Traveling the USA alone...

[jonathan88]

Hey folks!


I've decided to go traveling on my own this summer around the states but I'm looking for some tips on good places to go seeing as many posters on here are from the USA I thought I'd get some insider info


Also does anyone reckon this would be a silly thing to do, cos I have big concerns about it but at the same time I think it could be amazing!



Any thoughts etc are welcome



Happy New Year to everyone,

Jonathan

[seaurchin]

Firstly, i think this is a great idea!! I spent a summer working and travelling in the US when i was at uni and it was the best time of my life.

I'd say definitely go for greyhounds/trains over flying cos you get to see so much more and i definitely met a lot of interesting people that way (also its loads cheaper!)
As far as places to see goes i think some actual Americans would be better than me for that info. From my experience, I spent most of my time on the east coast - Boston was one of my favourite places, it has a great atmosphere and everyone was very friendly but i really didnt enjoy Philadelphia (there wasnt a lot outside the touristy stuff). The most fun i had was actually the little towns off the beaten track (like on bus stop overs etc) cos people there tended to be more talkative/interested in you then in the touristy places. Also i found i met a lot of cool people in hostels(im still friends with a few!) - as long as your sensible they can be a lot of fun and they're much cheaper then hotels

Really the only advise i can give you is have a rough plan before you go (even though you'll probably change it when you get there!), budget well (always have a little tucked away for emergencies) and have someone in the country to call in case you get stuck somewhere. In my case i knew a few people there before i went so i planned my travels around staying a night or two with them which broke up the travelling quite well.

Also make sure you get the right type of visa and know exactly what you can do with it ie. if your allowed any paid work/to go to Canada or Mexico and then re-enter. And make sure you have a rough idea of the laws in each of the states you might visit

Heres a couple of websites which might help:
www.travellingalone.co.uk/north-america.html

www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?ForumID=6

As far as the whole safety thing goes, i never once felt i was at any sort of risk or in any danger, people couldnt have been nicer! Even in the hostels there was a sense of solidarity and everyone was wishing each other well on their travels. Saying that, i was always careful carrying my valuables on me at all times etc.

Lastly, Make the most of it!! Talk to as many people as possible and do and see as much as possible - its a once in a lifetime kinda thing and you dont want to come back with regrets!! You'll gain so much from it and you'll be a much better person for it.

(Sorry for rambling!!)

[NikLovesLeb]

Depends of course on what you are interested in, and for how long you are planning to go.
If you drive, and if the budget allows, in some places, i'd rent a car and just go on your own time--especially the East Coast, i.e. NYC, Philly, Boston, Washington DC.

I'd check out Las Vegas, Arizona/Nevada, the Grand Canyon, Colorado for the scenery, Charleston, South Carolina and/or Savannah, Georgia--for the old time American South feel, as well as New Orleans. Chicago--where i am from--has a lot to offer, without the insanity of NYC. But lots of music, culture, architecture.
The off the beaten track places such as the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, Utah--are really beautiful and interesting, but you have to have a car and time to explore them.
In the summer, big festivals take places--Sasquatch (in Washington state) and Bonnaroo (in Tennessee) are only a week or so apart. Then there is Coachella in California, i believe in June, Lollapallooza isnt until August, and the New Orleans Jazz Fest and Austin City Limits are in Sept and Beginning of Oct.

I am sure others will have plenty of suggestions as well. Good luck!

[GirlAnachronism]

Sorry i don't really have any advice for you Jonathan cos i've never done anything like that but i just want to say good luck and i think it's a great idea. I'd love to do something like that myself- Into the Wild style! but it'll probably never happen.

Anyway go for it and keep in touch with us and let us know how it goes.

[beplumcrazy]

Chicago, New York, and New Orleans are amazing! New Orleans is my favorite city to visit!

[jonathan88]

I have a lot of places in my head, mainly stuff that comes from music etc.

I wanna start in the North West I think, Seattle/Portland. Definitely wanna go up/down the California Coast - San Francisco/Santa Cruz/Big Sur/Santa Barbara/LA/San Diego. Also desperately wanna tour Tennessee - Memphis/Nashville/Manchester (Bonnaroo)/Lynhburg. Then some other places dotted around like Denver/Phoenix/Chicago/Yellowstone NP/Badlands NP/Tallahassee/Boston/Louisville/Austin/Albuquerque.

Lots of ideas and clearly I need to narrow it down and figure out a path etc


I would love to go to Bonnaroo, especially with the rumour of KOL playing this year! Does anyone reckon a festival alone is too crazy?


Thanks everyone for suggestions/good wishes etc


Jonathan

[Deleted]

WHAT AN AMAZING IDEA!

i love it

[moodles]

Jonathan

Have a wonderful time,you should start a thread in FAO so we can follow your journey,and i am sure you will find lots of friends along the way

Be safe

[steveyboy]

do it. loads of people i know go travelling and have been.

personally i'd rather go with a mate or a few pals but alone could be just as amazing. im doing australia and new zealand 2011 with one of my best mates.

i would advise it. last year my mates went to america for 4 months and said it was brilliant, they said the travelling itself, before you get to the place is a bit of a tire.

[evil]

you have to visit San francisco!!! it's a beautiful place!

[NikLovesLeb]

In some places--especially around the national parks, there are no lodgings other than campsites. And in the summer, they get scooped up pretty quickly. So i'd suggest making reservations in advance.
Just did Badlands and Yellowstone in the summer.
And to get there, you definitely need a car. No public transportation of any sort. It's pretty desolate in those parts.

[jonathan88]

I stayed in San Francisco for 10 days last summer, saw San José, Santa Cruz and Yosemite NP as well


Cool, thanks for the info on Badlands and Yellowstone!

[no1kolfan]

Jan 4, 2010 17:21:48 GMT @jonathan88 said:

Also desperately wanna tour Tennessee - Memphis/Nashville/Manchester (Bonnaroo)/Lynhburg.

Hey, I may not know a lot but I'd do my best to help show you around Nashville if you make it this way

[no1kolfan]

Jan 4, 2010 19:32:02 GMT steveyboy said:

do it. loads of people i know go travelling and have been.

personally i'd rather go with a mate or a few pals but alone could be just as amazing. im doing australia and new zealand 2011 with one of my best mates.

i would advise it. last year my mates went to america for 4 months and said it was brilliant, they said the travelling itself, before you get to the place is a bit of a tire.

Dude, I'm planning to visit New Zealand next year as well! Life long dream of mine :-P

[kolloupgaroux (aka: Meghan)]

this is a great idea jonathan!!! id say go for it, you'll have a blast!

to make things more complicated, lol, id suggest Minneapolis, MN cuz we've got Bob Dylan and Prince! i'm just 10 min away from Prince's studio! hehehe and then ur typical east coast stops, like boston or NYC

good luck!!

[sarah///]

The only thing I have to say is, please can I come with you? You're paying, but I want to go to Bonnarooo!

Also, excellent idea. Personally I don't think I could do it alone... I wanted to do Camp America then travel on the visa they give you but you can't arrange to be put in the same Camp as your friends, and as much as I love America the thought of being alone there terrifies me!

[likelyladtom]

Jan 4, 2010 17:21:48 GMT @jonathan88 said:

I wanna start in the North West I think, Seattle/Portland. Definitely wanna go up/down the California Coast - San Francisco/Santa Cruz/Big Sur/Santa Barbara/LA/San Diego.

That's what I wanna do! But finish up seeing Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and going to Coachella. Ideally follow a Death Cab tour from Seattle down the west coast and end up at Coachella... that'd be heavenly.

I wouldn't have the balls to do it on my own though, so major respect for you. I'm probably going to be waiting all my life for that special lady with the same dream to go with, who is very unlikely to actually turn up.

[squints_]

Hi Jii! If you ever visit California you can't leave with out going to Disneyland and then you could take the PCH-1 Highway up to San Francisco, they greatest scenic drive ever along the Pacific Coast.

[Neon]

It's good to see your doing it alone. I know it sounds strange, but if you want to do these things, 99% of the time you need to do them alone or you won't do them at all. Other people might entertain the same idea's, but their never as willing to commit as you might be.

Sounds like it should be amazing, good luck with it all.

[rockchick26]

Whoa this thread totally caught my eye! I've been wanting to do this for a while but I have no means. (No job, no money, no dependable vehicle) I envy you that you can do this! I live in Minnesota, and there really isn't too much interesting to see here, but it may just be that I'm biased because I hate it here (because it's too cold in the winter). Don't come here anytime between November and March unless you want to freeze your ass off!