Hi All,

I'm working on planning a trip to the US (and Canada), aiming to take in all the major cities (and a few by the wayside), and as many natural and technological marvels as possible.

Currently, I'm planning my trip around a loop from Vancouver to Quebec via the Mexican border, though I'm undecided on if I should go east to west or west to easy. I think that decision will come down to picking the best weather conditions for the national park stretches.

As I will be travelling alone, I am looking at taking a small group tour to gain access to national parks (etc.). I've been looking at offerings from suntrek if anyone has any experience with them (good or bad). Needless to say, what I'm looking at includes Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mt Rainer, Olympic, Redwoods and many other sites across the west.

The rest of the trip is city hopping down one coast, across the south and back up. My rough itinerary, including some 'possible' stops simply there to break up long travel stretches is:

Vancouver
Seattle
Portland
San Francisco
San Diego
Las Vegas
Tucson (Planes & Missiles!)
El Paso
San Antonio (or somewhere else mid-Texas?)
New Orleans
Memphis
Nashville
Asheville (to visit a friend)
Washington
Philadelphia
Buffalo/Niagra Falls (one side or the other)
Toronto
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Boston
New York

My main concern is that I'm not currently hitting anywhere in 'The South', that there isn't anywhere yet compelling in Texas, and that there might be something I'm missing in Arizona/New Mexico.

Hence I have three specific questions to throw out in addition to a request for general advice.

1. What city (or cities) would be good to visit to gain some measure of experience with the south (as in cotton, hill-billies, mint julep, nascar and 'the south will rise again')? I've been playing with visiting Louisville, Little Rock, Atlanta or Huntsville, but have trouble finding somewhere 'compelling'.

2. I want to get from Tucson to New Orleans, but I haven't been able to settle on a city/cities to visit in Texas. I'd love to see some Rodeo, BBQ and general 'Big' action. At the moment I'm thinking of stoping by El Paso for some Mexican and San Antonio for the Alamo, but Dalas, Houston or other cities are viable too.

3. Currently I skip most of Arizona & New Mexico, stopping by the Grand Canyon and Tucson for the Aircraft boneyard & Titan Missile Museum. While it would be nice to visit Roswell just for a photo, it's out of the way and I've heard a bit of a joke. I've heard mixed things about Albequerque, Santa Fe and nothing about Flagstaff or Phoenix. Is there anything compelling is anywhere in or around these areas?


Well, if anyone is still reading, thank you very much for your consideration, and thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Cheers

Try This.

I took the train from LA to New Orleans a few years back and it took about a day and a half. It was very nice, and certainly less stress than traveling by air. You see a nice swath of the Southern US that way.

Good Luck!

here are some travel tips. Craigslist.com has a program called "rideshare" individuals post road trips that they are taking, or people post road trips they are wanting to take. it's good for short and long distances, i have friends who travel all over the US using it. most people ask to split the cost of gas for the trip, but it's a great way to get places and a lot cheaper than trains or air plans. the northwest has terrible public transit so "rideshare" is a good solution. canada and northern US states are difficult in the winter, lots of snow prohibits car travel, many of the national parks are more enjoyable in the summer than winter. so i would suggest planning your trip to be in the south in the winter and north in the summer. also look into www.hospitalityclub.org/, and www.couchsurfing.com/ there are not many hostels or guest houses in the US and these networks are good alternative for cheap lodging. i live in the northwest so i really don't have an suggestions on the south, sorry. happy travels!

i just had another thought, there is a backpacking trail called the PCT or Pacific Crest Trail, it runs from canada through washington, oregon and california down into mexico, you can hike the whole trail or sections of it. it's really beautiful and an amazing way to see the west coast if you have any interest in that sort of thing.

I LOVE New Mexico. Its amazing country there. So gorgeous. Albuequerque and Santa Fe are both worth a stop. Lots of Mexican and Native American Indian art work and influences. The country side around there is astonishing. I have been camping in NM too, but its so long ago I forget the actual places. I havent forgotten the experience of that country though. I have always said that if I ever move away from a place with an ocean nearby - thats where I would move to.

Old Town in Albuequerque is wonderful - but cant beat out Santa Fe.

Please dont miss this!

In AZ make certain you have enough time for the Grand Canyon. I would recommend stopping in Williams instead of Flagstaff. Flagstaff just seemed a bit of a tourist trap to me.

As far as hitting places in the South, I would strongly suggest either Charleston or Savannah. Charleston is better connected and a little nicer but more expensive. Savannah can be a lot of fun particularly if you can be there for Saint Patrick's Day. Other Southern suggestions would include Gulf Coast cities but it really depends on what you want to do. You won't find any "hillbillies" in either city but you can get your fill of that during your Tennessee stops. Atlanta is huge, inconvenient, and a very watered down version of the regional culture and I suggest avoiding it at all costs.

If you want to spend more time in parks and the like then it might be worth considering the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Really a beautiful place and great for hiking, camping, fishing, etc. If you are a history buff, definately spend some time in Virginia (my home state). Colonial Williamsburg will give you a great peek into colonial society throughout the region but is a little expensive. Yorktown, the site of Lord Cornwallis' surrender to Generals Washington and comte de Rochambeau, is close by as is Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in what became the US and now an interesting archeological site and museum. There is also a Dineyesque Jamestown Fort recreation not far away.

If you want a taste if the "Old South" as it was in Virginia check out one of the plantations that line the James River, my personal favorite being Shirley Plantation. That same area is home to Virginia Beach (which really isn't very worthwhile) and Norfolk. There are a couple of great museums in the area and I think you can still do a harbor tour to see Naval Station Norfolk (largest naval base in the world) though I'm sure you can't get terribly close anymore. Certainly worthwhile if you are the salty sort or like really big machines, including aircraft carriers. On the big machines front (I saw you mentioned some similar stops) the USS Wisconsin (battleship, inactive fleet) is berthed in downtown Norfolk and allows tours of the deck and superstructure. Charleston also has a naval museum where you can tour the USS Yorktown (CV-10; WWII aircraft carrier, struck from the naval registry), a submarine, and a few other interesting ships.

Transportation can be a little dicey in the Virginia locals if you don't rent a car. Savannah and Charleston are both pretty much fly in / fly out though Charleston is connected by rail to DC. I would avoid coastal parts of the South in the summer if you aren't from a similar climate. The temperature isn't terribly high but the humidity can be punishing. Same applies to DC. I would also suggest picking Nashville or Memphis as opposed to both.

Regarding Texas, you may want to consider a stop in Austin. Also, since you mentioned BBQ, what they call barbeque in Texas is entirely different than in the South (beef instead of Pork). It is a highly regional dish and what you'd get in Memphis is also quite different from what you'd get in South Carolina which can make sampling different cities takes on it a lot of fun if not particularly healthy.

I noticed you don't have Chicago on your list. If you aren't too far south, try not to miss it! Amazing city.

Yeah, seeing true hillbillies is going to be difficult without renting a car. You see, hillbillies are disconnected from the rest of the world... part of their charm, I suppose. Therefore they don't have much need for mainline transportation.

I agree with CP... seeing both Memphis and Nashville is excessive. Unless you're a die-hard Elvis fan, skip Memphis. Nashville is "Music City", and we've got honky-tonks (where you may find hillbillies with a little more culture).

New Orleans -> Nashville is about a 7 hour drive, and on that drive you'd see Alabama - which, in my opinion, has the highest concentration of true southerners per capita - but the landscape is pretty boring. Flights are usually less than $100 one-way if you fly Southwest Airlines, our most beloved discount airline (southwest.com).

The countryside is absolutely beautiful from Asheville on up to DC if you follow the Appalachian mountains. But again, not much public transportation. I wouldn't recommend Greyhound buses, as they have a reputation for attracting a sketchy crowd. As someone already suggested, craigslist may be your best option.

Cool trip very much like what i did except mine was more a zig zag.

A few things Flagstaff is a cool town to stopover in between Vegas and Tucson and a good base for trips to the Canyon and Sedona.

I agree about Tennessee unless you are a die hard elvis fan spend more time in Nashville its a great city.

Re Buffalo - stay in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side the views are better and while it is a tourist trap there are some great off the beaten path things you can do.

Id suggest from DC going to NY, then Boston then Niagara and then on to Toronto and finishing in Quebec.

Take Amtrak where you can or fly - greyhound is great for trips that start and finish in the day time and less than 10 hours - i wouldnt do longer on them.

I know trek america do some great trips encompassing the national parks. If you need any more info about any of those places feel free to PM me (ive been to most of them).

Maybe i missed it but how long are you planning this trip for and what type of visa are you considering? If you are looking to start in Vancouver and then got to the US on the 90 visa waiver it def makes sense to leave ontario and quebec til last as trying to fit in all that is a lot. I had to fly into Canada, spend my time going east to west, then went into the US and spent my 90 days entirely in the US before heading back to Canada (get the 6 month tourist visa as im English)

Michelle

Traveling around the states without a car can be hard. I'd buy a car if I were you.

I've traveled extensively throught the states both ways. And there are benefits and down falls to both, but with my experiences I would highly recommend buying a car.

Our public transportation here is horrible. Horrible.

I dont see anywhere in the original post it says hte poster intends to travel without a car. If thats the case I agree with the other posters. The US does not lend itself to travel without a car. Too many distances, and too lousy public transportation system.

Isnt Australia kinda the same thing? Too big distances? They cant possibly cover it all with trains - to get away from the more populated areas gotta get off the train and travel away from it. That spells a car.

A car can be bought for a few thousand dollars. You need insurance to go with that, but as long as you are over 25 shouldnt be too difficult to get.

Malene

I think the upshot of your planned trip is that you will get sick and tired of all the big cities and leave the U.S. without a real appreciation of its beauties -- which you can get by visiting National Parks and Monuments.

Whenever I travel to another country, I avoid going to more than one or two big cities. They wear you down.

quote:

I dont see anywhere in the original post it says hte poster intends to travel without a car.

Really, really....

Cause the title of the post is "Crossing the US by bus, rail or any means available"

Seems to me to suggest traveling the US without a car.

I don't mean to offend ya, I'm not trying to, but that is just kinda funny, so, haha.

I get drunk and post on here alot and wake up in the morning (early afternoon) and erase my post. Because I've said some dumb shit on here before, usually at 4 in morning, typing with one finger! Haha.

The southern leg of your journey should definately include a trip to Austin, TX. Most other big cities are just that, BIG. You will probably miss out on alot of Texas culture if you go to any one of them ie Dallas, Houston, etc. Hit up New Orleans and then catch a train to Memphis. Great food and great music. Elvis is not the only thing there. Keep in mind I'm a bit biased, I grew up there. If blues, rap, or Elvis isn't your thing and you like country, Nashvill is a bit more tourist friendly. I would also reccommend hitting up the old south (VA, SC, NC, DC, etc.) Have fun on this one. It sounds like a hell of a trip. Good Luck.

Thank you all for your valuable suggestions.

In reference to your points (in particular order)

1) The suggestions of 'seeing hillbillies' may have been a slight exageration, just to add colour :P

2) Yes, I am absolutely interested in anything big & machine-y. I've planned stops so far including the Hover dam, AMRG facility & Titan missile museum Tucson, Boeing & the USS New Jersey and have been looking at including San Diego & Norfolk for some ship-watching (with the expectation that I wont be able to get too close ). When I set dates, one of my aims is to try visit a city during 'fleet week'. Other suggestions along these lines are greatly appreciated.

3) One of the other driving goals of my trip is to better understand and aquaint myself with US history and verious cultural forces. Towards this end, DC & Virigina are high on my list. Jamestown et. al. are some great suggestions, thanks!

4) Sounds like there's a consensus on Austin being the place to stop in Texas.

5) Re: Visas. Thanks for noting that however my understanding is I should be able to get a B-2 visa for an extended duration stay.

Thanks again, especially for the suggestions on transport. I'm a little wary of buying a car (though I am over 25) as I'm not mechanically fluent with them and for a solo traveller, the cost & risk ratios seem excessive. Certainly ride-shares via craigslist etc. are an option, together with budget airlines, Amtrak and short bus legs.

I guess I'll have to have another shot at refining my itinerary & estimating costs (assuming public transport only) and see where that leaves me.

While I'm in there, I'll have another look at the north/south split and see if I can align it better to the seasons.

Currently I've been estimating around US$25/day hostel accomodation and US$25/day meals & incidentals, with additional costs for transport, sight-seeing & so on. I've travelled on a budget before through europe and 50 euro seemed to be a fair average there, I trust the states is similar.

Again, thank you all for your help.