Big skies, big cars and big dreams – the United States of America is a destination with enormous possibilities for the international traveller. So why think small in terms of your next holiday?  If, let’s say, you’d like to spend six nights in the USA this year, there’s no need to restrict yourself to the city where you land. In fact there’s no need to restrict yourself to cities at all, with many of the country’s magnificent National Parks within easy reach of its soaring skyscrapers.  Take Orlando for example – famed for its theme parks and resorts. From here, you could be swimming in the natural springs of Ocala National Forest within a mere hour and a half. The same is true across Florida, with Biscayne National Park and its waterside camping 50 minutes from the night clubs of Miami, while the Everglades wetlands are an equally short drive from the beaches and restaurants of Fort Lauderdale.  “Wherever you fly to, every destination puts a wealth of options directly on your doorstep”  Florida isn’t the only place where you can embrace the great outdoors from America’s great cities. Take Las Vegas, Nevada – from the razzle-dazzle of the Strip a wealth of natural riches is within range, from the vastness of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the ‘Hoodos’, the red-rock spires of Bryce Canyon (main picture), just across the Utah border.  Of course the major metropolises have their fair share of urban oases. In Massachusetts, visit Boston’s famous Common – the nation’s first city park – and in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia’s sprawling Fairmount Park is much larger than New York City’s Central Park and home to myriad attractions, including the country’s oldest zoo.  Both Boston and Philadelphia can be combined easily with New York City in a week-long East Coast itinerary, with plenty of time to explore the National Parks of New York Harbour too, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  If you want to explore New England, then Boston – gateway to the region’s pretty towns and countryside – is an excellent choice. From here, the cliffscapes and Gilded Age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, are a mere 70 miles to the south, while the green hills and mountains of Vermont are two hours north.  If music’s your thing, two of the USA’s biggest hits – Nashville and Austin – are easily compatible with two of its resurgent stars – the port of Memphis and the shopping mecca of Dallas – not to mention impressive State and National Parks across both Tennessee and Texas.  Wherever you fly to, every destination puts a wealth of options and surprises directly on your doorstep. Whether it’s landscapes, coasts, forests, mountains or cities that you want, you don’t have to choose. In the USA, you can truly have it all.  To plan your trip to the USA and discover more ideas on destinations and beyond, see VisitTheUSA.co.uk/holidays
There’s no need to spend your US trip in one place. Take a look at some of the best gateway cities and start planning your next big adventure