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?

We have done all of these a few times. Would not mix east and west coast or New England in one trip. I’d go for Florida or California with kids. Both are amazing.

No way would I consider a trip to the US (and I could drive there in 15 minutes).

Couldn't you go to one of the many, many less shit countries?

Don't waste time on Salem. It was a crushing disappointment. Boston is wonderful.

I wouldn’t set foot in the country. There are other lovely places in the world which don’t have a dictator in charge dragging its own citizens off for spurious reasons and putting them in prison or shooting them in cold blood.

You do realise there’s an increasingly likely chance we are about to be at war with the US. If he invades Greenland the US is in military conflict with NATO (us).

I have seen your latest comment so glad you're just doing florida. I've done florida twice, california twice, new york once. Your plans to mix florida with anywhere else within a fortnight would be too much
But, honestly, I would still delay until they are older. They will really enjoy it more including rides etc...

If you do this drive up the inland route for speed and then drive down the coast so you are on the ocean side of the road when you drive down. If you go February/March you'll catch some of the massive blooms in the central valley.

One pass covers all the adults in a non-commercial vehicle, up to 4 adults on foot / bike / motorbike, and 4 adults on a commercial tour, depending on whether it’s a per vehicle fee or a per person fee (one adult must be the pass holder).

Ok @SabrinaThwaite My point was if wasn’t per person. It’s not awful value just not as good as it was and the USA has never been brilliant value for tourists. Many other countries charge premium prices to overseas visitors, eg India.

My point was more that the pass has tripled in price for tourists only since January. It’s a Trump administration policy to allegedly boost NP funding, ignoring the fact that the administration has catastrophically slashed NP funding.

The US used to be much better value, even up to 2020, and that’s not all down to the poorer exchange rate - our US based friends have complained about how expensive hotels have become post Covid.

How well do you think it would go down if US tourists were charged 4 times as much as UK visitors for entry to the Tower of London or Edinburgh Castle?

I would not be going to the USA at all at the moment. Not until they have a new president as I would not want to be there or spend money there.

I wouldn't do NYC now. I've been 8 times and it has changed so much. Much dirtier, drugs everywhere. I was so gutted as I love love love New York.

One of my dream trips would be to drive from Miami to the Keys and visit each island! Maybe a good option if youre looking for beaches and relaxation. It's more rustic and chilled than CA.

The other thing about New York is that it is horrifically expensive for hotels at the moment. DH went there for a funeral last December, and the cheapest hotel in Manhattan he could find was £500 a night. He ended up getting something in Brooklyn for £400.

We drove from Ohio to Key West when we were newly weds. Apart from falling asleep at the wheel in Miami rush hour, it was brilliant. The Keys are great (not the mosquitoes), but the character of the different islands is amazing.

Nothing would convince me to visit the US while Trump is in power.

But if I had to go with young kids, I would stay in Florida the whole time. There are so many lovely things to do there outside of the theme parks without all the travelling.

we absolutely love California and have done a couple of road trips, latest when daughter was 7 and she had an amazing time, loved Santa Barbara, Yosemite and Sequoia, can’t wait to go back and see more.