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Does a US National Parks Pass save you money?

The US National Parks are one of the country’s biggest attractions, with 59 different sites featuring landscapes from deserts and glaciers to caves and coral reefs. And that’s before you get started on the hundreds of US state parks, national forests, monuments and recreation areas. Read more

Where the West was filmed: Utah’s Little Hollywood

Even if you’ve never been to Utah, you’ll recognise its landscapes. They’ve appeared on screen hundreds of times in films and TV series, from Westerns to thrillers and comedies. Read more

Making new Best Friends at the US’ biggest animal sanctuary

My family have always had cats, but with moving around and living in rental properties until recently I’ve not been able to have my own. But any chance I get to spend some time with them I do – so the opportunity to spend an afternoon with 700 wasn’t to be missed. Read more

In pictures: Peering over the edge of Horseshoe Bend

Called a mini Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend in Arizona is a perfect meandering arc of the Colorado River that has cut its way down through the sandstone over million of years. Located not far from the town of Page, a dusty roadside path leads you uphill through the sand and down the other side. Read more

Reviewed: O Bar O Cabins, Durango

When you’re doing a road trip, each different destination and hotel can pass by in a bit of a blur as you’re constantly moving from place to place. So when I was planning my southwest USA route I wanted to make sure we had a few longer stays where we could stay put and unwind for a while. Read more

The mysteries of Mesa Verde

In an area of the southwest USA that’s crammed with National Parks, Mesa Verde is the odd one out. Why? Because the environment being preserved here isn’t a natural one dating back millions of years, but a man-made one which only dates back a few hundred years. Read more

Tips for road-tripping the southwest USA on a budget

The American southwest is one of the classic road trip destinations. You’ve got National Parks, Wild West landscapes, Native American history and Route 66 roadside kitsch – all along the roads that criss-cross the states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Read more

In pictures: Monument Valley

The southwest USA is a region packed with spectacular landscapes, but they don’t get more iconic than Monument Valley. You almost expect to see John Wayne appear from between the towering rocks on his horse at any moment as you drive through the valley. Read more

Guns, greed and glamour: Las Vegas and the Mob Museum

‘I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse’ – from classic films like The Godfather, Goodfellas and Casino, to the new TV series Boardwalk Empire, people are fascinated by the world of the Mafia. And nowhere in America is the history of the Mob so entwined with a city as it is in Las Vegas. Read more

Las Vegas does the world

Over the last 20 years I’ve visited 35 different countries, covering thousands of miles and spending a scary amount of money to see the world. But little did I know that I could’ve just skipped all that hassle and ticked off some of the most famous sights from Europe, the USA and beyond in just an afternoon in Las Vegas! Read more