Nous allons faire un tour au mois d'Août en Nouvelle Angleterre et je soumets notre itinéraire aux commentaires des connaisseurs de cette région :
J1 à J10 : NY, Cape Cod, Boston : déjà bouclé
C'est pour la suite du circuit que j'hésite encore :
J11 : Boston ==> Portland en passant par la côte et en prenant son temps
J12 : Portland : cela vaut-il le coup d'y séjourner une journée ?
J13 : Portland ==> Camden
J14 : Camden ==> North Conway (avec peut-être arrêt outlet)
J15 : North Conway ==> Stowe en passant par les White Mountains
J16 : Stowe ==> Burlington et lac Champlain
J17 : Burlington ==> Woodstock en passant par Middlebury et Rutland
J18 : Woodstock ==> Battleboro
J19 : Battleboro ==> New York
J20: New-York ==> France
Sachant qu'on se demande si ça ne fait pas trop d'étapes sans se poser avec à chaque fois faire et défaire les bagages et aussi trop de km (mais en même temps on a envie de voir le plus d'endroits possibles) On est 4 avec 2 enfants de 9 et 12 ans .
Merci par avance de vos commentaires et/ou suggestions
Au lieu de Portland, j'arrêterais à Portsmouth, NH, très jolie ville avec son Strawberry Banke (rue touristique mais intéressante).
De Portsmouth, aller nord-ouest vers Laconia et le très beau lac Winnipesaukee (la région vaut un arrêt) et de là bifurquer légèrement vers North Conway et ses outlets. De Conway, se diriger vers Franconia Notch, the Old Man in the Mountain, la Flume Gorge puis le Mont Washington.
Stowe oui, Burlington c'est jolie, ses attraits principaux étant le Lac Champlain et ses îles ainsi que le Shelburne Museum juste au sud. Woodstock et Quechee Gorge, oui (espérant que la rivière n'est pas à sec) Middlebury, Rutland et Battleboro, un arrêt pour le lunch p-e? J'aime bien le Centre d'Antiquités de Smuggler's Notch à Jeffersonville (au nord est de Burlington).
Sur le chemin du retour, ne manquez pas le village touristique de Manchester, VT avec ses outlets, ses beaux B&B et ses bons restaurants. Ensuite, descendre plutôt vers Great Barrington dans les montagnes du Mass, beaucoup de concerts l'été par les Boston Pops et, tout près, le Norman Rockwell Museum à Stockbridge.
Il y a tellement d'attractions locales et de petits villages intéressants au Vermont qu'il est très difficile de tout vous nommer.
Si vous n'avez pas assez de temps, sautez Burlington, Rutland, Middlebury et Battleboro.
Le Maine est super beau à visiter et je le fais 'sauter' car vous n'auriez pas le temps de visiter tous les coins intéressants lesquels se situent au nord de Portland (selon moi), dans toutes les baies de ce bel état. Si vous cherchiez un coin pour faire une journée de plage, je vous suggère Hampton Beach, immédiatement au nord de la frontière Mass et NH. Plusieurs personnes vous diront que les plages au sud de Portland sont intéressantes et elles le sont mais Portsmouth est plus intéressante que Portland, alors.....
Merci pour votre longue réponse, je profite que vous soyez en ligne pour poser d'autres questions :
pour Porstmouth, nous voulions nous y arrêter en chemin entre Boston et Portland mais nous voulions faire une étape plus au Nord puisque nous comptions aller un peu dans le Maine ( mais pas particulièrement pour la plage car habitant à Nice nous pouvons y aller facilement ...)
au cas où nous maintenions cette idée, est ce que la partie Portland ==> Camden vaut le coup ? Et dans ce cas que pensez-vous d'une journée d'étape à Portland ?
si nous changeons d'avis, est ce que une journée pour faire le trajet Portsmouth ==> North Conway en passant par Laconia et le lac, c'est suffisant ? Ou y a t'il un endroit recommandé pour faire une étape ?
pour le retour, je viens de regarder sur google maps où est Manchester et venant de Stowe, je pense qu'il me faut choisir entre passer à Woodstock ou passer à Manchester ?
Entre les 2, que me conseillez-vous ?
encore une question, je vais peut-être paraître ignare mais qu'est le "lunch p-e" ?
Lunch p-e veut dire peut-être pour le déjeûner, ah ces québecois!😏.
De Boston, il y a deux heures et demie de route pour North Conway donc un peu moins de Portsmouth.
Il y a très longtemps que je ne suis pas allée à Portland et je vois que maintenant le vieux port est aménagé avec boutiques, restaurants, tours de bateau, etc. Je devrais y aller surtout que ce n'est qu'à 5 heures + de chez moi.
Au nord de Portland, eh bien c'est là que le vrai Maine commence... pour moi. Bath, Wiscasset, Rockland, Camden, etc.
Portsmouth à Laconia, je dirais environ 1 1/2 hre de route et de Meredith ou Wolfeboro vers North Conway, 1 heure. Meredith, Wolfeboro et Weir's Beach sont situées sur le lac Winnipisaukee et Laconia à quelques kms à peine. Vous trouverez de quoi vous loger dans l'une ou l'autre de ces petites villes. A quelques kms au nord de ce lac, il y a le Lac Squam là ou fut filmé On Golden Pond avec Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda et Jane Fonda. Je ne sais pas si vous avez vu le film?
De Woodstock vous vous rendez à Rutland puis prenez la direction sud sur la 7 pour vous rendre à Manchester Center (attention il y a aussi un Manchester au NH), je ne vois pas le problème de ce côté. Vous devez descendre vers le Mass de toute façon, non? Repartez-vous de Boston, je ne me rappelle plus.
Où que vous alliez dans cette Nouvelle Angleterre, vous aimerez, je vous souhaite un beau voyage. Si vous avez d'autres questions, laissez-moi savoir.
Merci pour la réponse : entretemps, j'étais allée me coucher car il était presque 2 heures du matin en France et que je dois faire un minimum illusion au travail ce matin ...
Je vais potasser tout ça et j'aurais peut-être encore d'autres questions ...
En tout cas, merci beaucoup et Bonne Journée ...
Romarine
Bonjour,
LiseDenise t'a renseignée bien au-delà de ce que j'aurais pu dire, mais j'y ajoute un petit grain de sel : la côte du Maine est vraiment super et pousser jusqu'à Bar Harbour et l'Acadia NP est vraiment recommandable !
Bon, OK, on peut pas tout faire.... !!
Si vous ne réussissez jamais rien du premier coup, n'essayez pas le parachutisme !
Merci pour cet avis : pour le moment, on hésite toujours entre la côte du Maine et la suggestion de Lise denise...
Nous avions bien pensé à Acadia Park mais cela faisait encore plus de route au nord et ensuite, je pense qu'il faut y consacrer au moins une journée . C'est pour cela qu'on avait pensé monter jusqu'à Camden mais pas au delà : est-ce que tu connais cette partie du Maine, entre Portland et Camden?
A part ça, j'ai une nouvelle question pour les connaisseurs : existe-t'il des bus ou des trains pour aller de Hampton Beach à Boston ou bien Salem (dans ce sens là ) ? J'ai regardé sur les sites internet des compagnies de bus renseignées dans mes guides de voyage mais je n'ai rien trouvé.
J'aurais dû attendre avant de répondre. Le Trolley bus peut te conduire de Hampton à Exeter puis de là tu prends Amtrak vers Boston. De Hampton Beach à Exeter, le parcours est d'environ 30 minutes. De Exeter vers Boston, le Downeaster d'Amtrak (qui part de Portland vers Boston mais avec arrêt à Exeter), durée du trajet environ 1 heure et 15 minutes.
Tu peux aussi prendre un taxi de Hampton vers Exeter puis Amtrak vers Boston.
A Stowe, je recommende vivement le petit-dejeuner au "dutch pancake" au Grey Fox inn, sur Mountain rd. Super bon :)
sinon Quechee gorge c'est tres sympa. Et plutot que de redescendre vers NY via Brattleboro et Hartford, je suggere plutot la route 7 via Pittsfield, MA et Danbury, CT... (apres ça, c'est facile de rejoindre NY par la 84 puis 684). A voir en route: North Adam, MA, avec son natural bridge; les Berkshires (Lee, Lenox, Great barrington, MA); Kent, CT y compris Kent Falls et Bull's Bridge. Si vous en avez le temps, a Washington, CT (pres de New Milford), il y a un petit musée "indien" tres interessant. Autre endroit sympa, Weebatuc village, NY, juste de l'autre coté de la "frontiere" sur la route 55 au sud de Kent. petit village d'artisans. Litchfield, CT est aussi tres sympa.
C'est clair que c'est plus long que par l'autoroute, mais ça en vaut la peine.
Merci LiseDenise, tu es vraiment une mine de renseignements !!
J'ai trouvé les horaires de Exeter à Boston sur le site de Amtrak par contre le site de Trolleybus a l'air en dérangement.
Pour le taxi, as-tu une idée de combien ça coûte aux USA ( sur la Côte d'Azur, ce genre de trajet coûte une fortune ) et je ne voudrais pas proposer cela à la personne qui doit nous rejoindre si c'est trop cher .
Bonsoir BigKahuna, merci pour les conseils ...et de gourmandise et de trajet ! Pour le trajet, suite aux conseils de Lisedenise nous avions déjà décidé de passer par Manchester puis Stockbridge et je pense que c'est à peu près la même route que tu nous conseilles .
Bonne soirée,
Romarine
Voilà le lien pour le 'Coast Bus' qui va de Hampton Beach à Exeter mais malheureusement seulement les samedis et dimanches....je ne sais pas si cela vous convient.
http://www.coastbus.org/ cliquez sur Beach bus à gauche. J'espère que c'est ce que vous cherchez, sinon, laissez-moi savoir et je téléphonerai.
Pour le prix des taxis, il faudrait que je téléphone.
J'ai téléphoné à une compagnie de taxis à Exeter et le prix fixe entre la gare d'Exeter et Hampton Beach est 30$.
Je me demandais...si vous avez une voiture à votre disposition, pourquoi ne pas prendre votre ami(e) à la gare d'Exeter, ce n'est qu'à 15 minutes de Hampton Beach.
Merci LiseDenise, c'est vraiment gentil d'avoir téléphoné pour nous !!!
La raison pour laquelle j'ai posé cette question est que notre amie ne dispose que d'un jour de congé précis et nous avions construit notre itinéraire avant de le connaître : donc le jour où elle pourrait nous rejoindre, nous serons à Boston et nous avions imaginé qu'elle nous rejoigne à Boston le matin et qu'ensuite on la raccompagne en faisant la route de Boston à Hampton Beach en visitant Salem, cape Ann ...et peut-être même Portsmouth. Ce qui lui permettrait de visiter un peu car elle n'a pas de voiture et elle trouve que les transports en commun sont peu développés dans cette région.
Mais avec tous ces éléments, on va bien trouver une solution maintenant!
Bonsoir,
je souhaite organiser un road trip en nouvelle angleterre, je me permet de vous demander votre aide, j'ai préparer une ébauche d'itinéraire sur mon blog
J5/6
Portsmouth (NH): Strawbery Banke
Kennebunkport (là où Bush villa de vacances), Ogunquit
J7/8
Portland (Maine): old port, Portland Observatory, Boats and Cruises, Portland Museum of Art, Children's Museum of Maine, Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Victoria Mansion, Tate House
Freeport: LL Bean Store : ville du shopping (no tax), Bath, Camden
J9/10
Bar Harbor (Maine) acadia NP / Mount Desert Island/ Mt Cadillac
J11/12
Bretton Woods (Parc National des White Mountains; Mt Washington) (NH)
Kancamagus Highway : ascension du mont, Cog Railway
J13/14
Montpelier (VT), Barre (Rock of age, the hope cemetery), Stowe
J15/16
Burlington (VT) (Vergennes (lac Champlain), Shelburne Museum, green mountains)
J17
Hanover (NH) : Dartmouth College
J18/19 Springfield (Massachussetts)
J20
Hartford (Connecticut)
J21/22
New Haven(Yale) (Connecticut)
J23
New London
Mystic
J24
Newport (Rhode Island)
J25/26
Hyannis Port (Cape Cod) : ile de Martha’s Vineyard et ile de Nantucket (Massachussetts)
J27/28
Providence (RI): Brown College
J29
Boston (Massachussetts)
pouvez vous me dire ce que vous en pensez? que faudrait il changer? que rajouter?
avez vous des conseils concernant les hotels, b&b??
Quelles sont les visites, coins à voir dans chacune des destinations?
quel guide me conseillez vous?
si vous avez le temps pouvez vous me répondre, jetez un coup d'oeil à mon blog.
merci d'avance
ps: j'ai vu très peu de personnes mettre les villes des universités de l'ivy league dans leur itinéraire: New haven, Providence et Havoner mais pour moi ces destinations sont indispensables (une des raisons de mon envie de visiter la nouvelle angleterre)!
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. " O.Wilde
Faites un tour sur mon blog, idées pour des voyages, conseillez moi si vous y êtes déjà allé, merci beaucoup par avance
xoxo
Sofie-Egnie
Je me permets de vous soumettre mon projet dont le début commencera mi Mai 2013 J1: Lyon/Nouvelle Orléans J2: Nouvelle Orléans (Le vieux carré) J3: Nouvelle…
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En pleine preparation de notre futur voyage dans l'ouest americain, je souhaiterai avoir l'avis de personnes ayant deja fait un voyage similaire afin de me…
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Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
hi everyone
I’m planning a world trip and I’m looking for great tips on accommodation in the United States.
Do you have any good deals to share, please?
thanks
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or go for a cabin for the best view?
Should I get breakfast or not?
What do you think of the restaurant?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
