Check the weather city by city, starting with Washington D.C..
The United States offers dizzying diversity: New York and its skyscrapers, giant national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite), Route 66, the beaches of Miami, Hollywood in Los Angeles, and New Orleans to the sound of jazz. An endless journey across a continent-sized country.
The world's most iconic city: Central Park, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, world-class museums (MoMA, the Met), and unmatched international cuisine.
Highlights : Empire State Building, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, MoMA — Museum of Modern Art.
The Grand Canyon, one of the world's greatest natural spectacles. The Monument Valley–Zion–Bryce Canyon–Antelope Canyon road trip is the quintessential American travel experience.
Highlights : Grand Canyon — South Rim, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park.
Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice Beach, the Getty Museum, and day trips to Malibu or Disneyland. California is also Yosemite and Big Sur.
Highlights : Hollywood Sign & Walk of Fame, Getty Center, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur — spectacular coastline.
Miami Beach's Art Deco, white sand beaches, South Beach's buzzing nightlife, alligators in the Everglades, and Orlando's theme parks (Disney World, Universal).
Highlights : South Beach — Ocean Drive Art Deco, Everglades National Park, Art Basel & Wynwood Walls, Walt Disney World (Orlando).
The city of jazz, Mardi Gras and Cajun cuisine. The French Quarter, Bourbon Street and jazz clubs make New Orleans a unique destination in America.
Highlights : French Quarter — Bourbon Street, Preservation Hall — live jazz, Mississippi River cruise.
The 3rd largest city in the US, Chicago is an open-air architecture museum — from the Chicago School to Mies van der Rohe's towers. Millennium Park, its world-renowned museums (Art Institute, Field Museum) and legendary music scene (blues, jazz) make it a must-visit destination. The shore of Lake Michigan offers an unexpected waterfront in the heart of the continent.
Highlights : Millennium Park & Cloud Gate — the giant mirrored-steel "bean", Art Institute of Chicago — one of the world's largest museums, Architecture boat tour — skyscrapers from the Chicago River, Navy Pier — scenic pier on Lake Michigan.
An archipelago of 8 islands in the middle of the Pacific, Hawaii is America's tropical paradise. Oahu is home to Waikiki and Pearl Harbor; Maui offers the Road to Hana and its black sand beaches; the Big Island hosts the active Kilauea volcano. Surfing, snorkelling, volcanic hikes and Polynesian culture await in this one-of-a-kind corner of America.
Highlights : Waikiki Beach — iconic beach facing Diamond Head (Oahu), Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Memorial, Kilauea volcano — molten lava in the national park (Big Island), Road to Hana (Maui) — 620 curves, waterfalls and tropical jungle.
Las Vegas is the world capital of entertainment: a 7 km Strip lit up with giant casinos, shows, legendary buffets and extravagant hotels (Bellagio, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand). Vegas is also the ideal gateway to the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon and the Mojave Desert. Cirque du Soleil shows, starred dining and nights that never end.
Highlights : Las Vegas Strip — 7 km of casinos lit up day and night, Bellagio Fountains — choreographed water jets across 8 acres, Red Rock Canyon — nature escape 30 min from the Strip, Fremont Street Experience — 460 m LED canopy in Old Vegas.
The United States is expensive for Europeans, especially in big cities and national parks. But the road trip culture, affordable motels and street food help keep the budget under control.