USA Bucket List: The spirit of Route 66

It's finally happening: you're on the plane to Vegas! You imagine what it'll be like to cruise along the legendary Strip surrounded by bright, flashing neon lights, and before long, you're bang in the middle of it all! As soon as you arrive, you grab the keys to your hire car and your road trip officially kicks off – music cranked up, sunglasses at the ready, adventure mode on! First things first: in this desert heat, you simply have to cool off in the hotel pool! There's plenty of time for exploring later. Besides, the city only truly comes to life once the sun goes down, when the neon lights make the city sparkle like fireworks. Come nightfall, as you stroll along the famous Strip past all the fancy hotels and colourful illuminated signs, you can't forget to snap a selfie at the famous 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign for your feed! Then, if you've got a head for heights, hit up The STRAT or the High Roller Ferris wheel for an unrivalled view across Sin City (both optional and payable on site). And for more must-sees, check out the Bellagio Hotel fountain show and the Mirage Hotel volcano show – both free, but far from basic! 

Good morning, Las Vegas! America's Playground is ready and waiting for you with even more wild entertainment. So jump right back into the hustle and bustle! How about a stroll along the canals of Venice or to the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Maybe a trip to ancient Egypt? We're talking about the various themed hotels of course, which are modelled after different countries around the world. Whether it's the Venetian, the Luxor or the Paris Las Vegas, each hotel takes you to a world of its own. Vegas is wild; there's no doubt about that! And Las Vegas wouldn't be Las Vegas if it didn't have a graveyard for the Strip's discarded neon signs. At the Neon Museum (optional, entrance fee payable on site), you'll have the chance to marvel at over 200 of the city's old neon signs. Once you're all done, pack your bags and toss them in the boot – today, you're telling Vegas goodbye and heading to St. George! Bryce Canyon, with its wild rock formations and mad display of colours like something from another planet, is already waiting in the distance. So hop in your car and trade the urban buzz for red rocks, dry desert air and top-tier moments in nature. Time for your next adventure! 

High plateaus, deep sandstone gorges and impressive rock formations – that's Zion National Park (entrance fee payable on site). And this spectacular natural wonder is exactly where you're heading today. So, you get in your hire car, put your foot down and zoom off! Your first 'wow' moment hits you as you drive along the Carmel Highway and see the towering, colourfully patterned sandstone cliffs on the sides of the road. And now it's time for adventure! You pull on your hiking boots and make your way to Angel's Landing, a magical mountain that offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding canyon scenery. It wasn't named Angel's Landing for nothing! But beware: the hike up to its dizzying heights is almost five miles. If you'd rather take it easy, head off the beaten path and pay a visit to the Kolob Canyons. What awaits you here? Peace and unspoilt nature along a series of winding canyons.

Vibin' in your whip, still completely shook by the giant rocks, the road trip continues! Next stop: Page. But before you get there, make sure to stop off at Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the United States. This huge expanse of water in the middle of the desert snakes its way through a landscape of stunning red rock formations and is absolutely surreal. The best spot for the ultimate view? Without a doubt Wahweap Overlook – the perfect spot for a little breather, snapping mad pics and simply basking in the moment. If you just can't sit still once you make it to Page, head to Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon (admission payable on site)! Here, the Colorado River makes a 270° bend through the rocks, and the view from the top is simply out of this world. And when the sun sets and the rocks begin to glow in hues of red and orange, showcasing the sheer beauty of nature, the whole place is more than film-worthy – talk about goosebumps!