Authentic American Adventures 

Step beyond traditional sightseeing and dive into hands-on Authentic American Adventures that truly immerse visitors in the destination. From surf fishing to horse-riding, juke joints and jazz clubs, the USA offers cultural immersion and outdoor experiences to remember. 

 New EnglandCraft your own sustainable cedar surfboards or hike the high mountain huts to fully immerse yourself in New England.  In Maine, create your own surfboards with Grain Surfboards, offering beautiful, artisan crafted sustainable solutions in board-making. A 5-day workshop camp provides all materials with seasoned instructors guiding the way. While in the area, also check out the beautiful nearby beaches to christen your new creation, then splurge on some local seafood and a micro beer in the local charming towns.  A deep-rooted tradition in Europe, hut-to-hut hiking is still a relatively new experience in the United States. Its oldest and best-known system is in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where the Appalachian Mountain Club built its first hut in 1888. The high mountain huts in the Presidential Range are separated from one another by a day’s hike. Experience this unique hike and enjoy the camaraderie, good food, and restful sleep these shelters provide.

Louisiana
 
From the great outdoors to unique cultural traditions, Louisiana offers diverse experiences to keep visitors entertained. Discover the joy of surf fishing. Casting a line from sandy beaches or wading into the warm Gulf waters is a fun way to experience the Louisiana coastline. The beaches that stretch along Grand Isle are ideal locations to begin Surf fishing. Grand Isle State Park is the only state-owned and operated beach on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, and local biologists believe its waters hold more than 280 different species of fish, making it a prime destination for surf fishing enthusiasts. To truly explore Louisiana’s cultural heritage is to immerse yourself in Cajun and Creole culture. Head to Buck and Johnny’s in Breaux Bridge for their famous Zydeco Breakfast. Between bites of classic Louisiana dishes, move your feet to lively zydeco music. In Lafayette, visit the Blue Moon Saloon for a wide variety of Cajun and zydeco bands. Since its opening in 2001, it has become one of America’s premier venues for Cajun music. 

San Antonio

Experiences like no other await visitors in San Antonio, from caving adventures to interactive cooking classes.  For a hands-on experience in the city known for its culinary innovations, discover and master the art of ceviche making atPullman Market. Visitors can learn the secrets behind crafting fresh, flavourful ceviche from scratch. An interactive class which is guided by experts, teaches everything from how to expertly fillet a fish to the art of the flavour blend.  Thrill-seekers can explore Natural Bridge Caverns, a world-renowned show cave series consisting of two spectacular caverns. The Discovery Cavern, the largest in Texas has a choice of three levels of caving experience from easy to extreme.

Mississippi
 
Immerse yourself in the music and food which are the heart and soul of Mississippi… Experience the Birthplace of America’s Music and visit the Juke Joints in Clarksdale for a true Delta blues experience including Reds, Ground Zero Blues Club, Bad Apple Blues Club and Hambone Arts & Music. Clarksdale, Mississippi is known as the birthplace of the blues and Morgan Freeman’s co-owned blues club, Ground Zero, will be celebrating 25-years this year. There are many other live music venues throughout the state including Hal & Mal’s historic bar in Jackson with their Blues Monday and Under-The-Hill-Saloon in Natchez in one of the oldest buildings in the area with live music on weekends.  The Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood, Mississippi, is home to the Viking Cooking School where you can learn to cook delicious Southern cuisine! Experiences include Tamales and Sangria, Delta Dinner and Blues, and Southern Specialties from the hit movie “The Help”.  The Viking Cookery School run classes all year round for those who wish to indulge their passion for good food and fun! 
 

Tupelo
Dive into Tupelo’s engaging and charming hands-on experiences that bring the city’s culture to life.   Queen’s Reward Meadery, is the first and only meadery in the state, where visitors can learn how mead is made, sample a drink in the tasting room, and then pick up a bottle. All the honey is locally sourced from beekeepers who take as much pride in their craft as these mead makers do in making the local produce with a sip of southern hospitality. The owner, Jeri Carter, started experimenting with making mead after previously making homemade wines as a hobby. They entered two of their meads in a national competition and won both so they thought they would do something that had not been done before…bring the whole experience of mead to Mississippi!  When visiting Tupelo, you’ll tour the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum as part of the Elvis’ Tupelo Driving Tour. Other highlights include the former Tupelo Hardware Company , where Elvis bought his first guitar in 1945, Johnnie’s Drive-In,where you can even enjoy your lunch in the Elvis booth, the Lyric Theatre, where Elvis would go to watch Westerns, plus 13 other places of interest. This is the best way to find out more about the King of Rock n Roll before he found fame!  

Tucson
 
The wide open spaces, and the Sonoran Desert make for the best saddle and stars experiences. One of the best ways to experience the Sonoran Desert is on horseback with riding lessons and wrangler-guided trips with trailside meals available for all skill levels. At the White Stallion Ranch, visitors can reconnect with nature and serenity by surrounding themselves with the desert mountains and cactus that have brought Hollywood filmmakers to the ranch for over 70 years.  A journey to the stars, Tucson’s Astro Trail links stargazing experiences from campus to mountaintops to national and state parks. For a guided, hands-on stargazing outing, book the University of Arizona’s SkyNights program at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, which sits above 9,100 feet.  As darkness blankets the sky, peer through state-of-the-art telescopes – the largest dedicated public telescopes in the Southwest – and discover the breathtaking beauty of distant galaxies, vibrant nebulae, neighbouring planets, and other awe-inspiring celestial wonders. 

Boston
    
A range of waterside experiences await visitors in America’s city by the sea.  With a combination of over 30 islands rich in history, walking trails, and beauty, the Boston Harbor Islands are a fascinating location for hiking. Different trails provide pathways and terrains characterised by coastal paths and gentle hills, ideal for hiking and outdoor exploration Perfect for a group experience, hop aboard Boston Duck Tours and enjoy a fully narrated, historic tour of Boston in a “DUCK”, a WWII style amphibious landing craft that travels on land and water. You’ll cruise by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts, before the tour gets waterborne on the Charles River for a breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines.  

Tennessee
 
Nature, lore and the rugged landscape provide a stunning backdrop for some great experiences in Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountains offer hiking, wildlife, and scenic bike rides. To experience the tranquillity of the Smokies, cycle the Townsend Out-and-Back, a local favourite that offers a refreshing break from strenuous climbs in and around Townsend. Join the locals and pedal your way through this hidden gem in the heart of the mountains.  For travellers drawn to the eerie and unexpected, Tennessee offers an immersive journey into one of America’s most notorious former prisons. Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, once home to some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, now welcomes visitors to explore its haunting history through guided tours, paranormal experiences, and interactive events. Known as ‘The End of the Line’, the prison operated for more than a century in the mountains of East Tennessee and has become a magnet for ghost hunters and history enthusiasts alike. Visitors can walk through abandoned cell blocks, hear chilling stories from former guards and inmates, and experience the atmosphere of a site long associated with unexplained sightings and supernatural encounters. Surrounded by the rugged landscapes of East Tennessee, Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary delivers a uniquely immersive experience where true crime, history and mystery collide in unforgettable fashion   
Immerse yourself in voodoo history and the vibrant culture of the French Quarter to truly experience the Crescent City, where every street tells a story.

Historical, colourful, and nocturnal, Bourbon Street is the heart of the party in the Big Easy. The street music, historic architecture, and nightlife experiences offer a high-energy immersion in the city’s identity. Experience live jazz music and dance the night away at Fritzel’s European Jazz Club, located in an almost 200-year-old building.  The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is a great stop in the French Quarter to learn about the city’s voodoo history. Discover rituals, voodoo altars, and artefacts from Africa, Haiti, and old New Orleans. Take an educational tour of Voodoo in New Orleans with Haunted History Tours, Island of Algiers Tours, or Free Tours by Foot.  https://www.neworleans.com/blog/post/bespoke-travel-experiences-in-new-orleans/    
Wide-open greenways and a thriving culinary scene make Raleigh a destination apt for engaging experiences. Stretching across the city, the Neuse River Greenway Trail—a 30-mile paved, uninterrupted greenway is a year-round haven for outdoor recreation. With views of historic sites as well as winding boardwalk areas and suspension bridges crossing over wetlands, the trail is open to walkers, runners, cyclists, roller-bladers and others. Biking the greenway is truly immersive especially in Autumn with peak fall colours arriving.  With more than 350 beers on tap, passionate mind Niall Hanley’s Raleigh Beer Garden has one of the world’s largest beer selections. Located in downtown Raleigh’s Glenwood South entertainment district, the venue has plenty of outdoor space, including a rooftop garden with seating that makes it the perfect setting to try the variety this unique place has to offer.  www.visitRaleigh.com

 
With Maverick Helicopters, flying becomes an immersive way to explore the world from above. The Grand Canyon Wind Dancer Tour lets you fly for over 10 miles across the majestic Grand Canyon. Depart from the Las Vegas Strip for an exhilarating flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Mojave Desert en route to the canyon. Highlights include aerial views of Temple Rock and Fortification Hill, an extinct volcano, offering a dramatic and unforgettable perspective of the American Southwest The Catalina Explorer lets you discover the best of Catalina on this all-encompassing aerial tour over California’s island escape. This 20-minute helicopter tour departs from Pebbly Beach, showcasing the island’s rugged interior, coastal cliffs, and largely untouched natural landscapes across its 22-mile stretch, an efficient and captivating way to experience this Pacific island getaway.