USA for 14 days, where would you go?

[munitalP]

Hey all

Playing with ideas for this/next years holiday - yep been back in Australia a week so time to start planning!

QF009 said to me he thought LA was the best place to go which has got me thinking, well I don't particularly like LA but...

MEL/LAX around DEC 23, LAX/MEL around Jan 8-10

I am thinking the following - 23 - 29 DEC West coast then fly across to Orlando until about 6 or 7 Jan, back to LA via Las Vegas then home.

Except for the West to East flights, I would rent a car and drive between destinations...

I would consider train travel from FL north with a NY-LAX return flight...

What and where would our esteemed AFF members suggest for this holiday?

I look forward to some great ideas!

Mr!

 

[drewbles]

I've never been a fan of LA. Spent some time there for work, and avoid it as a general rule.

SFO is brilliant. Been there quite a lot and love the place. Also, a trip out to the Napa Valley and the vineyards is highly recommended (if you have a few people it's cheaper to get a limo than a wine tour).

LAS is always good for an eye opener too. Great place to escape.

ORD is great too. Spent a week or two there and love it.

I'd also consider entirely skipping the US and go up to Canada. Some truly amazing scenery. The train offers a great way to see the place too.

I'm still trying to figure out where I'll go when i'm there next (most likely in March). SFO and LAS will be a given, but am considering some other places whilst there (probably MIA and ORD as I have friends there).

 

[NM]

From LA I would drive north along Pacific Coast Highway, seeing Hurst Castle, Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Then east to Yosemite National Park. Then south through Sequoia National Park, through Mohave Desert to Zion National Park. Then down to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and around to the South Rim. Finally back to Las Vegas. That should fill in 14 days.

 

[NYCguy]

Los Angeles is a dump, and you're right to want to get the hell out there as quickly as possible. It's a very, very pretty drive up Highway 1 to San Francisco - about 780 kilometres - and there is quite a lot to look at on the way.

San Francisco is a fantastic town, with an amazing restaurant scene and plenty of history. As noted above, the Napa Valley is great to visit if you're even vaguely interested in wine, and there is also a thriving foodie culture.

Keep in mind that northern Cali will be downright chilly in Dec/Jan - San Francisco is NOT San Diego!

Las Vegas is interesting for the first 36 hours but then the glitz becomes a little tired.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, my recommendation would be to buy one of the ludicrously cheap US$365 LAX/JFK/LAX tickets that are kicking around at the moment, and spend 12 of your 14 days in New York City, the most amazing city in the world...

 

[david870mdg]

Well here's my 5c worth:

LA don't bother - transit through the airport and avoid everywhere else (dump).

SFO

MIA

NYC

CHI

LAS

Worth going to.
Others will have better (more descriptive im sure) suggestions.
Have fun, especially with the $ AUD atm (maybe buy up now?) !

 

[Mal]

Places like Yosemite may be difficult to get to in late Dec. Snow chains might help, but even the lowest access road could be closed.

If spending time in LAS, then you really do need to take the 2 day trip out to Grand Canyon (drive to the west rim one day arriving early afternoon, perhaps watch the sunset over the canyon, overnight at the Canyon (eg Tusayan), then maybe watch the sunrise, explore a little and head back to LAS on the 2nd day.

Again snow could cause havoc with that trip - even to the South Rim - and the early mornings and evenings will be chilly.

Or the one day trip via a tour company to the West Rim (not really a good viewpoint of the canyon though) or via plane/helicopter etc.

Around Orlando, NASA is a must see.

Wherever you go though, you need to be aware of estimated temperatures and what snow might be around. New York will be pretty chilly, as will most of the northern parts of the U.S. San Fran looks to still be reasonably warm (but will be chilly at times). Watch out for the rain spells too !

 

[N860CR]

My last good trans-america trip was:

SYD-SFO (4 Days). Really great place, very easy city to get around, people are friendly and plenty of great places to eat and drink. I was there in November and it was cold and wet, but that didn't cause too many problems

SFO-LAX (3 Days). I'm one of the few who like LA! Although it did take 3 or 4 trips to grow on me. Spend a day at Universal Studios. I went a Nov weekday and it was next to empty - didn't line up for anything so did everything twice! Also spent an afternoon with GPS in hand hunting through the hills in the 300C looking for celebrity houses (tacky I know!)

LAX-LAS (2 Days). Make this a short trip, but its worth it for the trashiness. I also found Vegas had the best shopping in the States (which is almost my number 1 reason for travelling to America!) so its worth it for that alone. Hotels, food and drinks are dirt cheap. Quite a nice drive from LA.

LAS-SEA (4 Days). I love Seattle, to the point I've seriously considered moving there a number of times (unfortunatley the other half doesn't share my passion!). The Boeing Tour is well worth a look, as is the museum at Boeing Field.

SEA-YVR (4 Days). It was nice to go into Canada just for the sake of it. I still consider it "the New Zealand of North America", right up to the stupidly cough customs agents! Travelled by train from Seattle which was a nice trip. It's a pleasant city, lovely big park and very easy to walk around. By day 4... it was getting a little dull and ended up catching an earlier flight back to SEA and spending the afternoon in the CO Presidents Club.

YVR-SEA-JFK (4 Days). Red eye in DL Y is very painful! Can't say enough about NY though. Really is the greatest city in the world and no trip to the USA is complete without it. I'd love to spend more time there, it is cost restrictive though. Time of year dependant, its very hard to get even a dive of a hotel for less than $200 a night.

My next trip to the States is going to be a slightly quicker NY, Washington + LA. Can't report on Washington yet.

 

[Alanslegal]

Apart from the regular haunts, I'd throw in a vote for New Orleans. A quick 3 day visit is just about right with great food with lots of southern influences and spices esp. one loves seafood, fun hospitality, alot of places to visit and keep you busy for 72hours.

San Diego is pretty cool too esp. if you are into the visit Zoo / Sea World kind of thing, also from there is a quick drive to the Mexico border where you can sneak in and have a few $1 Corona's and do some souvenier shopping.

(my first USA itineray a while ago now was to Los Angeles, 48ours in LA, then drive to Anaheim (theme parks) then to San Diego, quick day visit across the border to Tijuana, Mexico, flew SAN-SFO, a few days in San Francisco, before flying to NYC. The return home was via Las Vegas which was pretty cool)

 

[munitalP]

Just to clarify a couple of points - and thanks for the ideas so far - keep em coming - Orlando is a must stop, I was in the US this time last year, there's a trip report floating around, KSC is the whole and sole reason for a return to Orlando, gotta take Kim there, also, Las Vegas will be on the last few days of the trip to unwind in sin city.


Cheers


Mr!

 

[Keith009]

Can't think of any better place in the world than LA (basically my idea of what life is all about and I could spend all 2 weeks going up and down Rodeo, Melrose, Robertson and Abbott Kinney, and attending party after party in WeHo ), but in lieu of that I'd recommend:

Southern California generally - best shopping malls in the world (particularly Fashion Island over at Newport and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa); and 18 8 in Irvine/Costa Mesa for a makeover at the best men's hair salon in the world!

Places near Orlando: Miami (South Beach and Bal Harbour in particular) and Fort Lauderdale - the latter can be kinda sedate but relaxing except during Spring Break but I doubt you'll be gunning for Spring Break

New Orleans and Austin for the nightlife and the food - Austin in particular for Tex Mex

Philadelphia and Boston for the food (Philly cheese steaks, hoagies and pretzels at Campo's - I still dream about them; Lobster rolls at Quincy Market are sick - loved them in a previous life when I could eat shellfish), both can be rather run down and filled with old buildings but they're good if you like history

NYC - just cause!

Didn't really like Las Vegas apart from a few of the shows, but I gotta say the Eiffel Tower replica looks so much nicer than the real one, and also the Venetian canals don't have a stench unlike Venice. Shopping is also rather good there. Also gotta catch a show or 2.

Apart from having to be there for work, I'd personally avoid San Francisco if not visiting Napa but that's just me. Just can't see anything special about the place and it has a v dowdy and frumpy feel.

 

[dede]

This is a very handy thread. I'm doing 2 weeks in the US in June and am trying to work out an itinerary now. I intend to start in NY (visiting my nephew for his birthday), and ending in SFO. In between is yet to be worked out, although I'm a sucker for the theme parks and have just spent the weekend looking at the photos of friends who were at Disneyland last October. I wanna go! Now!

 

[notzac]

Another vote for a Napa wine tour - we really don't get any good Californian wines over here; turns out they really know what they're doing with grapes!

Also, definitely do the drive up Highway 1 from LA to SF and perhaps even further north than that - allow a full day for Hearst castle, 'tis an amazing place.

Here's one of the photos I took when I did the Highway 1 trip a year and a bit ago:

 

[dajop]

ORD is great too. Spent a week or two there and love it.

How horrible! A week or two at ORD, a couple of hours is way long enough. Sorry I couldn't resist.

On the other hand I really do like Chicago - it's got a lot going for it - but I don't know if the reason why I like it is simply that it reminds me a lot of Melbourne ! But at this time of the year it's more than just a little cold, and really I'd suggest NYC first. I think a healthy mix of city and scenery type travel in 14 days (having said that my first trip to US consisted of 3 days in NYC, 5 days in Florida (mainly orlando) then another 6 in NYC, and loved it.

 

[davidj-bell]

Places like Yosemite may be difficult to get to in late Dec. Snow chains might help, but even the lowest access road could be closed.

If spending time in LAS, then you really do need to take the 2 day trip out to Grand Canyon (drive to the west rim one day arriving early afternoon, perhaps watch the sunset over the canyon, overnight at the Canyon (eg Tusayan), then maybe watch the sunrise, explore a little and head back to LAS on the 2nd day.

If you go to the Grand Canyon, it's worth driving to zion national park in Utah. It's less crowded, and gives a perspective of canyons from the base looking up (without having to walk down it ) It's about a 7-8 hour drive from the south rim.

 

[Keith009]

If you go to the Grand Canyon, it's worth driving to zion national park in Utah.

If visiting Las Vegas, try getting one of those helicopter tours out to the Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam. It's quite an experience. There's one that takes you right down to a picnic lunch on the actual Canyon if you really want to see the rocks etc thoroughly, we passed on that as it was too long and went only for the aerial views which were still rather good.

 

[drron]

The time of the year is important.The north will be cold with a pretty good chance of a snow/ice storm in january.So unless you want to have another ice experience then stick to the south.Even in April i have experienced snow storms in Yosemite and the Grand Canyon forcing a change in plans.
So Orlando it is.Hire a car,an absolute must IMHO.Consider driving across to Tampa,down the west coast of FLA,across the Everglades to MIA.Maybe Key West.Up to Kennedy SC as ypu planned and back to MCO.Go online and order the FLA tourist book-they will post it free to Australia.
Plenty of Factory outlets in FLA with a lot having the upmarket stores-great for shopping and mrsdrron loves them.What is last season's fashion in the US is our next season's fashion.
There are also lots of museums,attractions during the drive which will all depend on your likes/dislikes.
However a few days in NYC at the end wouldn't be a bad idea.Love NY no matter what time of year.
And Dede june is a whole different ball game and everywhere is on the table.

 

[munitalP]

The time of the year is important.The north will be cold with a pretty good chance of a snow/ice storm in january.So unless you want to have another ice experience then stick to the south.Even in April i have experienced snow storms in Yosemite and the Grand Canyon forcing a change in plans.
So Orlando it is.Hire a car,an absolute must IMHO.Consider driving across to Tampa,down the west coast of FLA,across the Everglades to MIA.Maybe Key West.Up to Kennedy SC as ypu planned and back to MCO.Go online and order the FLA tourist book-they will post it free to Australia.
Plenty of Factory outlets in FLA with a lot having the upmarket stores-great for shopping and mrsdrron loves them.What is last season's fashion in the US is our next season's fashion.
There are also lots of museums,attractions during the drive which will all depend on your likes/dislikes.
However a few days in NYC at the end wouldn't be a bad idea.Love NY no matter what time of year.
And Dede june is a whole different ball game and everywhere is on the table.

VISIT FLORIDA Official Vacation And Tourism Guides, Brochures And E-Books | | Florida Vacation, Tourism, Travel & Entertainment Information, VISIT FLORIDA is the address to order the books - I love Tampa, I spend 6 days there a couple of years back at a conference at the - Westin Innisbrooke - oh the luxury

I loved clearwater and the whole atmosphere of Tampa as well as Tarpon Springs - some great restaurants there!

Thanks for the ideas so far - keep em rolling!

Mr!

 

[dede]

The time of the year is important.The north will be cold with a pretty good chance of a snow/ice storm in january.So unless you want to have another ice experience then stick to the south.Even in April i have experienced snow storms in Yosemite and the Grand Canyon forcing a change in plans.
So Orlando it is.Hire a car,an absolute must IMHO.Consider driving across to Tampa,down the west coast of FLA,across the Everglades to MIA.Maybe Key West.Up to Kennedy SC as ypu planned and back to MCO.Go online and order the FLA tourist book-they will post it free to Australia.
Plenty of Factory outlets in FLA with a lot having the upmarket stores-great for shopping and mrsdrron loves them.What is last season's fashion in the US is our next season's fashion.
There are also lots of museums,attractions during the drive which will all depend on your likes/dislikes.
However a few days in NYC at the end wouldn't be a bad idea.Love NY no matter what time of year.
And Dede june is a whole different ball game and everywhere is on the table.

The only place I want to go but will give a miss to is Las Vegas - far too hot at that time of year I think!

 

[UP4014]

VISIT FLORIDA Official Vacation And Tourism Guides, Brochures And E-Books | | Florida Vacation, Tourism, Travel & Entertainment Information, VISIT FLORIDA is the address to order the books - I love Tampa, I spend 6 days there a couple of years back at a conference at the - Westin Innisbrooke - oh the luxury

I loved clearwater and the whole atmosphere of Tampa as well as Tarpon Springs - some great restaurants there!

Thanks for the ideas so far - keep em rolling!

Mr!

Hard to make suggestions but then you say Orlando is a must. (I've been there and would go again, but would need to be for the final shuttle luanch later this year).

Personally, I'd simply hire a car in LA, 14 days in my mind is to short to spend a day or two doing domestic flights, and drive east, Los Wages, Grand Canyon, keep going to Durango then head south to Pheonix and back via Carlsbad Caves and is your a plane spotter visit the Tuscon aircraft museum, they have a DC6 ex "Airforce 1" used by JFK, a B52 and even an SR71 Blackbird all parked out where you can get a good close up view.

Highway 1 is a must, could drive it every holiday.

I'm going to SFO on Wednesday, my rough plane, hire a car and a road trip to Mount Rushmore via Yellowstone, back via Colorado to LA then up Highway 1.

About my 10th holiday there, it's never tiring.

Matt

 

[dede]

How long does it take to drive to Mt Rushmore from SFO?