America - Ideas and Suggestions on What to Do

LShadowCrimson on 04/08/2015 - 22:55

I'm traveling to America in January and would love some ideas and suggestions.

I'm going to be heading to Dallas, Texas on the 29th December and staying here until the 5th January with a friend I'll be meeting. Then maybe 2 days in Dallas at a hotel - any suggestions on things I could do around here on my own?

Then St Louis for a couple of days. Have an old family friend here and visited once before but not sure if she will be up to catching up as she has been unwell lately. Any suggestions on what to do around here or nearby?

Then I'm thinking of heading to Las Vegas for a couple of days and doing the Grand Canyon (I've been here before when I was younger, but taking up photography since then and would love to get some photos and the glass walk way is there now).

Then on to San Francisco for a week or so and coming home on the 21st January. Any suggestions here?

I've been to LA, Las Vegas before with family but was younger then. Would probably do LA again but not on my own.

To Recap -

  1. Going to start in Texas and ending/flying home from San Francisco and a couple of days in St Louis. With some other place in between - possible Las Vegas or some where else. Any suggestion on possible other places ideas?

  2. Any suggestions on order to do in - Texas-LasVegas-StLouis-SanFran Texas-StLouis-LasVegas-SanFran Texas-?-StLouis-SanFran etc

  3. Anything else?

Hopefully it is easy to follow
Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • ozy on 04/08/2015 - 22:59
    +3

    3. Tell a texan a dingo ate your baby…

    Seriously though, when in America, EAT!

  • justaverage on 04/08/2015 - 23:19
    +1

    There was a thread on a America last week. I would suggest looking at that.

  • neil on 05/08/2015 - 00:34

    The US is such a big country with a million things to do. Best bet is go to your library and pick up some travel guides to help you figure out what you want to see.

    January is going to be cold in the majority of the US so unless you like freezing cold conditions then that eliminates a good chunk of the country. Grand Canyon will be very cold (think snow and low visibility). I'd pick interesting places as far south as possible.

    I was in Texas a few months ago. Highly recommend getting a car and driving around.

    • Austin: Most amazing BBQ you will ever have. Hipster city with lots going on. One of the few places you can get somewhat close (but still far) to Melbourne coffee.
    • Houston: Space Center is pretty amazing. Good shopping malls, freeways, freeways and more freeways. Makes LA look tame.
    • San Antonio: Alamo as well as a lot of other historical things, Places along the river to eat, drink
  • DealzEddy123 on 05/08/2015 - 09:50

    should hang out in the hotel and visit some shopping malls

  • inherentchoice on 05/08/2015 - 10:51

    Dallas area has one of the biggest NFL stadiums and the season will be happening while you're there. I watched the Dallas Cowboys there, was pretty cool. Different to how we do sport events in Australia though, because there is basically zero public transport.

    There is also a JFK museum in Dallas (since it's where JFK was assassinated).

    I also quite enjoyed going to genuine Texan BBQ place - I went here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435371488947170954/

    Plus on Sunday I went to a megachurch in Dallas - www.gatewaypeople.com

    A couple of hours drive from the Grand Canyon is Monument Valley on the UT/AZ border.

  • Sunshines bright on 05/08/2015 - 20:12

    Yep take an opportunity to catch a Grid Iron footy game and the Dallas Cowboys would work perfectly. I believe 3 jan 2016 there is a home game http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2015/REG/COWBOYS you should not miss that.

    Think the temp in Texas will be chilly to you.. 6 to 18, same for the other places you mentioned - chilly!!!

    At the grand Canyon the temp will range between 2 to 13 at its warmest point known as Phantom Ranch.

    So my opinion is you picked a bad time to visit the US, lol, maybe you can change the dates to a better time of year? As it will be the middle of winter there. The best time might be between April and June which is the Spring season and very beautiful most places. The early fall is not so bad either in most places Sept-Oct, not to cold and not to warm.

    Jan is better temps for Southern CA, Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina maybe - less cold anyways.

    Visit the shops like Krogers (similar to Coles), A&P, Food Lion, what Americans refer to as grocery stores, you will be amazed at the choice of food products available! I miss that the most here down under. And the restaurants are abundant, so many placed to eat out… way beyond what is here.

    I hear that New York city is an awesome experience and can be overwhelming to many people.. Bright lights big city (a bit like Las Vegas without the big casinos)… Very active Theater district there. And New Yorkers can be quite interesting to meet.. some say they are very abrupt and talk funny, LOL. There we have Niagara Falls a spectacular site. 8 hour drive to chicago from there.

    I have always wanted to take the Amtrack (train) across country, it goes from California to Chicago and I believe it takes about 55 hours, here is the link to check it out (http://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train). Very Few American can say they have experienced it, but I watched a documentary and OH MY it was so beautiful most of the way and it makes its way through the Grand Canyon….

    I am from Ohio(very boring,industrial/farming state) and spent many years in Georgia which is rich in history if you go to the southern part; Savanah. I have visited Chicago and it is another semi grand city in the US…right up against Lake Michigan is one of the "great Lakes" and it is a beautiful place.

    Don't forget if you rent a car drive on the "right" side of the road, and roundabouts do not exist just traffic lights and stop signs.

    Best of luck!

  • ShadowCrimson on 06/08/2015 - 08:54

    Thanks for suggestions/feedback.

    Unfortunately working in the school system I can only get time of during the School Holidays so can't really choose when I can go. I was away it would be cold, would love to go when warmer if I could.

    I hadn't thought about possibility of snow at the Grand Canyon. Will need to keep that in mind.

    Shall definitely check out a game and try a BBQ.
    Will look into the museums and centers.

    Thanks again - I understand it is such a big place.

  • anth0888 on 06/08/2015 - 15:25

    The Official american tourism site is a wealth of ideas - www.discoveramerica.com

    They list all attractions per state ad also links to city and state tourism authority sites. You could spend a whole day getting inspiration from the site - they've done a good job putting it all together.

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