What to pack for America - A kit list that doesn't require you to be Mr Muscle!
What to pack for America - Bags
Rucksacks are the bag of choice for most travellers, mainly because you simply throw them on your back, and also because the straps make it easy to attach the things that won't fit inside - like an extra pair of shoes.
Make sure you buy one with strong seams, and preferably one with a waterproof cover.
What to pack for America - Documents It might not be your bulkiest item, but without your passport you ain't going anywhere.
Be sure to make a few photocopies, and pack one in the luggage you carry on, one in you checked-in luggage and a third one in a prominent place at home.
Putting all documents into something waterproof will stop them going soggy should something in your bag leak, or you get caught in the rain.
America's deserts, cities and mountains make for the ultimate road trip so make sure you pack both parts of your driving licence.
What to pack for America - Clothes The sheer size of America makes it difficult to categorise the weather - six climate zones span its 50 states, so what you pack depends on where you plan to go. As a general rule, layers that you can pull on or peel off are better than a thick jumper. Jeans are hardwearing but have an uncanny ability to soak up water; combat trousers are a good alternative.
Remember that it'll probably get colder at night, and that churches are likely to ask you to cover your shoulders and legs.
What to pack for America - Shoes Your new white flip flops might look beautiful but they probably won't get you through a hard day's sightseeing. The design of walking sandals has improved considerably over the last few years, and the comfort factor is well worth it. Trainers or walking boots are a wise choice for colder weather or the mountains; breaking them in beforehand will (hopefully) get any first-time blisters out of the way.
What to pack for America - Towel Big heavy one versus tiny light one. Travel-size towels have been criticised for being as useful as tea towels and although a full-size one takes up valuable rucksack space, it's usually worth the sacrifice to be able to dry off properly. Pack a couple of carrier bags to put wet towels or clothes in.
What to pack for America - Camera Brooklyn Bridge, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls - all things you'll watch to capture in a photo. Guard you camera with your life, take your charger and as many batteries and memory cards as you can and store your film or memory cards carefully. The photo processing machines that have popped up all over the world mean you can put your photos on a CD to be extra sure.
What to pack for America - Toiletries Travel-sized lotions and potions are a dubious bargain, as they generally cost more, comparatively, than the full-size versions and will run out more quickly. (The exception, if you want to pack it, is shaving foam.)
If you do run out of stuff, you're likely to find your usual brands or something very similar on the shelves of American stores.
What to pack for America - First aid kit Some people are happy to adopt a buy if needed policy to first aid items but it's not a bad idea to pack a few basics. Scissors, plasters, painkillers and travel sickness remedies (particularly if you plan to take a lot of buses) can all come in handy.
What to pack for America - Guide books An up to date guide book can save you hours by telling you when trains stop running or which days museum close. Just make sure you don't treat it as the Bible - half the fun of travelling is discovering a place on your own. It's always sensible to double check information in case things have changes since the book was published, too.
What to pack for America - Pen and something to write on Useful for recording information, from addresses to bus times to emails of new friends. Also good for writing postcards - in Central Park, for example.
What to pack for America - Entertainment A book or iPod can fill many an hour at an airport or on a bus. Some hostels have book exchanges so you can swap once you've finished, as long as you haven't packed a first edition. A pack of cards is also a good bet, and useful as a social icebreaker.
What to pack for America - Adapter America has its own plug, and you'll need an adapter if you want to charge your phone or iPod.
Other bits and bobs to pack for America
A padlock - Invaluable in hostels, which often provide lockers but charge you to hire a padlock. If it comes with duplicate keys, give one to a friend or put them in different bags.
Safety pins - Small, insignificant items that have countless uses: holding together a bag, clothes, attaching things to your bag etc., etc.
A sheet - Taking your own will save you money in hostels, which charge for to hire them, and will be a godsend should you be worried about a hostel's cleaning standards. Sheet envelopes - a sheet sewn into a sleeping bag shape - are available or you can sew your own.
Flip-flops - Can make showering more pleasant if the bathroom floor looks dubious!
40 trips have been found based on your filter/sort
The Freedom Trail offers you the highlights of the East Coast, from historic cities to the Appalachian Mountains, quaint small-town flavour to the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls. Learn of the rich history and experience the modern big cities and amazing beauty of this region.
If you have no plans for your summer, why not spend a few months working in the USA? This option is available to anyone presently at university and you are given the freedom to find your own job in the USA (except working with children and in healthcare).
An exciting adventure tour of the highlights of the American West with lodging included. Take in the stunning Yosemite National Park, the world famous Grand Canyon and the glamorous city of Las Vegas.
Cultivate your interest in botany and nature on the paradisiacal Island of Kauai. You’ll help the flora thrive by carrying out tasks such as planting native species and clearing trials in the Hawaiian forests.
Help protect some of America’s most beautiful lakes, mountains, deserts and national parks. You’ll build dry stonewalls and create trails that won’t spoil the scenery, and then camp under the stars at night!
Work with orphaned, injured and often very cute wildlife! Bottle-feed fawns and take care of baby squirrels, baby opossums and many other creatures. You can also put any carpentry or mechanics knowledge to good use.
Are you currently in university? Not sure how you are going to survive next year without working this summer? Take this easy option and we will find a job for you! Jobs are in the fields of kitchen help, maintenance, amusement parks, sales, service work and housekeeping.
A guaranteed offer of a paid job that will allow you to spend up to a year in Canada. We take the stress out of getting a visa and offer work in retail, catering, hospitality and lots more.
Mentor excited and enthusiastic youngsters as they make friends and have new adventures. You could lead them in anything from crafts to extreme sports! Use your free time to explore Canada’s spectacular and varied scenery.
Are looking to gain international experience in the Arts? This J1 Arts programme is perfect for young professionals with a dedication to their field of arts and culture who wish to gain more experience in the USA for up to 18 months.
Visit the great cities of New York, Washington and Chicago with big doses of nature in between. The Great Smoky Mountains, Mammonth Caves and Niagara Falls await!
Choose a volunteer project that lets you put your skills to use: therapeutic horse riding or sailing, volunteering in a school or gallery, nature and wildlife conservation, or a specially requested project. Explore British Columbia in your free time.
Work with some of the rarest groups of gibbons - small, endangered apes. Through this project, you can get involved with all aspects of their care and efforts to keep them from extinction.
This regional tour of Western Canada will take you to the best national parks including Yoho, Banff, Jasper and Wells Grey. Enjoy an amazing wildnerness canoe trip and finish the tour with a 2 night stop in the eclectic Vancouver.
Help care for exotic animals such as leopards, tigers, bears, cougars and wolves, which have been abused, neglected or orphaned. You’ll stay in the sanctuary grounds, near stunning beaches and Everglades National Park.
Help change people’s opinions of wolves and wolf dogs, and care for those that have been neglected and abused. Take the chance to to discover the attractions of rural New Mexico too.
This unique tour takes you on an adventure through the American Rockies from top to bottom. Experience the mountains, national parks, deserts, cities and cowboy country.
This tour from New York to Los Angeles is a perfect blend of large cities, small towns, spectacular scenery and National Parks. A great tour to explore America at it’s best from east to west.
This tour from New York to Los Angeles is a perfect blend of large cities, small towns and spectacular scenery and National Parks. A great tour to explore America at it’s best from east to west.
This tour is ideal for travellers who want to experience the splendours of the American North. This tour offers the perfect blend of cities and national parks from coast to coast.
From the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean through the beauty of Canada! Visit the great cities of Toronto and Vancouver and the stunning Jasper, Banff and Yoho National Parks.
Take an 8-day trip of a lifetime through one of the most spectacular natural features on Earth. You’ll sail on a motorised raft, passing desert scenery and waterfalls and stopping off to explore the sights.
On this Pacific Coast and national park tour you’ll explore the 3 major Mountain Ranges of the American West- The Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and Rocky Mountains. You will also visit the deserts, cities, forests and canyons that make this area famous.
Live ranch life to the full with activities such as horse riding, cattle gathering, branding, trail riding and ranch chores. Campfires and scenery straight from the big screen make it perfect for horse-loving travellers!
See the best of the northern USA from New York City to Los Angeles. This 28 day tour covers more of the great north than you ever thought possible in a single trip
Experience the down home charm of the deep South, visit the Nations Capital, Washington DC, the canyons of the desert southwest, the beaches and sunshine of Florida and the nightlife, National Parks and wildlife of the West.
Experience true Canada as you learn to manage your own team of beautiful traditional huskies through the real Canadian wilderness. You are in for an authentic winter adventure and one not to be forgotten.
Gain a qualification that will allow you to instruct in North America, Europe and Australasia while honing your skills on the beautiful slopes of Vancouver Island. The perfect start to a career in winter sports!
On this grand 64-day tour you will visit 29 US states and 2 Canadian provinces. You will visit quaint towns and large bustling cities. You will explore this continent's breathtaking National Parks and unspoilt scenery - on this once in a lifetime adventure.
Learn how to ride and instruct horse-riding Western style! You will gain qualifications in Western Performance Horse Riding in the stunning surroundings of Canada's Laurentian Mountain Range.
Get the qualifications you need to work as a ski instructor in Europe, North America and Australasia. Ski on the powdery slopes of the Canadian coast, improving your technique and making contacts to help you find work.
