Things to do
in the USA.

• Walk Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge.
• Explore the Met or another museum that fits your interests.
• Spend an evening at a Broadway show or a live-music venue.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

No car needed

Where to base yourself

Manhattan or Brooklyn near a subway station

Plan ahead: Group activities by neighborhood to avoid crossing the city repeatedly.

• Walk a section of the Rim Trail.
• Watch the light change from a rim viewpoint.
• Visit the Desert View area when roads and facilities are open.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Car useful

Where to base yourself

Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan

Plan ahead: Rim walks and hikes into the canyon require very different preparation; check heat, water and trail conditions.

• Follow the boardwalks around Old Faithful.
• Explore overlooks at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
• Look for wildlife from safe viewing areas in Lamar or Hayden Valley.

When to go

Summer into early fall

Getting around

Car recommended

Where to base yourself

Park lodging or a gateway town near your planned sights

Plan ahead: Driving takes time. Choose lodging around your route and check seasonal road access before booking.

• Explore Monterey and the coast around Carmel.
• Visit coastal viewpoints around Big Sur when accessible.
• Break the journey in Santa Barbara before Los Angeles.

When to go

Spring through fall

Getting around

Car needed

Where to base yourself

San Francisco, Monterey and Santa Barbara

Plan ahead: Check Highway 1 conditions before fixing your route. Yosemite needs extra days and a separate inland detour.

• Walk the National Mall and visit the Lincoln Memorial.
• Choose a Smithsonian museum and check its entry arrangements.
• Explore Georgetown or the waterfront.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

No car needed

Where to base yourself

A neighborhood near a Metro station

Plan ahead: Some attractions require advance passes or security checks even when admission is free.

• Walk the French Quarter beyond Bourbon Street.
• Find live music on Frenchmen Street.
• Explore the Garden District and try local Creole dishes.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

No car for the core city

Where to base yourself

French Quarter, CBD or Garden District

Plan ahead: Summer heat and humidity can make midday walking tiring; leave breaks in your plans.

• Combine Honolulu and the coast on Oahu.
• Explore volcanic landscapes on Hawaii Island.
• Set aside beach time and a locally guided cultural experience.

When to go

Choose by island and activity

Getting around

Car useful outside urban Honolulu

Where to base yourself

One island base, or two islands on a longer trip

Plan ahead: Avoid treating the islands as quick day trips. Flights, rental cars and check-ins consume vacation time.

• Explore the coast around Seward.
• Consider a Kenai Fjords boat trip.
• Add a scenic rail journey or a carefully planned road segment.

When to go

Summer for a first land trip

Getting around

Depends on the route

Where to base yourself

Anchorage and Seward for a Southcentral trip

Plan ahead: Distances and weather affect transfers. Keep spare time around boats, flights and outdoor activities.

• See Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View.
• Walk an open valley trail suited to your ability.
• Visit a giant sequoia grove when accessible.

When to go

Spring for waterfalls; summer for high country

Getting around

Car useful

Where to base yourself

Yosemite Valley or a nearby gateway

Plan ahead: Check current entry, lodging and road arrangements. High-country access follows a different season from the valley.

• Explore Zion Canyon using the transport available for your dates.
• Walk among Bryce Canyon viewpoints.
• Use Moab as a base for Arches and Canyonlands.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Car needed

Where to base yourself

Springdale, Bryce Canyon area and Moab

Plan ahead: Allow for heat, park-to-park drives and any required permits or reservations.

• See a show that matches your interests.
• Explore Downtown and its museums.
• Plan a separate outing to Red Rock Canyon.

When to go

Spring or fall for desert excursions

Getting around

Optional in the city

Where to base yourself

The Strip or Downtown

Plan ahead: The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is a substantial journey; it is better given its own overnight stop.

• Choose an Orlando theme park and leave a recovery day.
• Explore St. Augustine for a different pace.
• Spend time on one section of the Atlantic or Gulf coast.

When to go

Winter or spring for a first visit

Getting around

Car usually useful

Where to base yourself

Orlando or one coastal region

Plan ahead: Book around your main attraction and check seasonal weather; avoid daily cross-state drives.

• Take an architecture-focused river trip.
• Visit the Art Institute or another major museum.
• Walk the lakefront and explore a neighborhood food scene.

When to go

Late spring through early fall

Getting around

No car for the core city

Where to base yourself

Loop, River North or a transit-connected neighborhood

Plan ahead: Winter changes the rhythm of the trip; keep an indoor alternative for outdoor plans.

• Explore the road’s history around Chicago and Illinois.
• Stop at small-town landmarks along your chosen alignment.
• Allow time for the landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Car needed

Where to base yourself

A sequence of overnight stops from Chicago to California

Plan ahead: Seven days suits a section of the route. Two to three weeks is a more useful starting point for a full journey.

• Visit Cades Cove when accessible.
• Choose a waterfall or forest trail that suits your group.
• Follow an open scenic road across the park.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Car useful

Where to base yourself

Gatlinburg, Townsend or Cherokee

Plan ahead: Popular roads can be slow. Check parking requirements and closures before setting out.

• Walk part of Boston’s Freedom Trail.
• Explore a coastal town in Maine or Massachusetts.
• Build an autumn route through Vermont or New Hampshire.

When to go

Fall for foliage; summer for the coast

Getting around

No car in Boston; useful beyond it

Where to base yourself

Boston plus one coastal or inland area

Plan ahead: Foliage timing varies by elevation and weather. Leave flexibility rather than booking around one predicted peak date.

• Choose a live show or songwriter round.
• Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
• Spend time in East Nashville or another neighborhood.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Depends on the neighborhood

Where to base yourself

Downtown or a base near your chosen venues

Plan ahead: Check venue schedules before choosing your dates; a particular show may shape the whole trip.

• Explore Seattle or Portland on foot and transit.
• Choose the Olympic Peninsula or the Oregon Coast.
• Add waterfalls or a Cascade mountain area.

When to go

Summer into early fall

Getting around

Car useful outside the cities

Where to base yourself

Seattle or Portland plus one landscape-focused base

Plan ahead: Coastal and mountain weather differ. Build a route around open roads and realistic driving days.

• Walk Charleston’s historic streets and waterfront.
• Explore Savannah’s squares and Forsyth Park.
• Choose a guided history tour with a clear local focus.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Useful between cities

Where to base yourself

Historic districts or nearby transit-connected lodging

Plan ahead: Leave room for slow walks and meals; summer heat makes an overfilled schedule less appealing.

• Build a Colorado trip around a mountain town.
• Choose walks that match your fitness and the elevation.
• Allow time for scenic drives and changing weather.

When to go

Summer into early fall for hiking

Getting around

Car usually useful

Where to base yourself

One mountain region, such as Estes Park and nearby towns

Plan ahead: Ease into elevation and check road and trail conditions; a summer date does not guarantee snow-free high country.

• Explore Miami Beach’s Art Deco district.
• Try Cuban food in Little Havana.
• Choose a boat, snorkeling or coastal nature outing in the Keys.

When to go

Winter or spring

Getting around

Car useful for the Keys

Where to base yourself

Miami plus one or two Keys bases

Plan ahead: Allow overnight stays along the route. Water activities depend on conditions, and Miami–Key West is not a short commute.

• Visit designated viewpoints in Monument Valley.
• Consider a tour with a Navajo guide.
• Add nearby landscapes only when your driving schedule allows.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Car useful

Where to base yourself

Kayenta, Monument Valley area or nearby gateway lodging

Plan ahead: Check tribal park rules and tour access directly; do not assume a national park pass applies.

• See the Golden Gate Bridge from a public viewpoint.
• Walk the waterfront and explore the Ferry Building area.
• Visit a neighborhood such as Chinatown or the Mission.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

No car for the core city

Where to base yourself

A neighborhood with convenient transit

Plan ahead: Bring layers and account for hills. If Alcatraz is a priority, arrange your visit in advance.

• Explore recording and music history in Memphis.
• Choose a Mississippi Delta heritage stop.
• Finish with live music and neighborhood time in New Orleans.

When to go

Spring or fall

Getting around

Car useful between cities

Where to base yourself

Memphis, a Delta stop and New Orleans

Plan ahead: Check opening days and performance schedules; the best route depends on what you want to hear.

• Choose arrival and departure airports around the route.
• Alternate driving days with longer stays.
• Keep one flexible day for weather or an unexpected stop.

When to go

Choose by region

Getting around

Car needed

Where to base yourself

Overnight stops along one connected route

Plan ahead: A coast-to-coast trip needs a separate time budget. Check one-way rental costs before committing to different airports.