Between North America’s breathtaking national parks, cool emerging cities and tiny, historic towns, there’s a surplus of sights that even repeat travellers to the US are yet to discover. In 2021, Globus and Cosmos are unveiling a new series of nine ‘Undiscovered North America’ tours, ranging from eight to 14 days.
“On our ‘Undiscovered North America’ holidays, we will take globetrotters down the less-travelled highways, legendary lanes and scenic country roads to the special places and parks other tour companies don’t visit,” said Gai Tyrrell, managing director Australasia of the Globus family of brands. “These itineraries help travellers discover the world’s tucked-away towns, lesser-known nooks and secluded seafronts for an unforgettable – and unique – holiday.”
New itineraries created for this ‘Undiscovered North America’ series include five new tours from both Globus and Cosmos.
New Globus Bourbon, Bridles & Bluegrass (8 days, priced from $3,446pp*)
On this undiscovered holiday, visitors will not only become prolific in the correct pronunciation of Louisville (locals advise to say it like you’ve had a shot of bourbon – “Loo-a-vul”), they will enjoy intoxicating views, music, customs and cuisine.
Travellers will take the reins of this new journey in Kentucky – the land of mares, mint juleps and mandolins – with a special evening of bluegrass entertainment and visits to a centuries-old bourbon distillery, a Lexington thoroughbred horse farm and Louisville’s legendary Brown Hotel to taste its famous Hot Brown open-faced sandwich. Other drool-worthy experiences include George Vanderbilt’s grand Biltmore Estate guided tour and farm-to-table lunch; time spent in the waterfront city of Chattanooga, including a tour of its Songbird Guitar Museum and guided sightseeing in Nashville with accommodations near the melodious sounds of Honky Tonk Row.
New Globus New England & The Hudson Valley (12 days, priced from $5,363pp*)
From the Salem Witch Trials to the Headless Horseman, New England is home to some of the nation’s oldest settings, stories and sagas. Fact, fiction and fantastic scenery abound for travellers on this vibrant holiday and historical journey through New England and the Hudson Valley.
This undiscovered tour kicks off in Boston and nearby Lexington, the ‘Birthplace of American Liberty’. After digesting fascinating American Revolution-focused history, travellers will venture to Salem and head toward the peaceful vistas of coastal Maine, rural New Hampshire and mountainous Vermont. Charming seaport villages, bucolic covered bridges and rolling maple syrup farms sweeten the storylines of America’s historic East Coast.
Before ending this journey, travellers will head to scene-stealing New York and Massachusetts, including the resort village and Olympic Games site in Lake Placid, the picturesque Berkshire Mountains and the orchard-and vineyard-dotted riverbanks of the Hudson Valley. Travellers will even have time to explore Tarrytown, the setting for Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and tour the waterfront U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
New Globus Lost Canyons of the Southwest (9 days, priced from $3,797pp*)
Beauty, awe and wonder echo from Phoenix to Vegas as travellers are invited to explore ancient cliff dwellings, towering spires, the deepest of canyons and a deep well of mysteries on this new tour.
Travellers will visit lost canyons and cultures of the American Southwest, including hopping in a four-wheel backcountry vehicle with a local Navajo guide to cruise through 5,000 years of uninterrupted civilisation at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. They’ll also feel the wind through their hair on a guided Jeep tour through the stunning red rock and sandstones of Sedona. Other sights sure to make an impact include Meteor National Landmark; Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home); the Hubbell Trading Post and the majestic Grand Canyon where travellers will enjoy a scenic train ride from Williams, Arizona to the Canyon’s South Rim. This journey also includes visits to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and Hoover Dam in Nevada.
New Globus Southern California Charms (10 days, priced from $4,994pp*)
This undiscovered tour of Southern California explores Golden State getaways and sunny stretches of coastline; the golden age of Hollywood and smaller towns that truly shine.
Travellers will enjoy touring some historic and swoon-worthy sites of the City of Angels before checking into the beautiful, beachfront Hotel del Coronado where Marilyn Monroe filmed, Some Like it Hot. Other opportunities to cool off include a margarita tasting in Old Town San Diego and wine tasting in the vineyard-rich region of Temecula before things heat up with an architectural tour of Palm Springs. Of course, the trip to California won’t be complete without sand between the toes – something travellers will get on a Jeep tour through Joshua Tree National Park and time in Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara.
New Cosmos Exploring the Pacific Northwest (9 days, priced from $2,754*)
Travellers are invited to clear their schedule and palates for this tasty, undiscovered tour through the natural wonders, lush wilderness and picturesque wineries of scenic Washington and Oregon.
In addition to the sights of Seattle’s ‘Emerald City’ and Portland’s ‘City of Roses,’ colourful experiences include drinking in the alpine architecture and German beer in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth; waking-up to the coastal city of Astoria and its Victorian-era hillside homes, and savouring malt and hops at any number of Bend’s two dozen breweries. Other experiences include a dune buggy ride along the Oregon Coast; Mt. Hood’s 611-foot-tall Multnomah Falls and Crater Lake National Park.
Additional tours included in the Globus family’s ‘Undiscovered North America’ portfolio include:
Globus Quebec In Dept with the Gaspe Peninsula (11 days, priced from $3,563*)
Cosmos Alaska & the Yukon (12 days, priced from $3,609*)
Cosmos Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains (14 days, priced from $3,172*)
Cosmos Western Canada with Inside Passage (13 days, priced from $3,618*)
“On one of our undiscovered tours – available in Italy, Great Britain, the Mediterranean and now North America – we trade the lines of the Colosseum for the narrow lanes of Tuscan towns; the hustle and bustle of London for the quiet landscapes of the English countryside; Europe’s sea of tourists for the coastal villages of the Mediterranean and the crowded cities of North America with smaller, crowd-pleasing gems,” said Ms. Tyrrell.
*Price includes early-bird discounts of 10 per cent for Globus and five per cent for Cosmos – valid for new 2021 bookings made before 9 November 2020.
