I'l vote AGAINST LA--I can't imagine touring there. You will absolutely need a car, there is very little to see unless you want to tour the studio's back lots, and the atmosphere is one of a giant suburb. Tackier than LV.<BR><BR>DC and SF are great ideas. Seattle could be very fun, especially if you work in a day or two on the coast, exploring the only rainforest in N America. I really like Boston, but agree that it is very similar to NYC and Chicago, for tourist purposes.

How lovely to travel together! If you've seen the northeast, and American cities, I'd highly recommend a change of pace - such as the American southwest. How about Las Vegas and Santa Fe? If the east coast is easier, I'd recommend New Orleans and St. Augustine, FL or Charleston, SC. Just don't do these configurations in the middle of summer! Spring or fall, as you indicate, would be perfect. Enjoy!

Definitely consider Santa Fe and Seattle (and Vancouver too if Canada is an option). If you're out west, add Denver to the list.<BR><BR>Let us know what you decide!

I'd suggest Los Angeles with visits to surrounding areas such as Santa Barbara (absolutely gorgeous) and out to the desert perhaps to Palm Springs/Palm Desert. I'd also tie this in with a trip to Las Vegas for a couple of nights. We did this trip during a 9 day visit to Southern California last year. We've also visited SF but enjoyed Southern Cal more. I hope you have a great vacation to the US.

Great ideas. Thanks all. We got some fine suggestions from the forum for Chicago (see 'Walks in Chicago', also for my debriefing), so hoping your advice will be just as good.<BR>Will certainly have a good look at San Jose, Monterey, Carmel, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Seattle, Denver, Southern California.

1st choice - Washington DC (my former home)<BR><BR>2nd choice - New Orleans definitely a walking/streetcar city with culture!

Mark: Nice deflection of the pro-San Jose/anti-San Francisco element on this board. Everyone will just have to judge San Francisco on their own visit because the trolls are bent on sending everyone to the burbs.<BR><BR>I think it would be great to see something very different from where you have already been. I like Charleston, SC and think Santa Fe and Las Vegas are definitely experiences very different from Europe or NE US. Sedona is also another Arizona possibility. <BR><BR>I have not been to San Antonio, Texas or Memphis, TN but have had good recommendations for visits.<BR>

Katie, What pro San Jose/Anti SF element are you talking about? I think that people are giving their honest opinion about SF and also offering Mark some alternatives to SF since his Dad has already been there. San Jose and the surrounding area offers lots for a visitors, and a city of 1 million people, which San Jose is, I would not be consider to be a suburb.

I recently moved out of San Jose after 25 years. I can't imagine a WORST tourist destination. I hate it.

Katie/Belinda, I think that Mark should be allowed to make his own decision about where to go on vacation. You should not be posting your biased opinion to be confusing Mark. If you happen not to like San Jose, please stay away, but do allow others the opportunity to enjoy the city.<BR><BR>Mark, Please disregard the nasayers. San Jose does have a lot to offer for tourists. Sorry that you have to be exposed to this arguing.

Vegas!! Vegas!! Vegas!!!<BR><BR>Trust me, you won't be sorry!!

To Carl: Are you for real? Since when are Katie and Belinda not allowing Mark to make his own decision about where to go on vacation? I wasn't aware they had that kind of power over him. Are they physically restraining him?<BR><BR>If you go back and read the original post, Mark is clearly asking for ideas. In other words, he wants opinions. Guess what, Katie and Belinda offered opinions. Of course they're biased. Most opinions are. And guess what else, Mark is free to disregard them. And yours. Oh, and since when is your opinion any more unbiased or valid?<BR><BR>The only one arguing here is you, Carl.

Madge/Katie/Belinda or whatever name you prefer,<BR> <BR>You are offering opinions that are not helpful to Mark. By saying that you hate San Jose or that anyone who suggests visiting San Jose has something against San Francisco is not being helpful in any way. Also, Mark has stated that he would like to consider someplace other than San Francisco, since his Dad has already been there before.<BR>

How about Charleston, Savannah and some of the islands: Jekyll, St. Simons, Amelia and the St. Augustine

Hey, I'm not Katie or Madge! And I am just offering my opinion. You may think SJ is a fitting tourist destination. I'm simply saying that if you've been to Chicago and you've been to NYC, San Jose would hardly be the next destination I would consider. <BR><BR>And after living there for 25 years, I really don't like it. It's horribly crowded, people are pretty rude and there's just no there there. That said, there are a few things worth seeing. On my list would be the Rosecrution Museum, hmmmmmm.... I guess there's only one thing worth seeing.

Okay Belinda,<BR><BR>I am sorry that you do not like San Jose and I do hope that you have moved to a city that you enjoy more. having said that, NYC and Chicago also happen to be crowded, but that does not preclude them from being tourist destinations. There is far more to see and do in San Jose than just the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.

Well, I asked for opinions and I sure got them, even opinions on opinions. Absolutely no problem with differing views, it just shows how subjective things are. All your suggestions will help me to make up my own mind and I'm very grateful to you all.

Get away from the cities... Most Americans don't live in a city. You have to get away from major cities (far away) to see real American life,and some natural beauty.<BR>I would suggest any of the following:<BR>1) Adirondacks of New York State<BR>2) Vermont<BR>3) Cape Cod<BR>4) Maine<BR>5) Black Forest of Penn.

San Francisco, The Keys, New Orleans, Charleston/Savannah.

all the major cities suggested have different qualities, but for really different, new orleans leaps to mind.<BR><BR>both the french quarter and garden district are manageable on foot and are connected by a good trolley system.<BR><BR>the history is fascinating--a city w/ visible vestiges of spanish and french culture, plus a good dose of the american south. surprising history of black-white relations. right on the mississippi, w/ its own history and industry. also has its own distinctive styles of music and cuisine.<BR><BR>a little outside the city are stately antebellum plantation homes and estates, and haunting bayous and towns w/ their own french-canadian history and old french speakers.<BR><BR>