Hi

My sister and I are planning a trip to the US from the UK and would like some recommendations for the best city to visit. we'd rather not New York/Orlando/Las Vegas as they seem a typically tourist orientated . We're in our 30's.

Give us a few hints -- When? How many days? What sort of budget? What sorts of things do you enjoy? (Sorry, but equating NYC w/ Orlando and Las Vegas is just wrong on so many levels)

7-10 days budget approx £1000 GBP each. Looking for night life, culture, and I realise a lot of people love NYC both sides of the ocean it's just not for us for the same reasons I stay out of London.

So you want to visit a city but don't like cities? New York City is not tourist oriented, people actually live and work there. Any city in the US will have tourists.

You might look at Washington. All the museums are free. It's easy to get around, but there will be tourists.

New York is about as tourist oriented as London (that is, not) . . . oh, I see you don't like London either.

I would suggest Cincinnati, and Dayton Ohio, and maybe a stop in Reading, Pennsylvania. Cincinnati is slightly touristy, but the others are pristine!

I like cities, I dislike London and being surround by British tourists. The whole reason we take foreign holidays is to experience something new or at least something different to what we are used to. It's not just about museums although Washington was on our list of possibles, it's about atmosphere.

Tell us a little more about your interests. Do you want to hike in any of the US National Parks, sail on our rivers or seas, want a tropical location, snow or skiing??? The US is HUGE and quite diverse. We need more info in order to help you.

just to clarify my opinion of London was formed after many years of both living and working there.

I'd prefer trails either hiking or horse back, using the city as a base to get to them

Well doing trail rides out of a "city" is not realistic - unless your definition of "city: is really a pretty small town.

I don;t know what to do that will get you to a city with major sights that doesn;t have tourists. In fact, even the best sights in the countryside will be mobbed with tourists - although many more re likely to be american.

It would help to know when you re planning on traveling = since our climate is way more extreme than hat of the US - with scorching heat in much of the south and west in summer and very cold winters in the northern half of the country.

There are many places you can hike from - but smaller towns or national parks - not cities. Riding is another issue - and assuming you want english riding vs western your choices will be limited.

If you can clarify it would help.

Your budget (£1000 - $1500 pp) is awfully low for any major city. San Francisco for instance you'll probably need £60-£70 pp just for a decent/not posh hotel.

you'll probably need £60-£70 pp per night just for a decent/not posh hotel.

I can ride both english and western so not a problem, and the city is the best base due to not always having to be with my sister (who would rather enjoy shopping over hiking any day) I'm okay with having to drive somewhere and as for time of year until we've decided where we are going, we would look at weather for that region and then decide time of year. (Have relatives in Arizona who already warned us about the searing heat during the summer).
I have to reiterate I don't dislike tourists just British tourists..anyone who has had the unfortunate experience of visiting a destination where Brits are known to holiday will understand.

The budget is each and is for accommodation only - we have additional funds for spending

also just checked those prices for San Francisco, from my side it starts off at £38GBP for 3 star

San Francisco hotel prices vary greatly by time of year. Jan and Feb are low, sept and October are very high.

Will you be renting a car? To get to hiking ,trails etc, it will most likely be necessary.

What about Santa Fe New Mexico? History, trails, shopping, museums, great vistas.

Yes i'll be renting a car.

I genuinely hadn't considered at New Mexico thank you for your suggestion, i'll have a look.

Time of year is important factor here in NM.

You have put us in a bind. You are looking for night life and culture but are unwilling to consider the city that has more night life and culture than another other city in the US.

Do you like Barcelona?

HTtY

I am sorry, I should have said "hiring" a car.