Trip of a lifetime USA- CA or NYC?

[hakunamatatanoworries]

We have been saving up and have decided to take a once in a lifetime trip with the kids (6&8). We will never be able to afford this type of trip again so we want to make sure it’s perfect. Me and DH have always loved the USA and so there is no doubt that this will be where our trip is but we are stuck on where to go. We will definitely be going to Orlando for 10 days first as the kids really want to do Disney, the space centre and they want to do a boat trip to see crocodiles.

However we currently can’t decide where to go after- we like the idea of NYC (I have been before but the others haven’t) as we know we could visit the landmarks and museums etc for 3 days, we would then go to Salem for two days after (me and Dc are Halloween obsessed and this has always been a dream of mine). But I also worry that after a busy time in Orlando this may be too much.

The other option would be to go to California for 5 days, we would do 3 relaxed beach type days and then 2 days at a lodge in either Yosemite or Sequoia national parks. Husband loves CA but I’ve never been. I love the idea of the national parks as I’ve never seen that side of America and think it would be beautiful to explore, I also think the kids would have a bit of a wow factor with the scenery.

We really can’t decide which would be better! For context DD is very laid back and would be happy with either option she’s just excited to go on such a big holiday. DS is Audhd and is also very excited about the trip but I am aware that parts of it could be over whelming so we will have to explain the plans in detail to him before we go so he has time to process and prepare.

Any opinions or advice?

What time of year are you planning?

Ive been to all those places apart from Salem, but I believe Salem is not Halloween-y year round, so you may not get what you are looking for.

I think I’d stick to the east coast. There are wonderful beaches in Florida so I wouldn’t go all the way to California for those. Disney in California is nowhere near as good as Orlando.

Just to give you something else to consider…
Have you thought about a road trip from Orlando to NYC? You could do 7 nights for your Orlando itinerary (1 days at each Disney park, 1 day nasa, 1 day airboat, 1 day at beach (maybe Clearwater?)) and then drive to Savannah for 1 night, up through Shenandoah NP 1 night, Washington DC 2 nights & NYC 3 nights.

Alternatively do CA Disneyland instead, I much prefer it and I love CA, Florida was far too busy and tacky

OP as others have said your itinerary is much too ambitious and too old for your kids.

The US is the size of Europe plus. Each state (California and Florida are twice the size approx of the UK).

It’s easy to drive in the US but no way would i be taking a family visit there now.

The same theme parks are in California to Florida so consider this. Also a lot of beaches around LA are awful - dirty with lots (!) of homeless people.

Yosemite to LA for example is 4.5 hours away. The traffic is AWFUL.

You need to rethink this completely.

NYC is a great place to walk and go on public transport. It's very very tiring for youngish kids.

I'd wait until they are stronger.

We did Florida and NYC at similar ages and it was fantastic. We did the relaxing beach part on the Gulf coast - warmer and gentler for swimming than the Pacific Ocean!

We watched lots of children's films set in NYC before we went so the kids were super excited to go to the Museum from Night At The Museum, to Central Park like Enchanted and Stuart Little, all that sort of stuff.

That's a 16 hour plus drive to NYC. Not sure I would want to do that with kids. Salem isn’t Halloweeny as mentioned but does have some historical sites (probs boring for kids that age) and it’s at least a four hour drive from NYC so would be a lot of holiday spent in the car.

Savannah is a cool stop and has the street car tour. Charleston is also a nice stop.

Stick with the east coast. Don't underestimate how long it takes to get to California. We went to NY and Boston a decade ago, we came from NZ so had to connect in San Fran. It was a bloody long flight over the US. DD was a teenager and still struggled with the jet lag.

I also echo others and go to Boston, there is a lot of culture there but not as mad as NYC. Plus you can bung in Arcadia, so you visit a national park without having to fly cross country.

I'd stay in florida for the beaches (don't forget to do universal, the rides are so much better than disney and far less queues (if you've never been to disney... prepare yourself 😬😬)

Then up to NYC as it gives you less flight time overall. Do the NYC jellycat experience and then take the toys on tour to landmarks. Eat loads of food. Take the free ferry and use the park for hotdogs, pretzels and picnics and just general R&R. Maybe get a hotel with a pool.

I liked my second NYC visit more than the first as I didn't feel the need to race around and do as much as possible. I revisited my favourites (top of the rock, ventral Park, nhm) and skipped the expensive stuff I didn't think was all that (going to the top of the empire state building). Still have loads left to do!

But the second visit I made time to find non-landmark things, like good bakeries!, or just strolling and detouring intonMadam Tussauds.

I’d forget about Salem, they’re too young and it would be a scary experience at Halloween. Mickeys Halloween Party at Disney is good for all ages and Florida is a nice place to be climate wise in October. Warm in the day for swimming/water parks with just a light cardi or jacket in the evenings .Less crowds at the parks too. I’d also pick a Florida beach bit - Annamaria island is good. You can see manatees and giant rays. Fly into Miami and do a round car trip to Orlando. I liked Miami better than NY or San Francisco. California is great but is a lot of driving with some very winding roads - best for when they’re older.

Given DS is likely to experience overwhelm, I would probably avoid NYC.

I love NY and California (not LA) but if the DC would prefer a more relaxed holiday it has to be California rather than NY I think. Or you stick to east coast and spend time in Boston after Salem?

Wait until they’re 10 and 8, it’s far too much for a 6 year old.

Don’t go to America right now. I have a lot of family and friends living there and it just isn’t safe at the moment, even the big tourist areas are becoming sketchy to visit.

My DC enjoyed NY at age 8 and 6. However we took taxis and were very clear about seeing places they would enjoy. That did include MoMA though. We are not theme park people though. From there we went to Boston and then Cape Cod for the beach. We all liked Boston. Salem was never going to be on our agenda.

Id wait until dc are older before you look at California. I’d leave everything for de years because they won’t remember much. It’s a holiday for you really, not them. The USA is safe! Just very expensive!

Because then it would be a twice in a lifetime trip.

You aren't getting to Yosemite in four and a half hours from LA - try six+ hours and that's without traffic.

Your CA iteniary is not realistic - the amount of driving you need to do is insane. Also the Pacific in California is not warm - the beach cities nearish to Yosemite/Sequoia are beautiful, but cold. Do not underestimate how cold the ocean can be. Or how pervasive the fog/marine layer is lol. If you want the classic beach holiday you should stick to Florida.

Stick to one state/area would be my advice.

I would be very very cautious about booking a trip to the US right now. Does your travel insurance cover war breaking out? If you’re going in the autumn, it’s the run-up to their midterm elections (the second Tuesday in November) and many commentators are suggesting that Trump is manoeuvring to be able to cancel them or to call in the national guard to suppress their free and fair execution, so I would seriously consider factoring civil unrest into your decision-making.

ICE also seem very cavalier about who they arrest, how they arrest them, and how detainees are processed. As you are planning to travel with children (and additional needs at that) I would, again, think long and hard about going there at all.

Anybody travelling to the US for a holiday is supporting trump with their purse whether that is intentional or not.
Everybody who does not agree with his actions should stay away.
Money talks and all most of us can do is take our business elsewhere.
I also think it is not safe and would definitely not be taking children there now.

I wouldn't go to California with the purpose of being relaxed - there is so much to see if you want to do it properly. It needs 2 weeks. Road trip from LA up the pacific coast highway with stops including Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Pismo Beach, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur and Monterey Bay. Then to San Francisco and then Yosemite - its a long drive to Yosemite so you will want more than a couple of days. New York sounds a better idea if you can give it at least several days.

The kids are very young so another who says leave it at least 3 years if you really are doing it once in a lifetime. Then I would do universal - Disney- possibly chill out time for a few days on clearwater beach (there's a gorgeous hotel there I have my eye on).

The NY/CA trips can wait. They really are separate trips and it's too much travel on top of a packed schedule.

There are 6 parks in disney and 4 in universal plus did you say everglades and Kennedy space centre. That's 12 days plus you need chill out days in between. Allow an extra day because epcot is 2 parks in 1. That's 13 days.

I do full days in the parks (8-11 in epcot and DHS but would be finished with dinner at the others then maybe a wander back to buy something or get a drink or ice-cream, you can be out for a very full on day and you will need to sit by a pool in between).

The other option is to do a park over 2 days and spend some time chilling out in the hotel each day but they are huge so once I'm in I'm going for it. With young dc and AuDHD you might need the daily chill out time.

Which is my way of saying even if you skip universal, but assuming both disney waterparks are open, 10 days won't be enough for florida. 2.5 to 3 weeks is my preference.

To add that you really need to be doing all the parks to get your moneys worth out of the ticket. They are really expensive but you can't really pay for one or 2 parks. Look at attraction tickets direct.

I can post advice about NY boston loop or a Southern Californian loop with dc as I've done these but separate holidays. California is amazing but neither of these destinations are as good for kids as just doing florida properly.

Personally I'd do euro disney when they are very young and then the full Orlando experience in 3 or 4 years. There are definitely 2 trips to be had: one when they are you to do characters and princesses, and one when they are big enough to enjoy the rides.

Florida to California coast for a few days and then Yosemite for two, then back to a major airport to get home is far too much travel. You won't enjoy the second half if your trip, you'll be tired.

They are a good age for Legoland, or Disneyland Paris. I don't think it's fair to have a "once in a lifetime" holiday at such a young age - they will come home and want to do it again straight away!

I'm lucky enough to have been to all of the places on your list multiple times. I think you would have a great time with whatever decision you make.

You haven't said when you are planning to go, but I would wait until 2027 at least to do this - a) so that the kids are a little older, and b) because the USA is genuinely so unstable at the moment. Every day Trump does something else crazy and I do think at some point there's a danger of either internal clashes but also some kind of retribution should he carry out his threats to Greenland in terms of visa cancellations etc. It would be unprecedented, but so his is behaviour. I would avoid the USA this year if possible, especially close to the midterms in November. I am never saying don't go to the USA at all (I'm going at Easter, prebooked before the insanity!) but do consider these things if it's a once in a lifetime trip, this is a particularly bad time to go.

It's worth considering that the things you want to do in Florida would easily take more than 10 days, so you could keep it a Florida only trip if you wanted. And there are other amazing things to do in Florida - my favourite beach in the world is Bahai Honda State Park, down in the Keys.

Other thing to bare in mind - US National Parks now cost USD 250 per person so that will be a significant cost to your CA plans (if you are visiting more than one day the most cost effective way is to make a non-resident annual pass). However, if this really is your once in a lifetime trip I would probably choose the national park options over New York. The geography in that area of the world is stunning. New York can always be done relatively cheaply from the UK if you did want to go back there another time.

Rather than CA you may want to look at Arizona/Nevada/Utah, they have some pretty amazing places e.g. the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Canyonlands. If you do want to keep costs down, also consider looking at State Parks rather than National Parks - they aren't as famous but are often very impressive.

Do you read the news OP??

I would forget Salem, I can’t imagine what you would do there for two days with small children. It’s a pleasant enough New England town with a million places to get your palm read or buy a crystal. It has a fantastic museum (boring for young children) and some interesting historical sites (again not aimed at children particularly). There is a pirate museum, I’ve never been to that. A day trip is enough, it is heaving with people in summer too. I find it quite tacky that there is so much witch themed stuff in Salem when the whole point of the Salem witch trials was that there were no witches.

I would either stay in Florida for the whole time, do the whole holiday in California with the Disney park there, or spend only 7 days in Florida before going to NYC or Boston for a bit longer.

I think the NYC and California plans sound much too rushed as they are. Would your kids actually enjoy the museums and things in NYC?