TrekAmerica catches election fever

As insults are traded and celebrity backers paraded ahead of the US elections on 4th November 2008, North American travel specialist TrekAmerica takes a light-hearted look at the states represented by the presidential candidates for some clues on who might win.

In the Red Corner, for the Republicans:

Arizona (represented by John McCain) and Alaska (represented by Sarah Palin)

TrekAmerica says: “Arizona and Alaska are two of the new kids on the block as far as US states go, being the 48th and 49th states to be admitted to the Union. They are also two of the least densely populated, so visitors can expect uninterrupted views of jaw-dropping wilderness scenery. From deserts and canyons to glacial peaks, mountains, forests and lakes, these two states contain about as many different landscapes as you can imagine.

“We have to admit to loving these two. Arizona is the second most-visited state on the tours run by TrekAmerica and our sister company Footloose. Alaska, on the other hand, is the only US state we dedicate entire tours to. Together, they pack a mighty punch.”

Sample packages:

• Visit Arizona on TrekAmerica’s 10-day Wild West tour, which includes time to hike around the Grand Canyon National Park, sample the Old West lifestyle with a riding and overnight Cowboy Camp adventure and experience the cactus-studded horizons of the Sonora Desert. Prices start from £496 per person, departing 20th November 2008.

• Alaska Wonder is a 14-day tour encompassing the best of Alaska’s interior and coastal regions. Spend days exploring Denali National Park - home to Mount McKinley and a number of grizzly bears and elk - and the mysterious region of Kenai Fjords National Park where killer whale dorsals can be spotted and the explosive cracking of carving glaciers and be heard. Prices start from £999 per person for departures in 2009.

In the Blue Corner, for the Democrats:

Illinois (represented by Barack Obama) and Delaware (represented by Joe Biden)

TrekAmerica says: “Delaware’s claim to fame is that it was the first state admitted to the Union in 1787. Illinois was the 21st state to be admitted, in 1818, so between them, these two states have a great deal of historic clout.

“Of the two, Illinois is more famous as a tourist destination, boasting highlights such as the Great Lakes and of course, Chicago. TrekAmerica runs half a dozen tours through Illinois, but we have to admit that ‘the Windy City’ isn’t the best place for an outdoor adventure in the winter.”

Sample packages:

• TrekAmerica’s 21-day Northern Trail passes through Illinois on its coast-to-cost route between New York and Los Angeles. Stopping in Chicago, trekkers can get a dizzying view of the city from Sears Tower, trawl the up-market malls of Magnificent Mile or hire a bike and get peddling on the ‘Bike and Hike’ city tour. Prices start from £1,029 per person for departures in 2009.

Conclusion:

TrekAmerica says: “We’ve been running tours in America for over 35 years, which is far longer than either the Republicans or Democrats have held on to the presidency in one stretch. We can’t predict the outcome of the election, however in state terms, the Republicans do seem to have the edge. Which begs the question: why would the Republican candidates want to up sticks and move to Washington? As Dorothy said, ‘There’s no place like home’.”

Got election fever? Here are some more presidential sights that can be visited with TrekAmerica:

• Mount Rushmore – The famous faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are depicted in this famous rock sculpture in South Dakota

• Washington D.C. – The U.S. capital, with its iconic buildings and memorials is a stop on several TrekAmerica tours

• Virginia – The home state of George Washington, first president of the United States

For more information on TrekAmerica, or to book any of the tours listed above, see trekamerica.co.uk.