Help me out please folks, i have decided that I want to spend time in the USA next year, however I really don't want to go to the usual places that us Brits go to, ie NY, Boston, LA, LV, SF or Florida. I have been to NY before as I am from London so it just felt a bit like home. I know you guys are the warmest and kindest of all the 'anglo-saxon' countries, so I want to go somewhere that will both welcome a tourist from dear old England but will also show the 'real' America not one in the minds of many Europeans.
2008-11-14T08:19:49Z
Thanks for the answers so far, some really good suggestions, also some good points on my acutual question.
Just to fill in a bit more, i would be travelling alone, I am not a sex tourist, what i want is to be able to come back to London and say I have been to somewhere that is not one of the top ten holiday spots, somewhere different but at the same time somewhere intresting, I suppose one of the bigger cities would be at least a good place to start the holiday (say 2 weeks long)
Once again thanks for the answers so far,
One thing though please give reason's behind your suggestions, is more helpful than just naming a city, otherwise I could just throw a dart at a map and go where it landed and would have saved you all time reading this!!!
trees750942008-11-14T16:08:47Z
Favorite Answer
I'd hit northern California. Go to Big Sur area. The beaches are spectacular. See the giant sequoia redwood trees. They are so majestic. Go further north to Carmel-by-the Sea, Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. Santa Cruz has an old fashioned boardwalk and fisherman's wharf. The entrance is free to both. Be sure to hit Marini's on the Boardwalk and get their famous salt water taffy.
You could hang out in quaint towns like Los Gatos or Saratoga, in western Santa Clara County (aka: Silicon Valley). Then head up Highway 9 into Hakone Friendship Gardens and Big Basin State Park to see the redwood trees. You could see the Tech Museum in San Jose, Winchester Mystery House in Campbell, San Jose Flea Market. Can you tell I lived there??
Yosemite Park has magnificent waterfalls, rock formations and the giant sequoias all in one park!
There is Gold Country, along Highway 49 through the old mining towns like Columbia - only go there if you like old western-type history, which I love. It's in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Not too far from Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada.
Go to the California State Parks site and search for: Pfeiffer Big Sur, Big Basin and Calaveras Big Trees parks. Do a little research on each to see what you'd prefer. All are big winners in my book.
There are several links below I hope will help you out. If you don't like California, try going to Wyoming. See Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Park. Cody Wyoming has a great western art museum well worth seeing.
San Francisco is full of museums, parks and the cable cars. Go across the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausilio. Both have great fisherman's wharfs.
I'm not sure what you're looking for as you say 'welcome a tourist' but without going to a tourist venue?
I found the Southern States really showed southern hospitality when I worked there for a few months. The west coast generally has pleasant people who welcome strangers.
My recommendation would be a road trip as gas (petrol) is about a quarter of the price in the UK. For example, fly to San Francisco and rent a car. Drive down the coast through Monterey to Santa Barbara then Los Angeles. Drive to Las Vegas then the Grand Canyon but then continue to Utah. Maybe visit Zion National Park and even Salt Lake City. Drive back across Necada on I-95 to Reno and you'll visit some small towns on the way. Reno to San francisco may be a problem in winter so visit before October.
That should give you a taste of tourist spots, big cities and small towns.
Great question! I would have to say that there are so many places in the US, it would be helpful to know more about what you and your family like. What kind of weather to you prefer? What interests/activities do you like? Are you in to any historic aspects of the US? If you can provide more detail of what your interests are, Im sure we could give you some awesome ideas!
I have to agree with Bobby's answer below. The Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburgh area of Tennessee is great!! I have been all over the US and the Smokey Mountain area of Tennessee is by far my favorite. I would move there in a second. There are "touristy" areas which offer a lot of shopping, but it's more quaint then the big city shopping. The people down south (Im in Cleveland, OH, so I consider TN the South) are very friendly. It is also one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen (espcially in the fall Oct/Nov). If you go, I would look to stay in a chalet or cabin in the mountains. There is also some good fishing in the river out there (my favorite!!).
Yellowstone and surrounding areas. I live in New England which I love but saw the Western part of the US last year for the first time and was totally blown away by how majestic and beautiful it was. Yellowstone was great but I loved the area around Cody, Wyoming, Bozeman Montana and other areas around there. This year I want to see Colorado, Utah and Arizona. I'm hoping my son goes to school out West so I have a reason to quit my job and move.