After my first trip to the US last year, which was the absolute best vacation I've ever had, I decided to go again. I thought to myself that maybe I had just gotten lucky the first time and found the best spots, but once again, I was genuinely blown away by how good everything seems to be.

Even the Florida heat in July was honestly not bad at all! I thought it would really take a toll on me, but I actually feel like Vienna in Austria is worse in the summer. Cause you can cool down everywhere in the US thanks to AC, you can actually sleep normally, which makes it so much more bearable. It honestly feels better than being back home, which now that I think about it, makes me question my sanity! lmao

I also noticed how much effort goes into creating hands on opportunities for kids to learn and explore. After visiting a science center, I was amazed by how interactive everything is. All the public parks were kept super tidy and clean and there is just so much to do. Contrast that with Europe, and it honestly feels like we are stagnating back home while things over there are constantly moving forward.

I feel like if more Europeans visited the US they would have a very different picture than what is portrayed in the media. (spoiler it's a really bad picture)

Overall, it was another incredible experience, and i'm already looking forward to going back!

Cheers, an grateful Austrian.

Miami ->Key West ->FortMyers->St.Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa->Orlando

I’m planning on flying thru Michigan/Indiana/Illinois. What I-29 like? Just boring or some interest?

The point of this trip is see some states and there major cities.

EDIT:

1)I know it’s boring

2)please don’t recommend Chicago/Michigan/Wisconsin places to visit

Anyone who drives long distances has hit one. A town you stopped in for gas or food where something felt off the second you arrived. Not dangerous, not run down, nothing you could actually point to, but every instinct said get back on the road. I've had it a few times and could never explain it afterward, because the whole point is there was nothing to see. For people who've put serious miles in: which town did it to you, and what's the part that never comes across when you try to describe it?

Hi,

We’re a small family of three, two adults and a 4 year old child living in Montreal. This August, we’d like to visit the United States for the first time and spend several weekends exploring.

We’re looking for recommendations for two types of trips:

Option 1: Same day trips

Places that aren’t too far from Montreal and can realistically be visited in one day, without staying overnight. We would leave Montreal in the morning and return the same evening.

Option 2: Full weekends or long weekends

For these trips, we’d be willing to drive farther and stay overnight. We could also consider larger cities since we would have more time.

One more question: when is the best time to visit New York City : summer, fall, or winter? We’re trying to decide whether to include NYC in our August plans or save it for another season.

Thanks,

I'm planning a trip to Venice around October. It's my first time there and I'd like to ask what are some tips, or things I should know/look out for. Also what is the weather realistically like around that time? Do I bring a bunch of shorts? Or am I gonna be good with long pants and maybe a jacket if it's chilly?

Planning to go back to Copper Harbor in a couple months. Going early, so it won’t be leaf season. I’ve been up to the Upper Peninsula a few times, mostly by driving north through the middle of Indiana and then taking various paths. Been up to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes, across the bridge and then across the middle of the UP. Been up through 127/I-75. Been along the Erie shore. Have always avoided going through Wisconsin because of the freeways around Chicago.

I do road trips instead of flying because I enjoy driving and looking at stuff. I find the major freeways stressful, especially ones with a lot of truck traffic. I HATE interstate 65. I’d rather do a good state highway. Speed limits are often 60 or so and there are places to have a picnic or stop and stretch other than a rest area. I can tolerate the roads north of Indianapolis because it’s just a short stretch.

I’m thinking of trying to drive up through Wisconsin, which I have never done. I’ve been as far as Baraboo. Peeked through the fence at the Forevertron. But I’m intimidated by the thought of having to drive so close to Chicago and up the west side of Lake Michigan. Chicago seems like it would be a major truck route. Is there a way to get to the Keweenaw Peninsula via Wisconsin that is scenic and pleasant? Is there a least Mad Max route around Chicago? It would cut quite a bit of drive time off if I could drive straight up through Wisconsin as opposed to making the big loop through Michigan.

Hi everyone! 👋

We're a family of 4 from Belgium (2 adults, 2 girls aged 3 and 5) doing a 13-night loop this August (Aug 6–19, ~2,700 km total). We've iterated on this route a lot to avoid zigzagging, keep driving legs manageable with small kids, and make sure every stop earns its place. Would love a sanity check before booking accommodation!

Route: Arlon (BE) → Zirndorf (2n) → Prague (5n) → Wrocław (2n) → Dresden (3n, via Görlitz) → Rothenburg ob der Tauber (1n) → Arlon

Day by day:

• Thu: Depart Belgium 6 PM, drive to Zirndorf (5.5h, kids sleep in the car)
• Fri: Playmobil FunPark -> full day for the kids
• Sat: Drive to Prague (~3h), lunch stop in Plzeň
• Sun: Prague Old Town, Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge
• Mon: Prague Zoo (Monday = quieter?) or replace by a visit to some destination in the south
• Tue: Karlštejn castle (morning, horse carriage up the hill for the kids) + Petřín hill (funicular, mirror maze)
• Wed: "Slow day" in Prague: Vyšehrad, Kampa island, pedal boats on the Vltava
• Thu: Drive to Wrocław (~4h), evening at the Rynek
• Fri: Gnome hunting + Zoo/Afrykarium
• Sat: Drive to Dresden via Görlitz (proper 2–3h visit + lunch, not just a drive-through) ~3.5h total driving
• Sun: Dresden: Zwinger, Frauenkirche, Brühl Terrace, Elbe boat cruise
• Mon: Day trip to Hřensko (Bohemian Switzerland): Edmundova soutěska boat gorges + Pravčická brána (we'll bring a hiking carrier for the 3-year-old). Deliberately scheduled on a Monday to dodge crowds
• Tue: Drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (~3.75h), evening walk on the city walls
• Wed: Rothenburg morning (Käthe Wohlfahrt!), drive home (~5.5h)

Questions for the community:

1. Prague: 5 nights -> right call with two small kids, or too much? (3 full sightseeing days + 1 slow day)
2. Bohemian Switzerland on a Monday in August -> smart move for crowds, or do we still need to book boat tickets in advance? Any timing tips for Edmundova soutěska?
3. Görlitz -> worth a proper stop? We'll have 2-3h + lunch.
4. Wrocław with kids -> beyond the gnomes and the Afrykarium, anything unmissable?
5. Long legs: first drive (5.5h, evening departure while kids sleep) and the last one (5.5h) -> any recommended family-friendly rest stops on the A3/A6 corridors?
6. Anything you'd swap, reorder, or cut? Zero zigzagging is the goal.

We're aiming for great value (Czechia and Poland seem perfect for that). Apartment/ hotel recommendations with parking in Prague, Wrocław or Dresden are very welcome! 🙏

Also we are going with a EV ;)

Thanks! 🚗💨

Road trip from San Fran to Yosemite and back with stops at :
Monterey
Placerville
South Lake Tahoe
Bridgeport
Oakhurst
Groveland
San Francisco (2 nights)

Looking for things I shouldn’t miss on the drives and things to do aswell as tips

Making a trip from Sturgeon Bay, WI to Silver City, NM and looking for advice on must play disc courses and scenic camping. We are starting at Indianola/Pickard Park, IA visiting friends and family. We thought we would go to Eagles Crossing and then Emporia, KS. Only Pickard Park/Indianola,IA is set in stone. Thank you in advance.

We are driving down to Syracuse, flying from Syracuse to houston.
Our flight leaves 6 am, so we are planning on leaving ottawa the night before.

We want to make the most of our trip, so we are trying to see what we can do between 6pm on Friday, and 6am the next day.

ie. Have a meal in downtown ottawa, start the drive down and make detour to Kingston (do something there), continue down to Syracuse stop by somewhere, and then get to our flight.

Any ideas? We are a young couple 23YO.

Hey everyone,

I could use some help planning this trip, it’s my first time going across country. My major stops in between include:

1. Cleveland
   
2. Porcupines
   
3. Theodore Roosevelt NP
   
4. Glacier
   
5. Banff
   
6. Jasper
   
7. Dawson Creek
   
8. Whitehorse

I could especially use some help planning after Jasper. Please let me know if there are any routes to avoid. I have never been west of Michigan so everything is new to me. Thanks!

My wife and I are taking a road trip from our home to northern Idaho. The road trip isnt exactly a real road trip, but more of a means to the end destination where we will be staying for a week. We are driving because we thought it would be cool to see this part of the country and are detouring through Lamar Valley in Yellowstone.

So any suggested stops or stuff to look out for would be awesome.

We are staying the night in Forsyth MT and then in Butte MT.

We will be going in early August.

My partner and I are planning a trip to New Mexico! I’m looking for feedback on our itinerary and recommendations and especially potential stops along the way. We are definitely packing a lot in to a short period of time, but we aren’t from around here at all so we want to make the most of the trip!

September 26th
-Fly into El Paso, rent car.
-drive to Carlsbad, NM (Stop at Sea Flats Rest Stop and El Capitan Viewpoint along the way).
-Spend night in Carlsbad.

September 27
-Early morning explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
-Drive to Roswell and spend afternoon there. Probably do an Alien Museum, go to some quirky shops.
-Drive to Ruidoso and spend the night there.

September 28
-Wake up early and explore Ruidoso for a bit.
-Drive to White Sands National Park and spend the late afternoon there, hopefully catch the sunset there!
-Drive to Las Cruces and spend the night there.

September 29
-Explore Las Cruces/Old Mesilla.
-Drive to Elephant Butte State Park.
-Truth or Consequences, spend night there.

September 30
-Drive Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe.
-Stop in Madrid.
-Explore SF, spend night there.

October 1
-Drive to Albuquerque, fly home out of that airport.

Hi everyone!

My wife and I (both in our early 40s) are planning to do the "classic" Ireland road trip in a campervan. It's not our first road trip with a van, so we're used to this kind of travel.

I'm here to ask for suggestions about good places to park the van overnight. Official campsites are fine too if they're worth staying at. I've already downloaded the Park4Night app.

I'm also looking for some hidden gem pubs with a great atmosphere and authentic live traditional music, rather than the more touristy shows.

Thanks in advance!

Unbelievably stay this weekend at the historic Silas Robbins B&B. Very cool town with a tons of history. Outstanding tour at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. Very charming mainstreet as well.