What are the "must visit" places in America?

[DiscoDiva]

I'm just wondering, as DH and I plan our vacations every year, where we should aim for next year. So, what are some of the "must visit" places in America? Here are some I think are must sees:

San Francisco
New York City
Florida (but what part? South Beach? Disneyworld area?)
Grand Canyon
Hawaii

[wander_woman]

I would add to the list:
Washington, DC
Yosemite
Yellowstone
Niagara Falls
Alaska

[smiles33]

If you're into history, I'd add Boston. I don't know Florida well enough to say any specific city, but I've been to Orlando (Disney World) and spent a few years as a toddler in Miami (I only remember the heat and humidity!).

I think non-Americans might also want to see Los Angeles (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood, etc.) and Las Vegas--although these aren't places Americans necessarily feel they need to see.

I've been to all these cities/areas except Niagara Falls and Alaska. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans (though I don't know if that's a "must-see" since I'm more intrigued by the history and the food). My favorite city is still SF. :)

[MrsSmith]

In Florida, you have to do South Beach and Orlando. If you're into sightseeing and beaches, you should go somewhere on the Gulf. There are plenty of resorts and things to do in any of the cities down there. If you're into history, go to Dallas and see the JFK museum. Also, go to DC and see everything from Arlington to the Capitol.

[lawyergirl25]

I second Niagara Falls and would add Chicago - it's my favorite city in the summer!

[dzil]

Re: Florida. Personally I'd skip Orlando. Go to the Everglades and the Keys.

In addition to what has been mentioned, I'd add the Smoky Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes and Maine (specifically, Acadia).

[Wrighty26]

I think the historical places are important. Too many Americans don't know their own country's history!
Just a few that come to mind--

Boston
Concord
Salem
DC
All over Virginia (Yorktown, Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg to name a few)
Gettysburg
St. Augustine


As far as Florida goes- I live in Orlando and there's definitely more than just Disney in Central FL! There is also Sea World, Universal, Kennedy Space Center, and Gator Land. The beaches aren't far, but if you want to go the good beaches-- go to the West/Gulf Coast! :D

OO- and what about Graceland? and Nashville... I've always kinda wanted to go there!

[camberne]

My mother said that Colorado is the most beautiful place that she's been to... and that was after their trip to Austria, Switzerland, St Petersburg and Norway!! So, now Colorado is on my list!!

We also want to go to:

Niagra Falls (Canadian side)
an Alaskan cruise (yeah, someday)
the Black Hills of South Dakota (just because I've always wanted to do that)
Natural Bridge VA (we live in VA and just haven't gotten there yet - one of the seven natural wonders of the World)
Vermont & New Hampshire during the leaves changing (we'll probably do this when we go to Niagra)

[Clattercote]

I grew up in Colorado and would definitely go anywhere there... but here are my must sees -

Colorado, especially the Southern part (Ouray, Mesa Verde area), but also Pikes Peak

Outer Banks, NC - rent a room on Ocracoke, a little tiny island - it is fabulous

I second Yellowstone and Yosemite; would also add Arches and Canyonlands in Utah.

Considering the good ol' midwest: I think Chicago is a must see: especially the zoo, and walking along the beach and the Magnificent Mile. I would also try to head up the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, or go to Door County in Wisconsin - incredible sights! Also check out the Boundary Waters between the US and Canada up there - fabulous!

Seattle is a must; try out some of the pacific rim food available up there.

Washington, D.C. is definitely a must, in part because many things are free, and in part just because it's beautiful.
NOTE: My must sees are a bit less inhabited...

[boilermaker]

Well, my must see list for the US alone is about 50 lines long...one for each state :)

Some of the best places that I have been:
Cultural/Urban
California Wine Country & San Francisco
Washington DC
Boston (and Providence and Mystic CT)
Philadelphia...the Liberty Bell, the First House of Congress
Denver
Austin & San Antonio TX
Pheonix AZ
NYC, NYC, NYC
Chicago
LA/Hollywood
Seattle
Las Vegas
New Orleans

For Nature:
The Grand Canyon
Rocky Mountain National Park
Red Rocks
Durango CO
Moab UT (Arches/Canyonlands)
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Mt Rushmore & Crazy Horse
Smokey Mountains (Gatlinburg TN)
Fredericksburg VA
Cape Cod/Cape Ann
Driving through New England in the fall!
The Poconos
The Catskills
The Finger Lakes
Niagara Falls
Park City & Salt Lake City UT
Mammoth Caves
Macinack Island
New River Gorge
Albequeque NM (esp for the Oct Hot Air Balloon Fest)


I have never been to Alaska, Hawaii, Montana or North Dakota, so I can't comment on those, but they are all on my to see list.

What type of vacation are you looking for?

[amew]

For history:
Washington, DC
Boston

For the classic urban experience:
NYC
Chicago

For a distinctly regional feel:
San Francisco and the wine country
New England in the fall
Charleston and Savannah
New Orleans
Austin and San Antonio
Santa Fe
Seattle

For all-American kitsch:
Disneyland/world
Las Vegas

Because its pretty:
Hawaii
Alaska
the Rocky Mountains
the Grand Canyon
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Niagara Falls

[DiscoDiva]

Wow - you all have added some great places! Each year, DH and I just like to go somewhere different, where there are some 'touristy' things to do, yet still have some 'normal' things to do as well. I'm a photography nut, so anything that adds to that is great. Overall, we just want to explore all the great places in America!

We were thinking about renting a small RV and doing a driving vacation for a few weeks, but with gas prices as they are, that's on hold for a while.

[SweetRed]

I LOVE this thread. I've been to the 48 mainland states, and I agree with SO many suggestions here!

I must take the time to second Southern Colorado. My trip to Mesa Verde years ago is probably the most memorable part of our family vacations. Beautiful and fascinating with all the ruins from the Anastazi Indians! I hear, too, that it's popularity is still moderate, so it's not as overrun with tourists as the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone (both of which I also loved... but that was so many years ago!)

What I didn't see on this list is Wyoming. Our one-day white watering rafting trip down the Snake River in Jackson Hole was AMAZING! And it is just such a beautiful, peaceful area. We also briefly stayed in Cody, and for a NorthEastern suburbanite like myself, a real-life rodeo was just so much FUN!!!

And I must plug my now-home New England for the Autumn. Having grown up in the NE my entire life, the Fall was never anything special to me. Then I saw how my MIL (from the Dakotas) reacted the first time she saw the changing leaves on the trees and knew we had something mighty special here.

I can't wait to read what everyone else adds!

~ Kay

[wendalah]

I would second Albuquerque/Santa Fe--we visited for the first time last year, and New Mexico is truly one-of-a-kind.

Colorado is beautiful, but I think Utah is even prettier. Do you like to ski?

A fun thing to do if you love photography is to drive through Death Valley, California. Sooooo weird and cool! Also Joshua Tree--I love the California desert. And you can recover nicely at a spa in Desert Hot Springs. :)

[greenbunny]

I recommend driving Route 1 from as far north to as far south as you can. DH and I started from near Canada and went down to San Diego. The coasts of Oregon and Northern CA were breaktaking.

Also, see the sequioa and redwood forests. I've never felt so tiny and humble.



As a resident of PA, I can't say the Poconos are all that great, compared to a lot of things on the list.

[Blondeinabmw]

Tahoe is amazing! So pretty.

The painted desert in Arizona is incredible too.

Other places to include:
Colorado Springs
New Orleans
The Florida Keys
Charleston

[ejs]

DiscoDiva, I saw your idea about renting an RV and driving around the US for a bit. I wanted to let you know my DH did this right before I met him. He figured he'd seen a lot of the world, but hadn't seen enough of the US. So he took a sabbatical from work, bought an RV, and hit the road for two months.

He loved it. He said it was one of the best trips he's ever taken. He highly recommends people do it. He's also more than willing to answer any questions if you have some.