Spring or Autumn in LA, Las Vegas and the National Parks

Los Angeles is a total clash of cultures where everything is supersized and a car is a must. Greater Los Angeles stretches for over 60 miles of sandy beaches. The city's beauty lies in its prime location: The city lies on a coastal plain at the base of hills. To the west is Hollywood, and Hollywood Boulevard runs through these hills and Beverly Hills. think sparkling waters and never-ending beaches bathed in glorious sunshine. On the itinerary - Discover L.A. with your guide an artist, who has lived in L.A for years. Together, discover UCLA, the famous university, Hollywood Boulevard, film stars' houses, and Downtown L.A., which has become the city's new beating heart thanks to the arrival of artists and designers who have taken over the old warehouses. The next day, head to Universal Studios, Hollywood's most famous film lot. The original film studios date back to 1915 and are still used for movies and TV shows today but are also now a theme park: a must for any family trip. The rides inspired by the big American blockbusters, from 'King Kong' to 'Jaws', are spectacular. And, if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a show being filmed. Optional - Surfing lesson in Malibu.

There's only one road for travelling between these two iconic locations. It takes about five hours, with Barstow on the legendary Route 66 or the ghost town of Calico as possible pit stops. See who is first to spot the first casinos and neon lights as they appear on the horizon after driving through the Mojave desert. Spend two nights in a hotel in the north of the Strip, featuring a pirates and Treasure Island theme in an urban, trendy style.

and get in on the game. Roll the dice or walk the city's famous Strip, checking out the array of themed hotels and casinos along with the eclectic mix of people while soaking up the contradiction of elegance and eccentricity that makes Vegas a one off. Included in the itinerary - Tickets for the Las Vegas observation wheel, the largest in the world. It overlooks the city from a height of 550ft and offers the best views of the Strip from one of its 28 air-conditioned capsules, each taking up to 40 people. Optional - Tickets for a Cirque du Soleil or other performance.

Take the desert road to Mount Carmel, at the entrance to Zion National Park (three hours). Worth a visit, en route - At the entrance to St. George, Snow Canyon State Park offers stunning scenery: black expanses of lava flows make it a truly striking sight to behold. Spend two nights in a comfortable hotel: the wooden bungalows are located in a luscious green prairie, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding ochre rock.

Zion, famous for its deep canyons dug by the Virgin River and its tributaries, is a leafy national park and home to imposing mountains, sandstone cliffs, narrow canyons, maple and poplar forests and rock arches soaring to the sky. In the itinerary - Trekking in the Narrows, one of the narrowest parts of the Virgin River - a real adventure.

Follow the scenic road that winds between the rocks and seems to undulate under the cliffs towards Bryce Canyon National Park, where the hundreds of flamboyant fairy chimneys are an impressive sight. Continue to Page and spend a night in a comfortable hotel opposite Lake Powell, the largest artificial lake in the United States. The lake is 186 miles long, has 96 canyons and 1,960 miles of coastline, and is one of the American West's most iconic sights.

Road to Monument Valley (approx. three hours) via Hopi and Navajo Indian Reserves. Drive and take in the orange monoliths and buttes in the distance in a scene that's straight out of the westerns of our childhoods. 'Stagecoach', directed by John Ford, was in part responsible for turning this into arguably the most iconic national park in the American West. In the 22nd minute of 'Stagecoach', a stagecoach pulled by six horses is galloping through a desert valley, raising clouds of dust that blind the cavalry escorting it, while, off camera and behind the monoliths, Geronimo and his men prepare an attack. Spend a night in one of the park's only hotels, a former bar established in the 1920s and featured in numerous westerns, and for good reason: its first owner, Harry Goulding, attracted guests to this desert corner and introduced John Ford to Monument Valley. In 1939, John Ford released 'Stagecoach' starring John Wayne. In the itinerary - Go trekking in Antelope Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by erosion, and explore the beautiful undulating curves. The most photographed sight in the American West and a world of fascinating beauty. In the afternoon, explore Monument Valley in a 4x4 with a private guide, and visit areas that aren't accessible to the general public for the most spectacular views.

Head to the Grand Canyon, one of Planet Earth's most impressive geological phenomena. Explore the 227-mile long and 18-mile wide fault on foot – a glass walkway means visitors can experience the edge of the precipice safely – the scale of this immense canyon can feel truly humbling. Optional - Fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter – arguably the best way to take in the sheer immensity of the place. After a few minutes above the pine forests, you literally plunge into the void in the heart of the immense Grand Canyon.

Head to Phoenix - Pinewood forests are gradually replaced by Arizona's cacti and deserts while temperatures soar. Worth a visit, en route - Sedona, the heart of Red Rock Country, surrounded by immense red and gold pillars, vast table topped mesas, mineral columns and buttes – the city owes its development to this rugged terrain: they have in the past inspired the imagination of scriptwriters for westerns, and today attract a new-age community in search of mystical energy and spiritual well-being. Jerome, a ghost city from the era of the Wild West, is also well worth a visit. Spend two nights in Phoenix in a family-friendly resort with large swimming pools and guaranteed sunshine, the perfect end to your trip against a Wild West backdrop of giant Saguaro cacti.