40 of the best things to do in America
How to make the most of your time in America
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Spot brown bears in Alaska
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Admire Chicago's epic skyline from up high
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The Windy City is known for its stunning skyline, and justifiably so. Admire the panoramic views from 360degrees Chicago, an observation deck 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile. Get your heart pumping on Tilt, a moving platform that tips you over Michigan Avenue. Vertigo sufferers may prefer to admire the view on an architecture tour on a boat on the Chicago river.
Dive at Florida Keys
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Be a leaf peeper in Vermont
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Go wild swimming in Arizona
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For watery Wild West adventure, head to Tonto National Forest in Arizona and bathe in River Canyons lakes. Paddle through the crystal clear water, past vibrant green cacti and towering mountain peaks. At temperatures of around 23 degrees, you won’t need a wetsuit. SwimTrek run a six-day adventure, covering three miles a day.
Drive at 185mph in Indianapolis
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Home to the legendary Indy 500 race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a mecca for car junkies. The 2.5-mile oval is so huge it could fit Vatican City, the Rose Bowl, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club, the Yankee Stadium and the Roman Coliseum inside. Tour the track, visit the museum and – if you’re feeling flush – enjoy the thrill of being driven at 185mph drive in a real IndyCar. Indy Racing Experience offers the adventure for $500.
Visit the Capitol in Washington DC
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Be moved at Philadelphia's State Penitentiary
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For a thought-provoking history, visit the preserved ruins of Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary, the first prison to use solitary confinement. It closed in 1971, after housing thousands of inmates, including legendary gangster Al Capone. Explore the haunting empty prison blocks and vaulted cells, whilst listening to an audio tour narrated by actor Steve Buscemi and former inmates.
Have a Wild West adventure in Texas
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For a slice of Wild West action, don your stetson and head to Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas. Watch longhorn cattle being driven down the main street (at 11:30am and 4pm), then head to Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk, where episodes of Dallas were filmed. Here you can learn line dancing, or tap your cowboy-booted toes to their stellar country music line up. You can even catch an adrenalin fuelled bull rodeo.
Enjoy pristine snow in Jackson Hole
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For powder lovers, it doesn’t get much better than the cult ski area of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Snowfall here averages 36 feet each winter, and with the nearest city four hours away, the spectacular slopes are emptier than in Utah or Colarado. The wild location means you might catch a glimpse of elk or moose. Get into the après ski spirit Wild West style with some live music at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, which has saddles for bar stools.
Listen to jazz in New Orleans
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A visit to New Orleans, aka the Big Easy, is the ultimate jazz pilgrimage. Music here is world class and venues range from gritty to super slick. Serious jazz aficionados should head to Snug Harbor, where they’ll be expected to listen to well-known musicians in quiet. For a slightly less reverential vibe and a good dance, head to the Spotted Cat.
Float over Napa Valley in a hot air balloon
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Explore the world's longest cave system in Kentucky
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Canoe Florida's Everglades
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Stay on star's estate in Palm Springs
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Palm Springs is dubbed “Hollywood’s Playground” because stars of the big screen have been relaxing here since the 1920s. Its desert location gave them a break from Hollywood, but kept them within two hours of the studio – a limit dictated by their contracts. The likes of Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and Shirley Temple have all stayed here. If you’re feeling flush, rent Casa Elizabeth, Elizabeth Taylor’s former home.
Be dazzled at White Sands in New Mexico
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Party until dawn Las Vegas
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Climb onto the Statue of Liberty's crown
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Explore Badlands National Park
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Be awed by the world's biggest tree in California
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Ride rapids in Idaho
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Be wowed by Yellowstone
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Pay homage to Elvis in Memphis
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You don’t have to be a diehard Elvis fan to enjoy Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. For a glimpse into his private life, take a tour of this decadent mansion where he lived for 20 years. Then hit the Elvis Presley Memphis experience, a massive exhibition about his life and music. You can even venture onto his private plane, the Lisa Marie, complete with gold plated seat belts and 24-carat gold-flecked sinks.
Get your kicks on Route 66
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Route 66 is the iconic American road trip. Stretching from Chicago to LA, across eight states, it’ll immerse you in an era of classic Americana. You’ll find retro gas stations, kitsch motels and towns steeped in history. It can be done in two weeks at a push, but allow a month if you can.
Stand on San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
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It took four years and $35 million to build San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge. You can access the 1.7 mile stretch by car, tour bus or public transport. Explore by foot or bike from the sidewalks, or sail underneath it from Fisherman’s Wharf. You can even admire it from above with a helicopter tour by San Francisco Helicopters.
Hike into the Grand Canyon
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Catch a musical on Broadway
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For a rousing, toe-tapping night in the Big Apple, watch a musical on Broadway. The next day, meet stars of the stage over bacon and bagels at the Lambs Club in the nearby Chatwal Hotel. These Broadway brunches are available on certain dates and you'll need to pre book.
Wallow in a Colorado hot spring
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Taste hot chicken in Nashville
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Dubbed “Music City”, Nashville is home to some 200 recording studios and the legendary Ryman Auditorium, the birthplace of bluegrass and where country music took off. Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline are just some of the greats who have sung their hearts out here. Sit on the curved wooden pews and take in a concert, then head to Hattie B’s for hot chicken, the city’s iconic dish. Fried and coated in spices, it’ll get your taste buds tingling.
Dune surf in Michigan
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Explore unspoiled Hawaii
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Eat lobster in Maine
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Maine’s choppy Atlantic waters may be cold, but they produce world-class seafood. The coastline is dotted with lobster shacks, where you can grab a picnic table and munch on a lobster roll and fries whilst watching the sea. For a more unusual experience, try Lobster ice cream (yes, really) at Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium in Bar Harbor.
Stand in two states at once
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Pay tribute to Prince in Minnesota
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In Chanhassen, Minnesota, you’ll find Prince’s Paisley Park private estate. This is where the music icon lived, until his untimely death in April 2016. It’s now been opened to the public, giving fans the chance to see his opulent stage costumes, motorbikes and instruments (Prince could play 20 by the time he was 12). Sticking closely to the pop legend’s principles, the museum restaurant is veggie. You'll need to buy tickets in advance.
Ride cowboy-style in Montana
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Be awed by mosaics in St Louis
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Soak up the atmosphere on Venice Beach
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Make Moonshine in Savannah, Georgia
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Get into the Southern groove in Savannah, Georgia, by exploring the Historic District, with its tree-lined streets, park-like squares and historic homes. Visit Chippewa Square, where the legendary bench scene from Forest Gump was filmed, then head to the speakeasy at the American Prohibition Museum, where you can learn to make Prohibition cocktails.
Cycle round Nantucket
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Venture into Antelope Canyon
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