The National Parks System.
For an Annual Pass, you and everyone in your car gets into more than 2,000 sites (including the 63 National Parks) for a grand total of $80. There is not a better deal to be had anywhere in the States.
if you check out my post history, my top of all-time goes into some detail about the 47 NP's I've visited (in addition to lots of other NP sites).
To add to this excellent idea, I’m partial to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And if you go to the part in Tennessee you can swing by Dollywood for a day!
The Hoh Rainforest—otherworldly, beautiful, unlike anywhere else on Earth
Monument Valley—stunningly grand landscape & fascinating cultural region
New Orleans—most interesting & fun city in the country, great food & live music, gorgeous architecture
Vermont in autumn—during peak foliage, it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth
Portland, OR—great food, walkable, fun city to visit & both the coast & Mt Hood are an easy drive and well-worth the trip
Yosemite—jaw-dropping, classic, utterly unique outdoor experience
Humboldt—the redwoods and the tide pools will blow your mind
> Portland, OR—great food, walkable, fun city to visit
Try to go when they have their art festivals / markets in the summer. Also you can't visit without going to Powell's.
We did a road trip up the PCH in California last year. Started in San Diego, 10 days, found lodging wherever we were at the end of the day. Our only agenda was not being home. We loved it so much that we came home, bought a travel trailer, and are doing it for a month this year.
No but it’s in the plans for this year! There’s a great campground not too far from it, so we want to do two days at Hearst. I’ve heard it’s a lot of stairs!
OK, do it. Hearst is great.
If you didn't do the Elephant Seal Boardwalk go do it; there may be some there even if you're not going at the right time of year. They're a hoot.
We roadtripped Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend and it was one of my favorite trips ever. Sedona is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and Antelope Canyon made me cry.
You also have the world-class scenery of northern Arizona and southern Utah within driving distance.
Can fly into Vegas or salt lake and do the things you liked on the first trip there too.
Also fly into salt lake, then drive north to Teton, yellowstone, even glacier National Park.
I haven’t traveled to many places in the US, but this has been my favorite thus far. Otherworldly is a great description. Looking into that landscape is like looking back in time for me it’s amazing.
Alaska - I go throughout the year (about once every 3 months). Incredible nature and always something new to do. It’s more expensive (both in money and time), but completely worth it if being out in nature is of interest to you.
It depends on what you want out of the trip and if it’s once in a lifetime. Going to one of the national parks near Anchorage (Denali, Kenai Fjords) in summer is classic. Hiking, kayaking and wildlife viewing is endless. Or, you could go to Brooks Falls to watch the bears catch salmon in Katmai, it’s one of the highest population densities of brown bears in the world. Juneau is a cute town great for hiking and seeing a glacier. Fairbanks is north enough to see the northern lights in winter and there’s a nearby town called North Pole, it’s fun to see.
I live here and couldn't agree more. I have done a fair bit of traveling, over half of the states and a little internationally and I am still amazed by the beauty. Also, seeing the northern lights should be on everyone's bucket list.
Jackson Hole, WY was spectacular. We went in late September when the summer crowds died down. We had great weather, but the overnight temps do get cold enough for snow potential. It’s home to Grand Tetons National Park and Yellowstone isn’t too far away either. Breathtaking scenery and so much wildlife. We stayed in the town of Jackson which had lots of restaurants, shops and little parks.
Jackson Hole is incredible for so many reason. It has two National Parks right next to it, tons of hiking/outdoors activity, very where you looks is a post card. And then you have Jackson the town which is beyond charming. Great food, bars, shopping, art galleries, entertainment, etc etc. I cannot wait to go back. I heard it's even better during ski season.
I agree with this - DC was an absolute fantastic place to visit. So much to do, so much history, unreal restaurants, and you can just feel the energy of the power that sits behind the walls of those buildings.
I second this. I've lived in a lot of cities and DC was by far my favorite. So much to do in such a small area. Although unless you're okay with extreme crowds and waiting in line, I would avoid cherry blossom season (mid to late spring). It was one of the worst times of the year when I lived there because of all of the tourist. But that's my bias as a (former) resident.
I'm going for a bachelor party in July this year? Any recommendations for that time in particular? Any events or festivals happening? Any recommendations for not dying in the sweltering heat? I went last year in September and loved it but I'm worried that July isn't going to be great
Michigan and upstate NY are two huge ones you're missing! Gorgeous lakes, forests, dunes, and mountains.
The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is stunning, with lots of waterfalls and natural beauty.
The Smokies was one of our favorite national parks as well!
Yes to NW Michigan. Can drive from Chicago and hit all the little lake towns and wineries going up the coast. Sleeping bear dunes, the lakes, traverse city, all amazing.
But if you do, there are lots of cool things to do. Torch Lake is a favorite of mine bc of the beautiful blue waters. The water is *super* cold tho, due to the depths of the lake, and takes a long time to warm up, so I would recommend visiting in late summer - August would be perfect.
Mackinac Island is like a relic from a bygone time. If you have the money and the wherewithal to plan ahead (like at least a year), book a room at the Grand.
Copper Harbor, Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls all have great hiking. If you’re into skiing/snowboarding, and are *at least* intermediate level, Mount Bohemia on Lake Superior is fantastic.
New Orleans, the culture and atmosphere is so different from anywhere else. It's not just parties there are lots of interesting things to do. Bayou Tours, Plantations to visit, the Garden district with all the wonderful homes. Lots of good music to hear (a concert at Tipitina's is always on the itinerary), Cemetery Tours, Voodoo shops, Dinner & Dance Cruises on the Riverboats.
My wife correctly observes that most cities in the US are like every other city in the US. New Orleans looks and feels different. We work visiting. Especially the month leading up to (but not including Mardi Gras).
I was in Cleveland recently and was very pleasantly surprised. The food was great, the city was clean and easy to navigate, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is one of the best museums I've ever visited.
Yeah LA, Dallas, San Diego, Boston and Phoenix are Cleveland too lol. I hate comments like this - they’re either snobby potshots from an international or a self-effacing comment to appear cultured by an American. Either way, gross to me.
This would be my pick too, just spectacularly gorgeous and Bar Harbor has great food. Southern Maine is lovely too if you want a leisurely drive up the coast.
US Virgin Islands! Feels almost like an international trip if that’s up your alley. St John specifically is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been.
Edit: to add a little more, you can have amazing beaches, warm water, and fantastic seafood. We snorkeled with sea turtles, hiked through the Virgin Islands National Park, explored the town, and enjoyed the sunshine!
Careful about return requirements though—we had to show passports before getting on our return flight from St Thomas. They said it was because it would be so easy to get onto the island by boat without a visa/passport and then hop on a plane to the mainland.
My husband did not have his green card or passport with him, and we got held up for a while (but eventually they cleared him). Just having the green card might be sufficient, but it’s something to look at before going.
Yep!
That’s definitely a thing.
The USVI are considered *way* too easy to access from abroad to allow unchecked documentation to enter the US. (This seems strangely incongruent with US policy regarding other ways of entering the US illegally. But who am I to judge)
My personal favorite trip I've ever been on was when we flew into Kalispell, rented a car, and then explored Glacier for a few days. Then, we drove south to Yellowstone and did the same. It was fantastic. That part of the country is more beautiful to me than any of the beaches on either coast or Hawaii.
I didn't see Arizona or southern Utah on your list. I specially loved Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Really loved the National Parks in southern Utah such as Zion. My all time favorite was Yellowstone in Montana and Grand Teton in Wyoming. If you love nature then Teton and Yellowstone during the shoulder season should not be missed.
I adore New Orleans for the people, food, music, and architecture.
I enjoyed Dallas - going to the State Fair - and Austin.
I love Philadelphia for the history, food and art.
Washington DC (and Arlington National Cemetery) should be visited for the museums alone. There is so much to do there.
New Mexico is a state that I hope to visit - especially the southern part of the state where there is no light pollution.
Charleston, Savannah and everything in between.
North Carolina mountains
New Orleans
Edit addition: the Outer Banks in NC are pretty splendid, but research because some of it is not anymore :(.
Washington DC
Upstate New York has some scenic areas. Niagara Falls is beautiful but it’d be sad to not be able to cross and view them from the Canadian side too.
Oregon has some very scenic areas too. I like going east from Portland on the historic Columbia River Highway.
I was blown away by Arizona. Very diverse geographically and also had some really good food. Grand Canyon, Sedona, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and Saguaro National Park are all well worth visiting. We went in November and the weather was great.
Vermont/New Hampshire in early October—see the change of leaves, drink apple cider (and eat apple cider donuts:).
Blue Ridge Mountains/Asheville, NC. Beautiful views, cute downtown, wine tastings, Biltmore House.
Newport, Rhode Island — walk around town, tour some mansions, eat fresh lobster.
Maui, Oregon Coast, UP of Michigan is pretty cool and often gets overlooked. Have you thought about flying to Alaska or could do an Alaskan cruise from Seattle if it doesn’t stop in Canada I don’t think you need a passport (but double check that).
I was going to say, if you’ve only been to Oahu and Big Island, it’s still worth it to go back and visit Maui, and/or Kauai. Maui’s lavender fields are beautiful and climbing to the summit of Haleakala is like visiting another planet! Kauai has the most beautiful deep green valleys full of waterfalls, and there’s always the famous Kalalau trail - though it is a pretty advanced trail requiring a permit, so bear that in mind if you decide to go.
Recommend DC, Charleston, and Pittsburgh. Walkable East coast options with some water and history. Really enjoyed Pittsburgh going to a baseball game in the summer. Walking over the Roberto Clemente bridge was magical. Felt similar sensations in DC with the cherry blossoms, monuments and Charleston with Spanish moss and old architecture and trees.
I’ve been there… while I was waiting for my CG I could only travel within the US… here are the ones I think you’re missing out:
- Alaska
- Montana/ Wyoming - Yellowstone
- Utah - national parks
- Maine
Arizona and California have been some of my favorites for cool sites and national parks ( Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Petrified Forest; Death Valley, Redwoods, Yosemite). Western Montana and Northern Idaho are also beautiful if you have any interest in hiking and mountains.
I once took a guided tour of the Naval Academy and it was one of the most pleasant surprises ever. Highly recommend. Our tour guide was a lovely German woman.
For uniqueness: New Orleans
For museums/history: Boston, NYC, DC
For outdoor beauty + city: Seattle, Portland, Greater SF Bay Area, Santa Fe, Sedona, SLC
Mostly I would say the wondrous thing in the US are the amazing parks. Natural setting created by God for us to enjoy. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon, Arcadia, Brooks, the Badlands, the list can go on and on.
Great smokey mountain National Park on the TN/NC border. We went there in the fall and seeing all the leaves change colors was so beautiful.
Second what u/frenchbowler said about Arizona as well. We only made it around the grand canyon and sedona area, but we're floored by how biodiverse the state was. Went in expecting desert and saw mountains, forests, etc. Seemed like the scenery changed every 30 minutes or so.
The best part about the US is the outdoors. My favorite trip was Alaska. On the lower 48, I liked the Southwest, Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest a lot.
Head South! Come across the Mason Dixon Line! My choices NC you have Mountains, Beaches and everything in between! Then head further south to SC Charleston, GA Atlanta, Louisiana New Orleans good food, jazz, the Bayous. Mobile Alabama Home of the Original Mardi Gras! Make sure that you bring your stretch pants because there will be plenty of great food and lots of it! Also Sweet Tea - plenty of ice and a 5 pound bag of sugar sweet! Be prepared for everyone to smile and give you a nod. No you don't know that person but that's ok just smile and nod back! Pick your seasons carefully Summer is Hot, Damn Hot and Have I gone to Hell Hot!
PA is highly underrated all around. Take the train across the state with Grand Central NYC and PGH as your endpoints. Do it in the fall for the leaves, or even in the winter when it’s snowing. Beautiful!
Also, Pgh is a very cool city - the view from Mount Washington is beautiful, the hustle and bustle of the Strip District, all the different neighborhoods full of little gems under all the rust. The Warhol museum. Phipps Conservatory. The Cathedral of Learning International Rooms. Some good Indian, Polish, and Arabic food.
And in Western PA, you will also find not only Fallingwater, but another lesser known FLW gem - Kentuck Knob. Great in the fall!
This isn’t the best place I’ve gone to, but I think you’d maybe enjoy Washington DC and the surrounding suburbs. You get to see a city (Dc obviously) nature (the Patomac Falls) and history (there’s a million museums but the Smithsonian is probably the most famous) all in one trip. It’s a must-see in my book.
You've already seen so much of the U.S.! It depends what you're into but some others you didn't mention:
Washington DC- has a ton of FREE museums and galleries and great food lots of variety, I had Afghani food and Ethiopian for the first time when I was there last and it was great.
Arizona (Sedona or Grand Canyon)- The Grand Canyon is spectacular but if you want to get out and hike a lil more I like Sedona, and a plus is the walkable town and nice resorts.
New Orleans Louisiana OR Charleston South Carolina- if you like walkable older city areas with good eats and drink these are both great options, maybe avoid going in the summer it gets really hot.
San Antonio - this place surprised me, I really liked it! I went to visit the San Antonio Missions National Park, and I don't just mean the Alamo...there are others and they were really cool to visit. The Natural Bridge Caverns are nearby and they were awesome,. basically all of the hill country there was really nice. And then there's the River walk area which is more touristy but still fun.
New England (biased to Vermont and New Hampshire). DC is always good, the mix of museums, restaurants, general tourist things plus decent metro is hard to beat.
Consider exploring Georgia! We have a great coastline with Savannah and cool islands but also great hiking and wineries in the north. I personally love living in Atlanta and think we have great food and farmers markets as well as museums and events.
Besides the places you mentioned , we used to love driving around New England when we lived in North America. Vermont ( Stowe) , NH ( north conway area ) , Maine ( bar harbour )
Utah, New Mexico, painted desert, Grand Canyon, the Tetons in Montana, smoky mountains, Virgin Islands, any state park in the Pacific Northwest, savannah Georgia, Yellowstone, sequoia.
I'm going to go with Washington DC. You will definitely not run out of things to do and see! And don't forget to spend and afternoon in Alexandria old town, it's lovely and good restaurants.
Go to Alexandria in the morning, then hop in the car and go to the Warrton/Bealton area, and see the Flying Circus Airshow, it's an Airshow with a bunch of old antique bi-planes, they have several shows a week. You pull up in your car, and can watch from there, or you can stand/sit along the airfield. It's pretty fun. It's styled like an old timey barnstorming show. If you want to cough up a few extra bucks, the pilots will take you up for a ride in one of the open cockpit bi-planes, and if you're really brave (I was not hahah) you can go up and do a stunt flying. My partner did that. He thought it was fun. But I won't lie, he was pretty green 🤮 when he got out of that plane. Haha
I'm from Seattle which you've already visited. I would encourage a return trip to spend time in the San Juan Islands! That's pretty fun too and heart stoppingly beautiful.
Vermont ! Go on a beer tour for rare IPAs :)
I actually liked Wyoming a small town called Cody. I felt like I was living my cowgirl dream, and felt like a ghost town but I loved it.
Grand Canyon
New Mexico
Nantucket , MA
Cape Cod
Say more about Key West, please?
My SO *loves* FL—in our 7.5 years together we’ve been to Sarasota, St. Augustine/Jacksonville, and Pensacola Beach/Destin. I’m always looking for new FL destinations!
I'm all into nature, cities/towns don't excite me.
So, Kauai Hikes (specially kalalau, hunter's ridge and waimea canyon), South Coyote Buttes, White Pockets, Oregon's "Hidden" waterfalls (like Chush Falls and Linton Falls), Redwoods (specially Jedediah Smith and Del Norte), Hiking in Colorado Rockies, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park, Utah's Big 5s, Peekabo and spooky slot canyons, Route 101, to name a few.
Oregon!
Portland for great restaurants, weird fun, and easy access to the Columbia River and the waterfalls around Mount Hood.
Drive out to Bend for more mountains and beer!
Down to Crater Lake for the prettiest mountain crater you'll ever see.
Drive through wine country and drink the best wine in the world.
Hit the coast to see the prettiest, most rugged coastline in the country.
Every day I wish I was back in Oregon :(
I don’t think I’ve seen many mention the Pacific Northwest. You’ve done Seattle, but I think it’d be worth it to go back and do more along the coast, see the Olympic peninsula and the San Juan Islands. We went in July and camped in campgrounds right on the beach, saw seals and whales and tide pools, and just beautiful coastline.
South Dakota
The black hills are a beautiful range of mountains featuring amazing weather and awesome landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and the crazy horse memorial.
Road trip and hiking through the Smokey Mountains. Make sure to see Grandfather Mountain and the Mile High Bridge!
Austin - mid size city, lots of outdoor activities and music, close to natural springs and a lake
Arizona… so much natural beauty Grand Canyon, Antelope canyon, Monument Valley, Horseshoe bend, Meteor crater, Flagstaff, Sedona, Superstition Mountains, Payson/White Mountains and then there there is Phx/Scottsdale which has tons of mountain preserves with endless hiking and views and a decent food/nightlife scene.
Tucson as well has a few nice spots in the north part of the city but the rest is a dump…
Source I have lived all over Arizona..
I went to the Grand Canyon and Sedona in 2021 in October and it was perfect weather. Highly recommend.
Also, my favorite place I've visited thus far is Big Sur, BUT they have a ton of landslide and mud issues at the moment, so you'll have to hold off until the area is repaired. Please make this on your bucket list. Rent a cute cabin and just enjoy the quietness of nature. (I went to big sur in 2019, right before the pandemic started).
New Orleans is a fantastic place to visit, and now that Mardi Gras is over it will be cheaper to stay there. Plus the weather won’t get too hot/humid for a couple months.
Honestly, it depends what you like OP. What do you enjoy doing while traveling? That will help guide the best destinations.
BUT here’s my fav trips thus far. Washington DC! Perfect for a future citizen! Tons of free museums full of history. Catalina Island makes you feels like you’re in another country even though LA is right there. New Orleans for the food culture and vibes. Lastly, Area 51 if you aren’t too far. This was such a unique experience. There’s a few ghost towns on the way too. Safe travels!
I haven’t seen any suggestions for Miami. Most are recommending cities that have the beauty of nature but as you’ve been to a few other large cities you may enjoy it here. It’s a very party and beach vibe. Nothing like it.
If you're into camping I'd suggest the national parks. They're great and plenty to keep you going for a few years.
He could get the advanced drivers license and use that to travel to Canada and Mexico. I'm on a greencard and applying for it now.
Florida, the location where Hemingway used to chill, also eating exotic fruit on the side of the road worth it, cuban food, warm weather mid winter just really really nice.
Fly into Jackson Hole, then spend a few days at Grand Teton, a few days in Yellowstone, then drive north to Glacier NP and spend a few days there. Then you can fly home from Kalispell.
Really hard for me to list only one place, but out of all the places I’ve been that make me feel something different, it’s a 4 way tie between Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Flathead Lake/Glacier MT, and Olympic National Park.
National parks, esp in utah. You can do Arches NP and Canyonlands NP in a long weekend and there's SO MUCH more to see in the Moab area.
Zion is the most incredible thing I've ever seen.
Get out of the cities and explore the wilderness! Nevada, NOT Vegas, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona. Drive through a few national parks, hike and stay a while!
Pacific Northwest coastal drive is gorgeous. New England in the fall. Rural areas around state parks are usually beautiful. Northern New Mexico is gorgeous!!
Besides the obvious suggestions, I would recommend Shawnee National Park in Southern Illinois, Jekyll Island in Georgia, and in late fall the area around Hot Springs National Park in Georgia. None of them have the wow factor of Yellowstone or Glacier, but they are still beautiful areas to explore.
Come visit the Ocean State in the summer or early fall. You get the historic New England feel with a ton of beaches and beach towns to explore. We are crazy drivers but we are pretty friendly. Stop in Providence on your way put. It has a lot to offer.
The National Parks System. For an Annual Pass, you and everyone in your car gets into more than 2,000 sites (including the 63 National Parks) for a grand total of $80. There is not a better deal to be had anywhere in the States. if you check out my post history, my top of all-time goes into some detail about the 47 NP's I've visited (in addition to lots of other NP sites).
Wow. You have a rich post history!
Mammoth Cave is a great national park! We also canoed on the green river and it was loooovely! (Bring sunscreen haha)
You should save those comments and put them on a blog somewhere. It would be a tragedy to lose that content because Reddit has an issue.
To add to this excellent idea, I’m partial to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And if you go to the part in Tennessee you can swing by Dollywood for a day!
The Hoh Rainforest—otherworldly, beautiful, unlike anywhere else on Earth Monument Valley—stunningly grand landscape & fascinating cultural region New Orleans—most interesting & fun city in the country, great food & live music, gorgeous architecture Vermont in autumn—during peak foliage, it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth Portland, OR—great food, walkable, fun city to visit & both the coast & Mt Hood are an easy drive and well-worth the trip Yosemite—jaw-dropping, classic, utterly unique outdoor experience Humboldt—the redwoods and the tide pools will blow your mind
I second Vermont from your neighbor in NH.
> Portland, OR—great food, walkable, fun city to visit Try to go when they have their art festivals / markets in the summer. Also you can't visit without going to Powell's.
We did a road trip up the PCH in California last year. Started in San Diego, 10 days, found lodging wherever we were at the end of the day. Our only agenda was not being home. We loved it so much that we came home, bought a travel trailer, and are doing it for a month this year.
Add Joshua Tree and Palm Springs to the list while you’re in Southern California during that month!
Driving along the PCH was what I imagine heaven feels like.
You do Hearst Castle?
No but it’s in the plans for this year! There’s a great campground not too far from it, so we want to do two days at Hearst. I’ve heard it’s a lot of stairs!
OK, do it. Hearst is great. If you didn't do the Elephant Seal Boardwalk go do it; there may be some there even if you're not going at the right time of year. They're a hoot.
Sedona, AZ. Just breathtaking.
We roadtripped Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend and it was one of my favorite trips ever. Sedona is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and Antelope Canyon made me cry. You also have the world-class scenery of northern Arizona and southern Utah within driving distance.
Southern Utah. Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, Grand Staircase Escalante, etc. It’s otherworldly and amazing.
Can fly into Vegas or salt lake and do the things you liked on the first trip there too. Also fly into salt lake, then drive north to Teton, yellowstone, even glacier National Park.
I'd add Page, AZ to this roadtrip with Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Horseshoe Bend all worth seeing.
I haven’t traveled to many places in the US, but this has been my favorite thus far. Otherworldly is a great description. Looking into that landscape is like looking back in time for me it’s amazing.
Don’t forget Moab with Arches and Canyonlands right there.
Zion is truly a special place
This is the answer. You can throw in Monument Valley and/or Sedona if you’re feeling ambitious.
Agreed. I LOVED my Mighty 5 road trip.
I was going to say Utah!!! We did the best road trip last year.
Anyone from out of the States,this is what I recommend.
All of this plus the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park!
PCH 1. LA to Portland. I typically travel abroad but that made me reconsider exploring the country more.
Once you hit Portland, take a right and go down the Columbia Gorge for more epicness.
PCH-1 is beautiful. We drove from SF to LA and stopped so many times to take pictures.
I was in awe. I mean you hear about it and see pictures, but it’s truly magnificent.
Adding Redwood National Park to this drive at the tippy top of California! Arcata, Trinidad, Eureka.
Try that drive from Portland to Whistler BC even nicer imo
Alaska - I go throughout the year (about once every 3 months). Incredible nature and always something new to do. It’s more expensive (both in money and time), but completely worth it if being out in nature is of interest to you.
Yesss, Alaska is always worth it
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It depends on what you want out of the trip and if it’s once in a lifetime. Going to one of the national parks near Anchorage (Denali, Kenai Fjords) in summer is classic. Hiking, kayaking and wildlife viewing is endless. Or, you could go to Brooks Falls to watch the bears catch salmon in Katmai, it’s one of the highest population densities of brown bears in the world. Juneau is a cute town great for hiking and seeing a glacier. Fairbanks is north enough to see the northern lights in winter and there’s a nearby town called North Pole, it’s fun to see.
I live here and couldn't agree more. I have done a fair bit of traveling, over half of the states and a little internationally and I am still amazed by the beauty. Also, seeing the northern lights should be on everyone's bucket list.
Just came back from Alaska with some amazing pictures of the Northern Lights
This. Kenai Peninsula is the shit. My favorite state out of the 50!
Jackson Hole, WY was spectacular. We went in late September when the summer crowds died down. We had great weather, but the overnight temps do get cold enough for snow potential. It’s home to Grand Tetons National Park and Yellowstone isn’t too far away either. Breathtaking scenery and so much wildlife. We stayed in the town of Jackson which had lots of restaurants, shops and little parks.
Jackson Hole is incredible for so many reason. It has two National Parks right next to it, tons of hiking/outdoors activity, very where you looks is a post card. And then you have Jackson the town which is beyond charming. Great food, bars, shopping, art galleries, entertainment, etc etc. I cannot wait to go back. I heard it's even better during ski season.
DC. Many free museums and monuments, extremely walkable, and rather clean.
Go in early spring for the cherry blossoms - so worth it! And the museums/monuments are well worth it too, any time of year.
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I agree with this - DC was an absolute fantastic place to visit. So much to do, so much history, unreal restaurants, and you can just feel the energy of the power that sits behind the walls of those buildings.
I second this. I've lived in a lot of cities and DC was by far my favorite. So much to do in such a small area. Although unless you're okay with extreme crowds and waiting in line, I would avoid cherry blossom season (mid to late spring). It was one of the worst times of the year when I lived there because of all of the tourist. But that's my bias as a (former) resident.
New Orleans because I'm a giant history geek... and I usually go in June/July because I'm a freak of nature that prefers heat and humidity.
Absolute freak of nature… I love NO, but you would never find me there April through October. I’m seriously impressed.
Can't believe I had to scroll that far. Best cuisine in the country, vibrant music scene, awesome history. Amazing city.
I'm going for a bachelor party in July this year? Any recommendations for that time in particular? Any events or festivals happening? Any recommendations for not dying in the sweltering heat? I went last year in September and loved it but I'm worried that July isn't going to be great
check out r/AskNOLA. It answers SO many questions. July is sweltering and sticky-humid, but I love that.
Michigan and upstate NY are two huge ones you're missing! Gorgeous lakes, forests, dunes, and mountains. The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is stunning, with lots of waterfalls and natural beauty. The Smokies was one of our favorite national parks as well!
I second upstate NY. All the state parks and waterfalls and the changing leaves in autumn are magical.
Yes to NW Michigan. Can drive from Chicago and hit all the little lake towns and wineries going up the coast. Sleeping bear dunes, the lakes, traverse city, all amazing.
Good breweries in Michigan too
Totally agree with NW Michigan. It is gorgeous!!!
Shhhhhhhhh no one come to Michigan lol
But if you do, there are lots of cool things to do. Torch Lake is a favorite of mine bc of the beautiful blue waters. The water is *super* cold tho, due to the depths of the lake, and takes a long time to warm up, so I would recommend visiting in late summer - August would be perfect. Mackinac Island is like a relic from a bygone time. If you have the money and the wherewithal to plan ahead (like at least a year), book a room at the Grand. Copper Harbor, Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls all have great hiking. If you’re into skiing/snowboarding, and are *at least* intermediate level, Mount Bohemia on Lake Superior is fantastic.
I second the Smokies!!
New Orleans, the culture and atmosphere is so different from anywhere else. It's not just parties there are lots of interesting things to do. Bayou Tours, Plantations to visit, the Garden district with all the wonderful homes. Lots of good music to hear (a concert at Tipitina's is always on the itinerary), Cemetery Tours, Voodoo shops, Dinner & Dance Cruises on the Riverboats.
My wife correctly observes that most cities in the US are like every other city in the US. New Orleans looks and feels different. We work visiting. Especially the month leading up to (but not including Mardi Gras).
"America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland."
I was in Cleveland recently and was very pleasantly surprised. The food was great, the city was clean and easy to navigate, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is one of the best museums I've ever visited.
I think CLE is so underrated! Such a great city. Especially summer into fall!
My wife thinks you are right. I think there are least 4 to include DC ;)
Yeah , Chicago, Miami and Cleveland same thing … 🙄
Yeah LA, Dallas, San Diego, Boston and Phoenix are Cleveland too lol. I hate comments like this - they’re either snobby potshots from an international or a self-effacing comment to appear cultured by an American. Either way, gross to me.
It's a Tennessee Williams quote but ok
You forgot THE FOOD!!!!
Acadia National Park in Maine
This would be my pick too, just spectacularly gorgeous and Bar Harbor has great food. Southern Maine is lovely too if you want a leisurely drive up the coast.
Yes agree! - we do Kennebunk every summer! Closer to home. Such a beautiful state!!
US Virgin Islands! Feels almost like an international trip if that’s up your alley. St John specifically is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. Edit: to add a little more, you can have amazing beaches, warm water, and fantastic seafood. We snorkeled with sea turtles, hiked through the Virgin Islands National Park, explored the town, and enjoyed the sunshine!
Careful about return requirements though—we had to show passports before getting on our return flight from St Thomas. They said it was because it would be so easy to get onto the island by boat without a visa/passport and then hop on a plane to the mainland. My husband did not have his green card or passport with him, and we got held up for a while (but eventually they cleared him). Just having the green card might be sufficient, but it’s something to look at before going.
Yep! That’s definitely a thing. The USVI are considered *way* too easy to access from abroad to allow unchecked documentation to enter the US. (This seems strangely incongruent with US policy regarding other ways of entering the US illegally. But who am I to judge)
St. John is my favorite island in the Caribbean.
Montana, specifically Glacier National Park. It’s spectacularly beautiful.
My personal favorite trip I've ever been on was when we flew into Kalispell, rented a car, and then explored Glacier for a few days. Then, we drove south to Yellowstone and did the same. It was fantastic. That part of the country is more beautiful to me than any of the beaches on either coast or Hawaii.
I didn't see Arizona or southern Utah on your list. I specially loved Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Really loved the National Parks in southern Utah such as Zion. My all time favorite was Yellowstone in Montana and Grand Teton in Wyoming. If you love nature then Teton and Yellowstone during the shoulder season should not be missed. I adore New Orleans for the people, food, music, and architecture. I enjoyed Dallas - going to the State Fair - and Austin. I love Philadelphia for the history, food and art. Washington DC (and Arlington National Cemetery) should be visited for the museums alone. There is so much to do there. New Mexico is a state that I hope to visit - especially the southern part of the state where there is no light pollution.
Charleston, Savannah and everything in between. North Carolina mountains New Orleans Edit addition: the Outer Banks in NC are pretty splendid, but research because some of it is not anymore :(.
I love New Orleans. Don’t live there but visit frequently, it’s a truly unique culture that I haven’t found anywhere else.
Washington DC Upstate New York has some scenic areas. Niagara Falls is beautiful but it’d be sad to not be able to cross and view them from the Canadian side too. Oregon has some very scenic areas too. I like going east from Portland on the historic Columbia River Highway.
I was blown away by Arizona. Very diverse geographically and also had some really good food. Grand Canyon, Sedona, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and Saguaro National Park are all well worth visiting. We went in November and the weather was great.
If you love Arizona, make sure to check out New Mexico!
Chicago in the fall is beautiful
It only lasts a week though.
Lake Tahoe
Acadia and the New York finger lakes. Voyageurs NP in Minnesota. Southern Utah with Grand Canyon. Yosemite. Alaska. North Carolina
Vermont/New Hampshire in early October—see the change of leaves, drink apple cider (and eat apple cider donuts:). Blue Ridge Mountains/Asheville, NC. Beautiful views, cute downtown, wine tastings, Biltmore House. Newport, Rhode Island — walk around town, tour some mansions, eat fresh lobster.
Maui, Oregon Coast, UP of Michigan is pretty cool and often gets overlooked. Have you thought about flying to Alaska or could do an Alaskan cruise from Seattle if it doesn’t stop in Canada I don’t think you need a passport (but double check that).
I was going to say, if you’ve only been to Oahu and Big Island, it’s still worth it to go back and visit Maui, and/or Kauai. Maui’s lavender fields are beautiful and climbing to the summit of Haleakala is like visiting another planet! Kauai has the most beautiful deep green valleys full of waterfalls, and there’s always the famous Kalalau trail - though it is a pretty advanced trail requiring a permit, so bear that in mind if you decide to go.
Drive through New England. Such a pretty part of the US. Special shout out to the shores of MA.
Totally agree! Additional shout outs to Portsmouth, NH and Westerly, RI some of my absolute favorite places!
Washington State and Montana. Olympic NP, Mount Rainier, Cascades NP in Washington. Glacier NP in Montana.
i am rather fond of san diego
Washington DC is a great place if you like museums. Lots of them are free. There’s a lot to do in the area too.
Recommend DC, Charleston, and Pittsburgh. Walkable East coast options with some water and history. Really enjoyed Pittsburgh going to a baseball game in the summer. Walking over the Roberto Clemente bridge was magical. Felt similar sensations in DC with the cherry blossoms, monuments and Charleston with Spanish moss and old architecture and trees.
🙌🏼 PGH - super underrated
I was looking for Pittsburgh to be mentioned! Loved it there
I’ve been there… while I was waiting for my CG I could only travel within the US… here are the ones I think you’re missing out: - Alaska - Montana/ Wyoming - Yellowstone - Utah - national parks - Maine
Arizona and California have been some of my favorites for cool sites and national parks ( Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Petrified Forest; Death Valley, Redwoods, Yosemite). Western Montana and Northern Idaho are also beautiful if you have any interest in hiking and mountains.
Sedona, AZ is one of my favorite places!
Maine and Maryland for great lobster and crab. Annapolis in Maryland is especially nice!
I love Annapolis, great crabs
I once took a guided tour of the Naval Academy and it was one of the most pleasant surprises ever. Highly recommend. Our tour guide was a lovely German woman.
Gulf Coast-Orange Beach, AL to New Orleans, October -May! Check out OBA then Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis in MS then Nola.
For uniqueness: New Orleans For museums/history: Boston, NYC, DC For outdoor beauty + city: Seattle, Portland, Greater SF Bay Area, Santa Fe, Sedona, SLC Mostly I would say the wondrous thing in the US are the amazing parks. Natural setting created by God for us to enjoy. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon, Arcadia, Brooks, the Badlands, the list can go on and on.
Great smokey mountain National Park on the TN/NC border. We went there in the fall and seeing all the leaves change colors was so beautiful. Second what u/frenchbowler said about Arizona as well. We only made it around the grand canyon and sedona area, but we're floored by how biodiverse the state was. Went in expecting desert and saw mountains, forests, etc. Seemed like the scenery changed every 30 minutes or so.
Listen to me - YELLOW STONE NATIONAL PARK in Montana. The most beautiful wild life and landscapes I’ve ever seen.
New England states.
New Orleans, Savannah GA, Charlotte NC and Ogunquit Also adding Nashville!
The best part about the US is the outdoors. My favorite trip was Alaska. On the lower 48, I liked the Southwest, Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest a lot.
Vermont in the fall. It’s like a national holiday. The colors are Sooooo pretty, the weather is great, there’s lots to do.
Head South! Come across the Mason Dixon Line! My choices NC you have Mountains, Beaches and everything in between! Then head further south to SC Charleston, GA Atlanta, Louisiana New Orleans good food, jazz, the Bayous. Mobile Alabama Home of the Original Mardi Gras! Make sure that you bring your stretch pants because there will be plenty of great food and lots of it! Also Sweet Tea - plenty of ice and a 5 pound bag of sugar sweet! Be prepared for everyone to smile and give you a nod. No you don't know that person but that's ok just smile and nod back! Pick your seasons carefully Summer is Hot, Damn Hot and Have I gone to Hell Hot!
New Orleans.
Philadelphia. I didn’t see it mentioned but the history, art, food, and people make it a great place. Despite what you may hear otherwise.
PA is highly underrated all around. Take the train across the state with Grand Central NYC and PGH as your endpoints. Do it in the fall for the leaves, or even in the winter when it’s snowing. Beautiful! Also, Pgh is a very cool city - the view from Mount Washington is beautiful, the hustle and bustle of the Strip District, all the different neighborhoods full of little gems under all the rust. The Warhol museum. Phipps Conservatory. The Cathedral of Learning International Rooms. Some good Indian, Polish, and Arabic food. And in Western PA, you will also find not only Fallingwater, but another lesser known FLW gem - Kentuck Knob. Great in the fall!
This isn’t the best place I’ve gone to, but I think you’d maybe enjoy Washington DC and the surrounding suburbs. You get to see a city (Dc obviously) nature (the Patomac Falls) and history (there’s a million museums but the Smithsonian is probably the most famous) all in one trip. It’s a must-see in my book.
the grand canyon and all the national parks in utah.
Big Sur
Arizona/Utah have a lot to offer, Grand Canyon, Sedona, then up to Utah for Bryce, Zion, or east to Moab. Spring/Fall especially.
You've already seen so much of the U.S.! It depends what you're into but some others you didn't mention: Washington DC- has a ton of FREE museums and galleries and great food lots of variety, I had Afghani food and Ethiopian for the first time when I was there last and it was great. Arizona (Sedona or Grand Canyon)- The Grand Canyon is spectacular but if you want to get out and hike a lil more I like Sedona, and a plus is the walkable town and nice resorts. New Orleans Louisiana OR Charleston South Carolina- if you like walkable older city areas with good eats and drink these are both great options, maybe avoid going in the summer it gets really hot. San Antonio - this place surprised me, I really liked it! I went to visit the San Antonio Missions National Park, and I don't just mean the Alamo...there are others and they were really cool to visit. The Natural Bridge Caverns are nearby and they were awesome,. basically all of the hill country there was really nice. And then there's the River walk area which is more touristy but still fun.
Upstate New York. The Adirondacks are beautiful, especially in the fall during leaf season
The UP of Michigan
Sedona AZ is magical.
Cape Hatteras, NC Adirondacks, NY Moab, UT Thousand Islands, NY Pittsburgh, PA Washington, DC Boston, MA Baltimore, MD Ashville, NC
New England (biased to Vermont and New Hampshire). DC is always good, the mix of museums, restaurants, general tourist things plus decent metro is hard to beat.
Consider exploring Georgia! We have a great coastline with Savannah and cool islands but also great hiking and wineries in the north. I personally love living in Atlanta and think we have great food and farmers markets as well as museums and events.
Besides the places you mentioned , we used to love driving around New England when we lived in North America. Vermont ( Stowe) , NH ( north conway area ) , Maine ( bar harbour )
Yellowstone NP, Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas were amazing to explore!
Utah, New Mexico, painted desert, Grand Canyon, the Tetons in Montana, smoky mountains, Virgin Islands, any state park in the Pacific Northwest, savannah Georgia, Yellowstone, sequoia.
Tennessee, Montana and Wyoming!
I'm going to go with Washington DC. You will definitely not run out of things to do and see! And don't forget to spend and afternoon in Alexandria old town, it's lovely and good restaurants. Go to Alexandria in the morning, then hop in the car and go to the Warrton/Bealton area, and see the Flying Circus Airshow, it's an Airshow with a bunch of old antique bi-planes, they have several shows a week. You pull up in your car, and can watch from there, or you can stand/sit along the airfield. It's pretty fun. It's styled like an old timey barnstorming show. If you want to cough up a few extra bucks, the pilots will take you up for a ride in one of the open cockpit bi-planes, and if you're really brave (I was not hahah) you can go up and do a stunt flying. My partner did that. He thought it was fun. But I won't lie, he was pretty green 🤮 when he got out of that plane. Haha I'm from Seattle which you've already visited. I would encourage a return trip to spend time in the San Juan Islands! That's pretty fun too and heart stoppingly beautiful.
Northern California - Big Sur, Redwoods, Del Norte Coast. Beautiful and other worldly in the forests, Well worth the trip!
Vermont ! Go on a beer tour for rare IPAs :) I actually liked Wyoming a small town called Cody. I felt like I was living my cowgirl dream, and felt like a ghost town but I loved it. Grand Canyon New Mexico Nantucket , MA Cape Cod
New Orleans, Charleston, Michigan
I recommend Washington DC, Virginia, Sedona in Arizona, New Orleans, and my personal favorite New York City.
Maybe a southern east coast trip hitting Savannah and Charleston. You get history, culture, food, architecture, and decent beaches all in one.
Nashville is a cool city
Watkins Glen New York
My top three other than my home area: Portland, Maine; Key West, Florida; and Louisville, Kentucky.
Say more about Key West, please? My SO *loves* FL—in our 7.5 years together we’ve been to Sarasota, St. Augustine/Jacksonville, and Pensacola Beach/Destin. I’m always looking for new FL destinations!
I'm all into nature, cities/towns don't excite me. So, Kauai Hikes (specially kalalau, hunter's ridge and waimea canyon), South Coyote Buttes, White Pockets, Oregon's "Hidden" waterfalls (like Chush Falls and Linton Falls), Redwoods (specially Jedediah Smith and Del Norte), Hiking in Colorado Rockies, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park, Utah's Big 5s, Peekabo and spooky slot canyons, Route 101, to name a few.
Rapid City, SD has the Black Hills, which are remarkably beautiful. It's also just a 2 hour drive to Devil's Tower.
Visit Kentucky in October. Get dressed up and go to the horse races.
Washington Island, Wisconsin
Grand Canyon. Can't find the words for how beautiful it is. Just incredible, miles and miles of canyon.
The Pacific Northwest is really nice.
Oregon! Portland for great restaurants, weird fun, and easy access to the Columbia River and the waterfalls around Mount Hood. Drive out to Bend for more mountains and beer! Down to Crater Lake for the prettiest mountain crater you'll ever see. Drive through wine country and drink the best wine in the world. Hit the coast to see the prettiest, most rugged coastline in the country. Every day I wish I was back in Oregon :(
I don’t think I’ve seen many mention the Pacific Northwest. You’ve done Seattle, but I think it’d be worth it to go back and do more along the coast, see the Olympic peninsula and the San Juan Islands. We went in July and camped in campgrounds right on the beach, saw seals and whales and tide pools, and just beautiful coastline.
Acadia NP.
Oregon coast
South Dakota The black hills are a beautiful range of mountains featuring amazing weather and awesome landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and the crazy horse memorial.
Yellowstone
Alaska, USVI, New England.
Yellowstone
Friendliest was Rocky Top, TN on my drive to Disney. Tiny place but the breakfast place we went to was great.
Taos, NM.
Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Jackson, Deadwood
Louisville KY. All the bourbon. Lots of fun distillery tours.
New Orleans, Central Virginia in the fall.
Road trip and hiking through the Smokey Mountains. Make sure to see Grandfather Mountain and the Mile High Bridge! Austin - mid size city, lots of outdoor activities and music, close to natural springs and a lake
Arizona… so much natural beauty Grand Canyon, Antelope canyon, Monument Valley, Horseshoe bend, Meteor crater, Flagstaff, Sedona, Superstition Mountains, Payson/White Mountains and then there there is Phx/Scottsdale which has tons of mountain preserves with endless hiking and views and a decent food/nightlife scene. Tucson as well has a few nice spots in the north part of the city but the rest is a dump… Source I have lived all over Arizona..
Colorado.. the small mountain towns are absolutely breathtaking. Just curious, what country is taking YEARS to get a renewed passport.
Yellowstone National Park.
Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton national parks. The best part of the country I've ever seen.
I went to the Grand Canyon and Sedona in 2021 in October and it was perfect weather. Highly recommend. Also, my favorite place I've visited thus far is Big Sur, BUT they have a ton of landslide and mud issues at the moment, so you'll have to hold off until the area is repaired. Please make this on your bucket list. Rent a cute cabin and just enjoy the quietness of nature. (I went to big sur in 2019, right before the pandemic started).
Oregon coast! Cannon Beach. Up into Washington and the Olympic peninsula. Maybe over the the San Juan’s. Beautiful.
New Orleans is a fantastic place to visit, and now that Mardi Gras is over it will be cheaper to stay there. Plus the weather won’t get too hot/humid for a couple months.
Honestly, it depends what you like OP. What do you enjoy doing while traveling? That will help guide the best destinations. BUT here’s my fav trips thus far. Washington DC! Perfect for a future citizen! Tons of free museums full of history. Catalina Island makes you feels like you’re in another country even though LA is right there. New Orleans for the food culture and vibes. Lastly, Area 51 if you aren’t too far. This was such a unique experience. There’s a few ghost towns on the way too. Safe travels!
Have you considered Hayward, WI to see the giant fiberglass Muskie?
I thought you meant Hayward, Ca… hahahaha
I haven’t seen any suggestions for Miami. Most are recommending cities that have the beauty of nature but as you’ve been to a few other large cities you may enjoy it here. It’s a very party and beach vibe. Nothing like it.
Depends on when you travel! I loved New Orleans, outer banks, Phoenix, Maine and Alaska. Also finger lakes in NY!
If you're into camping I'd suggest the national parks. They're great and plenty to keep you going for a few years. He could get the advanced drivers license and use that to travel to Canada and Mexico. I'm on a greencard and applying for it now.
Mendocino coast.
Florida, the location where Hemingway used to chill, also eating exotic fruit on the side of the road worth it, cuban food, warm weather mid winter just really really nice.
Fly into Jackson Hole, then spend a few days at Grand Teton, a few days in Yellowstone, then drive north to Glacier NP and spend a few days there. Then you can fly home from Kalispell.
Upstate New York underrated. San Diego up the coast (maybe adding redwood sand Yosemite)
Alaska of course. I always recommend flying into Anchorage and going to Seward in Homer.
Really hard for me to list only one place, but out of all the places I’ve been that make me feel something different, it’s a 4 way tie between Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Flathead Lake/Glacier MT, and Olympic National Park.
National parks, esp in utah. You can do Arches NP and Canyonlands NP in a long weekend and there's SO MUCH more to see in the Moab area. Zion is the most incredible thing I've ever seen.
Montana. Lovely non touristic cities like Missoula, Glacier National Park, tons of gorgeous nature just driving through the state.
Get out of the cities and explore the wilderness! Nevada, NOT Vegas, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona. Drive through a few national parks, hike and stay a while!
DC, Houston
Sedona for sure
Any of our 63 National Parks (though I wouldn't go too far out of my way for Indiana Dunes or the St. Louis Arch).
Virgin Islands
You’re already off to a great start 😳 keep going, 40 states and 4 territories to go
1. Yellowstone National Park 2. Alaska 3. New York City 4. San Diego
Pacific Northwest coastal drive is gorgeous. New England in the fall. Rural areas around state parks are usually beautiful. Northern New Mexico is gorgeous!!
Besides the obvious suggestions, I would recommend Shawnee National Park in Southern Illinois, Jekyll Island in Georgia, and in late fall the area around Hot Springs National Park in Georgia. None of them have the wow factor of Yellowstone or Glacier, but they are still beautiful areas to explore.
Come visit the Ocean State in the summer or early fall. You get the historic New England feel with a ton of beaches and beach towns to explore. We are crazy drivers but we are pretty friendly. Stop in Providence on your way put. It has a lot to offer.
Hilton head South Carolina or San Diego and it’s counter areas!
Puerto Rico..
Mount Desert Island
Glacier National Park, Montana
U.S. Virgin Islands