Play & Pause: USA West to East

Stock up on snacks, hop on board and dig out the AUX cord – Vegas is calling! Get to know your trip mates better during the ride and soak up those all-American wide-open spaces before the crazy of Sin City. Seriously, this place is so neon it hurts to look at. But we’ll do just that on a driving tour – before donning our sequin bowties and stilettos for a night on the town. Psyched?

From big-budget stage shows, Michelin-star restaurants and Eiffel Tower clones – Vegas is the definition of OTT. But you can’t help love it anyway. Anything goes here and you’ve got a full day to make the most of it. Our suggestions? Flash some plastic at the mall. Or truly show your new travel bestie how much you love ’em at a little white chapel. Tonight? Gather the gang and prepare to be dazzled by Fremont Street’s Viva Vision Light Show (Google it).

Arizona – this state is made for road trips. Stretches of endless sky. Expanses of red desert. Centuries-old history. And some pretty famous rock formations. Today we’re heading to the home of the Grand Canyon. One word to describe this place: legendary. Group pics nailed and bellies grumbling, quiz your in-the-know Trip Leader on where to head for tonight’s feed in Flagstaff. Wanna end the night on a high? There’s an optional stargazing experience at the Lowell Observatory on the cards that’s out of this world...

Can’t get enough of the canyon? You're in luck. Today, you’ll have a full day to explore more of one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders. The only way to see it in its entirety is from the sky. Lucky for you, we’ve organised an optional heli-tour. Prepare to be wowed by AWESOME vistas of the canyon’s iconic landscape.

After another included brekkie, today’s first stop = Mars. Actually – it’s Monument Valley, but it may as well be another planet. This INCREDible red-sand desert is out of this world. See for yourself during a guided orientation tour. Afterwards, you’ve got options. Set off on a jeep tour with a local Navajo guide and get totally lost (not literally) amongst the buttes and mesas of this magical place. Or have a lil spa sesh at the Durango Hot Springs.Then, it’s time to make tracks to our hotel in Durango where the evening is yours.

This morning, you’ve got options (and they’re pretty AWESOME). Head out on horseback with an optional riding experience or go zip-lining. Here in winter? Jump on a snowmobile and explore the white stuff in style. Then, wave bye to the rugged Colorado mountains from the back of the coach. First up today: arty Santa Fe. After we’ve checked out the highlights on a driving tour, grab some lunch and wander around the historic heart of the city. Fan of Breaking Bad? We’re rolling into Heisenberg’s old stomping ground later today. Prepare to spice up your life when you hunt down dinner this eve: this place is also famed for its love of chilis. Pro tip: ask for ‘Christmas’ to get maximum hotness. Or don’t. No one wants a bawling trip mate.

Ready for something a bit... different? On Route 66 we’ll check out the quirky art installation at the Cadillac Ranch. Then: is this the way to Amarillo? Hope so, or we’re totally lost. Don’t be fooled, this is a ‘go big or go home’ kinda place – and you’ve got the rest of the day to explore it. Head downtown to check out its beaut Art Deco buildings and countless cool coffeeshops. Or get your history fix at the Amarillo Historical Museum. Tonight, there’s another included group feed on the cards *stuffs napkin into shirt*.

Fill up at breakfast and practise your best yeee haaaa! – we’re heading to the wild, wild west with a visit to the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards. Lasso your way around the original brick walkways and wooden corrals of ‘Cowtown’ before watching Texan cowboys in action during the daily cattle drive. Tonight is totally up to you. Our pick? Fully commit to Tex-Mex and get stuck into all the tacos, enchiladas and chimichangas you can handle. RIP white T-shirt.

Down that cup of Joe. Today, ‘Big D’ is yours for the taking. First up, a drive around the city’s highlights. The rest is up to you. Need recommendations? *Grabs foam finger and points at Trip Leader* – they’ve got them. Jump on the vintage (and free = win) McKinney Avenue Trolley and jump off to sample the local bars. Then jump back on again. You get the idea. Top up your culture levels at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Or perfect your pano skills at Reunion Tower. Tonight, you'll head back to Fort Worth to check out Billy Bob’s Texas – the World’s Largest Honky Tonk. 30 bars. Live music. Bull riding. Ready to swing your partner round and round? Responsibly, obvs.

Full disclosure: this is a drive day. But it’ll be totally worth it when we roll into New Orleans. Trust us. We’ll start with a walking tour of the French Quarter (aka New Orleans’ Crown Jewel). Wanna know what’s on the menu for dinner? Between gumbo and po-boys, jambalaya and muffulettas, beignets and bananas foster – it’s safer to try them all. Your pants are elasticated, right? Later, the legendary party vibes of Bourbon Street await – arm yourself with a Hand Grenade cocktail for the real experience.

A city exploding with culture, history and seriously good food – you’ve got 24 hrs of freedom, so don’t muck about. Check out the open-air gallery in Jackson Square. Hit up the French Market for shopping. Uncover your love for jazz along Frenchman Street. Experience the mayhem on Bourbon Street. Wanna get a little bit outta your comfort zone? Board an optional swamp tour for more ‘gator spotting. Or, if you’ve booked a winter trip, get a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s most ICONIC event at Mardi Gras World. Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong.

Say goodbye to New Orleans and hello to the birthplace of rock n’ roll. Ngl – it’s a bit of a drive to Memphis. Meaning? Your chance to impress the fam with your best Elvis impression (lucky them!). When we pull into Memphis, it’s time for a walking tour. We’ll stick to the iconic Beale Street area: a former red-light district turned home of the American Blues. Then there’s an optional trip to the legendary Sun Studio (aka where Elvis recorded his very first song in 1953) up for grabs. And tonight? Dinner’s on you, but your Trip Leader knows the hot spots.

This morning, do your own thing or hit up Graceland on an optional tour. Elvis Presley’s former-mansion-turned-museum is one of the most ICONIC musical heritage sites in the Deep South. There’s also an optional trip to the National Civil Rights Museum on the cards if you fancy swotting up on an important era of American history. Afterwards, sling on a cowboy hat and tune up that fiddle. Why? Cos we’re making a beeline for America’s country music capital: Nashville. Your Trip Leader will take you on a tour of its highlights. Then, there’s an optional whiskey tasting sesh at the Nelson Green Brier Distillery on the cards. Bottom’s up! This evening’s yours to explore. Want our rec? Seek out a saloon bar where you can practice your scoots and brushes.

It’s your day, your way. What’s first? Hit up the Country Music Hall of Fame for an education in all the folk and blues greats. Go star spotting on a stroll around the Music City Walk of Fame Park. Check out the Grand Ole Opry for an old-school country music experience. Or head to a legit Tennessee whiskey distillery for a glug of the smoky stuff. It’d be rude not to, right? This eve, show off your own singing skills at a Nashville karaoke bar. Dolly Parton, anyone?

Room still spinning? Our included brekkie should sort you out this morning. Then: onwards to Charlotte! A city with a tagline like “Charlotte’s Got A Lot” means expectations are HIGH. But with urban forests, specialty museums, the NoDa art scene and two brewery districts – we’d have to agree, this place has a lot going on. So, get exploring! Afterwards, meet back up with the gang for an optional evening out at the Slingshot Social Game Club. Cue: supersized cheeseburgers, tenpin bowling and heaps of laughs.

Hitting the road bright and early, we’re heading to the OG of American politics. We’ll arrive in DC just in time to see the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, the Whitehouse and Capitol Hill lit up like Christmas on an illumination tour. Then: round up the squad and swing by Ben’s Chili Bowl for traditional DC hot dogs and chili cheese fries *drools uncontrollably*.

You’ve got 24 hours. Your undercover mission, should you choose to accept it... ok, you get the gist. Our suggestion? Nab yourself a set of wheels on a bike tour. Then, hit up the array of FREE museums. From the National Museum of American History to the National Air and Space Museum, and the International Spy Museum – there’s something for literally everyone. And this far into the trip, you know the bud who’ll be into it too... Tonight, it’s our last dinner with the group. Time to give this epic American adventure the send-off it deserves.

The Big Apple is calling. But first: Philly. The home of Rocky and the Declaration of Independence – this place is crawling with colonial history and culture. Get the lowdown on a driving tour before we wrap up our road-trip-of-a-lifetime in iconic NYC. Where's the highway taking us next? Get that reunion trip locked in!