When we moved to America, we decided we wouldn't be heading back to
the UK every time we had a holiday. The reason (apart from the ridiculous
cost of flights) was that there's so much to explore right here in the
US and we wanted to see as much of it as possible before we left.
Of course, there's no way that's going to happen. The USA is such a massive
country that even driving to somewhere that seems relatively close on
the map, like Cape Cod, is a pretty big endeavour. But I do think we've made a fairly good effort so far. As well as living in New York State, we've visited Vermont,
Virginia, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida, spent nights in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and North
Carolina and have driven through a whole load of other
states on the way to and from those places. Of the U.S. cities, I've also been to Chicago (both for work and for an expat blogger meetup), Boston, San Francisco and San Diego. Next week we'll be visiting the
White Mountains of New Hampshire, and we plan to visit Washington DC in September.
But there a whole lot of other places on my
list. I'm a great reader of travel articles, and (as you've probably
worked out by now) have huge wanderlust. So I wanted to list them now,
and then maybe revisit the list later and see how I've done.
1. Sonoma/Napa Valley, California.
Well,
the girl from Nappy Valley really ought to visit Napa Valley, shouldn't
she? And what with vineyards, fabulous restaurants and gorgeous
scenery, it sounds like my kind of place.
2. The Grand Canyon, Arizona.
An
obvious choice maybe, but everyone I know who has been there says it is
amazing. This is on my list for next year, before we leave America, and I truly hope we'll get there.
3. Colorado.
The
Rockies! The forests! I'd like to go in both summer and winter, please, for the ski-ing. I'd also like to see Denver (as a long ago Dynasty fan, I was amused
to hear from my German friend that in Germany the show was known as
"Denver-clan" ).
4. Charleston, South Carolina.
I've
heard it's like Savannah, Georgia, where we spent a memorable couple of nights, only perhaps even nicer. I'm a sucker for
Southern charm, and I've heard mixed reports about New Orleans, so I'm
picking Charleston for my return to the deep south.
5. Portland, Oregon.
It's
supposedly the capital of all things hip. The coolest ad agencies are
there, it's environmentally friendly, it even has its own ironic sitcom,
Portlandia. It sounds more like Amsterdam than America, and although I'm not sure if I'd want to live there, I would be
intrigued to see it.
6. Yellowstone Park, Wyoming.
Just as long as a bear doesn't get me. And I'm not talking about Yogi.
7. Maine.
We know some Swedish people here who went to Maine for their summer holiday and promptly left, saying it was "too much like Sweden". Well, that doesn't put me off. It's a long drive from just about anywhere, but I'd love to eat a real Maine lobster roll with lobster that just came out of the ocean.
8. De Smet, South Dakota.
As a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, I would just love to see the "little town on the prairie" where she lived. It sounds rather remote, but I would definitely like to make the pilgrimage one day and maybe it could be combined with a trip to....
9. Mt Rushmore, South Dakota.
Well it's so iconic, isn't it? I bet it's terribly touristy but it would be nice to say you've been. And I'm sure you'd get a real American history lesson at the same time.
10. Seattle.
The home of Starbucks, Microsoft, Frasier, Grey's Anatomy and (er) Fifty Shades of Grey. I feel as if I know Seattle already. I'd like to do a city trip one day and maybe use it as a jumping off point for a trip to Canada's west coast. Because that's another whole country I could write a top ten list for......
Where else in America should I add to my list?
18 comments:
The Grand Canyon is the real deal, not some hyped up destinations. Have you thought of driving from Los Angeles along the very scenic Pacific Highway all the way to Seattle? That will kill birds with one drive.
Not sure what to add to the list, BUT Napa valley is on my list too! wine and beautiful scenery, sounds awesome.
Yellowstone is amazing, I was there in the winter and went skidoing around the park in the snow... taking care not to startle the wildlife.
You never went to Napa Valley??!! And I thought it was all in the name... Am confused now.
Yosemite is on the top of my list. Seems like the perfect place for a "back to nature" family holiday.
good list. Have you been to Newport, Rhode Island? Fab. Go to Millionares Row
Nantucket, Mass. Take a week to drive from Austin, Texas to Santa Fe, NM, via Marfa. And don't let anyone put you off of New Orleans. You need to pick the right time of year and get some STRONG restaurant recommendations, but it is so incredible (and the people are so much more genuine than Charleston).
You'll love DC! I'd add Boston, San Francisco, Miami and the Keys...can I slip Las Vegas in there too (you could combine it with the Grand Canyon, which IS truly amazing). Mt Rushmore was fun and I loved seeing the Badlands (I was just pregnant with Max!). Montana is lovely. A great lake, or two. I really regret not making it to Seattle - and perhaps when you do Seattle, u could pop up to Vancouver. A, you might have to stay another 10yrs...x
Ruesedaine - I did the LA to San Francisco portion of that drive 10 years ago - would love to do it again and go further north one day.
Pushchair Dad - skiddooing sounds excellent. The boys would love that too.
Met Mum - it must be your pregnancy hormones. I have never lived in California, but used to live in Nappy Valley (aka known as Clapham/Battersea) in London.
Jenny - would love to go there too. Better be a top 20....
Melissa - we've never been, despite it not being that far away. We always thought it would be boring for the boys to go round mansions, but they're older now so it might well be do-able.
Anon - oooh yes, I'd forgotten Nantucket, and also Martha's Vineyard - would love to meet someone with a yacht who would sail me to both. New Mexico too, and I hear Austin is very cool. My husband went to New Orleans and wasn't that impressed, but maybe he went to the wrong bits...
Circles - have been to Boston and S.F. but never the Keys so will add them. Montana, yes, and the Badlands - and Death Valley perhaps? So many places, so little time.
I wasn't impressed by New Orleans either. I think the Tent Rocks hiking trail in New Mexico is worth a visit.
We spent 9 weeks last year travelling around 11 states. We started in San Francisco and worked our way down the coast and then over as far as New Mexico and Colorado and then up through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone and then to Seattle and down the Oregon coast back to California through Lake Tahoe and the Tioga Pass to San Francisco. We spent most of our time in National Parks but our favourite cities were San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle and Portland. We loved all the National Parks (none were a disappointment) but Mesa Verde was my favourite followed closely by Rocky Mountains NP (although I still keep changing my mind). We went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and preferred it to the South Rim. If you go to the North Rim you might as well go to Zion NP while you are there. The only problem we had in the whole time was having to drive on the "wrong" side of the road! We were both petrified for the first week or two! No matter where you go it is amazing!
all wonderful. Also Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon and really all of the Utah National Parks are amazing. If you go to Seattle (a must) a drive over the border to Vancouver is in order. Vancouver is one of my favourite spots, sophisticated and urban with amazing food and shopping but surrounded by beautiful scenery. Hawaii is also wonderful, though a very long way from you.
And you can always pop down to San Diego to say hi to the geeky's! Its lovely down here.
Philadelphia is great and not too far away! Take your boys to Sesame Place, about an hour outside the city, while it's still warm enough for water rides. Lots of history, and a lot can be seen in a 3-day weekend.
Great list and many places I have yet to see as well.
I should make a list of all the places I would still like to go in the States! Raising a child inthe UK I have realised there's many places I would like to take her in the States to give her a better idea of what my home country is all about--so much more than hollywood or the evening news. But of course whatever I show her will be only my version.
Of course you can always plan a trip back one day--a roadtrip in the West, for example, would probably be ana amazing trip!
I love California. San Diego is beautiful, but also have a soft spot for Big Sur and Santa Barbara.
That should be my list too, except we've done the wine country pretty thoroughly. My friend was raving about Death Valley so I will have to add that one too!
Napa Valley is also on top of my to-do list. Wine, food...and wine...Just gotta visit that place soon!
What about Nashville Tennessee?
Great list, those I have been to are worth a visit and many of the others are still on my hit list. We hope to do a West Coast road trp in the next yer or to!
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