4 to 5 weeks in the USA
 

Thanks to all who replied to our previous message. <BR> <BR>We now plan to spend two to three weeks in and around California, arriving LA, then driving the following route, San Diego, Scottsdale, Grandcanyon, Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, Monterey, San Simeon, and back to LA. At the moment we are unsure wether to hire a car and stay in motels, or whether to hire a motorhome. Any advice? How much will car or motorhome hire cost? How much should we expect to spend on motel accomodation for a family of 4(2 adults 2 kids 7&9)?Is the route we have chosen sensible? <BR> <BR>Previous suggestions from people mentioned that it would be a good idea to see the Rockies. Where would it be best to go? Denver? <BR> <BR>We intend flying to Florida and spending a week at Disney World, Space Centre etc. and then working our way up the coast to New York. Any suggestions for an itinerary?

Your west coast itinerary sounds like a good one. If you anticipate staying overnight in Yosemite it's imperative that you make reservations immediately. Also plan to call San Simeon a week or so prior to your arrival there (or at least several days before) and reserve your tickets to pick up at the gate. The tours frequently sell out early in the day for any given day during the summer. Allow plenty of time for the drive down the Pacific Coast highway prior to arriving at San Simeon. It's a slow road and very scenic - we underestimated the time needed and almost missed our tour. <BR> <BR>My personal opinion of motorhomes is that they're great if you plan to spend a lot of time in them, especially when you may stay for 4 or 5 days in one location. Noe the downside... they are unwieldy to drive, difficult to park, have extremely poor gas mileage and don't lend themselves to flexibility when you're traveling many places and making daily stopss. Additionally, if you stay overnight in an RV park with sewer hookups, electric etc., expect to pay $18 - 28 per night. Many folks I've spoken to who've rented them had mechanical problems at some point that caused a 3 - 4 day delay in their trip. If you rent a car from a national agency (Hertz, Avis, Budget etc.), they can have a replacement car to you wihtin hours in the event of a problem. Additionally, you can rent in one city/state and then drop off in another, right at the airport. This is often NOT the case for RV's. The US has countless discount chain motels that are clean and acceptable with rates ranging from $40 - 90 per night depending on location and the particular chain. I could see the advantage of perhaps renting a mini-van. This would allow much more room to bring the food and gear for making your own lunches or picnic dinners, space for the kids (or adults!) to stretch out a bit more, etc.. The aforementioned motels will typically have two full (double) beds per room. There are several different chains with the word "suites" in their name. These will have a living room/kitchenette with a couch that folds out into a double bed (for the kids) and also a separate "bedroom" for the parents. Depending on amenities and location, expect a suites motel to cost $90 - $130 per night. Please note that when you go into a major city (e.g. NYC) none of these prices apply. <BR> As far as an east coast itinerary... whew! There's so much to see! Much depends on the amount of time you have available and whether you prefer rugged natural areas or cities and historic sites. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Skyline Drive (I think they are in Virginia or West Virginia?) are very beautiful, as is the Nag's Head seashore area in North Carolina. The east coast has a wealth of historical areas of great beauty including Charleston SC, Savannah GA, Wilmington NC, "colonial" Williamsburg VA etc. . Seeing those leads you to Washington DC - can be brutally hot in the summer but worthwhile, particularly the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery and the memorials. Skip the Washington memorial - not worth the wait and the view's not all that good. Perhaps it is specific to our history as a country but I strongly suggest seeing the Vietnam memorial - a very emotional experience for such an understated design. NYC is (of course!) at the top of my list for places to see. NYC and all the possible activities there deserves its own post but I suggest searching and reading the archives of this forum before posting. There's a wealth of info already available and reading it will help you formulate questions specific to the needs and interests of your family.

A Mini-van (if that's what you opt for)for the type of traveling you will be doing would be great. When we travelled with our 3 kids, we always took a cooler along for sandwiches, fruit & drinks-sometimes we'd stop in a store buy the essentials & drinks, ask if there was a near by park and then go there to eat. At lease the kids could get out and get some excercise. Now when we are "on the road" we look for motels that have "free" breakfast. Most have coffee, milk, cereal, rolls, bananas, apples, juice. Some it is just rolls, juice & coffee. It does help cut down the cost of traveling. If you get travel books like Fodor's (or Frommer's)to travel by, you'll find off the beaten track places, approximate prices on hotels/restaruants, and walking & driving tours to follow. Fodor's books got us around Costa Rica, two Hawaiian islands and recently New Orleans with great information. Enjoy our country when you come--some day we would love to get to yours.

East coast: Savannah, Charleston, Nags Head. Savannah is beautiful and charming and Charleston is the same on a bigger scale. The outerbanks between Cape Hatteras and the Virginia border offer some of the best coastline in the US. Numerous small towns and miles of untouched beaches. If you're going in summer, you'll need reservations if you want to stay near the beach. <BR> <BR>Drive right past Myrtle Beach no matter what anyone tells you. <BR>

<BR>Hi - skip the RV! Get a rental car or a minivan, and you'll find plenty of inexpensive, safe, convenient motels to stay in. If you get an RV and use it the way it's intended, you'll have to bring bedding, towels (and then look for laundromats), kitchen supplies. If you are thinking of an RV just because it's bigger, it's not worth the cost and inconvenience. They're awful to park! We did this years ago with a young teenager, and I deeply regretted it just by the second day!!

Thanks for getting back to us. I remember responding to your earlier post. The Blue Ridge Parkway drive is in North Carolina and Virginia. The southern end of it is southwest of Asheville, NC. I thought you were coming in the winter months. If so, I would drive up the coast of North Carolina instead of the mountain route. The outer banks are a unique aspect of the state. You will see one of the less built-up seashores of this quality in the U.S., and there are many light houses to visit (although the most famous at Cape Hatteras is in the process of being moved now to protect it from future erosion). Definitely visit Charleston, South Carolina too. If you are into history or want to teach your children more about American history, try to get to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to see the most famous battlefield of the American Civil War. Also, I highly recommend the Museum of American History and the Air and Space Museum in Washington. Have a great trip.

If you're going to come to Gettysburg, be sure to stop by the Gettysburg Brewing Company and Pub on York Street (right off the square). Great beer and good food in a non-smoking environment. We love this place! <BR>

I agree with everyone regarding the mini-van. Also, driving an RV in the mountains (near Yosemite and if you do the Rockies) might be more than you want to bargain with. Slow going up hills, not to mention potential high winds and that mess. Hope you enjoy your trip! Sounds Great!!!