The United States (finally) reopened to fully vaccinated South African travellers on 8 November (see entry requirements at the end of this blog), so if you've always wanted to do the ultimate road-trip across 'Murica now is the time to start planning!
To help you on your way, we've compiled some of the best highlights to include in your itinerary:
Spend a night or two in Chicago; famed for its deep-dish pizzas, jazz music and 1920s gangsters like Al Capone. The city is awash with bold architecture and museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago. If you love breakfast, add in a stop to Lou Mitchell’s. It’s a popular breakfast spot for former US Presidents, athletes and actors, serving up some of the best omelettes, pancakes and French toast. Stay at The Palmer House Hilton, which once hosted famous entertainers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland.
Step back in time at the Route 66 Association’s Hall of Fame & Museum. It’s home to thousands of pieces of historic memorabilia: old cars, license plates and neon motel signs from Route 66’s glory days.
A stop in St. Louis is ideal for those who love a good braai. Explore the 150-year history of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and sample its beers, then learn to mix up your own dry rub and sticky ribs from the pit master of Bootleggin' BBQ.
Meramec Caverns are a beautiful site without their history as a former hideout of Jesse James in the Ozarks. They were formed from the erosion of large limestone deposits over millions of years and are home to pre-Columbian Native American artefacts.
Get a taste of the Old West at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, then visit the national memorial dedicated to victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
This pop-up art installation showcases 10 Cadillacs nose-deep in the ground, just outside Amarillo. Created by a group of art-hippies from San Francisco who called themselves “The Ant Farm”, this attraction is one of Route 66’s most photographed roadside stops.
This colourful desert landscape along Route 66 is an Instagrammer’s dream: 200-million-year-old flat-topped mesas and sculptured buttes covering parts of Navajo and Apache counties.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, this spectacular gorge in Arizona is a trip highlight. A bonus: you’ll sleep under the stars in the national park.
Blow off some steam in Las Vegas where you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to headline acts and live shows – not to mention the possibility of striking it rich at one of the opulent casino-hotels, or eloping at an Elvis-themed wedding chapel. But remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Have your celebrity moment in Los Angeles, with views of its famous Hollywood sign and a trip to Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers studios. This sun and sand town will make you want to stay forever, and who knows – perhaps you’ll snap a selfie with someone famous or get your big break before you head home?
If you need assistance booking your ultimate American road trip, contact your nearest Sure Travel agent for flight, car rental, accommodation and activity bookings. And if you'd rather not be at the wheel, ask your Sure Travel agent for packaged bus tours from Trafalgar Tours.
