8 American states and their specialities

Holidaying in a country as sizable as America, your experience will vary widely from one state to another.

If you’d love to enjoy your evenings listening to live music, there’s no better place than New Orleans. But perhaps you’d rather spend your precious holiday time lounging on a beach or the sun deck of a sailboat? In which case, head to Hawaii.

To help you get the most out of your visit, Booking.com used its internal data to find out the greatest travel feature of some of the major US states. According to global travellers, these are the most popular, unmissable American travel highlights.

Utah – Climbing

Practically every inch of Utah is covered in good rock climbing areas. Of all levels of difficulty. The landscape varies from scorched desert where wind erosion has created red sandstone spires and arches to valleys with rapids running through the pine forests on either side. Challenge yourself clambering up a precipitous crack in a steep wall and trying some bouldering on an overhang. Or, take one of the many easier routes while basking in the incredible panoramas.

Alaska – Glacier tours

Alaska is a land of extremes, full of awe-inspiring natural wonders – including around 100,000 glaciers. These gigantic, icy phenomena slowly shifting through the wilderness are the nation’s most popular attraction. Glacier expeditions are available for those willing to get active on holiday. If you are, you’ll be rewarded with the most electrifying views over fjords, mountains and sapphire-blue lakes.

Arizona – Route 66

The cult status of Route 66, which runs straight through Arizona, has made it the state’s most highly endorsed feature. This symbolic stretch of asphalt takes you past vast red rock formations, creeks, canyons and open expanses of desert with tumbleweed the only living thing. Revel in the romance of this seemingly never-ending highway by stopping off at a few quirky, retro towns and stay in a typical Route 66 motel.

Florida – Reef diving

If you’re heading to Florida, your trip won’t be complete unless you sign up for some reef diving. The reef here is the continental United States’ only living coral reef and offers a number of exciting things to see, such as shipwrecks, schools of neon-coloured fish, delicate coral and rare marine wildlife.

Maine – Sailing

The best way to appreciate Maine is by boat. Picnics, rocky coastline marked by red-and-white lighthouses and sailing boats are synonymous with this state. Pack a bottle of wine and a lobster bake and take a sailing tour going from bucolic bay to bay.

Hawaii – Sky diving

If you really want to savour Hawaii’s natural beauty, there’s no better way to see it than from 14,000 feet. The bird’s eye view of these islands’ volcanoes, extensive rainforest and impossibly perfect beaches is guaranteed to take your breath away. And that’s before you’ve even factored in the adrenalin.

Louisiana – Jazz

The state of Louisiana lives and breathes music, priding itself on its long history of jazz. The soulful city of New Orleans was the birthplace of this musical genre and should definitely be on every Louisiana travel itinerary. Here, and across the state, you can immerse yourself in the vibrant music scene at jazz clubs that buzz every night of the week. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll also come across a parade, jazz festival or a live rendition of a jazz classic performed on a New Orleans porch.

Massachusetts – Classical music

With such a strong classical music heritage, it would be a shame to miss sampling a Massachusetts’ concert or festival while you’re in the area. Several national orchestras are based here, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and there are a few world-class venues. In the summer, many of these orchestras come out to play for big events such as the Fourth of July celebrations but in winter you’ll be equally well-placed to find some spectacular shows.