Situated along the Colorado River in central Texas, Austin is one of the USA’s most creative and energetic destinations. Concerts and jam sessions can be found on almost every corner, spanning country to indie rock and everything in between – it’s why the city is known as the “live music capital of the world”.

Austin, Texas

Hit television series Austin City Limits has been running since the 1970s, making it the longest-running music TV program in U.S. history. Filmed at the University of Texas in the historic Moody Theatre, it’s renowned for bringing live performances to screens around the globe and featuring a diverse range of artists including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Billie Eilish. To peek behind the fabled curtain, book one of the daily backstage tours – each session is open to just 20 guests – to check out the artists’ green rooms, the musicians’ dining room and even Willie Nelson’s personal smoking area.

 Stay: The Line, Austin

Austin, Texas

Austin buzzes with youthful energy: it’s a city of college students, young professionals and creatives. With that comes a vibrant, independent bar scene, which is often tucked away in if-you-know-you-know spaces. Tucked away in Central East Austin, Trona is a sophisticated cocktail bar blending Mexican and Japanese influences. Enter through a discreet alleyway and ring the doorbell for access to this moody, intimate space, where inventive cocktails like the Kindred Spirits showcase Japanese whisky, mezcal, and creative ingredients.If you prefer a classic margarita, visit Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar, a compact, candlelit space on the patio above Mi Madre's Tex-Mex restaurant.

Stay: Hotel ZaZa

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The home of blues, soul and famous barbeque – and, of course, the altar of all things Elvis Presley – Memphis is one of the USA’s most storied musical cities, tucked into the south-western corner of Tennessee.

Memphis, Tennessee

South-east of downtown Memphis, this museum documents the meteoric rise of the USA’s soul music with more than 2000 documents, instruments and records on display. Marvel at singer, composer and actor Isaac Hayes’ custom gold-plated 1972 Cadillac Eldorado and lipstick-red velvet desk as well as one-of-a-kind memorabilia from legends Otis Redding, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and more. There are also replicas of a 1906 Mississippi Delta church – paying homage to Soul’s gospel roots – and a mid-20th-century recording studio.

Stay: Big Cyprus Lodge

Memphis, Tennessee

A nervous Elvis Presley played his first-ever live show at the Overton in 1954, and U.S. rock band ZZ Top also held some of their earliest performances at this legendary outdoor amphitheatre. It continues its great musical legacy with regular live music events, open mic nights and free concerts for everyone to enjoy. Located just a 10-minute drive east of downtown Memphis, you can discover where the magic began with a ticket to the one-hour backstage tour.

Stay: The Guest House at Graceland

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Lying in the middle of Florida’s peninsula, the USA’s theme park capital is now home to an adrenaline-pumping new family destination as well as a museum dedicated to Tiffany, one of the country’s most famed brands.

Orlando, Florida

Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of Tiffany and Co. founder Charles Lewis Tiffany. The junior Tiffany was famous for his ornate work with stained glass, which cemented Tiffany not only as one of the USA’s great jewellery artisans but also a leader in the decorative arts. One block north of Winter Park, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art houses the most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany works in the nation, with a focus on his treasured rainbow-coloured lead-light glass lamps.

Stay: The Alfond Inn

Orlando, Florida

Scheduled to open in May 2025, this electrifying new theme park – part of Universal Orlando Resort – is gearing up to become one of Florida’s hottest attractions. It features five exhilarating immersive worlds, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic experience, where guests travel the Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic with Harry, Ron and Hermione along for the ride. For gamers, the action-packed Super Nintendo World – complete with the thrilling Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge augmented reality ride – is a must-visit.

Stay: Rosen Shingle Creek

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Art and nature are two of the unexpected hidden gems of Utah’s capital. Known for its backdrop of snow-capped Wasatch Range mountains and world-class ski resorts, Salt Lake City offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and cultural experiences, such as the breadth of natural wonders to explore at Antelope Island State Park.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Quirk, colour and creative expression are the drawcards of this charming sculpture garden in the heart of Salt Lake City, which was created by masonry expert Thomas Battersby Child Jr. in the mid-20th century. Here you’ll find miniature replicas of the Egyptian sphinx and dozens of ecclesiastical engravings and scriptures honouring the artist’s Mormon beliefs. The purpose of the garden, which also features lush flower beds and plantings, is to offer visitors a sanctuary of calm and beauty, no matter their religion or background. “You don’t have to agree with me,” Child famously said of his works. “You may think I am a nut, but I hope I have aroused your thinking and curiosity.”

Stay: Kimpton Hotel Monaco

Salt Lake City, Utah

Antelope Island State Park is the largest of all the islands in Utah’s Great Salt Lake. An easy 90-minute drive north of Salt Lake City, it’s a spectacular place to immerse yourself in the state’s natural wonders, thanks to its more than 70 kilometres of trails ideal for hiking, biking or horseback riding. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, it’s home to a variety of wildlife including bison, deer, bighorn sheep and birdlife. In the summer, you can take a dip in the ultra-saline water, famous for its unusually high buoyancy.

Stay: Little America Hotel

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Situated in the country’s north-western corner state of Washington, Seattle may be widely known as the home of grunge, but its art scene goes beyond fuzzy guitars and percussive rock to include striking public art and a museum dedicated to the world of pop culture.

Seattle, Washington

The Fremont Troll is exactly what it sounds like: a gargantuan 5.5 metre high troll statue that lurks beneath Seattle’s Aurora Bridge. It’s just one of the 50-plus public artworks that can be found in the creative Fremont district. Other notable pieces include a neon depiction of Rapunzel locked in a sky blue tower and the Fremont Rocket – purported to have been made from military surplus – featuring the fitting inscription De Libertas Quirkas, meaning “Freedom to be Peculiar”. 

Stay: Hotel Max

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Seattle, Washington

Next to Seattle's iconic Space Needle tower, this interactive museum features exhibits honouring 90s grunge heroes Nirvana, a gallery of guitars and a horror cinema exhibition that traces the history of nail-biting movie-making. It’s even home to Luke Skywalker’s original lightsaber from the Empire Strikes Back film and Jimi Hendrix’s handwritten lyrics and diaries. In addition to interactive displays, the museum also hosts regular lectures and events that dive deep into everything from Princess Diana’s fashion to the history of Pac-Man.

Stay: Hilton Motif Seattle

The city of angels is famous for Hollywood, the glamorous fashion and people-watching of Beverly Hills and palm-lined postcard beaches. But if you know where to look, there’s plenty of small-scale charm and culture beneath the dazzle and bright lights of this west coast gateway city.

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles was Marilyn’s playground and her mark can be felt all over the city, from her former home in Brentwood to her favourite restaurants and bars including Formosa Cafe and the Musso and Frank Grill (where she was known to enjoy a champagne cocktail or two). At the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel you can stay in Monroe’s favourite suite, Bungalow No 1, which features a library of classic Marilyn films and a menu of themed experiences – including a Marilyn Monroe Some Like It Hot Bubble Bath Experience.

Stay: Marilyn Monroe’s Bungalow at the Beverley Hills Hotel

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Los Angeles, California

The First Fridays sessions at Exposition Park’s Natural History Museum in LA are one of those in-the-know experiences beloved by locals. Each event, held on the first Friday of the month from March through June, explores how music affects us in our day-to-day lives, from the mysterious healing properties of sound baths to exploring the way deaf and hard-of-hearing people can interact with sound. It’s a unique way to explore the museum – and its epic Dinosaur Hall – after hours.

Stay: Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels

From soaring skylines to the underground world of spies, The Big Apple has something new to discover on every visit, from iconic landmarks like Central Park and the Empire State Building to the hidden speakeasies and neighbourhoods where locals live, work and play.

New York City, New York

There are several great spots to take in the full panorama of New York City, from the Hudson River to the Upper East Side. One of the best is “Top of the Rock” at the Rockefeller Centre. Visitors can soar 70 storeys above the city with a regular Rockefeller Centre ticket but the new SKYLIFT allows you to climb an extra three storeys in an open-air glass platform for an unmatched 360-degree view. A memento photo is included.

Stay: Lotte New York Palace

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New York City, New York

Spyscape, four blocks south of Central Park, is an interactive museum that takes you deep into the shady world of espionage. Break codes, go undercover, assess targets and come away with your own spy profile that lets you know whether or not you have what it takes to slip under the radar and enter the real world of spycraft. 

Stay: Moxy NYC Times Square

15 of the Best Road Trips to Take in California