Best months to see America?
 

I am from Australia looking to travel all over the U.S. next year. What is February/March like? Weather, tourists, hotel prices etc. Any info would be greatly apppreciated.

It depends on where you are going. Feb/Mar are still very cold and snowy in the north. The Southern states and into California would be the best at that time of year, although we are having a snow event in Dallas right now so Feb. can be iffy anywhere.

The US is a pretty big place. You have asked a very broad question so can only give you a very general answer. Agree that it depends on where you are going in the US. At that time of year, the midwest, east and northeast could be quite cold with possible snowstorms. It could also be cold and clear. California, the southwest and the south would have generally nicer weather. It is not the general tourist/vacation season so you won't run into many tourists except in the real warm weather areas and possibly some crowded areas around the national holidays. Since it is not tourist/vacation season for most people, hotel prices should be pretty good with many specials available. Hope you have a great visit.

Feb/March would be a good time to see the South/South-West..making CAlifornia the last place you arrive at in March.<BR>The NorthEast/West is wet,cold and dreary at that time of year.

The BEST months to see America would probably be May and June, or even June and July (the 4th of July is pretty special just about anyplace in the US)

At that time of year, you would find great skiing in Colorado, Utah etc and that might be something you might like to try as part of your itinerary.<BR>

Susan:<BR><BR>To be honest with you. I'd skip all the major cities and concentrate on small towns. There are alot of good, out of the way places in America that aren't around concrete. I live in SW PA and one day would like to take some back roads and find funny touristy places in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, this list goes on. <BR><BR>I'd suggest June, July and August since you would only needs a light cover-up for nights and you would not have to pack much to keep warm.

I think the best months for travel in the US are Sept and Oct. The weather is at it's most predictable, and the children are back to school. Second choices are May and June. Half our country would be terribly bleak Feb/March. March is simply mud month. And the south is unbearable in August.<BR>

Thanks to everyone who responded. I am planning to see L.A., Yosemite NP, New York, Boston, D.C., Charleston(SC) and Miami. Although from what i've heard June/July sounds like a better time to go. What is the weather etc like at this time in the places I mentioned?

The weather in Charleston and DC will be uncomfortable in July, maybe even in June. For the cities you named, spring would be better than early summer. Start in the South in April or May and then do the northern places (Boston, NY, Yosemite) in May or June. Miami and LA don't really matter, seasonally. <BR><BR>The advantage of April and May is not only weather, but you will be ahead of the usual tourist season with accompanying crowds and prices. School kids get out for summer vacation some time between mid-May and late June (earlier in the south, later in New England).

I would pick either early to mid-May (avoid the labor day crowds around the weekend of May 27) or early October. My new favorite month for traveling is October because of cooler weather and lower crowds. You might want to take a look at my Charleston travelogue at www.oneeyed.homestead.com (went in October of 1999). I am planning a week-long second trip there in May of this year, so look for another travelogue by around mid-June.

Wow talk about personal preference. I would go to the CA locations in September because the weather is great and the crowds are low. Others wouldn't want to go to Yosemite then becaise the waterfalls are not as spectacular in Septemebr. There is just so much more to that place than the waterfalls and in the fall the meadows and foliage are simply beautiful.

You can also consider attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans Louisiana. Next year (2002) it is going to fall on March 4th. It is a great event. I am sure you will have a blast. Generally the festivities for it start two weeks in advance.

Late April and early May for nearly any of those locations is a good bet. Weather in cold states is in the 60's or 70's, and the hot states like Florida have yet to become unbearable. Plus, kids still in school, good hotel prices, baseball season has started, yet still some snow in the mountains.

Dave, a lot depends on what part of Florida she's going to. Being a peninsula, southern Florida (including Miami) doesn't get the extremes that other places do.<BR><BR>The record- high temperatures for June, July, and August:<BR><BR>Miami: 98, 98, 98 <BR>Jacksonvlle FL : 103, 103, and 102<BR>Charleston, SC: 104, 104, 102<BR>Washington DC: 101, 104, 105<BR>Boston, MA: 100, 103, and 102<BR><BR>Of course, these records don't reflect average highs nor do they factor-in humidity. But the point is that you can't just go by latitude.<BR><BR>

For New York: October is the absolute best month. April, May, June, September are nice. December nice only because of the Christmas energy of the city.<BR><BR> For New York: July is the absolute worst, August is the second worst. When the heat is bad it is beyond what you can imagine or remember, extremely humid as well as being hot. AND remember, the only way to see New York (really) is by walking long distances very fast, with some unavoidable standing in lines in the beating sun.