Bucket-List Experiences You Must Have in the USA

If you love pastoral landscapes, bucolic backroads and wildlife encounters, there’s nothing quite like the Rocky Mountains. Stretching from northernmost British Columbia all the way to New Mexico, this astounding range peaks in Colorado; the 30 highest summits culminate in the Centennial State. In summer, hiking, biking and rafting are the name of the game; come winter, swap climbing shoes for snow for a bracing plunge down white-washed slopes. If you’re seeking alpine-swept solace, we have just the off-grid adventure for you.

Do you know your riesling from your rioja? Don’t miss out on touring the hundreds of vineyards that call Napa Valley home. Sovereign of sauvignon, this California region produces some of the world’s leading wines, infamously surpassing French Bordeaux in the Judgment of Paris blind-taste test of 1976. Since then, its reputation has only grown. With its balmy climate created by the proximity of the Pacific and local mountain ranges, this vineyard-strewn slice of California dreamin’ should be high on your list. And, if you’re looking to mix your barrels with some backcountry, check out our tailored trip to Northern California.

The US may not have royals, but the iconic King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, comes pretty close. With his buoyant rise from poverty to momentous fame, Presley’s success epitomised the American Dream. His legacy lives on at Graceland, his 14 acre (6ha) estate in Memphis, Tennessee. This is where you’ll find the jewelled jumpsuits, gold records and classic cars, but for the biggest fans, you can honor Elvis with a taste of his favourite snack – a peanut butter and banana sandwich.

A city steeped in lady luck legends and high-roller stakes, Las Vegas is one of a kind. With its colossal casino-hotels, Elvis impersonators and drive-thru weddings, the so-called Sin City lives up to its self-billed title of entertainment capital of the world. Its desert temperature matches the tension of the roulette-wheel, but if gambling isn’t your thing, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy, from helicopter rides to the pinball hall of fame, or even a visit to the neon boneyard – the final resting place of once-luminous signs.

Not your average farmer’s market, the legacy of Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle is as much about performance as it is about produce. What started out as a prank on one employee has now become the draw for thousands; fishmongers routinely hurl 3ft-long (1m) fish to one another behind the counter amid a chorus of chants before they’re wrapped. Watch out for the foam fish that occasionally get thrown into unsuspecting crowds. And don’t miss the participatory gum wall downstairs.

With over 400 pizzerias in New York City, the craft behind the perfect dough is serious business. Hand-tossed with thin crusts and sold in wide slices to-go, the iconic NYC slice first appeared in the Little Italy neighborhood during the early 1900s, as a derivation of classic Neapolitan pizza. It’s hard to choose between the two, but there is one clear winner when it comes to portion sizes: the average New York-style slice can reach a whopping 3ft (90cm) in radius. Traditional toppings are simply tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella – you can’t improve perfection.

If you love fried comfort food, you’ll never tire of the celebrated African- American cuisine of the South. Originating from the rations of enslaved peoples in the Antebellum period, soul food has been strongly influenced by the traditional practices of West Africans and Native Americans since its inception. Today, soul food is a staple of mainstream American food culture. Think crispy fried chicken, smoked ham hocks, stewed collard greens, candied yams, fried okra, baked cornbread, boiled grits and deep-fried hushpuppies. Good for the soul. Even better for the tastebuds.

Originally running through eight states from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, Route 66 is as much of an American icon as the US cities it connects. Although it was officially removed from the US highway system in 1985, its enduring legacy in popular culture – from The Grapes of Wrath (1939) to Cars (2006) – has cemented its popularity with travelers. At its peak it gave rise to a burgeoning trade of roadside attractions, from frozen custard stands and reptile farms, to teepee-shaped motels and the first ever McDonald’s (now a museum). In 2021, the Mother Road will celebrate its 95th anniversary.

If you live for stadium thrills and courtside commotion, don’t miss out on spectating a game in one of the most sports-crazed nations on the planet. Whether football, basketball or baseball, you can expect some world-class sporting entertainment – as well as outrageous mascots, mandatory Star-Spangled Banner sing-a-longs and tailgate barbeques. And for an all-out, bang-for-your-buck American experience – we’re talking fast cars, fierce competition and the occasional explosion – don’t miss Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway if you’re a NASCAR enthusiast.

For a newcomer to Philly, it’s important to know that cheesesteaks are both tourist attractions and cultural icons. The top lunch pick of Pennsylvania consists of a long, crusty hoagie roll filled with thinly sliced sautéed beef, smothered in melted cheese and served “wit” or “witout” fried onions. Pat’s and Geno’s, situated directly across from one another on East Passyunk Avenue, are the two most popular places to sample Philly’s famous sandwich, making the shops longtime rivals. Both are open 24 hours a day should you wish to tuck in after dark.

Not for the faint of heart, Burning Man is an annual, week-long festival that transforms Nevada’s Black Rock Desert into a temporary metropolis where anything goes. Under sweltering sun and freezing nights, the dried silt lays host to themed camps, interactive installation art and mutant vehicles, all populated by 70,000 strangers. Renowned for its radical policies of sexual liberation, Burning Man promotes principles of decommodification, participation and civic responsibility. The event’s eponymous main attraction, a giant tinder effigy, is set on fire and left to burn on the penultimate night. After which, attendees return to their normal lives, leaving no trace in the dust of this semi-arid region.

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