Thread: Where to visit in the USA?

Ottawa, Ontario or Halifax, Nova Scotia

Which one is you Bob?

As firesign theater said "There's lots of things in this great country and lots of places to put them in."
Just like OZ it's too big to see everything in just one trip and noplace is truly representative of the whole. When you do come here though, pick just one or two places and spend some real time exploring thoroughly there. If you try to see too much everything becomes a mishmash.
Personally, avoid the touristy places everyone sees. Try somewhere obscure.
A list I like:
Gueydan La.- not for scenery or the culture, but the food! 'Ma frien, make you wanna hop up an slap yo momma down. I garontee.
Marble Falls Tx.-Awesome geology. Witness some of the oldest rocks in the world. Probably the friendliest place I've ever been.
Ogden Ut.-Truly strange.
Winona Mn.-Golden Eagles soaring over a Mississippi like dark beer.
Okrakoke Island NC.- The easiest and most productive and cheapest surf fishing I've ever seen. Love fresh caught pampano.
Aransas Pass Tx. - (see Okrakoke NC) also the winter nesting site of the Whooping Crane.
I guess, like anywhere, the best way to see it is find a big map, close your eyes, and stick a needle in the map and go there.

Johnson Space Centre in Houston, fabby,

Sebastiaan

I am a bit surprised that no-one has mentioned Las Vegas. I lived there for six months (which was far too long), but it is a fabulous place for a two or three-day visit, and the dam at Boulder is quite something too.

Rocker

Good point, Rocker. And exactly right. 2 days is about my limit, but for 2 days it is wonderful. [Except for the money you WILL lose.]

It all depends upon when and who is coming with you.

If you are bring children, then Disneyland (California) rather than Disneyworld (Florida). Less humidity and easier for all to endure. The crowds usually are lighter during our spring and fall.

New York city is great between the fourth thursday of November (our Thanksgiving holiday) and Christmas. The city decorates for the holidays and there is a noticable mood change in the city.

Washington D.C. is great except during August. During August temperatures are 38-40 with humidity at 99%. The Air and Space museum is a several day affair. If you're at all interested in aviation, I doubt that your emotions could surrive much more than four hours at a time.

Yosemeite is 2-3 hours from Fresno and about 5-6 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco. One day is not enough.

The Grand Canyon (South rim) is about 3 hours from Phoenix. It is possible to do a one day from Phoenix to the canyon and return. Leave before light and return after dark. I've done it many times. Avoid visiting the canyon from late June through mid September. That is "summer road trip" time with bored and uncooperative pre-teens and teens. (Actual quote over heard at the canyon, "You're not going to sit in the car reading after we've driven for three days to get here. Get out and look at the canyon, now.") In all, the canyon is the most impressive hole in the ground. The sheer beauty of the place is breath taking.

The US is approximately the size of OZ. Some of the air travel times are:
Los Angeles to San Francisco 1.15; to Phoenix 1.30; to New York 5.30; to Washington D.C. 5.30; to Seattle 3.30; to Orlando Florida 5. (All in hours.minutes.) Assume that you are going to waste 2 hours at the departure airport and probably that much time at the destination airport.

My impression is that the US culture concerning air travel is that it is an event where as in OZ, air travel is just how you get there. We seem to have the mentality that getting there is half the fun (or agony) and the road trip is a family tridition.

If you're planning a trip, usually from mid March through April, Disneyland sells discount tickets only to Southern California residents. (It's a 30%-40% discount.) These tickets are usually sold at many of our super markets. If I remember correctly, I did have to show my drivers license when the tickets were exchanged for admission at the park. If this is in your plan, give a shout and SWMBO and I will go with you so that you can get the discount.

One of the best holidays we had as a family was a trip about 10 years ago to the US. Landed in LA and hired a minivan and headed north along the coast. Booked the first night's accomodation and for the next 3 week just went wherever our fancy took us. The coast road from LA to San Francisco is amazing, a beer at Big Sur - brilliant. Monteray is a bit touristy but interesting. San Francsico is cool, Yosemite valley is breathtaking. We ended up in all sorts of places and really had a great time. I'd say Las Vegas was probably the low point of the holiday. I've travelled the US by car and plane and if you have enough time I recommend a road trip. The states is a very interesting place once you get away from the main tourist areas.

If on the East coast the Smithsonian Air and Space museum is fantastic, the holocaust museum is worth the look. It's not entertainment but really makes you think. NYC - use the underground and the busses and just explore the city. I like the Museum of modern art and the Statue of Liberty is a must if only to say you did it.

My experience is that most places in the states are great to visit and safe as long as you know where not to go.

Oh and I forgot; one day I hope to drive route 66 (well what's left of it) in a mid 60's convertible.

Originally Posted by durwood

I have always picked an area flown in, hired a car and done a circle over a week or more and then flown to another part of the states. Most of the big airlines offer cheap internal flights if you fly with them. I used to love telling Americans on planes it only cost us $80 when they were paying neally $700 or more for the same trip.
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Thanks for that tip Durwood. I reckon I'll probably fly between centres & hire a car as you suggest.

Thanks also for the other tips. Boeing & NASA museums sound good. Keep 'em coming, it's early days in the planning so far.

Alex, you might need this.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/index.php

If you have a container or two organized for the shopping, I have been recommended the Boeing 'Factory Outlet' warehouse - tools, new luxury seats, parts, gadgets & gizmos - generally over-runs or 'dent&scratch' seconds. Build your own 747 in the garage

If in New York and looking for wood things, The Cloisters is the medieval wing of the Metropolitan Museum and has a large collection of Medieval & Rennaisance wood, as well as the 'Unicorn' tapestries - try to find the front door, when I was there I seem to have wandered in an open back door

If doing the 'family thing' you can always pre-check for major wood stores in the area that the family will be visiting.

If you go to San Francisco, don't miss the Exploratorium museum. About a mile east of the Golden Gate Bridge south abutment along the shore. It's hands-on exhibits and techno-intensive. Allow a full day. They had to throw me out at closing time.

[Seattle & Boeing have been mentioned. The 747 (or whatever they're making now) plant is in Everett, about 30 miles north. One of the largest enclosed spaces in the world.]

{Pilchuck glass school is also nearby. Founded by Dale Chihuly. One of the best.}

Joe

Alex!

What a great thread! I'm taking copious notes.

So how would you answer if the same question was aked of Aus?

All good stuff above. Not only is the US a similar (sort of) scale, the East Coast for example, is about the same length as the Qld one.

We eventually intend to drive the length of both coasts, and do a bit in the middle in three or four bites. You could spend forever in NY or at the Smithsonian for that matter.

So how long are you going to be there? A quick trip for me would be a few days in Washington DC, then NY for a week, DRIVE to Boston via the Maine Coast visiting places like Newport, Rhode Island and the unforgettable Mystic Seaport, as well as a few Casinos on the way (for the spectacle not the gambling).

Mystic is worth the trip alone, even if you aren't a boatie person, it's an incredible two days, (every ticket gets you two days entry!).

Go back next year and do the West Coast! (anyone for a convoy?)

As for how to get round, a friend of ours who is a regular visitor to the West Coast, simply buys a "junker" for next to nothing, drives it for a few weeks, then leaves it at the airport with the keys in the ignition, and a sixpack on the driver's seat. Eventually he'll get arrested as a result of something one of his cars did, I'm sure, but it makes a great dinner story.

Cheers,

P