First time USA holiday with teens - where to start?

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

We are planning a big trip to the USA with kids after GCSES/A-levels so poss next year or year after, during August school holidays. We have never been to the US before although in-laws love Florida and bug us to go with them every year. But we are not looking for theme parks, shopping malls and a villa on a complex which is inlaws’ idea if a good holiday. We would like to see some proper AMerican sights but we’re just not sure where to start. We get excited when we start talking about it and want to see ALL of them! . So we need to narrow it down somewhat so we see plenty but feel like it’s a whistle stop tour which will be exhausting.

We Are probably unlikely to go as a family again so this will be our big trip. However we don’t want to spend too much time in the car each day, unless we end the holiday with a good 5 days or so of chilling. So up to 3 weeks in total. We don’t mind driving but don’t want 3 weeks of sitting in a car.

was thinking West Coast/Californiabut the weather looks horrendously hot in August inland.

Alternatively, New York and that coast? No idea really.

Need some inspiration!

Washington, New York, train to Boston, pick up a car and drive up through New Hampshire into Maine. Fabulous

Or just New York, Which is hot but manageable and then out to the Long Island beach resorts, think The Affair

New York, Washington, Boston - all very hot and humid in August - and all cities that are best viewed on foot so I wouldn't really recommend them if you don't like that sort of weather. And when I say 'hot and humid' I mean temps in the 80s, even 90s sometimes and high factor humidity. Not nice to be outside - much nicer to be inside in the aircon! The best place, bar none, to go in the USA in August is the Pacific Northwest (Washington state, Oregon, N. California). So I would fly to Seattle and hire a car. I would go to Olympic NP, Mt Rainier NP and drive south, making my way to San Francisco to fly home. You can see TONS of wonderful, iconic places on route. Seattle, Portland and San Francisco are really nice, laid back cities with excellent food, some lovely museums, and the scenery, particularly the Cascade Range (volcanoes inc. Mt St Helens), is stunning. There are beaches, forests, walks, Muir Woods, you name it. You could have an amazing 3-week trip with plenty of variety and really see the real America while not being uncomfortably hot. The weather over there in August is lovely!

If this is a post GCSE/A Level trip aren't you tempted to take advantage of them finishing school early for the summer and go at the end of June or early July rather than August, or do you have other DC that will still be at school?

We are taking a post exam trip to the US this year post GCSE & A level exams. Itinerary is -

Fly to Toronto for 3 nights
Bus to Niagara stay overnight
Train to NYC 4 nights (Broadway show and baseball game booked)
Train to Boston 4 nights (day trip to Cape Cod)
Train to Chicago staying overnight
California Zephyr train to San Francisco (through the rockies - takes 53 hours )
San Francisco for 6 nights (day trip to Yosemite and another to Carmel/Monterey, day at Alcatraz)
Train to Santa Barbara staying overnight
Train to Santa Monica 3 nights
Fly home from LAX
(spend next month recovering)

Like you, I don't see us doing another big holiday like this as a family so wanted to fit in as much as possible. We probably have too much here (4 weeks), but this was after we eliminated lots already (Grand Canyon ) Hopefully our times on the train will give us a bit of a rest between cities.

Some great ideas in this thread.

I’ve done the Seattle San Francisco trip a few times( had family in both) including Starlight Express train between both. Loved Seattle, Mount Rainier, white water rafting on Wenatchee, Orcas Island, Olympus rain forest, Cannon Beach in Oregon, Carmel, San Francisco. Wanted to take the Zephyr with ours this summer for s big month trip. Went round the houses and not now as wanted to do NYC and the East Coast properly. We also have 3 teens and the train was just too pricey for 5.

We’re still doing a month but NYC for a week, Cape Cod for a week( cycle paths and Martha’s Vineyard included), Boston 3 days then a 11 day road trip up Maine( 4 nights in Acadia( will go sea kayaking and hiking, across to New Hampshire and back down through Vermont to fly back out of JFK.

Going to do 4 Corners, Yosemite and San Francisco when they finish exams.

Tried to do it in one but it just wouldn’t fit.😂

Jenny I hope you have a bedroom on the Zephyr and not just coach seats. Being a white-knuckle flier, I have a lot of experience with long-distance Amtrak trains. it will be much more restful if you have sleeping accommodations.

It sounds like a great trip. So glad you are going to a baseball game. I always recommend that to our overseas visitors. It is a quintessential American activity.

N0rdicStar I think I remember you from previous threads, sounds like a great trip you have planned.

SenecaFalls we have roomettes booked on the Zephyr, but unfortunately coach only for Lake Shore Limited from Boston to Chicago. It's about £900 more for roomettes for that journey - I keep checking to see if the price goes down. Maybe we will get lucky and the price will drop nearer the time.

The baseball game was harder to arrange than I thought. We seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for most of them - Blue Jays in NYC when we are in Toronto, Red Sox in London when we are in Boston etc etc. This game was the only one which really worked with our timings but I'm pleased because we are going to see the NY Mets and it's the 50th anniversary of them winning the World Series that weekend so sounds like it will be a good atmosphere.

We took our boys to see the Red Sox at Fenway park. Singing Sweet Carolyn with the crowd was a highlight of the holiday. Absolutely brilliant.

Finally got there Jenny.😂

Tempted re NY Mets baseball. Is that fancy rounders or loooonger than cricket? How much were the tickets and how long is a game?

Red Sox was about 3 hours long. I got my Boys to play it on their wii before we went so they knew all the rules and explained it slowly to me.

It's faster than cricket more like fancy rounders with big gloves.

Yeah, it's often quite long games, but you don't have to stay for the whole thing. People tend to get up and wander round a bit IIRC so you aren't sitting in your seat all that time. Tickets start at around $15 for the highest seats. Think we paid around $50 each for ours as we wanted slightly lower down ones.

Here's a link to the schedules - www.mlb.com/schedule/team-by-team
Red Sox or NY Mets I think would be best if you can tie in a game with your itinerary. I checked the seat ratings at seatgeek.com and then booked tickets from the Mets website.

Jenny: I work in a school myself so tied to school holidays whatever my own kids are doing unfortunately.

Wow, there are some big trips planned here. I got the Trailfinders USA brochure just for some ideas and I do think we’ll probably stick with California (San Francisco, Yosemite, highway 1 coast, LA, San Diego and maybe Las Vegas/Grand Canyon although I am in 2 minds about) that rather than try and see too much else. The more I see the more I think we might want to make a return trip to New York and that side at some point in the future (even if DH and I go separately to the kids when they are in their 20s going with mates/girlfriends)

It’s a special wedding anniversary next year and DH I were going to do something special but we may save our money and put most of it towards our family US trip in 3 years time, which is when one DC is doing A levels and the other GCSEs. I think it will take that long to decide our itinerary and hotels!!! But am partially wondering whether to go after year 12/year 10 if we have the money by then (we already have some savings). So 2020.

I’m waffling a bit now. One thing I’ve learned though, is that my knowledge of US geography was appalling. Only just found out that Washington is both a city and a state and that they are nowhere near each other!!

Baseball is played in real time, rather than timed periods so the length of the game depends on what is happening in the game. And yes it's fine to leave before the game ends, however, you don't want to leave before the 7th inning because that's when everyone sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame.' Also another iconic thing about baseball is the food. Hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, Cracker Jack and other assorted goodies.

Please don't go to Death Valley in August!

It's much more humid on the east coast. I'd stick to California side, as even though it gets hot, the ocean is cold and there is a breeze.

Bear in mind that forest fires may be an issue out west. They have been for the past several years. But the weather will be the most bearable.

I loved, loved loved the ball game. It was a small slice of real Americana.

Las Vegas is grim. Ultra grim in the summer! It’s in the desert and has no scenery or culture at all! If you don’t want tacky, avoid OP! It’s a theme park city!

Not a single person has mentioned Alaska! The most stunning area! I would consider the Pacific North West very seriously. It ticks all your boxes and the scenery and wildlife in Alaska is fantastic.

California will be hot and prone to fires. If you do it, drive Highway 1. Don’t take the train as you miss the highlights. Inland it’s scorching!

If you don’t want New England, which would be an alternative, I think the NW is more dramatic and has its own character. You would be in Alaska in the salmon run and would see bears! Believe me, it’s memorable.

Save NY and WDC for spring or autumn. Ditto the states of Utah and Arizona. So much stunning scenery but in extreme heat it would be horrible. You could consider Colorado and Wyoming but plan ahead. Again, I think June or September are better but it is stunning.

Top pick, definitely Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

We have been to baseball. The DC will probably be bored as little happens. The audience talks, eats, drinks and cheers about once an hour. It’s more of a way to meet up within friends than a sporting occasion. We found it disappointing.

I’m not keen on tacky really but I thought Vegas might be a spectacle Of sorts, but when I really think properly about it there is nothing that would really grab any of us. I’m not keen on “fake” or gambling! Sounds like it would be too hot as well. I take it the Grand Canyon is out cos of the heat too then?

Pacific NW does appeal but i think California has the edge for teens. And I think Alaska is just too far really.

Are forest fires really a major issue in California? Slightly concerned now.

We did a West Coast trip last August as we're tied to school holidays too. The only places I found the heat to be really unbareable were Death Valley (obviously!), las vegas, lake havasu and hollywood.

We flew to Vegas and spent three nights there one would have been enough as we're not gamblers and the hotels start to feel a bit shopping mall after a while. But we had great evening meals and enjoyed circ du soleil.
Then drove through death Valley- amazing sights and would do it again despite the heat. We had two nights in mammoth lakes which was a laid back feeling mountain town with nice walks and outdoor activities.

We were then supposed to go to Yosemite but the park was closed due to wildfires so we went to lake tahoe instead. We didn't enjoy it but that was probably because we knew we were supposed to be in yosemitte.

We then did three nights in san fransisco. The food was great, alcatraz was great and fisherman's wharf for the touristy stuff. But the city was very dirty and the number of homeless people was quite sad. It was quite cold as the fog came in on day two and stayed.

We then drove down highway one which was amazing, but again cold and foggy in the morning. We stayed one night at monterey and one night cambria. Both were nice, but cambria was very quiet.

We then did one night santa monica which was nice for beach/fairground. Venice beach was... Interesting...

We did three nights hollywood which we didn't enjoy and wish we'd just skipped and spent more time in national parks.

Then two nights san diego which was nice, has a zoo, a big air museum on an old war ship. It felt a lot more relaxed than Hollywood.

One night at lake havasu for dp to see London bridge. But it was very humid there and nohhing else to do!

Then two nights grand canyon which was fantastic.

Then back to Vegas for one night to drive home!

Grand canyon is only really hot down at the bottom of the canyon, the top was fine for walking around. It was one of the highlights of the holiday for us so would be a shame to miss it out.

There are a lot of fires in California at that time of year so you might get unlucky like we did and miss certain places. I still think its worth visiting though.

We then did three nights in san fransisco. The food was great, alcatraz was great and fisherman's wharf for the touristy stuff. But the city was very dirty and the number of homeless people was quite sad. It was quite cold as the fog came in on day two and stayed.

Yes, this is a really good point actually. SF does have a serious homelessness problem (Google it - there are plenty of articles), and fog in summertime is common and it's cold and damp and just as miserable as fog back home. It also ruins the views! However, the area north of SF - Marin County - is lovely and I'd recommend it.

Las Vegas is very tacky and if you have teens with you, you will be escorted through the casino areas and not allowed to linger. I first went there when I was 17 and remember that well. I went again as an adult and thought it was horrible. The one good thing about LV is the incredible shows you can go to. We saw Cirque du Soleil there and we could've gone to so many things - the casinos all have theatres and they attract world-famous acts.

Grand Canyon is boiling in summer and if you want to stay in the park you need to book at least a year in advance as the lodges have very limited capacity and it sells out really early. If you're working with Trailfinders they will advise you on that. GC is amazing though. I've never been to Death Valley, but wouldn't go in August - no way. One of the hottest places on earth!

It's not just the homeless people in SF either, it's what they produce: www.newyorker.com/news/california-chronicles/trumps-potty-obsession-and-the-streets-of-san-francisco?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_facebook&utm_brand=tny&fbclid=IwAR1OVp68ELAN87VBLOYxlKtUls84r60hMt84kevLBjocxpExCiKobFJWpSk

California forest fires just a few months ago Yes, forest fires can be an issue in California, Oregon, and Washington state. Not to mention Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho....