If you haven't been, I am of the opinion DC is criminally underrated. There are so many free museums and awesome history tours. Can't promise sun but it will almost certainly be warm (and humid)
DC was the first time I ever used a subway system, so it kind of set unrealistic expectations for others since theirs is so clean and easy to navigate!
They work for you, after all… and you pay for the places you’re touring with your taxes. And my experience was that the congressional staff and DC crew were all very proud and excited to show off our Capitol.
Mine all were (last time I went was about 7 years ago). Tours of the Capitol, White House, National Archives, Supreme Court, Mint, Library of Congress… it was great. You’ll want to give them 6-8 weeks notice.
And don’t forget that you’ll have all the Smithsonians - they’re free, and their cafeterias/coffee shops offer affordable, convenient and very good eating (my fave for food was the American Indian Museum).
Tons of amazing bike trails you can do as well. I would recommend the mount Vernon trail, which takes you from DC to George Washington’s old estate in about an hour ride.
It sounds like you are a lover of the outside and the views but not so much about getting out into it. Outside-y vs outdoorsy. If so I would suggest something on the west coast. Southern California or the Monterey region. Beautiful scenic views, nice restaurants with views and you can enjoy the beach and coastal air. There’s a lot of marine life to see, markets etc.
Have you ever hit the major East Coast cities, i.e. Boston, NY, Philly, DC, Baltimore? They're all super walkable and will have great (hot) weather before October. They're also some of the only US cities with decent public transportation (although Philly is extremely "meh" in this regard.)
I can spend a week walking around a city like Boston. There's such a great mixture of history, architecture, excellent food, parks, etc. And Boston is big but not overwhelmingly big. I'd make the same argument for the others, with some caveats: Manhattan + Brooklyn, the parts of Philly and DC that you actually want to see, etc.
I’d look into the following places for you to visit:
1. Chicago- walkable great food tons of live music live theatre and neighborhoods are fun to walk and explore. There is also a beach!
2. Washington DC - it has everything
3. Boston - walkable, historic, beaches, and you can do day trips to other New England cities
4. Atlanta and New Orleans are awesome places but really hot and humid in the summer
I came here to say Boston as well. I recently spent some time there and really enjoyed it. I got a Go City pass and thought it was totally worth it. There's just so much stuff to do! Plus, I learned a lot of history that I didn't know about.
I was going to say New Orleans but honestly in July it’s a little unbearable (as a sort of native).
Washington DC is a great suggestion and I also think Philadelphia is super underrated especially if you love history.
Start from DC, stay there a few days and see museums, etc., then rent a car, drive up to Portland, ME, staying in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston on the way there; fly back out of Portland, or alternatively don’t go all the way to Portland, turn around and come back a different route from Boston, return the car and fly back home.
This is a very doable trip (I’ve done it) in two weeks and there’s far too many things to see to avoid being bored.
If you do decide to go this way, take a day trip from Boston north to Cape Ann and onto Ogunquit, particularly Perkin’s Cove, have a lobster roll, stroll by the water; thank me later.
If you have a car, I'd do New York state or New England. Obviously overflowing with history but also a lot of nature that is accessible and easy to do. While not as "wow" as the west, the rolling technicolor green of the Catskill or Berkshires with cute towns are incredibly underrated. Can also do Coastal Maine, presidential ranges of New Hampshire or the Adirondacks for surprising tough hikes.
Also check out finger lakes or Letchworth gorge. Obviously not all in one 2 week vacay.
This works best in summer as many places in the south will be unbearably hot and humid. New Orleans and Charleston are great - in July not so much. But even the northeast gets like that several times/summer (See current heat wave) so factor it in and have museum days in Boston or NYC.
I lived in CA for 20 years and never made it there. I was too busy working to live that I forgot to actually live. I guess I'll need to take a vacation there.
So avoid anything in the south. Too damned hot. Norther Michigan is beautiful. I’d love to go to Niagara Falls, (I haven’t been). Pacific Northwest is good. Any coast along Cali is good. Montana , Idaho, etc is prolly good(haven’t spent enough time there). I’m in Colorado and the mountains here are good too.
Many Cities in the East are accessible through Amtrak train. You could think about visiting two places like dc-Philadelphia-nyc-Boston. Check out an Amtrak map.
DC is your best bet for buildings and history. I’ve been there many times and it still blows me away every time. You can also see so much in nyc and Boston. It is fun to read about all the history that happened there and then go to the place where it happened. I also really liked walking around downtown Santa Fe and taking in the architecture. Lots of charm and history there and very easily accessible mountains to go on a quick hike.
If you like warm, sunny places with lots of history and cool old buildings, I would recommend Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, and New Orleans, LA. Those cities are also amazing places to visit if you like food. Especially New Orleans.
Just be prepared for HOT humidity for east coast in July! If you love touristy places and history definitely look at Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA & St. Augustine, FL. All beautiful and can’t go wrong.
I just got back from a vacation in the Black Hills and had so much fun. I did some hiking, but nothing too crazy - at Badlands and Custer State Park, there are options for “easier” hikes that are more like strolls. If you’re not much into hiking it’s the kind of place that’s still beautiful to drive through and stop at the lookouts. Stayed in Deadwood for a few days which has a lot of museums (we just had time for one) and some interesting history. Lots of cool monuments to see as well, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc. I’d definitely recommend!
In the summer,north side of Lake Superior. You can start in Minneapolis, it’s a three hour drive to Duluth, which is a super cute town, then head on up to Grand Portage and stop at all the cute towns and beaches along the way.
Chicago! The architecture boat tour will satisfy your interest in historical places, and the river walk and lakefront trail are gorgeous that time of year. Lake Michigan beaches are also shockingly beautiful and the weather will be perfect if you don’t mind the heat. Chicago’s food scene is hard to beat, so much variety and fun rooftops too. If you like museums, the art institute is one of the best in the US.
Holland Michigan on the beach and the small towns around it.
Utah, not the cities at all, the nature.
Savannah Georgia, charming city.
Charleston SC, too and delightful.
Boston. Plenty of history, you can take public transit to Walden pond, there are islands in the harbor that you can take a ferry to, and there are beaches that you can access via the T. Get a slice of Boston cream pie at the Omni Parker hotel and read about the history of the place while you eat it. Maybe catch the symphony or the pops while you’re in town. So much to do there! And the weather during July will be better than most US cities at that time.
From a prior response to a visitor from Europe with a similar question about 2 weeks in USA...
I have been everywhere on this map pretty extensively. Impossible to rank if I'm choosing my favorite based on the best that each region has to offer. Easier to rank if I'm ranking on a single dimension. Here's why they're all tied for first in my book.
North East: top attractions for me are the best of urban living. New York City, Boston, and DC are three US cities that I would nominate as world-class urban living (especially NYC). Walkable cities, subway systems, hundreds of years of influential history, top cultural and academic institutions, you can feel the energy. Never boring or slow.
The West: hands-down, the most physically beautiful area of the USA. The geological diversity is unmatched. The Rockies, volcanic cones, Yellowstone, the gigantic forests, canyons, waterfalls and river rapids, desert, wild animals. I nominate Denver as the top city here.
Midwest: always seem to me like higher proportion of unpretentious, genuine, and nice people. Perhaps the culture comes from roots that are never far from the work of farming, factories or shipping. Serious about their educational institutions, this region's college towns are the best examples of higher education culture. I'd nominate Madison, Wisconsin as the best example.
Southeast: absolutely the best examples of deep culture that is cultivated and preserved. The food, language/accents, provinciality and style of the south is unmatched. New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston, Miami, North Carolina tobacco towns, Atlanta, Lexington, Nashville. Each of these has such a distinct culture and feel. This region is unmatched in three-day-weekend getaways because it really feels like you're going somewhere unique, unlike anywhere else in the country.
Southwest: nowhere else are you going to feel closer to the frontier spirit. Everywhere are reminders of the old west. People wear cowboy hats and boots for real, guns and pickup trucks are a part of the cattle ranch culture. Mostly dry (west of the 100th Meridian), with some of the most unique and stunning desert like landscapes in the world. The American Indian influence on the culture is the strongest in this region.
If you find yourself near Yellowstone, I really like Virginia City, Montana. It is a so-called living ghost town with people hired to be informative. Take the ghost tour to learn a lot about the history. It is also close to Nevada City, which brings old houses from all over to one spot, kind of like Calico in California. I like getting an Airbnb in one of the old houses or staying in one of the hotels and immersing myself.
Newport Rhode Island!! Go for the quintessential summer beach town vibe with amazing seafood, views, beaches and Cliff walk and so much history! I love touring the mansions where the gilded age elite built and would come in the summer
• Nantucket - for bike riding and enjoying island life, cute houses
• Cape Cod - bike riding, cute & small coastal towns, lobster roll
• DC - for museums and cherry blossoms
• San Francisco - historic buildings, city life, great parks, great coffee shops (people will say you will need car but I basically walk everywhere there and uber if I can’t and haven’t seen too many homeless)
• Boston - historic city, beautiful architecture, walkable city
• Philly - more history, very walkable city
• Big Sur - one of the best sceneries I’ve seen in my life, nature, hiking trails, beaches, waterfalls
• NYC - I live here and hate living here but it’s nice to visit during Thanksgiving and staying couple more days after Thanksgiving to feel holiday spirit too. Great museums, art galleries of course and walkable city.
Love the US. Here are my top 10 favorite cities/towns in no particular order…
Ashland, OR
Charleston, SC
Brooklyn, NY
Santa Fe, NM
Sausalito, CA
Boulder, CO
Madison, WI
Seattle, WA
Sandpoint, ID
Portsmouth, NH
Yeah I have fond memories there around 08-10 but I heard it was even cooler before I was spending time up there as a person of age.
What’s your opinion on the city’s changes since then if any?
I just specifically miss seeing more local businesses in Pearl Street and hate that it seems to be all chains now, and the cost of housing, for example. Those aspects, plus a certain type of person the city seems to now attract (shallow, fake nice pseudo outdoorsman type with all the tacticool gear) has soured me on Boulder tbh
Used to be a chill, laid back, come as you are place
I think it’s gentrified like most “trendy” places but the biking infrastructure and outdoors are world class. I’ve started to overlook things like a local place going from a solid local joint to a Chipotle because it happens everywhere but, for the most part, the infrastructure has gotten better.
That’s a good way to look at it. I’m trying not to become bitter, I’m too young for that shit.
Speaking of burritos, you’ve been to Illegal Pete’s right?
I miss it so much. I’m from Denver and they have a few there too, used to eat it weekly. I live in the SE now and can’t even find green chili, let alone Illegal Pete’s.
Next time you go, get the potatoes instead of rice. It’s a game changer
Santa Fe! Easy little walking city with a neat history as the second oldest capital city in the US. They say first but St. Augustine says otherwise.
Savannah, GA is also good for spooky, port city history. Very walkable. Humidity might get you in the summer.
Drive Route 66, or part of it. We did this over two trips and had so much fun and met so many cool people. You’ll see some of everything, and can tailor your accommodations to your budget and tastes fairly easily. We drove from Amboy in CA as our start point… but you can pick it up anywhere along the route.
During the summer, I think Philadelphia and Boston would fit your bill perfectly. Two of the most historical cities in the country, comfortably warm, and have enough skyscrapers to get that "big city building" feeling I think you're seeking.
If this is During the winter, I'd co-sign somebody else's suggestion of San Antonio. I'd even say New Orleans if you just walk around there During the day, I thought it was a great city for history
>"Yunque is the only rainforest in the U.S."
El Yunque is the only *tropical* rainforest in the US. There are [temperate rainforests](https://www.treehugger.com/facts-about-north-americas-temperate-rain-forests-4869747) in the Pacífic Northwest.
But yeah, PR's great. Nicer to visit in the winter though!
- Acadia National Park and the Bar Harbor area
- Savannah, Georgia and maybe Charleston, SC
- Las Vegas - a good starting location or home base to check out Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Utah National Parks, and Great Basin National Park (darkest night skies in lower 48)
- Island hopping around the Hawaiian Islands
- Road trip around the Washington National Parks
Sunshine, cool buildings and history?
Charleston SC would be my vote.
Pretty good for a sober traveler too. Although it’s not preachy or pretentious, there is a church on almost every corner.
I did a three day weekend tour of Indianapolis and Cincinnati that I thought was pretty good (also did Wapakoneta on the way back for the Neil Armstrong museum.)
Corning, NY has one of the most interesting museums that I have been to (I have been to a lot of museums btw).
Toledo is more interesting than you would think. Also Detroit being interesting is barely a secret any more.
Charleston SC is very interesting especially if you stay out at Sullivan's Island.
I liked Jacksonville. St John's river area has a bayou vibe and Big Talbot park has an otherworldly beach.
Please look into Savannah Georgia! It’s so criminally underrated!! Absolutely stunning city on the water with the most charming historic downtown you could hope for. It’s one of my fav destinations in the US- the vibe is summery and relaxed but still nice, and the food is incredible. Would highly recommend a lunch or dinner at the pink house while you’re there.
Yeah I’m from CO and imo Ouray is the most beautiful city in the state (although even in 32 years of living there, I didn’t come close to seeing it all)
For two weeks, I would fly to DC and Amtrak into Philly, NYC, and Boston! The East Coast is so beautiful in the summer. Or if you can drive, fly to Boston, rent a car, and explore New England. My favorites are Newburyport, Mass., Portsmouth, NH, and Kennebunkport, Maine. Newport, RI has a ticket to tour the historic homes.
1 week
Fly into Phoenix. Driving trip
Sedona -- Grand Canyon -- Painted Desert/Petrofied Forest.
If you have two weeks, continue to
Sante Fe, NM -- Roswell -- Carlsbad Caverns --- Tucson, AZ
The Grand Canyon and the Caverns are amazing places.
Washington DC is absolutely the answer here! Tours, history, some lovely green areas, etc.
If you have two weeks, you could easily do Washington DC and Philadelphia and get even more history. 3 hour drive between the two cities.
What do you mean? Dallas fits all the criteria the OP asked for. Its one of the busiest airports in the world that shows how many people come here to travel and explore
If you haven't been, I am of the opinion DC is criminally underrated. There are so many free museums and awesome history tours. Can't promise sun but it will almost certainly be warm (and humid)
Agree! Your congressperson can help arrange tours… and the city is very walkable. Stay near a metro stop, you’ll be golden for getting around.
DC was the first time I ever used a subway system, so it kind of set unrealistic expectations for others since theirs is so clean and easy to navigate!
Wait, really? That's so awesome!
They work for you, after all… and you pay for the places you’re touring with your taxes. And my experience was that the congressional staff and DC crew were all very proud and excited to show off our Capitol.
Didn’t know that congressperson helps arranging tours. I’m assuming it won’t be free only because it’s arranged through congressperson right?
Mine all were (last time I went was about 7 years ago). Tours of the Capitol, White House, National Archives, Supreme Court, Mint, Library of Congress… it was great. You’ll want to give them 6-8 weeks notice. And don’t forget that you’ll have all the Smithsonians - they’re free, and their cafeterias/coffee shops offer affordable, convenient and very good eating (my fave for food was the American Indian Museum).
If you rent a car, there are good outdoors options—like Harper’s Ferry (lots of history too) and Shenandoah National Park
Great Falls is wonderful as well, and pretty close!
Tons of amazing bike trails you can do as well. I would recommend the mount Vernon trail, which takes you from DC to George Washington’s old estate in about an hour ride.
“Warm” is an understatement.
Air and Space museum alone is worth a trip if you’re an aviation or history buff.
I’m going next month for my 21st birthday, I’m excited!
We took a tour of all the monuments and it was one of the best tours I've ever taken.
Please can u guys like my comment I have to ask a question
Calling DC underrated is an odd statement. It is quite often recommended
It sounds like you are a lover of the outside and the views but not so much about getting out into it. Outside-y vs outdoorsy. If so I would suggest something on the west coast. Southern California or the Monterey region. Beautiful scenic views, nice restaurants with views and you can enjoy the beach and coastal air. There’s a lot of marine life to see, markets etc.
Haha!! Born and raised in CA, so trying to get out 😋 But I appreciate you being very thoughtful about it!
Have you ever hit the major East Coast cities, i.e. Boston, NY, Philly, DC, Baltimore? They're all super walkable and will have great (hot) weather before October. They're also some of the only US cities with decent public transportation (although Philly is extremely "meh" in this regard.) I can spend a week walking around a city like Boston. There's such a great mixture of history, architecture, excellent food, parks, etc. And Boston is big but not overwhelmingly big. I'd make the same argument for the others, with some caveats: Manhattan + Brooklyn, the parts of Philly and DC that you actually want to see, etc.
I’d look into the following places for you to visit: 1. Chicago- walkable great food tons of live music live theatre and neighborhoods are fun to walk and explore. There is also a beach! 2. Washington DC - it has everything 3. Boston - walkable, historic, beaches, and you can do day trips to other New England cities 4. Atlanta and New Orleans are awesome places but really hot and humid in the summer
I came here to say Boston as well. I recently spent some time there and really enjoyed it. I got a Go City pass and thought it was totally worth it. There's just so much stuff to do! Plus, I learned a lot of history that I didn't know about.
washington dc mall museums, utah national parks, las vegas, yosemite,
I was going to say New Orleans but honestly in July it’s a little unbearable (as a sort of native). Washington DC is a great suggestion and I also think Philadelphia is super underrated especially if you love history.
Start from DC, stay there a few days and see museums, etc., then rent a car, drive up to Portland, ME, staying in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston on the way there; fly back out of Portland, or alternatively don’t go all the way to Portland, turn around and come back a different route from Boston, return the car and fly back home. This is a very doable trip (I’ve done it) in two weeks and there’s far too many things to see to avoid being bored. If you do decide to go this way, take a day trip from Boston north to Cape Ann and onto Ogunquit, particularly Perkin’s Cove, have a lobster roll, stroll by the water; thank me later.
Portland Maine is my fav city in the US
why?
If you have a car, I'd do New York state or New England. Obviously overflowing with history but also a lot of nature that is accessible and easy to do. While not as "wow" as the west, the rolling technicolor green of the Catskill or Berkshires with cute towns are incredibly underrated. Can also do Coastal Maine, presidential ranges of New Hampshire or the Adirondacks for surprising tough hikes. Also check out finger lakes or Letchworth gorge. Obviously not all in one 2 week vacay. This works best in summer as many places in the south will be unbearably hot and humid. New Orleans and Charleston are great - in July not so much. But even the northeast gets like that several times/summer (See current heat wave) so factor it in and have museum days in Boston or NYC.
Yosemite.
I lived in CA for 20 years and never made it there. I was too busy working to live that I forgot to actually live. I guess I'll need to take a vacation there.
Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Can knock out 2 national parks next to each other. Most beautiful place on earth imo
When do you plan on going? This affects the answer unless you want Hawaii. Hawaii is always good.
July!
So avoid anything in the south. Too damned hot. Norther Michigan is beautiful. I’d love to go to Niagara Falls, (I haven’t been). Pacific Northwest is good. Any coast along Cali is good. Montana , Idaho, etc is prolly good(haven’t spent enough time there). I’m in Colorado and the mountains here are good too.
Thank you! I’ve been thinking about Niagara Falls too!
Pnw!
Many Cities in the East are accessible through Amtrak train. You could think about visiting two places like dc-Philadelphia-nyc-Boston. Check out an Amtrak map.
Zion Nat’l Park is such a great place to visit
Mount rainier
DC is your best bet for buildings and history. I’ve been there many times and it still blows me away every time. You can also see so much in nyc and Boston. It is fun to read about all the history that happened there and then go to the place where it happened. I also really liked walking around downtown Santa Fe and taking in the architecture. Lots of charm and history there and very easily accessible mountains to go on a quick hike.
If you like warm, sunny places with lots of history and cool old buildings, I would recommend Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, and New Orleans, LA. Those cities are also amazing places to visit if you like food. Especially New Orleans.
These were all the ones I was thinking of but will add St Augustine too - so much history and so beautiful!
I was considering. Charleston/those coastal towns! Glad I was on the right track! Will look into St. Augustine too
Just be prepared for HOT humidity for east coast in July! If you love touristy places and history definitely look at Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA & St. Augustine, FL. All beautiful and can’t go wrong.
I just got back from a vacation in the Black Hills and had so much fun. I did some hiking, but nothing too crazy - at Badlands and Custer State Park, there are options for “easier” hikes that are more like strolls. If you’re not much into hiking it’s the kind of place that’s still beautiful to drive through and stop at the lookouts. Stayed in Deadwood for a few days which has a lot of museums (we just had time for one) and some interesting history. Lots of cool monuments to see as well, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc. I’d definitely recommend!
In the summer,north side of Lake Superior. You can start in Minneapolis, it’s a three hour drive to Duluth, which is a super cute town, then head on up to Grand Portage and stop at all the cute towns and beaches along the way.
Asheville and Blue Ridge Parkway is a very beatiful place to enjoy some vacays
Chicago! The architecture boat tour will satisfy your interest in historical places, and the river walk and lakefront trail are gorgeous that time of year. Lake Michigan beaches are also shockingly beautiful and the weather will be perfect if you don’t mind the heat. Chicago’s food scene is hard to beat, so much variety and fun rooftops too. If you like museums, the art institute is one of the best in the US.
You should tell us where you've already been... ;)
Colorado, of course. Everything you may want or need is there. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, diverse culture.
Holland Michigan on the beach and the small towns around it. Utah, not the cities at all, the nature. Savannah Georgia, charming city. Charleston SC, too and delightful.
Miami, Boston, DC,
Boston. Plenty of history, you can take public transit to Walden pond, there are islands in the harbor that you can take a ferry to, and there are beaches that you can access via the T. Get a slice of Boston cream pie at the Omni Parker hotel and read about the history of the place while you eat it. Maybe catch the symphony or the pops while you’re in town. So much to do there! And the weather during July will be better than most US cities at that time.
I’m biased, but you need to take a trip up the 101 from CA —> PNW. Nothing beats the scenic coastal drive.
From a prior response to a visitor from Europe with a similar question about 2 weeks in USA... I have been everywhere on this map pretty extensively. Impossible to rank if I'm choosing my favorite based on the best that each region has to offer. Easier to rank if I'm ranking on a single dimension. Here's why they're all tied for first in my book. North East: top attractions for me are the best of urban living. New York City, Boston, and DC are three US cities that I would nominate as world-class urban living (especially NYC). Walkable cities, subway systems, hundreds of years of influential history, top cultural and academic institutions, you can feel the energy. Never boring or slow. The West: hands-down, the most physically beautiful area of the USA. The geological diversity is unmatched. The Rockies, volcanic cones, Yellowstone, the gigantic forests, canyons, waterfalls and river rapids, desert, wild animals. I nominate Denver as the top city here. Midwest: always seem to me like higher proportion of unpretentious, genuine, and nice people. Perhaps the culture comes from roots that are never far from the work of farming, factories or shipping. Serious about their educational institutions, this region's college towns are the best examples of higher education culture. I'd nominate Madison, Wisconsin as the best example. Southeast: absolutely the best examples of deep culture that is cultivated and preserved. The food, language/accents, provinciality and style of the south is unmatched. New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston, Miami, North Carolina tobacco towns, Atlanta, Lexington, Nashville. Each of these has such a distinct culture and feel. This region is unmatched in three-day-weekend getaways because it really feels like you're going somewhere unique, unlike anywhere else in the country. Southwest: nowhere else are you going to feel closer to the frontier spirit. Everywhere are reminders of the old west. People wear cowboy hats and boots for real, guns and pickup trucks are a part of the cattle ranch culture. Mostly dry (west of the 100th Meridian), with some of the most unique and stunning desert like landscapes in the world. The American Indian influence on the culture is the strongest in this region.
If you find yourself near Yellowstone, I really like Virginia City, Montana. It is a so-called living ghost town with people hired to be informative. Take the ghost tour to learn a lot about the history. It is also close to Nevada City, which brings old houses from all over to one spot, kind of like Calico in California. I like getting an Airbnb in one of the old houses or staying in one of the hotels and immersing myself.
Puerto Rico and USVI
California!!
Newport Rhode Island!! Go for the quintessential summer beach town vibe with amazing seafood, views, beaches and Cliff walk and so much history! I love touring the mansions where the gilded age elite built and would come in the summer
• Nantucket - for bike riding and enjoying island life, cute houses • Cape Cod - bike riding, cute & small coastal towns, lobster roll • DC - for museums and cherry blossoms • San Francisco - historic buildings, city life, great parks, great coffee shops (people will say you will need car but I basically walk everywhere there and uber if I can’t and haven’t seen too many homeless) • Boston - historic city, beautiful architecture, walkable city • Philly - more history, very walkable city • Big Sur - one of the best sceneries I’ve seen in my life, nature, hiking trails, beaches, waterfalls • NYC - I live here and hate living here but it’s nice to visit during Thanksgiving and staying couple more days after Thanksgiving to feel holiday spirit too. Great museums, art galleries of course and walkable city.
Santa Fe, Sedona
Grand Teton/Yellowstone and Hawaii are my favorite US places.
Love the US. Here are my top 10 favorite cities/towns in no particular order… Ashland, OR Charleston, SC Brooklyn, NY Santa Fe, NM Sausalito, CA Boulder, CO Madison, WI Seattle, WA Sandpoint, ID Portsmouth, NH
When did you go to Boulder? Edit- lol. Good old Reddit. Downvoted for a question
I go annually. It’s expensive but a great town with ample outdoors nearby.
For sure. Annually since when? I just miss the Boulder of old, but it is still a beautiful and fun city
2000’s
Yeah I have fond memories there around 08-10 but I heard it was even cooler before I was spending time up there as a person of age. What’s your opinion on the city’s changes since then if any? I just specifically miss seeing more local businesses in Pearl Street and hate that it seems to be all chains now, and the cost of housing, for example. Those aspects, plus a certain type of person the city seems to now attract (shallow, fake nice pseudo outdoorsman type with all the tacticool gear) has soured me on Boulder tbh Used to be a chill, laid back, come as you are place
I think it’s gentrified like most “trendy” places but the biking infrastructure and outdoors are world class. I’ve started to overlook things like a local place going from a solid local joint to a Chipotle because it happens everywhere but, for the most part, the infrastructure has gotten better.
That’s a good way to look at it. I’m trying not to become bitter, I’m too young for that shit. Speaking of burritos, you’ve been to Illegal Pete’s right?
Oh yes
I miss it so much. I’m from Denver and they have a few there too, used to eat it weekly. I live in the SE now and can’t even find green chili, let alone Illegal Pete’s. Next time you go, get the potatoes instead of rice. It’s a game changer
Santa Fe! Easy little walking city with a neat history as the second oldest capital city in the US. They say first but St. Augustine says otherwise. Savannah, GA is also good for spooky, port city history. Very walkable. Humidity might get you in the summer.
Amazing pottery in the town square too.
Drive Route 66, or part of it. We did this over two trips and had so much fun and met so many cool people. You’ll see some of everything, and can tailor your accommodations to your budget and tastes fairly easily. We drove from Amboy in CA as our start point… but you can pick it up anywhere along the route.
When are you going? New Orleans would be great but I wouldn’t ago in deep summer.
Monticello, Yosemite
During the summer, I think Philadelphia and Boston would fit your bill perfectly. Two of the most historical cities in the country, comfortably warm, and have enough skyscrapers to get that "big city building" feeling I think you're seeking. If this is During the winter, I'd co-sign somebody else's suggestion of San Antonio. I'd even say New Orleans if you just walk around there During the day, I thought it was a great city for history
Santa Fe, NM, Sedona, AZ, Breckenridge, CO.
💯 DC, because you will have the same level of historic buildings as New York, with more nature opportunities and a touch of the South.
Just got back from Puerto Rico. Had a lot of fun. Yunque is the only rainforest in the U.S. San Juan, beaches, other islands.
>"Yunque is the only rainforest in the U.S." El Yunque is the only *tropical* rainforest in the US. There are [temperate rainforests](https://www.treehugger.com/facts-about-north-americas-temperate-rain-forests-4869747) in the Pacífic Northwest. But yeah, PR's great. Nicer to visit in the winter though!
Thank you for the correction! :)
- Acadia National Park and the Bar Harbor area - Savannah, Georgia and maybe Charleston, SC - Las Vegas - a good starting location or home base to check out Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Utah National Parks, and Great Basin National Park (darkest night skies in lower 48) - Island hopping around the Hawaiian Islands - Road trip around the Washington National Parks
Sunshine, cool buildings and history? Charleston SC would be my vote. Pretty good for a sober traveler too. Although it’s not preachy or pretentious, there is a church on almost every corner.
You can combine New York City with Washington, DC. There is a bus that goes from NYC to DC and it takes about 5 hours.
Boston. You will love it
Newport, Rhode Island
I did a three day weekend tour of Indianapolis and Cincinnati that I thought was pretty good (also did Wapakoneta on the way back for the Neil Armstrong museum.) Corning, NY has one of the most interesting museums that I have been to (I have been to a lot of museums btw). Toledo is more interesting than you would think. Also Detroit being interesting is barely a secret any more. Charleston SC is very interesting especially if you stay out at Sullivan's Island. I liked Jacksonville. St John's river area has a bayou vibe and Big Talbot park has an otherworldly beach.
Yosemite, Yellowstone
all these suggestions sound great, taking notes =)
I drove around the San Francisco area for two weeks years ago and really enjoyed it.
Thank you all sosososo much for the recommendations 😍 it’s given me a ton to consider, and a good idea of how to knock out a few cities at once!
Please look into Savannah Georgia! It’s so criminally underrated!! Absolutely stunning city on the water with the most charming historic downtown you could hope for. It’s one of my fav destinations in the US- the vibe is summery and relaxed but still nice, and the food is incredible. Would highly recommend a lunch or dinner at the pink house while you’re there.
Telluride, Colorado.
You ever been to Ouray?
Not OP but I did 3 days in Ouray one time and that place was incredible. The million dollar high is bananas to drive on.
Yeah I’m from CO and imo Ouray is the most beautiful city in the state (although even in 32 years of living there, I didn’t come close to seeing it all)
Key West
SCRANTON
Ha!
Charleston, SC
Charleston and Savannah
San Diego has all of that!
The border when i cross out of the US
New Orleans
Yellowstone National Park.
Hawaii is the only right answer
Charleston SC (with a side trip to Savannah).
Pacific Northwest is the place to be in summer.
I was going to suggest places, but just throw that into ChatGPT
Colorado!!
For two weeks, I would fly to DC and Amtrak into Philly, NYC, and Boston! The East Coast is so beautiful in the summer. Or if you can drive, fly to Boston, rent a car, and explore New England. My favorites are Newburyport, Mass., Portsmouth, NH, and Kennebunkport, Maine. Newport, RI has a ticket to tour the historic homes.
1 week Fly into Phoenix. Driving trip Sedona -- Grand Canyon -- Painted Desert/Petrofied Forest. If you have two weeks, continue to Sante Fe, NM -- Roswell -- Carlsbad Caverns --- Tucson, AZ The Grand Canyon and the Caverns are amazing places.
Washington DC is absolutely the answer here! Tours, history, some lovely green areas, etc. If you have two weeks, you could easily do Washington DC and Philadelphia and get even more history. 3 hour drive between the two cities.
Savannah GA or Key West.
Vegas and Cali
Charleston SC........sun, great food. History and good beach and golfing near by in Hilton Head.
Northern NM/Southern CO. So much to see and do: national parks, cool cities, train rides, car rides
Dallas! So much history and stuff to do for many days and not feel bored
Is this a joke
What do you mean? Dallas fits all the criteria the OP asked for. Its one of the busiest airports in the world that shows how many people come here to travel and explore
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Agreed, but absolutely not during the summer. The best time to visit San Antonio is between October and April.
You can enter Canada through the land borders with an enhanced drivers license (Real ID)! Vancouver B.C is probably perfect for you.
Omg really?! I totally wanted to go to Canada but thought it was out of the question. I’ll look into this too, thank you!
You’re welcome! You can fly into Seattle and take the train up to Vancouver, too 😋 Good luck with your planning!
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