Juste de retour de mon 5 ieme voyage aux US et après 34 états visités ou traversés, je commence à penser au prochain.
Habituellement j'ai déjà la destination en tête, mais là j'hésite dans celle ci en me demandant dans quel ordre les faire, par ou commencer, ou plutôt continuer.
Pour donner le contexte, nous connaissons les parcs du milieu de la Californie, et le nord Texas, route 66, nous venons de passer 26 jours dans le deep south, dont Louisiane.( Voir mon profil pour les autres voyages et /ou carnet de voyage
Nous envisageons de repartir au printemps 2016 ou à l'automne sur 1 de ces destinations pour 12 jours environ sur place.
Pour les forumeurs qui ont déjà visité ces 3 destinations merci de me donner votre Top 3 avec vos arguments, afin d'essayer de me faire ma propre idée, et avancer sur ces pré projets en les priorisant par autre d’intérêt ou autre en fonction de vos commentaires.
Nous sommes fan de culture américaine de tous genre, musique, voiture, architecture, nature, faune et flore, histoire, curiosité geologique.... Autrement dit pour nous dans les Usa tout est bon comme dans le cochon!!!!
Merci d'avance pour votre collaboration
Jean Maurice
Voyager c'est la seule dépense enrichissante.
Travel with an Airstream travel trailer, and See more, Do more, Live more
Bonsoir ,
Je ne connais que 2 de vos 3 destinations possibles donc je ne me prononcerais pas sur le Texas .
Californie : ici faire un top 3 est difficile mais je vais me prêter au jeu haha
1/ San Francisco , une ville inégalable de par sa diversité , son ambiance , sa baie ( plus belle baie du monde ? ) , son histoire ( récente mais teinté de rock et de pop psychédélique ) .
Je suis joueur , je me lance dans un top 3 de SF .
1/ Golden gate bridge
2/ Fisherman's wharf
3/ Lombard street à égalité avec les painted ladies .
Une ville qui mérite qu'on s'y attarde pour s'en imprégner et capter tout ce qu'elle a à offrir . Un must .
2/ La côte pacifique entre San Francisco et Los Angeles .
La pacific coast highway est définitivement une des plus belles routes du monde .
3/ On arrive devant un choix entre Sequoia et Yosemite pour notre top 3 mais qu'importe il est évident que si vous faites ce voyage , la visite des 2 parcs sera incluse .
Floride : Un top 3 me parais plus facile à réaliser mais la qualité sera au rendez-vous .
1/ Les everglades , un parc incroyable , une faune remarquable et un inoubliable à savoir une ballade en aéroglisseur .
2/ Les keys avec notamment key west , un endroit vraiment vraiment super sympa .
3/ Selon vos goûts et attentes .
Soit Orlando et ses nombreux parcs ( pour moi Seaworld is the best ) .
Soit Kennedy space center pour les amoureux de l'espace .
Soit Miami , ses plages , ses batiments art deco et son côté so latino .
Bref un beau voyage des côtés selon moi la Floride est à associer avec la Louisiane . Et la Californie avec un trip dans les grands espaces d'Arizona , Nevada , Utah ...
En espérant avoir apporter une contribution aussi petite soit elle à votre préparation de ce future voyage .
ah comme je vous comprends!! A peine rentrés depuis le 10 mai que nous mettons en place le futur séjour pour le 16 octobre!! et pour un 10eme
j'ai fait la Floride en avril 2013 : temps magnifique, une eau en moyenne à 27°
il y a tant de choses à voir et à faire...
j'ai adoré les Keys et prévoir 2 nts à Key West,
les Everglades
Sanibel pour farniente
KSC
Daytona Beach
Dernièrement nous avons fait la côte de San Francisco à los Angeles
temps épouvantable et froid (c'est contradictoire mais nous avons eu meilleurs temps à SFO!!)
prévoir 5 jours à SFO, c'était notre 2eme séjour, on aime toujours autant même si j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait de+ en + de SDF.
Half Moon Bay, j'ai adoré cet endroit sauvage
17Miles Drive à Monterey,
Morro Bay et son Rock
Evidemment Los Angeles mais il faut du temps car des embouteillages du matin au soir... s'informer auprès de la chaine Traffic. il y a également beaucoup à visiter
Santa Monica, Manhattan beach, Hermosa beach, Redondo Beach... des plages à perte de vue
Du Texas, je ne connais que Fort Worth et Dallas visités en novembre 2012 (course Nascar) temps absolument magnifique 30° (quel changement avec NY où nous y étions pour le désastre de Sandy!!)
on s'était dit, qu'il fallait y retourner pour le sud et c'est en programmation pour octobre 2016 (Houston/ Austin/ Big Bend NP/ San Antonio/ Bandera/ Corpus Christi )
Donc pour répondre à votre question
si c'est pour le printemps, dans l'ordre de mes préférences : Floride/Texas/Californie
et à l'automne : pareil
et si cela peut intéresser, j'ai trouvé la Californie très chère à tous les niveaux, y compris l'essence (4,10$/gal)
Merci pour vos premiers retour à Thomas, Louis et Brigitte, cela me donne déjà des pistes, mais pour poursuivre,
Thomas, quelle est votre préférence entre la Californie et la Floride.
Pour précision je connais déjà un peu Frisco pour y avoir passé 2 jours après avoir fait la vallée de la mort, Séquoia et Yosemite, mais effectivement je repasserai bien volontiers dans cette agréable ville, une de mes préférées.
Par contre j'envisagerai plus de faire la partie Route 66 de Needle à Santamonica, le sud Californie, Joshua tree, San Diego, et la route côtière entre LA et Frisco, Sacramento et peut être plus ua nord.
Je suis du même profil que Thomas, en voir le maximum dans un temps minimum, je n'affectionne pas trop la plage et le farniente, j'ai une soif insatiable de toujours en voir plus et de poursuivre ma route et mes découvertes.
Pensez vous que 12 jours soient suffisant pour voir l'essentiel de la Floride?
Brigite, avez vous un petit road book ou timing de vos voyages dans ces régions Californie et Floride.
Si je ne choisi pas le Texas comme prochaine destination votre expérience Brigitte, de votre projet 2016 dans cet état m’intéressera fortement.
Merci de votre contribution bons préparatifs et bon week end
Jean Maurice
Voyager c'est la seule dépense enrichissante.
Travel with an Airstream travel trailer, and See more, Do more, Live more
D'autant plus si vous n'aimez pas plus que ça la plage et farniente . La Floride si on enlève les Everglades et le Kennedy space center est pour moi surtout intéressante pour ses plages et ses stations balnéaires ( les keys , miami , toute la côte en fait ) .
Reste que si vous aimez les parcs d'attractions Orlando est unique au monde et franchement incroyable ( seaworld , les parcs disney et les 2 parcs universal avec la section Harry Potter que j'ai adoré ) .
En revanche le Sud de la Californie est selon moi moins intéressant que le Nord , j'ai trouvé la partie en dessous de Los Angeles peu intéressante .
Je vous conseille en Californie de privilégier la côte entre Los Angeles et San Francisco .
12 jours en Floride est amplement suffisant pour la visiter ( pas pour la farniente en plus ) .
100% d'accord
En revanche le Sud de la Californie est selon moi moins intéressant que le Nord , j'ai trouvé la partie en dessous de Los Angeles peu intéressante .
Moi qui n'ai pas encore visité le nord de la Californie , je me suis arrêté à San Francisco et j'ai adoré la partie sud jusqu'à San Diego .
Qu'es-ce que ça doit être le nord alors .......🙂
Je vous conseille en Californie de privilégier la côte entre Los Angeles et San Francisco .
12 jours en Floride est amplement suffisant pour la visiter ( pas pour la farniente en plus ) .
Amicalement
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
On peut considérer que la limite nord/sud se situe à San Francisco .
Ce qui laisse une belle densité de chose à voir dans le nord de la Californie .
- San Francisco la magnifique
- Yosemite la majestueuse
- Redwood NP
- Muir wood NM
- Lake Tahoe
- Point Reyes
- Eureka et Sacramento sont des villes assez sympathique
- La petite ville de Mendocino
- Lassen volcanic NP
- Mont Shasta
Et certainement d'autres merveille que je ne connais pas .
Sans oublier la possiblité de pousser jusque dans l'Oregon , je ne connais pas mais Crater Lake a très bonne presse .
Je suis plus ville , architecture et musée que parc nationaux . Je n'évite pas ces derniers nécessairement mais j'en ai déjà vu beaucoup et la randonnée n'est pas ma tasse de thé.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
La route côtière de San Francisco à Redwood est magnifique, sauvage et sinueuse. Je la préfère à la partie SFO à LAX .On en voit un tronçon dans le film "les oiseaux", elle n'a pas changé .
je vous communique notre itinéraire effectué le mois dernier en Californie
nous sommes une famille de 3 dont un ado de 16 ans et sommes des fans de Nascar.
Lors de nos séjours, nous essayons d'en voir un maximum et comme ce sont nos uniques vacances familiales,
on joint l'utile à l'agréable... shopping pour l'un, plage pour l'autre etc....
J1 : SFO
J2 : SFO
J3 : SFO
J4 : SFO
J5 : récupération voiture/ Lombard Street/ Golden Gate/Marin Country/Sausalito/Muir Woods/Sonoma/ Napa (nuit à Vallejo)
J6 : visite Sonoma Speedway/Silicon Valley/ Half Moon Bay /Big Basin/nuit à Gilroy
J7 : bref passage à l'outlet de Gilroy/ San Juan Bautista/ Mall Salinas/ nuit à Monterey
J8 : visite Monterey/ 17 miles drive / Carmel by the sea/ Point Lobos State Reserve/2eme nuit à Monterey
J9 : Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, McWay chutes d'eau/ plages de Piedras Blancas /San Simeon/ nuit à Cayucos
J10 : Rock Morro Bay/ Oceano Beach/ San Luis Obispo/Solvang/Santa Barbara/arrivés trop tard pour la visite de la Villa Getty à Palissades/Malibu/ nuit à Redondo Beach au BW pour 6 nuits, jusqu'à la fin de notre séjour.
J11 : Universal Studios/Walk of Fame/ Hollywood Blvd
J12 : downtown
J13 : visite privée de l 'Auto Club Speedway à Fontana
l'après-midi, restitution de la voiture et récuperation de notre Mustang
Griffith Park/Observatory/ Beverly hills/ Rodeo Drive/Santa Monica
J14 : j'avais prévu pour les 2 derniers jours ne rien faire du tout, profiter de la plage et piscine... mais en raison du mauvais temps, froid, vent. il a même plu dans la nuit et nous avons eu une panne électrique à l'hôtel déclenchant l'alerte d'évacuation!!
donc visite de Long Beach/ Mall de Hawthorne/ L.A /Tussaud
J15 : Redondo/Hermosa/Manhattan/Venice
J16 : Retour en France
Le Nouveau Mexique
1/ la Fiesta Balloon avec la Fiesta Balloon début octobre
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
2/ Santa Fe,
3/ Taos,
4/ la route des chapelle (Chimayo, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimayo, _New_Mexico
5/ Alamogordo et White sand dunes
6/ Roswell pour ceux qui aime "ET"
7/ Carlsbad
8/ éventuellement El Paso au Texas
Le Sud Texas
1/ Terlingua et LE Chili Cookoff Championship (http://www.abowlofred.com/) début novembre
2/ le parc de Big Bend
3/ Marfa, Alpine, l’observatoire de Fort Davis
4/ Corpus Christi
5/ San Antonio
6/ Austin
A +
Jean Pierre
Tout dans la vie est une affaire de choix. Ça commence par la tétine ou le téton, ça se termine par le chêne ou le sapin. *Everything in life is a matter of choice. It starts with "pacifier or nipple", it ends with "oak or pine". Pierre Desproges.
J'ai découvert ce forum lorsque je préparais un séjour d'une semaine autour de Las Vegas en 2009, avant de passer 2 semaines au Texas chez une amie. J'ai eu la…
Vos conseils étant toujours avisés, et mes lectures du forum commençant au final à m'embrouiller, je vais vous proposer mon idée de circuit pour cet été, afin…
Après avoir beaucoup parcouru le forum, voici le parcours que l'on projette pour un voyage en famille avec deux ados: Jour 1: arrivée au soir, nuit à Miami…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › États-Unis · 3 replies
Je fais une recherche a savoir ou serait l'emplacement idéal pour acheter un condo dans le sud de la floride. Sud -est ou sud-ouest J'aime la nature, j'ai un…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › États-Unis · 6 replies
Est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un qui a déjà essayé d'obtenir un visa de travail (sponsorship) dans le coin de Fort Lauderdale ou Hollywood Beach (restos..etc..)??…
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!