Multi-stop America holiday: coolest USA cities

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Austin, Texas   
• 3 nights Portland, Oregon           
• 3 nights Boulder, Colorado
• 4 nights Brooklyn, New York      

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. You’ll arrive in Austin later today, make your own way into the city and check into your hotel for three nights.

Included: International flight, hotel 

Days 2 and 3: Austin

On your first day in Austin, be sure to visit the State Capitol building, which is taller even than its counterpart in Washington DC, as well as stopping by the Bullock Museum to learn about the history of Texas, from the Alamo to the Kennedy Assassination. After that, most of Austin’s interest lies in its smokehouses, bars, jazz clubs and dance halls. Austin is obsessed with barbecue, from juicy ribs and brisket to mouth-watering pulled pork - get in the queue early and you might just score lunch at Franklin’s BBQ, known as one of the best spots in the country.

If you have time, try to fit in a football game at University of Texas campus here – thousands of fans dressed in orange cheering on the Longhorns is a spectacular sight! Go shopping for vinyl at Waterloo Records or find the perfect pair of cowboy boots at Allens. Finish your nights tapping your feet at one of the many different bars with live music, from rock and country to jazz and bluegrass before grabbing a late-night snack of fried chicken or tacos from one of the cities thriving food trucks.

Included: Hotel 

Day 4: Fly to Portland

Today you’ll make your own way to the airport for your next flight, over to Portland in Oregon. On arrival, you’ll head to your hotel and check in for three nights.

Included: Flight, hotel  

Days 5 and 6: Portland

Portland is a city that loves to eat – the best way to spend your time here is to hop between cafes, breweries and restaurants, tasting the delicious fare on offer. Portland champions ‘farm-to-fork’ food, grown in the lush farmland of Oregon and served up beautifully in restaurants like Clyde Common so why not enjoy lunch before taking a walk through the Hoyt Arboretum and stopping in at the popular Portland Zoo. Cafés here pride themselves on the flavour and presentation of their coffee, so you’ll have to try at least one coffee a day to get an idea of the intricate nature of Portland’s coffee culture. Later grab a snack from Voodoo Doughnuts before settling into one of Portland’s slick wine bars to try a few glasses of wine from the many vineyards of Oregon. On your second evening, we’ve included a craft beer tour of the city, visiting four breweries where you’ll taste some unusual ales, enjoy a hands-on beer lesson and learn what makes Portland really special.

Included: Hotel, craft beer tour               

Day 7: Fly to Denver

Enjoy your last morning in Portland with a coffee and cake at an independent café before making your own way to the airport in time for your flight to Denver. On arrival, you can pick up your hire car and drive an hour north to Boulder. We’ve included a rental car during your time here, so you can get out and explore the beautiful Rocky Mountains around Boulder. On arrival in the city, you’ll check into your hotel for three nights.

Included: Flight, hotel, rental car           

Days 8 and 9: Boulder

Boulder is a green, outdoorsy city, set in the heart of the mountains, with pretty streets and friendly locals. Explore the Pearl Street Mall, where art galleries and independent restaurants line four pedestrian streets nicknamed “The Bricks” and you can tuck into Boulder’s famous food scene – think fresh, local ingredients produced by chefs that know their suppliers well or even grow their produce themselves. If you want something more casual, there are always plenty of food carts along the street, perfect for a quick snack on the go. One highlight that you’d never expect to find in the Rockies is a small teahouse, shipped piece by piece from Tajikistan and named after Boulder’s sister city, Dushanbe, who gifted it to the citizens of Boulder. Under the intricate ceiling and vibrant walls painted blue, green and pink you can try traditional teas like White Jasmine and dig into a global menu including Persian and Tajik recipes.

Once you’ve had a day in the city, we’d recommend you head out into the mountains to explore the 45,000 acres of public lands that Boulder’s citizens set aside over 50 years ago. The most popular route is the Chautauqua Trail, perfect for a short hike or the Flatiron Trail, with views of the Rocky Mountains. You’ll have the car, so you could drive all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park, an hour north of the city and a haven for Boulderites who love the great outdoors.

Included: Hotel, rental car

Day 10: Fly to New York

Today is your last day in Boulder, so enjoy the morning here before driving back to Denver Airport in time for your flight to New York. On arrival, you’ll make your own way to Brooklyn, where you’ll check into your hotel for four nights.

Included: Flight, hotel  

Days 11 - 13: Brooklyn

We can’t lie, Brooklyn is one of the coolest areas of New York to explore. Often, UK visitors head over to Brooklyn on their second trip to New York, so this is perfect if you have already visited. However, if you haven’t made it over to the Big Apple before then don’t worry, we’ve given you three full days here to explore, so spend one of those in Manhattan, taking in Time’s Square, gazing at Warhol and Van Gough’s paintings at the MOMA and wandering through Greenwich Village.

Back in Brooklyn, head to Brooklyn Heights to wander amongst the Brownstones and try a slice of pizza at Grimaldi’s. Heading north, we’ve included a 2-hour walking tour of Williamsburg, a laid-back district of boutique shops and restored lofts. You’ll learn about Brooklyn’s industrial and artistic history, seeing street art, architecture and hipster cafes along the way. If you are around on a Saturday you could stop by Smorgasburg, a weekend street market on the waters edge with fantastic views of Manhattan.

In the spring, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are bedecked with pick blossoms as the cherry trees bloom but really, it’s beautiful all year round – tulips in May and a dusting of snow in winter. Head to Tom’s for a pancake breakfast and wander through Prospect Park before catching the train down to Coney Island for an afternoon at the beach. Try a hot dog at Nathan’s, explore the funfair and ride the pink and green wonder wheel which has stood for nearly a hundred years.

Included: Hotel, tour of Williamsburg

Day 14: Depart New York

You’ve come to the end of your city-hopping trip through America, taking in the mountains of Colorado, Texas barbecue, Oregon beer and Brooklyn delis. Today, you’ll make your own way to the airport in time for your flight home.

Included: International flight   

Day 15: Arrive UK    

Why not add a stopover in Reykjavik? The perfect addition to your journey home, this is another cool city to tick off your list - think handmade jumper shops, craft ales and locally grown food, and that’s all before you get out of the city to experience the Lagoons & Northern Lights of Reykjavik.