USA Travel: Westerner Tour

Day 1 San Francisco

Grab a window seat for the drive past the pink, white and red rocks of Zion National Park en route to Vegas. Why not bet a dollar on black and end the adventure with a casino cocktail.

Day 2 Santa Cruz

Travel down the West Coast to Santa Cruz, a university town with a boardwalk of dreams.

Day 3 Monterey

Travel to Monterey and perhaps drop into the world-class aquarium to see sharks, sea otters and jellyfish frolic underwater.

Days 4-5 Los Angeles

With its Mediterranean architecture and star-studded phone book, Santa Barbara is the apple of the West Coast's eye. In LA, why not head to Universal Studios or see where the rich and famous reside in Malibu.

Day 6 San Diego

Opt to take a trip out to Coronado Island, hang ten at Ocean Beach, visit a museum or two in Balboa Park or enjoy a meal in Little Italy.

Day 7 Joshua Tree National Park

Let the mind drift while driving through the deserts of southern California; the rock formations and mountain ranges make for spectacular scenery.

Day 8 Grand Canyon

Come sunset, the rich colours of the canyon's ancient rocks deepen as the night sky falls, creating a palette of moody hues that are sure to move even the most road-weary traveller.

Day 9 Monument Valley

Travel through the Painted Desert to the Navajo Indian Reservation. Stop by the Navajo National Monument and learn about the ancient civilisation that inhabited a rock-hewn village. Head to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, most recognisable for its part in many Hollywood Westerns.

Days 10-11 Moab

Explore three of America's best national reserves: Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands and Arches. Hit the hiking tracks in any one of the parks or hire a bike and blaze along the many mountain trails that make this town so famous.

Days 12-13 Bryce Canyon National Park/ Zion National Park

Featuring mysterious rock formations, Bryce Canyon offers a bevy of bizarre landscapes, from the 'hoodoos' - totem pole-shaped structures piercing the badlands - to curious pinnacles and steeples. Zion National Park is a visual feast of red, pink and white rocks that are sure to amaze.

Days 14-15 Las Vegas

Last stop is Nevada's glitzy oasis, where showgirls, cocktails and Elvis meet to form a hub of hedonism, and where fame and fortune are always on the cards.