Alaska and 3 weeks in US
 

I am planning an Alaskan trip in May 2012 followed by a 3 week visit to the US. Any ideals? I am opened to suggestions. My wife and I are keen on sights and history!

That is a pretty general request. How about some details first? What have you thought about so far?
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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Hi Vic,

Personally I tend to overstretch in most of my trips. If I have my way I may go to New York first and then work myself back to Vancouver/Seatle for the Alaskan cruise and then exit there. As the US is so big, I do not think I can cover much even with 3 weeks. I am prepared to buy a "Visit USA pass" from airline to cut down travelling time. It is really the best sights within a smooth route that I am seeking advise! I have looked at some guide books but still at a loss! Please help.

Rayand

Sorry, but this is still just too vague. The US is too big to see in 3 weeks, and you know that. And New York to Seattle covers way, way too much ground. You have to narrow it down a bit before anybody can comment in any useful way.

Pick a couple of areas that are of interest to you. And let us know what KIND of sights you want to see..urban? natural? historic? cultural? Once you've done that, perhaps we can offer advice about how to string them together and other things nearby that might also interest.

Hi,

Just to mention some places I would like to see: New york, New Hamphire, Massechusett, Naigara Falls, Montreal, Smokey Mountains, Montana, Houston, New Orleans and of course Seattle. We are mainly interested in historical, natural and cultural sights.
Hope this helps.

Raymond

Are you taking an Alaskan cruise or are you doing a land trip in Alaska? If it is a cruise, it would be great to spend at least another week in Alaska. It is a spectacular place to visit. You don't mention Vancouver but Vancouver is a beautiful city.

With only 3 weeks, you probably should concentrate your visit to either the Western part of the US--that would be my choice, or the Eastern areas you are interested in seeing.

I am thinking you are going to have to eliminate Houston, New Orleans and the Smokies

If you are planning on using only public transportation, then you might want to limit yourself to mostly city areas. For the east coast if you fly into NYcity and spend a few days there, you could take the train to either Boston or Washington DC or to cut down travel time, Boston to NY to DC. All of these have subways to get around within/near the city.

There are several threads here on all three. If you want some non city travel, take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown on Cape Cod.

If you want a west coast trip, using public transportation San Francisco and perhaps Seattle would do.

Hi,

my husband and I will make a 3 weeks trip to Alaska (cruise), Washington State & Oregon this summer. I also think, more will be too much for this "short" time.

Except, you have a private jet. ;-) We only have a rental car. :)

Make sure the Alaska cruise is at the end of your trip. It can be cold in Alaska even in June. I expect your idea is a been there seen that of the US. You will be spending a ton of time in airports and flying over our country but it can be done. I would not suggest it because I understand just how big the US is and how busy the airports are but here is a plan. I would start in NY, then fly to Manchester and rent a car and drive to MA, fly to Buffalo and see the falls, next to Montreal (you do know that is in Canada), next fly to Knoxville (you will visit some other city as direct flights to Knoxville are few) and rent a car to visit the Smokies, next on to New Orleans, and Houston, then it gets a bit tricky Montana is big, if its Yellowstone you want to see, you might want to fly to Jackson WY and drive from there (I like at least a week in the Tetons and Yellowstone, you would have a day), and finally on to Seattle. Good luck.