There’s still time to go on an American holiday this year — and some good reasons to do so, with an improving exchange rate (a pound will now get you about $1.31, compared with $1.20 in January) and more low-cost transatlantic flights starting up. Next month Norwegian — which this year opened routes from regional airports to New York and Boston — starts flights from Gatwick to Seattle and Denver, with Chicago and Austin, Texas, following next year. In September, Icelandair will also start flights from various UK airports to Tampa in Florida, via Reykjavik.
1 Hot springs, Colorado
The healing properties of Colorado’s hot springs have been celebrated by Native Americans for centuries, and now there’s a new way to enjoy them. The Historic Hot Springs Loop is a 720-mile self-drive trail that links some of the Rockies’ most stunning scenery and history with five of its coolest hot springs towns.
Details A ten-night Hot Springs Loop trip, including flights, accommodation and car hire, costs from £1,660pp (020 8742 8299, americaasyoulikeit.com)
2 Arizona digital detox
Halfway between a retreat and a festival, the September Restival is a new five-day digital detox in the desert plains of Arizona. Participants are encouraged to live off-grid and do daily yoga, meditation and wellness workshops, as well as experiencing a traditional sweat lodge and medicine men ceremonies. Stay in luxury tepees and bell tents.
Details Tickets cost from $2,000pp (£1,514pp), including full board and all workshops. Flights to Phoenix cost extra. Restival runs from September 14-19 and 21-26 (restival.global)
3 Trains of the Old West
This group trip from Cosmos offers the chance to ride some of the most iconic vintage railroads in the world. Highlights include the steam-powered Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge through the canyons of the San Juan National Forest — the route taken by gold rush pioneers more than a century ago — and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world.
Details A ten-night trip leaving on September 17, including flights and accommodation, costs from £3,060pp (0800 4402797, cosmos.co.uk)
4 Wild swim in Arizona
Swim the lakes and river canyons of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert on a new six-day guided trip from SwimTrek. Based at the Saguaro Lake Ranch, guests spend their days swimming the tributaries of the Salt River and the open waters of Canyon Lake, and their nights by the campfire. Expert swim coaching sessions are included.
Details The five-night trip, starting September 24 and October 1 and 8, costs from £1,900pp full board. Flights to Phoenix cost extra (01273 739713, swimtrek.com)
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5 Cycle in Utah
The Tour of Utah is hot on the heels of the Tour de France as one of the world’s top cycling events. Follow in their tracks along some of the best road-biking terrain in North America, riding from the red rocks of Zion National Park to the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and the wide-open vistas of Capitol Reef National Park.
Details Nine nights, leaving on September 8 or 17, including flights, accommodation, transport, cycle guide and some meals, costs from £2,815pp (01768 773966, keadventure.com)
6 Low-cost Vegas
Combine budget London to Las Vegas flights on the low-cost airline Norwegian with a stay in the new uber-trendy hotel, the W. There’s plenty of fine food to be had too, with Alain Ducasse’s new 64th-floor restaurant, Rivea.
Details Flights cost from £358 return (norwegian.com). Double rooms cost from $124 (00 1 877 822 0000, wlasvegas.com)
7 The Big Easy
With new direct British Airways flights to New Orleans this year, reaching the Big Easy is even easier, especially if you wait until the weather cools down in October. The French Quarter is filled with beautiful colonial buildings with live jazz and the scent of gumbo.
Details A five-night trip to New Orleans and Louisiana’s Outback, including flights, costs from £1,495pp (0800 3163012, bon-voyage.co.uk)
8 Fall in North Carolina
New England offers a spectacular changing of the seasons, but it’s packed. Instead, try Great Smoky Mountain National Park, on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The colours are arguably better and because of the elevation change they last longer, with vivid hues from mid-September and throughout October. Stay at the nearby Inn at Blackberry Farm.
Details Full-board doubles cost from $645 a night for two. Fly to Charlotte, North Carolina (00 1 865 984 8166, blackberryfarm.com)
9 Paddle steamer in the Deep South
The boutique cruise operator French America Line runs a number of voyages on the Louisiane, a historic paddle steamer-style ship with elegant French design, verandas over the river and live jazz every night. In September the itinerary switches to the Deep South, with a cruise starting and ending in New Orleans, as well as voyages between Memphis and St Louis.
Details A seven-night cruise, including all meals, drinks and excursions, costs from $3,599pp. Flights cost extra (020 7723 2450, frenchamericanline.com)
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10 East coast historic tour
This trip is all about pampering, hospitality and the political history of the east coast. Highlights include soaking in the natural mineral springs of the 250-year-old Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia, which was enjoyed by Thomas Jefferson, and the Equinox Resort & Spa in Vermont, a former holiday spot for four US presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt.
Details Nine nights, mostly full board, with transport, but not flights to Washington DC and from Boston, costs from £2,339pp (0800 8048701, gocollette.com). The tour is on set dates until October
11 New England by train
This group trip from G Adventures is all about insider access. Walk the Freedom Trail in Boston with a local historian, take a photo tour of New York with one of the city’s best photographers, and get behind-the-scenes access to the National Geographic headquarters in Washington DC. Add the cheese steaks and revolutionary history of Philadelphia and you have four of the country’s best cities in a week, linked by easy train rides by the coast.
Details A seven-night trip, including accommodation and excursions, costs from £1,999pp (0344 2722040, gadventures.co.uk). The tour is on set dates until October and does not include flights
12 Budget Brooklyn
That New York shopping spree is more affordable now that several budget airlines fly there. Spend those extra cents at the design hotel the William Vale, which opened at the end of last year in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, one of New York’s hippest neighbourhoods. Its balconies overlook the East River and it has the longest outdoor pool in the city.
Details A Wow Air flight from Gatwick or Bristol costs from £119 one way (0118 321 8384, wowair.co.uk). Doubles at the William Vale cost from $296 a night (00 1 718 631 8400, thewilliamvale.com)
13 Take a Marvel cruise
There’s a twist to Disney cruises this year. A super-team of Marvel heroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Captain America and Thor, will join voyages from New York, with a heroes-in-training academy. The cruises will feature the usual stop at the Disney World resort in Florida.
Details A seven-night Disney Magic Bahamian Cruise, including meals, costs from £2,632pp. Return flights from New York cost extra. Cruises depart on October 6, 14, 28 and November 4, 11 and 18 (0800 1712317, disneycruiseline.com)
14 Hike New England
Featuring many of the most spectacular hikes in New England, this group walking trip is ideal for travellers looking for adventure by day, but comfort by night. Experience the Green Mountains of Vermont, the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire and the rugged coastline of Acadia National Park in Maine. In autumn you’ll be strolling through some of the most spectacular natural colours on the planet.
Details Eight nights, including transport, cost from £1,840pp. Flights to Boston cost extra (0808 2745111, intrepidtravel.com)
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15 See the Florida Keys
Two new hotels at each end of the Florida Keys make it a great year to see the state’s most laid-back stretch of sand. The Playa Largo Resort & Spa on Key Largo is the first new hotel in the area in more than two decades. It has private bungalows and tiki bars on the beach and is well situated for exploring the wetlands and mangroves, with Miami and the Everglades a short drive away. Meanwhile, 100 miles south, Oceans Edge Hotel & Marina on Key West offers sea views from every room, six pools and perfect sunsets — the ideal launch pad from which to explore the archipelago’s far-western tip.
Details A ten-night trip staying at both hotels, including flights and car hire, is from £2,475pp (0800 3160194, bon-voyage.co.uk)