Where to go?
 

Hi. I'm an Aussie working in Aspen for the ski season and my work contract finishes in April (2006) and I'm not booked to fly home till May- Soooo I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where to go/see/do in the US. I know this question seems kind of general, but I have limited funds and only about a 4 week time frame, so keeping in with those terms???- basically I want to know where i HAVE to go before I leave for home. New York is already on the agenda, but where in New York? As for the rest of America- Its so big I'm unsure as to where I should go/ what to see/ experience. So any suggestions?
McKayla

this is rather a hard question to answer. If your funds are limited, why not save the airfare to New York and see more of what the Western part of the US. You could spend the entire 4 weeks just seeing places there. then if you get another chance, do the Eastern part of the US another time.

Are you more interested in Places instead of Scenery? Will you have a rental car or will you be flying from place to place?

Coming from Australia, some of the Western Deserts would not be that unusual for you, but you might enjoy the Pacific North West region.

May is a wonderful time to visit the northeast/New England area but it's one of the most expensive areas of the country. My first thought was you meant New York City. Should you visit the New England area, at least hotel rates in some areas would be off-season and lower. Are you flying home from NYC?
What are your interests?

Agree it's pretty hard to guide you without knowing interests/tastes, not to mention from where you are leaving to go back to Oz. Are you able to rent a car? Are you interested in doing some driving? As Aileen says, you could just concentrate on the western US. You should try to see Santa Fe, NM since it's relatively close. Are you interested in seeing the Grand Canyon? Some of the national parks?

As to where in NY, are you asking where in NY city??

Since NY is a definite, I'd also suggest the East Coast/New England. Maybe Boston and do the Freedom Trail, Old North Church. Those are just a few. Boston is very rich in US history.

You could go out to Salem and see old houses, such as The House of Seven Gables (Nathanial Hawthorne's home is nearby.) graveyards, witch hunt locations.

I just love Boston and the environs - my favorite US city.

mom