The USA has countless candidates for your bucket list, but how to choose between them? A 500-plus list is no good, however young you start ticking off experiences. One way to streamline the roll call is to consider which ones will leave a genuinely lasting impression. More than a fleeting adrenaline rush, an empty wallet or the hollow satisfaction of checking off items on an itinerary – something well and truly rewarding.

Learn more about the sun and sea capital of the Sunshine State on an Art Deco walking tour. The Miami Design Preservation League guides really know their stuff and the small fee supports their work, as well as granting access to the Art Deco Museum. Once you’ve absorbed the ins and outs of Florida Deco, Streamline and MiMo (Miami modern), your city sightseeing and sunbathing will take on a new dimension.

Come out of season and get out of your car: two simple instructions for a rewarding experience in Yellowstone. Underground geothermal forces are to thank for the park’s remarkable landscape of peaks and mud pots, geysers and hot springs. Iconic sights like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring attract huge crowds. Camp under the stars and strike out on round-trip trails to access quieter settings, alternative views of these dramatic landmarks and better chances of wildlife-spotting.

Take time out from a New England leaf-peeping pilgrimage at the Shelburne Museum. Its 45 acres of beautiful grounds have their own fair share of fall foliage, but it’s the vast collection of American folk art and historic structures that will waylay you. There’s everything from a 4,000-piece model circus to vintage mechanical toys, a two-lane covered bridge to the impressive Ticonderoga side-wheel steamboat. Sign up for an engaging live demonstration of crafts and trades, such as letterpress printing, to enhance your visit.

Get your bearings and gen up on US history by following Boston’s Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long route marked by a red-brick or painted stripe. The trail links 16 points between Boston Common and Charlestown which relate to the American Revolution and the fight for freedom. It’s up to you where to start and finish, taking in sights including the Massachusetts State House, King’s Chapel, Faneuil Hall, and even USS Constitution.

There’s no denying the thrill of seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. But that thrill will be longer-lived if you tackle the North Rim, hiking boots laced and water bottles filled. At 1,000 feet higher than the busier South, the North Rim is usually closed off to visitors for half of the year due to snowy conditions. Turn down a helicopter tour and be one of the 10% who venture north.

The vast collection of the Country Music Hall of Fame, including instruments and costumes donated by the genre’s stars, is a great showcase for the toe-tapping Nashville sound. To really get under the skin of the music, ask a burning question or pick up some tips, head to one of the revealing songwriter stories or musician spotlight sessions. Boosted with behind-the-scenes savvy, catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry, or hit the honky-tonks for a big night out.

Head to Florida’s Historic Coast for a wander round America’s oldest town, a 16th-century Spanish settlement with a packed, intact Old Town. Local and domestic history is well presented at the Oldest House, with the decor in each room reflecting different eras. Back outdoors, St Augustine also boasts great beaches, including stunning stretches of protected dunes on Anastasia Island.

Take to two wheels to explore this former stretch of rail line near the Idaho-Montana border. Zoom through ten tunnels and gawp at the views from seven high trestles as you travel along the 15-mile route. Passing across – and most memorably through – the Bitterroot Mountains, you can see why this section of railroad was known as one of the country’s most scenic. The downhill course means it’s open to all levels, and everyone’s grateful for the shuttle bus back up to the summit.

Soak up the sweet, mellow taste of bourbon in its homeland. Get in the mood on the drive through Bluegrass country, passing rolling hills, cornfields and horses grazing on the namesake bluish-green grass. There are traditional, family-owned distilleries to visit, as well as newer, small-batch craft set-ups. A warm welcome is guaranteed across the board, and nothing beats the satisfaction of a tasting at source.

Discover hidden nooks and crannies on a four-hoofed friend and experience life as a cowboy, for a day or two at least. Colorado has plenty of horseback riding companies, offering everything from day rides for first-timers to cross-country adventures. A horseback trail up to the twin peaks of the Maroon Bells will reward you with spectacular photo opportunities (and maybe just the odd saddle sore).

Visitors to Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, southwest of Volcano, come away with a deep understanding of the way of life of the local Miwok. The museum features tools, baskets, jewellery and stunning feathered dance capes, but it’s the multitude of mortar holes (chaw’se) in the limestone rocks that are truly arresting – the result of generations of Miwok grinding down acorns to make meal.

There are ample opportunities to get up close and personal with Mother Nature in Hawaii, be it snorkelling in Honaunau Bay or at the foot of bubbling Kilauea. But bear in mind Hawaii is home to the world’s highest number of endangered and threatened native plant and animal species. You can encounter some of these, and support environmental preservation at work, in the pristine rainforests of the Kamkou Preserve on the island of Molokai.

Gorge on gumbo and knock back cocktails, as you must in New Orleans, but also make time to venture out of the city for a visit to the mysterious local swamps. From aboard a boat or kayak, you’ll have the chance to encounter swamp residents including black bears, alligators, ibis and blue herons.

There’s a lot of talk lately about the regeneration of Detroit, of urban renewal, hip new hotels and cocktail bars. The city also has its longstanding must-sees, the modest Motown museum and far-from-modest Henry Ford Museum. Make your trip all the more rewarding, though, by contributing to the city’s revival, rather than just enjoying the results. Not-for-profit organisations like Detroit Blight Busters welcome volunteers to help with clean-up efforts and other community work.

The strange, flame-coloured rock formations at Bryce Canyon beg all sorts of questions. Stay awestruck and ignorant or join in one of the various ranger-led sessions. Free of charge and spanning short and informative talks to more strenuous full moon hikes, you’ll leave with a better understanding of the canyon’s geological wonders, including an explanation of its unsteady-looking ‘hoodoos’.

Sinatra crooning 'New York, New York' may be the city’s default song, but the Big Apple has seen countless different genres develop and thrive, from jazz to folk and beyond. Make yourself at home in a Harlem brownstone and delve into gospel music with the not-for-profit Mama Foundation for the Arts, learning about gospel’s history and its association with the area. You’ll end up singing your heart out in an uplifting concert. Read our guide to New York City here.

Volunteer tourism is a way of giving something back to your destination of choice. For those concerned about their carbon footprint – or specifically, the impact of millions of footprints – a stint with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is just the ticket. Spend a few days repairing the damage caused by heavy footfall on these epic mountain hiking trails and help ensure they remain in use for years to come.

Spend a jam-packed day on the Space Coast indulging your astronaut fantasies. The Shuttle Launch Simulator recreates the ascent into orbit, hitting a top ‘speed’ of 17,500mph. Rated by veteran NASA astronauts as the next best thing to a real space flight, it must be worth a try. Catch a real-life launch (most recently on May 10, 2018) to make for an extra memorable day out and look out for new displays to mark Kennedy Space Center’s 50th anniversary.

Female suffrage will be commemorated in the US in 2020, so the time is right to pay a visit to the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls. Housed in the Wesleyan Chapel where the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in 1848, the displays set those early struggles in a global context. A sobering reminder of both how far things have come and the distance yet to go.

Festivals are ten-a-penny these days, but there’s nothing quite like Nevada’s Burning Man. The annual festival takes place in August each year, with different themes, deep in the Black Rock Desert. If you can bag a ticket, stand the heat, and commit to full self-sufficiency, you’re almost guaranteed a life-altering experience. 

Set off from southern California aiming for the bright lights of San Francisco, but take your time. The dry, craggy landscape on your right meets the glinting ocean on your left, with the wild surrounds of Big Sur worthy of more than a quick pit stop. Pull up and escape down to the coast or inland into the area’s utterly unspoilt and isolated parks. An invigorating river dip in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will ease driving aches and set you up for the next leg.

Trace the footsteps of America’s forefathers on a tour of the east coast with Trafalgar. The chance to sit down to eat with three generations of an Amish family in Pennsylvania Dutch country offers a rare glimpse of an alternative way of life. Other stops include Ivy-League Harvard, where a look round with a student is hopefully a sure-fire way of inspiring any kids in tow.

Go beyond gawping at Chicago’s superb skyline, including the 110-storey Willis Tower (still better known as the Sears Tower). The Chicago Architecture Federation’s River Cruise along the Chicago River introduces you to over 50 key buildings and their roles in the history and development of the Windy City. An understanding of the bricks, mortar, steel and glass, will heighten your appreciation of this energetic city.

With a spare month up your sleeve, you could tackle the full 272 miles of America’s oldest long-distance hiking trail. Following the ridge of the Green Mountains all the way to Canada, the route traverses Vermont’s highest peaks. While the sense of satisfaction in completing it must be quite something, there are plenty of opportunities for weekenders and day hikers, too. Basic shelters are dotted along the way, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

It might be crowded, cheesy, and an unabashed tourist hotspot, but let this experience be a lesson in the value of overcoming cynicism. The first sight of the majestic Niagara Falls takes your breath away: rainbows glinting in the spray, the boom of gushing gallons. Venture up close on the Maid of the Mist to feel the full force.

As the crucible of US history, the Capital Region is home to a clutch of important sights. Make sure Colonial Williamsburg is on your list – set foot in a replica of the colonial capital and experience 18th-century life. While you can wander along the cobbled streets and sit on the green commons, it’s worth buying an admission ticket to enjoy the full effects of this fantastic living history museum. While you're in the area, don't miss a visit to nearby Jamestown Settlement to learn about the troubled relationship between colonisers and the indigenous population. 

Bustling Atlanta couldn’t be more different to the rest of laid-back Georgia. Most tourists are drawn down to the coast, but Atlanta repays your curiosity with its buzz, green spaces, cultural centres and thought-provoking tributes to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Secure a space on the free, small-scale tours of King’s Birth Home to see first-hand where King was born and lived until the age of 12.

It’s no doubt music that will draw you to Clarksdale, Mississippi. Blues, specifically, which is honoured in both the Delta Blues Museum and the Rock and Blues Museum, and best heard live at the Ground Zero Blues Club. But to really celebrate the birthplace of the blues, and to make it a trip to remember, plan ahead to join an international crowd at the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival.

Stumble onto the set of a modern-day Western in the Saguaro National Park, where the distinctive, enormous saguaro cactuses will stop you in your tracks. A stay at nearby Tanque Verde, one of the oldest cattle ranches in the country, will get you comfortable in the saddle and acquainted with penning and other cowboy essentials. Cycle rides, hikes and chill-out time in the spa are welcome extras.

Feeling brave? How about an aerial view of one of the world’s highest, deepest and clearest lakes? Encircled by peaks, and edged by beaches busy come summer, you could make do with lake fishing, cycling or hiking. If the time has come to learn a new skill, however, then head to Sky Combat Ace for an adventure. Aerobatics, flight training and even air combat – with dual flight-control planes, now’s your chance to play at being a pilot.

Learn a little more about what’s inside the bottle as you wend your way along the Missouri River Wine Trail. The wineries along this route serve up local food alongside their homegrown wines, guided tours and tastings, and you may chance on live music events, too. It all adds up to a super-relaxing break that will awaken your inner oenophile.

It’s no secret that Texans take barbecue very seriously – and have arch rivals in other states. Tap into this passion, learn from the pros and head home a certified pitmaster. In these group classes held in three Texan locations, and suitable for all levels, you will tackle the hardest cut, brisket. Nevermind a bottle of sauce, this is quite the satisfying souvenir.

Take a walk on Oregon’s renowned quirky side with a goat yoga session in Oregon City. Strange as it may sound, the idea which originated here has taken off and animal-assisted classes are now springing up worldwide. Head to the source, keep an open mind, and let the bucolic setting, four-legged assistants and yoga poses send your troubles gambolling into the distance.

It’s a rare treat to see one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings exactly as he intended. Hovering over cascading waterfalls, the multi-tiered house somehow blends in with its forest surroundings, and brings the outside in with numerous terraces and walkways. A guided tour is well worth the $30 fee for the in-depth background and views of all the major rooms, plus the chance to roam the grounds.

While most visit nearby Mount Rushmore – which must be seen, of course – it’s arguably more rewarding to pay homage to the Crazy Horse Memorial. The late sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski embarked on this epic work back in 1948 and turned down all state or federal funding, so visitors’ donations and admission fees are all the more vital. It’s the world’s largest mountain carving, and will take a good while yet to finish – the baton has been passed to Ziolkowski’s family.

Get under the (painted) surface of one of America’s, and the world’s, most enticing cities. Tour the Mission with one of the artists behind its many distinctive murals – there’s barely a patch of wall uncovered. Precita Eyes Muralists is behind much of the painting and is also dedicated to educating both the local community and visitors about the stories behind the art, and the stories of San Francisco itself.

This is one for Elvis fans – the chance of an after-hours tour of Graceland hosted by George Klein, an old school friend of the man himself. Listen to anecdotes, soak up the atmosphere and later tuck into southern specialities as you sit among Elvis’s extravagant car collection. This memorable VIP visit also includes visits to Nashville and New Orleans, an all-out dream trip for music-lovers.

If you remember TV show Gentle Ben, you’ll need no persuading to try out a trip through the Everglades on an airboat (an aircraft engine is needed to power through the swamps). Florida’s swamps and marshes are one of a kind and you’ll be busy wildlife-spotting, clocking endangered bird species and – look out – alligators.

Respected residents of California, the state’s towering redwoods rise up from shallow roots and interwine to support each other through storms. Maybe it’s that, not simply their height, which makes them such a humbling sight. California’s unique coastal redwood forests can be admired on a trundling narrow-gauge steam train journey through Henry Cowell State Park. The original engines were used to haul redwoods out of the mountains back in the 1880s. Here are some more of America's best train journeys.

Shake up possible preconceptions of a cruise’s onboard agenda with National Geographic’s programme to encourage kids and teenagers (and no doubt their keenster parents) to think like true explorers. It’s been developed with NG Education and is on offer on cruises to the Galápagos, and now Alaska. From using glacial ice to paint watercolours to honing observation skills as they look out for Alaskan wildlife, the emphasis is on making the most of a once-in-a-lifetime voyage and equipping would-be explorers with new skills.