How well do you really know these cities in the USA? From visiting nostalgic film locations in Los Angeles to treating yourself at a dessert-themed museum in Chicago and staying in a grand former convent in New Orleans, you really can experience it all in the USA.
Los Angeles
Go for the nostalgia
The magic of Hollywood extends to every corner of LA, a city that feels like a giant movie set where buildings, streets and stretches of sand seem familiar. You’ll recognise Santa Monica Pier from its cameos in films including Forrest Gump and Iron Man. Become part of the scene by grabbing a root-beer float and riding the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park.
On the other side of the city, a 30-minute drive south of Downtown, The Princess and The Frog fans can catch Disneyland’s most advanced animatronics yet when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens this year. Looking for turrets and enchanted trains? Find them at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios, where Muggles can join an immersive broomstick ride through the halls of Hogwarts..
Discover the great outdoors
Take a break from LA’s urban sprawl by exploring the desert, ocean and mountains that lie right on its doorstep. Drive 20 minutes from the heart of the city and you'll reach the paths of the Hollywood Hills, frequented by celebrities crisscrossing Runyon Canyon, or check out Griffith Park, where 85 kilometres of trails wind through the rugged hills. A 2.5-hour drive east is the other-worldly landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, a stretch of desert dotted withy ucca trees and billion-year-old rock formations. Feeling the call of the sea? Just off the coast of Long Beach is Santa Catalina Island. An hour-long ferry ride will have you snorkelling off its beaches, hiking coastal cliffs and rolling hills or trying out a zip-lining adventure.
Stay at The Georgian, Santa Monica
Done up in a shade of duck-egg blue and topped with a golden crown, The Georgian sits pretty on a stretch of Santa Monica Beach. When it was established in 1933, the hotel drew a glamorous clientele – Marilyn Monroe was one – and was dubbed the First Lady. Following a 2023 restoration, the property is back on top, with 56 rooms and 28 suites exuding Art-Deco-meets-Wes-Anderson whimsy via curved orange upholstered beds, Bellino Italian linens and in-room co*cktail bars. Suites feature Victrola record players and a champagne button – when pressed, a bellhop appears at your door with the goods. Spend a long lunch at the in-house restaurant, Sirena, then stop at The Georgian Room for a Geez Louise co*cktail (apricot-infused whiskey, Benedictine and yuzu).
Miami
The worlds of luxury, creativity and beach culture come together at this coastal city in South Florida.
Go for the extraordinary opulence
The exclusive SuperYacht Miami marina is home to The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show (12-16 February 2025), where you can see – and board – the most luxurious vessels.
Discover the the avant-garde art scene
The heart of Miami’s creative and cultural hub is Wynwood Arts District, where galleries and studios occupy warehouses and murals adorn public walls.
Stay at Clinton Hotel South Beach
An Art Deco bolthole in buzzy South Beach, the Clinton Hotel has an intimate pool, breezy rooms and the plant-filled Limonada Bar + Brunch.
Experience it all in the USA with Qantas Hotels.Visit qantas.com/hotels
Nashville
Known as “Music City”, Nashville is not only steeped in history, it’s also nurturing legends in the making.
Go for the country-music luminaries
Ever-changing exhibits at the Country Music Hall of Fame chronicle Nashville’s biggest stars, from first female inductee Patsy Cline to the present day.
Discover the up-and-comers
Musicians play until the wee hours across venues on the Honky Tonk Highway, located on Lower Broadway between First and Fifth avenues. Settle in with a Southern Charm (tequila, mango liqueur and pineapple) at Ole Red and you might see the next Taylor Swift.
Stay at Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville
Walk everywhere from the ideally located Hyatt Centric. Choose the residential-style suite with a full kitchen or a higher-room floor to see the city or Cumberland River through floor-to-ceiling windows from your bed.
New York
Go for the Big Apple icons
There are plenty of ways to enjoy a perfect day in New York. In the morning, cycle or walk through the city’s backyard, Central Park, with its zoo, ice-skating rinks, rowing-boat-filled lakes and quiet woodlands. A few blocks south is another once-is-never-enough spot, MoMA. Wander its galleries to see works by the famous and infamous, from Warhol to Picasso, as well as a diverse roster of exhibitions and performances. Later, jump on the subway to 161st Street and join the excitement of a live baseball game at Yankee Stadium. The entertainment is non-stop – think dance-cam, kiss-cam, music and fan antics – the hot dogs are plentiful and the beer is cold.
Discover the spectacle
Manhattan takes the concept of observation decks to new heights for those seeking a thrill. Levitation at One Vanderbilt’s SUMMIT, which occupies the building’s 91st to 93rd floors, allows you to step into a transparent box suspended 335 metres above Madison Avenue. At the City Climb at Edge, you can harness up and ascend a staircase around the exterior of skyscraper 30 Hudson Yards – at a height of 365 metres, it’s New York’s tallest outdoor platform and offers spectacular views of the city, especially at night. For proximity to stars of a different kind, Broadway latest productions include Uncle Vanya, starring Steve Carrell (catch it before 16 June), and The Great Gatsby.
Stay at Moxy NYC Times Square
With 612 thoughtfully designed rooms, four dining options, one on-site barber and zero queues on arrival (self-check-in via tablet – easy), Moxy NYC Times Square has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Add an ideal Midtown location to the mix and this hotel ticks a lot of boxes. There are eight room configurations, including Twin Quad bunk rooms ideal for families, standard King and Studio Suites with a separate living area. Each room makes use of every inch, with peg-board closets, space-saving fold-away furniture, clever storage and walk-in showers. Magic Hour, the hotel’s all-season rooftop venue, is more than a bar – play a game of mini-golf or sip a Moira Rose (gin, raspberry tea, lemon and prosecco).
New Orleans
Famous for attracting partygoers, this Louisiana city on the Mississippi River also has a serene side.
Go for the giant street party
6 January signals weeks of Carnival parades and masquerade balls leading up to Mardi Gras on 4 March. Go beyond Bourbon Street on the Bacchus route as incredible super-floats roll from Uptown towards the riverfront.
Discover the peaceful bayous
Low-lying wetlands or bayous are synonymous with Cajun and Creole culture and several, such as Bayou St John, are located within city limits. Rent a kayak or paddleboard then grab a Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp sandwich from Parkway Bakery and Tavern and picnic by the water.
Stay at Hôtel Peter and Paul
In a former convent among the brightly painted cottages defining the colourful neighbourhood of Marigny is Hôtel Peter and Paul. The property has 71 antique-filled rooms – such as the Convent Classic and The Rector's Repose, each with a freestanding bathtub and king bed – and no two spaces are exactly alike.
Chicago
Architectural marvels and a museum dedicated to all things sweet are two highlights of the Windy City.
Go for the man-made wonders
Spot landmarks along the city's Magnificent Mile, visit Willis Tower’s 103rd-floor Skydeck and admire Grainger Plaza’s centrepiece, Cloud Gate, by Anish Kapoor.
Discover the magic of dessert
Enter through a freezer door for ice-cream hot dogs, dessert-themed mini-golf and a sprinkle pool at the interactive sweet spot, the Museum of Ice Cream.
Stay at LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton
Upscale and downtown, LondonHouse occupies a 1920s riverside building with 452 gracefully appointed rooms and a chic three-level rooftop bar.
Experience it all in the USA with Qantas Hotels.Visit qantas.com/hotels
