THE US ROAD TRIPS DESTINATIONS
There’s nothing quite like the freedom of cruising along miles of open road, windows down, radio on – and with its epic landscapes, all-American towns and heritage-rich routes, the US seems to have been made for exactly that. Whether clients have four
weeks or four days, this colossal country has something to
suit.To point you and your clients in the right direction, we’ve picked six of the best across the board, offering value and flexibility as well as the chance to get up close and personal with a country whose sheer diversity never fails to stun.
1
WYOMING TO GRAND TETON From the rainbow- coloured, steaming
geysers of Yellowstone National Park to the dramatic peaks and mirror lakes of Grand Teton, cowboy-loving Wyoming is overflowing with riches, and there’s no better way to experience it all than on four wheels, at your own pace. Ranch Rider recommends
a seven-night self-drive from Denver, Colorado. Drivers will pitch up at Cheyenne, capital of Wyoming, where they’ll be able to visit the iconic Frontier Days Old West Museum – complete with rodeo exhibits and 19th- century wagons – before moving on to Thermopolis, home to the world’s biggest mineral hot springs, and once a favourite haunt for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. From there it’s
on to Cody for the renowned Cody Nite Rodeo – launched in 1938, it’s the world’s only nightly rodeo – followed by Yellowstone, Grand Teton and cowboy-centric Jackson Hole, where shootouts, rodeo and the ‘chuckwagon supper’ are everyday occurrences. Book it: A seven-night tailor- made self-drive with Ranch Rider starts at £735 per person, based on two sharing, including car hire and accommodation.
ranchrider.com
2
PACIFIC NORTHWEST Perched in the northwest corner of the US you’ll find Washington State,
where mountains, forests and waterways decorate vast, open spaces. It’s growing in popularity thanks to improved accessibility from the UK, according to David Pointer, senior product manager for the US at Western & Oriental. “The increase in direct flights
between London and Seattle is really opening the Pacific Northwest up to travellers,” he says. “With vibrant cities, dramatic national parks and a long coastline, this is a good region to recommend to travellers who’ve already ticked off better-known parts of the west and east coasts, and are looking for somewhere a little more off the beaten track.” Among the region’s highlights
are the Olympic National Park, home to a smattering of wild, untouched beaches; Oregon’s Pacific Coast, speckled with
traditional villages; and Crater Lake National Park’s ‘Rim Drive’, where caldera views surround you at every turn of the wheel. Western & Oriental’s self-drive trip packages them up with wine trails, stops in tax-free Portland and the town of Bend, a hub for outdoor adventure set beside lakes and peaks. Book it: The two-week trip with Western & Oriental costs from £3,135 per person including international flights, accommodation and car hire.
westernoriental.com
3
ORLANDO TO MIAMI For families seeking thrills, nothing quite beats Florida, but it’s not all
about the theme parks. For those wanting to combine adrenaline with cultural stops, suggest Funway Holidays’ 13-day Florida Sunshine Self-Drive Tour, which ranks among the operator’s top-selling self-drive routes. Clients will spend five nights in Orlando before carrying on to Naples and Miami, where they’ll be able to explore the likes of Fort Lauderdale and the Everglades from the freedom of their own vehicle. Finally, it’s on to Key West via Key Largo and the underwater John Pennekamp Marine State Park, to check out the island city’s vibrant coral reefs and pastel-coloured houses. Malcolm Davies, Funway’s
product destination manager, says: “All three destinations are big sellers. This route combines the variety of theme parks with
the trendy vibe of South Beach and Miami, and the drive down into the Keys is surrounded by beautiful scenery.” For those seeking the freedom
to go at their own pace, suggest a fly-drive holiday without a set itinerary. Tui offers flexible packages in the region with various vehicle upgrades available, including SUVs and convertibles, adding further appeal to a trip that’s all about the fun. Book it: Funway Holidays’ 13- day Florida Sunshine Self-Drive Tour starts at £1,269 per person including car hire, three-star accommodation (five nights in Orlando, four in Miami and five in Key West) and flights from Heathrow. Travel is based on two adults sharing, departing in 2018.
funway4agents.co.uk
4
ROUTE 66 All-American diners, empty roads and the extraordinary landscapes
of the wild, wild west? Route 66, spanning eight states and three time zones, rules the roost when it comes to iconic US road trips, and there’s nothing quite like exploring it all on the back of a motorbike. Travel 2 offers a 15-day trip enabling daredevils to do just that, taking them from the glitz of Chicago and its sprawling skyline all the way to Santa Monica and its iconic pier. Mark Henderson, senior
product and commercial manager for touring, says: “Stretching 2,400 miles from
23 November 2017
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