loaded with high alpine scenery, campsites, and hiking and biking trails – to Bear Lake for boating and summer festivals, and to Ogden’s Union Station for a visit to its own railroad museum. On the way south through Davis County, look west and you can’t miss the Great Salt Lake, and you’ll want to check it out via Antelope Island State Park. Of course, you’re never far from Wasatch Mountains where you can ski, snowboard, hike, bike and camp to our hearts’ delight. In Northeastern Utah, the High Uintas Wilderness invites exploration on horseback or with backpacks and fishing rods, or you can sneak a peek at Utah’s Dinosaur past at sites near Vernal. Maybe you’ll just want to spend your time in the Salt Lake Valley, our largest metropolitan area.
Vermont
Whether seen under blankets of snow, patchworks of blazing fall leaves or the exuberant greens of spring and summer, Vermont’s blend of bucolic farmland, mountains and picturesque small villages make it one of America’s most uniformly appealing states. Hikers, bikers, skiers and kayakers will find four-season bliss here, on the expansive waters of Lake Champlain, the award-winning Kingdom Trails Network, the 300-mile Long and Catamount Trails, and the fabled slopes of Killington, Stowe and Sugarbush. Vermonters have a long tradition of respect for the land and are committed to preserving and sharing their appreciation of the environment.
Virginia
Virginia’s natural beauty is as diverse as its history and people. The Chesapeake Bay and the wide sandy beaches kiss the Atlantic Ocean. Pine forests, marshes and rolling green hills form the soft curves of the central Piedmont region, while the rolling Blue Ridge mountains and stunning Shenandoah Valley line its back. There’s loads for the visitor to enjoy, including world-class tourist attractions such as Colonial Williamsburg, a wealth of outdoor activities, a foot-tapping mountain-music scene and an ever-growing network of wine, beer and spirit trails to follow.
Washington
Washington state is the heart of the Pacific Northwest. With that title comes everything you’d hope for, from the lush, green Olympic Peninsula to the white peaks of the Cascade Mountains and the crisp, whale-surrounded San Juan Islands. Head east and you’ll see another side of the state that’s more cowboy than a boutique, where the world gets much of its apples and the skies go on forever. The biggest urban jolt is Seattle, but other corners such as Spokane, Bellingham and Olympia are gaining sophistication by the day. Seattle is the gateway to the Pacific Northwest region, where wondrous mountain ranges look over lush rainforests and dramatic coastlines. Two national parks – Mount Rainier and Olympic – offer stunning encounters with nature as do the San Juan Islands just off the coast.
West Virginia
Ready for rugged East Coast adventuring with a gorgeous mountain backdrop? Then set your car toward wild and wonderful West Virginia, a state often overlooked by both American and foreign travellers. It doesn’t help that the state can’t seem to shake its negative stereotypes. That’s too bad because West Virginia is one of the prettiest states in the USA. With its line of unbroken green mountains, raging white-water rivers and snowcapped ski resorts, this is an outdoor-lovers’ paradise. Over 600 kilometres of West Virginia’s train tracks have been converted into trails for walking, hiking, biking and horseback riding. The rail trails, with their gentle or level grades and wide rights of way, are easily accessible and among the USA’s most stunning.
Wisconsin
Imagine rolling countryside covered in brilliant fall foliage, a snowmobiling adventure in winter, a stroll amid flowering cherry trees in spring and a retreat to a lakeside cottage in summer. These are the moments that draw people to Wisconsin. Outdoor adventurers and families will love this gem of a state, and foodies and culture seekers won’t be disappointed either. Wisconsin is the supper-club king, cheese-making capital, the birthplace of Frank Lloyd Wright, home of the Harley-Davidson and land of 11 Native American tribes. Wisconsin is cheesy and proud of it. The state pumps out 2.5 billion pounds of cheddar, Gouda and other smelly goodness – a quarter of America’s hunks – from its cow-speckled farmland per year.
Wyoming
The USA’s least populous state, Wyoming is also one of the richest in unspoiled nature. Two of the most famous U.S. national parks – Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park – are situated here. These destinations beckon outdoors lovers and adventurers looking to unplug and tune into Mother Nature. It’s not uncommon to spot impressive wild animals like bear, bison, elk and coyotes roaming the plains of this vast and beautiful state. Such vast landscapes mean ranching is a big part of local culture. No visit to Wyoming is complete without experiencing an authentic dude ranch to live out your cowboy and cowgirl dreams.