Experience America Westbound

Day 1: New York

Welcome to the USA! 

Day 2: Finger Lakes Region

There will be an important welcome meeting at 8am this morning. Meet in the hotel reception/lobby. We'll be collecting your insurance details, kitty and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader. Travel 350 km to the lush countryside of the Finger Lakes (approx 4 hrs). The Finger Lakes are a chain of seven lakes, each long and narrow in shape and orientated north-south. They contain some of the deepest lakes in the US. As well as its picturesque beauty, the Finger Lakes district is also known for its wine production. 

Day 3: Niagara Falls

It's a relatively short drive to Niagara Falls (260 km, approx 3 hrs). As one of the most well-known waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is a truly majestic sight not to be missed. There are numerous viewpoints at which we can appreciate the pure power of this amazing set of falls. There's no better way to get a feel for their true immensity than to approach them from the water. So after donning raincoats, head straight up to the falls at the Horseshoe Basin on the thrilling 'Maid of the Mist' boat ride. 

Day 4: Lake Erie

Our path leads us 510 km west along Lake Erie (approx 6 hrs). Lake Erie is one of America's Great Lakes. This chain of freshwater lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, and their combined surface area is almost the same size as the United Kingdom. There's an option to stop in Cleveland and visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Days 5-6: Chicago

Drive 400 km on Highway 94 to reach Chicago. Chicago is the 'City of Skyscrapers'. Located on Lake Michigan, it's also known as the friendly city. Locals are more than happy to tell you about their favourite restaurant or cafe, or perhaps which music club plays the most authentic blues music. With more than 45 km of lake front paths, Chicago is also one of the world's most walkable cities. 

Day 7: Milwaukee/Madison

Travel 150 km north along Lake Michigan to Milwaukee (approx 2 hrs). Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin. The population of this cosmopolitan city is composed of people from more than 30 European countries. Famous for its brewing industry, Milwaukee was also the setting for the sitcom Happy Days. Drive on to Madison (130 km, approx 1.5 hrs). Madison is the capital of Wisconsin. A city framed by four lakes, Madison is known as one of America's safest and most liveable cities. Cross the Mississippi and travel on to Winona (270 km, approx 3 hrs). 

Days 8-9: Badlands National Park

Follow Highway 90 across the Great American Prairie. Total distance covered will be just over 900 kms over two days to reach Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Badlands National Park is a highly impressive moon-like landscape, full of bizarre cliff sculptures, making a welcome change from the flat grasslands of the prairie. We'll take several scenic short walks to take in the wonderful scenery. Keep your eye out for the prairie dogs, buffalo and pronghorns along the way. Stay at a ranch within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Badlands National Park. Try some horse riding with an experienced wrangler. 

Days 10-11: Mount Rushmore/Custer State Park

Drive to Custer State Park, with a visit to Mt Rushmore en route (410 km, some of which is slow in places). Get some great photos on a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, an American icon with its giant sculpture of four eminent American presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln - carved into the cliff. Each head is approximately 20 m high. Explore Custer State Park, named for General Custer whose infamous 'Last Stand' ended in defeat by the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne Indians led by Sitting Bull. Custer State Park is home to the world's largest free-roaming bison herds (about 1,500). 

Day 12: Devils Tower National Monument

Travel between Custer State Park and Devil's Tower National Monument with a few stops along the way (200 km). See the Crazy Horse Memorial - Mount Rushmore's Indian counterpart - where the image of the 19th-century Lakota Indian Chief is being carved into the Black Hills as the centrepiece of the Indian Museum of North America. Visit the gold mining town of Deadwood to recapture the old days of the gold rush. Walk in the footsteps of legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock as you discover Deadwood's Wild West ways. Devil's Tower is an iconic monolith formed through volcanic intrusion, which was featured in the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. Hiking around the tower provides us with great scenery and an opportunity to spot wildlife. 

Day 13: Cody

Journey west to Cody (480 km). The famous cowboy town of Cody was named after Buffalo Bill Cody, a legend of the old west. You can visit the Old Trail Town, which features 26 buildings that date from 1879 to 1901, over a hundred horse-drawn vehicles, plus an extensive collection of Native American artefacts and memorabilia of the Wyoming frontier. Cody is also known as the 'Rodeo Capital of the World' with the only seven-nights-a-week rodeo in the country. From June through August, the Nite Rodeo features professional and novice cowboys and cowgirls competing under the lights set against the picturesque backdrop of Heart Mountain. 

Days 14-15: Yellowstone National Park

Drive to Yellowstone National Park (210 km). America's first national park and largest thermal basin, Yellowstone represents one of the earth's thinnest surfaces, which in turn has created a fantastic world of bubbling geysers ('Old Faithful'), sulphuric springs and colourful paintpots (boiling mud). 

Days 16-17: Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole

Travel 200 km south to Grand Teton National Park. With its awe-inspiring mountain range, lakes and incredible wildlife, Grand Teton National Park is perfect for a hike to a picturesque picnic spot. Hire a ferry on the beautiful Jenny Lake or hike into the stunning Teton Range. Keep a lookout for wildlife in the area including Teton's most famous resident - the moose. Make the short journey to Jackson Hole (70 km). Home to rodeos and real country nightlife, Jackson Hole offers mountain biking, hiking and rafting trips on Snake River. 

Day 18: Salt Lake City

Pass through villages named Geneva, Montpelier, Bern and Paris before stopping to enjoy the turquoise waters of Bear Lake. Then continue on to Salt Lake City (440 km, which will take most of the day with our various stops). Founded by the Mormons as a religious centre in 1847, Salt Lake City is today the centre of the Mormon State. You can visit the historic Temple Square area among other city sights. 

Day 19: Lake Tahoe

Hold on to your hats as we head west on Highway 80 to Reno. Our route, taking in more than 800 km, leads us to the Great Salt Flats, a huge salt desert with spectacular scenery. You'll be surprised at the size and emptiness of this part of America. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Reno is known as the 'little sister' of Las Vegas. You can walk the colourful streets and soak in this unique western casino city. From Reno, drive 100 km to Lake Tahoe (approx 1.5 hrs). Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the US. Its waters shimmer in hues of blue and green and its shoreline offers white sand beaches next to quiet pine forests. You can enjoy swimming, watersports, hikes and casinos, which are located on the Nevada side. 

Days 20-21: Yosemite National Park

Drive to Yosemite National Park (315 km, approx 4.5 hrs) One of the most famous parks in the USA, Yosemite National Park's colossal granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls and redwood trees attract visitors from all over the world. There are plenty of hikes on offer in Yosemite, each varying in steepness and difficulty. Hike under the cooling breezes of Nevada Falls (4-5 hours) or to the serenity of Mirror Lake (45 minutes). For the more active, there's a challenging 29 km round-trip hike to the top of Half Dome, where the reward is an breathtaking view of the entire valley below. And keep an eye out for squirrels, and perhaps even a bear, along the way. There are also non-hiking activities such as visiting the park's museum, photo gallery, shops, restaurants and just walking the trails on the valley floor. In the heat of summer, a relaxing float down the Merced River followed by a few drinks at the park's cafe is just the trick. 

Day 22: San Francisco

Leave Yosemite behind and drive 240 km (about 3.5 hrs) west towards San Francisco - the 'City by the Bay'. San Francisco is a chilled out city with a vibrant, multicultural heart. You can catch a tram to visit the waterfront, feast like a king in Chinatown or peruse zany artwork in SoMa.