first time in the USA where should I go ?

[Sigarms]

Hi everyone

Inspired by the thread ''things to do in north California''

Me and my wife are looking to go in the USA this summer in late July my first time... so many place to choose from so we are having difficulty choosing... and she left it up to me which is the worse ...

We are planning on a week... I don't want to stay in one city the whole time we will be flying then renting a vehicle I don't mind driving a good distance. I want the area to be relatively safe and being the summer maybe we should stay away from the crazy hot although there is lots of cool landmark in these stats.

I would like a place that I could visit a few cool attraction/landmark, visit nice city with cool history and museum perhaps go to a live show and go for a long horseback ride and a cattle drive ... which state would you recommend ?

My one suggestion would be to make it two weeks instead of one week if possible. When you're in a new land that you're not familiar with, you'd be surprised how quick the time can fly.

Question becomes where do you fly to, drive to, and then fly out of? Are you planning the coming and leaving from the same airport?

 

[Rockbadchild]

My one suggestion would be to make it two weeks instead of one week if possible. When you're in a new land that you're not familiar with, you'd be surprised how quick the time can fly.

Question becomes where do you fly to, drive to, and then fly out of? Are you planning the coming and leaving from the same airport?

I hear y’a it is possible maybe it’s a good idea to stay longer it is true 7 days will fly by … more it goes and more i am now leaning towards the grand canyon … so probably fly to Vegas spend 2 days there drive around the grand canyon spend a hike or two a horse ride over night back to vegas and fly back from there …

 

[jyoutz]

I hear y’a it is possible maybe it’s a good idea to stay longer it is true 7 days will fly by … more it goes and more i am now leaning towards the grand canyon … so probably fly to Vegas spend 2 days there drive around the grand canyon spend a hike or two a horse ride over night back to vegas and fly back from there …

If that is your plan, the north rim is more remote, but the scenery is beautiful. On the other hand, a nice way would be to drive from Las Vegas to Williams, Arizona. Then take the steam train from Williams to Grand Canyon south rim. You can stay at a hotel on the south rim, then take the train to return to Williams. Search for Grand Canyon Railway to get information on this.

 

[RjCorazza]

I hear y’a it is possible maybe it’s a good idea to stay longer it is true 7 days will fly by … more it goes and more i am now leaning towards the grand canyon … so probably fly to Vegas spend 2 days there drive around the grand canyon spend a hike or two a horse ride over night back to vegas and fly back from there …

I would also recommend the Grand Canyon, and stay in Vegas. You can stay pretty cheap in Vegas, and the various food options are great. We didn't spend our time there though.

For the Grand Canyon, consider checking out the SkyWalk on the Hualapai Reservation. It's a 2 hour drive from Vegas, and the food is excellent! They have other things to do at, or near, the SkyWalk also.

 

[Rockbadchild]

my initial idea was to drive around the whole canyon but probably would loose too much time driving … it be cool to see it from what consiste the beginning to the end, Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs …

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Fly to Denver, drive to Cheyenne WY, Mt Rushmore, Devils tower, Cody WY, Yellowstone &tetons, drive back to Denver via rocky Mt Nat Park.
I did this in a week back in 2008.

 

[jyoutz]

my initial idea was to drive around the whole canyon but probably would loose too much time driving … it be cool to see it from what consiste the beginning to the end, Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs …

That’s a gorgeous trip, but plan your time accordingly. The Colorado River Bridge at Marble Canyon(Lees Ferry) is an awesome view. The steam train trip is also an adventure.

Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel

Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel has been taking guests to the Grand Canyon. Enjoy entertaining musicians and the antics of cowboy characters.

www.thetrain.com

 

[Hay Dude]

Hi everyone

Inspired by the thread ''things to do in north California''

Me and my wife are looking to go in the USA this summer in late July my first time... so many place to choose from so we are having difficulty choosing... and she left it up to me which is the worse ...

We are planning on a week... I don't want to stay in one city the whole time we will be flying then renting a vehicle I don't mind driving a good distance. I want the area to be relatively safe and being the summer maybe we should stay away from the crazy hot although there is lots of cool landmark in these stats.

I would like a place that I could visit a few cool attraction/landmark, visit nice city with cool history and museum perhaps go to a live show and go for a long horseback ride and a cattle drive ... which state would you recommend ?

Yellowstone/Tetons. I could go there every year.
America at it’s most breathtaking

 

[Sigarms]

my initial idea was to drive around the whole canyon but probably would loose too much time driving … it be cool to see it from what consiste the beginning to the end, Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs …

This is why you need two weeks IMO.

Driving and actually enjoying the scenery and every once in a while stopping and doing something not in the plans tends to make the trip more worthwhile from my own experience.

From experience and at least for myself, the Grand Canyon is cool, but there is so much more out there to see and do that for at least myself, is more remarkable than the Grand Canyon.

Below from Utah, no where near the grand canyon. Best part? We were the only ones on that road pretty much the whole day (note, proper planning with vehicle, gear and gas is mandatory when no one is around LOL).

 

[cqaigy2]

Took this trip Late April, May so your weather/heat will vary.

I'm skipping some of the stuff we did in the beginning coming from Washington, over and down from Idaho.

Utah - We stayed in Moab and Cedar city. Zion(Very busy), Kalob Canyon(Think something like Zion but very few people), Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches.

There's just so much to see in the southwest part of U.S. We spend a lot of time in Washington and Oregon, close by for us, then up to B.C. and Alberta.