A question for the non-US X-Markers...

[CDNSushi]

That's a bit too broad-ended question to answer as-is. It a little bit like when people find out I'm from Canada and they tell me that their brother-in-law has a good friend in Toronto named Mike... Maybe I know him.

Surely there must be SOME limitation here other than the continental U.S. Even if there isn't, does that mean I could recommend New York AND L.A. with regional flights connecting them?

You said it yourself: everyone has different interests, and without knowing those of your friends, I might be completely off-base in my suggestions. I could recommend a trip where you won't see a single building or a living soul for 3 weeks, and equally I could make a trip where you will see nothing but cityscape.

However, barring ANY limitations, I might arrange a trip thusly:

Day 1: Fly into Seattle. Relax
Days 2-3: See the city, tourist sites, and whatnot
Days 4-7: Get out into the mountains for some guided fishing and camping
Day 8: Regional flight to L.A.
Days 9-13: Rent a car and tour around so-cal. Must-see: Hollywood (Chinese theater, for example), San Diego, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, spend at least 1 day on the beach in Santa Cruz
Day 14: Fly to New York City
Days 15-16: Do the New York thing. Tool around the city, see the major sites and attractions: Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, see a Broadway play, etc, etc.
Day 17: Amtrak from NY to Washington D.C.
Days 18-20: Historic buildings and monuments in D.C., drive to Arlington, VA, Baltimore, MD, among others.
Day 21: Fly home

That's the trip I would take if it were my first/only time in the U.S., and/or had visitors with me who wanted to get a good cross-section of the country, combining a bit of everything. Again, money being no object here.

[macwilkin]

Sad to see the Midwest being largely ignored and treated as "flyover country" to reach the coasts. If it were me, I would recommend a Mississippi River cruise or a trip across the Santa Fe Trail, from Kansas City to New Mexico. I'm glad to see Chas mention Route 66 as well.

T.

[Sir William]

Surely there must be SOME limitation here other than the continental U.S. Even if there isn't, does that mean I could recommend New York AND L.A. with regional flights connecting them?

That is exactly what it means - no limitation except for time, which will only concern me when I get into the scheduling part of the assignment. There is no "theme" such as historical, cultural, or nature sites.

What I wanted to see was where visitors to the US would want to go and see, not necessarily where I, as a US resident, would want them to go.

Interestingly enough, I drew up a possible list of places and most of the suggestions so far, though not all, were on the list I made up. There were a few surprises though, such as the Rocky Mountains and Mississippi (though I did think of Yellowstone and New Orleans).

[davedove]

Because the US is so big, it's hard to plan a trip without some sort of defining factor. That could be a theme (historical sites, natural wonders, big city, etc.) or a region (New England, the Mississippi valley, Texas, etc.).

Having lived in the eastern half of the US my whole life, I made the mistake of forgetting how big the western states are when I visited the southwest. I spent a big portion of my vacation driving from site to site.

[BoldHighlander]

Having lived in the eastern half of the US my whole life, I made the mistake of forgetting how big the western states are when I visited the southwest. I spent a big portion of my vacation driving from site to site.

Excellent point & something to keep in mind!

That is one of things, as a living historian/reenactor, we use to complain about out here. How the guys back east could easily hit a vast amount of events (travel wise), while ours are so spread out we spend most of our time just getting there (& back again)!

[ThistleDown]

Colonial Williamsburg; New York City; Chicago for its architecture; Boston for its accent ; Vermont & New Hampshire in the Fall; Grandfather Mountain in a week or so; New Orleans at Mardi Gras; Ohio for the mounds; Wyoming for Yellowstone; South Dakota for the Badlands; prairie enormity; Nevada for the dessert; Arizona for the balloons (and soaring); S California for its culture ; Oregon for its diversity; Washington just because it is there

Rex (t-o-o)

[Sir William]

Colonial Williamsburg; New York City; Chicago for its architecture; Boston for its accent ; Vermont & New Hampshire in the Fall; Grandfather Mountain in a week or so; New Orleans at Mardi Gras; Ohio for the mounds; Wyoming for Yellowstone; South Dakota for the Badlands; prairie enormity; Nevada for the dessert; Arizona for the balloons (and soaring); S California for its culture ; Oregon for its diversity; Washington just because it is there

Rex (t-o-o)

Excellent!

I'm assuming you meant Washington STATE and not Washington, DC? Seattle and the Puget Sound would be on my list, but I know there are lots of people who think DC with all its monuments and museums.

[ThistleDown]

Excellent!

I'm assuming you meant Washington STATE and not Washington, DC? Seattle and the Puget Sound would be on my list, but I know there are lots of people who think DC with all its monuments and museums.

Yes, but you are American and you directed your questions to those who were not. I don't know anybody in Europe who has some sort of burning desire to "see" Washington (DC), but almost all on my list would receive a nod from most of those same folk (I think). I doubt there is a single city west of the Mississippi that would be on a European's list, and probably Boston and Williamsburg wouldn't be there, either. Florida is widely promoted and popular in the UK, but less so on the continent.

As you pointed out, this excercise doesn't have to do with specific markets. As soon as you zero in on, for example, wild fauna, there will be an entirely new list.

[MacBean]

Colonial Williamsburg; New York City; Chicago for its architecture; Boston for its accent ; Vermont & New Hampshire in the Fall; Grandfather Mountain in a week or so; New Orleans at Mardi Gras; Ohio for the mounds; Wyoming for Yellowstone; South Dakota for the Badlands; prairie enormity; Nevada for the dessert; Arizona for the balloons (and soaring); S California for its culture ; Oregon for its diversity; Washington just because it is there

Rex (t-o-o)

That's a really excellent list. I might amend it slightly from an American perspective? I would suggest the Grand Tetons over Yellowstone and the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tuscon or the Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona as superb desert spots over anything in Nevada. I don't care for Washington, D.C. much either, but art buffs would certainly appreciate the National Gallery and might make that a destination. I appreciate the reason for visiting Chicago and add a recommendation to take an architetural boat tour on the River. Of course, Alaska and Hawaii might make some lists given time and resources.

[ThistleDown]

That's a really excellent list. I might amend it slightly from an American perspective? I would suggest the Grand Tetons over Yellowstone and the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tuscon or the Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona as superb desert spots over anything in Nevada. I don't care for Washington, D.C. much either, but art buffs would certainly appreciate the National Gallery and might make that a destination. I appreciate the reason for visiting Chicago and add a recommendation to take an architetural boat tour on the River. Of course, Alaska and Hawaii might make some lists given time and resources.

doh: Yes, of course, Mark. Thank you. The Desert Museum is superb (although they have a snake house I'll not be going into a second time) and the Botanical Garden provides a sufficient reason to visit Phoenix.

Rex