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Im coming to the US - what should I see?

This has mostly been mentioned above, but I still feel the need to butt in!

If by "best theme park" you mean best roller coasters, your best bet is probably not on the east coast. I would suggest Six Flags Magic Mountain, which is near Los Angeles (but far enough that you would still need to rent a car). I can't really think of any theme parks besides Disney World that would be easily accessible without a car.
 
My kids LOVE Central Florida

tMac85 said:
Florida is great all around. disney theme parks in orlando, Universal Stuidos and Islands Of Adventure. Bush Gardens is great too.
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SeaWorld is also in Orlando (literally just down the road from Universal) and IMO is a worthwhile way to spend a day if you are into that sort of thing. Get to the dolphin pond first thing before the crowds get heavy. Lots of options with combined Universal, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld passes.

To do all four DisneyWorld theme parks (MK, Epcot, MGM, AK) you'd want to dedicate four to seven days and its easiest for those days to stay at one of the "on property" Disney resorts (the prices will vary from <$100/night/room to off-the-charts-expensive, your choice but for your first trip you probably won't spend much time in the room). You aren't going to want to do a side trip to Universal/IOA/SeaWorld one or two days while at Disney, instead dedicate separate days for that where you are staying in a nearby hotel (and for Busch Gardens in Tampa which is the least interesting IMO).

Also, as someone else said, the US is a big place. The Grand Canyon is one of those places you just have to see once in your life. The problem is that it isn't terribly convenient to get to and there aren't a whole lot of other things in the vicinity, so although its definitely a must see, its probably not a must see if its going to take up four days of your 21 day vacation.

Again, tell us more what interests you and we can better fine tune the recommendations.
 
John.B said:
SeaWorld is also in Orlando (literally just down the road from Universal) and IMO is a worthwhile way to spend a day if you are into that sort of thing. Get to the dolphin pond first thing before the crowds get heavy. Lots of options with combined Universal, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld passes.
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Shamu!!!

I went online and got a Busch Gardens / SeaWorld ticket pretty cheap before leaving the UK. I'd recommend looking into tickets for the attractions you want to see before setting off, although the £/$ exchange rates make most things seem quite inexpensive anyway.
 
Everyone - these ideas and suggestions are superb. Thank you all for taking the time.

My partner (who has been to the US before) wants to go to Boston - in fact he's getting a little obsessed about it, and I want to see NY and DC just cos you kind of 'have to', so that means we're fairly set on the East coast.

I appreciate the comments about the trains not being so good, but I guess that's what I'm looking for - a bit of an adventure (looking at art galleries and sculptures aren't my thing), so I love MarlboroLite's idea of flying into Boston and then training it down to NY.

The theme park idea has come from a documentary I saw years ago featuring Cedar Point - I love coasters and ****-scarey rides and CP seems to be the ultimate - but it seems quite a way from the coast (more than a drive by the looks...?). Disney Land doesn't really appeal - we're both just under 30 with no kids.

I'd love to see things like the grand canyon, but as that's on the West, I'll have to save that for another year.

I'd like to see a national park (I'm a keen photographer) and, as my profession is a TV studio cameraman, I'd actually like to see an American TV show being recorded - I'm guessing NYC is the best place for that?

We're looking to arrive 9th Sept and leave on the 25th.
 
Go to California and taste the In-and-Out burger. It is the best in the world.
Ohio I heard has the best amusement thrill rides. Florida has a lot of different parks in Orlando and Tampa has 1 that is about an hour and 20 minutes away from Orlando. Disneyland to Disneyworld is like comparing the Mac Mini to the Mac Pro. Vegas is a popular stop too.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
I'd definitely try and go to Washington DC. Lots of museums and sights to see there.
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DC is a cool place with lot's to see.

Many museums. If you are interested in the aviation side of the house, go to the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), and then the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Many cool AC on display such as the Enola Gay, SR-71, Space Shuttle Enterprise and many others.
 
yes seaworld...i forgot..

if you like roller coasters they have a unique one that is supposed to be great. i rode it a while back and forgot about it, but know it was good!:D
 
joefinan said:
So where would I go about hiring a fun car rather than a stuffy brand new one??
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Check the major rental companies, see what upscale cars they rent ...Thrifty, Alamo, National, Hertz, Avis. There are other specialty-rental companies, not necessarily national chains, that are specific to some cities. Those are the places where you'd go to rent the Ferarris etc. You'd have to search on the specific city. Look here, for example.
 
I'm not sure about someones suggestion of Georgia but Florida was my destination this year and that is by far the most amazing places I have been. Imagine this, Beautiful ritzy buildings everywhere, palm trees everywhere, warm water, pure white sand, beautiful woman in bikini's beautiful sights sounds and smells galore. The amount of rich people/ferraris i saw was amazing. Florida is just what it seems like on tv. I heard newyork city isnt quite what it is cracked up to be though. I also visited boston and loved the downtown area and cozyness but it gets a bit boring quick. Visit daytona beach and miami beach and drive along ocean avenue in florida. An experience you wont forget.
 
If you have three weeks, no particular itinerary, and want to "see the country", particularly including rail, check this out. Amtrak offers rail passes that allow you to go anywhere on the system in the US. Pack light, take a camera & your Mac, get off when it looks interesting.
 
If you want to experience typical "america" then Florida is probably your best bet -- you get all the amusement parks you can handle, plus beaches, extravagant excess, NASA, etc.

You can also head to the Florida Keys for a national park experience (I've never been there but I hear it's awesome). Unfortunately for you if you really want to see a mind-blowing national park you're going to have to head to the West. The Grand Canyon, for example, is unlike anything you'll see in Europe. What you'll see on the east coast isn't really much different from what you've got in the UK. Acadia National Park in Maine is pretty amazing, but it may not impress a brit as much -- my guess is that the cliffs at Dover are a tad more impressive.
 
PlaceofDis said:
you have to have had both to decide which you prefer.

NY Pizza - paper with grease and stuff.
Chicago Pizza - almost a pie-like pizza
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Pizza was invented in Italy. NY Pizza is a variation on Italian pizza. Chicago "Pizza" is a cheese pie that was invented by a Texan who decided Chicagoans would not like real pizza. Chicago cheese pies can be very, very tasty; but to compare them with actual authentic pizza is like comparing ice cream with cheese cake.

On the main topic-- to me the 3 "must see cities" in the USA are NYC, DC and SF in that order. I would add to the one of the great western national parks, probably either Grand Canyon or Yosemite (GC is better but Yosemite is handier). You might be able to squeeze all 3 cities plus Yosemite into 3 weeks with careful planning. That leaves no time for major theme parks.

If the theme park thing is important and you expect to visit the USA again some time, I would recommend an east coast trip of NYC, DC, and Florida. This allows a more leisurely visit to NYC, and while visiting DC you can take side trips to the historical sites in Virginia. Florida, of course, is the Mecca of theme parks.
 
Go to Cali...they have tons of fun theme parks there, like Knotts Berry Farm, and don't they have a 6 Flags Theme Park???

And don't forget the beautiful beaches and the awesome weather...and Disney Land...:D
 
The 6 Flags Great adventure in New Jersey is great (hence the name heheh) if you go (which you definitely should), try out the kingda Ka, fastest and tallest roller coaster on earth, you go from 0-132 MPH in 3 seconds! Great great roller coaster.
 
Since no one has mentioned this, I think you should visit Chicago. There are many reasons to visit:

-Sears Tower (one of the tallest buildings in the world)
-The Magnificent mile (Michigan avenue, one of the the best shopping areas in the US, plus an apple store!)
-The Art Institute (One of the greatest art museums in the world)
-Alder planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium (some of the greatest museums in the world)

Also, Chicago is much cleaner than New York and L.A. Plus depending on the time of year, it is as hot as Florida (90+ degrees)
 
joefinan said:
My partner (who has been to the US before) wants to go to Boston - in fact he's getting a little obsessed about it, and I want to see NY and DC just cos you kind of 'have to', so that means we're fairly set on the East coast.

I appreciate the comments about the trains not being so good, but I guess that's what I'm looking for - a bit of an adventure (looking at art galleries and sculptures aren't my thing), so I love MarlboroLite's idea of flying into Boston and then training it down to NY.


I'd like to see a national park (I'm a keen photographer) and, as my profession is a TV studio cameraman, I'd actually like to see an American TV show being recorded - I'm guessing NYC is the best place for that?
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I've lived in Boston for 30 years (and NYC for 20 years before that), and I don't think it is terribly exciting unless you have very specific interests. Tell me what appeals to your partner and I can give you some further commentary.

The intercity train service between Boston, NYC and DC is decent but otherwise train service in the US sucks. Public transit varies by city in the USA but is pretty good in all three cities. Don't look to the intercity trains as an adventure-- they are just slow and infrequent. If you want some kind of urban adventure, better you should take the NYC subway to some of the ethnic neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn. NYC is still a city of immigrants but you need to know where you are going.

Unfortunately, the truly spectacular National Parks are all in the west. The eastern ones are more about recreation or preservation than spectacular topography. The east is much less geologically active then the west, and the topography is far more eroded. The Great Smokies in west North Carolina is probably the best from a mountain 'n' river scenery point of view, but it ain't the Grand Canyon.

NBC studios in Rockefeller Center still shoots some TV shows there (I think), although most are now done in LA. Some tickets are available on production day; typically game shows. There's a studio tour there as well. My info may be out of date so check the NBC website.
 
wordmunger said:
You can also head to the Florida Keys for a national park experience (I've never been there but I hear it's awesome).
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If he was a SCUBA diver (or really, really wanted to be) then I'd recommend Key Largo and the whole John Pennekamp State Park thing but its pretty hard for landlubbers to get much appreciation for it since its basically underwater.

Key West is great for anyone who wants to party their brains out, or is a big Hemingway fan such as myself, (or both :)) but in this particular case I get the feeling there are better places for the OP to spend his time and money.

Driving down the Atlantic coast of Florida is only scenic for the sections of local/side roads that are designated A1A, etc., the I-95 is literally just a bunch of tall pine trees on both sides for about 2/3rd of Florida, with semis and cars screaming past at high speeds. They aren't going to make time and see anything scenic, in this case the two are mutually exclusive.

Cheers.
 
I love the I-95, never drove at 170 km/h for hours on end before, quite the fun experience. I drove to florida with friends for spring break from canada, 28 hour drive of death haha
 
John.B said:
Also, as someone else said, the US is a big place. The Grand Canyon is one of those places you just have to see once in your life. The problem is that it isn't terribly convenient to get to and there aren't a whole lot of other things in the vicinity, so although its definitely a must see, its probably not a must see if its going to take up four days of your 21 day vacation.
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Well there is plenty to do around the Grand Canyon though you have to like camping. You have Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyon Lands, Escalante, etc. etc. All of which is in a few hours drive of each other. Getting there is fairly easy as well since Las Vegas is about 4-5 hours away from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Though for a first time to the States that might not be the thing to do.

Gas prices in San Diego, CA are about $3.65/gal. right now for regular, so if you are deciding to just get a rental car it might add up.

I did a month road trip to the Olympic games in Atlanta in 1996 from San Diego and back (going out the I-10/20 and coming back to I-70/15), so you can see a lot of the US though you won't get a lot of time in any one place.

If you do decide to come to California I would second what others have been saying a driving Highway 1 up the coast. Also I would pass up going through the redwoods in Northern California (though again this requires a lot of driving).

But since you are going to the East coast forget everything I just said.

joefinan said:
I'd like to see a national park (I'm a keen photographer) and, as my profession is a TV studio cameraman, I'd actually like to see an American TV show being recorded - I'm guessing NYC is the best place for that?
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Here's the website for Daily Show ticket reservations
http://www.thedailyshow.com/tickets.jhtml
 
Do both coasts

Hi,
I've lived in NY, Boston, Florida, (Northern) California, and have visited the other cities mentioned. It sounds like a lot of your interests are on the West Coast. If it's within your budget ($350-ish each), I'd recommend flying to California during your trip. Three weeks of northeastern cities, if you don't like art museums and want to see nature doesn't sound worth it to me. Florida is REALLY HOT in September, and it's not the best time to visit the Everglades, which is the most interesting nature (other than many miles of beach). Late April/early May is a good time to visit Florida, I think.

My suggested itinerary:

Arrive NYC (probably cheaper and more choices of flights available)

4-5 days NYC including travel day. Some ideas:
Museum of Broadcasting
Central Park
Bronx Zoo
Natural History Museum
Statue of Liberty (because you "should")
Empire State Building (arrive so you get up to observation just before sunset so you can see view in daytime and nighttime)
etc.
The various "Law and Order" shows, "CSI: NY" and others are shot on location in NY They don't usually advertise locations, but you can look around

Take Train to D.C. (Amtrak along Northeast Corridor isn't an adventure or exciting, but it's fine)

2 days D.C. (including travel day)

Fly D.C. to Los Angeles

7-8 days California including travel days:

Rent car
A few days Los Angeles area (amusement park, studio tour, etc -- lots of on-location TV shows and movies if you can find one)

Drive Rte. 1 to San Francisco (Hearst Castle along the way if you leave very early), stop in Monterrey on way. I think it's fun and spectacular even in a "boring" car, or you can rent a convertible for more $.

San Francisco area 3-4 days:

Wine tasting tour
Muir Woods
Lombard Street
Etc.

Fly from San Francisco to Boston.

A few days Boston. Return to NYC for flight home.
 
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