Is it worth going to the States for a week (end of August)?

[Africa2go]

Weren't planning on going abroad but are now thinking about it (got an email about a flight sale today) but for various reasons, we'd only be able to do 8 days - so really 6 days discounting the flying time.

If so, where would you go (would be with teenagers so not really wanting a city break, would want to do a bit of a road trip, do some activities etc).

Many thanks

what would you like to do

8 days inc travelling would be fine for east coast

Go to Boston. Short fly time, nice size city and then you can drive into countryside to places like Salem or further up the coast to Maine. Really lovely.

Sure, I would! 2 weeks would be better but if you only have a week then that's all you have, I'd still go for it. You can get direct flights to loads of great cities.

I wouldn't go Boston like a previous poster suggested though, I know it's close but there's more interesting places in my opinion! I have family in Boston so I'm obliged to stop there whenever we're in anyway close by.

Absolutely. Boston up to Maine. Or Maybe fly into Boston and out of NY or other way round.
I once went to New England for a long weekend (a family event).
Acadia National park in Maine is nice and small for a short trip.

We flew to San Francisco then drove to Yosemite for three days hiking, it was a fabulous week’s visit.

I would take teenagers to Washington. The museums are incredible and they’re all free (or they were a decade ago)

Boston and Cape Cod if your kids are sporty/outdoorsy.

New York and Philadelphia - Amtrak between the two

Oh great, thank you. I like the idea of Yosemite / Lake Tahoe but I realise thats the West Coast. Have 18yr olds and 14 yr old so would like outdoor / active / rather than city / sight seeing??? I've only ever been to New York previously so definitely a US novice and open to all ideas.

I went to visit my sister in California for a week, so about as far away as manageable, and it was fine. The flights were easy because they were relatively comfortable and decent flight times. I would say that although it's a long way to go, it is worth it.

I wouldn’t go to California for only 8 days it’s such a long way. I think the east coast would be better. Takes lots of money it will be expensive.

We've been to the west coast for only 5 days before! We love the US and make the plane journey part of the holiday (ie...we drink )

Planning on taking ours on an Alaskan cruise. Would consider Nashville, New York, Boston. Pretty hot in august though obviously.

Asheville, North Carolina. It's brilliant.

Thank you all

Another vote for Boston and New England. Washington, DC is a great place to visit and the Virginia countryside is beautiful, but it is very hot in August. New England is likely to be more comfortable.

Opt for sightseeing be it city or Yosemite/Grand Canyon etc. Outdoor pursuits that are not classic sightseeing based are the same the world over

Be aware that the US is very expensive at the moment.

Years ago, the US was quite good value, especially outside the major cities. When I did a similar trip back in 2008, the pound (£) was worth two dollars ($).

Prices have risen considerably in the US. On a business trip to the US last October, currency exchanges were giving just one dollar for a pound.

Sure the US is more than it was, but it's not eye watering. Still possible to do on a budget if that's the issue, so long as you're happy with fast food and motels.

Lots of great suggestions already. I agree that east coast makes more sense with your duration. Boston is a great shout.

What about Washington DC with a drive through Shenandoah NP?

Or the Smoky Mountains staying somewhere like Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge?

NYC and then somewhere upstate like the finger lakes or Niagara Falls?

Maybe you could consider Canada instead & fly into Toronto & visit Niagara from that side?

I’d also recommend New England, Maine is beautiful in the summer.

I wouldn’t recommend the DC area in August, it’s steaming hot and most locals flee if they can! Same with Virginia and the Carolinas, you’d have limit your time outside.

Go to Boston (I live here). It is a cool city for teens. Loads of history/parks. Charles River and downtown boston are lovely. Lots of great places in Cambridge too. Take a day trip by ferry to Provincetown. Go to Salem.

DC is also a great place to visit but will be hot in August.

If you're flying direct, the flight time to the west coast is not that different to the east, but the jet lag obviously lasts longer.

DC is a really great city to explore. There are also plenty of nearby outdoorsy activities, kayaking, hiking, hiring bikes etc.. Virgina has beaches. Also further north, Maine is supposed to be incredibly beautiful.

How about Chicago?
You could rent a car and do a drive north through Wisconsin, see the Door peninsula and Washington Island, then continue north and east to Michigan's UP - very wild, with some stupendous state parks, then south to the LP, which has fantastic beaches as well as the magnificent Sleeping Bear Dunes, then back to Chicago via Northern Indiana.

No matter where you go, don't underestimate distances and the time you might spend getting from point A to point B.

@hummingbirdsinmygarden It’s a 9-hour drive from DC to Portland, ME though, 12 hours if they wanted to see Acadia National Park.

Miami to Key West

Not in August. Hot as hell and hurricane season.