Thanks guys I cant wait and I'm counting down the days now until I fly.

And Julius I aint got the cash to stay a month but I can guarantee this will be the first of many visits.

As for jamiebhoy thanks for the advice. I'll deffo take that tour bus. And my next stop after the US certainly is Australia. I'm going to Aus in Jan/Feb and staying in Perth for a week as I have family that live there and I'm also doing a week's cruise round the country stopping at Syndney, Melbourne etc.