Road Tripping in the USA!

I did really enjoy Chicago it's a great city. Unsure of the driving around there however as I think it's quite flat not sure how much there is of interest to the east.
 
I spent 10 days in Toronto on business a good few years ago and I must admit that it was a pretty big disappointment as far as big cities go. The CN Tower is good though.
 
[TW]Fox;25661854 said:
His current plan doesn't include monument valley.
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It doesn't, but I do want to see Bryce and Zion. I cut out Arches due to distance but flying to the GC and still seeing Zion and Bryce only saves 200miles, which doesn't seem like great value when spending $4-500 each. I'd prefer to add on 3 days of accommodation and rental car for that money I think.

If we ultimately decide to cut out Bryce and Zion then flying to GC is a great choice.

The AUD$ continues to plummet which is really helping the budget :(
 
[TW]Fox;25665018 said:
Really, so nobody has done this area before?!
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I've done a lot of driving in those areas. Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, etc The problem is that you're covering a lot of ground here and that'll mean a lot of interstate driving, with samey samey scenery. The NE doesn't have the scenery of the Pacific / Rockies to enjoy while driving. Great if you don't mind looking at other cars, but not great if you actually want to experience the actual areas and check out the smaller towns. (lakeside ones are the better to head for) You'll need to come off the interstates to get a better feel for the States, but then you'll not get anywhere in terms of distance covered.

Whenever I go to the NE, i look at it, as not as a road trip, but as a time to enjoy the cities up that way. Boston is an amazing city, as is Chicago, I'd spend less time driving and more time exploring these city's personally. Whereas anytime i'm in CA, or the West, the driving is the highlight !
 
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[TW]Fox;25672226 said:
Not really sure what I'm planning on, she's interested in seeing more of Canada after last year so I'll need to spend at least 3-4 days there I'd imagine. What is there around that won't seem dull after the awesomeness of British Columbia?




This sounds cool, I'll get googling.

It seems that I have a choice to make - assuming we must include Niagra, Toronto and Mount Washington, I can either cover up to and including Nova Scotia or instead go the other way and take in Chicago etc. Hmmm... thoughts?
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I wouldn't take Chicago, as mentioned in my post above, you'll have to cover a lot of ground with samey samey scenery to get there. much better off going North / NE, unless you don't mind diverting south a little on your way to Chicago, to get into the Appalachians.
 
I did 1800 miles in a week in 2012. Drove from Omaha, NE up through Sioux Falls, along to Rapid City (via Mt Rushmore, Badlands Nat Park etc)then down to Colorado Springs (skimming the forest fires!) then back to Omaha. It was the first time I'd ever driven in the states and it was **** easy. Didn't make a single mistake. I missed a couple of turn offs on the first day while I got used to the signs, but that was it. So much fun!
 
thedoc46 said:
I wouldn't take Chicago, as mentioned in my post above, you'll have to cover a lot of ground with samey samey scenery to get there. much better off going North / NE, unless you don't mind diverting south a little on your way to Chicago, to get into the Appalachians.
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THanks for the comments. This is what I had feared about this sort of route. We normally do a good 3000-3500 miles per trip and although the odd day spent on the Interstate is par for the course as you say the scenery on the West Coast more than makes up for it. I'm really into big scenery, hence really wanting to Colorado etc, but she wants to see more of Canada and visit Niagra Falls.

The Applachians are very interesting, definately taking in at least Mount Washington and happy to detour further South on the way back from Chicago, is there decent views/scenery to be found by doing that?
 
I guess you could drive through Pennsylvania, I wouldn't say it's overly scenic but it's quite picturesque in the Amish communities (In a barn and grain silo kind of way).

Would the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah NP be too far south? Or have you already driven those? I am sure Kentucky must have some scenery worth seeing!
 
[TW]Fox;25692143 said:
THanks for the comments. This is what I had feared about this sort of route. We normally do a good 3000-3500 miles per trip and although the odd day spent on the Interstate is par for the course as you say the scenery on the West Coast more than makes up for it. I'm really into big scenery, hence really wanting to Colorado etc, but she wants to see more of Canada and visit Niagra Falls.

The Applachians are very interesting, definately taking in at least Mount Washington and happy to detour further South on the way back from Chicago, is there decent views/scenery to be found by doing that?
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Stay in Boston for 2-3 days & stay in a downtown hotel. Enjoy what is in my opinion one of the best cities in the USA. Head up to NH and do Mount Washington. It's only up the road in USA terms. Then head West into Vermont. I've never been that far north, but it's common knowledge that its very very nice. With lots of little lakes and small towns. I'm sure you'll get your scenery fix. Then North for Montreal / Quebec, which once again, I've never been too, but its supposed to be another amazing city to visit. Then instead of heading East, head West on the 401, thru Canada and follow Lake Ontario. Visit Toronto, and then you're not too far away from Niagara Falls. Which is one of those MUST places to visit, and personally on my bucket list !

The problem is getting back to Boston. Do you go back the way you came? Which will be by far the most scenic, but it'll be a seen that, done that. Or go the boring route, which is thru New York State. Which may or may not have some decent scenery? Maybe nail it thru the state and get into NYC before getting bakc to Boston, to finish off your vacation ?
 
Quebec is a nice city.

We diid an overnight there and it was a nice place. No specific things you "must do" in quebec but its an interesting place to visit being the heart of the french Canadian thing.
 
Trying to work out timings of days to do everything I want so looking for some advice.

We have 3 weeks in August, we land on Sunday 10th August at LAX and fly back on Sunday 31st August.

Things we are to do are;

*LA 'sightseeing'
*San Diego (including Zoe)
*Las Vegas (minimum 3 nights, hopefully 4)
*Gran Canyon (this will be included in the LV days though)
*Death Valley
*Yosemite National Park
*San Fran
*Pacific Highway

Not sure if we've missed anything obvious. My plan was to land in LA and spend 3 nights there, drive down to San Diego and spend 3 nights there but that takes me to Saturday 16th and I don't want to be in Vegas until Monday 18th.

So I've got 2 days to plan something or do something before going to Vegas. The idea is then we will spend Monday 18th until Friday AM on 22nd in Vegas (4 nights) which leaves 2 nights to get to San Fran (arriving on Sunday 24th) , 4 nights in San Fran and then 2 on the Pacific Highway and 1 final night in LA.

Night Location
10/08/2014 LA
11/08/2014 LA
12/08/2014 LA
13/08/2014 San Diego
14/08/2014 San Diego
15/08/2014 San Diego
16/08/2014 UNKNOWN
17/08/2014 UNKNOWN
18/08/2014 Vegas
19/08/2014 Vegas
20/08/2014 Vegas
21/08/2014 Vegas
22/08/2014 Yosemite Park
23/08/2014 Yosemite Park
24/08/2014 San Fran
25/08/2014 San Fran
26/08/2014 San Fran
27/08/2014 San Fran
28/08/2014 Pacific Highway
29/08/2014 Pacific Highway
30/08/2014 LA
31/08/2014 Home

Any comments or suggestions? I'm considering a 4th night in San Diego as one of the unknown nights and a stop over heading to Vegas but I'm happy to drive long distances in one go and want to avoid spending nights in the middle of nowhere just to rest.

LV hotels are so cheap, roughly £50 a night will get me something 4 and half stars for 4 nights, I can go as cheap as £25 a night and still get something half decent.
 
[TW]Fox;25750030 said:
That's a lot of time in LA.

Also Vegas to Yosemite in a single day is a push if you intend to do death valley.
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The time in LA is there because I don't want to get to Vegas until the Monday, ideally I'd only spend 2 nights in LA but I'd arrive in Vegas on the Saturday.

I wonder if prices are still okay if we arrive in Vegas on the Sunday, stay for 4 nights and then spend an extra night doing Yosemite Park and that drive.

Sunday -> Thursday in Vegas is slightly more expensive but not by enough to make it matter. I can still get what I want for under £50 a night.

I could do this (extra night in San Diego and extra night in Yosemite Park);

Night Locaton
10/08/2014 LA
11/08/2014 LA
12/08/2014 LA
13/08/2014 San Diego
14/08/2014 San Diego
15/08/2014 San Diego
16/08/2014 San Diego
17/08/2014 Vegas
18/08/2014 Vegas
19/08/2014 Vegas
20/08/2014 Vegas
21/08/2014 Yosemite Park
22/08/2014 Yosemite Park
23/08/2014 Yosemite Park
24/08/2014 San Fran
25/08/2014 San Fran
26/08/2014 San Fran
27/08/2014 San Fran
28/08/2014 Pacific Highway
29/08/2014 Pacific Highway
30/08/2014 LA
31/08/2014 Home
 
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[TW]Fox;25757759 said:
Again you have 1 day down for Vegas to Yosemite. Split it into two. Death Valley is awesome.
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I thought 3 nights (4 days) would be enough for Yosemite and Death Valley?

Leave LV on Thursday 21st AM, arrive at Death Valley midday, stay the night.
Leave Death Valley midday on Friday 22nd, arrive at Yosemite Park in afternoon and stay night.
Stay in Yosemite Park for further night (Saturday 23rd)
Leave Yosemite Park AM and head for San Fran on Sunday 24th

Janesy B said:
LA sucks, you can sightsee all he touristy stuff in a day.
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Agreed, but I can't get to LV too early so need to kill time.
 
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