Educate me!

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

So far my only two trips to the USA have been to Orlando and Las Vegas. But I am fully aware that the States all have so much to offer and I really am eager to do a little travelling and soak up the atmosphere! Where in America should I visit next? I'm leaning towards California, but that may be a "soft" option as it has a Disneyland and I feel "safe" in Disney!

 

[lowlight]

In no particular order, places that are must visits IMO- NYC, anywhere on the coast of Maine, Tucson, Arizona (Tucson area down to the border), San Diego or Napa Valley in California, Boston.

 

[ronandannette]

Having visited several different regions, California, especially SoCal, is one of our all-time favorite holiday destinations. We never run out of things to do and see and if we did, we'd just spend a few extra days at DLR!

 

[sheilafri]

Maine is incredible. Although Ive only been in summer. I also like Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC.
The Rocky Mountains are very cool also. I’m not a fan of Arizona, but do like Taos and Santa Fe in NM.
America’s National Parks are so beautiful—Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon (I’ve rafted through the Grand Canyon twice, such an amazing experience).
I lived in SoCal for 8 years and it was LaLa Land and very fun. Northern CA has gorgeous rocky coastlines, wineries, and big trees. San Simeon (Hearst Castle) is a nice destination.

 

[Praying Colonel]

New Orleans. So much fun, at whatever speed you want to experience it. Food, music, history, shopping...other stuff, if that's your thing, but it doesn't have to be to enjoy New Orleans.

 

[sam_gordon]

I used to travel for work. Places I'd like to revisit...

* Salt Lake City (if you like skiing, or would like to try it, there's places nearby and you can say you skied the Rockies)
* San Antonio
* San Francisco

 

[kanerf]

I work in Washington D.C. and of course there is a lot to see there. Also across the river in Virginia or next door in Maryland.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I must admit to having been to the Grand Canyon... absolutely breathtaking!

 

[Magical2017]

Placed we have enjoyed on the east coast include Bethany Beach and Ocean City MD/DE, Washington, DC, Deep Creek Lake, MD, Black Falls, VA, the Outer Banks NC, Boston, MA.


West Coast USA: CA is fun to drive up the coast. Washington State is awesome! We were there this summer and had a great time.

Texas is fun. Austin is a nice city, and we enjoyed the San Antonio Zoo as well as Dallas.

Also, a National Park trip would offer you a ton of options to see many parts of the US.

Hawaii is just gorgeous.

 

[clori]

It depends on what you are looking for. Some places are fun cities like New York City. Some are historical places like Boston, Philadelphia, and DC. Some places are more about nature, some have beautiful beaches etc. Do you want to stay in one place and do day trips or do you want to drive around and spend a few days in different places? The beauty of a big country is there is so much variety. One trip we stayed in Harrisburg and did day trips to Gettysburg, Lancaster, Hershey and went to several small museums, an Indian Cave etc - it was something different each day.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

I also suggest coastal Maine. In 2014 we drove from Ohio and first visited Ogunquit for a couple days. I loved it. Then we drove further north and stayed a few more days in Boothbay Harbor. Another quaint location. Lastly we spent 1 night in Bar Harbor and visited Acadia National Park. We’re looking forward to going again but I would probably skip Bar Harbor. It was way too crowded when we were there, both in town (had to park about a mile outside of town and walk in) and the park. There weren’t even any parking spaces available in any of the areas where you could pull over and explore. We did the driving tour and that was it.

 

[Travel60]

DH and I love to travel internationally and within the US. Some of our US favorites starting from northeast and moving more or less clockwise:

(1)Northeastern states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine for the mountains and seashore (Maine). Especially beautiful in fall for leaf viewing.

(2) Mid-Atlantic - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Baltimore and the eastern shore of Maryland, Washington D.C., Williamsburg and Richmond Virginia especially if you are interested in colonial history.

(3) Southeast - Hilton Head, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia for beautiful beaches and more history. Savannah is adorable.

(4) Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. Include Asheville, North Carolina and visit the Biltmore Estate (largest private home in US). Great hiking, kayaking, water sports, beer and food.

(5) San Antonio, Texas - visit the Alamo and stay on the Riverwalk. Just beware...Texas is huge. Don't be fooled into thinking that you can just do day trips and see the whole state. You could start in Houston and do a road trip and stay a couple of days in each Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and end in El Paso.

(6) Southern California - start in San Diego at least 3 days then drive up the coast highway as far as you have time. The Hearst Mansion is impressive and his influence on American politics and history is amazing. Los Angeles is huge and crazy and has DL. San Francisco is beautiful and very different. I've heard that recently it has become seedy but have not seen it.

(7) Washington and Oregon states. See Mount St. Helens in Washington then spend a couple of days on the Oregon coast before following the Columbia River inland past magestic waterfalls. Turn south and visit Bend, Oregon and Crater Lake in Oregon. If you still have time head down to northern California and the Redwoods National Park.

I've not been to many of the national parks in the west other than the Grand Canyon. My friends have loved the trip through Wyoming, the Dakota's, Arizona, etc. so it's on my list.

 

[mousefan73]

For a good taste of americana I would recommend a road trip we did a few years ago. We flew into Washington DC and made the mistake of only staying two nights there. There’s so much to see especially if you include the museums, Arlington and Virginia and Maryland. We then drove down towards pigeon Forge Tennessee to Dollywood, that drive was interesting as you go through the Blue Ridge Mountains. We stayed there a few days and then headed east through North Carolina and then south to Orlando. North Carolina was nice too. I wish we had more time to stop in Savannah Georgia but we basically drove through Georgia in northern Florida as we had Orlando in sight by then.

Keep in mind especially if you head out west or to national parks you can drive for hours with nothing to see. It’s vast and spread out some in some states. I don’t know if you’re from Europe and have traveled there a lot but don’t expect The same type of alpine infrastructure if you head out to the western Rocky Mountains. Yes there are restaurants and facilities but the kind of alpine lodge “hut” culture where every couple of kilometers you see a restaurant or just a place to buy a beer, sandwich and rest you will not find in the US. If you do decide to go to nature activities in US bring bring water and food with because you can literally be about for hours on end and not see anything.

 

[NannyBeBe]

If I could only recommend one place, it would be to see the giant sequoias in California. They will leave you breathless.

 

[RoseGold]

Depends on where you are from. If you live in London, NYC won't impress you much.

 

[Mysterian]

Maine and New Orleans, I'll second. You're not limited to just the French Quarter in NOLA either, which tourists typically gravitate to. Plenty of other places there.

If you live in London, NYC won't impress you much.

 

[BrianL]

I mean, I feel like Disneyland is a great choice - can't think of anything better!

 

[mrs. magoo]

This is a loaded question and you will get some many different opinions. I think if I knew what you were looking for it would help to narrow down your choices - also the time period or season you want to visit. We have been to every state on the eastern seaboard and a couple of the middle western states, California, Arizona and Utah. We have just discovered the National Parks out West - Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon. Next summer going to Arches and Canyonlands and in 2025 - Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. In 2024 we will go to Disney and on a cruise when my youngest turns 21 - his request. There are so many cool places to see even in my state of New York that are not NYC

 

[goofyernmost]

A big city is a big city no matter where it is. Right now my advice would be New Orleans. I've been to a lot of places around the world and I have never found a "civilized" city more unique then that place. There you easily get segments of weird, wild, vibrant, calm, incredible cuisine, unique architecture, swamp/alligator tours and fantastic music.

Savanna is a unique place as well. It's like a box of chocolates... you never know what your going to get.

 

[LuvOrlando]

What do you like, the US is an enormous country? What season, what weather? Skiing and Snowboarding? Outdoorsy? Wildlife national parks? Glamping with RV's? Beach? Touristy beaches? Rough and beautiful beaches? Lakes? CIty night life? Country grass and farms? Desert? Do you have a certain era you'd like to see, many towns pick and era and that is their "thing", like a US Victorian vibe with Bed and Breakfasts? Historical vibe with tours? Holiday theme towns? Train tours? Amusement parks? Foodie? Do you want to stick with iconic tourist spots?