Voici venu le temps, après avoir peaufiné les étapes de mon itinéraire, d'aller un peu plus dans le détail de chaque journée.
Ici j'aimerai approfondir le détail de ma descente de la côte de SF à LA.
Je fais cette descente en 3 jours:
J1 : San - Francisco - Monterey
Je programme ici la visite de Santa Cruz, de Monterey (aquarium en option), et de Carmel, jusqu'a Point Lobos ou je me suis noté de faire le Sea Lion Trail.
Quelles sont les plus belles plages ou s'arreter entre Santa Cruz, Monterey et Carmel ?
J2 : Monterey - Santa Barbara.
Pour cette journée je me suis juste noté les grands noms à voir:
côte Big Sur, Pfeiffer beach, Point Piedras Blancas, Julia Pfeiffer State Park.
Mais du coup je sais qu'il y a plein de belles choses à voir mais quelles sont (et ou sont :) ) exactement les plages sur lesquelles s'arreter, les balades à faire sur le chemin ?...
J3 : Santa Barbara - LA
Au programme: visite de Santa Barbara puis route.
Je ne suis pas sûre qu'il y ait des stops majeurs à faire ici, juste longer la côte et profiter de la vue ?
Alors en J2 déjà je te conseille de faire la petite ballade très courte du "McWay Waterfall Trail" pour voir la petite cascade qui arrive directement sur la plage, c'est très beau (dans le Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park).
Tu as également la ville de Morro Bay que j'ai trouvé sympa avec la vue sur le "Morro Rock". Et plus dans les terres, la ville de San Luis Obispo qui est très sympathique pour une petite pause.
En J3, entre Santa Barbara et Los Angeles tu aura la possibilité de t’arrêter à Malibu pour voir la plage et les maisons à raz de l'océan (mais je n'ai pas fait, à voir si d'autres le conseille ou non).
A voila c'est ce que je pensais, je n'y suis pas passé, j'avais bifurqué à San Luis Obispo pour aller vers Yosemite ;) et donc c'est juste le nom évocateur que je suggéré mais ça fait partie des choses comme le Walk Of Fame qui font juste rêver à l’évocation :) (attention c'est mon avis, certain on peut être adoré le Walk Of Fame ;) )
Il y a une très belle plage le long de la 17 miles drive.
Il y a de très belles plages entre SFO et Santa cruz, le problème c'est que si vous prenez la US1 dès San Francisco, vous ne pourrez pas visiter Santa Cruz, Monterey et point Lobos... Tout cela me paraît un peu ambitieux en une journée...
Si vous prenez la US 1 entre San Francisco et Santa cruz, faites un arrêt au Pigeon point Lighthouse. La vue est sympa.
Pour la partie entre Santa Barbara et Los Angeles, j'ai trouvé ça bof bof.
Dans la section Monterey Santa barbara :
Au sud de San Luis Obispo, Il y a d'immenses dunes de sable.
Il y a une très belle plage le long de la 17 miles drive.
Il y a de très belles plages entre SFO et Santa cruz, le problème c'est que si vous prenez la US1 dès San Francisco, vous ne pourrez pas visiter Santa Cruz, Monterey et point Lobos... Tout cela me paraît un peu ambitieux en une journée...
Si vous prenez la US 1 entre San Francisco et Santa cruz, faites un arrêt au Pigeon point Lighthouse. La vue est sympa.
Pour la partie entre Santa Barbara et Los Angeles, j'ai trouvé ça bof bof.
Dans la section Monterey Santa barbara :
Au sud de San Luis Obispo, Il y a d'immenses dunes de sable.
www.google.fr/...,4098m/data=!3m1!1e3
C'est si ambitieux que ça ? Je ne pense pas m'éterniser trop dans les villes, je voudrais surtout profiter du bord de mer donc je ne pensais pas que ce serait trop tendu sur le temps ?...
Mais c'est aussi pour ça que je demande les meilleurs spots à faire, pour pouvoir prioriser et ne pas s'attarder sur les endroits qui sortent un peu moins du lot !...
J'ajouterai à ce qui a été dit plus haut :
1/ j'aime bien la plage de Carmel, très belle. Jetez aussi un coup d'oeil à la Mission.
2/ shunter le "17 mile drive à Monterey". C'est payant et n'amène rien (sauf si vous êtes joueur de golf professionnel 😇 ). Passez plutôt 3 bonnes heures à "Pt Lobos SP" (entrée payante), un peu plus au sud.
2bis/ toujours autour de Monterey si vous avez le temps, promenez vous depuis l'aquarium (à visiter, compter 4h) jusqu'à Pacific Grove et le phare, le long de Océan View Blvd. C'est calme, très beau et sauvage. A faire en marchant ou en courant (belle piste piéton entre la route et la mer), en vélo, ou en voiture si vous êtes pressés. Je trouve ce coin très relaxant.
3/ Si vous aimez lions de mer ou éléphants de mer, il y a deux plages à ne pas manquer :
- d'abord, au nord de Santa Cruz, "Ano Nuevo State Park" (entrée payante). Il faut marcher un peu.
- et surtout bien plus au sud, mais au nord de San Simeon, "Piedras Blancas", où les éléphants de mer sont en très grand nombre à certaines périodes de l'année (accès gratuit, au bord de la route 1). Mais gare à l'odeur !
4/ enfin si vous devez faire étape à San Luis Obispo, choisissez un jeudi soir : il y a alors (je dirais de 18 à 22h) un marché agricole typique très animé, avec musiciens, ... (en hiver moins) qui mérite une visite, et où on peut manger.
5/ j3 de Santa Barbara (peu à voir excepté le piers, la plage et la mission) et LA, je dirais : bof !
Au Nord de LA, il y avait beaucoup de plages de surf belles et célèbres (celle où avait été tourné le premier "Point Break" en particulier), mais c'était avant. Maintenant il y a un monde fou, c'est très urbanisé, et beaucoup de plages (dont celle de Pt Break) sont privées, et inaccessibles au commun des mortels. Et la rte1 bouchonne le plus souvent dans les zones urbanisées. Préférez la 101, bien plus rapide (encore que il faille éviter d'arriver à LA à certaines heures).
5/ par contre, il y a d'énormes domaines agricoles le long de la rte 1, où on peut acheter, au bord de la route, des fruits de saison succulents à bon prix (surtout les fraises en ce moment) :
- autour de Santa Cruz (Nord et Sud)
- dans la région d'Oxnard, au Sud de Ventura.
J'espère que cela vous aidera.
3.14
De l'Alaska à l'Arizona : contrastes. Voir https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4396533#4396533
Dans la vie, le pire qui pourrait nous arriver serait qu'il ne nous arrive rien !
A Malibu , vous pouvez vous arrêter au Neptune Net , restaurant de Sea Foods très sympa situé juste sur le spot de Surf 😉😉
Ambiance très cool , fréquenté par les surfers et les motards de LA , et ayant de servi de décor à quelques films ( Fast&Furious , Iron Man .... )
Et la plage s'étale juste devant vous ( attention quand même en traversant la route )
Ok merci bon je me note tout ça, ça nous fait donc:
J1
Entre SF et Santa Cruz : s'arreter sur les belles plages
Arret au Pigeon Point Lighthouse pour la vue
A Monterey se promener sur Ocean View Blvd et voir la Mission
S'arreter sur les plages de Carmel
Promenade à Point Lobos (Sea Lions Trail)
J2
Faire un stop au Nepenthe restaurant sur Big Sur
Voir Pfeiffer Beach
Balade McWay Waterfall Trail au Julia Pfeiffer State Park
Stop au Piedras Blancas pour voir les éléphants de mer
Visiter Morro Bay
Petite pause à San Luis Obispo et aller voir les dunes de sable après
J3:
Visite Santa Barbara
Stop au resto Neptune Net
Je te recommande vivement Point lobos ! J'ai visité ce parc l'an dernier, c'est vraiment top ! Nous avions fait Cypress trail and sea lion trail. Vraiment top ! Au petit matin, la couleur de l'eau était vraiment dingue.
Du coup je me demande si je garde Point Lobos en J1 ou si je le fais au matin du J2 ?
Mais est-ce que ça ne fait pas beaucoup pour le J2 si je fais ça ?
Matinée Point Lobos puis côte Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, Piedras Blancas, Julia Pfeiffer State Park, SLO jusqu'a Santa Barbara...
Bonjour
Il faudrait que je relise tout ce post, mais personne n'a semble t'il parlé de Hearst Castle (perso, je n'ai pas aimé mais ca a l'air d'intéresser pas mal de monde), et de Solvang (même reflexion)
Comme toi je ne suis pas plus que cela fana de Hearst Castle (à laisser aux tours organisés, mais qu'ils nous laissent pendant ce temps nos spots) et de Solvang.
JP (un autre)
3.14
De l'Alaska à l'Arizona : contrastes. Voir https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4396533#4396533
Dans la vie, le pire qui pourrait nous arriver serait qu'il ne nous arrive rien !
Petite question au passage, est-ce qu'à l'entrée de ces parcs (Point Lobos, Julia Pfeiffer State Park), il y a une sorte de "Visitor Center" ou on peut trouver une carte des sentiers ou est-ce qu'il faut imprimer du net à l'avance ?...
Nous avons fait l'an passé la floride côté ville et coin bien touristique cette année nous souhaiterions faire: de belles plages sauvages avec du vrai sable et…
Voyager avec des enfants › États-Unis · 30 replies
Je suis en train d’étudier notre futur voyage aux US cet été. Nous partons à 4 (2 adultes + 2 enfants de 12 et 15 ans). Nous voulons visiter une grande ville,…
En préparation d'un voyage en Californie du Nord (juillet/août 2019), je peine à trouver des infos sur le Mount Shasta et les Trinity Alps. Surtout pour les…
Le temps du carnet de voyage est arrivé, c’est donc que le glas du road trip a sonné, retour à la réalité après 3 semaines bien remplies... Je vous propose…
Les photos récentes de Pong (merci à lui) m'ont donné envie d'aller faire quelques petites balades dans le parc de Snow Canyon. Après recherche sur le forum,…
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!
We’ll be arriving in Montreal on October 21st for a 3-day stay.
After that, we’re heading to Sherbrooke to visit our daughter, who’s studying at the university there. We’ll spend 3 days with her, and then, since she has a break that week, we’re taking her along for 3 days in Quebec City.
We’ve planned to visit Montmorency Falls and Île d'Orléans.
I’d love to hear what route you’d recommend for the drive from Sherbrooke to Quebec City—we’ll have the whole day to take it easy.
If you have any other recommendations, I’m all ears!
A little disappointed that the fall colors will be over by then, but the dates couldn’t be helped. Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello everyone,
We’ve planned a trip (retired couple) for late August to the first half of September in Western Canada.
Classic itinerary: arrival in Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Clearwater, Whistler, Vancouver Island, departure from Vancouver.
I know you can’t see into the future any better than I can, so I’m obviously not asking what the wildfire situation will be like in a month...
But if any of you could let me know if, CURRENTLY, there are major difficulties—not just for locals, of course, but for tourists as well?
We’re hesitating between taking the chance or canceling what we still can.
We’re not young anymore and don’t have the flexibility we once did...
A thousand thanks to those of you on the ground or with contacts there who can help us make this decision!
A friend is renting a car for an upcoming trip during the All Saints' holiday.
Nowadays, all rental cars come with GPS, but do you know if you can use it without paying for the GPS rental? I have no idea since I always use my own!
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
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 🙂
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!
