Given the ever-so-slightly negative reaction to Donald Trump's election victory, not to mention concerns that some nationalities will face difficulty just getting into the country after January 20, it's safe to say that many will want to make the most of the US before the 45th president takes office.

But where should visitors to America begin? No country seems more familiar than the US. In films and television, starring roles are played by famous sights, from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge. America’s popular music started with New Orleans jazz, then conquered the world. But there is much more. Natural attractions, such as the Grand Canyon, impress the most-seasoned travellers; the Superbowl typifies the macho sports scene. And ever since the Pilgrim Fathers landed in 1620, American and British history have been intertwined.

Presidents may change, but the ‘only in America’ experiences never do. Drive the romantic Blue Ridge Parkway; build sandcastles steps from the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight; ride in a Model T outside Detroit; touch a moon rock in Washington DC’s Air and Space Museum. Smell the sagebrush out West and the salty breezes in New England. Winter brings sunshine in Florida and fabulous skiing in the Rockies; spring is glorious; hot summers are perfect for beach holidays; fall’s warm days are grand for touring. Go as a couple; travel with friends; take the grand-parents; fly at half-term; hop over for a city break. Year-round, the US is ready to show you a good time.

Unless otherwise noted, all prices are per person (based on two sharing) including flights, car hire/transportation and accommodation. All dates for events and festivals are for 2017.

Natural attractions

1. The Grand Canyon, Arizona

Even blasé teenagers are impressed by Mother Nature’s handiwork: 18 miles wide, over one mile deep and 277 miles long. On a Tauck Bridges Red Rocks & Painted Canyons guided trip (0800 810 8020; tauck.co.uk), you stay right on the Grand Canyon rim and watch the sunrise; take a float trip on the Colorado River; fly over Rainbow Bridge National Monument; ride in Bryce Canyon with a cowboy. It’s action all the way for eight days. From £2,490 (adult), £2,360 (child under 12).

Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River Credit: aiisha - Fotolia

2. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Molten lava spilling down a mountainside; hiss and steam as it hits the sea; the smell of sulphur: the special effects in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park outdo any in the movies. See them on the Big Island of Hawaii with Trailfinders (020 7368 1200; trailfinders.com). Drive around the crater; look down from a helicopter (two-hour narrated flights, from £347). But there is more: tropical rainforest; coffee plantations; white, green and even black sand beaches. Eight days, from £1,699.

The spectacular Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Credit: hqphotography - Fotolia/hqphotography

• The best hotels in Honolulu

Hot springs at Yellowstone Credit: lorcel - Fotolia

3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The world’s first national park deserves more than a drive-through visit. So, immerse yourself in the wilderness on Grand American Adventures’ (0333 003 8245; grandamericanadventures.com) 12-day Yellowstone Wildlife Trails that also includes the Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks. On this active camping trip, hike and track wolves; spot bison and moose; see the Old Faithful geyser and hot springs; sleep under the stars. From £1,999, with most meals and travel in a small, luxury bus. Flights extra.

4. America’s giant, Alaska

Twice as big as France, Alaska is home to just 750,000 people. During summer’s long, long days, see brown and grizzly bears gorging on salmon in Katmai National Park. Take flightseeing trips to remote villages, the Arctic Circle and Wrangell-St Elias, the US’s largest national park. Go rafting, canoeing and climbing. In winter, go for the Northern Lights, snowmobiling and dog sledding. Windows on the Wild (020 8742 1556; windowsonthewild.com) has a 12-night Alaska Lodge fly-drive holiday from £3,655.

The Everglades Credit: Galyna Andrushko/Galyna Andrushko

5. The Everglades, Florida

The landscape of sawgrass prairies, mangroves and estuaries is deceptively subtle. But this important eco-system shelters exotic wildlife: roseate spoonbills, great egrets, pig frogs, alligators, dolphins and sea turtles. Most visitors drive in from Miami; the western entrance at Everglades City is quieter. Paddle a canoe, hike or take a naturalist-led boat tour. TravelPlanners (020 3542 8888; travelplanners.co.uk) has villas on Marco Island, 45 minutes away; 14 nights from £859, based on four adults, four children sharing.

America's icons

6. The National Mall, Washington DC

“America’s Front Yard” is a two-mile park between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Flanking it are the White House and a score of top-class art and history museums – where entry is free! Touch some moonrock at the National Air and Space Museum; see the original Star-Spangled Banner in the National Museum of American History. Spend a week in DC with My America Holiday (020 8003 6081; myamericaholiday.co.uk). From £1,181. car hire extra.

The Statue of Liberty has welcomed affluent cruise passengers and penniless immigrants since 1886 Credit: Fotolia



7. The Statue of Liberty, New York

Standing 150 feet tall, this copper statue at New York Harbor’s entrance has welcomed affluent cruise passengers and penniless immigrants since 1886. Get there with Statue Cruises, the official ferry: book well ahead to climb up to the crown. Continue on to Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum. Travelsphere (0800 987 5110; travelsphere.co.uk) offers five-day escorted city breaks from £999.

Mount Rushmore is 75 years old Credit: Copyright (2013) Joshua J. McDonough/Joshua J. McDonough

8. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Finished 75 years ago, this colossal sculpture features four presidents, who shaped America’s history: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers spent 14 years carving this mountain in South Dakota’s Black Hills. Get up close on a ranger-led walk; return for the Evening Lighting Ceremony. On Cruise America’s Cowboy Country itinerary, you have a motorhome for 13 days. From £320 per person, based on four sharing (01304 898 159; cruiseamerica.co.uk). Campsites, flights to Denver extra.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida Credit: Getty

9. Walt Disney World: Florida

There is always something new at Disney. Eagerly anticipated in 2017 is Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well a seven-hour Star Wars Guided Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On a 14-night Walt Disney Travel Company package (0800 169 0730; disneypackages.co.uk), you can do all the parks, both entertainment districts – and still have time to relax. Stay at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort; get round with Disney’s 14-Day Ultimate Ticket. From £993, based on two adults, two children (age 3-12) sharing.

Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California Credit: AP

10. Hollywood, California

In 1907, cameras rolled for the first time in sunny southern California; 1923 brought a giant HOLLYWOODLAND sign advertising real estate. Learn more on a day-long sightseeing tour that takes in Tinseltown highlights, from celebrities’ homes in Beverly Hills to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. This is one of the optional tours offered by North America Travel Service (0333 323 9099; northamericatravelservice.co.uk) that has seven-night holidays in Beverly Hills from £1,782.

Turning points in US history

11. America in the making, Massachusetts

Two of the most important dates in America’s story are 1620 and 1775. The first saw the Pilgrim Fathers land in Plymouth, south of Boston. See how they lived at the first-rate Plimoth Plantation living history museum. The second brought the opening shots of the American Revolution, in Lexington and Concord, west of Boston. The city itself balances culture, shopping and fun with history, especially along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail. British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0122; ba.com) has three-night breaks from £569. Car hire extra.

Philadelphia, the former US capital

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12. The birth of the US, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“When in the course of human events” and “We the People”: so start the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. See Independence Hall, where they were debated; the National Constitution Center explains American government then and now. But Philly has much more: 18th-19th century houses and locavore restaurants, great shopping and the outstanding Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation. A week’s fly-drive in and around Philadelphia costs from £999 with The Internet Traveller (020 7118 0070; theinternettraveller.com).

13. Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Only two hours from the nation’s capital, the Battle of Gettysburg (1863) was the turning point of the Civil War – and also the site of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address. The museums are moving; the battlefield is huge. A Specialist Battlefield Guide accompanies you on Leger Holidays’ (01709 787 466; visitbattlefields.co.uk) nine-day American Civil War coach tour that takes in other important sites, including Appomattox, where the surrender was signed in 1865. From £1,899.

JFK's funeral, following his assassination in Dallas

14. Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, Atlanta, Georgia

“I have a dream”: Dr King’s oratory inspired millions – black and white, at home and abroad. In his home town of Atlanta, you can learn about his life at the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site and then walk in his footsteps. Equally thought-provoking is the new Center for Civil and Human Rights, covering the struggles in America and around the world. Spend seven nights in Atlanta with My America Holiday (020 8003 6081; myamericaholiday.co.uk) from £829; car extra.

It's all about the jazz in New Orleans Credit: AP/FOTOLIA

15. President Kennedy’s assassination, Dallas, Texas

JFK and Lee Harvey Oswald, the Grassy Knoll and the anguish of a nation still resonate half a century after the November, 1963 assassination. In the former Texas School Book Depository, where the sniper hid, The Sixth Floor Museum explores the details, the conspiracy theories and Kennedy’s legacy. Titan Travel (0800 988 5873; titantravel.co.uk) has an escorted 13-day Texas Riches holiday that includes a tour of The Sixth Floor Museum. From £2,599.

16. Jazz and New Orleans, Louisiana

The birthplace of jazz? New Orleans – of course! Stroll along Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street; tap your feet at Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor or The Three Muses. There is live jazz in dozens of clubs, both in and outside the French Quarter. Explore the soul of the Deep South courtesy of The Telegraph's Exclusive Tour: The music of the Mississippi with Clare Teal and Jason Rebello. The 13-day trip departs 20 October 2018, from £4,995.

17. Blues, Country and Elvis, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois

America also gave the world rock ‘n’ roll, blues and country music. On Just America’s (01489 892 329; justamerica.co.uk) 14-day American Movie and Music self-drive tour, you can boogie on down in a string of destinations: Memphis, with Beale Street, Sun Studio and Graceland, Elvis Presley’s mansion; Nashville, with the Grand Ole Opry and Johnny Cash Museum; St Louis and Chicago, where jazz and blues clubs thrive. From 1,589.

Las Vegas: home to pool parties and pop concerts

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18. The Mountain Music Trail, West Virginia

Undiscovered, yet only three hours west of America’s capital, this 150-mile-long trail follows West Virginia’s Highway 219. In small towns, such as Thomas, Marlinton and Lewisburg, banjoists and fiddlers play “old-time music” harking back to Scottish and Irish settlers. America as You Like It’s (020 8742 8299; americaasyoulikeit.com) fly-drive holiday has three nights in Washington DC, three nights at the Brazenhead Inn in Mingo Village on the Mountain Music Trail. From £979.

• The best hotels in Washington, DC

19. Showbiz, Las Vegas, Nevada

Want to see the stars? Head for Vegas. From Rihanna and Britney to Elton John and Lionel Richie, the big names strut their stuff here. But the 30 or so live shows each night also feature tributes, such as The Beatles LOVE and Michael Jackson ONE, plus David Copperfield, medieval jousting and nudge-nudge burlesque. Virgin Holidays (0344 557 4321; virginholidays.co.uk) offers four-night breaks from £672; car hire extra.

Mountain scenery in Vail, Colorado Credit: Vail Resorts/Jack Affleck

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20. The City of Music Festivals, Newport, Rhode Island

Although known for its late 19th-century “money-no-object” Gilded Age mansions, this historic city is a must for music lovers during the summer festival season. First up is the Newport Music Festival (July 7-23), with classical concerts in palatial settings, such as The Breakers. Then come outdoor performances during the Folk Festival (July 28-30) and the Jazz Festival (August 4-6). Vacations to America (01582 469 777; vacationstoamerica.com) has six nights’ b&b in Newport from £2,195.

Hawaii is the world's surfing capital

The great outdoors

21. Hiking, Appalachian Trail

The world's longest marked hiking trail is the real star of the book and film, A Walk in the Woods. Crossing 14 states, its 2,160-mile length demands stamina – and time. Join a group and hike the New Hampshire portion on Grand American Adventures’ (0333 003 8245; grandamericanadventures.com) 11-day Appalachian Trail Hut to Hut backpacking holiday. Overnight in mountain cabins; professional guides, meals are included; glorious scenery guaranteed. You need to be fit. From £1,789; flights extra.

22. Riding on a dude ranch

City folk (dudes) started taking ranching holidays 135 years ago – and they still go out West to swing into the saddle and ride the range. Today’s ranches vary from luxury resorts to simpler working cattle ranches. For a typical dude ranch, suited to both beginners and experienced riders, American Roundup (01798 865 946; americanroundup.com) offers a week at the 4D Longhorn Ranch in Idaho from £2,267, including all meals, riding.

Chicago's soaring skyline Credit: Tetra Images / Alamy

23. Snowboarding, Colorado

In 1977, Jake Burton was in Vermont, perfecting what he dubbed a snowboard. Some thought it weird, others wonderful, but by 1998, it was an Olympic sport. Today, the Burton US Open attracts the world’s best riders to Vail, Colorado, which scores both for size and an annual snowfall of 366 inches. Go for a week with Crystal Ski Holidays (020 8939 0726; crystalski.co.uk). From £1,132, based on four sharing.

24. Sailing in Maine

Saltwater has long flowed in the blood of New Englanders – especially in Maine. Harbours are home to dinghies, yachts and lobster boats. But the beauty queens are windjammers, or schooners. They cruise along the rocky coastline and drop anchor in hidden coves for clambakes. Guests can help raise the sails or relax with a beer. The Maine Windjammer Association (sailmainecoast.com) features nine vessels, carrying 16-40 guests. Four-night cruises from about £500, including meals; flights, transport extra.

25. Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing

Captain Cook saw Polynesians surfing in 1779 and E he’enalu kakou still means “surf’s up!” in the Hawaiian Islands. As part of a week’s holiday on Oahu, Audley Travel (01993 838 755; audleytravel.com) suggests learning to surf on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach. Sign up with one of the local surf schools; the rollers in this protected bay provide long smooth rides, with no awkward undertows. From £2,260; lessons are extra.

• The best hotels in Oahu

Changing the world

26. The first flight, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

The towering, wind-swept dunes of the Outer Banks were perfect for take-off; the sand provided a soft landing for the world’s first powered flights in 1903. Learn more at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where granite markers plot the distances, including the final 852-ft flight that lasted 59 seconds. Try hang gliding nearby in Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Or laze in the sun. Spend a week on the beach in Kitty Hawk with Travelbag (020 7001 4112; travelbag.co.uk). From From £989.

The Superbowl is America's biggest sporting event Credit: 2016 Getty Images/Al Bello

27. Skyscrapers of Chicago, Illinois

Influential architects, such as Mies van der Rohe, shaped the skyline of this lakeside city. From 1974 to 1998, the 1451-ft Willis Tower (formerly the Sears) was the world’s tallest building. Discover more on a Chicago Architecture Foundation tour; go on foot, trolley, bus – or, most fun – a river-boat. Then see Frank Lloyd Wright’s home/studio in the suburb of Oak Park. Start and finish in Chicago on a Complete North America (0115 9610590; completenorthamerica.com) 14-night Great Lakes Experience fly-drive holiday. From £2,899.

28. Edison’s winter home and laboratory, Fort Myers, Florida

The light bulb, phonograph, dictaphone, telephone and ticker tape machine: Thomas Edison may not have invented them, but he perfected the design and patented his version. Understand his genius by seeing his laboratory in Fort Myers. A week at nearby South Seas Island Resort with Vacations to America (01582 469 777; vacationstoamerica.com) costs from £1,275, based on four sharing.

The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia Credit: Andrew Redington

29. Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan

With his affordable, production-line cars, Henry Ford changed the future. But his enormous collection of Americana helped preserve the past. In the museum and adjacent Greenfield Village are everything from comic books to the courthouse, where Abraham Lincoln practised law. From here, a bus takes you to the high-tech Ford Rouge truck plant. On North America Travel Service’s (0333 323 9099; northamericatravelservice.co.uk) eight-day escorted motor coach tours of Michigan, a ride in a Model T Ford is included. From £2,880.

Danny Willett at Augusta this year Credit: AFP

30. The Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Fancy being an astronaut? Test your nerves on the Shuttle Launch Experience at KSC. An hour east of Orlando, this is the home of NASA’s space launches. Buy a multi-day pass to appreciate everything on offer: IMAX views of Earth from space; the Launch Control Center; the Saturn V rocket that propelled men to the moon; the new Heroes & Legends experience; meeting a real NASA astronaut! Signature from Thomas Cook (0844 412 5970; thomascook.com) has seven nights in nearby Cocoa Beach from £779. Car hire extra.

Sporting events

31. The Kentucky Derby, Louisville

Nicknamed the “Run for the Roses” or the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, the Blue Riband of American thoroughbred racing dates back to 1875. Run in early May, this 1¼ mile flat race combines the excitement of Epsom with the fashions of Ascot. On Bon Voyage’s (0800 316 0194; bon-voyage.co.uk) five-day Kentucky Derby extravaganza, you get VIP treatment and watch from the exclusive Stakes Room Balcony overlooking the finish line. From £7,465.

32. The Superbowl

In 2017, Houston, Texas hosts the planet’s biggest sporting hoopla: a pop star belting out the National Anthem; glitzy half-time entertainment; battering-ram action on the gridiron. Complete North America (0115 961 0590; completenorthamerica.com) has packages, including tickets, to the 2017 Superbowl from £5,450.

A beach on the Big Sur coast

33. Indy 500, Indianapolis, Indiana

From “Drivers, start your engines” to the winner’s bottle of milk, some 300,000 fans cheer this 500-mile-long endurance test. Be there for the 101st running of America’s most-watched motor race on May 28, 2017, as the noisy, purpose-built Indy cars zoom round the 2 ½ mile oval track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Grandstand Motor Sports’ (0116 231 1222; grandstandmotorsports.co.uk) five-day package includes museum and stadium tours, plus an optional “meet a driver” cocktail party. From £1,999.

34. The Masters, Augusta, Georgia

When Britain’s Danny Willett donned the green jacket, he joined an exclusive group: winners of The Masters. The only major championship played on the same course every year, it is held at the Augusta National Golf Club, two hours from Atlanta. The azaleas, dogwood and magnolias provide the backdrop; the players provide the drama. Your Golf Travel (0800 043 6644; yourgolftravel.com) has packages with ticket options for April 3-9, 2017 from £2,799. Your souvenir is an official “Masters Spectator” chair.

35. World’s biggest outdoor rodeo, Cheyenne, Wyoming

For a taste of all things Western, nothing beats Cheyenne Frontier Days. This is not showbiz: ranching skills, such as steer roping and wrestling are competitive events, while the bull riding decides the professionals’ world championship. From July 21 to 30, you can smell the leather, talk to Native Americans and listen to rock concerts. With Experience Holidays (01323 446550; experienceholidays.co.uk), two weeks in Wyoming includes this jamboree. From £3,185.

Cape Cod is a great place to do nothing at all Credit: Chee-Onn Leong - Fotolia

Great journeys

36. Route 66, Illinois to California

Route 66 is no longer an official highway, but it continues to loom large in the American psyche. You can still follow the original road, with its diners and gas stations – but driving the entire 2,448 miles takes weeks. So, Bon Voyage (0800 316 0194; bon-voyage.co.uk) has a new holiday, called ‘Route 33’, that covers half the Mother Road. Start in Oklahoma City and 11 nights later, you are gazing over the Pacific in Santa Monica. From £1,795.

• The best hotels in Santa Monica

Point Dume in Malibu, California Credit: AP

37. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

Winding through the Appalachian Mountains, this 469-mile route is beautiful – and also relaxing, because the speed limit is only 45mph. On Audley Travel’s (01993 838 755; audleytravel.com) 14-day self-drive Blue Ridge & Great Smoky Mountains holiday, you have time to explore pretty Charlottesville, see Monticello (President Thomas Jefferson’s home), tour the castle-like Biltmore Estate and walk in national parks. Fly in to Washington DC and out of Atlanta; from £2,395.

A historic home in Charleston

38. Big Sur Coast Highway, California

What could be cooler than riding a motorcycle along California Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco? The most scenic stretch is Big Sur Coast Highway, the 90 miles between Carmel and San Simeon. See waves thumping against the cliffs below, perhaps migrating whales, even lumbering elephant seals. Harley Davidson specialist Orange & Black (01256 771770; orange-and-black.co.uk) offers 12-day motorcycle trips in California from £2,025.

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39. Route 100 in the fall, Vermont

When Vermont Living magazine extolled the beauty of autumn in Vermont 70 years ago, a regional delight became a national – and then international – must-see. To appreciate what all the fuss is about, drive Route 100 through villages, such as Londonderry, Weston, Stockbridge and Stowe. On an eight-day New England Back Roads fly-drive with Discover North America (0800 246 1241; discovernorthamerica.co.uk), you pass white-spired churches, clapboard homes, red barns and a gazillion trees with gold, scarlet and orange leaves. From £850.

40. Ride the rails from Chicago to Seattle

Why drive, when you can travel by train, with views through panoramic windows along the way? AMTRAK, America’s national railway, offers scenic runs, including the Empire Builder linking Chicago with Seattle and San Francisco. En route is Montana’s Glacier National Park, with its craggy peaks, emerald green lakes and abundant wildlife. Sightsee and spend three nights at Glacier Park Lodge on Railbookers’ (020 3327 0800; railbookers.com) Great American West with Glacier National Park holiday. 13 nights from £3,399, including selected meals and sightseeing.

• The best hotels in Chicago

Golden Gate Bridge Credit: Stefano Politi Markovina/ AWL Images Ltd/SPM

Life in the slow lane

41. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Summer hols as they used to be: buckets and spades, sailing, cycling – and doing nothing at all. Rent a house and settle in; explore the 60-mile long peninsula, where villages founded in the 1630s include Barnstable, Sandwich and Yarmouth. New England summers are hot – perfect for slouching on sandy beaches. Purely New England (0844 80 444 80; purelynewengland.co.uk) has seven nights in a three-bedroom cottage from £899, based on six sharing.

42. America’s best beach, Caladesi Island, Florida

Florida’s Gulf Coast has glorious beaches, but none can better Caladesi’s white sands. Totally natural and preserved as a State Park, this island can be reached only by boat. Take the ferry from neighbouring Honeymoon Island; swim, fish, look for shells and rent a kayak to paddle through the mangroves. Stay at the nearby Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort with British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0122; ba.com); seven nights from £1,049. Car hire extra.

43. California Dreamin’ in Malibu

Half an hour from Los Angeles, Malibu epitomises West Coast lifestyle. Families love safe beaches, such as Zuma and Las Tunas; Malibu Surfrider is a designated surfing reserve, thanks to its “perfect waves”. As well as 21 miles of sandy shoreline, the ‘Bu also has movie star homes, fishing piers and world-class art at the Getty Museum. Stay at the glam Malibu Beach Inn on Billionaire’s Beach with America As You Like It (020 8742 8299; americaasyoulikeit.com). One week from £2,590.

44. Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia

Vying to be the belle of the Southern ball, these cities are just two hours apart. Both have brick pavements, trees draped with Spanish moss and gorgeous historic homes. The first shot of the Civil War was fired at Charleston’s Fort Sumter. Quieter and smaller, Savannah retains its beautiful old garden squares. See both cities – and much more – on American Sky’s (01342 886 762; americansky.co.uk) 12-night Gone with the Windescorted tour. From £1,829.

45. America’s urban beach, Miami

At the southern tip of the Miami Beach barrier island is funky South Beach. Wannabe models parade along Ocean Drive; clubs on Collins Avenue rock till dawn; the beach itself is broad and sandy. With Hayes and Jarvis (01293 762 456; hayesandjarvis.co.uk), you can have a week at the Albion Hotel, a five-minute walk from the beach. From £1,270; car hire extra.

America in the movies

46. The Empire State Building, New York City

From King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle, the 1,454-ft skyscraper has starred in films galore. Get tickets on line; avoid queues by going at 8am or buying a VIP Express Experience pass. For romance, arrive after 10pm, when a saxophonist plays till late on the 86th Floor. New is the Premium Experience, a 90-minute guided tour of the building, from the Art Deco lobby to the 102nd floor Observatory ($175). Trailfinders (020 7368 1200; trailfinders.com) has three-night Big Apple breaks from £549.

47. Fly-fishing in Montana

The 1992 film, A River Runs Through It, made fly-fishing trendy. But was it Brad Pitt’s casting or the Montana scenery that sparked the interest? The angling scenes were filmed mainly on the Gallatin River, but brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout thrive in other streams in Southwest Montana and neighbouring Wyoming and Idaho. Go Fishing Worldwide (020 8742 1556; gofishingworldwide.co.uk) has seven-night holidays, including four days with a guide, from £2,237.

48. Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Fans of Easy Rider will recognise Taos Pueblo village. The historic adobe dwellings of this World Heritage Site have been home to Native Americans for 1,000 years – and they still are. As for the town of Taos, that also added atmosphere to the road-trip film. Today, it charms with Spanish Colonial houses and a Bohemian mix of artists and musicians. See both on HF Holidays’ (0345 470 8558; hfholidays.co.uk) 13-night guided walking holiday in New Mexico and Colorado. From £3,689.

49. San Francisco, California

When it comes to car chases, Steve McQueen set the gold standard in Bullitt (1968). Film buffs also track down locations for Vertigo, Mrs Doubtfire, Birdman of Alcatraz and more. But everyone wants to ride the cable cars on the ridiculously steep streets, walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, cruise out to the old Alcatraz prison and explore Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury, the hippy haunt. Just America (01489 892 329; justamerica.co.uk) has seven nights’ b&b in San Francisco from £1,164. Includes San Francisco City Pass; car hire extra.

50. Oregon and Washington

The success of the first Twilight fantasy in 2008 put the spotlight on the Pacific Northwest. For aficionados, musts include Indian Beach and the village of Cannon Beach in Oregon, plus the “real” town of Forks on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. But there is more: laid-back Portland; photogenic Crater Lake; bustling Seattle; the terrific wine and food scene. Do it all on 1st Class Holidays’ (0161 888 5607; 1stclassholidays.com) 17-day Pacific Northwest self-drive tour. From £1,777; flights extra.

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