jule22

I have 4 weeks (most of it in August 07) to travel thru the US before I go home (I am a Au Pair). Whats the cheapest way to see a lot? And what should I see for sure?
Thanks

GoTravel

By train explore the Northeast. Washington DC, New York City, and Boston.

Stay at Hostels. Are you a student?

jule22

I am here on a stdent/work Visa. I took some classes but most of it I am here as a nanny

nytraveler

What you MUST SEE dpends on your intrests.

I would agree with Boston, NYC and DC - and these can all easily be seen by Amtak. On a budget you will need to stay in hostels.

Of other things it depends on your interests:

California and a couple of national parks (but this is hard to do without renting a car) - since public transit is not easy. You might consider looking at a tour (but won;t be cheap).

And defiitely fly in between - will cost no mre tha bus if you shop carefully. And train is simply not an option (big $ and takes forever).

(Don;t reco FL, the south or the southwest in August - since the weather will be truly brutal.)

capxxx

The cheapest way would be by Greyhound Bus (and for Peter Pan in the northeast). If you are from outside the U.S. you can get a pass for unlimited travel. But it is an awful way to travel -- often uncomfortable, with some nasty bus stations (and some ok ones).

The train, or perhaps renting a car for 4 weeks, is your next best option, moneywise.

I think a trip along the east coast, from Maine to Florida, even, would be great. You can combine cities and small towns, and see great and varied scenery.

Another other option would be a grand tour of the American west -- Grand Canyon to California Coast, something like that.

Ag3046

Go to Lonely Planet website. Look for the Thorn Tree posting boards. You will find many visitors with the same questions. www.lonelyplanet.com

trippinkpj

There are some tours (and a San Francisco hostel) through Green Tortoise:
http://www.greentortoise.com/san-fra...stel/index.php
Also see: http://www.hiayh.org/

Orcas

If you have a friend to go with and can swing it, you should rent a car and head west with camping gear - tent, sleeping bag, little stove, ice chest. Visit the major national parks - Yellowstone, Glacier, Mt. Rainier, Oregon Coast, Redwoods, San Francisco.

steviegene

With a month I would rent a car and go cross country.
Where are you starting from?

jule22

I lived to years in Virgina but I was planning to start from Minneapolis,MN.

Orcas

Minneapolis is the perfect place to start heading west. I did a similar trip in my mid-twenties starting in Chicago and driving west. I flew back from California. It was the trip of a lifetime - six weeks from national park to national park, sleeping in a tent and in the back of the car on occasion. Europe has great cities and culture, but the US west excels in scenic wilderness with extraordinary beauty. Don't miss this chance.

steviegene

Start from MN...
....head west through the badlands of the Dakotas, and stop at Mount Rushmore. Go through Wyoming, Jackson Hole and down into Colorado. See Rocky Mountain National Park, Denver and then head south. See Crested Butte and then the famous San Juan Skyway - including Telluride, Ouray and Durango.
Divert into the bottom half of Utah to see Arches national park, moab and natural bridges.
Head back into the bottom corner of Colorado to see Mesa Verde, then head south through the 4 corners onto Arizona to see Monument Valley, Grand Canyon , The Gigantic Crater, Canyon de Chelley. Then head east to the petrified forest and into New Mexico.
See Albequerque and Santa Fe. Then start heading east.
This is just one example of an outwest roadtrip. There are so many things to see! But you should also do what interests you. If you are a city person go to the east coast and see Washington DC, New York and Boston.
If you have always dreamed of California do a roadtrip from Seattle to San Diego.
This country is huge! So you have to decide what appeals to you the most.

Hazelmn

Steviegene has a nice little itinerary written up, but I'd make just one suggestion. I think the route through the South Dakota badlands and Mt. Rushmore is overrated. I'd do the route through the North Dakota Badlands, which includes Teddy Roosevelt National Park and Medora, and then continue through Montana to Yellowstone. From there, you can pick up Steviegene's itinerary in Wyoming.

REgarding cost - It is usually cheapest to rent from a non-airport location like an Enterprise. Overiously, shop around for a deal that won't charge you for mileage.

Car rental companies will often provide you a nice deal on a monthly rental. And, if your trip has any chance of being a loop, you might save money by returning to the same location.

Hazelmn

Forgot to mention, Jule22, read the book "Blue Highways". Classic travel journal that is now about 35 years old. You'll get the road-trip bug right away.

Since you're leaving from Minneapolis, I trust that you've been to northern Minnesota or Wisconsin's lake country, and the Lake Superior shore. Would be a travesty to miss out on that since you are so close.

HonestAbe

Think fast: Do you like cities or scenery? Whatever your first response was, tailor your trip to that.

IF YOU LIKE CITIES: From Mpls, go east. Chicago should be the 1st stop, and one you spend some time in. From there, cruise down through the plains to Nashville, the home of country music. Meander through the Smokey Mountains, hitting Asheville the hippie hangout, and continue on down thorough South Carolina to Savannah. In Savannah and Charleston, you'll get a nice taste of our history. (if you feel you have an extra week.. go down to Key West, FL and see South Beach in Miami). Continue up the coast, saying hi to friends in DC and VA, and maybe spend a day or two in Philly. Now go to NYC, and don't skimp on time. Stick around until you're sick of it. Then up to Boston, maybe a couple days on the Maine coast, and head out.

IF YOU ARE A SCENERY PERSON: From Minnesota, hit the Badlands and Roosevelt National Park. Continue to Yellowstone and Teton Parks, or up to Glacier National Park in Montana. Then, go to the Pacific Northwest, seeing the coasts in Oregon and Washington, and go up to Victoria, BC, if your Visa allows you to. Continue on down the California coast... the Hardwoods, Napa VAlley, San Fran, Santa Barbara, and the Los Angeles. You haven't seen American until you've seen Venice Beach, hollywood, and Beverly Hills. Continue to Utah and see Bryce Canyon or Zion. Fly out of either Salt Lake City or Denver, or return your car to Minneapolis (you'll have a boring 16 hour drive through eastern CO, NE, and IA.)

I envy you. This will be a fun trip. Find a way to do it with a car. To save money, buy a tent and a sleeping bag, and camp out at safe, well-run, and populated campsites along the way.

HonestAbe

Forgot to mention that many colleges and universities rent their dorm rooms for very cheap during summer months. August is pushing it, but you might find some of the good deals, at least in cities were hotels would be spend, if you aren't a camper.

jule22

Thanks for all the suggestions, they all sound great. Think I will defenitiv take some of it (don't think I can do all in a month, wich is good to so I have to come back).