Great Stuff to See in America

James Harden

 

A lot of foreigners want to visit the United States. Getting them to leave is the hard part. Seriously though, the biggest problem with vacationing in the US is that everything is so far apart. In Europe, you can visit 3 countries in a week and see 3 distinct cultures. In the US, it takes days just to get out of Texas or California.

My favorite places in the US in no particular order.

Florida beaches. I think they are the most underrated beaches in the world especially the ones in the panhandle.
Rocky Mountains in any state.
Southern California - the weather is as nice as any place in the world
Grand Canyon

 

lol :grin:

 

Autumn colors seen covering entire mountains. Not too many places with that vast of a view.

Maples in the Northeast and Aspens in Colorado.

It's stunning to see mountain upon mountain (14ers in CO) painted in yellow. In fact, the largest terrestrial, single organism in the world is an sspen grove in central CO.

 

Grand Canyon
Fall foliage in New England
Mall in DC

 

I would really love to hear about the not-so-obvious places. Maybe some really great towns, small cities.

Maybe a group of places close enough to each other to be able to experience in a short period of time.

It's not only about sights. There are places with no great touristy spots but people still have a great time maybe because of the people or the city life or the fishing or the surfing.

 

To see even the main places in the US will take about a month and you'll need lots of $$$ per person. I'm not sure many people have that kind of time and money esp coming from abroad

 

That would be Colorado.

Ouray (quite possibly the most stunning tiny city in the continental US), Telluride, Durango and then Mesa Verde. All in day.

Start with breakfast in Durango. Go to Mesa Verde in the morning, before it gets too hot. Return to Durango and get on the Siverton train probably the best train ride in the US...have lunch in the club car. Get a beer in Silverton's famous micro breweries. Rent a Jeep for the short drive over the pass to Ouray. You will never forget that drive. Chill in Ouray for an hour or so gazing at the iron cliff box canyon. Then for those who are good off roading, take that jeep over the other pass to Telluride for dinner. And get a cabin at the resort.

The next day you do it in reverse (except Mesa Verde) and spend more time in Ouray (you'll want to) to try the hot springs.

Also love the Rio Grande valley drive in CO that takes you to a city called Lake City. It's at the foot of the Alpine Loop which is a summer playground for Texans who love off-roading.

Crested Butte, Aspen (of course), Salida, and too many to name. All stunning in Summer and Winter.

 

Would you grab a beer with me and the wifey if we come there in December? Colorado seems to be a recurring theme in places I get recommended, and you seem to know it inside out!

Edit: wow, Ouray is beautiful!!!!

 

Nice! Would you spend more than a day there?

 

Just curious, but what are some of the other beaches you've been to in the world that has lead you to this conclusion?

 

I just spent the weekend in Acadia National Park in northern Maine. It was okay, but rather underwhelming. No one in NZ charges $25 to drive through a park.

 

What conclusion is that? They are underrated?

The islands around Phuket and other Thailand beaches
Costa Rica
Cancun
Cozumel
The beaches around Sydney Australia
Nice and Cannes, France

Though I haven't gone to Hawaii myself, several members of my family think the beaches in Florida are more beautiful.

 

We can't even get tourists from Mexico.

 

in America?

Macchu Picchu of course :grin:

 

I'm not American, and have traveled my fair share of the world. I can tell you that in my opinion, the USA is an incredible place to visit, with virtually limitless opportunities for tourism.

There is a reason American's don't travel overseas much - they don't have to!

Ugly Americans? Not in my experience - at least they are not outright rude, like in France for instance.....

 

If you like the outdoors you can easily spend more than a day there. A couple of years ago I went on a five day backpacking trip along Lake Superior and then a couple of more days of car camping at one of the state parks.