18 days in Continental USA Itinerary

A state with two distinct faces, Washington features a landscape split apart by the Cascade Mountains, separating the damp forested areas to the west from the irrigated farmland to the east. Named after the country's first president, Washington is the second most populous state in the western United States. Nearly 60 percent of its population lives in the Seattle metropolitan area, one of the state's most popular holiday destinations. A land of over 1,000 dams, Washington is a leading producer of products as diverse as wine, lumber, apples, hops, pears, and potatoes. A big contributor to the nation's manufacturing industries, the state also boasts a cosmopolitan culture with plenty of sightseeing opportunities and a selection of small cafes, bars, and restaurants.

A land of many faces, Oregon is at once a state of rugged rocky coastlines and deep forests, as well as vibrant cities and small towns packed with award-winning restaurants and trendy shops. With nearly half of its land covered by dense fir, redwood, and pine forests, the state protects varied plant and animal life inside three national parks. In addition to pristine waterfalls, beaches, and lakes perfect for a holiday in nature, Oregon also offers numerous urban tourist attractions. Portland, the state's largest metropolis, notably includes more breweries than any other city in the world, and its central location makes it an ideal base for day trips to Oregon's emerging wine region and many parks.

The mountainous state of Idaho houses some of the country's largest stretches of unspoiled nature. There are plenty of opportunities for adventurous holidays here, with rapids, canyons, snow-capped mountains, expansive lakes, and waterfalls higher than Niagara Falls. Those on vacation with access to a car can enjoy some of the most scenic drives in the nation while traversing Idaho's rugged landscape. Boise, the state's capital and most populous city, provides cultural attractions such as museums, galleries, and theater. The students of Boise State University contribute to the city's vibrant and growing nightlife scene.

Still largely undiscovered by foreign tourism, Wyoming is anything but "the bunchgrass edge of the world," as a writer once called it. Though the state's geography includes mostly wide-open plains, swaths of high desert, and sweeping mountain ridges, it also contains many small towns filled with places to visit, such as historical buildings, museums, shops, and restaurants. A great place to discover the last vestiges of the Old West, Wyoming's tourist attractions include the country's first national park, Native American reservations, and a smattering of ghost towns from the early frontier days. As you travel across this "Cowboy State," remember that distances between towns can be vast, requiring more advance vacation planning than travel in more densely populated parts of the country.

Famous for the cliffside monuments of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial, South Dakota is a land of Old West history, American Indian culture, and impressive natural wonders. Get to know the state's diverse and breathtaking landscape with a trip through Custer National Park, with a herd of 1,300 free-roaming bison, or by traversing the dramatic peaks of Badlands National Park near the Black Hills. Allow time in your itinerary to visit the state's largest city, Sioux Falls, for shopping, dining, and entertainment options, as well as a number of museums and historical attractions.