Must-Visit Regions and Unmissable Experiences in the USA

From jazz-filled streets to glacier-carved fjords, the USA offers a rich tapestry of landscapes, music, and history that beckons the discerning traveller. Whether you're a couple seeking a scenic road trip or a solo traveller chasing bucket-list adventures, these regions promise unforgettable moments.

Unmissable moments in the Deep South, USA

Known for its charm, hospitality and politeness, a visit to the Deep South allows you to step into the heart of American culture. Begin in Nashville, the cradle of country music, where the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame bring legends to life. Step behind the curtain with a backstage visit to the Grand Ole Opry or, if you're lucky, stand in the crowds and listen to some of country music's greatest performers.

Memphis is the birthplace of soul music and Rock 'n' Roll. No visit to 'Bluff City' is complete without a visit to the home of the King - the King of Rock 'n' Roll, that is. Bought by Elvis when he was just 22, Graceland was his home until he died. Here, you can uncover more about the musician's life through the legendary costumes, artefacts and personal mementoes and pay your respects to the man himself at his grave.

Explore America's troubled past with a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Transforming tragedy into a powerful space for education and reflection, the museum takes visitors on a journey through the history of the civil rights movement in the United States from slavery and Reconstruction to the modern-day struggle for racial equality.

Nestled in a bend on the Mississippi River, the first New Orleans settlers built their community in what is now the French Quarter. New Orleans is for the cool cats - here, jazz spills from every corner of the French Quarter, to best enjoy the city's musical heritage, enjoy live music on Frenchmen Street, and visit the New Orleans Jazz Museum to trace the genre’s roots. French and Spanish influences can be seen in the culture and architecture - even in the layout of the city. Visit antebellum plantations. Beneath the façade of their architectural beauty hides a complex history of brutality, offering a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy estate owners and the enslaved people who built and maintained these grand houses. Or hop on a steamboat and explore the Mississippi - they have long been a colourful part of America's history. It's the ideal place to get a fresh perspective on the city, admiring stunning views of the city while "rollin’ on the river".

Unmissable moments in California, USA

In the Golden State, sun-drenched vineyards meet Pacific cliffs and innovation hubs, like Silicon Valley, meet natural wonders like Yosemite National Park. Ride the cable cars up its steep streets of San Francisco. Walk through the world’s most legendary island prison - Alcatraz - preserved just as it was. Learn more about the experiences of inmates and guards, the stories of infamous prisoners like Al Capone, and the attempts to escape from "The Rock". 

Head south along Highway 1, one of the world’s most iconic coastal routes - also known as the Pacific Coastal Drive - making your way to Los Angeles, where old Hollywood glamour meets laid-back beach culture.

Set amid beautiful countryside, Napa and Sonoma Valley are the perfect places to indulge your inner oenophile (or 'wine lover').  California's most famous wine-producing regions are home to hundreds of wineries ripe for exploration. Enjoy wine tastings and uncover a few new varietals to smuggle back in your suitcase. In Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon is the reigning grape, with hints of black fruits, tobacco, mocha, and spice, while Sonoma offers a wider variety, including  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. 

For nature lovers, Yosemite National Park is a must—its granite cliffs and waterfalls are the stuff of legend. Read more about the USA's incredible national parks on our blog Top Adventure Destinations in the USA.

Unmissable moments in Alaska, USA

For those seeking the road less travelled, Alaska is the ultimate frontier. Towering mountains, icy fjords, and wildlife encounters await in this vast and untamed land. An Alaskan cruise is - in our opinion - the best way to experience its most remote regions. You'll glide past blue-hued glaciers and spot humpback whales, sea otters, and bald eagles along the way. Dock in Juneau or Skagway and take a floatplane over Glacier Bay or hike through Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world.

Unmissable moments in the Southwest USA

Encompassing New Mexico, Arizona, Texas in the west and Colorado, Utah, and Nevada in the south, the American Southwest is a canvas of red rock and desert. Straddling the Arizona-Utah border is Monument Valley, sacred Navajo land made famous by Classic Westerns. Drive through the valley or meet with a Navajo guide to hear the stories behind the stone. Southern Utah, is home to the crimson-coloured hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. Two truly unmissable moments in the park happen as the sun rises and sets, creating dramatic shadows and vibrant colours on the hoodoos - it's the perfect moment to capture on camera.

Slicing its way through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona is the "Mother Road" - Route 66. Offering a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s - a golden age of the United States - this road trip has plenty of opportunities to see quirky Americana, from vintage diners to roadside attractions like the Cadillac Ranch.

Unmissable moments in the Northeast, USA

Nowhere in the United States is as well-known as New York City. From the jazz clubs of Harlem to the bright lights of Broadway, NYC pulses with creative energy. With famous landmarks - such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building or Central Park - and cultural and historical hubs - like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), or the 9/11 Memorial & Museum - there's more to see than you could possibly fit into one trip.

As you may expect from the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston wears its history proudly - think cobbled streets, colonial architecture and pivotal landmarks. A visit here is not complete without walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile route that connects 16 historic sites, including Paul Revere’s House, Boston Common, and the Old North Church. But the city is so much more than its history - visit the Museum of Fine Arts, catch a performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, or explore the hallowed halls of Harvard University and you'll see it's a city of culture and intellect too.

Comprising the states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, New England is almost reminiscent of the English countryside - only with a lot more lobster rolls and lighthouses. In Maine, drive the scenic Route 1 past rocky coastlines, charming fishing villages, and the dramatic beauty of Acadia National Park. In Massachusetts, explore the windswept beaches and clapboard cottages of Cape Cod, or take a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket.

Best visited in the autumn, when the foliage turns vivid gold, orange and red and the weather is crisp and cool - New Hampshire and Vermont are particularly renowned for their seasonal displays.