Bonjour
Pour l'argument du prix de la voiture de loc, il faut comparer avec le cout des divers transports en commun que vs allez prendre : la navette de SFO-> Ville etc.
Il est exact que la voiture n'est pas indispensable à SF, mais elle est quand même bien pratique pour aller partout HORS centre ville.
Je suis d'accord pour faire des economies, il y a quand même certaines de vos positions qui sont un peu des economies de bout de chandelle. Par exemple faire le tour par le Nord pour ne pas avoir à payer le GGB me parait discutable.
Ca y est, j'ai revisite mon itineraire. A savoir que les trajets entre les differents lieux durant une journee ainsi que les temps d'arrets pour les randos ne sont pas pris en compte.
Jour 1: San Francisco
Sausalito 3h
Headlands 1h
Golden Bridge 30min
Hong Kong Lounge 1h30
Mrs Doubtfire House 30min
Palace of fine arts (coucher de soleil)
Jour 2: San Francisco
Alcatraz Island 2h30
Pier 39 30 min
Fisherman’s Wharf 30 min
Ghirardelli Square 1h
Lombard street 1h
Alamo square/Painted Ladies 1h
Haight-Ashbury (soiree)
Jour 3: SF
Coit Tower 1h
Filbert Steps 30min
Chinatown 1h
Union Square 1h
Lori’s Diner 1h30
Boudin Bakery 30min
Yerba Buena 1h
SOuth of Market (SOMA) 1h
Jour 4: SF + vol pour Las Vegas
Golden Gate Park / Japanese tea garden 1h
Twin peaks 1h
Seward Street slide 30 min
The Castro 1h
Mission Dolores Park 2h
Mission District 1h
Jour 5: Las Vegas - Valley of fire (trajet 1h30)
Windstone Arch 30 min (Point de vue)
Piano Rock 30 min (pdv)
fire wave trail 1h (rando)
crazy hill trail 40 min (rando)
rainbow vista 30 min (pdv)
mouse's tank 30 min (rando)
elephant rock 20 min (rando)
Jour 6: VOF - Zion (Trajet 2h40)
Angels Landing trail 5h (rando)
(si possible) Emerald pool trail 2h (rando)
Jour 7: Zion - Bryce (trajet 1h30)
Fairyland Point 30 min (pdv)
Bryce point 30 min (pdv)
Peek-a-boo loop 2h (balade a cheval)
Sunrise point 30 min (pdv)
Queens Garden trail + Navajo loop 3h (rando)
Sunset Point 30 min (pdv)
Jour 8: Bryce - Arches NP (trajet 5h mais la veille on va probablement dormir entre Bryce et arches pour limiter la duree du trajet)
Delicate Arche Trail 3h (rando)
Double Arches 30 min (rando)
The Windows Trail (peut etre) 1h (rando)
Balanced Rock 20 min (rando)
Jour 9: Arches NP - Four corners - page (trajet 6h)
Courthouse Towers View Point 30min (pdv)
Four Corners Monument 30min
Lone rock Beach 1h
Wahweap Marina 1h
wahweap Marina overlook 1h
soiree a page
Jour 10: Page - Grand Canyon (trajet 2h)
Glen Canyon Dam 1h (pdv)
Glen Canyon Dam overlook 1h (pdv)
Antelope Canyon 2h (excursion)
Horseshoe Bend 1h (rando)
Jour 11: Grand Canyon
(tous des points de vue)
Matter Point 30min
Maricopa Point 30min
Powell point 30min
The abyss 30min
Monument creek vista 30min
Hermits rest 30min
Pima Point 30 min
Mohave Point 30 min
Hopi point 30min
Jour 12: Grand canyon - Williams - Sedona (trajet 2h30)
Survol en helicoptere ou avion 1h (excursion)
Historic route 66 2h
Oak Creek Canyon Vista 30 min (pdv)
Slide Rock State Park 1h
Airport Road (coucher ou lever de soleil)
Jour 13: Sedona - Phoenix (trajet 2h30)
Sentier de soldier pass 2h (excursion en jeep)
Tlaquepaque 3h
Chapel of the Holy Cross 30 min (pdv)
Cathedral Rock 30 min (pdv)
Red rock scenic Byway 30 min (pdv)
Jour 14: Phoenix - Joshua tree (Trajet 4h mais la veille on va probablement dormir entre phoenix et Joshua tree pour limiter la duree du trajet)
Mastodon Peak 2h (rando)
Arch rock trail 20min (rando)
Skull rock 20 min (rando)
Keys view 30min (pdv)
Barker Dam 30min (pdv)
Jour 15: Joshua tree - San Diego (trajet 3h)
Torrey Pines 1h
La Jolla 1h
Mission Beach 1h
Cabrillo National Park 1h
Point Loma 1h
Sunset Cliffs 1h
Ocean Beach coucher de soleil + soiree
Jour 16: San Diego
San Diego Bay + bridge 1h
Coronado Beach 1h
Gaslamp Quarter 2h
Balboa Park 2h
Old Town 2h
Hillcrest (soiree)
Jour 17: San Diego - Los Angeles (trajet 3h)
Chinatown 1h
El Pueblo de Los Angeles 1h
Little Tokyo 1h
Hollywood walk of Frame 1h
Chinese Theater 1h
Stahl House (soiree)
Jour 18: LA
Griffith observatory 30 min
Lake Hollywood Park 1h
Universal studio 10h
Jour 19: LA
Beverly Hills 2h
Westwood 2h
Venice 2h
Santa Monica 2h
Jour 20: LA - Death Valley (trajet 5h mais la veille on va probablement dormir entre LA et Death Valley pour limiter la duree du trajet)
Badwater 30min (pdv)
Natural Bridge 30min (rando)
Devil's golf course 30min (pdv)
Artist's palette + drive 30min (pdv)
Golden Canyon 1h (rando)
Twenty mule team canyon 30 min (pdv)
Dante's view 30min (pdv)
Jour 21: Death Valley - Las Vegas (trajet 2h30)
Zabriskie point (peut etre) 30min (pdv)
Welcome to Las Vegas sign 30min (pdv)
coca-cola store 30min (pdv)
New york- New york Hotel 30min (pdv)
Fountain of Bellagio 30 min (pdv)
Cravings Buffet 1h30
The venitian 30 min (pdv)
Stratosphere Casino 30min pdv
Slotzilla Zip Line 1h
Fremont experience street (soiree)
Alors est ce convenable? Leger mieux? ou je suis encore a cote de la plaque?
Merci encore pour votre aide precieuse.
Il faut 3 nuits à Moab, le temps passé est ici trop court (pas de Canyonlands ?), Arches se visite difficilement en à peine une demi-journée.
Tu passes sur des sites de première importance (Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Monument Valley) alors que tu te consacres à des sites de seconde zone voire de troisième zone (Four Corners Monument, San Diego).
La ville de San Diego site de troisième zone !? 🤪
Un peu étonné...
Nous (parti avec 2 familles), on a adoré cette ville chaleureuse, vraiment une chouette ville !
Notre coup de cœur de notre périple Ouest Américain de 21 jours en 2014 !
La ville en elle-même, musée de l'USS Midway (!), Petco Park, zoo, beach, son bridge...mérite un détour incontestable selon nous.
... tu te consacres à des sites de seconde zone voire de troisième zone ... San Diego.
NY & Floride 2018
LA LV 2017
Floride Eté 2016
Ouest USA 2014 : LV Valley of Fire Zion Bryce Lake Powell MV G.Canyon Route66 Death Valley Yosemite SF LA San Diego
USA 1996 : Ohio, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Niagara Falls, New-York, Boston, Philly, Orlando-Tampa-Clearwater Beach, Toronto (Canada)
Pour un premier voyage dans l'Ouest alors qu'on zappe Monument Valley et Canyonlands alors qu'on y passe à proximité ?
Oui je confirme 😉... Comparer un zoo à ces sites naturels 😮 ? Chacun son avis mais je reste sur mes positions 😉
Donc, que proposez-vous pour garder San Diego sans que ce soit la course ailleurs ? Zapper la région de Moab et conserver San Diego ? Moi, je conseille l'inverse 🙂
Votre itineraire est irrealisable certains jours.
Vs partez toujours en decembre???
votre jour 8 n'est pas possible. Si vs prenez la route 12 et la 24, il faut pratiquement la journée.
Et la veille , vs aurez suffisamment à faire sur BRYCE pour y loger.
Four corners n'a aucun intérêt (dans le cadre d'un premier voyage)
Je n'ai jamais dit qu'il fallait "zapper" Monument Valley ! 😉
On a apprécié MV aussi mais considérer SD comme troisième zone...désolé mais nous, on a vraiment apprécié cette ville et ses charmes, notre coup de coeur.
Elle fut notre agréable surprise de notre roadtrip 2014! On a certainement pris le temps de la découvrir sur toutes ses facettes.
NY & Floride 2018
LA LV 2017
Floride Eté 2016
Ouest USA 2014 : LV Valley of Fire Zion Bryce Lake Powell MV G.Canyon Route66 Death Valley Yosemite SF LA San Diego
USA 1996 : Ohio, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Niagara Falls, New-York, Boston, Philly, Orlando-Tampa-Clearwater Beach, Toronto (Canada)
Au titre du plus long itinéraire, the winner is ....
Bon, ben , désolé, à revoir ...
Pas de A à Z bien sûr...
D'accord avec Thibaud, San Diego (fort intéressante et jolie ville au demeurant, nous venons juste d'y passer 3 jours, pour le Earth Day - coïncidence!) ne doit pas faire partie d'un 1er voyage vers l'Ouest.
J5 Vous ne ferez pas VOF + Trajet Zion + Transfert shuttle + Angel's Landing ou alors à la lampe frontale ...
J4 hum ... tout ça? + le Strip le soir?
J7 impossible à tenir
J8 Bryce - Moab?................ et Capitol Reef? ... pas sérieux - allez 8 hueres de voiture , bon courage!
J 14 intenable
Ensuite, ahurissante performance, vous réussissez à éviter Monument Valley et Canyonlands!
En général, vous empilez des choux et des chèvres sans tenir compte des déplacements, des impondérables, des modifs éventuelles. Ne vous figurez surtout pas que vous allez tenir ce rythme infernal pendant 3 semaines.
Pour SF et LA, les villes en général et les parcs n'étant pas ma tasse de thé, je n'ai pas d'avis.
Je n'ai jamais dit qu'il fallait "zapper" Monument Valley ! 😉
On a apprécié MV aussi mais considérer SD comme troisième zone...désolé mais nous, on a vraiment apprécié cette ville et ses charmes, notre coup de coeur.
Elle fut notre agréable surprise de notre roadtrip 2014! On a certainement pris le temps de la découvrir sur toutes ses facettes.
Dans ce cas, comme je vous disais : proposez un circuit faisable passant par tous ces points + San Diego avec le nombre de jour imparti 🙂
Pas possible ? Alors que suggérez vous de zapper ? 😉
Je pense que le soir du jour 5, après avoir visité Valley of Fire SP, vous allez dormir à Overton.
Et, le soir du jour 6, il sera pratique de passer la nuit à Springdale.
La randonnée "Angel's Landing", si c'est verglacé là-haut, ce sera casse-gu...
Le jour 7, pour le trajet entre Zion NP et Bryce Canyon, vous avez compté trop juste. On avait mis à peu près 2 h en passant par la scenic 9 au sud de Zion NP. Et, si je ne me trompe pas, vous y serez le 21 novembre, il pourrait y avoir de la neige sur la route.
Actuellement, dans Bryce Canyon, la section "Wall Street" de "Navajo loop" est fermée (www.nps.gov/...visit/conditions.htm). En fonction des conditions météo, vous verrez sur place si cette section est ouverte ou non quand vous y serez.
D'après ce que je vois, la promenade à cheval n'est possible que jusqu'au 31 octobre :
www.canyonrides.com/...on-horseback-riding/
Regardez les activités possibles en hiver dans Bryce Canyon : www.nps.gov/...yourvisit/winter.htm
La 1ère photo du lien ci-dessus a été prise en novembre 2015.
Pour rejoindre Arches NP, ce serait dommage de ne pas passer par la très belle scenic 12 qui va vers Boulder. Mais, là vous n'aurez pas le temps.
Et puis, le jour 7, en comptant
le temps de trajet jusque Bryce Canyon (comptez plus de 2 h, surtout s'il y a de la neige et si vous devez attendre le chasse-neige)
+ le temps de trajet pour vous avancer en direction de Arches,
il vous restera pas plus d'une demi-journée à consacrer à Bryce Canyon.
Et tenez compte du fait que vos journées seront courtes. Il fera nuit vers 17 h.
Votre périple va se faire au pas de course. J'aurais passé 1 nuit à Bryce, 1 à Torrey et je serais restée plusieurs nuitées à Moab.
Four Corners, nous y sommes allés pour le fun. Mais, ce n'était pas notre 1er circuit et nous disposions de suffisamment de temps.
C'est dommage de ne pas aller à Monument Valley.
La suggestion d'itinéraire de Jacqueline (Bastinj), sur le message n°40 de cette discussion, vous aurait permis de visiter les villes qui vous intéressaient + des parcs naturels du sud-ouest sans courir.
je suis moi même en train de preparer mon voyage , je suis de loin d'en connaitre autant que la plupart des intervenants , j'ai essayé de suivre leurs conseils (à 1 ou 2 points pres je pense y être arrivé) , la chose qui me choque dans ton itineraire c'est comment tu peux savoir que tu vas passer 30 min là ou 2 h ici ? l'interet justement de ne pas partir en voyage organisé c'est d'être libre et là tu t'imposes les mêmes contraintes ...........
je suis moi même en train de preparer mon voyage , je suis de loin d'en connaitre autant que la plupart des intervenants , j'ai essayé de suivre leurs conseils (à 1 ou 2 points pres je pense y être arrivé) , la chose qui me choque dans ton itineraire c'est comment tu peux savoir que tu vas passer 30 min là ou 2 h ici ? l'interet justement de ne pas partir en voyage organisé c'est d'être libre et là tu t'imposes les mêmes contraintes ...........
Bonjour Jean-Claude,
Il y a des temps donnés qui correspondent aux durées approximatives des randonnées. Par exemple, 1 heure pour un aller-retour à Fire Wave (dans Valley of Fire SP).
Nous aussi, on fait comme cela pour avoir une idée de ce que l'on peut faire dans une journée.
Mais, là les temps de route sont minimisés, et il faut tenir compte d'un paramètre supplémentaire qui est la météo en hiver, surtout pour certains endroits en altitude.
je suis d'accord avec toi pour les randos , mais savoir si je vais rester 30 min au pier 39 , 3h à sausalito etc , je reste dubitatif ....
pour prendre l'exemple de sf je sais que je vais y rester 3 jours , je me suis fixé les choses primordiales pour le timing ça sera au feeling ......
faire un voyage avec le chrono à la main je trouve ça dommage , ce n'est que mon opinion 😉
Voyager avec des enfants › États-Unis · 17 replies
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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!
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).
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
