marvelousmouse

Oh, you can always find a laundry service, usually one associated with the hotel- I meant the cheap way- many hotels I've stayed at do not have a guest laundry room. I do not like spending the money to send my stuff out and my sisters would rather pack extra outfits than use the laundry service. I doubt the OP's luggage size is due to business wear- many of my relatives just insist on packing all of the clothing and shoes they MIGHT want to wear. Usually it's not necessary, but I have yet to convince them that they can wear the same outfit multiple times lol. Who would know other than your travel companions?

nilminus

Thanks for your feedback. By the way, I am Greek. I am visiting Sydney for a big work project To answer your questions:

Yes, I am definitely amenable to flying.

Regarding LA, I don't mind, I don't have budget limitations; this is once in a lifetime trip so I have mentally prepared myself to spend as much as it takes to make the trip worthwhile.
I could even take 3day hop on hop off tour in 3 days in Los Angeles.

Regarding Yosemite - LA, I haven't researched public transportation to be honest and it seems too complicated. There is a chance I might skip Yosemite (although I would definitely would love to see Half Dome and El Capitan), since in August, traffic jams are common and the extremely hot weather doesn't help.

Regarding LA accommodation, I don't have any plans whatsoever. I just want to experience as much as possible and see as many "attractions" as I can. This is why I usually opt for hopon-hopoff tours; it hasn't failed me so far.

Budget is not an issue. This is once in a lifetime trip. I have been saving for so many years for such a trip.

Bottom line: I will probably use a 3-day tour to visit GC, Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley etc before my conference.
After my conference, ~3-5 days in SF (depending on whether I will skip Yosemite)
Subsequently, 4 days LA (3 days big bus tours, 1 day Universal studios)
5 days for the Big Apple NYC.

Also, I like marvelousmouse logical approach: exchanging the NPs with another city. However, I always had in mind that NYC, SF and LA are the big 3 target cities to visit. Let's suppose I skip all NPs, which city would you recommend as a strong USA representative to a poor European like myself?

thursdaysd

Washington DC.

Boston. Charleston and Savannah. New Orleans.

But they will all be very hot and humid in August.

Since you'll be on the west coast, how about Vancouver, even though it's in Canada?

nytraveler

I would definitely put DC as # 3 - ahead of LA (which I don't really care for - just a bunch of suburbs strung together - not a city at all in hte european sense).

I htink seeing the national parks in the west is a great idea - but not sure if it's really doable at all without a car - and if you don;t want to be there when it it mobbed and hot - may e not a good idea.

Sorry -, but I have done a number of congresses/conventions in Vegas at several times of year - and for those representing companies business suits are still required (at least in the medical/pharmaceutical category - possibly different if you are doing farm equipment of similar). (We once saw a bunch of guys from a farm convention and they did look like they had come straight from a barn - that doesn;t fly if you are representing mega pharma companies.)

janisj

Yes, the national parks are definitely doable without a car. Yosemite either via Amtrak or on a coach tour. The Utah parks and Grand Canyon via tours from Vegas.

And while Washington DC is wonderful, I wouldn't send my worst enemy there in august.

jamie99

Not sure how you are going to see 3 National Parks and Monument in 3 days, I would drop Monument, it is out of the way.
Wish you would reconsider the car, the HoHo tours take a long time and they only go in one direction.

thursdaysd

@janisj - well, I survived Washington in July/August two years ago (https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ng-washington/ ) although I do agree it is not the ideal time. I would go to Vancouver - lovely setting, lots to see, good public transport.

marvelousmouse

I'd go with Chicago or Boston, because I like both cities and they are much easier to see on foot than LA is. Both have great architecture. Both have played unique roles in American history. Boston is convenient to the Cape Cod National Seashore as well. I like LA more than DC, and I agree with the other poster who said they wouldn't send an enemy to DC in summer. If this is likely your only trip to North America- I'd do either Boston or Vancouver BC (or both!) as I feel those are both very different from the rest of your itinerary. Boston has the best HOHO I've ridden, and it's so compact that walking everywhere is doable.

But I will say I loved LA- even the museums are unique to LA. Check out the La Brea tar pits at least; those are fascinating. Maybe stay somewhere walkable like Santa Monica so you can explore at night too after the HOHO quits for the day. If budget is not a concern then absolutely go for your itinerary. I'd make Yosemite a priority- it's so amazing, and I don't think the crowds are really going to be all that worse than the other spots on your itinerary. If you find ANY lodging in the Valley snap it up. That's the one place to blow the budget.

If you DID skip the NPs, you wouldn't have to add another city, really. I spent a month in just California last summer- a week in LA and SF both- and still didn't get to do everything on my list. San Diego and Santa Barbara are very Californian and more attractive than LA- you could easily add those, maybe go kayaking or visit one of the missions.

Or add Santa Fe, or somewhere in Texas or Colorado, maybe- the American West is a big, big place- you have a lot of options. Maybe a dude ranch? I know there are tours from Santa Fe to Taos (Indian pueblo world heritage site) for example. Hot air balloon tours in that region as well, if that's of interest. Also tours from Durango Co to Mesa Verde National Park. Durango also has the historic railroad, beautiful scenery. So lots of cool options that don't involve a car.

doug_stallings

Which other US cities? If you are into architecture (particularly Frank Lloyd Wright) then Chicago.

If trendy food and culture (and potentially cooler weather), then Portland, OR.

If good food, drink, and music, then New Orleans.

If country music, barbecue, and bourbon, then Nashville, TN

If southern culture and antebellum architecture, then Charleston or Savannah.

If US history and good food, then Washington DC.

If Latin-American culture and the beach, then Miami.

And there are a lot of other places I'd recommend if you were willing to drive: Palm Springs, Denver & Boulder, Santa Fe, Yellowstone, the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Texas Hill Country, Detroit, among many others.

As you can see, it's a big country. I have no hesitation in saying SF is a good choice for you, but to be honest, LA may not be. I'd even choose San Diego over LA if it were me and I wanted to have an enjoyable experience without a car.

thursdaysd

If we're going to diss DC because of the weather in August, then I have to point out that pretty much everywhere on Doug's list aside from Portland is going to be miserable, too. Anywhere east of the Mississippi that isn't over 2,500 feet will be hot and humid. Even Boston.

uncfan

I think you HAVE to rent a car for at least parts of your trip. And I would probably cut back on the National Parks you've mentioned (esp. without a car) due primarily to the heat and crowds.

Instead....and I may have missed it above, but I don't think anyone mentioned driving the Pacific Coast Highway between LA and San Francisco. I think this is a MUST-DO....with great stops along the way (Hearst Castle at San Simeon, Santa Barbara and Big Sur).

Those who referenced the heat in August (esp. in the Desert Southwest and the American South) have a very good point. The absolute temps in Nevada/southern Utah/Arizona will be brutal. The humidity in Charleston/Savannah/New Orleans is oppressive....and WILL detract from your trip.

Washington DC is a great city, but will be very hot in August as well. And, probably doesn't make a lot of sense if you don't plan to visit museums (one of the best things about DC btw).

I recommend adding Chicago. A large city that is very different from New York. Great public transportation. Take the architectural boat tour on the Chicago River. Go to a Chicago Cubs game and have a hot dog and an Old Style Beer (there's nothing more American than that!). And although you don't want to do museums....you really need to visit the Art Institute of Chicago (REALLY worth it). Look for a hotel in the River North section of town (you'll want to stay north of the Loop).

No worries about washing your clothes. Many finer hotels offer a laundry service. Or, consider throwing in an Airbnb stop that offers a washer and dryer for a night. Pack light. It will be very warm everywhere you go (except maybe San Francisco at night).

So....in a nutshell. Cut back on the national parks (maybe stick with the Grand Canyon since it's so close to Vegas). Throw in the amazingly awesome Pacific Coast Highway (Big Sur is SO beautiful). Add a couple of days in Chicago. You'll need a car in Los Angeles and for your drive up to San Francisco (but won't need it in SF). You'll want a car to drive from Vegas to the Grand Canyon and back. But's that's it....every place else has great public transportation.

Do a southern itinerary on a different trip...you'll enjoy it more in spring/fall.

Have a great trip!

isabel

Re what other city to add to your original possibilities - BOSTON - for a number of reasons.
1) Much more pleasant weather in August than some (most) of the others suggested.
2) Very easy to do with public transportation - you can also not only do a HOHO bus but you can do it in a DUCK (www.bostonducktours.com/).
3) Very different architecture/atmosphere. Great harbor setting.
4) You can get there easily by train from NY so eliminate the need for another flight.

If this is once in a life time trip to the US I would try to see at least one National Park. Why don't you see if you can get lodging in either Yosemite or Grand Canyon and then decide. But I think it would be better to do two nights in one of them rather than trying to do one night in each.

So your trip would be: San Francisco, either Yosemite or Grand Canyon, Vegas, New York and Boston. Quite a nice mix of some of the best of the US (well not Vegas but you have to go there for your conference). Fly from California to Vegas and from Vegas to either NY or Boston and train between those two.