Aloe is coming to America!

[Aloe]

I want to say thank you everyone!! This is really heartwarming to see how many people are so warm and welcoming !!!!!!!!!   

[Muzh]

Oh, she's coming over on an overcrowded  packet steamer airplane  ?

Fixed that for you. 

[SANDRO43]

Aloe, we're all glad that you finally managed to organise yourself a trip overseas. But you must tell us what secret weapon you used to convince your sedentary hubby .

[Gator]

Aloe,
 
Marco Island is a delightful place.  You are just south of Naples, which houses the winter homes of the old rich.  Not much night life because WASPs (white anglo-saxon protestant) do not know how to dance, and prove it each year at their city's annual charity cotillion).
 
Good white sand beaches, very warm water, but no surf.  You say you like nature - do not miss the nearby Corkscrew Sanctuary.  And if you are driving from Miami, you will pass the Everglades National Park.  Both have much nature (for example, the highway between Miami and Naples is named Alligator Alley.
 
For restaurants, I suggest you use TripAdvisor.com

[Chicagoguy]

Nobody mentions Chicago   
But in truth I have been everywhere that is mentioned and all are excellent choices.

[Faux Pas]

Nobody mentions Chicago   
But in truth I have been everywhere that is mentioned and all are excellent choices.

Aloe, go to Chi-town.

I love that place. Well, most of it

[newjason]

your vacation will depend a lot on how you will be getting around. If you don't have plans to spend a lot of time on a plane, you may want to visit the high value targets.  North East Coast. You can visit all the early American historic sites by car.  Every place else is going to require a plane trip.
I will Be in Europe this summer so I can't offer to be your host. 

As for beaches, well, IF you don't like thousands of people fighting over the same beach space, the beaches of the Oregon Coast are the best in US. Oregon and Washington are beautiful places to visit but are far off the beaten path. If you can get a nice run of weather, Seattle is the best place to visit period.
Of course I am biased because it is my home. But I doubt you will find one person with anything bad to say about Seattle.
But From the Space needle to the Ferry rides across Puget Sound, bike rides in The San Juan Islands to Watching the Orca Killer whales, The Experience Music Project, the Museum of Flight, an hour and a half drive to Portland Oregon, or a 3 hour drive to Vancouver British Columbia. Of course having Mt Rainier and the Olympic mountain ranges in view all the while makes it even more breathtaking.

here, yo help you decide, take a virtual tour:

http://www.seattle.gov/TOUR/attractions.htm


Some other places to see:

Disney Land CA
Washington DC
Las Vegas NV
Statue Of Liberty NY
Grand Canyon AZ
Mt Rushmore SD
Time Square NY
Virgin Islands
and of course
Hawaii

[BillyB]

 Oregon and Washington are beautiful places to visit but are far off the beaten path. If you can get a nice run of weather, Seattle is the best place to visit period.
Of course I am biased because it is my home. But I doubt you will find one person with anything bad to say about Seattle.

Absolutely. I've lived in Hawaii before but I like living in the Pacific NW better. I know a few different people who lived in NY that are now living in Seattle. They don't ever want to go back to NY to live.

[calmissile]

I agree with Jason.  Seattle would be a good choice on the west coast.  There is plenty to do there including the underground tour of the old city which is part of many stores basements now.  Pioneer Square which has a number of clubs and jazz places, the Space Needle, Pike Street Market, Ferry rides, etc.  There are also a number of lakes besides Lake Washington that are nice to swim and sun bathe.  Your husband might want to visit the Ballard Locks and view all the boats coming and going between Puget Sound and Lake Washington.

Its the best time of year to go there.  You hit it just right.  My family still lives there although I still visit frequently.  There also are a number of forum members living in the Seattle area.

[LAman]

Who doesn't want to convince others that their city is one you 'have' to visit. Which makes me wonder which cities have the most tourists? Guess it is more important what the traveler/s want to see or experience.
I actually yawned at some of these places mentioned!!    To most people New York is a must see place to visit which I can understand. Florida has their hurricane season in summer but it is nice to visit I am sure, especially if you have friends....other than Orlando where the humidity is too point where you don't want to be outside!! Now there is a reason aloe found better rates in august than july, because the peak storm season is august to october, a coincidence?? Which brings me to best of both worlds.....weather and excitement...California!!! I with GQ on what there is here.....from San Diego to San Francisco along the coast and I know aloe is interested in San Fran!!! LV is a must, if not to see the 'palaces' known as hotels where millions are spent on the backs of the gamblers along with Hoover Dam. Glad to see the itiniery has Cali on it!!! I admit, I am more into historical things and sand/beaches with a touch of nightlife.
What I am happy about is aloe finally doing something she wants to do and convincing her hubby to even join in albeit for a couple weeks...who knows maybe even aloe may not want to leave US???? I hope she has a wonderful time, meets up with a few members and some experiences she always remember!!!

[Aloe]

Anyone wanna show me around San Francisco?    I got the ticket, arriving there on 30 june     If school confirms, i'll be there for 2 weeks.

[Vaughn]

Aloe, if you've got 2 weeks in San Francisco, check out a side tour to Yosemite National Park. It is a jewel of nature, and I urge you to Google some photos.
Plan to stay a couple of days and really take it in.

[knighta]

As for beaches, well, IF you don't like thousands of people fighting over the same beach space, the beaches of the Oregon Coast are the best in US.

Some attractions where I live are the Devils Punch Bowl, Devils Churn, Devils Lake.  I wonder who came up with these names?  While no longer here we used to have the whale that was in the movie Free Willy in the Oregon Coast Aquarium. 



The Devils Punch Bowl is much deeper than the picture gives it credit for and I have seen some people in the center on the bottom.

[BillyB]

Aloe, check out a side tour to Yosemite National Park. It is a jewel of nature, and I urge you to Google some photos.

Aloe should take a road trip. When I took my wife to Las Vegas, she asked why we didn't fly. After the trip, she doesn't want to fly anymore. We drove through 11 states and seen a lot of amazing natural wonders that no city offers.

[Gator]

Aloe, if you've got 2 weeks in San Francisco, check out a side tour to Yosemite National Park. It is a jewel of nature, and I urge you to Google some photos.
Plan to stay a couple of days and really take it in.

I agree 100%.  Yosemite is so glorious that it was the first natural area in the country set aside by action of the U.S. federal government for preservation and public use (done by Abraham Lincoln during the middle of the Civil War).

[GQBlues]

So anyway Aloe...IIRC on one of your thread you mentioned how much you dislike the heat and since so many folks seem to be unanimous in recommending Las Vegas, it would be wise to prepare yourself to desert heat in case you didn't know. July happens to be the hottest month for Vegas +/- 110F + (43C +).
 
The evenings are a romp however...lights, grandeur, shows, hard bodies, etc...
 
SF is a wonderful city and if you're staying there for 2 weeks make sure you at least find yourself atop twin peaks (preferably in the evening). Late July early August can be fairly foggy and would give you the impression you're on top of the clouds. Take heavy sweaters/coat.
 
To get the best view of the bridge, get across it and get to the right side (looking back at the city) and not on Vista Point (with all the other tourist) to the left of the bridge. Do this in the afternoon so the setting sun shines against the bridge and it'll showcase that 'rusty' color with far more vibrancy. Swing by the Palace of Fine Arts on your way back. Dance Spectrum or maybe even San Francisco ballet may have scheduled performance then.
 
If you don't mind walking, do so and start at Union Square. From there you can walk to the Pier, or Chinatown, even Lombard Street/Coit Tower, etc...Little Italy have great places to eat at.
 
Alcatraz, if it interests you, can be toured by way of a ferry from the Wharf. Advance reservation is required. You can also get a full day or multiple day pass for the cable cars. You don't go to SF and not experience riding on the cable cars. Makes for great pics!
 
Rent a bike and ride through Golden Gate park, then swing by the (US) historical Haight & Ashbury ( nothing to really see there other than the fact that's where the hippie children of the present MOB wife-hunters started from).
 
Short drive northwards will get you to Sausalito - Marin County. Noted as the most expensive county in California. Further north will get you to the Redwood Forest and the grandeur of the northcoast.
 
You can Google 'Broadway Schedule San Francisco' to see what's available while you're in town. East of SF, will take you to cow-town Sacramento/Napa Valley (wine country) and ultimately Lake Tahoe. Great place to be in the summer as well as wintertime.
 
In the end however, and like everyone said, almost anywhere you go in the US (and Canada), you'd likely enjoy yourself with beuatiful sights and sounds. Further up north (much) takes you to Vancouver, Canada. One of my favorite city in the world.

[GQBlues]

BTW- I forgot to mention, best prepare yourself to California's residents. This video will give you an idea, contrary to popular belief,  how benign and docile they really are.
 

[cc3]

You'll definitely not want to eat anything at the Hilton. The good news is you will be able to find plenty of cheaper restaurants to eat at. Hotel restaurants tend to always be more expensive.

Rule of thumb for USA: never eat in hotel restaurants!

[Slumba]

Would anyone recommend Muir Woods (you can take a shuttle)?

http://www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit/directions.htm

[Voyager36]

Everywhere !!    The original plan was New York - Miami - California, but i'm flexible I'm curious to see everything!!

I've been almost everywhere (in the US at least    ) and it's a great place to visit! 

Hey everyone, thanks for the offers and suggestions!

Any idea how much food costs per day? Like how much is lunch/dinner?

You should be able to get a decent breakfast for $8 - $10 unless the place is fancy. You can get lunch or dinner at an average price restaurant like Denny's for $15 or $20, cheaper at McDonalds or Taco Bell, more expensive in the hotel or at a fancy restaurant.

I also wanna have road trips everywhere! I'm mostly interested in beautiful nature and cities. Not so much museums. Also I like nice shows, like Broadway show or a dance show. Not very interested in night-life.


I'm still not sure what exactly i'm gonna do and how to plan this.

You should take a road trip on the West Coast from California up to Washington or Canada, see the Redwood forest, Oregon Coast, Rocky Mountains.