Tout d'abord, merci aux contributeurs qui font de ce forum une vraie mine d'or.
Voilà, je suis en train de travailler à un itinéraire pour un séjour de 4 semaines sur la côte ouest en famille (nous sommes 5).
Et je bute sur une question préliminaire qui pourrait compromettre la cohérence de l'ensemble.
Est ce que faire SF -> Yellowstone est réalisable tout en représentant un intéret touristique ?
Sachant qu'ensuite l'itinéraire redescendrait vers le sud pour faire les parcs...puis LV -> Death Valley -> Yosemite -> et retour SF.
Compte tenu de la grande distance entre ces deux points, il vaut mieux que je ne fasse pas d'erreur au risque de me retrouver avec des ados déconfits par le début du voyage.
J'avance sur le reste du voyage, mais j'avoue que pour le départ, je suis bloquée 🤪
L'idéal aurait été d'arriver à Salt Lake City et repartir de SF.
Dans ton cas, pour faire SF > Yellowstone, il faudrait compter 3 jours de route.
Une idée :
à l'aller faire SF >Yosemite (visite du parc), puis direction le nord (en une journée, tu peux faire Mammoth Lake > Salt Lake City).
Au retour, après Death Valley, prendre la direction de LA ou de Morro Bay pour remonter vers SF en passant par la route côtière (CA1).
ou tu fais SF SALT LAKE CITY en avion et tu descends vers le suite en voiture tranquilou a ton rythme. L'idée m'a été donnée par un membre de VF et franchement j'y réfléchis très sérieusement.
bon courage
Merci Dom ! En effet, Yosemite est aussi au programme, le faire avant YS permet de faire une étape, même si vu sur la carte, ça me semblait être bon détour. Je vais tracer tout ça sur une carte pour voir.
Merci Zabou ! c'est vrai que gagner 2 ou 3 jours de route c'est quand même tentant. Il faut voir coté budget ce que ça pèse.
J'ai pas fini de me creuser les méninges, mais c'est déjà un peu le voyage 😉
Tout dépend du temps que vous voulez consacrer pour rejoindre Yellowstone depuis SF.
Mais vous pouvez monter en direction de Nord par l'Oregon et rejoindre Yellowstone par la vallée de la Snake River.
Sur le trajet vous avez le fableux Crater Lake, mais également le petit parc de Lassen Volcanic NP, la côte pacifique, ....
Peux-tu nous dire en 2 (ou 3 ?) mots quel parcours tu as imaginé et ce que tu comptes voir dans l'ouest...
Car sur 4 semaines tu as largement le temps de faire Yellowstone et de voir plein de choses en reliant les 2 points (Yellowstone et SF).
Si cela t'intéresse, lors de mon parcours de cet été, je suis passé à la fois par Yosemite et Yellowstone (voyage de 5 semaines avec 3 enfants ....).
mon blog pour le parcours et le reste....
http://katze.kazeo.com/
N'hésite pas à prendre directement contact si besoin.
Cordialement,
thierrymanu
Nous avions fait "tranquillement" le trajet SFO - Yellowstone avec des étapes à South Lahe Tahoe ( cette région vaut le détour ) , Battle Mountain ( Nevada ) et Idaho Falls ( après visite rapide à Craters of the Moon NP ) . Nous étions donc alors arrivés à West Yellowstone en ayant abordé Grand Teton par son côté Idaho (ouest ) , beaucoup moins fréquenté .
Je ne sais pas pour les "ados" , mais moi j' aime bien parcourir les routes en voiture dans les immensités du Nevada ; ça aère bien le cerveau , et ça donne une grande impression de liberté 😉 ...
Jean-Michel, Katze, bonjour et merci pour vos conseils pertinants !
Excellent ton blog katz ! beaucoup d'informations précieuses (instructif le budget 😉)
L'idée de base est la suivante, sachant qu'on a pas décidé si on mettait Yellowstone vers le début ou la fin du voyage.
SFO ->Yosemite -> Death Valley -> LV -> GC -> MV -> Lac Powell -> Bryce et peut-être Zion -> Moab (Arches et Canyonland)--> YS --> SFO.
Pas sûre de mettre les choses dans l'ordre le plus rationnel, et quant au choix des sites, on tatonne encore, c'est fou ce qu'il y a à voir !
Jean-Michel, merci pour ton itinéraire SFO -> YS, vous avez mis combien de jour pour le parcourir ?
Comme indiqué , nous avons fait 3 étapes intermédiaires entre San Francisco ( après un crochet du côté des Napa et Sonoma Valleys ) et Yellowstone , soit 4 jours agrémentés de quelques visites .
Ensuite nous avons passé 1 semaine à Yellowstone , Cody et Grand Teton .
" ... c' est fou ce qu' il y a à voir ! " : à qui le dis-tu ! Notre boucle de 25 jours depuis San Francisco ne fut qu' un de nos 3 voyages en 2008-2009 ; les autres boucles ont été réalisées depuis Las Vegas , puis Los Angeles .
Au 1er voyage , j' avais fait un projet irréaliste , ensuite modifié , pour "tout voir" l' essentiel en une fois ; je ne pensais pas alors revenir ...
C' est le défaut de presque tous les néophytes de l' Ouest : sous estimer les distances , trop charger le programme d' un voyage-découverte qu' on pense unique au départ .
Dans votre cas , la problématique inclut aussi la nécessité de faire un programme assez diversifié pour plaire à la fois à des adultes et à des adolescents . Mais il y a là-bas de la matière en abondance pour y parvenir ! 😉
PS : surtout pas de "peut-être" devant Zion , pour moi incomparablement + séduisant que la Death Valley par exemple ! Et on peut se contenter de la traversée en voiture en une 1h ou 2 si on est vraiment très pressé ... 🤪
Sur 4 semaines, soit ~29 jours, vous pouvez faire par ex :
J1 - Vol pour Las Vegas
J2 : Las Vegas - Valley of Fire (très tôt le matin) et route pour Zion + visite - nuit à Springdale
J3 : Suite de Zion - route vers Bryce : visite et coucher de soleil - nuit à Tropic ou plus près de Bryce
J4 : Suite de Bryce - route vers Torrey (sur la très belle route 12) - nuit à Torrey
J5 : Capitol reef - route vers Salt Lake City - nuit à Salt Lake City
J6 : Salt Lake City - Yellowstone
J7 : Yellowstone
J8 : Yellowstone
J9 : Yellowstone
J10 : Yellowstone
J11 : Yellowstone - Grand Teton - Jackson Hole
J12 : Jackson Hole - Flaming Gorge - Vernal
J13 : Vernal (Dinosaur NP)
J14 : Vernal - Moab
J15 : Moab (Arches NP)
J16 : Moab (Island in the sky, Canyonlands NP - Dead Horse SP)
J17 : Moab - Mexican Hat via Needles - Monument Valley en fin d'aprem + coucher de soleil - nuit à Mexican Hat
J18 : Gooseneck, Valley of Gods - route vers Page - visites autour de Page (au choix !)
J19 : Page (Antelope Canyon) - route vers Grand Canyon South Rim- début visite et coucher soleil- nuit au Maswick Lodge par ex
J20 : Suite Grand Canyon - route vers Las Vegas
J21 : Las Vegas
J22 : Las Vegas - Death Valley
J23 : Death Valley - Lee Vining
J24 : Yosemite
J25 : Yosemite
J26 : SFO
J27 : SFO
J28 : SFO
J29 : retour
@+
Vnoa
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
Coucou Liloo
Te voilà donc sur le forum ! 😉
La dernière proposition de Vnoa est vraiment très bien mais je pense qu'il pourrait être judicieux de le faire exactement à l'inverse de manière à placer Yellowstone plutôt sur la fin. En juillet, il peut encore y faire très froid et le temps pourrait être mieux sur la seconde quinzaine. Death valley pourrait être la mi chemin à l'aller, et Yosemite idem sur le retour à San Francisco : pas de vol intérieur et chaque fois quelque chose pour couper la route. Pour le reste, cela me semble bien vu !
Bon courage pour étudier tout cela !
Pour voir mes carnets Ouest USA, cliquez sur mon pseudo puis cliquez celui désiré dans la rubrique "carnets" : Vous avez le choix avec 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 et 2016 : ça en fait de la lecture ! Et maintenant : la Chine !
Diantre !!! je n'avais pas reçu les alertes pour vos derniers messages ! arfff... désolée ! Coucou Valérie 😉
Et doublement désolée vu que les suggestions de Vnoa étaient vraiment interessantes ! Mais pour différentes raisons je ne peux pas arriver à LV... donc le projet a été totalement chamboulé. On arrivera à SF et on repartira par LA et après avoir retourner le planning dans tous les sens, on a fini par renoncer à Yellowstone qui faisait vraiment un immense détour (on souhaite "limiter" un peu les longues journées de transition, car avec les enfants dans la voiture, le moins sera le mieux) !
Vu le nom que j'ai donné à ce fil, je ne sais pas si je peux continuer ici dans la foulée et proposer le nouveau projet... Pouvez vous me donner votre avis et m'aider à compléter la suite ?
- Afin de faire plaisir aux enfants et bien qu'on ne soit pas fan de ville, on aimerait en profiter pour faire un tour aux plages autour de LA. Pour LA, une simple balade au theatre et à Hollywood bld devrait suffire je pense... Est ce que vous avez des suggestions ?
- Entre Bryce et Los angeles le trajet est bien trop long pour nous alors ou faire étape et que voir ? (j'ai l'impression qu'il n'y a pas grand chose et je j'aimerais bien couper le trajet en deux...)
- est ce que la répartition des nuits est cohérente avec les points d'intéret (moab, bryce torrey etc..), sachant qu'on ne fera pas de rando longue, au maxi 2 ou 3 h de marche tranquille (on aimerait bien allez voir le wave... mais je crois qu'il faut un pass spécial).
- Est ce qu'on peut intégrer Mesa verde dans ce programme, sans "accelérer" le rythme du voyage (en prenant sur les jours dispo par exemple ) ?
- Est ce qu'il y a un genre de "Sea world" du coté de LA ?
5/07 J1 - Arrivée à SFO
6/07 J2 - SFO
7/07 J3 - SFO
8/07 J4 - SFO -> Yosemite... hotel Cedar Lodge
9/07 J5 - Yosemite... hotel Cedar Lodge
10/07 J6 - Yosemite -> Death valley... hotel à Furnace creek
11/07 J7 - DV -> LV
12/07 J8 - LV
13/07 J9 - LV -> GC
14/07 J10 - GC
15/07 J11 - GC -> Page
16/07 J12 - Page
17/07 J13 - Page
18/07 J14 - Page -> MV
19/07 J15 - MV -> Moab
20/07 J16 - Moab
21/07 J17 - Moab
22/07 J18 - Moab -> Torrey
23/07 J19 - Torrey -> Bryce
24/07 J20 - Bryce ->
25/07 J21 - Bryce ou Zion ??
26/07 J22 - ?
27/07 J23 - ?
28/07 J24 - ?
29/07 J25 - ?
30/07 J26 - ?
31/07 J27 - départ LA avion à 21h
tant pis pour Yellowstone, ce sera pour un autre voyage 😉
une proposition (mais sans Mesa Verde) :
5/07 J1 - Arrivée à SFO
6/07 J2 - SFO
7/07 J3 - SFO
8/07 J4 - SFO -> Yosemite... hotel Cedar Lodge
9/07 J5 - Yosemite... hotel Cedar Lodge
10/07 J6 - Yosemite -> Death valley... hotel à Furnace creek
11/07 J7 - DV -> LV
12/07 J8 - LV
13/07 J9 - LV -> Zion
14/07 J10 - Zion - nuit à Mount Carmel Junction
15/07 J11 - Bryce
16/07 J12 - Bryce --> Torrey
17/07 J13 - Torrey --> Moab
18/07 J14 - Moab
19/07 J15 - Moab
20/07 J16 - Moab --> Monument Valley
21/07 J17 - MV --> Page
22/07 J18 - Page
23/07 J19 - Page
24/07 J20 - Page --> Grand Canyon
25/07 J21 - Grand Canyon
26/07 J22 - Grand Canyon - Kingman ou Needles
27/07 J23 - Kingman ou Needles - San Diego
28/07 J24 - San Diego (Sea World)
29/07 J25 - San Diego - LA
30/07 J26 - LA
31/07 J27 - départ LA avion à 21h
@+
vnoa
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
et une autre proposition avec Mesa Verde mais sans San Diego (faut choisir 😛)
5/07 J1 - Arrivée à SFO
6/07 J2 - SFO
7/07 J3 - SFO
8/07 J4 - SFO -> Yosemite... hotel Cedar Lodge
9/07 J5 - Yosemite... hotel Cedar Lodge
10/07 J6 - Yosemite -> Death valley... hotel à Furnace creek
11/07 J7 - DV -> LV
12/07 J8 - LV
13/07 J9 - LV -> Zion
14/07 J10 - Zion - nuit à Mount Carmel Junction
15/07 J11 - Bryce
16/07 J12 - Bryce --> Torrey
17/07 J13 - Torrey --> Moab
18/07 J14 - Moab
19/07 J15 - Moab
20/07 J16 - Moab --> Cortez (Mesa Verde)
21/07 J17 - Cortez --> Monument Valley
22/07 J18 - Monument Valley --> Page
23/07 J19 - Page
24/07 J20 - Page
25/07 J21 - Page --> Grand Canyon
26/07 J22 - Grand Canyon
27/07 J23 - Grand Canyon - Kingman ou Needles
28/07 J24 - Kingman ou Needles - LA
29/07 J25 - LA
30/07 J26 - LA
31/07 J27 - départ LA avion à 21h
@+
Vnoa
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
Merci Vnoa ! je crois que je me rapproche de la version idéal là ! 😄
Afin de diminuer la longue étape entre Yosemite et DV, j'ai ajouté une étape vers Lone pine je pense.
Petite question complémentaire... sachant qu'on ne veut pas faire de longue rando à la journée (chaleur et enfant) est-ce qu'on va pouvoir occuper 3 nuits à Page et 3 nuits à Moab ?
Je suis un peu perplexe sur les réservations d'hotel... 🤪
Plein de site de booking d'hotels (meme des motel 6 ou super 8) m'indiquent qu'ils n'ont pas de dispo à mes dates quand je rentre les 5 personnes de ma famille, alors qu'en retirant un enfant (soit 4 pers) j'arrive à booker des chambres avec 2 lits king size... qui suffiraient largement pour 5 !
Alors comment faire quand on a 3 enfants ? Si je book pour 4 et qu'au final on se présent à 5... risquons nous un refus ? j'
si certains ont connu cette expérience, je suis intéressée par le retour !
Suite à une erreur de ma part nous allons arriver à 14h à Miami pour une croisière qui part le lendemain à 19h. Je voudrai visiter la ville mais surtout aller…
Nous partons en road trip dans l'Ouest américain, 20 jours en août 2020 avec nos 3 adolescents. C'est notre 1er long voyage et notre 1ere fois aux USA. Nous…
Nous sommes un groupe de 4 amis allant feter nouvel an sur NYC. Apres quelques recherches sur Internet nous sommes un peu perdu face au grands nombres de…
salut a tous
je prepare un tour du monde et je recherche des bons plans pour les logements aux etats unis
avez vous des petits prix a me partager svp
merci
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).
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!