What is worth to see in US for average European

[doomtrader]

Hi All.

I'm planning a trip to US this autumn for about three weeks, taking my wife and maybe a couple with us.We are planning to rent a car (some large SUV), and stop in motels without previous reservations (unless we know earlier we would like to stay for more than one night in one city).

I've already been in USA (living in CO, tripping to the west), and less more know what is worth to be seen, but I would be thankfull for your advices. Let me know what is worth to visit, what is must see.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: doomtrader
Let me know what is worth to visit, what is must see.

You are probably already aware of this, but the US is rather big [;)] so 3 weeks will allow you to visit just one general area - this example from a 3-week trip we're planning for June : San Francisco - Bryce, Zion & other parks - Death Valley - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Palm Springs - Los Angeles - some other west coast towns. This combination of must-see towns + must-see nature is what we like, but YMMV

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[doomtrader]

I know it's big (and I know that Texas is bigger than France ).
Travelled it from NY->Denver (2 days) and later Denver ->Messa Verde ->Grand Canyon ->Las Vegas ->Death Valley ->LA ->Frisco ->Salt Lake ->Denver (7 days) last time.
So more less I know something about USA size and I know that those places I visit are worth to see them again, but the others didn't travel trough USA yet so I just wanted to know are there better places. Personal experience welcome.

[Lützow]

I still remember Disney World, Florida keys and Hemingway's pub. They refused to sell me a beer as I looked too young when I was already 26. [:D]

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Lützow
I still remember Disney World, Florida keys and Hemingway's pub. They refused to sell me a beer as I looked too young when I was already 26. [:D]

My wife once had to show her ID during a police raid on a nightclub to prove she was over 18. She was around 24 at the time and mighty pleased that guy thought she looked so young [;)]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[junk2drive]

Eddy you know that June in the desert can be well over 100f?

[Erik Rutins]

Well, I think Vermont and the Adirondacks are worth seeing, but I live here so I'm probably biased. If you're into military history of the American Revolution though, you can see quite a few sites in the Northeast, including places like Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, etc. up in this area. I guess one question is whether you prefer cities or rural areas for sightseeing or both? Hitting the major cities would certainly be interesting, but there are also so many beautiful natural areas.

Regards,

- Erik

[Greybriar]

My vote goes for the northeast United States. I vacationed there years ago and saw a lot of scenery and visited all the state capitols in a short amount of time. Much of early American history is there, and the foliage in the fall of the year would be beautiful. I went as far as Maine on my trip, which began in Boston. In short, I saw a lot of sights in a relatively short amount of time.

And the cheapest lobster I ever ate in my life was in Portland, Maine.

[Lützow]

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

ORIGINAL: Lützow
I still remember Disney World, Florida keys and Hemingway's pub. They refused to sell me a beer as I looked too young when I was already 26. [:D]

My wife once had to show her ID during a police raid on a nightclub to prove she was over 18. She was around 24 at the time and mighty pleased that guy thought she looked so young [;)]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

On my secound trip to Florida I was already 29 and had to show my ID card as well, when I visited a bar. Guess they take this very serious in the states. [;)]

[Gil R.]

In terms of natural beauty, if I had to visit one place it would be Jackson Hole and Yellowstone (can stay in one and drive to the other). Of course, lots of other people will be there, too, since it's not a secret. Yosemite is second, Grand Canyon third, Everglades fourth. (I'm probably forgetting something.)

In terms of man-made stuff, Las Vegas should be seen to be believed, but I wouldn't want to spend more than a day there. But if you're thinking of the East Coast, D.C. and New York have the most stuff to do and things to see, and in both cases you can stay at a cheaper motel outside the city and take a train in, saving lots of money. Three weeks is enough time for a full East Coast trip, flying into Boston and seeing some of New England before driving to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, the Carolinas and Georgia (Savannah's a beautiful city, and Charleston is supposed to be), and finally hitting Florida. One can drive non-stop from Boston to Miami in two days, which means that there would be a lot more time for sight-seeing than a drive across the vast western part of the country.


Disclaimer: I left out the Rocky Mountains, figuring you've seen them.

[Yogi the Great]

As already metioned, in one week your area of coverage will be limited, so the question would be what your interests are.
 
In General,
    Washington D.C. (you can spend the whole week there if you want to see it all)
    Orlando Florida (Take in all the Disney Parks:  Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studio's, Epcot and Animal Kingdom)
 
If a History Buff
    This can be tied in with D.C. above, but Maryland, Virginia (and Gettysburg PA) Full of civil war battlefields
 
Hunting, Fishing, Northwoods?
    Try Wisconsin, Minnesota areas
 
For just great scenery,
    Blue Ridge Parkway and Smokey Mountains are Great.  Take in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
 
Of course this discussion could go on much further, but as mentioned the U.S. is big, You need a week to drive across it, and that's without stopping to see anything.

[Canoerebel]

As a life-long American who loves to travel, loves history, loves nature, and writes about all of these topics, here's how I might package some 3-week vacation opporutunities:
 
South:  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with enough time to do some hiking to Abram's Falls and Charlie's Bunion, plus the drive through Cade's Cove); Chickamauga Battlefield; Atlanta (history and culture - sort of); Cumberland Island National Seashore; Florida (including some of the theme parks, Cape Canaveral, Miami - what a cool and beautiful city - and the Florida Keys).
 
Northeast:  New York City, Boston, Acadia National Park in Maine, Niagara Falls, Gettysburg, Harper's Ferry, Fort Ticonderoga, and lots of time at Washington D.C.
 
Northwest:  Yellowstone/Grand Teton, Glacier National Park, Seattle, Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Oregon coast, Crater Lake National Park.
 
West:  Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Mesa Verde, Yosemite, Redwoods, San Francisco, Pacific Coast Highway.

[jimi3]

Not Detroit, but seriously:

We had a motor home when I was a kid and we covered most of the US. My two favorite long trips were these,
• Upstate New York-Vermont-New Hampshire-Boston-up the coast to Bar Harbor Maine. Lots of great scenery and history, and you just can’t beat Maine. One of my favorite states.
• Baltimore-Washington DC-Virginia-Williamsburg-Yorktown-Around Chesapeake Bay. Hit several major Civil War sites in Virginia. Problem is DC can take a week by itself

Of course there’s always Montery-San Francisco and then north to the wine country. The United States is a beautiful country with a lot to offer. You will enjoy wherever you choose.
(Northern Michigan is pretty awesome as well)

Jim

[elcidce]

You have to see the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are great anywhere. Skyline Drive is a good trip if your in VA and headed to or from Washington DC. Charleston, SC and Savannah are great places to visit. Cape Canaveral, FL and Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown,VA are fun places to visit. Niagara Falls is a favorite stop. I have always wanted to visit Nashville, TN. I am not a fan of large cities like New York or Washington DC.

There are plenty of places to see. It really depends on what you like to do and how much time you have. Like many have mentioned, the US is too large to cover it in a few weeks even.

Pm me if you need any more info. Good Luck.

[elcidce]

You have to see the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are great anywhere. Skyline Drive is a good trip if your in VA and headed to or from Washington DC. Charleston, SC and Savannah are great places to visit. Cape Canaveral, FL and Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown,VA are fun places to visit. Niagara Falls is a favorite stop. I have always wanted to visit Nashville, TN. I am not a fan of large cities like New York or Washington DC.

There are plenty of places to see. It really depends on what you like to do and how much time you have. Like many have mentioned, the US is too large to cover it in a few weeks even.

Pm me if you need any more info. Good Luck.

[elcidce]

You have to see the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are great anywhere. Skyline Drive is a good trip if your in VA and headed to or from Washington DC. Charleston, SC and Savannah are great places to visit. Cape Canaveral, FL and Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown,VA are fun places to visit. Niagara Falls is a favorite stop. I have always wanted to visit Nashville, TN. I am not a fan of large cities like New York or Washington DC.

There are plenty of places to see. It really depends on what you like to do and how much time you have. Like many have mentioned, the US is too large to cover it in a few weeks even.

Pm me if you need any more info. Good Luck.

[PunkReaper]

A sub prime mortgage

[hgilmer3]

You're from Poland!  You should come live here, we need all the Polish people we can get!

[doomtrader]

ORIGINAL: hgilmer3

You're from Poland!  You should come live here, we need all the Polish people we can get!

Indeed I'm.
I was considering this last time.
If you find a good job for my wife, hell why not?


Driving topic back on track.

As I wrote. We are planning to come for about three weeks. I know it should be at least three years. I also understand that trying to cover whole country has got no sense at all. So I'm trying to choose best area.
I know that Rockies, Grand Canyon are wonderfull. I felt in love in Frisco, but life is about making choices. So with your help I'm trying to make best one.

Of course when you will posting here, you can realize how wonderfull your country is

[junk2drive]

When I lived near L.A. my neighbors were Dutch and had a seemingly constant flow of visitors from Holland. Sometimes the overflow would stay at our house.
 
Most would rent a car and head to Zion/Bryce then Grand Canyon then Las Vegas. The rest of the time would be SoCal stuff, Disneyland, Hollywood, etc.