Boston is an awesome USA city boasting colourful neighbourhoods, beautiful inner city parks and gardens, top-class art, and incredible historic buildings. Visitors to Boston can step back in time to the American Revolution at the Boston National Historical Park, browse the bustling Quincy market for some souvenirs, catch a baseball game at the iconic Fenway Park stadium, and visit the famous Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

The Windy City is America's second largest city. Located on Lake Michigan, it's famous for skyscrapers. A 94-storey, 360° Observation Deck on the Magnificent Mile offers nerve-tingling, panoramic views. Once back on solid ground you can visit the street's trendy restaurants and boutiques before enjoying shows at one of the local theatres. Chicago hosts many entertaining events, including the ten-week, Grant Park Music Festival. You can also discover the city's shady past at the Mob Museum which catalogues the ruthless exploits of the gangster, Al Capone. Alternatively, visit the Shedd Aquarium or planetarium, then taste the city's most famous snack - the hot dog.

Denver was established during the 1850 Gold Rush. Today, there are organised tours of authentic, local gold mines. The Colorado city is now the Gateway to the Rockies, where visitors hike, pony trek and climb in summer. In the winter months, the mountains are perfect for skiing and tobogganing. With 300 sunny days a year, Denver is a cheerful destination with dozens of coffee shops and bistros. 

America's tropical paradise is in Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. Beautiful sandy beaches such as Kewalos and Waimea are famous for their excellent surfing conditions. Relax beneath the palm trees of Waikiki Beach before visiting nearby shopping malls, exclusive restaurants and vibrant night clubs. The unspoilt scenery of Honolulu includes Diamond Head, a safely dormant volcanic crater. The Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving while looking for green sea turtles in the coral reef.

Brash and vibrant, Las Vegas has plenty of entertaining novelties. The spectacular Fountains of Bellagio frequently erupt in a lake to the accompaniment of music and dazzling light shows. Along the Las Vegas Strip is the High Roller, a gigantic ferris wheel with a height of 520 feet (158.5 metres). Vegas has at least sixty casinos including Caesar's Palace where cocktails and cabaret are offered alongside arcade machines and roulette tables. For a break from the bright lights of ‘Sin City’, visit the unspoilt wilderness of the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area - it's teeming with wildlife including lizards, hawks, bobcats and coyotes.

LA is most famous for being the home of Hollywood, the district where the film industry established itself in 1911. Visitors can join studio tours and admire decades of film history and ‘Tinseltown’ memorabilia. Today's stars are reputed to visit the exclusive stores and restaurants of Robertson Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. Star-gazing of a different kind is available at the free planetarium at the Griffith Observatory. LA has many green spaces, but the most popular is the dog-friendly Runyon Canyon Park. It offers amazing views of the city and has naturally rugged areas that are ideal for running, walking and cycling.

This tropical island is part of Hawaii and features some of its most spectacular scenery. The Haleakala National Park has a contrasting landscape of rocky valleys and lush jungles. There are also waterfalls, idyllic pools and the island's live volcano. Kapalua is one of the most popular sandy beaches along the thirty-mile coastline. Maui is perfect for outdoor activities including snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing and hiking. 

This Florida city is always warm, making it perfect for year-round outdoor activities. Relax on soft, sandy beaches or have fun with watersports, parasailing or volleyball. There are also fishing and boat tours all along the Florida coast. One hour away are the Everglades, a beautiful 'River of Grass', where mangrove forests provide habitats for dugongs, storks and alligators. Miami's historic district overlooks the beach and includes hundreds of colourful Art Deco buildings. 

New York, New York. The Big Apple. One of the modern world’s most iconic cities, it’s always popular for sightseeing. The Statue of Liberty alone has more than 3,000 daily visitors. Manhattan's Empire State Building was opened in 1930, and features sumptuous Art Deco architecture and interior design. It's possible to see all five neighbouring states from the top of the 102-storey skyscraper. Arguably the most fashionable street in New York City is Fifth Avenue. It's famous for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and an energised nightlife of clubs, theatres and restaurants. 

Florida's inland city has a choice of outdoor activities such as running and cycling. There are approximately 150 championship golf courses in the area, including the Waldorf Astoria and the Celebration Golf Club. There are an abundance of theme parks in the city, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Legoland. Shopping malls offer luxury brands, but the weekly Celebration Farmers' Market is particularly interesting, with locally-made produce, crafts and souvenirs. 

The Ferry Building Marketplace was one of the few Victorian structures in San Francisco to survive the 1906 earthquake. Indoor stalls sell local delicacies such as cheese and hand-made chocolates. Lombard Street has multiple sharp bends designed to reduce the steep gradient, but it still offers incredible views of the city.  The best way to explore the steep city streets is to board one of the historic trams. The mile-long Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937. One end is in the Downtown neighbourhood, which is noted for gift shops, high-quality restaurants and a very busy nightlife.

The capital of the States is very much its cultural centre. Magnificent neo-classical architecture can be found in famous buildings such as the Whitehouse in Pennsylvania Avenue, the United States Supreme Court, and the Jefferson Memorial. There are more than sixty museums with diverse subjects such as Native American Indian culture, science and space travel. The Smithsonian Natural History Museum has one of the most valuable exhibits; the eighteenth-century, blue Hope Diamond that's worth at least 350 million dollars. Georgetown is the best neighbourhood for restaurants and exclusive shops, but make sure to visit Dupont Circle for the nightlife.