Visit USA Travel Planner 2025 Intro

VISIT USA 2025 TRAVEL PLANNER

Create your USA experience

WOW MOMENTS

Take it to the edge, literally, leaning out over Edge , 100 storeys up the highest outdoor platform in New York City. Scale the outside of the 30 Hudson Yards skyscraper with City Climb.

Watch a breathtaking sunrise or sunset reflect in the waters and swamps of Florida’s Everglades during an airboat tour.

HIGH POINTS Whether it is jaw-dropping scenery or adrenaline-fuelled experiences, the U.S. delivers endless unforgettable holiday moments

EDGE PETER ELLEGARD

EVERGLADES NPS/G GARDNER

Feel the heat at the lowest point of the Western Hemisphere, Badwater Basin in Death Valley , near the border of California and Nevada, where the temperature has topped a scorching 56C.

Look up in awe at California’s Yosemite Falls as the water cascades 2,425 feet down one of the world’s highest waterfalls.

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WOW MOMENTS

Venture underground to tour the world’s longest known cave system. Discover a whole other world of stalactites, stalagmites, vast caverns and subterranean rivers at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.

Witness the sky fill with more than 550 hot-air balloons at New Mexico’s colourful annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

KENTUCKY TOURISM

NEW MEXICO TRUE

Take a leap of faith from a light aircraft flying more than 13,000 feet above central Florida on a tandem skydive .

JUNO KIM/JODY OVERSTREET

See the Northern Lights dance with myriad colours in the skies over Alaska.

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MUSICAL HERITAGE

KNOW THE SCORE Jazz, Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Bluegrass and Country, the U.S. hits all the right notes for music lovers

Discover the roots of the U.S.'s musical genres or pay homage to some of its legendary stars. ALL THAT JAZZ Jazz is everywhere in New Orleans' French Quarter. Enjoy free music in the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and watch virtuoso performances at Preservation Hall. Other popular spots include the Spotted Cat Music Club and Maison Bourbon. At the New Orleans Jazz Museum, see interactive exhibitions and catch top jazz musicians. ROCK ON Go on a rock ‘n’ roll homage to Graceland, the Memphis home of Elvis Presley, or to the

Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame or the clubs of Beale Street, world famous as the “Home of the Blues”. Also consider the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture and Paisley Park, Minneapolis, Prince’s one-time home and studio. MUSIC CITY Bristol, Virginia, is the official birthplace of country music, however, the home of country music today is Nashville, aka Music City. Notable venues include the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, the Johnny Cash Museum and the Historic RCA Studio that made Elvis famous, while live music permeates Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway, Broadway. The National Museum of

American Music celebrates the many music genres created by African Americans. YOU GOTTA HAVE SOUL The “Godfather of Soul”, James Brown, was born in Augusta, Georgia, and is celebrated there in museums, theatres, events and on tours of his old haunts hosted by family members. Detroit’s Motown Museum showcases stars of the Hitsville USA label, such as Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Philadelphia’s Sigma Studios, where the Philly Sound originated, is listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. BLUE BLUEGRASS For bluegrass music lovers, Kentucky is the holy grail. Owensboro is the home of the

Austin is called the “Live Music Capital of the World” but Seattle, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles also pulsate with live sounds

PETER ELLEGARD

MEMPHIS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

TENNESSEE TOURISM.

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PETER ELLEGARD

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum while Rosin is where the “Father of Bluegrass”, Bill Monroe, grew up. A two-year exhibition dedicated to one of the genre’s most famous exponents, the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, opened in May 2024. Branson, Missouri, is another bluegrass hotspot.

Justin Fox Burks

COUNTRY ROADS The Mississippi Country Music Trail includes Elvis Presley’s birthplace and childhood home in Tupelo. Virginia’s 300-mile Crooked Road takes in Bristol, where a museum highlights country music’s beginnings. Also drive the Rhythm and Routes Oklahoma Music Trail.

PICTURED Main image: Honky-tonk bars on Lower Broadway, Nashville. The district is famous for the numerous country music entertainment establishments. Above: All that Jazz in New Orleans; Below: Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, is now the singer's much-visited home and final resting place; The Motown Museum in Detroit; Blues Hall of Fame, Memphis

The BB King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi, now features a 1978 Rolls-Royce and a 1984 Chevrolet the Delta Blues guitarist owned

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NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS

NATURAL RESOURCES Waterfalls, geysers, volcanoes, glaciers, colourful corals, wild horses and herds of bison – America’s national and state parks are as diverse as they are distinctive

America's protected lands include 429 National Park sites and over 10,336 State Park sites. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING, MONTANA AND IDAHO The world’s first national park was created in 1872 and spans 2.2 million acres, mostly in Wyoming. It has more than 10,000 hydrothermal features and of those, over 500 are geysers, Old Faithful being its most famous. Yellowstone is also home to wildlife such as bison, elk, bears and wolves. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, HAWAII Hawaii Volcanoes National Park covers NPS/TIM RAINS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

about 523 square miles of the Big Island, almost the size of sister island Oahu. Its two volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa, are two of the world’s most active. The park rises to 13,680 feet, taking in six climate zones. Among popular sights is Halemaumau Crater, on Kilauea, while visitors can also see rugged lava fields, rainforest flora and fauna, lava tubes and craters, ash-covered deserts and alpine tundra. WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK, NEW YORK A two-mile hike along paths and up 800 stone steps takes visitors through narrow, steep-sided gorges deep into this natural wonder in the Finger Lakes region. The entrance to the park is located on Main

Street in Watkins Glen. Along the way, a series of waterfalls tumble over cliffs and ledges, collecting in deep pools below. Some of the paths pass behind waterfalls to give a unique perspective of them. The Gorge Trail is open from May to November.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA

Explore the park's craggy mountain scenery, glaciers, alpine meadows, forests, lakes and abundant wildlife on scenic roads including the spectacular, 52-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road or by hiking some its 734 miles of trails. Or take an interpretive Red Bus Tour on vehicles dating back to the 1930s. Stay in the park in a backcountry chalet or the historic Many Glacier Hotel.

Close to Anchorage, Chugach State Park claims Alaska’s most frequently-climbed mountain, more than 60 glaciers and hiking trailheads

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NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS

STEVE HARTRIDGE

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA A World Heritage Site regarded as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon never fails to leave you in awe, whether you’re a first-time or repeat visitor. From viewing points on the South Rim or the less-visited North, look down the gaping, multi-coloured chasm to the Colorado River a mile below. The adventurous can hike or take a mule ride

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA The lakes and rolling grasslands of this 71,000-acre reserve in the Black Hills can be explored by car, bike or on foot. It is home to almost 1,400 American bison, which roam freely and can often be seen along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road, where the Custer State Park Bison Centre is located.

down to the bottom and go rafting or tubing on the Colorado river. VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK, NEVADA Nevada’s first state park, created in 1935, is just an hour’s drive from Las Vegas. Its name derives from the fiery red sandstone rock formations, which glow even brighter at sunrise and sunset. Highlights include Elephant Rock, Arch Rock and Fire

JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK, FLORIDA America’s first undersea park (1960) forms part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. View the colourful corals on a glass-bottom boat or by snorkelling or diving.

Wave, while hiking trails go past other formations and to the prehistoric carved petroglyphs of Atlatl Rock. Stop off at the visitor centre to see exhibits about its geology, ecology and history.

PICTURED Main image: Sunset at Mather Point, Grand Canyon. Above: A waterfall in Watkins Glen State Park, in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Below: Grinnell Glacier is a remnant of the last ice age in Glacier National Park, Montana; Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park; Christ of the Abyss in Pennekamp State Park, Key Largo, Florida. The top of the statue is just ten feet from the surface, making it popular among snorkellers.

Maryland’s Assateague State Park is a barrier island famous for the wild horses frequently seen on its beaches and in its marshes

PETER W. CROSS

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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SPACE TRAVEL

KENNEDYSPACECENTER.COM

OUT OF THIS WORLD

KENNEDY SPACE CENTRE, TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA From Project Mercury to the Space Shuttle Programme, see where American astronauts are remembered in the U.S. Astronuat Hall of Fame. Meet an astronaut during a live theatre presentation, walk among giants to see rockets, and experience the Apollo Moon landings through various interactive exhibits.

KENNEDYSPACECENTER.COM

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

SPACE CENTRE HOUSTON, TEXAS The Gateway Habitat, a training mock-up of a lunar-orbiting space station module built as part of NASA’s Artemis programme, is the newest exhibit at the Smithsonian affiliate facility. Visitors can gain a glimpse of life orbiting the Moon, experiencing a day in the life of operations in the habitat.

NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, DC/VIRGINIA Washington’s Smithsonian institution is nearing completion of a major renovation that began in 2018. Eight galleries opened in 2022, including Destination Moon, and the remaining 15 will open between spring 2025 and late 2026. Exhibits at the Udvar-Hazy Centre in Chantilly, Virginia, include the Space Shuttle Discovery.

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTRE

COSMOSPHERE, HUTCHINSON, KANSAS

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTRE, MARYLAND NASA’s premier space research complex was where the James Webb Telescope, the largest, most powerful and most complex telescope ever launched into space, was built. Visitors learn about the telescope on a 3D interactive tour. An immersive exhibit reveals how the Sun affects everything in the solar system.

COSMOSPHERE, HUTCHINSON, KANSAS Called “the greatest space museum on planet Earth” by NASA’s Artemis II mission crew, the renovated Hall of Space Museum tells the story of space exploration from the World War II German rocket design that evolved to power the Apollo 11 moon landing mission. In the CosmoKids area, learn how to build a rocket.

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BE INSPIRED

New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, offers natural beauty, rich culture, adventure, and vibrant events True Adventures New Mexico

N ew Mexico is a road tripper's dream, offering scenic byways and iconic routes that lead to unique destinations. Drive along Route 66 for a nostalgic journey through neon-lit motels, vintage diners and quirky roadside attractions or take to the Turquoise Trail, connecting Albuquerque with Santa Fe, winding through charming mining towns and breathtaking landscapes. For something a little different, the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway near Taos offers mountain vistas, alpine meadows, and historic villages. No matter your path, every road in New Mexico reveals the charm and character of this fascinating state. Nature at Its Finest New Mexico’s diverse landscapes beckon adventurers of all kinds. White Sands National Park captivates visitors with its waves of glistening gypsum dunes, while the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area

presents surreal, otherworldly landscapes that offer a unique and unforgettable adventure. For those seeking thrills, Taos Ski Valley delivers world-class skiing in the winter and mountain biking trails in the summer. The Rio Grande offers kayaking and rafting adventures, and the Gila Wilderness invites you to explore rugged trails and ancient cliff

dwellings. With pristine skies, New Mexico is also a premier destination for stargazing, offering unforgettable nights under the stars.

Festivals to Ignite Your Imagination

“New Mexico is a road tripper's dream, with its scenic byways and iconic routes. Every road reveals the charm and character of this unique state"

New Mexico's vibrant calendar of events celebrates its rich culture and creativity. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the world's largest hot air balloon event, paints the skies with a dazzling array of colours each October. Santa Fe hosts the Indian Market, a showcase of Native American art, and the International Folk Art Market, drawing artists and collectors from around the globe. The Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta celebrates the pairing of world-class wines and New Mexico’s flavourful cuisine in a vibrant setting. These events, steeped in tradition and innovation, make any visit to New Mexico unforgettable.

BE INSPIRED, VISIT NEWMEXICO.ORG

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