For most travellers from Australia, a trip to the United States is a once in a lifetime event - the opportunity to tick off all the inspirational things you’ve added to your bucket list over the years. While every person's sense of adventure might be a little different, there are a few keys things that you simply have to add to your itinerary. Since the best value cheap flights to the USA are available from major cities like Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, it's more affordable than you might think to explore the USA and turn your daydreams into treasured memories. Here are the things that you absolutely must do while on holiday in America:

Explore the Grand Canyon - Arizona

It should come as no surprise to find this on a bucket list for America. The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular and recognisable destinations in the world, and nothing can compare to the feeling of looking down from the South Rim and taking in the breathtaking scenery. If you have the time and the inclination (buttocks of steel optional), ride down to the bottom of the canyon on the back of a mule.

See an Alligator in the Everglades - Florida

The Everglades National Park is perhaps one of the most underrated attractions in Florida. While tourists in Orlando wait for hours at the entrance of Walt Disney World to open, the nearby Everglades are still and tranquil for much of the year. If you love nature in all her majesty, or even if you just want to get up close and personal with an alligator, a boat tour of the glades is the perfect holiday adventure. Trained professionals can catch small alligators and let you hold them yourself.

Catch a Show in Las Vegas - Nevada

People often assume that Las Vegas is all about the spin of a roulette wheel and a good poker face. While that might be true for some visitors, many more simply love it for the atmosphere, the strange and torrid history and its charming artifice. There is nowhere in the world quite like Las Vegas, and no stay would be complete without adding at least one show. You can watch everything from risque cabaret to Elvis impersonators to elaborate musical theatre, so there is always something for everyone in Las Vegas.

Catch a Fish at Pike Place Market – Washington State

For food lovers, Pike Place Market is like heaven on Earth. Located in the city of Seattle, the market is a huge area devoted to selling organic produce, fresh seafood pulled right from the Pacific, artisan cheeses and everything a greedy palate desires. Even the original Starbucks is located in the market. The highlight of the market, however, is the giant fish stall. They sell all sorts of seafood, and staff famously toss giant fish to one another when orders come in. Visitors gather around to watch the spectacle, and can actually ask to catch a fish themselves. Just don’t drop it!

Eat Beignets at Café du Monde - Louisiana

New Orleans is a remarkable city with plenty to see and do. Bourbon Street, ironically the least authentic section of the French Quarter, may be its most popular attraction, but its tastiest treat has to be the beignets from Café du Monde. This cafe has been open since 1862 and sells these delicious pastries 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Beignets were brought to Louisiana by the Acadians, and they are a staple of the local cuisine. Opposite beautiful Jackson Square, they are served hot with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and a cup of chicory coffee. With the amazing architecture of the surrounding French Quarter, the sound of a brass trio off in the distance, and the atmosphere and energy of New Orleans, Café du Monde is prime southern real estate.

Watch a Launch From Cape Canaveral - Florida

Nothing can beat the sight of watching a rocket take off from Cape Canaveral. Located on Florida's coast, Cape Canaveral is best known for being the place where NASA launched space projects like Gemini, Mercury and all of the Apollo flights. You might be surprised to learn that an average of one rocket per month in launched from Cape Canaveral, and the website has a calendar showing the dates and times of the launch. You can watch right from the Kennedy Space Centre, or you can head to nearby Cocoa Beach for breathtaking views right from the shoreline.

Visiting each of these amazing destinations is something that everyone should try to experience at least one in their lives. A trip to America can help you cross these must-see places, and many more, off your ultimate American bucket list.