J'aimerais avoir votre avis sur l'itinéraire que j'envisage pour notre prochain voyage (Fin juin début juillet 2018).
Nous partons à 3 (moi, mon épouse et notre fils qui aura 13 ans).
Les objectifs sont :
Voir des paysages, profiter, contempler, marcher (un peu ou beaucoup si ça vaut le coup)
Visite des musées (surtout sur l'aviation ... mon fils est fan +++)
J1 Arrivée à Seattle.
J2 Visite de Seattle : Kerry park, Space Needle, Sortie en bateau, Monorail, Pioner Square, le Zoo
J3 Museum of flight, future of flight, route et ferry pour Orca Island
J4 Orca Island : Moran state park, Mt Constitution, Cascade Lake, Mountain Lake, Cascade Falls
J5 route et ferre pour Port Townsend, Olympic NP
J6 Le Nord d'Olympic NP
J7 Route vers le sud d'Olympic NP
J8 Le Sud d'Olympic NP
J9 Le reste du Sud d'Olympic NP, route vers Astoria : Fort Steevens park
J10 route vers Florence : Ecola SP, Indiana traill, Cap Meares, Thee capes, Tillamook air museum, Depoe Bay, Boilview Bay
J11 Secteur de Florence : Oregon Dunes, Cap perpetua, Sea lions caves
J12 route vers Cratère NP : Toketee Falls, Clearwater Falls, Crater rim viewpoint
J13 Cratère NP
J14 Cratère NP
J15 route vers Bend : Paulina Falls et Lake, Big obsedian flow, Lava cave et butte, High desert museum, Smith rock SP, Three sisters scenic road
J16 route vers le secteur du Mount Hood : Crochet par Painted Hills et John Day Fossil beds, Colombia river gorge, Mount Hood Railroad
J17 Mount St Helens NP
J18 route vers Mt Rainier NP
J19 Mt Rainier NP
J20 Mt Rainier NP
J21 Retour vers Seattle
J22 Vol retour
Je n'ai pas détailé nos journées dans les parks mais j'ai pas mal de balade en tête.
Je suis donc preneur des vos remarques, idées et bons plans hébergments ;-)
Si besoin je peux éventuellement rajouter 1 jour ou 2 ...
Bonjour,
Nous sommes rentrés il y a 2 semaines de 4 semaines en Oregon/Washington, je vais probablement faire un carnet si je trouve un peu de temps. Voici mes premières réactions en vous lisant:
A Seattle, ne pas manquer le Chihuly Museum
A Everett, si vous avez de la peine à réserver le visite Boeing sur leur site, il faut téléphoner directement, c'est ce que j'ai dû faire.
Je n'ai pas été à Orca
Le J8 et le J9 peuvent se faire en 1 jour, par contre le J10 est trop chargé
Pour Crater Lake, à voir selon la saison, il peut y avoir encore de la neige fin juin ( par endroit il y en avait encore début août quand nous y étions). Mais 1 jour plein au lieu de 2 peut être suffisant.
J15 et 16 sont beaucoup trop chargés ( surtout si vous pensez marcher un peu à Smith Rock, et à John Day tout est assez loin l'un de l'autre. En plus il y a un musée assez intéressant à Bend.
La fin c'est OK
Pour la partie que je connais et en complément des infos données par Sissi57, je trouve que Mt Rainier peut se visiter en seulement 1jour. Mais nous ne sommes pas de grands randonneurs, ceci pouvant expliquer cela.
Oui cela dépend du temps que l'on souhaite passer à randonner. Nous sommes arrivés au Mt Rainier en fin de matinée, , avons passé l'après midi à marcher dans le secteur de Paradise, et avons passé ensuite encore une journée pleine dans le parc, en randonnant à Sunrise. Comme nous avions un emplacement de camping à Cougar Rock, rien que le trajet AR Cougar-Sunrise était assez long, rallongé par de nombreux travaux sur les routes avec des temps d'attente assez prolongés. Mais effectivement j'ai trouvé que 1.5j au Mt Rainier était bien ( nous avons eu la chance d'avoir un temps magnifique, on peut envisager d'y rester un peu plus si on anticipe du mauvais temps)
Si je résume :
Je fusionne J8 et J9 pour dédoubler le J10
Je dédouble la journée J15 ainsi que la 16
Je retire une journée au Mt Rainier
Cela donnerait :
J1 Arrivée à Seattle.
J2 Visite de Seattle : Kerry park, Space Needle, Sortie en bateau, Monorail, Pioner Square, le Zoo
J3 Museum of flight, future of flight, route et ferry pour Orca Island
J4 Orca Island : Moran state park, Mt Constitution, Cascade Lake, Mountain Lake, Cascade Falls
J5 route et ferre pour Port Townsend, Olympic NP
J6 Le Nord d'Olympic NP
J7 Route vers le sud d'Olympic NP
J8 Le Sud d'Olympic NP
J9 Le reste du Sud d'Olympic NP, route vers Astoria : Fort Steevens park
J10 route vers Florence : Ecola SP, Indiana traill, Cap Meares, Thee capes, Tillamook air museum, Depoe Bay, Boilview Bay
J11 Secteur de Florence : Oregon Dunes, Cap perpetua, Sea lions caves
J12 route vers Cratère NP : Toketee Falls, Clearwater Falls, Crater rim viewpoint
J13 Cratère NP
J14 - 15 route vers Bend : Paulina Falls et Lake, Big obsedian flow, Lava cave et butte, High desert museum, Smith rock SP, Three sisters scenic road
J16 - 17 route vers le secteur du Mount Hood : Crochet par Painted Hills et John Day Fossil beds, Colombia river gorge, Mount Hood Railroad
J18 Mount St Helens NP
J19 route vers Mt Rainier NP
J20 Mt Rainier NP
J21 Retour vers Seattle
J22 Vol retour
Je ne vois pas bien le dédoublement du jour 10
Pour vous rendre à Everett prenez de la marge, les embouteillages dans toute la région Sea-Tac sont épouvantables et il faut arriver 45 min avant l'heure de la visite
J8 Le Sud d'Olympic NP + Le reste du Sud d'Olympic NP, route vers Astoria : Fort Steevens park
J9 - J10 route vers Florence : Ecola SP, Indiana traill, Cap Meares, Thee capes, Tillamook air museum, Depoe Bay, Boilview Bay
Je suis passé en partie dans ce coin il y a 2 mois.
En reprenant ton planning initial;
J2: A Seattle j'ai privilégié la vue de jour et au coucher de soleil (2ème entrée gratuite le même jour) depuis sky view observatory au lieu de space needle et je n'ai pas regretté. L'Experience Music Project est top et à ne pas louper si tu aimes la musique.
J3: Attention museum of flight et future of flight sont géographiquement à l'opposé. J'avais visité le MOF il y a quelques années et j'y ai repassé cette année une bonne demie journée. Future of flight est une visite guidée en anglais mais quand on a le temps et est anglophone c'est complémentaire.
J10 et 11: Quand j'y étais c'était frisquet et brumeux. Malgré cela j'ai beaucoup apprécié toute cette côte.
J13 et 14: J'y étais le 12/7, il y avait encore pas mal de neige et c'était superbe. Par contre la partie Sud Est était encore fermée et l'accès à Watchman overlook fermé pour travaux. 1 jour est suffisant pour Crater lake sauf si tu fais beaucoup de randonnées.
J15: Entre Crater lake et Bend il y a Cascade lakes national scenic byway qui mérite de nombreuses pauses. Beaucoup trop chargé comme journée. Smith rock est magnifique et se fait tôt le matin en raison de la chaleur. Misery ridge trail est une très belle rando.
J16: Il y aura des choix à faire car tu ne pourras pas tout faire. A l'intérieur des terres et notamment Painted hills il faisait une chaleur étouffante assez similaire à valley of fire et death valley. En fin de journée la lumière est magnifique et accentue la beauté. J'ai bien aimé aussi la partie Sheep rock de John Day Fossil avec notamment blue basin trail à combiner avec Island in time. Columbia river gorge peut être une journée entière depuis Portland en incluant le Timberline lodge et Hood river.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
D'accord avec Erjome
pour Crater Lake en 1 jour ( nous avons fait quasi tous les points de vue et 3 randos en un jour : montée au sommet Watchman Overlook, descendu dans le cratère pour se baigner et Pinnacles)
Pour J16 trop chargé, il faudrait dormir à Mitchell avec Painted Hills au sunset et randonnées dans Sheep Rock le lendemain
Columbia River mérite au moins 1 journée aussi pour faire côté Portland principales chutes d'eau et rando de Triple Falls (très belle chute) et pour faire côté The Dalles où les paysages changent radicalement.
Depuis Alki Park tu verras Elliott Bay et toute la ville de Seattle en face, vrai décor de carte postale!
Fais de ta vie un rêve et d'un rêve une réalité!
Les récits de nos 4 voyages USA : http://vulpifive.com/
Pour Mt Rainier, la partie Paradise nous aurait suffit, nous avons trouvé Sunrise moins beau, mais c'était la fin du voyage et nous étions déçus de ne pas y voir de mountain goats...
Fais de ta vie un rêve et d'un rêve une réalité!
Les récits de nos 4 voyages USA : http://vulpifive.com/
Pour J16 trop chargé, il faudrait dormir à Mitchell avec Painted Hills au sunset et randonnées dans Sheep Rock le lendemain
Bien d'accord avec toi et c'est ce que j'ai fait. Attention à Mitchell il n'y a pas grand chose et mieux vaut diner à 18h (ferme à 19h) avant d'aller au sunset à Painted hills ou prévoir d'y pique niquer.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Nous avions logé au http://www.paintedhillsvacation.com j'en fais la pub dès que je peux car c'est tenu par des allemandes très charmantes et généreuses, maisons artistiques et cocooning avec jardin, il y a tout ce qu'il faut pour cuisiner, superbe séjour avec les enfants, une oasis de verdure au milieu du désert, une pause bien méritée au milieu d'un roadtrip, des biches qui se baladent dans les rues, un ciel sans pollution pour observer les étoiles et THE silence!! par contre c'est minimum 2 nuits...
Fais de ta vie un rêve et d'un rêve une réalité!
Les récits de nos 4 voyages USA : http://vulpifive.com/
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Ah oui magnifique intérieur de l'hôtel, toute la déco que j'aime 😮😝 M'enfin c'est le top niveau emplacement pour visiter les Painted Hills au sunrise ou sunset!
Fais de ta vie un rêve et d'un rêve une réalité!
Les récits de nos 4 voyages USA : http://vulpifive.com/
Je suis actuellement à Vancouver dans l’état de Washington à cote de portland, je dispose de la maison d’un ami pour encore 12 jours... J’aimerai voir des…
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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).
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?
We went as a family to Mount Rushmore in 2023, where my son bought a multi-function pocket knife like the one below with his name engraved—'NOAH'.
Unfortunately, he just lost it, and he was really attached to it. So, if there’s a kind soul passing by Mount Rushmore who could bring one back for me (I’d obviously cover all costs), that would be amazing for my son.
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!
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
