Best USA Site - Don't Miss This
 

Everyone knows that there are lots of great things to see and do in America. My wife and I are talking about driving across the USA from Maryland to California and back. Any suggestions about what we should not miss on our trip?

Sometimes, it's possible to pose a question so broad that it can't be answered. I think you succeeded!

Yes, very broad. However, you should not miss: Southern Utah, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Monument Valley, Navajo Reservation, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam. Or if on a Northern Route: Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, Dinosaur Nat Mon., Colorado Rockies, or come to Washington State and drive up to Sunrise on Mount Rainier then down Oregon's wonderful coast. Seriously now; I would head through Colorado to Yellowstone then south through Utah to northern Arizona, then west through Death Valley to San Francisco. You will still miss much more than you will see. But writing about it makes me want to do it too! Sorry, I only know the West.

North of Utah or Southern Utah are both beautiful, you may want to drive through Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, etc. on your way to California. Drive the California coast and on your way home pass through southern Utah.

Fly to Denver and rent a car for starters!! Driving
through the great plains is a supreme waste of time.
Whitewater rafting in Colorado. MESA VERDE!! Grand Canyon. Bryce Canyon. Zion. Yellowstone is iffy, but Grand Tetons are gorgeous.
Cannon Beach, Oregon. Seattle. Vancouver. San Francisco. Napa Valley. San Juan mountains drive from Durango to Ouray, Colorado.

Avalanche beer at the Breckenridge Brewery (Breckenridge, Colorado).

East of the Mississippi--Kentucky is OK. Not much else there!!

Nancy, spoken like a true westerner. There are lots of beautiful places to see and fun things to do in the middle of this country. First, pass up Kansas if at all possible. That truly is a flat boring place. Oklahoma has terrific scenery, with its bright red dirt. Stop in Oklahoma City for the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Fun! The Ozarks of Arkansas are quite lovely too. Or go farther north thru Iowa and stop in the Amana Colonies. Then travel thru South Dakota and don't miss the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. Truly historic. In Utah, Ogden and/or Provo are great places to explore the nearby mountains and are both close to the Great Salt Lake, another stop for any American. A "must" tho, is to stay in Lake Tahoe. Try to stay at a campground on the Lake. It's the most beautiful spot in the country, I think!

The good news:
Four Corners: The "CENTER OF THE SCENIC SOUTHWEST". Only location in US where you can place your hands & feet in four different States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah). Not much to see here but is a point of interest (can see Native Americans 'scalping' everyone else - financially). On the map draw a circle with the Four Corners as the center with a radius of about 250 miles - include Albuquerque & Colo Spgs. Within this circle lies the most spectacular scenery in the southwest!

The bad news:
You can spend years trying to see everything within this circle.

To the family planning to drive across the U.S.: If you haven't read it, pick up John Steinbeck's, "Travels with Charley." Steinbeck made such a trip in the 60's with his poodle, Charley. Obviously, the highways and biways have changed dramatically but it's a wonderful book describing their experiences along the way. Safe journey.

DO NOT MISS: The Black Hills and the Badlands (S. Dakota), Thermopolis, home of the world's largest natural hotsprings ( stinky, but so relaaaaaaxing)(Wyoming), Grand Teton Nat'l Park, go horse back riding and rafting (Wyoming), and The Big Sur (drive down the coast south of San Francisco, it is AMAZING!!!), and The Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, CA, just below the Big Sur.


Hope you have a blast!!!

I don't know how far south you are planning on traveling, but as a Southern gal I would highly recommend that you get yourselves on over to Tennessee for some of the most beautiful country in the US. Almost any region in the state would be worth a trip; the Great Smoky Mtns. with its rushing creeks and clear fresh air; Lookout Mtn. in Chattanooga with Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the alpine slide at Raccoon Mtn.; the beautiful rolling hills of Franklin, Lynchburg (go see how they make Jack Daniels whiskey while there) and the thrills in Nashville at Opryland theme park and the Grand Ole Opry. Or Memphis, with the blues and the Peabody hotel and Elvis' Graceland. Tennessee really lives up to the Southern hospitality thing.

Angie,
Surprise!! I'm a Midwesterner!! Things to do in the Midwest--Cedar Point, Chicago, Kings Island, Cincinnati, Cleveland--Rock "n Roll Hall of Fame, etc., etc. However, I love the west--maybe because it's different and prettier!

Don't miss Montana. What a gorgeous place! We went white-water rafting down the Flathead river and had a blast. Also, I recommend hiking in Glacier National Park. Unbelieveable! Also check out Grand Tetons, Yosemite, and Bryce Canyon. I was somewhat disappointed by Yellowstone.

Everyone is right. I have lived in the west for 10 years but would not miss the adventure of travelling the Outer Banks (ferries etc) of NC as well as seeing Glacier in Montana. I would like to offer a little out of the way spot in UT which might pique your interest for the unusual. The major parks are beautiful but extremely crowded in the summer. There is a small state park in UT off I-70 about 30 mi south on Hwy 24. Take a right onto a dirt road for 7 miles. Goblin Valley State Park is a magical spot for quiet hiking. Early am or late pm is the most colorful. Stay in Green River UTand have a burger and beer at Ray's Tavern. All the riverats gather here after a day rafting. I would suggest you read Blue Highways by William Least Moon.

Here is my suggestion...drive south on I-95. When you get to I-10 head west. You will go through New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso. When you get to New Mexico, head north to Albuquerque. Then go northwest to Durango, Colorado (and ride the train to Silverton). Then head to the Grand Canyon via Route 666 and Four Corners. After viewing the Canyon (south rim) head South to Flagstaff and get on I-40 and work your way to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, etc. Then drive up to Northern California then Oregon, Washington, then over to Idaho and Montana.
Whew....I am starting to get dizzy. Umm...go to some parks and stuff. Highlights...New Orleans (Nawlins), San Antonio, and Durango.

Jeanne, spoken like a true southerner! It would be a shame to be in the area of the Smoky Mtns. and not take a drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway. Also, Asheville, NC is a delightful small city.

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! ALL THAT WAY AND NOT GO HALF A DAY MORE AND SEE SEATTLE?! GET A GRIP KIDS. WASHINGTON AND OREGON HAVE W/O A DOUBT SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS ON EARTH, NO LIE. AND YOU PASS RIGHT BY MT. ST HELENS ON THE WAY, YOU CAN SEE IT FROM I-5 FOR GOSH SAKES, ITS THAT CLOSE! BELIEVE ME FOLKS YOU WILL BE SORRY IF YOU DONT GO THE EXTRA MILE. ANYWAY, HAVE FUN WHATEVER YOU DO.
G.E.