American Highlights...I'm thinking of a road trip next year

[superheavyrhun]

Hi guys,

Was wondering if you guys could give me a few pointers as to what I shouldn't miss whilst doing a road trip in the States.

I'm hoping to go around this time next year (pending those pen-pushers at work approving my three-week holiday in late September to early October) and was hoping you guys could give me a few ideas of places to visit and things I shouldn't miss while I'm over there.

At the moment, my main plan is to start West Coast, though so far I'm hoping to:

Go hiking in the Rockies.
Catch a Vikings football game (and hook up with a few mates there.)
Do some white-water rafting (recommendations would be good for this one, I'm hoping eventually to raft on all continents, so far have been in Europe and Oceania, and plan to do a week's trip when I return to Nepal in Autumn 2012.
And of course catch (hopefully not start) a fight or two!

Any other suggestions?

[Diane]

Where have you been already, so that we don't suggest anything that you have done, or already gone to?

[superheavyrhun]

Where have you been already, so that we don't suggest anything that you have done, or already gone to?

To be honest with you I've only been to the states a few times....Florida to Disneyworld as a kid (not planning it this time!), Minnesota visiting friends and a stopover in LAX on my way to New Zealand (possibly the grimmest place in the world!).

Basically, what I'm thinking of is fun or quirky places to visit, get drunk, or activities to do. New Zealand and Nepal were my last two holidays, basically hiking, adventure sports etc.

Have perhaps been thinking of following the old Route 66 from the west coast to Chicago, then cut back to MN.

[Rantcatrat]

Are you a city person? You should visit NYC. You could go to Gleason's in Brooklyn if visiting boxing gyms in foreign countries interests you. There are tons of museums, which are free or charge on a donation basis. Great restaurants etc.

In California, Los Angeles and San Francisco are fun to visit for a minute or two. Catch a baseball game just to say you did. LA doesn't have much in the way of sites, but the food is great; weather is great; ladies are great. As far as outdoor activities, there are great beaches just outside of LA and a drive up the coast is beautiful. The Sequioa National Park is fun too.

Boston is a good tourist location.

For white water rafting, Colorado is where to go from what I understand.

Vegas for, well, Vegas.

Give me more to work with and I'll add more.

[superheavyrhun]

NYC is probably going to be a two-day stopover either on the way back or outward, I've got a few uni friends living there I'd like to catch up with.

I'm not really a city person, I'm most likely to pass through as few as possible apart from those I'm visiting friends at.

Colorado sounds like the place to go for outdoor activities, might have to make it stick.

What I'm really looking for are the quirky things that tourists wouldn't normally see/do? I remember seeing a story about the "Heart-attack diner" where the waitresses dress like nurses and the burgers have a day's calories in them. Also, the world's biggest ball of string type things.... and of course interesting or weird places to have a beer or two!!!

[Rantcatrat]

For natural beauty, Montana is also a great to place to go. It was where the movie, "A River Runs Through It" was filmed. Fly fishing etc.

I've heard Bourbon country is cool in Kentucky.

Do Katz's in NY for Pastrami and Grimaldi's in Brooklyn for Pizza. I'll give you more restaurant recs in a private email if you need it as the time approaches. Let me know.

[OumaFan]

West Virginia's supposed to be nice.

[amat]

This kid at my work just did a trip like that where he went to all these weird, quirky sites on the map. I don't know, that's weird to me at least when you're my age. This guy looks like Harry Potter but is just a giant nerd, he asked me to join his Earth Sciences club at my college the other day.

San Francisco of course is my option and you can go to Oakland if you need some thrills Raider tickets are cheap these days and believe me I'm a 49er fan but Raider games are....better. They're pretty fun even if the crowd is sometimes more then a little questionable. I know you're an NFL guy that's one of the underrated sports experiences. The wine country is beautiful also.

[Andre]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLPzYDcWPQM


I would love to go here, but thats me.

[superheavyrhun]

Cheers guys....I'll try and string some of these into a relatively linear route!