fionna

Hi

Possibly making a trip to the USA (from UK) in July/August. We have to fly into Washington or Chicago (there is no choice on that one). Below follows our criteria, can you help?
2 adults and 1 teenager!
14-18 nights
lakes, scenery, hotels with pools etc

We would like to pick up a car and drive! We have already been to several states, and would like to see more! Where are the best places to visit around Washington DC/Chicago in our time limit. Obviously we don't want to be in the car all day, and would like to stop at one place for around 7 nights, so we get some repreive!

I have no idea what you have to offer! Please tell me.

Regards
fionna

Carrie

You can see quite a lot in 14-18 days....so I'd ask you 2 questions:
what states have you already been to, that is, what have you already done and seen that you won't want to duplicate;
and do you prefer to spend your time touring and seeing natural beauty or experiencing the 'personality' of particular cities, or are you of the museum/gallery/education oriented ilk?

Lots of possibilities depending on what you want from your trip. Let us know.

Donna F

If you fly into Washington you will have plenty of time to explore DC and drive the Skyline Drive along the Smokey Mountains. Start at the top in Luray and visit the caverns. As you head south you will also encounter a huge water park in North Carolina just over the border. You have plenty of time to drive the whole length but you can decide where along the length would be an ideal area in which to stay. There are lots of arts and crafts, there's lots of wilderness adventure opportunities.
We drove from Washington DC to Bowling Green Kentucky so we could visit Mammoth Caves and the Corvette Assembly Plant which had a great public tour. I think you have a lot of possibilities to choose from.

fionna

Carrie

Hi! Outdoor things probably, but not whitewater rafting or camping. Lakes, luxury log cabins appeal! Also, have heard of Virginia Beach - what is this?

ncgrrl

Hi fionna,

If you want to come to a beach, please head south from Virginia Beach. I really don't want to get bashed by VA tourism people, but the NC Outer Banks are lovely and HOT!!! in July/August. It is also the high season for beach vacations.


If you are into outdoorsy things, you should try for early morning or evening activities (like a baseball game). Plan indoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

It's HOT!!! (heat and humidity that be a problem to some) most places from DC south. I'm not joking about the heat and humidity, it can be brutal. Drink a lot of water, start drinking before you feel thirsty, and learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Donna F's tour sounds wonderful, but I don't know of the waterpark.

Don't let discourage you from visiting, just be prepared for the weather. Enjoy your trip, no matter what you decide to do.

Jeanette

fionna, if you love lakes and deluxe log cabins, then you may opt for Chicago and Lake Michigan resorts on the Michigan side. NOT like the ocean, which you might have already experienced. This area is not as frequented by those who hail from the UK. That time of year has views of the sky at night that you don't get to see near major cities. Near Sleeping Bear Dunes and as you go North to the Upper Pennisula, there is tons to do. You could do 2 days in Chicago and 12 going around the lake and coming back the Wisconsin side. But keep in mind that in 14 days you could stay 6 or 7 in one spot without doing tons of driving, and still have a leisurely go all around the lake. We did this several years ago and followed all the light houses. Michigan has a light house tour guide that is good. Some surprises along the way were Traverse City which I thought was a gem and Door County in Wisconsin, a fisherman's dream. Also keep in mind that some of the worse driving in the USA exists in both places; DC area/ Maryland was rated the worst on a report I read, while Chicago into Indiana is notorious on summer weekends also. It depends on what you like to see. If you want to see lakes, etc., hotels with pools etc. than Michigan can not be beat. It's totally different than the ocean front tourist areas of the east coast.

tomst

If your final destination is Chicago, get out of there as fast as possible and head for northern Wisconsin, Michigan or Minnesota. The north woods is very beautiful and full of lakes, streams and cool fresh air. There are probably hundreds of resorts or cabin accomodations from very small and rustic to large full scale resorts. Head a little further west and see the great plains and Black hills of South Dakota. Eye-popping scenery.

I'll

If you like lakes and scenery, you might enjoy flying into Chicago - spending a few days there and then renting a car and driving along the shores of Lake Michigan. There are lots of small towns and resorts along the way.

One suggestion would be to stop in Ludington or Manistee (or Traverse City -
although it is VERY touristy) then cross on the ferry over to Manitowoc and drive back to Chicago down the western shore in Wisconsin.

Depending on how much driving you want to do, you could go further north to Michigan's upper peninsula - which is lovely, but might be more of a drive
than you're looking for.

fionna

Hi

Thank you all so much. I can now go away and check out the locations in books etc. It should make great reading. Just one other thing! We do like it hot! Wondering if the lakes would be too cool?

Also, why not VA Beach? What is the difference between this and NC beach areas? Which locations of NC in particular?

ncgrrl

I'm the one who suggested the NC beaches over the VA beaches. The Virginia Beach (town)/Norfolk/Hampton Roads area is a big city area. Many people live and work in the area and the U.S. Navy has one of its largest bases in the area.

The Outer Banks of NC is less developed and has more of a "beach" feel. If you have a map of Virginia and North Carolina you can see the NC land is a barrier island connected by a bridge to the mainland. The Virginia Beach area is a booming metropolitan area.

There are more wildlife/protected areas on the Outer Banks and the feeling is calmer than that of Virginia Beach.

The area around Nags Head is popular and has many housing options. If you do come for a visit you should also see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (it was moved inland a year or two ago), the wild horses of Corolla, and Ocracoke.

If you like it hot, you've picked a good place. The water is warm and good for swimming and other water activities. If you SCUBA, some of the best wrecks are off the coast of NC.

Please do a search on this site for other people and their thoughts of the Outer Banks and Virginia Beach.