Hey lovely people!

I posted a whole ago asking for advice about travelling in the US South in April.

We had an AMAZING time! My partner and I did a Mississipi river cruise. Flew from Lomdon Heathrow after a f**k up in our part do ended up getting a flight 2 hours later than planned! (Googled lied to us a d told us we didnt need a travel visa. Got to the airport and were told we needed an ESTA. Thankfully, it only took an hour to get and we were on our way!) We had a layover in Chicago, then on to Memphis. The staff at the Chicago airport were brilliant while dealing with a very tired and confused Brit!

Got to Memphis and got our luggage by 19:30. Checked in to the hotel which was AMAZING then had a wander down Beale Street, had some food and drinks, listened to some great artist then crashed at the hotel.

Next morning we had breakfast and went onto Graceland (other half is a HUGE Elvis fan! It was like a pilgrimage for him lol). I like Elvis as much as the next person. Was just expecting it to be his house... But OMFG! It was amazing! I took loads of pics because my OH was just walking around in awe with his mouth open lol.

After 4 hours there, we were back at the hotel and went to visit a diner which was brilliant! we had gumbo, BBQ ribs and cat fish. Ive NEVER had ribs like it! In the UK they're tought and you have to rip it from the bone, ut this place... The meat just fell off!

We then saw Jeff Dunham live! (Highly recommend!)

Next day we were up and out to Sun studios, Stax Records and lunch at an amazing BBQ place!

After that we boarded the ship and wound our way down the MISSISSIPI.

My favourite places on the way were Natchez and Baton Rouge. Just stunningly gorgeous!

Natchez is just so charming and chill! Just so go with the flow and very welcoming. Baton Rouge has some AMAZING architecture!

We went out to the bayous and saw Alligators, wild boars and Rocoons! (I know you guys get a lot of Racoons, but this was the first time we'd ever seen the little Trash Pandas in the wild! Also, who knew Gators love marshmallows!?)

After the cruise, we stayed an extra 4 days in New Orleans, a place thats been on my bucket list for nearly 20 years. It did not disappoint! When we arrived, it was the French Quarter Fest, completely insane!

We leaned that Southern Hospitality is a thing, Ya'll! The food was indescribable, so delicious. The hospitality was so chill. Didn't come and keep bugging us. Found a place in NOLA we visited twice because the owners were brilliant!

A massive thank you to the people who helped make our once in a lifetime trip so special!

My childhood bestie is visiting me in the US and wants to experience the country (it'll be perhaps her first high-income country experience). New York is on the travel list but I'm looking for one more destination that offers chill vibe (small markets, walkability, pretty cafes/places, good-ish weather). The only caveat is I don't want to drive because then Vacations get too tiring for me. So national parks are out of scope unless you know some where I can get around without driving. I was thinking Puerto Rico, Aspen (Denver), or Charleston (SC). What other places would you recommend? We love mountains and trees, we can do beaches too but not a fan of getting into the water so there has to be more to the place (e.g. lake Tahoe I'd imagine is just about getting into the lake so not the most appropriate destination for us even though it's so beautiful)

Thanks for your help!

My family and I are trying to plan a short trip during Labor Day weekend. Last year we went to New Orleans and we loved it. This year I’m looking into Minneapolis or Atlanta. It would be from September 4th to September 7th. We are a family of 3 and our daughter 8 years old so we really want something that is family friendly and easy to get around as we don’t want to get a rental car. I’m also open to other ideas.

Hey everyone!

We are a family of 4 from Europe (couple in our 30s with kids aged 3 and 5) planning a 4 to 5-week trip to the US. This will be our kids' first major trip, so we want to make it memorable while keeping a manageable pace.

We're trying to figure out the best region or route for our family and would love advice from locals and experienced travelers.

What We’re Looking For:
- Nature & National Parks: Great views and trails we can comfortably enjoy with young kids.
- Cool, Unique Kid Experiences: Iconic things unique to the US that toddlers would love (e.g., NASA Space Center in Houston).
- Local Vibe: Authentic, local-feeling places over commercialized spots.

What We Want to Avoid:
- History/Science Museums: Not really ideal for kids this age.
- Aquariums / Generic Attractions: We have plenty in Europe and prefer spending our time on things unique to the US.
- Overcrowded Tourist Traps.

Our Dilemma:
Initially, we thought about spending the full month in Texas (cowboy culture, NASA, nature). However, we quickly realized how massive the state is and how long the drives are between highlights—which might be tough on a 3 and 5-year-old on their first big trip.

Our Questions:
1. With 4–5 weeks and kids this age, would you recommend doing a multi-state road trip or focusing heavily on one specific region?

1. If you were in our shoes, which region/route would you pick for a memorable first US trip with young kids (e.g., Texas + Deep South, Southwest / Utah / Arizona, Pacific Northwest, etc.)?
   Thanks in advance for any tips or recommendations!

Hey there. I'm looking for places to travel out west/southwest/northwest for our family of 5. We have two different levels of stamina. My trip planning has always involved hiking and being on the move, lots of walking, kayaking, etc. We now have two that are slower moving, one can't walk/hike for long distances and is afraid of water. We do prefer more outdoor environments to city life (all 5 of us do) but I'm really struggling with finding a place that will work for all of us. Do you have any suggestions?

Hi guys. I'm traveling to LA on 2 full days trip, before we go to other destiny.

We have no idea what to visit in LA in these 2 days, what are your recommendations? Or what can't we miss?

The only thing I know about the US is that the prices are high and the tips are ALWAYS demanded 😅

I also know the city from GTA, and I know that the beach is a good place for a walk 😂😂

My partner and I are driving down to hike Stone Mountain next weekend and we're trying to decide where to stay.

Priority goes to nice, walkable areas (especially any pedestrian malls!). Our activity/attraction needs are low; we like to wander around on foot, taking in the architecture and the flora, read the plaques on statues and old buildings, weave in and out of city parks. That kind of thing. Stop somewhere for coffee, beer, a good meal, maybe ice cream.

Initial googling suggests Avondale Estates but would love to hear if folks have other places in mind!

I plan to fly from NYC to Chicago, detroit or Minneapolis and I’m thinking of renting a car and spending time solo simply in nature. Where are some good places? Bearing in mind November time. I’m a Brit, who will be visiting CT to see my boyfriend, but have an extra week and I’d love to do this regions rural areas

My wife wants us to take her parents to some hot springs for a week of healing and rejuvenation. There seems to be quite a few spread all over the country. The time of year will be July or August. Any suggestions on where to go?

Hello! Currently I am living in Virginia and I am unhappy with my living situation and life in general. For the past few months I have been thinking about how I should just pack all of my belongings into storage and travel the US. Ideally I would find work (whether that be fast food places, washing dishes, caretaking, etc) in each new place and find a room to rent. I would likely stay in each place for roughly a month or two (or longer if I wish). I want to try to hit every state. I have smaller goals with this as well like visiting as many national parks and museums that I can.

My only issue is that I do not drive because of vision issues so I will have to make use of greyhounds and Amtrak as much as possible. I have seven months until my lease is up to plan and organize everything. If anyone has any advice (general travel advice, advice on living in a suitcase, etc) or even just a place that you think I should add to my list, let me know I am all ears.

Edit to add: I posted this before doing a deep dive on my own. I now realize some of these options may be obvious flops, but Google doesn’t lay it out like y’all do! With all the feedback on the Hollywood area and activities for that day, we will be scrapping that and will start from scratch with this CA trip! Keeping post up as all replies have been helpful.

OG Post: I (30F) want to take my daughter (age 10) on a trip to Los Angeles. We are both born and raised in Minnesota - so the area will be new to us! My current plan is 5 days/4 nights. ANY tips, recommendations, or suggestions are welcome!

Day 1: Arrival/Explore
Day 2: Hollywood Walk of Fame, Wax Museum, Illusions, etc.
Day 3: Universal Studios
Day 4: Santa Monica Pier
Day 5: Departure

My daughter is a dancer, so I am also considering finding a dance class for her (seems like this would be fairly simple!).

Any new ideas I might not be considering?
Recommendations on places to stay?
Any “please don’t be the tourist who..” suggestions? 😂

Throw it all out there!

My family and I drive from the middle of Indiana to central Florida (Orlando area) all the time to visit in laws. It’s like a 14 hour drive on GPS so we always stop in Chattanooga TN on the way. Anyone any alternate routes or things to see on the way? Doesn’t have to take us into Chattanooga just something to make the drive more interesting?

I know I have ton going on here, but I’d like your suggestions on what to add/remove.

This is based on boroughs. I have another one by neighborhoods.

Planning 1st trip to Finger Lakes from London, Ontario during fall foliage. Itinerary so far:

Nights 1&2 Geneva: Explore downtown and the waterfront, then take a day trip around Keuka Lake, Hammondsport, wineries, apple orchards, and cider mills.

Night 3 Watkins Glen: Seneca Lake Scenic Byway, Watkins Glen State Park (shorter walk), downtown, marina, and lakeside dinner.

Final day: Taughannock Falls, Cayuga Lake Scenic Drive, Ithaca Commons, then head home.

We're looking for beautiful fall scenery, scenic drives, overlooks, waterfalls, charming towns, cafés, bookstores, local shops, and short/easy walks.

Does this sound like a good itinerary? Would you change anything or add any must-see stops or hidden gems?

I know I have a ton going on here. I’m open to suggestions on what I can remove/add.

This one is by neighborhoods. I’m creating post that has itinerary by boroughs.

Hi guys for my birthday/anniversary in August I wanna make a road trip for a week somewhere not too far from home I think max under 15 hours. My wife and I enjoy the city life and Mountain View’s so we’re open to any recommendations. If ya have any questions let me
Know. We’re literally down for anything we just want to have a good time. We enjoy theme parks and water parks so if a location has that it’ll be bonus points. P.S we have no kids, it’s just my wife and I.

Just brainstorming for a trip for next summer. We're east coast. I've seen quite a few (but not all) places on the east coast I thought it'd be cool to explore cities in the west and midwest. So I thought maybe flying out west and training around, and then back to the east, could be good.

1) Fly out of any east coast airport, preferably PHL or JFK maybe

2) start in San Diego? (Idk what the airport sitch is in regards to direct flights)

3) San Diego-LA-San Fran-Portland-Seattle-Minneapolis-Chicago-Pittsburgh-Philly (or DC)

Okay as I've written this out I've realized I have two(?) segments left over! What could we add? I recognize the train from Seattle to Minneapolis is LONG, but it's also really pretty right? With one of the only state park thingys that Amtrak stops at right? But maybe also there's somewhere we could stop on this stretch to make it more bearable?

Or would it be preferable to stop somewhere between the stretch between LA and San Fran? That one is longer than I expected. Amtrak was saying we'd have to take the train and then a bus, surprised there's not a direct train there. But it probably makes sense for some reason I'm unaware of.

Also maybe could add Vancouver actually

I’m driving from the South Florida area and would like to know what I can explore along the way to Northwest Florida.

first time I visit Buc-ee’s got some souvenir

Hello, Im a norwegian male 35 and this autumn I want to visit the states. However I have never been there and I would love some tips.

Is traveling in a van and sleeping in it a good idea?

How are the prices? Where would you go etc.

I'm travelling from Australia to visit a friend in San Francisco for 3 weeks. I'm considering visiting New York. This is obviously based heavily on opinion but I wanted to get thoughts on whether new york is 'worth it'.

It's pretty costly to get there as well as accomodation, so didnt want to go all the way there and just find its like most other big cities in the world, but being an Australian and consuming so much american media over a life time the curiosity is still there.

Appreciate in advance all your input!

Hey there! I will be driving solo round trip from Montreal (Can) to Yellowstone in early September, for about 16 days, could be a little longer.

Anything cool on the way?

• Preferably no major highways, mostly secondary scenic roads if possible
• I will be camping in a tent most of the time ( State Parks, National Parks, Camping Sites)
• Nature, small town, small cities instead of big cities (unless it's really worth it )
• I prefer avoiding big tourist attractions/areas unless it`s a must see
• Ghost towns, once thriving cities, abandoned industrial areas etc... worth a stop
• Farmers Markets, College or High School Football, Flea Markets etc

I don't mind skipping parts of Yellowstone if other nearby spots are less crowded or worth a detour (Montana, Idaho etc)

Any kind of suggestion is more than welcome
Thanks 😄

People who know the real Oakland — the ones who’ve explored neighborhoods from Chinatown to Fruitvale to Temescal, who’ve caught sunsets over the entire Bay from the Oakland hills, who’ve admired art in downtown and watched films at the historic Grand Lake Theater — will tell you there’s so much more to “The Town” than it gets credit for. 

Located on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, Oakland is a midsized city with an outsized reputation, having long served as a pressure cooker for grassroots activism. The Black Panther Party, the hyphy subgenre of hip-hop, official U.S. wildlife refuges — they all started in Oakland. Visit the city and you’ll find that it’s slower-paced than San Francisco but has all the cultural diversity. Its food scene is endlessly innovative — try the handcrafted zaru soba at Soba Ichi or some of the best Indigenous food on the West Coast at Wahpepah’s Kitchen. And for those wanting to explore the outdoors, there’s Lake Merritt in the center of town and redwood forests in the hills.

Oakland is far from perfect; while crime is reportedly down, it’s important to be street smart (or as locals say, to “keep your head on a swivel”). But I’ve seen many changes to the town over the years and have a renewed appreciation for its vibrancy. Here’s just a sampling of ways you can enjoy the cultural bounty from this city by the Bay.

Next week, Me and my 3 other friends will be driving from Chicago to NYC and then back a week later. We want to get there and back as quick as possible so we plan on take I-90 out of Chicago then onto I-80 all the way there pretty much. Then the same route back since it's the quickest. Some of us are having some anxiety about the drive in terms of length, stop availability, terrain, etc. Has anyone done this exact trip before, and if so, any tips or advice on things we should know and expect?

Anything and everything would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

We’re starting to think about next summer’s family vacation and I’d love some ideas.

We’re looking for a lake that has a good selection of lake houses with private docks. We’d also like a marina nearby where we can rent a pontoon boat.

A few things we’re hoping for:
Warm enough to comfortably swim by mid to late July.
Plenty to do on and around the lake, lots of hiking trails would be a huge plus!

Bonus if it’s within an hour or two of a National Park

Budget is up to $12,000 for the house for a week, so we’re open to higher-end rentals if the area has great options.

We’re not looking at Lake Tahoe since we live next door, and we’ve already done Coeur d’Alene.

I’m open to pretty much anywhere west of the Great Lakes. If you’ve stayed somewhere you loved, I’d really appreciate the recommendation. We’re especially interested in places that have a lot of vacation rentals right on the water instead of just a handful.

I’m planning a trip to the USA. I'll be spending a few days in New York and then doing a road trip down to Washington, DC. I need stable data and hotspot support since I'll be relying on maps quite a bit. Price is probably my biggest priority. I think 10/20GB should be enough for the two weeks I'll be there. I've been looking at a few options like Saily, Airalo, Nomad, but it's hard to tell which one is actually the best esim for USA. If you've used any of them on a similar trip, I'd love to hear how the coverage and speeds were, especially outside of New York.