Thinking about visiting the States

[Chaotic42]

I need this mythical 4-5 week vacation of which you speak...

I've never been to the Pacific Northwest (I live outside of New Orleans), but I do agree that the East coast, especially the southern parts, will be very hot in the summer. Where I live it is not uncommon for the heat index to get near or above 120F (48.9C) and for the lows to be near 80F (26.7C). Even I don't like the South in the summer and I grew up here. Florida will likely have similar temperatures.

The Pacific Northwest sounds lovely in the summer. If you are set on the East coast, definitely schedule a lot of time for New York City. All of the cities you listed have baseball teams and if you come over in the late Summer (August or September), you can catch an American Football game in any of those cities.

The US is safe. The vast majority of us get around with no problems every day.

If you can, take a week off in February for Mardi Gras.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Another big caveat is that the USA does not have such an established public transportation (trains) system as northern Europe does. While you can use Amtrak/Greyhound for some of the travel, part of the allure would be the freedom of mobility. Rental cars/gas is not as expensive as in Europe but still this would be a fairly large expense for which you'd have to budget.

 

[Sonikku]

Stick with Florida and avoid NY. It's a stronghold of Liberals.

 

[eits]

What time of year would you be making the trip? DC in Summer sucks, no like just plain sucks. Even your sweat sweats.

St. Louis is worse. Having grown up in the DC and visiting back home many of the summers, I can tell you this for certain.

 

[eits]

I take it back. Since you said that you're planning a summer trip, I'd have to recommend Boston. Go to Quincey Market and enjoy yourself. You can go whale watching, eat fresh American seafood, and try Boston lager. You can also learn a LOT of history that was essential in our creation as a country. I think you will really enjoy it.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Summer on the northern half of the west coast is paradise - 75 degrees every day with no humidity. It's one of the few places in the US that doesn't get into the 100s or have extreme humidity in the summer.

You really do need to say what kind of stuff you want to see.
If you want to see US history, go to the east coast. If you're into nature then the west coast has much more diversity.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

OP, enjoy your visit. Just don't base your opinion of Americans on those you meet on the East coast.

 

[brianmanahan]

Skip Boston. Nothing good to see there.
Go to DC.

If you go to Florida, go to Key West. And also Miami if you like the party scene.

i'd take boston over dc any day, i love it there!

 

[GTaudiophile]

The driving distance from Vancouver to LA is about 2100 KM. To put this in European terms, this would be like driving from Copenhagen to Barcelona.

 

[randomrogue]

I've done cross country, a bit on the east coast, and a ton on the west. If you're going to head west (which I recommend unless you're specifically looking for the history) don't make LA an end point. It's not a very nice city and might leave a bad taste in your mouth. San Diego is by far one of the nicest places in the country. Head to LA if you want to do some of the touristy stuff and then get out. There is so much more to see and tourists often get caught up in the idea that they have to see LA. You don't. It's easily skipable. Go there if you insist on going to Disneyland. If you're out for the rich and the famous head somewhere else like Carmel. If you want to see Baywatch go to San Diego instead. If you want to sit in traffic and be around a bunch of grumpy people LA is your place.

One thing that I hear from people who visit the states is that we're all fat and rude. Well if you head to Florida, NYC, and Los Angeles that might be true. It's like going to Paris and thinking that all French people are giant douches. You're much better off skipping some of these places on your first trip to the states.

Rent a car, get prepared for the distances, and have a blast. It's very different from Denmark so don't compare everything to back home and be prepared for the unexpected.

 

[biostud]

So the general suggestion seems to be NY + West Coast?

I'll might consider that. I have to go in the summer time since it's school break.

 

[IronWing]

So the general suggestion seems to be NY + West Coast?

I'll might consider that. I have to go in the summer time since it's school break.

Another option is the southern Utah and the Four Corners area. This will get you Grand Canyon, Escalante-Grand Staircase, Canyonlands, Arches, Mesa Verde, Colorado mountains (San Juans), Great Sand Dunes, Goosenecks of the San Juan, Capitol Reef, Canyon de Chelly, Chaco Canyon, Petrified Forest, Monument Valley, and bunch of smaller parks and cool areas. No beaches.

 

[Chaotic42]

Another option is the southern Utah and the Four Corners area. This will get you Grand Canyon, Escalante-Grand Staircase, Canyonlands, Arches, Mesa Verde, Colorado mountains (San Juans), Great Sand Dunes, Goosenecks of the San Juan, Capitol Reef, Canyon de Chelly, Chaco Canyon, Petrified Forest, Monument Valley, and bunch of smaller parks and cool areas. No beaches.

How bad will those places be in the summer? I've never been out there, but I'd love to.

 

[tooriski]

No don't, stay away lol

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Honestly, it depends what your goal is. The best trip for American history is going to be the Eastern seaboard; Boston, NYC, Philadelphia and Washington DC. The best trip for natural beauty will be a national park like Glacier, Yellowstone or Yosemite. The best place weather-wise will be the pacific northwest (in the summer) or California (anytime else). You could just skip the continent entirely and go to Hawaii because, fuck, why not? What's your goal here?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Another option is the southern Utah and the Four Corners area. This will get you Grand Canyon, Escalante-Grand Staircase, Canyonlands, Arches, Mesa Verde, Colorado mountains (San Juans), Great Sand Dunes, Goosenecks of the San Juan, Capitol Reef, Canyon de Chelly, Chaco Canyon, Petrified Forest, Monument Valley, and bunch of smaller parks and cool areas. No beaches.

Lots of beach, just no water.

I like your recommendation but, it just depends on the OP's interests. Many of the folks in these forums consider camping to be slow room service.

 

[brianmanahan]

Another option is the southern Utah and the Four Corners area. This will get you Grand Canyon, Escalante-Grand Staircase, Canyonlands, Arches, Mesa Verde, Colorado mountains (San Juans), Great Sand Dunes, Goosenecks of the San Juan, Capitol Reef, Canyon de Chelly, Chaco Canyon, Petrified Forest, Monument Valley, and bunch of smaller parks and cool areas. No beaches.

those places are all amazing, probably my favorite in all of the united states as far as natural scenery and outdoor activity and whatnot. plus it is possible to find a hotel within 1-2 hours of most of those places.

 

[SheHateMe]

Tell me where you're going to be so I can make sure I set my homies up to rob you.

 

[tynopik]

east coast during the summer?

be sure to hit the mountains for some hiking and rafting

- The Gauley river in West Virginia
- Niagra Falls in Canada
- Mammoth Cavern in Kentucky (Luray Caverns in Virginia is an alternative that's closer to the east coast)
- Biltmore House in North Carolina
- Intrepid Museum in NYC (aircraft carrier, space shuttle, SR-71, etc)
- World of Coca-cola in Atlanta, Georgia
- Disney World in Florida

I would definitely rent a car and drive the whole thing

Might want to try various bed-and-breakfast places along the way

 

[BladeVenom]

ohio, my friend. it is the best state.

Definitely a place to visit if he's interested in aerospace or roller coasters.

 

[zanemoseley]

I'd recommend a 4 day stop in San Francisco. I went there for the first time this last Summer and had a great time. We took a day trip to Yosemite which was amazing.

Truthfully I wouldn't bother going to Florida, my grandparents live there and I've been probably 20 times in my life, its really nothing too special. If you want to go see some nice beaches then I'd try and get to the USVI, the beaches and atmosphere there is 10X better than Florida.

 

[zanemoseley]

east coast during the summer?


- Disney World in Florida

Dear lord please do NOT go to Disney in the Summer. We took our 5 year old this last July and it was miserable. I live in TN and am used to a lot of heat and it was still pretty horrible. Unless you're into paying for torture stay away.

 

[tynopik]

also be sure to use sunscreen religiously

nothing worse than getting one bad burn and then being miserable the rest of your trip

 

[Geosurface]

Doing the east is a mistake. And I live in Connecticut.

Bothering with California is also a mistake.

If you want to see real beauty, and something unique... land in Seattle, go west to Olympic National Park, and the Hoh Rain Forest, then head east to Montana and see Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, then cut down toward the Grand Canyon. Stopping in Colorado at Rocky Mountain National Park as you go.

That's my suggestion, feel free to ignore it.

 

[biostud]

Here is a sample Google Maps route based on what I suggested:

That looks like a good route but I might skip the glacier national park. Maybe swing by Yosemite, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.