clarkgriswold

Don't take a bus from San Fran to Los Angeles, you're missing some of the best of California. Hire a car or take the train with at least a stop in Santa Barbara. The only problem is that you're heading south during the weekend when all accomodations will be pricey or already booked.

Car hire from downtown San Fran to Los Angeles is 170 pounds with a 7 day keep compared to almost 100 pounds for two train tickets. It's a no brainer, you can sleep in the car when you have to. About 30pounds per day extra to keep the car through to Las Vegas.

andrews98682

A couple of points.

"Initially we were thinking 2 weeks in the mid-west but if people feel we should spend a week there and then a week in the East please offer suggestions as long as it involves ending up in Boston on Monday 5th August"

I don't think people are telling you to spend less time in the Midwest. I think the point they're trying to make is you need to refine your plan a bit.
You could easily spend a week in Chicago and not run out of things to do. It's like New York or L.A. or London or Paris in that sense. Throw in the fact that you might be jet-lagged the first day or two after the long flight, and I would absolutely urge you to do that. Then you could, for example, go up to Milwaukee for two or three days and Minneapolis for two or three more, possibly stopping somewhere in Wisconsin or Minnesota along the way, before heading west. You'll get a good feel for the Midwest without having to pack and unpack every other day.
Nothing against Cedar Rapids, Sioux Falls, Cincinnati or Columbus, but you could probably skip them on this trip. You're better off spending time in Chicago.


"The general idea we have is to spend 3/4 days in San Fran/ San Jose before getting a bus down to LA on the Friday. We will then spend the weekend in LA before hiring a car on the Sunday/Monday to explore Cali for a week. Where should we visit??? Orange County? Palm Springs? San Diego?"

San Jose is not really known for being a tourist town. Spend your time in San Fran, where there's a ton to do. Instead of taking a bus to L.A., rent a car in San Fran and drive down the coast, stopping at places like Monterrey, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Yosemite, Santa Barbara. Plus, you'll need the car in L.A.

brichardson1991

Massive thank you you guys I'm off school next week so going to spend the week researching all of these places

thursdaysd

Pity you don't have more time for the east-to-west-coast leg - I was going to suggest Amtrak, the California Zephyr ride is really scenic (see http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...fornia-zephyr/ ) but you would have to leave Boston at 11:55 am on the Friday to get to San Francisco on the Monday. However, you could look at taking the train from Chicago to Boston.

See: http://www.amtrak.com/home
and: http://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm

singabob

All the best with your adventures! I congratulate you on seeing something different. Don't listen to the snobby Northeasterners or whomever, there's plenty to do in the Midwest.

Chicago is fantastic place to start. I would recommend hotels adjacent to the subway line, called the "El" (for Elevated) to begin, get over jet lag and experience the city and its people.

Certainly, the Museum of Art is a must see, maybe a baseball game, the Miracle Mile, Navy Pier, and the lively arts scene (maybe a visit to 'Second City' Comedy?) found there. It is also a terrific 'neighborhood' city (very ethnic) with lots of taverns and fine little restaurants. It is also very trendy downtown, and hip at night.

After your sojourn in the 'Windy City' you could rent a car but most companies are very hesitant to rent to anyone under 25. It may be a problem if you don't have a US license and insurance as well. You can check these thing online with the major car companies.

Cheaper hotel chains in the US are Motel 6, Super 8 and most Days Inn at the bottom rung. You get what you pay for and should check the rooms before handing over money. YMCA's and YWCA's, Hostels, and as said, couch surfing are options (but I wouldn't do it in the US...they are much less desirable options than those found in Europe and the UK). The Red Roof Inn chain is a very decent choice, Best Western, and for a few dollars more Hampton Inn and Courtyard Inns. I think lodgings will not be too difficult overall.

Milwaukee is a quick train ride north (and a good time). Unfortunately, you'll miss Summerfest, which is the world's largest musical festival featuring 100's of artists (goes to show what others know, huh?) The city is a nice day trip to see the magnificent Art Museum, which is a piece of art as a building itself. The building resembles a sail on the lake and opens and closes, depending on the time of day. The Zoo and County Museum are also first class. Like Chicago, there are also sightseeing boats on the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan.

Do not miss Cedar Point (near Sandusky, Ohio) and Cleveland. Cedar Point has the largest collection of roller coasters in the world and is situated on Lake Erie. Cleveland is the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, also on the lakefront.
I believe Amtrak runs to Cleveland and onward to Niagara Falls, NY, which is definitely worth the effort. I'd fly from Buffalo (adjacent city) to your next adventure.

Surprisingly, Kentucky is quite a remarkable state to visit. You can visit the horse country of Churchill Downs, near Louisville and Lexington, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace or Mammoth Cave National Park for a unique spelunking adventure. It is easily reached by car from Cleveland on I-71 and 75, and is only a few hours away. Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee are also amazing cities for music (country and blues, respectively) and nothing beats Memphis ribs, IMHO. You'll also get a taste of the South without going into the Deep Southern states of Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia (although that's something to think about too...along with Florida and New Orleans!) The entire Gulf Coast is beautiful, but the area around Ft. Walton Beach, Florida is particularly nice with emerald waters and sugar-fine white beaches. You'll love it for a few days and the seafood is amazing.

You'll also pass Amish Country in Ohio on that trip to the South, which has a larger population than Pennsylvania (next door) or Indiana. Its an interesting day and lots of low-key things to visit and absorb.

I would also like to put in a word for the Dakotas, in the center of the country. Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Teddy Roosevelt National Parks are jaw dropping with varied open green landscapes, real buffalo roaming, and lots of activities. There's also several Native American nations in this area, if you'd like to encounter the US's forgotten culture. Wyoming, Colorado and Utah are also amazing states with incredible national parks and beauty along every highway.

If you want to do "cities," I would pick for you Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, Atlanta and Houston and/or Dallas as the most interesting in the Midwest and south. Each is worthy of several days depending on your time and budget.

All the best, cherio and have a great time in the States. I hope the people of my beloved country treat you with kindness, helpfulness and respect!

simpsonc510

Ditto what singabob just said, about the Midwest. As a proud Midwesterner, I often get offended by those who refer to "us" as flyover country! NOT TRUE!

My Italian friends prefer Chicago over NYC or Boston. They bought a house in Kansas City, not DC or NYC!! They love the friendliness of the Midwestern folks, as well as their central location, and international airport with flights to just about everywhere.

(I would not include KC on the list of most interesting Midwestern cities though... sorry folks)

thursdaysd

My nephew, a Brit about the same age as the OP, really liked KC. Would like to move there....

simpsonc510

Interesting, thursdaysd....... I go to KC at least twice a year, but I don't find it as "interesting" as, say, Chicago and/or St Louis and/or Nashville, etc. But, as I mentioned, my Italian friends love owning a house in KC, even though they only visit maybe 4-5 times a year, for 10 days or so each time. Their neighborhood is very nice and the neighbors do a tremendous job of helping them keep tabs on their beautiful home when they are back in Italy.

thursdaysd

simpson - I think the attraction may have been the people as much as the city. Have never been myself, but enjoyed Chicago much more than I expected on a too brief visit last year, and put it on the revisit list. (Actually, prefered it to NYC, shhh.)

simpsonc510

(me, too!!...shhhhh) (I also like BOS over NYC)

Yes, the folks in KC are just nice helpful caring folks. It's the neighbors that keep my Italian friends from looking for a house elsewhere. Their neighbors have pretty much all been to visit Italy!