Strap yourself in

Five more surprising American adventures.

Kayak the Grand Canyon

Leave the bus tours and crowded car parks behind with this hands-on trip through a United States icon. On a six-day journey with Arizona Raft Adventures (azraft.com), you’ll paddle through 143 kilometres of the Grand Canyon, from Flagstaff to South Rim Village. You’ll need Class 4 whitewater skills, a reliable river roll and a keen sense of intrepid fun.

Live your dragster dreams

Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School (frankhawley.com), based in Florida, teaches you how to go from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in three seconds. There are two-day drag-licensing courses but a half-day Dragster Adventure will fulfil your need for speed in less time.

Cycle from coast to coast

Got a spare three months and a passion for seeing the world on two wheels? The TransAmerica Bike Trail (adventurecycling.org) covers almost 7000 kilometres from Oregon to Virginia, passing through 10 states in total. Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the Oregon Trail are just some of the highlights on this journey.

Camp with a Navajo guide

The distinctive sandstone towers of the ArizonaUtah border are the stuff of legend and the best way to get acquainted with this vast, sunbaked territory is alongside the First Nations people who call it home. Tailored trips with locals through Monument Valley allow guests to fall asleep to the call of coyotes, long after other visitors have been asked to leave. Lorenz Holiday (thenavajoway.com) and Roy Black (royblacks guidedtours.com) both take private overnight trips.

Sailing in Hawaii

If you love the ocean but the idea of a cruise leaves you cold then a sailing trip might fit the bill. Sail Blue Hawaii (sailbluehawaii.com) offers customised inter-island and multi-day trips. You can hang out on hidden beaches, swim with wild dolphins and take in the towering mountain peaks of each island from the deck. Trips depart from Oahu.