Holidays: Hi all, just a quick question to our friends over the pond. This year is my wife's birthday and now the children have gone we thought we might once again visit the States. At...

Robert-Y Loc: Cambridge UK

Hi all,

just a quick question to our friends over the pond.

This year is my wife's birthday and now the children have gone we thought we might once again visit the States. At the moment we are thinking either Yellowstone, or New England Fly drive.
It will be an August visit.
Or happy to consider other places, so any ideas welcome.

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Robert-Y wrote:

Hi all,

just a quick question to our friends over the pond.

This year is my wife's birthday and now the children have gone we thought we might once again visit the States. At the moment we are thinking either Yellowstone, or New England Fly drive.
It will be an August visit.
Or happy to consider other places, so any ideas welcome.

If you have never visited the US before then I suggest you visit the Grand Canyon and New Orleans.

The Grand Canyon at the South Rim offers the greatest contrast to your life on a very green island. There are several ways to visit but I suggest the Grand Canyon Railroad out of Williams, Arizona.

New Orleans offers a tremendous opportunity to experience meals that you will remember for the rest of your life. August is very warm in Louisiana and it is not high season so a stay of a few days would be economical.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I would say South Western Florida but I'm afraid in August you would think you were in hell or close to it with the heat and humidity.

New England on the other hand could be great. You have the ocean and views around Portsmouth and then within 2 hours you would have Lake Winnipesaukee or even the White Mountains, Canon Mountain, the Crawford Notch area.

You would be near the southern Maine outlets area for shopping just north of Portsmouth NH and even the outlets (tax free) in the scenic Conway, NH. Great area also for autumn leaf peeping.

Sarge69

wannabe Loc: Baton Rouge Louisiana

NOLA has a lot to offer food , music and fun. Also a lot of places to shoot , but as Rixpix stated, August is one of our hottest months. If you can handle 90 plus degrees with about the same humidity wise than go for it.Great place you will enjoy.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

Try Yosemite National Park and the Redwoods.

dc2250 Loc: Knoxville Tn.

I travel alot, probably more than most and I personally find Yellowstone is nice the weather will be warm lots of scenery and western history, Virginia has alot of Civil war history of the U.S. and very pretty but busy, New Orleans is nice if you like high crime if out of the zone and run down cities but the food is good. Northern Cali has alot of nice views also, Smoky mtn Tennessee has modern cities, definately a view of mountains and a friendly area, or I wouldn't have moved here, New England area, to me, is a little on the snobby untrusting aura even amongst themselves but is pretty and full of history. But its your vacation, I hope you enjoy wherever you decide to be.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

If you've never been to Alaska, it's a hoot and has so many photo opps you'll need a gross of SD cards. And the added benefit is if you take an Alaskan cruise, you get to see the northwest US , Vancouver, Canada and the US wilderness all in one trip. You can also do a stop over at the Grand Canyon and stay a few nights free in Los Vegas if you do your planning right. Just a suggestion....

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

tschmath wrote:

Try Yosemite National Park and the Redwoods.

I'll second that! Fly over the North Pole to San Francisco, hire a car and drive to see the sights. Yosemite and the Redwoods are special here's one link: http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/index.htm

The Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road are usually open in summer.

Highly recommend the whole area. Have a great time where ever you go.

historian65 Loc: Holtville, Callifornia

I recommend Washington, DC, if you can handle the heat and humidity of the summer.There are jsut so many museums and places to visit but the heat/humidity in August are most trying on the person.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

historian65 wrote:

I recommend Washington, DC, if you can handle the heat and humidity of the summer.There are jsut so many museums and places to visit but the heat/humidity in August are most trying on the person.

But the bad smell from all the efluent being thrown around in Congress could be offensive. LOL. And half of the sights might be shut down due to this budget crunch. That goes for National Parks too.

drkeene Loc: Florida Gulf Coast

I'd vote for either New England, or the U.S. Northwest.

New England is more compact, but the traffic (think New York and Boston) may be a problem for someone used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road. If New England, be sure to see Montreal and Quebec. Many county fairs in August. Many museums, and many wonderful mountain, seashores and parks. For a side trip into the heat and humidity, take the train down to Washington DC.

For a more laid back trip, think of Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia. Several national and state parks, mountains, seashores and the wonderful cities of Portland, Seattle and Vancouver/Victoria.

Both New England and the U.S. Northwest will be cooler in August than anyplace in the southeast or southwest. Yellowstone/Grand Tetons in August will be crowded and it may be difficult to find a room unless you reserve far in advance.

Also, and if you can... spread part or most of your trip into September - after Labor Day. The youngsters are back in school then, and with luck you may be able to do some leaf-peeping.

Bboston75

New England and the rest of the northeast are lovely, especially in the mountains, but as a northeasterner myself, I think that its gentle greenery is much like what you already have in the U.K.
If I were taking the trouble to cross the ocean, I'd like to see something as different as possible. In my first, belated trip the the southwest a few years ago (New Mexico and southern Colorado) I was immediately struck by how very different and foreign (and beautiful) the landscape was.

So I would suggest the Grand Canyon or the canyonlands areas of Arizona and Utah or certainly Yellowstone. It's going to be hot everywhere in the US in August, and crowded in the tourist areas, so reservations are a must. If you can possibly put it off till early September, schools will be back in session by then, and travel in the big parks much more pleasant. By late August many schools have resumed and congestion is a little reduced by then, except for Labor Day weekend (September 2 this year). Don't plan on driving on Monday, 9/2, but Sunday 9/1 won't be bad.

johnr9999 Loc: Carlton, OR

Agree with singleviking. That would be a glorious trip. Only problem with Alaska is the presence of the state bird (mosquito). Also, in a recent poll Oregon was listed as the most polite state in the nation.

KW Conch Loc: USA

If you are looking for scenery and weather, the coast of Maine would be hard to beat in August.
Ironically, we are leaving on August 8th for 16 days to visit England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with a tour group from North Carolina.

Robert-Y Loc: Cambridge UK

KW Conch wrote:

If you are looking for scenery and weather, the coast of Maine would be hard to beat in August.
Ironically, we are leaving on August 8th for 16 days to visit England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with a tour group from North Carolina.

Well as ex- Royal navy myself, if you find your self anywhere near Cambridge UK, drop me a line. I would be happy to show you around.