USA South: Georgia, Louisiana/New Orleans, The Carolinas

From the epicentre of Martin Luther King’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement to the modern-day metropolis of its thriving film and food industries, Georgia’s capital is admirably defiant and constantly buzzing with energy. While down south in Savannah, there’s a seemingly softer approach to it all, with its arts scene epicentre stirring youthful curiosity and manicured green spaces that encourage lollygagging and letting the days sink in.    

Going way beyond its famed Mardi Gras, Louisiana’s capital, New Orleans, calls for a state of celebration. Filling rumbling tummies with its Creole and Cajun dishes, and the streets with its euphoric jazz, it’d be wrong to leave without finding your favourite spot on Bourbon Street for a singsong. And with nights quickly turning into day, the vibrant streets get amplified with their intriguing Creole architecture, art galleries, and indie boutiques.

The bigger twin of the two, we’d say the thing that sets North Carolina apart is her wider rollout of must-see cities for urban-enthusiasts (spanning Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham) and her iconic Blue Ridge Parkway that makes road-tripping the Appalachian Mountains a photographers dreamland. While both Carolina’s share their love for clinging onto compelling Autumn colours, diverse histories, great rounds of golf and a bounty of seafood and BBQs.

The smaller (and temperately warmer) twin, South Carolina’s capital of Charleston even rivals the jig with its up-and-kicking food and dance scene. But it’s the stronghold of the snuggly coastal retreats that are the ones to compete with, for their wide-open sands and intriguing wildlife that splatters across Kiwah Island, Palmetto Bluff and Hilton Head Island to name a few.

California is one great big road trip; with pinstripe vineyards, seal-inhabited coastlines, glowing cities and a sunny disposition at every stop.

The image of fir trees reflecting perfectly into glassy lakes while snow-capped mountains wrap on all sides; Canada’s all-encompassing landscapes act as a humble reminder that the best adventures defy explanation. 

Pearlescent shorelines, metropolitan delights and Peter Pan experiences aplenty – this sunshine state is simply a rollercoaster experience.

The welcoming spirit of aloha is all-pervading on the captivating Hawaiian islands, a tropical playground of volcanic vistas, surfing beaches and island-hopping.

To speak of Las Vegas without mentioning its extravagance would be a crime, but ventures into the spiritual sphere of Native American country are equally as synonymous with this land.

A playground for presidents and poets and the birthplace of America itself, New England’s landscapes may change with the seasons, but its quaint charm is evergreen.

The steeliest shapeshifter of cityscape times, not even a local can pin her down – creating a smorgasbord of opportunities for even the littlest Apples to give it a good go and start trying.

As far as USA cities go, there’s no denying New York and LA revel in the spotlight; but get to know the personalities of their hidden gem siblings and you might just discover that the apple never falls too far from this family tree. 

Step outside of the USA’s vibrant cities and you’ll find some of nature’s finest creations sequestered away in the embrace of its many National Parks.