For a truly supersized wilderness experience, few places on Earth can compete with the United States of America.
The US is a vast country where you can explore every landscape imaginable. From hiking the Rocky Mountains to white water rafting in the Grand Canyon, bear spotting in Washington State to ranching like a cowboy in Arizona, a lifetime of unforgettable experiences awaits.
This is the perfect place to savour the untamed wilderness and plan an incredible adventure.
Book your getaway with British Airways Holidays and you can wrap up everything you need in one convenient ATOL-protected package. With your flights and a generous baggage allowance included, along with carefully selected hotel choices to suit all budgets and the option to car hire, so you can explore on your terms.
So discover this unique country at your own pace, with the freedom to explore wide open spaces, icon spots, hidden gems and everything in between.
Nature at its best
The US is host to some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders. Escape to California’s Yosemite National Park, a breathtaking expanse that features some of the world’s oldest and largest trees, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. You can also get up close experiences of Niagara Falls with the stunning ‘Cave of the Winds’ tour, for a front row seat to nature’s cascading beauty.
Discover the breathtaking landscape of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, then settle in for an incredible stargazing experience at night, with views of the Milky Way. Down south in Louisiana, the lush Atchafalaya Basin is the largest swamp area in the country, home to an array of bird species, reptiles and amphibians.
Take in the deepest blue of Crater Lake to the greenest forests in Oregon, the craggy peaks of the Rocky Mountains surrounding Denver, or the incredible white sand beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast. And the most visited national park in the country is the Great Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee, easily reachable from Nashville and boasting stunning shades of ochre and burnt umber in the autumn.
Coastal marvels
From California’s golden beaches to the island charm of the Florida Keys, the coastlines of the US offer a diversity of experiences. New England has a charming collection of quaint coastal towns, with whitewashed boarded homes and historic lighthouses perched on rocky outcrops to guide fishermen safely back to port. The seafood is spectacular, and best enjoyed on a sandy beach picnic or from one of the coastal crab shacks, gazing out at the incredible ocean views. And you can take to the water to spot humpback whales, finback whales and more.
Down south in the Sunshine State, lush landscapes meet two distinct coastlines. Take an unforgettable airboat tour across the Everglades, keeping watch for alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and lizards as you cruise the unique wetlands. On the Atlantic Coast, head to the elegant city of Fort Lauderdale for sprawling golden beaches, or go west to the Gulf of Mexico where secluded Marco Island is home to pelicans, turtles and manatees.
The stretch of shoreline long lionised in song and film is the California coast. Yes, you’ll find plenty of glamour in and around Los Angeles. But in the state’s central coastline region, you’ll find secluded beaches and sublime seafood in Monterey, surfing and windsurfing adventures in Ventura, and whale watching in Santa Cruz.
Rocky Mountain high
Fly into Denver, Colorado with British Airways, your gateway to the Rocky Mountains and some of the most spectacular natural scenery in North America. Sights range from sweeping sand dunes and windy plains to the Alluvial Fan Trail, testament to an ancient flood that deposited huge rocks and sediments in its wake. Grand Lake is the state’s largest natural lake, a snow-swept tundra of mesmerising vistas before you reach Grand Junction, and the Colorado National Monument, the ultimate picturesque destination with deep canyons, panoramic viewpoints and red rock columns. Black Canyon National Park is the place to experience scenery you’ll never forget, with a vertiginous ravine plunging into the depths of a rugged landscape.
It’s not just the Rockies that are calling. There are mountain adventures to be had across the whole country, including on the northeast coast. An easy road trip awaits, crossing rugged coastlines, dramatic gorges, spectacular waterfalls and beautiful mountains, from the Cadillac and Mahoosuc Mountains in Maine to New Hampshire’s White Mountains and Mount Mansfield in Vermont.
Meanwhile, Virginia and North Caroline also offer sensational scenery. Travel south-west from Washington DC to Shenandoah National Park before turning south for the Blue Ridge Highway, one of the country’s most beautiful drives. It is a route that takes in the sprawling expanse of Seneca Rocks, an Appalachian Mountains landmark rising 900 feet above the North Fork River and the subterranean wonder of Mammoth Cave National Park, a labyrinth of petroglyphs, stalactites and stalagmites.
Desert dreams
The US is home to some of the most incredible desert landscapes you can see anywhere. California’s Joshua Tree National Park is a stark expanse dotted with the eponymous twisted Joshua trees while the Mojave National Preserve offers an otherworldly experience, perfect for hiking.
From Las Vegas, it’s easy to cross from Nevada to Utah and experience the mesmerising canyons, beguiling desertscapes and starlit skies of this remote state. It takes just two hours to reach the beautiful desert wilderness of Zion National Park. Then it’s an even shorter journey to see the incredible red rock formations of Bryce Canyon, before travelling on to explore the natural arches and sandstone canyons of Capitol Reef National Park.
Another sensational southwestern road trip takes in Arizona’s most spectacular landscapes, starting from Phoenix, and including dormant volcanos and ancient lava flows at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff. Explore ancient cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument, and the Sonoran Desert, one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world.
Wildlife wonders
Take a drive to the wild side of the US, experiencing some unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Washington State has an abundant and diverse wildlife population. Aquatic life includes many marine mammals with resident populations of orca as well as migrating humpback and minke whales, plus seals and dolphins. Inland, black bears, elk, goats and bighorn sheep roam the mountains and thick forests while the bald eagles, snow geese and sandhill cranes soar overhead or nest in the crags.
Marvel at over 60 different species of mammals at Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first-ever national park, from grizzly bears and bison to grey wolves and buffalo. Or head to Big Bends National Park, in Texas, to spot black bears, bobcats, coyotes and Carmen white-tailed deer.
America’s landscapes are as diverse as they are magnificent. From glittering coast to glittering coast, across majestic mountains and dreamy deserts, a world of experiences awaits. Discover it all with British Airways Holidays.
When you book with British Airways Holidays
- All British Airways Holidays packages are Atol-protected, keeping you and your money safe.
- All package bookings include flexible payment options, with low deposits.
- All British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance, along with a 24 hour dedicated support helpline during your trip.
- British Airways Holidays offers a range of hotel options as well as the opportunity to hire a car with Avis.
- When you book flights and car hire together, all mandatory charges are included, and you’ll benefit from roadside assistance and 24-hour customer support. All hotels and car hire are committed to British Airways’ high safety standards.
Find out more and book your trip at ba.com/usa
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