Exploring the US

Decorhate · 10/05/2024 05:45

It depends on how long you can go for. I think my longest holiday there was probably around 3 weeks

Flew into NY, spent a few days, then flew to Seattle & hired a car. Spent time in Oregon & Washington State, then flew to San Francisco. Then New Orleans, hired a car again, drove as far as Alabama and the Florida panhandle, back to New Orleans, then home.

Devilshands · 10/05/2024 06:47

I did the Lake Michigan, all the way down through Detroit (such an eye opening experience and one I think everyone should have tbh) down through Ohio (would not go back) to Kentucky (incredible scenery and lovely people) down to Tennessee (outside Nashville I had no idea what anyone was saying...and they had no idea what I was saying which was great. I ordered iced water and was bought tea...) and from there Alabama (beautiful and really nice people). This was over a period of a month.

I've been the Washington, NY, LA and Florida - none of them are remotely interesting.

My entire trip (food, petrol, hotels etc) through Michigan down to Alabama over the month cost me the same as a hotel for two weeks in NY for work. Honestly, America has so much beauty to offer and it's such a shame people only go to touristy areas. You miss so much of what America is really like and what the people are like and once you see these areas you can completely understand the societal split.

CCLCECSC · 10/05/2024 07:06

We've done it twice. Once by rail from DC to Quebec City via NYC and Montreal. Once by hire car starting in New Orleans and finishing in Austin via Lafayette, Houston and San Antonio.

Pros and cons to both modes and areas.

Cazziebo · 10/05/2024 07:36

Lucky to have family in several states from Ontario down to Georgia. Done that drive several times. Finger Lakes in NY are beautiful, Skyline drive through the Blue Mountains is stunning, Kentucky and Tennesse are beautiful, Carolinas lovely, Savannah and Tybee fun and bohemian.
Wonderful trips.

Original poster

Fxfff · 10/05/2024 10:02

The only way I think I can "readily explore" the US is by moving there I feel.

Otherwise the flights add up to a lot.

OP posts:

Autumntimeagain · 10/05/2024 10:09

I traveled across the USA by train with a 3 month Amtrak train pass?

I could take trains anywhere, any time with the pass, and the trains are so elevated that you can see so much as you travel too.

We just hopped off the train if we saw anything we fancied seeing, as well as obviously planning some destinations eg NY, Chicago, Washington, Grand Canyon etc.

(We also went to Canada for Niagra, Totonto etc, but that wasn't covered with the pass)

We generally traveled east to west, but also north and south as we went westward?

The only flights we had were into NY and out of LA to Hawaii (then Hawaii to NZ)

All organized through Trailfinders at the time.

lastdayatschool · 11/05/2024 14:17

Fxfff · 10/05/2024 10:02

The only way I think I can "readily explore" the US is by moving there I feel.

Otherwise the flights add up to a lot.

Have you tried Trailfinders ? Not sure if they still do, but they used to be able to sell United Airlines tickets where you could get say, a return to San Francisco or LA and then get internal flights for £50 each - as long as you kept flying west.

Worth a try - they often have deals you can't get online

Original poster

Fxfff · 11/05/2024 15:46

lastdayatschool · 11/05/2024 14:17

Have you tried Trailfinders ? Not sure if they still do, but they used to be able to sell United Airlines tickets where you could get say, a return to San Francisco or LA and then get internal flights for £50 each - as long as you kept flying west.

Worth a try - they often have deals you can't get online

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Oh no. Hadn't thought of it.

OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 11/05/2024 22:48

@Fxfff We choose an area we are really interested in. Yes, flights add up. Friends in USA get around 3-4 weeks holiday and they don't see much either. Just go when you can afford it and don't try and do too much or you will miss a hell of a lot!

Specialnameforanoutingthread · 13/05/2024 10:03

We have 'explored' the US but still feel there is so much to see and do - we lived there for three years but knew that how long we had got the day we arrived so we were conscious to get out there and see stuff when DH's work allowed. We were living in Washington state so know the east coast less well but did a couple of long road trips. I didnt get to FL or the Dakotas to Texas, nor NM or Arizona. DH bagged a few more than me with travels for work. Happy memories 😎

But I think you're right - living there makes it easier...

ladybirdsanchez · 13/05/2024 15:44

Definitely want to see NYC (again). Last time I went I was 12. I want to see Boston, the nice bits if California and I definitely want to see Chicago.

Boston, NYC and Chicago could all be done in one trip, if you were prepared to go for two weeks. There are trains or buses multiple times a day between Boston and NYC and you could then get a single return flight to Chicago from either city and fly home from there.

California is a huge state with a ton of things to see. Again, you can fly into one city (e.g. San Francisco) and out of another (e.g. LA or San Diego), and then just fill in the part in between with whatever you want - cities, beaches, national parks, theme parks, etc.

So that's two 2-weeks trips right there. Not really worth moving to the US to do that! Just save up and plan your trips. You don't need to do it with a travel agent - it's super easy to plan on your own with a bit of online research and the ever-helpful folk on MN!

mathanxiety · 13/05/2024 16:01

Devilshands · 10/05/2024 06:47

I did the Lake Michigan, all the way down through Detroit (such an eye opening experience and one I think everyone should have tbh) down through Ohio (would not go back) to Kentucky (incredible scenery and lovely people) down to Tennessee (outside Nashville I had no idea what anyone was saying...and they had no idea what I was saying which was great. I ordered iced water and was bought tea...) and from there Alabama (beautiful and really nice people). This was over a period of a month.

I've been the Washington, NY, LA and Florida - none of them are remotely interesting.

My entire trip (food, petrol, hotels etc) through Michigan down to Alabama over the month cost me the same as a hotel for two weeks in NY for work. Honestly, America has so much beauty to offer and it's such a shame people only go to touristy areas. You miss so much of what America is really like and what the people are like and once you see these areas you can completely understand the societal split.

So glad there's someone who appreciates the loveliness of the less touristy parts of the US.

I'd highly recommend doing a loop involving Chicago, Milwaukee, Detour to Door County and Washington Island, then back on track via Green Bay and north east through the UP (Michigan), and south via the Mackinac bridge to explore Leelanau, the Old Mission peninsula (wineries!) and Grand Traverse Bay in general, the Lake Michigan coast, including the magnificent Sleeping Bear Dunes and the lovely coastal towns and beaches all the way back to Chicago. Or skip across to the 'thumb' or 'sunrise' side, the shore of Lake Huron. You could detour to Detroit if desired. Michigan's beaches are sandy and generally uncrowded and the state parks are very unspoiled.

Original poster

Fxfff · 13/05/2024 16:10

ladybirdsanchez · 13/05/2024 15:44

Definitely want to see NYC (again). Last time I went I was 12. I want to see Boston, the nice bits if California and I definitely want to see Chicago.

Boston, NYC and Chicago could all be done in one trip, if you were prepared to go for two weeks. There are trains or buses multiple times a day between Boston and NYC and you could then get a single return flight to Chicago from either city and fly home from there.

California is a huge state with a ton of things to see. Again, you can fly into one city (e.g. San Francisco) and out of another (e.g. LA or San Diego), and then just fill in the part in between with whatever you want - cities, beaches, national parks, theme parks, etc.

So that's two 2-weeks trips right there. Not really worth moving to the US to do that! Just save up and plan your trips. You don't need to do it with a travel agent - it's super easy to plan on your own with a bit of online research and the ever-helpful folk on MN!

Thank you! Maybe I'll look at this for 2025

OP posts:

Mytholmroyd · 13/05/2024 17:50

mathanxiety · 13/05/2024 16:01

So glad there's someone who appreciates the loveliness of the less touristy parts of the US.

I'd highly recommend doing a loop involving Chicago, Milwaukee, Detour to Door County and Washington Island, then back on track via Green Bay and north east through the UP (Michigan), and south via the Mackinac bridge to explore Leelanau, the Old Mission peninsula (wineries!) and Grand Traverse Bay in general, the Lake Michigan coast, including the magnificent Sleeping Bear Dunes and the lovely coastal towns and beaches all the way back to Chicago. Or skip across to the 'thumb' or 'sunrise' side, the shore of Lake Huron. You could detour to Detroit if desired. Michigan's beaches are sandy and generally uncrowded and the state parks are very unspoiled.

Show quote history

We flew to LA and drove across to Washington DC in six weeks. Saw lots of famous sites - Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Chaco Canyon, Hollywood, Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Calico, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, cowboy cookout in Texas (with pretend hold up!), dinosaur footprints, fabulous caves, Cowboy Museum, Horse Museum in Kentucky, mountains and bears in Virginia, Gettysburg, Gracelands, Nashville, Memphis etc but also lots of out of the way places you would never intentionally go.

We didn't book accommodation - we just found hotels/motels along the route without any problems but I do wish we had booked the hotel at the Grand Canyon and Goldings Lodge at Monument Valley as you have to book them well in advance.

Did it with a 3 and 1 year old in August/September which was a bit bonkers - far too hot!