Michael Portillo reaches San Francisco, where he boards one of the iconic cable cars. In the engineering powerhouse, he uncovers the secret to scaling the hills. Show more

Michael visits the jewel in the crown of America's National Parks, Yosemite, to behold its granite cliffs, giant sequoia trees and cascading waterfalls. Show more

Michael Portillo embarks on a thousand-mile American adventure through California. Michael takes to the skies over the dramatic Sierra Nevada mountain range. Show more

Steered by his guidebook, Michael Portillo continues through California. In Monterey, Michael raises the Bear Flag of the one-time Republic of California. Show more

Michael Portillo strikes oil in the suburbs of Los Angeles, contemplates his navel in the orange groves of Riverside and paints a picture in Laguna Beach. Show more

Michael Portillo joins the Sons of Liberty aboard ship in Boston harbour. Will he help rebels jettison 112 crates of East India Company tea? Show more

Michael Portillo heads for Plymouth, the 'home town' of America. He learns how indigenous tribes of Wamponoag people taught settlers to live off the land. Show more

Michael Portillo takes a crash course in rowing in New Haven, where college teams from Yale and Harvard have battled for victory on the water since 1852. Show more

Undaunted by his guidebook's description of the Lachine Rapids, Michael Portillo gets a soaking on a white-knuckle boat ride down the St Lawrence River. Show more

Michael Portillo's rail journey through eastern Canada continues along the Grand Trunk railway, following the route of the St Lawrence River. Show more