Delve Deep: USA West Coast 2022-23

La la land: a city characterised by its blissful lack of touch with reality. And the perfect place to sack off your everyday routine and catapult into a two-week Californian adventure. First: meet the fellow explorers sharing the ride. Then we’ll get our bearings around this ginormous city on a driving tour – ticking off big guns like Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Tonight, it’s time get to know the gang a little better with an included group dinner.

Sun-kissed. Creative. Ruggedly good looking. LA is your ideal Tinder date – minus the swiping and awkward small talk. This morning we’ll take to the Hollywood Hills with a local guide – expect the inside scoop on the movie biz and some BIG white letters (if you’re looking for a sign, this is it). Afterwards, the City of Angels is yours for the taking. Don’t just scratch the surface, delve deeper. Explore the edgy art districts filled with hipster breweries and awesome street murals. Visit the grungy music venues of famous rock stars, new and old. Dive head-first into the rich AF foodie scene (like, seriously good Korean food – just sayin’). And revel in the good life with a dip at Venice Beach. Rather see if America’s theme parks really live up to the hype? Sign up for an optional trip to Disneyland or Universal Studios and put them to the test.

Jump back on the minicoach amigos, today we’re heading down the Pacific Coast to San Diego. After a drive around town, we’ll park up at Mission Beach. Your next mission? Explore this beaut of a city! Ride the rollercoaster at Belmont Park. Stretch your legs along the beachfront boardwalk. Tuck into a California Burrito – they were born here. Or get your culture fix at Balboa Park, chock-a-block with alllll the museums and galleries. And this eve? Make a beeline for Old Town and get stuck into an authentic Mexican feast. Technicolour flags, tortillas and tequila = good times all round.

This is your day to delve deeper – need some suggestions? If aircraft carriers are your thing, there’s an optional trip to the USS Midway to get on board with. Or take Fleetwood’s advice and go your own way – slip on the Nikes and hit the lesser-known hiking trails around Balboa Park or head to Little Italy for not-so-little food portions. Later, find out why they call this place ‘America’s Craft Beer Captial’ on a micro-brewery crawl with your trip mates. Or take a picnic down to the beach and watch the sun go down. This is what you came for.

There’s time for one last dip in the Pacific Ocean before we roll onto Arizona today. This state is made for road trips. Stretches of endless sky. Expanses of red desert. Centuries-old history. And some pretty famous rock formations. Next: straighten your neckerchief and shine up that sheriff badge. When we pull up in Prescott, the saloons of Whiskey Row await. During the Cali Gold Rush this place was heaving with cowboys and miners searching for a shot (or a shoot). After going down in a blaze of flames in 1900, it was rebuilt to its heyday glory. Ready for a real wild (west) experience? Get out there, partner!

Disclaimer: this is a bit of a drive day. So, stock up on snacks and share around the AUX cord – we’re going to blast some banging tunes all the way to Flagstaff (the gateway to the Grand Canyon). This eve, get all starry-eyed with a night-time tour at Lowell Observatory. Stargazing got you feeling tiny? We’ll continue the theme tomorrow – you've seen the pictures, but nothing can prepare you for the feels you’ll have standing on the edge of something so mighty.

This is it folks, the moment you’ve been waiting for. The grandest of canyons awaits! One word to describe this place: mesmerising. And the only way to see one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders in its entirety, is from the sky. DW we’ve organised an optional heli-tour for you. After you’ve filled your SD card, we’ll make tracks to Sin City. Seriously, this place is so neon it hurts to look at. But we’ll do just that on a driving tour, before settling in for another group feed.

From big-budget stage shows, Michelin-star restaurants and Eiffel Tower clones – Vegas is the definition of OTT. But you can’t help love it anyway. We’re kicking off the entertainment with an included pole fitness class today. Everyone looks better upside down, right? This arvo: time to delve deeper into America’s Playground. Our suggestions? Take an optional heli-tour over The Strip. Catch a ride on the High Roller Observation Wheel. Check out a shooting range, if that’s your thing. Or hit up a Vegas-style pool party. Anything goes in this town.

Shake the confetti from your hair – we’re outta here. Next stop? The Sierra Nevada Mountains. This place is Disneyland for outdoor enthusiasts. Where sheer-faced granite walls reign supreme, giant sequoia trees loom over dense forest floors and the sound of thundering waterfalls fill the air. Keen to show off your spider-monkey-worthy swinging skills? There’s an optional aerial adventure course on the cards. Over dinner tonight, make a plan of attack for your free day tomorrow – your expert Trip Leader has plenty of suggestions.

There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this place – so we’re not going to try. You’ve got a full day to experience the magic of Yosemite (yo-sem-it-ee) for yourself. Don’t waste a second. Start with the Mist Trail for incredible views that compensate for the burning calves. Follow the trail to the top of Vernal Falls and be rewarded with a refreshing dip in Emerald Pool. Want more of a challenge? Follow ‘nature’s staircase’ to the top of Navada Falls. DW if walking isn’t your thing – there’s a free shuttle to get around. Keep your eyes peeled for deer, bears and golden eagles. David Attenborough wannabes eat your heart out. Worked up an appetite? Dinner tonight is on us.

The trip might be winding down – but the adventure sure as hell isn’t over yet! We’ve got our eye on San Fran next. Home of Alcatraz prison and one famous red bridge that’s pretending to be golden (we see you). Learn the who’s who of ‘The City’ on a driving tour – including Pier 39, the Fisherman’s Wharf and The Painted Ladies. Then: for the full local vibe track down a steaming plate of Joe’s Special. What happens when you throw eggs, spinach and ground beef together? THIS.

This is our last full day. So, don’t hang about! Fuel up with a stack of pancakes that’ll put your elastic waistbands to the test. Then, hire a set of wheels and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito. History buffs will want to tour Alcatraz (get your tix in advance!). Or wander the waterfront and get a pic with the locals at Pier 39. Union Square is the place to flash some plastic before you head home. Then: take a box of Pepple’s Donuts to Marshall’s Beach to watch the sunset. And tonight? It’s our final group din – let’s give this epic adventure the send-off it deserves!

You tried the food. Met the locals. Stood on the edge. Said yes to the new and exotic. And all in under two weeks! Time to say our goodbyes, swap those Insta handles and start planning next year’s reunion. Our Delve Deep: Mexico trip is pretty sweet. Just putting it out there...