first time in the USA where should I go ?

[Sigarms]

Hi everyone

Inspired by the thread ''things to do in north California''

Me and my wife are looking to go in the USA this summer in late July my first time... so many place to choose from so we are having difficulty choosing... and she left it up to me which is the worse ...

We are planning on a week... I don't want to stay in one city the whole time we will be flying then renting a vehicle I don't mind driving a good distance. I want the area to be relatively safe and being the summer maybe we should stay away from the crazy hot although there is lots of cool landmark in these stats.

I would like a place that I could visit a few cool attraction/landmark, visit nice city with cool history and museum perhaps go to a live show and go for a long horseback ride and a cattle drive ... which state would you recommend ?

My one suggestion would be to make it two weeks instead of one week if possible. When you're in a new land that you're not familiar with, you'd be surprised how quick the time can fly.

Question becomes where do you fly to, drive to, and then fly out of? Are you planning the coming and leaving from the same airport?

 

[Rockbadchild]

My one suggestion would be to make it two weeks instead of one week if possible. When you're in a new land that you're not familiar with, you'd be surprised how quick the time can fly.

Question becomes where do you fly to, drive to, and then fly out of? Are you planning the coming and leaving from the same airport?

I hear y’a it is possible maybe it’s a good idea to stay longer it is true 7 days will fly by … more it goes and more i am now leaning towards the grand canyon … so probably fly to Vegas spend 2 days there drive around the grand canyon spend a hike or two a horse ride over night back to vegas and fly back from there …

 

[jyoutz]

I hear y’a it is possible maybe it’s a good idea to stay longer it is true 7 days will fly by … more it goes and more i am now leaning towards the grand canyon … so probably fly to Vegas spend 2 days there drive around the grand canyon spend a hike or two a horse ride over night back to vegas and fly back from there …

If that is your plan, the north rim is more remote, but the scenery is beautiful. On the other hand, a nice way would be to drive from Las Vegas to Williams, Arizona. Then take the steam train from Williams to Grand Canyon south rim. You can stay at a hotel on the south rim, then take the train to return to Williams. Search for Grand Canyon Railway to get information on this.

 

[RjCorazza]

I hear y’a it is possible maybe it’s a good idea to stay longer it is true 7 days will fly by … more it goes and more i am now leaning towards the grand canyon … so probably fly to Vegas spend 2 days there drive around the grand canyon spend a hike or two a horse ride over night back to vegas and fly back from there …

I would also recommend the Grand Canyon, and stay in Vegas. You can stay pretty cheap in Vegas, and the various food options are great. We didn't spend our time there though.

For the Grand Canyon, consider checking out the SkyWalk on the Hualapai Reservation. It's a 2 hour drive from Vegas, and the food is excellent! They have other things to do at, or near, the SkyWalk also.

 

[Rockbadchild]

my initial idea was to drive around the whole canyon but probably would loose too much time driving … it be cool to see it from what consiste the beginning to the end, Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs …

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Fly to Denver, drive to Cheyenne WY, Mt Rushmore, Devils tower, Cody WY, Yellowstone &tetons, drive back to Denver via rocky Mt Nat Park.
I did this in a week back in 2008.

 

[jyoutz]

my initial idea was to drive around the whole canyon but probably would loose too much time driving … it be cool to see it from what consiste the beginning to the end, Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs …

That’s a gorgeous trip, but plan your time accordingly. The Colorado River Bridge at Marble Canyon(Lees Ferry) is an awesome view. The steam train trip is also an adventure.

Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel

Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel has been taking guests to the Grand Canyon. Enjoy entertaining musicians and the antics of cowboy characters.

www.thetrain.com

 

[Hay Dude]

Hi everyone

Inspired by the thread ''things to do in north California''

Me and my wife are looking to go in the USA this summer in late July my first time... so many place to choose from so we are having difficulty choosing... and she left it up to me which is the worse ...

We are planning on a week... I don't want to stay in one city the whole time we will be flying then renting a vehicle I don't mind driving a good distance. I want the area to be relatively safe and being the summer maybe we should stay away from the crazy hot although there is lots of cool landmark in these stats.

I would like a place that I could visit a few cool attraction/landmark, visit nice city with cool history and museum perhaps go to a live show and go for a long horseback ride and a cattle drive ... which state would you recommend ?

Yellowstone/Tetons. I could go there every year.
America at it’s most breathtaking

 

[Sigarms]

my initial idea was to drive around the whole canyon but probably would loose too much time driving … it be cool to see it from what consiste the beginning to the end, Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs …

This is why you need two weeks IMO.

Driving and actually enjoying the scenery and every once in a while stopping and doing something not in the plans tends to make the trip more worthwhile from my own experience.

From experience and at least for myself, the Grand Canyon is cool, but there is so much more out there to see and do that for at least myself, is more remarkable than the Grand Canyon.

Below from Utah, no where near the grand canyon. Best part? We were the only ones on that road pretty much the whole day (note, proper planning with vehicle, gear and gas is mandatory when no one is around LOL).

 

[cqaigy2]

Took this trip Late April, May so your weather/heat will vary.

I'm skipping some of the stuff we did in the beginning coming from Washington, over and down from Idaho.

Utah - We stayed in Moab and Cedar city. Zion(Very busy), Kalob Canyon(Think something like Zion but very few people), Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches.

There's just so much to see in the southwest part of U.S. We spend a lot of time in Washington and Oregon, close by for us, then up to B.C. and Alberta.

 

[Sigarms]

2 weeks on one trip, my highlight on one camping trip when I went by myself in Utah.

Long story, I knew there was an animal around me. Took me about 4 hours to take this one "not so good" picture (back then, pic taken by my old Nikon I lugged around as cell phones weren't known for taking decent pictures LOL)

It was a black bear.

When you're from the east coast, it's kind of weird having to climb rocks to stalk an animal. I actually came down from the rock in the upper right hand pic attached and sneaked around "on the ground" to find him.

I stopped and ask if Black bears were common in the area (I wouldn't think so) and the park ranger got more excited than I was when I told him I saw one (still had to develop the film when I got home LMAO).

May not notice it, but an amazing horizon beyond the rocks the bear is stepping on.

 

[MTGreen]

What do you and your wife like doing? Id suggest flying into either phoenix or Vegas then doing the Grand Canyon

Phoenix in July is a special kind of hell at 118+ degrees F

 

[jyoutz]

Phoenix in July is a special kind of hell at 118+ degrees F

Yep, but northern AZ and southern Utah are thousands of feet higher than the desert country around Phoenix and usually in the 70/80s range during the summer. The Grand Canyon north and south rims are heavily forested.

 

[jfsawatzky]

Phoenix in July is a special kind of hell at 118+ degrees F

Yes it is… and do not be fooled when someone mentions it’s a dry heat so it feels better. It does NOT feel any better because it’s not humid … it’s still bloody hot

 

[scootr]

Visit San Diego, Walk the beaches at La Jolla. Get a window seat and fly over the Grand Canyon and the Glamas sand dunes coming in... Enjoy your trip

 

[MTGreen]

There's lots of fantastic outdoor things to see in July. Here are a few of my preference:
1) Yellowstone
2) Grand Canyon
3) Niagra Falls
4) Yosemite and sequoia area (natural and historical)
5) West coast beaches
6) Chesapeake Bay area (natural and historical) & bridge/tunnel
7) Florida everglades (if you can tolerate the humidity) & beaches/keys

Indoor or indoor/outdoor city things to see if you happen to like people:
1) Washington DC area / Smithsonian (historical and architectural)
2) Las Vegas strip (concentrated money built to impress)
3) Manhattan (architectural and understand why most of us don't live there)
4) Any of the various big ticket theme parks like Disney, Six Flags, etc.

 

[kenmbz]

Phoenix --Sedona-grand canyon-route66-bryce, zion, antelope canyon,arches

Northern CA - Yosemite--Sequoia-San Francisco-Monterrey-Carmel-Big Sur along the coastal highway.

Many of our US trips take two weeks.

Yosemite is 2 weeks and need to make reservations .

Many hotels inside the parks are big $ and book up, but camping or RV rental can be a good alternative.

Florida - Miami to Key West. Diving, snorkeling, jet skis, boats. Alligators and fan boats. And if you see "Florida Man" you will have a story for the grand kids.

NY- Niagara to NYC via watkins glen and driving down the hudson river towns.

It would probably take me a week just to list the cool trips.

I got married in Vegas 20 years ago and used to love it (I don't gamble) but now it is horrible and we could not wait to get out of there. Too sleazy for us now, even compared to 20 years ago.

 

[Sigarms]

3) Niagra Falls

I lived in upstate NY as a kid and moved back in my career. Never went to Niagara falls when I lived there or as a kid. Took my boy up last year because we had to split vacations between the wife and I because my dad was living with us. Since we were in the Finger Lake region, my boy wanted to go to Niagara.

DO NOT GO ON A HOLIDAY!!

We went early August, week day. I paid for a tour. I'm glad I did.

When I saw the crowds on a weekday, the tour guy said this was nothing.

Will say the next time we ever go up there, I'll get a passport and do the Canadian side. Way much cooler on the Canadian side IMO. Ironically, when I lived in NY, I was only a short drive from the Canadian border and never needed a passport back then.

 

[jjeff]

If you go west fortunate your going through in July heat not March snow. Banks were over 10' tall in the elevations supposed to put tire chains on several times driving thru Utah and Colorado mtn passes, little did they know I grew up and learned to drive in a snowbelt . Lots of national parks several hundred miles from Vegas, As others mentioned national parks are amazing. You might enjoy it more (or I would) if your not trying to cram everything in time allotted, Enjoy your trip wherever you may roam.

 

[Torvy]

Dry heat absolutely does matter. I lived in Vegas for 7 years. It is hotter there than here, but was more bearable there. Hot, sure, but humidity makes it so much worse.

If you want cooler weather and some entertainment... I recommend checking into Summerfest in Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan. Home | Summerfest, The World's Largest Music Festival

An alternative if you want to make life a bit more risky...https://www.tastesofchicago.com/

If you are into baseball, there are 3 MLB stadiums in the 97 or so miles from Milwaukee to Chicago.

Lots to see all over.