The United States offers travellers a vast array of possible holidays, from hiking in its picturesque national parks to partying hard in San Francisco or New York.

The great cities incorporate the usual amenities of bars, shops, clubs, restaurants and hotels, but each has its own unique character and a visit to New York is a very different experience to Memphis or Dallas.

New York is a must-see at least once in a lifetime, with the bustle, abrasive locals and glamour of Manhattan, its wealth of tourist sites, including the Staten Island Ferry, the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum, its excellent theatres and the shoppers’ havens of Fifth Avenue and Greenwich Village.

Other particular interesting cities to the east are Chicago, for its mob past, its pizza and its music, Boston, one of the nation’s oldest cities and still full of heritage, and Washington DC, the heart of American government and politics.

San Francisco's eclectic mix of literary heritage, cable cars, beautiful bay and myriad cultures makes it a great city to get lost in and, unlike most American cities, can be easily navigated on foot and by public transport. In nearby Nevada, Las Vegas is delightfully heady and close enough to the Grand Canyon to provide some natural respite from the bright lights and noise.

For those with enough time, Seattle and Portland have a West Coast laid-back charm, with great book stores, coffee shops and remnants of the area’s Native American past, while LA and its "plastic fantastic" people and culture offers a great insight into the American Dream.

For families, the States has a host of beach resorts along its 20,000km of coastline and the delights of Disney attractions on both the east and west shores. There are attractions for children in most destinations and the US is, on the whole, very child friendly. Americans still love the British accent and many are charming and keen to welcome new people.

Those more interested in something away from the city can sample the delights of the many picturesque towns dotted across the US. From Georgia, with its old-style southern hospitality, to the quaint 'Old England' towns of Massachusetts and Vermont, each state has its own cultural identity.

The stunning parks and natural wonders, such as Yellowstone, the Great Lakes, Big Bend in Texas, Alaska, the Smoky Mountains, the Badlands and the Arizona desert provide a mixture of fascinating flora and fauna combined with awesome vistas and extremes.

Food and shopping are two elements of most American holidays and souvenirs range from cheap, branded goods, to handmade, traditional crafts.

The US is famous for the size of its meals and whether you are tucking into steak, a traditional American breakfast, a salad, Tex Mex, or the food of any one of the many cultures that brought their cuisine there, it is generally plentiful, fresh and tasty.

With flights getting gradually cheaper, the US is becoming more affordable and visitors can return time and time again to the country for a different experience each time, from whale watching in Boston to the skyscrapers and excess of Dallas.