Road Trip USA

From big-budget stage shows, Michelin star restaurants and Eiffel Tower rip-offs – 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? Take an optional heli-tour over The Strip. Or catch a ride on the High Roller Observation Wheel. You can even check out a shooting range, if that’s your thing. There’s plenty of time to flash some plastic at the mall or hit up a Vegas-style pool party. Just save some energy for round two later tonight.

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 for the home of the Grand Canyon. One word to describe this place: mesmerising. And the only way to see one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders in its entirety, is from the sky. Lucky for you we’ve organised an optional heli-tour. After you’ve filled your SD card, tuck into tonight’s included dinner.

Today’s first stop: Monument Valley. Say hi to our local Navajo guide, climb into the Jeep and get totally lost (not literally) amongst the buttes and mesas of this magical place. After lunch, it’s time to make tracks to Durango. Prepare for a taste of the simple life – we’re spending the next two nights on a real-life ranch.

Today delve a bit deeper into life on a ranch. Head out on horseback with an optional riding experience. Or take in allll the views from the Durango Silverton steam train. You can even go ziplining if that’s more your style. And if road trip life has got you craving a bit of me-time – there’s plenty of wide-open-spaces to do that too. Tonight’s dinner is up to you, but we hear the burgers here are bloody good.

From the rugged Colorado mountains to the arty markets of Santa Fe – stop for lunch and a wander around the historic heart of the city. Fan of Breaking Bad? We’re rolling into Heisenberg’s old stomping ground later today. Dinner tonight is on us. Win!

Ready for something a bit...different? On Route 66 we’ll check out the quirky art installation at the Cadillac Ranch before channelling our inner delinquent – spray can in hand. After admiring our handiwork, it’s time to hit the road to Amarillo. Don’t be fooled, this is a ‘go big or go home’ kinda place. Think you can eat a 72 ounce steak plus side in under an hour? Tonight’s included dinner at The Big Texan is your chance to try. We’re rooting for you (but will laugh if you throw up).

Prepare yourself – 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 we make tracks to Dallas. Tonight is totally up to you. Our suggestion? Get the crew together and head to Billy Bob’s Texas – the World’s Largest Honky Tonk. 30 bars. Live music. Bull riding. It’s like real-life Footloose.

First up: a visit to The Sixth Floor Museum – detailing the history of the JFK assassination. Then, we’ll roll on to the hat-wearin', BBQ-eatin', two-steppin' capital of Texas. Check out the main sights on a driving tour before we tuck paper napkins into our collars and dig into a Texan BBQ feast. Bellies full and belts a tad tighter – it’s time to hit up 6th Street for a night of boot-scooting.

“Keep Austin Weird” – a city that lives by this motto is one we can 100% get around. And today you’re free to do exactly that. Go thrift shopping. Check out the Cathedral of Junk. Food-truck-hop your way into a food coma. Then, head to Rainey Street – a street lined with old craftsman houses converted into some of the hippest bars you’ve sunk a pint in. Before the day is done, don’t miss getting your lips around a Voodoo donut. So. Worth. It.

Today, we’re rolling into the home of NASA and the Queen Bey herself. You’ve got some free time to live out your NASA Space Camp dreams at the Houston Space Centre or if you’d rather explore solo – there’s plenty of hipster bars around to pull up a pew and people watch. Later, Houstonians take their food SUPER seriously, so you know tonight’s included dinner is gonna’ be good.

You’ve heard the hype. Now it’s time to experience it for yourself. Welcome to New Orleans. Call yourself a foodie? Put that to the test at tonight’s included 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 and get those toes tapping.

A city exploding with culture, history and seriously good food – you’ve got 24hrs 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. And get amongst the mayhem on Bourbon Street. Want more? Board an optional swamp tour for more ‘gator spotting or learn to cook like a local at an optional cooking demonstration. That’ll impress the Tinder dates back home. Whatever you choose, you won’t be bored.

We’re not going to lie – today is a bit of a drive day. So, sit back and soak it all in as we make tracks to today’s final destination: Panama City Beach. Ready for a dip? You’ll have plenty of time to frolic amongst the waves before our included dinner tonight.

Today is brought to you by the white-sandy beaches and aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Sit back and soak it all in as we follow the bay around to Clearwater Beach. We’ll get a bit of time to check out the 3-mile stretch of white sand and aquamarine water before heading to our hotel for the night.

Bienvenidos a Miami, where the weather is hot and the characters are just as colourful as the buildings. Practice your Baywatch pose on a driving tour – making a mental note of the must-sees for your free day tomorrow, before getting a taste of the city’s Latin influences at dinner. Later, there’s plenty of fluro-lit bars to channel our inner hip-shaker at.

Today is 100% up to you so, make the most of it. Take a trip to Little Havana to people-watch from a local café. Dodge the Speedo-clad skaters at South Beach. Or take an optional speedboat ride. This is Miami after all. Tonight, take your pick of authentic Cuban restaurants or head to Wynwood (the hipster art district) for something a bit different. Ready for round two? There’s a reason they rave about the nightlife here.

Sun-kissed and sufficiently stuffed with Cuban food – we’re off to Orlando. But first: an included airboat experience through the Everglades. Ever seen Swamp People? This is about as close as you’re gonna’ get. Orlando: home to year-round sunshine and one rich AF mouse. Dump your stuff at the hotel and get exploring. There’s more here than Minnie Mouse headbands and sugar-crazed children. Trust us.

Right, this is your day – your way. But if you need some suggestions, we’ve got a few optional activities lined up. Disney World or Universal: your pick. Or take one small step for man at the Kennedy Space Centre. Rather delve a bit deeper? Check out the eateries Downtown. Home to Orlando’s largest Vietnamese population – the pho here is pretty bloody good. Later, you could hit up one of the city’s underground jazz bars with the gang or take a picnic to Lake Eola Park.

Today, we’re trading cartoons for character as we make tracks for Savannah. After an included dinner with the gang, check out the crazy-good nightlife here. From historic dive bars to the famous Tree House – this is the perfect spot for a bar crawl. Trust us.

Get a taste of that Southern hospitality with your free day today. One of the few cities that survived the Civil War – think: manicured parks, elegant mansions, cobblestoned squares and oak trees covered in Spanish moss. You’d think you’d just walked onto the set of Forrest Gump (actually, you did – find his bench). Later, give those legs (and drinking arms) a workout with an optional Slow Ride Pub Crawl. 100% pedal powered pub crawl. What could possibly go wrong?

Swap the deep south for the north today with a quick stop at historic Charleston. Spot Fort Sumter off the coast – the sea fort where the Civil War began – and grab some lunch along King Street, before we make tracks for Charlotte. A city with a tagline like “Charlotte’s Got A Lot” is just begging to be proven wrong. But with urban forests, specialty museums, the NoDa art scene and not one, but two brewery districts – we’d have to agree, this city has a lot going on. Not to mention the revved up optional tour of the Charlotte Motor Speedway – where you can learn the illustrious history behind America’s Home of Racing.

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: the evening is yours to delve deeper into this historic capital and find a local haunt for dinner.

You’ve got 24 hours. Your undercover mission, should you choose to accept it...ok, you get the gist. Our suggestion? Get yourself a set of wheels on a Segway or 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. Washington FTW! Tonight, dinner is on us.

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 go hunting for the city’s best cheesesteak. Name a more iconic city than NYC to wrap up our roadtrip-of-a-lifetime. Tonight, there’s one last included dinner with the fam – and we’ve got one epic-crazy-ride to toast to!

Wipe away the traces of last night’s antics (and tears) – we’ll say goodbye after breakfast. You’ve still got time to plan next year’s reunion trip. Get cracking.