Help!!! I'm spending a month traveling the U.S.A and i need some ideas!!!

[aussiedave]

Finally I'm heading back to the States for a month and bringing my wife for her first visit. It's been 8 years since my last visit so i cant wait to come back!! We fly into LAX on the 29th of Feb staying at the Universal City Hilton, then driving to Las Vegas and staying at the Venetian for 5 more nights.
We'll then be flying to New York and spending 6 nights staying at the Doubletree Hilton in Times Square. We then fly back to LA and check into Paradise Pier on Presidents day and we stay there for 7 nights. This will be my wife's first visit to Disneyland!! and my first visit to DCA!! We then fly out to Hawaii staying at Waikiki for 3 nights on the way back home, arriving home on the 27th of Feb

Please if you have any ideas of things to do/see while we are on holiday let me know..
Thanks
Aussie Dave

[aussiedave]

I forgot to mention we'll obviously be visiting Universal Studios aswell!! We aren't planning on visiting to many other parks... After reading the weekend weekend update a few weeks back i also want to visit palm springs to...

[elly]

i would highly recommend seeing a shows on Broadway while in new york, that was perhaps my fave thing that we did while in the city

i hope you two have a lovely holiday

[aussiedave]

^ thanks!! we'll put that on our to do list.. just looked into it and the Lion King show looks amazing!!

[krystledm]

I understand wanting to hit the big cities,but your going to miss so much of what America is by doing that. There is so much more to see. Next time you come, you should plot a map and go driving.

[aussiedave]

^I feared that when we booked! We do have a hire car for the first 10 days but we'll only be driving around socal and then out to vegas, via palm springs and also out to the grand canyon. Your right there's always next time!!

[NeverNeverland]

dave, I'm going to move this to the other vacation locations section since it covers such a wide variety of places. You are welcome to start one just for so cal too

Also, PM tassie... her family did the same sort of thing a few years ago, and she could probably give you a good perspective.

In NY, there are tons of museums, plus of course the statue of liberty. They have bus tours (the duck one, there's a red one) that are good for an overview. Def. a Broadway show or two like elly said. There's a 3 story (really 4 stories) Disney store, but it might be closed by then. You'll definitely want to check out central park. I know I am missing some stuff lol

[aussiedave]

^thanks a million!!

[aussiedave]

i plan on driving to the grand canyon from vegas in february. Will it be snowing?? or dangerous to drive??

[wvnative]

I've never done the Grand Canyon in the winter but it will be cold. They do get a good bit of snow up that way as well. The Grand Canyon website says the North Rim is closed from October through May due to heavy snow. If you're going to do the Grand Canyon anyway, I'd suggest you stay the night. Watch the sunset and sunrise. It's amazing up there.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Dave, Dave, Dave....

You're going to the Venetian, and driving through the hot desert?

When we have both the tallest and largest trees on Earth in our California forests.

Whether under the shady canopy of the Redwoods, along our magnificent coast or up in the mountains keeping vigil for bears in our Sierras... where the mighty Sequoias stand...

I would have pointed you in the direction of the Napa vineyards and countryside. To get a taste of the real America. Maybe even send you up to Seattle for dungeness crab and the best clam chowder on the West Coast. Up to San Francisco for a creepy tour of Alcatraz.

I can't speak to the East Coast but I'm kind of a "Vegas: Blech" person, especially in the summer time.

[Roo719]

Dining in New York is something of an adventure! For many European immigrants, this was their first home and with it...they brought many, many culinary delights.

Don't do chains (restaurants--like Red Robin, Chili's, etc.) unless its an emergency.

We go to New York and all we do is eat, eat, eat. This is why Americans are so plump. However, once you taste the wonders of the Big Apple, you'll understand. Don't do the museums of the things you can see at home...hit Ellis Island and Liberty and treat yourself to a CircleLine tour of Manhattan.

And you MUST take in a show! Since they tend to be expensive, decide before you leave, maybe even get your tickets prior to departure. Outside of London, this is THE place to watch a show. Ask RonNYC. He works out there some.

And have a black and white cookie. You'll understand once you get there. Ask around. It's very New York. Kinda like your Vegemite--unique to the place. And pizza that will make you cry. Trust me on this.

Las Vegas? Not my cup of tea either. You won't have to worry about snow.

And, as mentioned, you might want to think about driving next time. America also exists between her metro areas. We have a national park system that is incredible, truly. And I'm not the outdoorsy types, but there is something quite breath-taking at Mt. Rushmore, Rocky Mountain National or Yosemite. Even Yellowstone is amazing. I've been to 49 states. Every single one of them has a unique character that is commendable.

Peace,
Roo

[Sully]

Hmm as much as I like Las Vegas, 5 nights seems a little excessive unless you plan to head out to Red Rock or similar side trip. Even 7 days in LA is a bit much (unless you like traffic )

I'd suggest maybe going to San Diego and checking out the numerous things there: SD Zoo, SeaWorld, Balboa Park and it's many museums (Balboa Park ), Midway Museum, Gaslamp District.

How about spending a day or two in San Francisco with Muir Woods & Napa Valley just North?

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Yeah, I live in LA but I vote for San Diego or San Francisco if you're on vacation.

[crazy go nuts]

Originally Posted by Sully

Hmm as much as I like Las Vegas, 5 nights seems a little excessive unless you plan to head out to Red Rock or similar side trip.

I agree that five nights might be a bit much. I love Vegas and there is a ton of stuff to do, but you can probably shave off one or two nights and use that time to check out San Francisco or Monterey or Yosemite (even though they aren't really close to Vegas, but you can work it out). Also, Lake Tahoe is beautiful, and if you like ghost towns there is Virginia City and Bodie (which is a real ghost town, really authentic).

Also, I love to check out quirky landmarks and stuff, but that's just me. Roadside America - Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions has a ton of stuff like that if you're interested. Salvation Mountain is kinda near Palm Springs, and I've never been there, but I've heard it's really quirky and charming and the man who works on the place is real friendly.

I wish you the best and I hope you have a fantastic trip .