Features

US: five holidays of a lifetime

(03 July 2008)

From road trips to glacier hiking, there are trips to remember in every corner of the US. Janine Kelso has some ideas for your top-end clients

Herding cattle in Texas, US

Whale and dolphin spotting in Monterey Bay

California’s picturesque coast – with its abundance of marine life – is hailed as a top spot for whale and dolphin watching. Spot the largest creature on Earth, the blue whale, often found in Monterey Bay during late summer and early autumn.

It’s also possible to see humpbacks, sea otters, Californian and Steller’s sea lions and harbour seals. A trip to Ano Nuevo State Reserve, the world’s largest mainland breeding colony of northern elephant seals, is a must.

Accommodation is in a hotel in Monterey, with ocean views where whales and dolphins can be seen.

Sample package: Naturetrek offers a nine-day Whales and Dolphins of Monterey Bay tour for £1,795 per person, departing September 6, including flights, transfers, accommodation and food.

Motorcycle road trip on Route 66

Motorcycles are available to hire in 35 US sites. Nothing beats sitting on a Harley-Davidson with the wind whipping through your hair you ride through jaw-dropping scenery.

A popular journey is the legendary Route 66, which stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. Steeped in American folklore, the road has a smattering of old petrol stations, motels and roadhouses dating back to the 1930s.

Sample package: H-C Travel offers a tour of Route 66 for £2,595, including 13 days’ motorcycle hire, liability insurance and 14 nights’ accommodation.

Hiking in Alaska

Home to towering mountains, glaciers, forests and lakes, the best way to explore Alaska’s landscape is on foot, where there will be plenty of opportunities for spotting moose and bears.

The tour also includes a boat trip to view the coastal scenery. In the summer, walkers can enjoy a flexible schedule as there are 20 hours of daylight every day.

Sample package: Exodus offers a 16-day Alaskan Hike for £2,189 per person departing August 23, including flights, nine nights’ camping, three nights in a lodge and two nights in a hotel, and all meals while camping.

Wine tasting in the Napa and Sonoma valleys

Begin your trip in the early morning by cruising over San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, amid the dawn mists.

Top California wineries to stop at include Robert Mondavi winery, Silverado Vineyards, Kornell Champagne Cellars and Larkmead Cellars. Stop at Summit Lake Vineyard for a picnic in a picturesque setting.

Sample package: Travel 4 offers a five-night Essential Wine Escape tour for £324 per person (price valid until August 15), including a day to explore San Francisco, followed by a stay in the heart of California’s wine country and two days to visit the vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Price includes accommodation and transport but excludes flights.

Exploring cowboy country in Texas

Immerse yourself in the heart of Dallas country by donning a cowboy hat and stetsons and riding across rolling countryside on horseback.

Anyone with a passion for country and western should take a tour of Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honky-tonk with a live bull-riding arena and walls adorned with photos of rock’n’roll stars.

Ranch America offer clients the chance to live as a cowboy at Wildcatter guest ranch, offering 4,000 acres of landscape ideal for horseback rides. You can visit Southfork Ranch, the location for the 1980s drama Dallas.

Sample package: Ranch America offers a 10-night True Texas Cowboy Experience for £1,655 per person in September, including two nights at the five-star Stockyards Hotel, in Fortworth; seven nights’ full-board at Wildcatter Ranch and one night at Southfork Hotel and flights.

By Janine Kelso