USA for 14 days, where would you go?

[Keith009]

What is last season's fashion in the US is our next season's fashion.

That might be true about 2-3 years ago but many upmarket designer boutiques have upgraded their stores in Australia (such as Prada on Collins St) to flagship or epicentre status and we now get current season stuff as soon as they're released in Paris or Milan. Things are still a lot cheaper in the US and there's a much greater range over there of course.

 

[bnroz]

ok, ive been to USA nearly every year for the past 10 years and love it, me and the family heading back this year again for 3 weeks!

Went to ORL last year, but considering you have been there, you know all about it. Las Vegas is a must, if you love gambling, drinking and/or walking, hey its non stop 24 hours, i think its great, last year went with the family but to really have fun you need no kids haha must admit the shopping is the same reason we go back to USA as well and Las Vegas is one of the best places to shop at the outlets, as mentioned food is great and drinks, etc cheap with the dollar as it is now...

I totally recommend maybe heading up to Washington DC after Orlando (my wife use to live in DC and we loved it!), there is so much to see and do in DC, all the museums on the mall are free and are very interesting to walk thru, i not the one for museums, but i enjoyed it (especially the air & space museum and also the American history museum!), but they are free! but there are so many other sites to see as well, the usual like the Capitol building, white house, national monument (you can go to the top - free as well i think), the lincoln memorial, holocaust musuem, etc.... so much to see in the city. Other than that there is Georgetown, Dupont Circle for great restuarants also Pentagon City for shopping and also great eating!..... It will be freezing cold in Washington that time of year, the good is that it wont be busy and bad is it will be freezing bl**dy cold! if you want any advice on DC msg me, happy to share and help, have good friends there too...

NY is a must, havent been there in 10 years, but are going there this year for a week, cannot wait!!!! the best city in the world!!

i reckon, LAX-LAS-ORL then fly up to Washington, then catch the train from DC to NYC (have done this and is only a 3 hour trek and both stations are in the heart of the city), then head home.......

 

[drron]

That might be true about 2-3 years ago but many upmarket designer boutiques have upgraded their stores in Australia (such as Prada on Collins St) to flagship or epicentre status and we now get current season stuff as soon as they're released in Paris or Milan. Things are still a lot cheaper in the US and there's a much greater range over there of course.

Keith we dont all mean Prada when we talk fashion.Mrsdrron fortunately doesn't frequent that standard of store-Brooks bros,Ellen Tracey etc are more her style.

 

[UP4014]

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

I'm allowing about 4 days, but being winter have a few days flexibility or if I spend at day at West Yellowstone.

Couple of other things to see on the way, just west of Mount Rushmore is the Devils Tower (the knoll fromm Close Encounters of the Third Kind) and when heading away from South Dakota is Car Henge, a copy of Stone Henge but being America it's made of cars.

To me, nothing beats a good 'ol US road trip for a funny fun time.

Matt

 

[drewbles]

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:

Gee, That photo looks familiar

I must admite the drive up the highway is something I really do need to do (thanks to those photos of that and Hearst Castle!)

 

[Keith009]

Keith we dont all mean Prada when we talk fashion.Mrsdrron fortunately doesn't frequent that standard of store-Brooks bros,Ellen Tracey etc are more her style.

You did mention upmarket... And Prada was only an example...

Still, I think we have a long way to go. I was overjoyed to discover stockists for Tom Ford, Rock&Republic and John Varvatos (i think his stuff really suits you drron ) in Melbourne only to realise that they're all 5 times more expensive than in the US, and about 3-4 seasons old...

 

[UP4014]

That might be true about 2-3 years ago but many upmarket designer boutiques have upgraded their stores in Australia (such as Prada on Collins St) to flagship or epicentre status and we now get current season stuff as soon as they're released in Paris or Milan. Things are still a lot cheaper in the US and there's a much greater range over there of course.

QF009 - your idea of fashion shopping and mine look to be two different things. Please do tell how much you spent at Prada last year?

Matt

 

[Keith009]

QF009 - your idea of fashion shopping and mine look to be two different things. Please do tell how much you spent at Prada last year?

Don't want to know! I did qualify for their membership card which gives a 10% discount anytime and "pre sale" invites, and that's also on top of discounts applied during sales. But other than a pair of lamb skin boots I bought in SIN last week (yep killed a lamb rather than a cow for a change), I reckon I'd not spend as much this season as Spring/Summer 2010 has been underwhelming and boring unlike the boldness and glamour of the 4 previous seasons. Still, I suppose designers have their slack moments. Instead, Louis Vuitton's new Damier print leather shoes have been getting my business....:shock:

(no in all honesty apart from being a long standing fan of Prada I shop from a wide range of designers)

 

[drron]

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

When we drove it was a full 2 days from Seattle to Mt. rushmore.Obviously from SFO it would be longer.However if the family are in to National parks you could do a great trip out through sacramento,Salt Lake and the Utah NPs up to Grand teton and Yellowstone.Across through the Little Bighorn and on to Mt rushmore and the Badlands.Coming back go across the top via the Glacier NP(maybe even the Teddy Roosevelt NPs in North Dakota) through to Seattle and back down the coast top SFO.
Obviously getting a NP annual pass would be the way to go if you did this-can get it online.

 

[dede]

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!

If you do go to NY then consider going to the Statue of Liberty. You can now access the crown and tickets can be reserved a year in advance.

 

[coco50]

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?) !

Certainly would not bother with LAX (except that my son lives there) and wouldn't bother too much with MIA. Rest of the cities on the list are good. NM, in an earlier post had a good itinerary around the south-west. Consider also DC - very historical and also has the Smithsonian Museums and is a good jumping off spot for Civil War battlefields if they are of interest. MSY (check that code out!!) is a good destination - stay in the French Quarter - my son tells me that things are pretty much back to normal there after Katrina!

Also CHS and SAV are very pretty and historical - well in the old towns they are.

With the US just like Australia you can't do everything in the one trip - so you have to target specific destinations and try not to do everything at once. I've ben to the US 5 times and still havn't been to TX (well transfer at DFW doesn't count) although my youngest daughter just moved to Austin so I guess I'll get there sooner or later.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Christmas in New York with all the trees and lights ( and snow, then down to Washington. The museums and monuments and buildings are fantastic.
Down to Orlando, across to New Orleans, then Chicago and then over to Las Vegas with side trip to Grand Canyon ( not everything open with winter) Up to San Francisco and home via LAX

 

[wrldtrvllr]

If you are heading UT way and national parks are your thing you should also include Bryce Canyon - was there last April and nothing short of amazing. Though in winter there is almost certainly going to be snow there - had snow fall in April and the white snow sitting against red and yellow rock with blue skies and green spring trees is something else altogether. And if you are in Zion NP then the walk/climb to Angel's landing is a fun adventure.

But if winter is when you must go and you're not a skiier/boarder, then I'd be sticking the southern parts of US - it's too damn cold otherwise!

 

[wrldtrvllr]

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!

Was there a couple years back in mid-June and yup it was HOT. But that's what the pools are good for!

Not a regular guest of 5-star hotels but I think LV could be the cheapest place in the world to experience 5-star opulence! Just head out early morning and/or late afternoon, chill by the hotel pool during the day...

 

[Keith009]

I ended up in Austin in the middle of summer, July last year. Now that was HOT! Lots of Margaritas....

 

[munitalP]

I'm getting the strangest feeling LV stores may play a part in some of our itinerary

LOL

Mr!

 

[Maca44]

When we drove it was a full 2 days from Seattle to Mt. rushmore.Obviously from SFO it would be longer.However if the family are in to National parks you could do a great trip out through sacramento,Salt Lake and the Utah NPs up to Grand teton and Yellowstone.Across through the Little Bighorn and on to Mt rushmore and the Badlands.Coming back go across the top via the Glacier NP(maybe even the Teddy Roosevelt NPs in North Dakota) through to Seattle and back down the coast top SFO.
Obviously getting a NP annual pass would be the way to go if you did this-can get it online.

This is a good route, and at this time of year there is a good chance Yellowstone will be closed due to snow, so look around for one of those tour groups and take a snow mobile through the park to Old Faithful, just watch out for Police as they do radar as even snow mobiles have a 45mph limit). Also, if you do consider the above route, and want to drive through to Seattle, the pass on I90 can be very dangerous.

 

[Keith009]

I'm getting the strangest feeling LV stores may play a part in some of our itinerary

LOL

Mr!

:mrgreen::mrgreen: Unfortunately the other half isn't as much a fan of my RTW antics and has expressed a preference for concentrating on just Europe this time so we might have to see you in America another time...

But a tip about LV stores in the US for Mrs!: the capital of LV isn't Fith Avenue, nor is it Rodeo Dr, nor even Bal Harbour - head down to Orange County (about an hour to 90 mins away from LA depending on where in LA you're starting out of) where they have 3 stores in South Coast Plaza alone! 1 free standing store, and another 2 in Saks and Bloomingdales respectively. They collectively have the best range out of all the ones I've been to in the US. Really, it's hard to beat South Coast for shopping.

 

[Blackadder]

Also allow some time for Memphis; Graceland,Beale St etc

 

[Bang4Buck]

LAX - SFO driving (overnight in Santa Barbara).

SFO-ORD-SAV (or CHC)-IAD-NYC-LAS.