# Holiday in USA **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889 "2008-01-09T19:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/1 "2008-01-09T19:11:12Z")
These are the states I’ve visited while on holiday. Illinois Rhode Island Alabama Michigan Connecticut Indiana Maine New York I’ve decided that this year I’d like to take another holiday in the land of the free but I’m undecided as to which state/s I should visit. I will be hiring a car and intend stopping and staying at motels/hotels or whatever I come across for a few nights and then moving on to the next port of call. I’ll be going in Late August and more than likely will stay for 4 weeks just mooching around, eating, drinking and generally enjoying myself. I don’t want to go back to states I’ve already been to altho’ I’m particularly fond of Rhode Island, it’s a lovely place, quiet and the food is fantastic. OK Dopers, where should I go? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/2 "2008-01-09T19:11:42Z")
Pennsylvania! ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/3 "2008-01-09T19:13:06Z")
Hmm, it appears you’ve never been to the West Coast. Washington and Oregon are lovely in August. Northern California is nice too. Southern Cali? Well, it’s brown… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/4 "2008-01-09T19:17:45Z")
Yes, another observing the western deficeit. Those coastal states are nice. Also though consider the “Four Corners”, Colorado Plateau region. Extraordinary scenery via National and State Parks as well as long, beautiful drives awaits. You’ll never regret it. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/5 "2008-01-09T19:18:28Z")
That’s the thing y’see, I don’t want it to hot or humid like Alabama was. Sheesh, even my toenails were sweating there ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/6 "2008-01-09T19:20:55Z")
Texas! Don’t believe things you hear about Texas until you’ve been here! And I’ll buy you a pint in an authentic faux-English pub if you come to Houston. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/7 "2008-01-09T19:20:58Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] Yes, another observing the western deficeit. Those coastal states are nice. Also though consider the “Four Corners”, Colorado Plateau region. Extraordinary scenery via National and State Parks as well as long, beautiful drives awaits. You’ll never regret it. [/QUOTE] So I could go there and be able to drive fairly easily from one state to another. I’m assuming there are loads of places to stop-over 1c Stamp. I honestly considered Texas but aint it HOT! Plus it’s bloody ginormous innit ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/8 "2008-01-09T19:25:32Z")
Washington is not humid like the south. There are loads of places to see and stopover in Washington and Oregon and Northern California. Travel is easy via the coast highway or I-5, although I-5 is not as scenic. At any rate, travel is easy and maps are easy to understand. Scenic drives are clearly marked and posted on highways as well. We have beautiful state and national parks in Washington. I’m not as familiar with Oregon’s parks. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/9 "2008-01-09T19:25:51Z")
If you liked RI, maybe do the rest of New England. Maine, Rockport/Gloucester, Boston, Plymouth, the Cape and Islands, Mystic, maybe even Lawn Guy Land. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/10 "2008-01-09T19:39:16Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] I honestly considered Texas but aint it HOT! [/quote] Yes, it’s fucking blazing. I was about to say it’s quite nice out right now, but then I re-read the OP and realized you were thinking about August. August in Texas is really hot. > [@](#): > > Plus it’s bloody ginormous innit Yes it is, but I tend to think of that as a bonus, really; there’s a lot of diversity here, and while Texas is big, it’s all connected by excellent highways. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/11 "2008-01-09T19:44:02Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Yes, it’s fucking blazing. I was about to say it’s quite nice out right now, but then I re-read the OP and realized you were thinking about August. August in Texas is really hot. Yes it is, but I tend to think of that as a bonus, really; there’s a lot of diversity here, and while Texas is big, it’s all connected by excellent highways. [/QUOTE] Maybe I’ve seen to many films but what would worry me about Texas is the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Not a soul for miles and yours truly is found 2 months later, dessicated and half eaten by desert critters and/or cannibals ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/12 "2008-01-09T19:44:13Z")
Northern California. You’ve got the mountains and the ocean, urban (San Francisco) and rural (wine country), culture, dining, shopping, hiking, exploring and just about anything you might like to do. The weather is identical to what it’s like in the UK that time of year, and you could stay quite easily for half that time without needing a car at all. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/13 "2008-01-09T19:49:24Z")
The West is mostly not as humid as the South and East. A lot of it is desert, or nearly so. But if you go in August, it will be really hot. You could go to Utah and see Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, but I hope you like it hot. I live in Northern California, and the coastal bits are lovely along with Oregon and Washington. I live in the central valley area, and I love it, there’s tons to do and see, but it’s really better in spring–in summer it’s quite hot. By August we like to sit indoors or go swimming, and even the creek isn’t nuch fun anymore because by then it’s gone down a lot and is getting icky. You could land in San Fransico and spend a few weeks driving up and down the coast. Wow, that would be scenic and fun! Hwy 1 is not the safest highway you will ever drive on, but it’s sure gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/14 "2008-01-09T19:52:39Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Maybe I’ve seen to many films but what would worry me about Texas is the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Not a soul for miles and yours truly is found 2 months later, dessicated and half eaten by desert critters and/or cannibals [/QUOTE] Why will you be renting a very used car? And while Texas is pretty much a giant death trap, you can get stranded nearly anywhere. Even in the crowded northeast, there are pretty long stretches of highway between towns. Carry a cell phone and you shouldn’t have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/15 "2008-01-09T19:56:20Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] If you liked RI, maybe do the rest of New England. Maine, Rockport/Gloucester, Boston, Plymouth, the Cape and Islands, Mystic, maybe even Lawn Guy Land. [/QUOTE] Seconded. And you could even visit parts of Canada at the same time! (Lawn Guy Land 🙂 Took a second to get that one.) ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/16 "2008-01-09T19:58:44Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] Yes, another observing the western deficeit. Those coastal states are nice. Also though consider the “Four Corners”, Colorado Plateau region. Extraordinary scenery via National and State Parks as well as long, beautiful drives awaits. You’ll never regret it. [/QUOTE] I recommend this as well. I’ve gone to this area in the fall (end of September) so the weather isn’t as blistering hot. The mountain vistas are GORGEOUS and you can get an incredible diversity of scenery. One one driving day we went from desert plains to scruffy mountains to scenery that you’d swear belonged in Pennsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/17 "2008-01-09T20:11:12Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Maybe I’ve seen to many films but what would worry me about Texas is the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Not a soul for miles and yours truly is found 2 months later, dessicated and half eaten by desert critters and/or cannibals [/QUOTE] Fianceephone and I did a troad trip through the southwest this past it’s not that empty and remote. It might be awhile before you see another car pass by, but it’s not like the roads are empty for hours or days at a time. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/18 "2008-01-09T20:12:22Z")
There are many inexpensive flights from the UK, non-stop, to Las Vegas. It is a great starting point - the glitter, glam and shopping and shows, not to mention food and sheer size of the place. Then rent a car and head to: California or go south and hit Grand Canyon and explore parts of Arizona, or go north to the beautiful areas of Utah, or just hang out in Las Vegas a few days and then get another non-stop flight to Hawaii (about 6 hours). Many people use Las Vegas as a starting and ending point of US vacations - and if you come mid-week in off-peak times, you can get great rooms here for decent prices. Perhaps another UK Doper, **glee** , will find this thread and post his comments - he came here for the first time last year and I believe he is headed this way again this year as well! Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/19 "2008-01-09T20:12:45Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Maybe I’ve seen to many films but what would worry me about Texas is the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Not a soul for miles and yours truly is found 2 months later, dessicated and half eaten by desert critters and/or cannibals [/QUOTE] Any car you rent from one of the big companies (Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Dollar, Budget, or one of those) is going to use fairly new cars (when the cars get older, they sell them) and do a good job at maintaining them. It’s very unlikely that the car will break down in the middle of nowhere for any reason other than running out of gas, and there’s an easy and obvious way to prevent that. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889/20 "2008-01-09T20:14:12Z")
Florida! There’s more to us than theme parks, mate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-in-usa/432889.md?page=2)