Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- United States (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/)

- - 6 weeks in USA (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/6-weeks-in-usa-31834/)

We are travelling to the States for 6 weeks in a month and are interested in your opinions on the best 6 cities to go to. Our experience is that we travel best when we spend a week in each city. We are arriving in LA and the only 2 places we have to go (family obligations) are Livingstone Montana and New York. We were going to get a motorhome (RV) but the cost for 5 weeks (we won't need it in New York and were planning to fly from LA after cruising around for 5 weeks)but the cost of doing this is MORE than flying and staying in motels. So, if you were arriving in LA and had 5 weeks before heading off to New York for a week, knowing what you know, what would you do? Thanks, David

I think you have to see San Francisco, driving there up the coast from L A. In L A you should of course do the fun things like the studio tours and Venice Beach. If you have a bit of extra cash to splurge, try the Ventana Inn {deets in Fodor's}. It is a special place with a really individual feel, set on the hills above the sea with separate cabins for rooms, jacuzzis and outdoor spas. The Grand Canyon and Death Valley are musts, especially the latter in my opinion. You can plot a route to take them in, together with the brilliant Las Vegas. I also love Palm Springs, even in the massively high temps. of July! Nice shops and eats and drinks to be had. I could go on and on. If you have children, they will love Florida. Try Sanibel as a peaceful and beautiful antidote to the thrills and spills of Miami and Orlando. {If you get to the latter, check out Winter Park, a nice village-like area of town.} Cape Cod and Boston are 2 great places too. There are plenty of guides on all of the above. If you did do these last 2 places, you would obv. need a bit more time on the east coast.

Five weeks in the US during October, with at least one stop in Livingston, Montana? Since you'll be in Montana, Yellowstone NP is an absolute MUST-SEE. I don't know if I'd spend a week there, but you could! After leaving Yellowstone, the city I would most recommend on your way to the East Coast is Chicago (great museums, ethnic neighborhoods, architechture, food). On the East Coast itself, I'd recommend Boston or Philadelphia, with the former preferred. How to go from LA to Yellowstone? That depends on whether your priority is scenic beauty or "cool" cities. If the latter, I'd go north from LA to San Francisco (via Hiway 1) and then on to Seattle, stopping at Redwoods NP, Crater Lake, and Mount Rainier on the way. If the former, you have two choices to get from LA to Yellowstone -- which I'll call the "Desert Route" and the "Sierra Route." In the former, go to the Grand Canyon; then north through Utah, seeing Zion, Bryce, and possibly Capitol Reef. Skip Salt Lake City unless you want hours of blatant prostletyzing. Then north into the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. This could include a trip to Las Vegas and/or Death Valley, but do NOT go to Vegas if it means skipping the Grand Canyon. For the latter, go to Sequoia NP, then Yosemite, Mount Lassen, and Crater Lake. The east to Yellowstone, and include a stop at Glacier NP. Depending on your interests, you'll find LOTS of what you're looking for.

Paul's suggestions above are super. I would recommend SF and then over to Montana, but realize that you'll just be at the beginning of our rainy season--it doesn't usually start until mid November, but then there was last year! Chicago is nice and then I would go to Boston. Have a great trip.

The foliage will be beautiful in New England. Once you get out of NYC, the drive to Boston should be very pretty. Or if you are sick of cities by then, go up thru Vermont. Burlington is a great small city on Lake Champlain. Portland Maine is a great small city on the ocean. Depends on whether you want to see countryside or do city things like museums, theatre. Have a great visit.

G'Day David- I'm from St. Louis and I must put in a good word for the midwest!! Here's a shopping list from St. Louis area (Middle-America, and a short trek from the great city of Chicago): Gateway Arch--- 630-ft tall monument to the westward expansion of this great country. Ride to the top, or tour the museum below. Hannibal, MO-- An hour-long drive north of town, to Mark Twains's boyhood home, museum and antique stores. Missouri Botanical Garden-- Beautiful year-round. Japanese Gardens, Climatron. A must-see! Anheuser-Busch Brewery-- Tasty history..drinkable culture! Graceland (for the Elvis fan)-- A 4-hour drive south to Memphis Tenn gets you to the Graceland Mansion and museum. St. Louis Zoo-- World-renowned...and free! Whatever you decide, we hope you enjoy your trip to the States, mate!

From what you told us, If I were you I would definitely drive north to San Francisco via Highway 1. You might consider going to Yosemite National Park.From San Francisco I would head towards Montana, possibly stopping at the suggested Crater Lake area. I would then go to Yellowstone National Park. Then I would go to Chicago. I would then head for New York and then the New England (Boston) area. A couple of years back we drove cross country. We had four weeks and saw so much. Do some research because the Southwest( Grand Canyon, New Mexico,Arizona, Utah area) is also beautiful. It all depends on what you want to see. Write to me if you would like more info.

If you are spending any time on the east coast, definitely go to Washington, D.C. There are tons of things to see and do, especially for a family. Also try to get down to Williamsburg, Virginia for a good, condensed version of early colonial life in the U.S. Good Luck and have a Great Time!

From LA, I would go through Death Valley to Las Vegas to Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in Arizona and then Bryce and Zion Canyons in Utah and north to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and to your stay in Montana. I would definitely end the trip with Washington DC...that is worth a week in itself.

As everyone else said, Boston is a must. In my opinion, it's probably the prettiest city in the US with a possible exception for San Fran. Tour the waterfront, the North End (little Italy), Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall, Beacon Hill, the Boston Common, and Back Bay. Get a great perspective on the city from the John Hancock Tower observatory. Go to Harvard Square. Visit Cape Cod. And try at least a one day excursion to Martha's Vineyard. Good luck!