Nous voulons découvrir cet automne la nouvelle Angleterre et finir à New York.
Nous voulons profiter aussi bien de la côte que de l’intérieur. Nous aimons faire des petites balades ou bien des randonnées de 5 heures maxi, voir des villages typiques, etc. J’aime aussi voir les phares et les ponts couverts.
Nous prévoyons ce voyage entre mi-Septembre et mi /ou fin Octobre, il durera environ vingtaine de jours. Nous arriverons à Boston et repartirons de New York. Nous prendrons la voiture à Boston le jour de notre départ pour Portsmouth et la rendrons à New York à notre arrivée.
Pour planifier ce voyage j’utilise Google maps , le Road Atlas Rand McNally, différents guides, et bien sûr j’ai lu les échanges du Forum à ce sujet.
Je vous soumets ci-dessous l’itinéraire prévu. Les temps indiqués sont sans les arrêts. Les nuits en gras.
Jour 1 Paris Boston
Jour 2 Visite Boston
Jour 3 Visite Boston
Jour 4 Boston - Portsmouth en passant par le Cap Anne 150km/ 2h 37 Porstmouth
Divers arrêts conseillés sont prévus
Jour 5 Portsmouth - Bath Routes 1/207/77 / 167 km / 2h 35 Bath
Jour 6 Bath – Bar Harbor Route 1 200 km / 3 h 28 Bar Harbor
Jour 7 Bar Harbor Acadia NP Bar Harbor
Jour 8 Bar Harbor Acadia NP Bar Harbor
Jour 10 Bar Harbor – Conway 337 km 4 h 22 Conway
Jour 11 Conway Whites Mountain ( routes 302/16/2 )
+ Petite randonnée) Conway
Jour 12 Conway Whites Moutain randonnée Conway
Jour 13 Conway – Franconia ( par la Kancamagus Hway) arrêts à Flume
Gorge et Franconia Notch SP Franconia
Jour 14 Franconia – Montpelier
(ou plus loin si on a le temps) 187 km 2 h 43 Montpelier
Jour 15 Montpelier – Rutland Routes 100 et 4 - 128 km 2 h 50 Rutland
Jour 16 Rutland - Lenox Route 7 – 154 km 2 h 30 Lenox
Jour 17 Lenox - Danbury Route 7 - 124 km 2 h 10 Dandury
Jour 18 Dandury – New York airport par la Merritt Pkw
120 km 1 h 26 jusqu’a 2 h 10 en cas de forte circulation New-York
Jour 19 visite New-York New York
Jour 20 visite New-York New York
Jour 21 visite New-York New York
Jour 22 départ New-York
Jour 23 arrivée Paris
Pour le moment rien n’est réservé. Que pensez vous de cet itinéraire ?
Avez-vous des B and B, hôtel ou motel à me conseiller ?
Tous les conseils et idées sont les bienvenus.
merci.
Liliane
J'ai prévu de suivre la côte au plus près, de m'arrêter entre autres à Gloucester, aux endroits conseillés par des Forumistes et à ceux que j'ai repéré suite à mes différentes lectures.
Merci pour le lien j'avais suivi cette discussion qui m'a bien aidé.
Là ou j'ai eu quelques difficultés pour établir mon itinéraire, c'est à partir du jour 13 jusqu'au jour 16, ces étapes sont elles bien réparties? Aurai-je suffisamment de temps pour les visites? Est-il nécessaire de tout réserver à l'avance car nous y serons au moment entre mi-septembre et fin Octobre? Merci
Je ne vous répond pas nécessairement dans l'ordre des jours mais voici quelques commentaires:
Lennox - tout près, au sud toujours sur la route 7, il y a le très joli village de Stockbridge et le musée de Norman Rockwell, une visite s'impose
http://www.nrm.org/
Lenox - je ne sais pas ce qu'il y aura à Tanglewood en ce temps de l'année mais la saison des concerts semble se terminer le 5 septembre lorsque je regarde leur horaire. Toutefois je lis qu'il y a habituellement un carnaval à la mi-octobre.
Lorsque vous serez à Conway, montez jusqu'au village suivant, North Conway. Je sais, c'est très touristique et tout le tra-la-la mais si vous aimez faire du shopping, c'est l'endroit. De plus, il y a de très jolis b&b.
Montpelier - je n'y ai jamais trouvé rien d'intéressant mais c'est selon les goûts je suppose, même chose pour Rutland. Par contre, un peu plus au sud, sur la 7, il y a les charmants villages de Dorset, Manchester et Arlington (et quelques-autres) plus typiques du Vermont. Ces villages longent la Green Mountain National Forest.
Il y a aussi des outlets à Manchester Center mais Manchester Village, adjacent, est charmant. Regardez les suggestions de randonnées dans le lien suivant: http://www.linkvermont.com/townsvill/manchesterarea/
L'automne est super beau dans ce coin.
Merci pour ces précisions et les liens, je regarde tout ça de plus près.
Montpelier et Rutland c'est juste pour passer la nuit, mais s'il y a des endroits plus charmants je suis preneuse de ces infos.
Je vais regarder du côté de North Conway pour les B and B.
Plus jeune, avant que nous achetions une caravane, nous allions au Buttonwood Inn, à l'arrière de North Conway (mais tout près en fait) http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/
Il y a tout de même plusieurs années de cela mais cela semble encore très bien.
Lorsque j'étais seule et que je fouinais à la recherche de coins sympa dans le Vermont (presqu'à toutes les deux semaines, religieusement), j'ai déjà loué à Dorset au http://www.barrowshouse.com/. Dans Manchester, je suis demeurée au http://www.innatmanchester.com/ et au http://www.reluctantpanther.com/, très très cher tous les deux mais il y a beaucoup beaucoup de bed and breakfasts dans le coin et je ne crois pas nécessaire de réserver par avance bien que ce sera la saison des feuilles d'automne et les week-ends sont très achalandés.
Vous parler de ces endroits fait jaillir en moi de très bons souvenirs, c'était le belle vie de célibataire!!!
Bonsoir,
La Nouvelle Angleterre en automne ce sont de superbes paysages et petits villages accrochés au bord de l'océan.
Une douceur de vivre incomparable, loin, très loin des hordes de touristes qui hantent la Floride et l'Ouest.
Un des vrais visages des USA.
Gloucester, Portsmouth, Kennebunkport, Bar Harbor, etc...
Je suis moins "pointue" sur les intérieurs, car peu intéressée par les montagnes et les lacs (je vis au Jura Suisse, alors je souhaite d'autres attraits lorsque je voyage).
Il fera frais dans le nord de votre périple à partir de mi-octobre.
Vous restez relativement longtemps à Boston et peu à New York, mais peut-être connaissez vous déjà cette ville.
A mon avis Boston, c'est 2 jours plein, pas plus.
Cape Cod en automne, cela doit être peu animée, mais bon comme je n'accroche pas trop avec ce genre de ville trop tournée sur l'exploitation touristique, je ne dois pas être de bons conseils.
Je préfère nettement Plymouth, ce qui vous permet de vous rendre à Cap Cod en bateau si vous le désirez.
C'est rapide et pas cher.
Idem depuis Boston pour Cape Cod, moins d'une heure de trajet!
Pour les hotels nul besoin de réerver à cette époque, mais les motels 6 et autres sont souvent mal situés par rapport aux centres d'intérêts.
Bon séjour.
les 3 autres liens sont bien également, les prix des deux derniers ne sont pas donnés, ça ce voit que c'est la saison des feuilles d'automne, mais cette pour raison qu'on veut y aller à cette époque. Nous avons un très bon souvenir d'un automne que nous avions passé au Québec.
Je vais continuer mes recherches.
Merci
Liliane
Merci pour votre message.
Mon mari n'était pas trop partisan pour rester 2 jours pleins à Boston, je pense donc enlever une demie journée voire une journée, tout dépendra de l'heure d'arrivée de l'avion. Avec le temps gagné je pourrai peut être ajouter une étape le long de la côte.On ne tient pas a aller à Cap Cod.
Je ne connais pas New York, mon mari si. Peut être que nous pourrions rajouter un jour, a voir.
Liliane
Je me permet de faire quelque commentaires... je vois que vous prevoyez une etape a Danbury, Connecticut. J'habite juste a coté et franchement il n'y a pas grand chose a voir d'un point de vue touristique. Donc si c'est juste pour trouver un hotel entre Lenox et le retour a NY, c'est bien placé mais c'est tout. Par contre si vous voulez faire des achats de derniere minute avant de rentrer en France c'est un bon endroit. Nettement plus de magasins que sur le reste de votre parcour (mis a part Boston evidement). Entre Lenox et Danbury par contre il y a pas mal d'endroits tres sympa. Entre autres... Kent Falls (Kent CT), Cornwall Bridge et Bulls Bridge (respectivement au nord et au sud de Kent), Litchfield et ses environs, un tout tout petit village nommé Milton, CT, entre Kent et Litchfield (tres typique Nouvelle Angleterre). Il y a aussi Webatuc Village (artisanat) dans l'etat de NY a quelques kilometres de Bulls Bridge. A Washington, CT il y a aussi un petit musée/centre educatif sur les Amérindiens
Ensuite vous prevoyez Danbury- NY via la Merrit Parkway. Ben non, pas cool. Ça vous fait prendre la route 7 entre Danbury et Norwalk, CT, et elle est en travaux depuis 2-3 ans et pour plusieurs années encore. Et la Merritt Parkway, meme si elle est une alternative interessante a I-95, ça reste quand meme une autoroute. Certe verdoyante et avec de jolis ponts mais c'est tout. Pour aller de Danbury a JFK, la meilleure route c'est de prendre I-84 West, passer dans l'Etat de NY, changer a Brewster et prendre la I-684 jusqu'a White Plains, puis la Hutchinson River Parkway, puis le Whitestone Bridge puis suivre les panneaux pour l'aeroport (via la Van Wyck expressway). Pas vraiment un parcours touristique :-) Et prevoyez du temps. Sans circulation, il faut environ 1h15mn. mais si c'est aux heures de points, ou pire, si il y a un evenement sportif, surtout un match a Shea Stadium, c'est la galere (et ce serait la meme chose en passant par la Merritt). Je regarde toujours les infos circulation sur Traffic.com avant d'aller a JFK (j'y vais en moyenne 1 fois par mois). Prevoyez 2h30-3 heures pour aller a JFK.
Merci pour toutes ces infos.
Danbury c'est juste pour la nuit. J'ai noté les suggestions de visites sur la route entre Lenox et Danbury.
Je vais revoir la dernière étape Danbury/ New-York. Certaines routes ont des sections à péages, combien faut il compter?
que vous passiez par Norwalk et la Merritt ou bien par Brewster et I-84/I684, le seul peage est le Whitestone Bridge. Il me semble que c'est $4 ou $4, 50, a payer en cash.
si jamais vous vous retrouvez sur la I-95, elle est a peage dans l'etat de NY, mais seulement dans l'autre sens (NYC vers CT).
En regle generale meme quand il y a un peage c'est bon marché, donc contrairement a la France, ça rentre assez rarement en compte dans le choix de la route a prendre.
Vous aurez aussi de peages en Massachussets et dans le Maine.
Au fait lors de votre passage dans le Vermont... quelques endroits sympas:
- Quechee Gorge, pres de White River Junction
- Stowe (station ete/hiver, tres jolie)
- a Waterbury, a coté de Stowe, il y a Ben and Jerry's (fabricant de glace) avec une petite visite d'usine, plutot sympa
En Massachussets, a North Adams, un petit parc avec un "pont" naturel en marbre (Natural bridge state park). Et a Pittsfield, le Hancock Shaker village, musée de plein air
et enfin, a Bar Harbor, Maine, il y a des marchands de glace. L'un d'eux est aussi un chocolatier, et il y a des parfums de glace assez surprenants... J'y ai essayé de la glace au homard... J'en mangerais pas un gros cornet, mais c'etait interessant... Pas mauvais du tout... A essayer... on peut demander a gouter et ils en donnent un peu sur une cuillere :-)
Oh... si vous aimez le homard... et vous passez par la... a Belfast, Maine, Young's lobster pound.. Un hangar, des bancs en bois, et des homards particulierement delicieux... nettement meilleurs que d'autres endroits que j'ai essayés.
Merci pour ces nouvelles infos.
Je vais prévoir du cash pour les sections à péages.
A Bar Harbor, je goûterai à la glace au homard, ca doit être vraiment curieux.
Comme j'aime les glaces, une visite chez Ben and Jerry's s'impose.
J'ai noté l'adresse pour le homard, j'avais l'intention d'en manger la bas.
Je vais ajouter le Natural Bridge State Park.
Liliane
Amérique du Nord › États-Unis / Québec › Montréal et Laval · 2 replies
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Amérique du Nord › États-Unis / Québec › Montréal et Laval · 21 replies
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Je prévois de faire un circuit dans le nord-est des USA pour une durée de 15 jours environ, mi Septembre. Pourriez-vous me conseiller sur un itinéraire…
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).
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 🙂
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!
