How to plan your next US adventure

Simon Calder's Travel Week

SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE: £1 FOR 3 MONTHS April 23, 2023 View in browser SIMON CALDER'S TRAVEL WEEK Grab your Stetson and cowboy boots: this week we're heading Stateside. Cars and stripes: The US was made for road tripping The US is more like 50 countries than one, with every state bringing its own unique flavour to the party. Looking for inspiration? Check out our ultimate guide to the US, with tips on where to go and when to travel. If you're in a New York state of mind but strapped for cash, browse our guide on doing the notoriously expensive city on a budget. Or you could coast it without the crowds, with this selection of America's best under-the-radar beaches.  Amtrak deals Some long-distance tickets on the heavily subsidised US long-distance rail network are excellent value: Atlanta to New Orleans typically costs $39 for a 13-hour trip aboard the Crescent, mostly in daylight. The train leaves either city just after 9am.  WHERE TO STAY Maine escape Portland, a fascinating maritime city on the coast of Maine, becomes more accessible from 28 June. Breeze – a new low-cost airline specialising in smaller cities – will launch a link from Islip, Long Island, close to New York City. The 75-minute flight is selling for $65. DINE PORTLAND Question of the week   Question of the week I want to drive at least a short part of Route 66. Which stretch do you recommend? Route 66 starts in Chicago on Lake Michigan and passes through three time zones and eight states on its way to Santa Monica on the Pacific Ocean, covering more than 2,000 miles. The "mother road" was born on 11 November 1926, and quickly became part of the American story. But just three decades after Route 66 was created, a modern interstate highway system was launched – and much of the western portion disappearing beneath I-40. Of what remains of Route 66, my favourite stretch crosses a mountain pass between Victorville and San Bernadino in California. Victorville is home to the "aircraft boneyard" where old Boeing 747s go to die, and the California Route 66 Museum. San Bernadino was the original location for McDonald's, and the site is now a quirky museum. You can easily access this stretch from either Las Vegas or Los Angeles on a two-day road trip.   Independent writers choose their favourite American road trips Stay at Essex spa hotel from £200 a night  Offer includes three-course dinner, breakfast,  25-minute spa treatment and Elemis gift card Save £100 on easyJet holiday packages Apply the voucher code to enjoy savings when spending £800 or more on your holiday package Enjoy a short break in Scotland from £390 The deal entitles you to a two-day stay with dinner at Inveraray's Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa £99 £20 for 1 year ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more SUBSCRIBE NOW City breaks Flying solo The 10 best US cities for female travellers looking to explore the US alone, from Boulder, Colorado to New Orleans. 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