A trip to the American West is a special experience. Between the national parks where some of the landscapes have remained close to the Wild West era and the gigantic cities where you can enjoy a variety of activities, there is so much to discover that a single stay is not enough. For all those who wish to make a first stay in this part of the United States which continues to attract more and more travelers, nature lovers or fans of cities with such special atmospheres, here are 10 places not to be missed that Lidl Voyages recommends us. If a trip to the American West is reminiscent of the gold rush, there are many treasures waiting for visitors in search of a change of scenery
Arches National Park
Let's start this Top 10 with a first national park, the Arches National Park in Utah. This 300 km2 territory offers almost the feeling of being in a science fiction movie. Erosion has indeed sculpted the rocks, and in particular the more than 2,000 natural arches that have been recorded, which, depending on the position of the sun, reveal unique colours. For example, don't miss the Delicate Arch and its unusual location on the edge of a canyon. The best time to reach the park is in the late afternoon, when the sun sets, the spectacle offered on the arches and the landscape on the horizon is simply magical
The Grand Canyon
There are no words strong enough to describe the impression one gets when joining the Grand Canyon on a tour in the United States with Lidl Voyages. This is not surprising when you know that you are then in a landscape that is part of the closed club of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Grand Canyon National Park is an open-air geological museum, a huge fault that was carved by the Colorado River and is now a World Heritage Site. During a hike, do not hesitate to go to the best viewpoints, to admire the variation of the landscape and the red-orange colours of the rocks. The Grand Canyon commands respect and admiration as much as it intrigues.
Sequoia National Park
It's hard to feel smaller than when you're in the heart of Sequoia National Park. It's simple, it offers all the pleasures of a walk in the forest, except that in reality, we are on the territory that shelters the largest trees on the planet! You take the road that cuts through the treetops and raise your head as often as possible until you reach a phenomenon of nature: the General Sherman Tree. This tree, 2,200 years old, is quite simply the largest living organism found on earth, with its 84 metres in height and 31 metres in circumference. This beautiful national park is also home to many animals, including the unmistakable black bear.
San Francisco
Now it's time to make way for one of the most fascinating urban areas to be found in the United States. In San Francisco, people love to stroll through its different neighborhoods, from Chinatown to the unmistakable Castro. There are also the different places that make the city famous around the world. Lombard Street, the most winding road in the world, Fisherman's Wharf, home of sea lions, the imposing Golden Gate Bridge and the top of the hill in Alamo Square to see the Victorian houses. San Francisco is also a cultural city with many museums, including MoMA and the Academy of Sciences. And then you don't leave the city without having reached the Twin Peaks, which offer a sublime panorama of the city and its bay
Monument Valley
This unmistakable landscape of the American West, with its vast sandstone mounds, is world-famous for being the location of many Westerns. One is surprised by its geomorphological formations and also by its vast desert areas. There are different roads to take by car to enjoy sublime panoramas, but those who wish can opt for a horseback ride, one of the most authentic ways to get lost in this magical place. There are also different viewpoints to reach such as Elephant Butte and John Ford Point Overlook. A ride can also lead to the traditional dwellings of the Navajo Indians, who are always happy to greet people passing by, in the greatest of mutual respect.
Las Vegas
Do we still need to introduce Las Vegas? City of excess, of all excesses, we take the time to go crazy in its casinos during a stroll on the Strip, the famous boulevard. The hotel-casinos, the Bellagio or the Caesars Palace, offer different worlds. You can go from a Venetian atmosphere to the terraces of Parisian cafés in just a few meters. Las Vegas is also the ideal city for shopping and in the evening to go to one of the theatres to attend a show. Great artists from all over the world regularly drop their suitcases there for successive concerts and musicals enchant fans of the genre
Zion National Park
This is one of the national parks in the western United States that we don't necessarily hear the most about, and yet it is worth the detour. Its specificity is that it reveals itself from the bottom and that it is generally necessary to hike several hours to discover its wonders. The formation of the rocks and their colours are as impressive as in other large national parks. A hike leads visitors over paths where the aridity gives way here and there to the presence of vegetation. One is also often led to cross small rivers on foot, without any danger, to continue the path. By being attentive to the environment, one also crosses the path of the local fauna, deer and squirrels. Along the walls, climbing enthusiasts have plenty of dizzying moments to look forward to!
Horshoe Bend
Horshoe Bend is located in Arizona, about 6.5 km south of Page. It is a meander of the Colorado River and one of the natural sights of the American West that should not be missed under any circumstances. Its particularity is that it is shaped like a horseshoe, hence its name. Once you have reached one of the best viewpoints after a walk, you simply enjoy the spectacle of the surrounding cliffs, which change colour depending on the time of day. The river, which flows several hundred metres below, also changes colour from blue to green. Horshoe Bend has the power to capture the attention of travellers for a very long time
Los Angeles
The City of Angels owes its reputation throughout the world for being the city of cinema. It's hard not to dream once in your life of conquering its main roads to see the famous Hollywood Sign shine or head for Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. You can also visit Beverly Hills and the unmissable Rodeo Drive, home to some of the world's most luxurious boutiques. Los Angeles, apart from the cinema and the possibility of visiting the Hollywood Universal Studios, is also a cultural city with the presence of museums, including the Getty Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. And then, with a mild climate over a large part of the year, the Pacific is the other element that calls travellers to Venice Beach or the friendly beaches of Santa Monica.
Bryce Canyon National Park
This national park offers breathtaking scenery! Bryce Canyon gathers rocky needles whose red-orange colours are sublimated at sunset. It is an ideal place to hike, with many trails on offer and different levels of difficulty. Once the bag is filled with food and water, you must head for the most beautiful viewpoints, Bryce Point View or Sunset Point. Among the natural curiosities to be seen are Thor's hammer and the different natural arches. A panorama offered on the hoodoos of Bruce Canyon National Park intrigues as much as it fascinates.
