In a country with as much variety as America, it is inevitable that some segments remain under the radar. You could spend months exploring the US, which is more like a continent than a country, and still have a lot more to discover.
The diversity is endless: there are cities with skyscrapers and small towns with a single traffic light; sugar white sand and stark rocky coastlines; tangled swamps and lakes like oceans; peaks and valleys; deserts and glaciers.
Some destinations may be overlooked because they are in the most remote corners of the country. Others just haven't had their moment in the sun.
From history-rich parts of Appalachia to unusual wine regions in the Pacific Northwest, we reveal five American vacations you may not have considered, but should.
West Virginia
Despite John Denver's insistence that West Virginia is "almost heaven", it is sinfully overlooked by British holidaymakers. That's a shame, as it packs a punch for history and outdoor adventure enthusiasts alike.
Start in the state's far east, where Harpers Ferry National Historical Park unfolds at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Guides provide an introduction to American history-from key Civil War battles to local campaigns of abolitionist John Brown-while the historic district preserves an array of charming 19th-century buildings.
West Virginia is called the Mountain State for a reason: the Appalachian Range stretches across the entire state, from Harpers Ferry to the New River Gorge, which remains the country's newest national park. The spot is best known for its world-class river rafting, with class IV rapids offering a watery rollercoaster ride. If you're up for a vertigo, make time for Bridge Walk. You get dressed and wander across the walkway under the New River Gorge Bridge, which rises 800 feet above the water.
How to get there
You can fly with Virgin (virginatlantic.com) from London Heathrow to Washington DC from £628 return. Car rentals are available at Dulles International Airport.
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Where to stay
The Light Horse Inn (+1 877 468 4236; lighthorseinn.com), built around 1770, is the ideal place to get a taste of Appalachia, with its quaint rooms and bar where old-time music jams are held. B&B private suites cost from £140 per night.
When to go
Visit in the fall, when the Appalachians are ablaze with fall colors and on Bridge Day (the third Saturday in October) BASE jumpers dive off the New River Gorge Bridge.
Back to indexSouthern Oregon
Few states are more topographically diverse than Oregon, which unfolds in a puzzle of mountains, maritime forest, lava beds and high desert. Most British travelers focus on Portland and the coast, but there is much more to discover.
Head to Southern Oregon, where the crown jewel is the volcanic Crater Lake National Park. The park centers around its namesake, a startlingly sapphire body of water dotted with Wizard Island, a forested cinder cone that loves the camera. Walks wind through the hinterland, along the edge of the crater and slowly through the forest. In the summer, boat trips are organized with concessionaire Crater Lake Hospitality.
Outside the national park, it's definitely worth making your way through the region's little-known wine country. The Rogue Valley AVA offers fertile soil for grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, with notable wineries including the modern Quady North.
Also make time to explore scenic downtown Jacksonville: this gold rush town is one of the oldest in the state, with its 19th-century Western architecture preserved against the backdrop of the Siskiyou Mountains.
How to get there
You can fly from London Heathrow to Portland on British Airways (britishairways.co.uk) from £706 return. Car rentals are available at Portland International Airport.
Where to stay
Make your base at Weasku Inn (+1 541 471 8000; weasku.com), located along the Rogue River about 30 minutes outside of Jacksonville. Choose a rustic cabin with all the comforts or one of the cozy rooms in the main lodge. Doubles from £124 per night.
When to go
The summer months (June - early September) provide good weather for hikes and wine tasting - but few sights are more spectacular than the snow-capped shores of Crater Lake. Guided snowshoe hikes are the best way to explore the area in winter.
Back to indexThe Dakotas
The Midwestern states of North and South Dakota are often near the bottom of even American travelers' charts-but once you spend time in the region's rolling badlands, you'll wonder why you didn't visit sooner.
In far western North Dakota, the small town of Medora is steeped in its cowboy heritage, with the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame and rustic watering holes like the 1883 Little Missouri Saloon. Medora also heads to the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where wild horses, panting bison and otherworldly rock landscapes. Be sure to set aside a few hours for the 48-mile Scenic Drive.
In South Dakota, the most visited site of the two states is the Mount Rushmore National Memorial - a colossal sculpture depicting four US presidents carved into the Black Hills. Also make time for Crazy Horse, an unfinished but still mighty impressive statue of the Oglala Lakota war leader. Custer State Park also impresses with its steep granite cliffs and lakes.
How to get there
You can fly from London Heathrow to Minneapolis-St Paul (the nearest international airport) with Delta (delta.com) from £795 return. Regional flights and car rentals are available from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
If you're looking for a package holiday, America As You Like It (americaasyoulikeit.com) offers a seven-day fly-drive trip to South Dakota from £1,395 per person, including return flights from London Heathrow to Rapid City and seven days all-inclusive car hire.
Where to stay
Medora's Rough Riders Hotel (+1 701 623 4444 medora.com) combines Western nostalgia - think pressed tin ceilings and a giant fireplace in the lobby - with modern style. From £144, room only.
When to go
Moderate temperatures, spring wildflowers and fall foliage make the shoulder seasons the perfect time to visit. The buffalo roundup at the end of September in Custer State Park is a spectacle.
Back to indexThe Florida Panhandle
The Sunshine State is a firm favorite among Brits, but even Florida has corners overlooked. Those who avoid the theme park-filled center and head to the far northwest corner of the state will be richly rewarded. Here, the walkable towns are lined with bright white sand and-as the region creeps all the way to the Alabama state line-are infused with a distinctly Southern flair. This is accomplished with events like the Gulf Coast Jam, an annual country music festival that draws the biggest names in the genre to Panama City Beach. If you miss the show, 27 miles of sandy beaches will keep you busy.
About 130 miles west, Pensacola also deserves your attention, with even more white-sand beaches and a downtown filled with independent boutiques and galleries. History is also a draw: The city is considered the US's first European settlement, when Spanish explorer Don Tristan de Luna arrived here in 1559 (although a hurricane destroyed the community a few years later). You can learn the story at the Pensacola Museum of History.
How to get there
You can fly from London Heathrow to Panama City via Atlanta with Delta (delta.com) or Virgin (virginatlantic.com) from £689 return.
Where to stay
An enviable oceanfront location, on-site spa and organized excursions make the Pensacola Beach Resort (+1 850 916 9755; thepensacolabeachresort.com) the ideal beach destination. From £151, room only.
When to go
Visit in January or February for reliable winter sun.
Back to indexNorthern Utah
Most visitors to Utah focus their trips south, where parks like Zion and Arches are filled with gravity-defying rock formations and bright red landscapes. But in the northern part of the state it's a whole different world. Outdoor adventures are still plentiful, but the mountain landscapes look almost alpine-like, opening up into stretches of pine-clad peaks and lakes.
Don't miss a visit to Bear Lake State Park, which straddles the Utah-Idaho border, on the northeastern edge of the Wasatch Mountains. The park's namesake, whose blue waters have earned it the nickname "Caribbean of the Rockies," is often dotted with boaters and kayakers. To the south, Park City is a springboard for some of the state's best winter skiing, as well as a cultural center and host to the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival each January.
How to get there
You can fly from London Heathrow to Salt Lake City with Delta (delta.com) from £885 return. Car rentals are available from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Where to stay
Sundance Mountain Resort (+1 801 225 4107; sundanceresort.com) was once owned by movie star Robert Redford, and the views from the mountain cabins and suites are nothing short of cinematic. Make time for a sundowner in the Owl Bar. From £446 per night, room only.
When to go
Northern Utah is a true four-season destination. Visit from mid-November through March for some of the US's best skiing; in spring and summer for hiking and kayaking; and in the fall for epic leaf-peeping.
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