Trip to USA

[happyclaret17]

Thinking of going next year...perhaps 3 or 4 wekk trip...new york and california for sure but looking for suggestions for at least 2 more destinations en route...any recommendations welcomed.

[cricketfieldclarets]

San diego in california is one of the best cities ive ever beem to. Highly recommend that. Won on my first ever roulette spin in vegas so walked out, hired a mustang for three days later and drove there. Unreal one of best experiences of my life.

Vegas is great. Far better than i expected.

Los angeles is cool too. Can do all them 3 in a week.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Idelly obviously to spend more there though.

[Imploding Turtle]

The U.S. has about 8,000 (or 59, i'm rounding up) national parks. Pick a few and visit them.

[Dyched]

If you're doing national parks stay a night or 2 in some small towns.

There's some brilliant train routes too if that interests you.

[Holmeclaret]

Depends on the kind of trip you want. Washington is worth a visit for the memorials and the vast Smithsonian museums.

[shulgin]

Northwest is amazing. Great scenery but Seattle and Portland are vibrant, friendly cities with good beer and music scenes. We travelled the west coast this year and loved it, esp the north

[Andym26]

Know its in california so you might have it on your schedule but Yosemite is an absolute must.

[Pearcey]

Denver is good. Loved my time in Tucson though. Quick drive to Tombstone for a look at the Wild West. The Titan missile museum is worth a look too. The mountains are stunning as well. Would love to go back.

[Imploding Turtle]

Know its in california so you might have it on your schedule but Yosemite is an absolute must.

Not all that far north from my favourite national park Sequoia National Park. Not because i've been or anything, i just like the word "sequioa".

[Paul Waine]

Thinking of going next year...perhaps 3 or 4 wekk trip...new york and california for sure but looking for suggestions for at least 2 more destinations en route...any recommendations welcomed.

Hi happy, keep in mind that USA is a very large continent, so 3-4 weeks is like trying to pick the highlights of Europe (and UK) in that period.

Summer 2008 I had 3 weeks touring (part of) California, San Fran, Monterrey, Santa Barbara, Vegas, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley - that was a very full 3 weeks.

Summer 2015, 2.5 weeks, Boston, Cape Cod, New York, Toronto/Niagara.

1998 - 3 weeks, Seattle and Orcas Islands.

I lived/worked in New York for 6 months. I've visited Chicago, Houston many times for business. Been to New Orleans and Mississippi, San Diego, Phoenix, Baltimore, Kansas City.

I'd recommend flying to Boston on the way in - then on to San Francisco and grab as much as California/West Coast as you can, then New York on the way home.

Enjoy.

[Commy]

I've done Cherokee in the Smoky Mountains, Nashville and on to visit Elvis. Also Pensacola where they have Fort Barrancas, Lighthouse tour and a superb beach. Went to New Orleans for a couple of nights as it's only 3 hours away. Plenty of trips to do from there.

[Winstonswhite]

San diego in california is one of the best cities ive ever beem to. Highly recommend that. Won on my first ever roulette spin in vegas so walked out, hired a mustang for three days later and drove there. Unreal one of best experiences of my life.

Vegas is great. Far better than i expected.

Los angeles is cool too. Can do all them 3 in a week.

We are doing exactly this for our 40ths next year! A group of ten blokes. Can I ask how much did it cost for the Mustang and is it worth the 5 hour drive? I'm umming and ahhing as it's just through a desert isn't it?

We then plan to spend 5 days in San Diego going around all the breweries tbh so any recommendations there would be welcome?!

[dogwith3legs]

Well I know you like your golf Happy… Pebble beach is on that California coastline. Also the US Open is in New York next year (June) could tie that up… and Augusta Georgia is pleasant in April… just saying. A lot of courses to be found down the South Carolina coastline or Florida… Vegas too. Could combine the golf theme with City visits.

[Dyched]

Keep a look too on Thomas Cook. They do super cheap flights. Also cheap one way flights too. They have sales quite often and recently the west coast was £300 return or £200 one way. Lots of destinations straight from Manchester.

[happyclaret17]

thanks all...was going to ask what sort of budget you would be looking at for a month over there....utc

[IndigoLake]

Proposed to my wife in Chicago so that's a pretty special city for us.

I'd love to go to Montana one day - absolutely beautiful there.

[Dyched]

thanks all...was going to ask what sort of budget you would be looking at for a month over there....utc

Vegas is cheaper than say Los Angeles/New York City

Have a look at HostelWorld or airbnb.
Theres a few hostels that offer private rooms for 50% the cost of hotels in some places. Also have to look at what areas you wish too stay. I don't think its a big a deal in NYC as you can get everywhere by subway pretty easy.

The hardest part will be deciding where to go tbh.

[boiledclaret]

I'd love to go to Montana one day - absolutely beautiful there.

Went there many moons ago for Yellowstone Park which is also in Idaho and Wyoming, big park.

Take in some tacky 'off the beaten track' museums while you're going from A to B. I hope the 'Potato museum' is still in operation in Blackfoot Idaho.

Oh and the carrot museum in Penn state. Let me know if it's still there.

[FactualFrank]

I've only been to Florida (twice), but would love to do the Route 66.

[1968claret]

Chicago is a fantastic City. Boston also very nice and San Francisco well worth a visit

[thatdberight]

It's out of your way if you're starting in NY, but I enjoyed Boston and the surrounding area when I've been. Chicago I liked too, Seattle, San Francisco were very enjoyable; so too the Carolinas. With very few exceptions, anywhere I've been in the USA was interesting and enjoyable - some of the best days were a bit off the beaten track where you might just be the only tourist through that day. I'm off there again next week to hopefully see some places I've not seen before - you'd go a lot of times before you'd mark it "done".

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Personally i'd stay out of the big cities. rent cars. Drive the 1 up the California coast. Drop your car at an airport. Fly to Nashville. Drive the appalachians and the Bluegrass. Drop you car at an airport. Fly to somewhere else, etc etc. Much more fun.

Getting a flight in the US is like catching a bus in Britain.

[starting_11]

Before you partake on driving thousands of miles between major cities, realise this;

Most of the roads are cut thru forests etc and you can't see anything

The reality of most roads in America is chain link fences, a petrol station and Burger King every 500m.

Maybe watch Dave Gorman America Unchained or read Bill Bryson Neither Here Nor There etc

Stick to just driving around certain areas like national parks or the Californian coast.

[Top Claret]

Personally I can't stand America it is just a big soulless piece of concrete, where everyman and his dog is trying to rip you off. I am going out their in 6 weeks time to Austin were I have family, only because I feel I have to. The tipping system really pisses me off and the falsenes of there service is so sickining

[Inchy]

I went on my honeymoon to the USA for 4 weeks. Here's my advice.


Go and see the Grand Canyon. Unless you like walking it's only worth a day.

Vegas is class.

San Fran is very cool, amazing bars. The Alcatraz tour is excellent.

If you like walking gonto Yosemite for a few days. Stay in camp curry.

Don't go to Hawaii like I did. It's nice but not worth the time and money. It's no better than a Greek island.

New York is amazing.

Drive as much as you can and allow time to stop off at random towns. That way you see abit of the real America and the food is always the best in these places

[cricketfieldclarets]

We are doing exactly this for our 40ths next year! A group of ten blokes. Can I ask how much did it cost for the Mustang and is it worth the 5 hour drive? I'm umming and ahhing as it's just through a desert isn't it?

We then plan to spend 5 days in San Diego going around all the breweries tbh so any recommendations there would be welcome?!

Honestly ive been lucky to see and go to some unbelievable places but that particular trip is the one i reminisce about the most.

The drive was more like 8 hours but i loved it. But then i do enjoy driving. Especially a nice car like that. We stopped off at diners etc and little towns.

Price I cant remember. But not a lot. Maybe 200 quid for the week? And fuel was dirt cheap. That said the exchange rates changed massively.

Id defibitely recommend it. Not sure the two lasses enjoyed the mustang as much squashed in the back but i couldnt think of anythong better than driving to california through the desert and towns.

Cant recommend san diego enough. We were meant to do san fran but changed at last minute and didnt regret it. We stayed at a couple of motels there in the mexican part of town amd the new town.

Vegas is dirt cheap too.

[Inchy]

Driving in America is **** easy so don't worry about the 8 hours. Get it to 60mph, put cruise control on and relax. You will have to turn the wheel once every 100miles

[enduroclaret]

I shipped my motorbike to NYC last year and did 8000 miles in 8 weeks.
West is best. If you are renting a car and have a wish list of places to visit, I'd advise you to fly into the East have a look at NYC and my be Boston, then fly out West, The Cities are not as interesting as European Cities, but there are some iconic natural sights.

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[joey13]

Well I know you like your golf Happy… Pebble beach is on that California coastline. Also the US Open is in New York next year (June) could tie that up… and Augusta Georgia is pleasant in April… just saying. A lot of courses to be found down the South Carolina coastline or Florida… Vegas too. Could combine the golf theme with City visits.

Torray Pines is just outside San Diego, it's actually a municipal course and cost me $30 twilight rate brilliant course .

[ontario claret]

Despite what paul waine says, the U.S. is not a continent, only a country. The best part of North America is on this side of the border, in my opinion, but, then again, I'm prejudiced. If you want to see the best part of the Rockies (I mean the highest and most impressive), you have to come to Canada. Banff and Jasper are absolutely tremendous, as is Vancouver. The mountains come right down to the North Shore in Vancouver, and the drive up the Fraser Canyon or the Coquehalla (I hope that spelling is close) is tremendous, as is the drive east of Golden, B.C. on the Trans-Canada Highway (it literally hangs off of the mountain.) The Prairies are mostly forgettable, but the drive through northern Ontario is tremendous, as is the camping. Toronto is probably the most cosmopolitan city in the world, and there's always Niagara Falls, just a 1-1/2 hour drive from the "Big Smoke". Ottawa is great, as is Montreal (as long as you can stand the rudeness of the French). But the best place in Canada is probably the "Big Rock", Newfoundland. And the people are the friendliest in the world. You might even get to "Kiss the Cod". I'm just saying, don't forget about us. Elizabeth is our queen, too, you know.

[happyclaret17]

thanks again all
some interesting posts
thinking the trip could be a mixture of flying...rail and car....so will be looking at driving and rail road through the most picturesque bits.

[IndigoLake]

Went there many moons ago for Yellowstone Park which is also in Idaho and Wyoming, big park.

Take in some tacky 'off the beaten track' museums while you're going from A to B. I hope the 'Potato museum' is still in operation in Blackfoot Idaho.

Oh and the carrot museum in Penn state. Let me know if it's still there.

Would love to go to Yellowstone Park! Did you brush up on your grizzly bear defence tactics before going? I'd definitely have to look into that as I wouldn't have the foggiest what to do if I came across one. Back off slowly I guess, haha.

Definitely up for some weird and whacky museums. Will have to update this thread if I do end up going

[Foshiznik]

I drove to DC from NYC when i was there and the 4 1/2 hours drive wasn't quite as fun as i thought it might be. It was so boring, even though i was driving an awesome car (GMC Yukon XL) and drove through 6 states (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and DC) past NSA HQ, Joint Base Andrews, Philly, Baltimore and some other interesting things. It's just straight roads. Only thing that made it slightly interesting driving-wise was that there is no such thing as undertaking.

[Luisfigo]

We went to Boston and New York a few years ago (I'd recommend both) but also included a few days in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York and a few days of beach holiday on the Jersey Shore.

The Catskills are well worth visiting- some amazing scenery and walking (watch out for bears), small towns with timber buildings and tiny diners serving amazing food. We went tubing on one of the rivers which was an experience.

The Jersey Shore is probably closer to something you could just do in Europe, but the beaches are excellent and there are some decent theme parks and water parks dotted around if that's your thing.

[boiledclaret]

Would love to go to Yellowstone Park! Did you brush up on your grizzly bear defence tactics before going? I'd definitely have to look into that as I wouldn't have the foggiest what to do if I came across one. Back off slowly I guess, haha.

Never saw a bear and only one bison. I heard that statistically more people attack people in Yellowstone than bears do. 20 years ago since I was there, time flies. I've since been to Washington state and Oregan, lovely places.

If I ever did go back over the pond I'd love to go to North/South Carolina, I got delayed on transit to Seattle in Douglas airport in North Carolina and totally fell in love with their accents.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

I drove to DC from NYC when i was there and the 4 1/2 hours drive wasn't quite as fun as i thought it might be. It was so boring, even though i was driving an awesome car (GMC Yukon XL) and drove through 6 states (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and DC) past NSA HQ, Joint Base Andrews, Philly, Baltimore and some other interesting things. It's just straight roads. Only thing that made it slightly interesting driving-wise was that there is no such thing as undertaking.

That is, in fact, the most boring road in the entire country. And tolls, holy ****.

[NRC]

some folks on here have done some great stuff.... but that level of independence doesn't sound like you, Happy. I'd recommend the following

1. Arrive into one of the Eastern cities, NYC, Boston, and Washington DC. I'd suggest Boston then head south (see #2). For these you don't need a car, but they're amazing - Boston for the history, NYC, well it's NYC, and DC for the Mall (museums etc - ut also take in Georgetown - amazing suburb). For these three go by Amtrak. I'd suggest 2 nights in each city.

2. Hire a car and make your way west to Luray. You're now in the Appalachians, stunning country. From here you'll drive possibly the most beautiful driving route in the country (some will argue the West Coast from SFO to LA - but you'll do that one as well!). This is the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway. Terminate at Ashville NC - and AshvilleClaret will tell you how that's not to be missed. Take 3-4 nights to do this.

3. Fly to San Fransisco. Stay here a couple of nights, then hire a car.
4. Head north a short distance into the Redwoods area and Mendocino. Add on Lake Tahoe, then down into Yosemite. This site has plenty of route ideas - their route is too large for your purposes though http://www.visitcalifornia.com/trip/ult ... california Maybe 4 nights here
5. Head back to the coast to Monterey Bay, and then take the scenic coast road south towards LA. take another several nights here
6. Either keep heading down towards LA (and potentially San Diego) OR head East at Morrow Bay towards Bakersfield and from there into Sequoia NP, Death Valley, and across to Las Vegas. 3 nights in Vegas
7. If you take the above, leave Las Vegas and take Interstate 15 to go to LA. LA itself is not attractive, but then there's Hollywood and the muscle beaches to take in.......

Don't underestimate the days of travel in between the city stops. But in my opinion the above is do-able in 30 days. And you'll find the driving to be really easy and more importantly, rewarding

[Foshiznik]

1. Arrive into one of the Eastern cities, NYC, Boston, and Washington DC. I'd suggest Boston then head south (see #2). For these you don't need a car, but they're amazing - Boston for the history, NYC, well it's NYC, and DC for the Mall (museums etc - ut also take in Georgetown - amazing suburb). For these three go by Amtrak. I'd suggest 2 nights in each city.

You'll have to get it arranged before you go, but I did the tours of the pentagon (easy enough) and White House (difficult to arrange as you have to go to a certain congresswoman's office to request this about 3 months prior to your trip!) tour and they were well worth the hassle to do them in DC.

[IndigoLake]

Never saw a bear and only one bison. I heard that statistically more people attack people in Yellowstone than bears do. 20 years ago since I was there, time flies. I've since been to Washington state and Oregan, lovely places.

If I ever did go back over the pond I'd love to go to North/South Carolina, I got delayed on transit to Seattle in Douglas airport in North Carolina and totally fell in love with their accents.

Haha, that first statistic is very comforting

Never been to North Carolina but would like to go - Charlotte is supposed to be a very nice city.

[happyclaret17]

If you are a couple and you are ever confronted by a bear its very important to be able to run faster than....................................................................your partner....top tip.

[JohnMac]

Banff and Jasper are absolutely tremendous.

I spent a week at Wabooso(?) campsite near Jasper back in the 1980's.

What an absolutely breathtaking place and we did so much in such a short time but with memories that won't fade.

Came close to a pack of Wolves whilst out running and a Black Bear whilst Mountain Biking miles from civilisation.

Canadian Canoed about 10 miles down the Athabasca River sinking/ capsizing at least 20 times in the many rapids!

Cycled back from the Columbia Icefields on ricketty hired mountain bikes and also did the Valley of 5 Lakes.

Oh and ended up on the stage in the Athabasca Hotel guesting a few songs with a decent rock band

[Woody9229]

I went on my honeymoon to the USA for 4 weeks. Here's my advice.


Go and see the Grand Canyon. Unless you like walking it's only worth a day.

Vegas is class.

San Fran is very cool, amazing bars. The Alcatraz tour is excellent.

If you like walking gonto Yosemite for a few days. Stay in camp curry.

Don't go to Hawaii like I did. It's nice but not worth the time and money. It's no better than a Greek island.

New York is amazing.

Drive as much as you can and allow time to stop off at random towns. That way you see abit of the real America and the food is always the best in these places

Agree with this. I used Vegas as a means to getting to the Grand Canyon but ended up enjoying both but of course in different ways. Actually preferred Yosemite but then again it was covered in snow and so that added massively to the Wow Factor. I loved Boston but Chicago has something else. Unlike a lot of American cities/places they drink beer in Chicago, love their music and the folks are incredibly freindly and delighted that you have visited their town. It was good preparation for the ultimate party town in my view which is New Orleans. The only American destination I will go back and if I am lucky several times. Big shout out for train journeys. Amtrak in my experience is first class travel but at reasonable prices. The trip from Chicago (overnight) to Memphis then during the day down to New Orleans remains one of my best memories. A journey I did not want to end. My advice with cities is spend at least 3 nights there but maybe look at apartments/flats as hotels get dull and expensive. Enjoy and let us know what you decided and how it goes.

[Let'sChaseTheDragon]

We are doing exactly this for our 40ths next year! A group of ten blokes. Can I ask how much did it cost for the Mustang and is it worth the 5 hour drive? I'm umming and ahhing as it's just through a desert isn't it?

We then plan to spend 5 days in San Diego going around all the breweries tbh so any recommendations there would be welcome?!

If you make it, let me know. I moved to San Diego last year after 4 years in Denver (just as good). There's a decent place to watch BFC if it's during the season. Bumped into a yank out here who supports Burnley for no good reason- it would be a laugh to get a mob together for a game.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Quick shout out for Richmond, Virginia if you like beer. 21 microbreweries within 20 miles.

[LawsCanalJump]

I visited NYC, Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville and around Arkansas last year
All of which were very nice!
I highly recommend Memphis, just so you can go and eat at rendezvous! Incredible place

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[boiledclaret]

If you are a couple and you are ever confronted by a bear its very important to be able to run faster than....................................................................your partner....top tip.

I would go for the guilt free Schrodingers cat approach.

I must have accidently trodden on someones foot during the panic. What actually happened? God knows, I didn't look around, I was headlong running away from a bear.

Here's a link to the weirdest place I went through during my road trip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0qE1xQ_Db0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;