1

This year or next year? If it is this year, you need to be sure that you have Yosemite lodging booked NOW, as it can fill up.

If you rent a car (which is the best way to travel around California), the 26-year old will probably have to do all the driving. Most rental companies have a daily surcharge of $15-25 for anyone under 25. There also may be a charge for an additional driver.

You have mentioned some things you want to do, but there are still some holes. In the cities, are you interested in things like museums and art galleries, historical places, churches? Theme parks in LA?

Boston in October may not be your best choice for whale watching. You may have better luck in California. The later in the year, the better. Try San Francisco or Monterey

2

Thanks for the reply. It's next year not this, I have already been warned about Yosemite thanks! Have to record the date to book :)

Thanks for advice on whale watching, we'll def look into that in california.

We won't be driving, I've been warned how hard it'll be but we already have our travel sorted.

We want to look at a few museums and such but not many, we'd prefer more outdoor thins, walking, sight seeing, cycling, some adventure things and attractions. We love shows, dance, theatre etc. also. We'll be in Orlando the first two weeks so we will prob be sick of theme parks after that!

Any advice on things to do etc. would be great!

3

In San Francisco, book Alcatraz in advance. It can book up, although it's not as likely in winter. Watch the weather reports; you don't want to be riding the ferry and walking around Alcatraz in a big rainstorm.

SF is probably going to be your best bet for wale watching, in terms of number of whales and getting around without a car. Try the Oceanic Society Farallon trip.

You can get to Yosemite by a combination of train and local bus, but you might want to look into a tour. Before someone mentions Green Tortoise, they don't do Yosemite tours after September. Two companies that cater to a younger, more backpacker crowd are Extranomical and Incredible Adventures Both companies also do day trips to Muir Woods which you can't do by transit after October (and even then, only on weekends) and Napa/Sonoma wine tours.

You might be surprised about opportunities for hiking in San Francisco. The Presidio "contains over 25 miles [40 KM] of hiking trails, including the Golden Gate Promenade, Presidio Promenade, Coastal Trail, Ecology Trail, and portions of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, the Bay Trail, and the Anza National Historic Trail. Cyclists can explore the area on 14 miles of paved roads and along some unpaved parts of the Bay Area Ridge Trail."

Free walking tours of SF

If the weather is nice, a standard SF activity is to rent a bicycle, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, bike downhill to Sausalito and take the ferry back. Not something for rain or heavy wind.

California Academy of Sciences

shameless self-promotion: Thanksgiving for visitors tot he US Home for the holiday

4

Two nights in Niagara is just about a night and a half too long. Especially in November, when the days will be quite short and the weather will be cold cold.

Yosemite will also be a risk of snow and temperatures may very well be reaching freezing

Chicago for 7 nights and LA for only 2? Why on earth did you make that decision? Weather in Chicago in November will also be cold and windy and dark. I would reduce Chicago to a max of 3 nights and add some to LA

Why are you not going to Washington DC? You certainly have enough time for it and it is far more interesting than Chicago.

5

I forgot my usual suggestion for getting outdoors. The local chapters of the Sierra Club offer what they call "outings," group hikes or other activities. The California chapters are the most active, especially in winter. They often meet somewhere central and carpool to a trailhead. Or you can call the trip leader and ask how you can get there by transit or if someone can give you a ride. You'd be expected to give the driver some money for gas. You don't need to be a member to go on a hike.

6

Not sure if you have places booked for Toronto, but I have stayed at the Global Village Backpackers there and I would recommend it. It is centrally located downtown and I met lots of other travellers there. There is a lot of good, affordable food in that neighbourhood too.

Toronto probably has the best and most affordable food in the country. You can basically eat food from around the world there because so many people from different countries have come and set up restaurants there. You can find great meals there for under $10.

7

Thanks everyone for your great advice. nutraxfornerves - The websites are great help, thank you. Definitely helps with planning as we were hoping to find some budget tours to have some company on the way. Any ideas on food prices etc. in san fran?

Kahua - I'll reply below to your advice, anything else is helpful.

'Two nights in Niagara is just about a night and a half too long. Especially in November, when the days will be quite short and the weather will be cold cold.' -

I understand it'll be cold (I'm from Ireland I'm ok with cold and wet :) ) but its something we will like for relaxing. We will be on honeymoon and so its supposed to be very romantic and I have a good hotel booked from work.

Yosemite will also be a risk of snow and temperatures may very well be reaching freezing

I've researched about Yosemite and even with the cold I do think its worth it for us but thanks for your concern.

Chicago for 7 nights and LA for only 2? Why on earth did you make that decision? Weather in Chicago in November will also be cold and windy and dark. I would reduce Chicago to a max of 3 nights and add some to LA

The reason we're not staying in LA longer is because we've been told over and over again how impossible it is to get around LA without a car. People have warned us off going at all but we want to go for at least a couple nights to see the main things.

Why are you not going to Washington DC? You certainly have enough time for it and it is far more interesting than Chicago.

The reason we're not going to Washington DC is because it adds a lot on with travel.

Thanks for all replies. Any more info on food prices, tour prices, budget etc. would be good.

8

Boston
Boston is a great town for history and seafood. I don’t know when whale watching season is. I’d check before booking a $50 tour. I like the side trip to Plymouth. Somewhere on this forum I have linked a couple of films that you might want to watch before arriving.

Niagara Falls
I felt the "Cave of the Winds Tour (either side) was the best part of Niagara and the (Maiden of the Mist) boat was over-crowded and over-priced. Of course in November your experience might be different. The Canadian side has all the better stuff although sometimes families with children are happier spending their days on the Canadian side and nights at the calm family-friendly motels on the American side.

Niagara Falls has a lot of neat side things to do (like casinos, water parks or hiking the gorge) but if you arrive early on Monday and leave late on Tuesday one night is sufficient for the major parts, especially during the colder months.

Hmm, if the leaves are in color, stay the extra night hike the gorge AND take the boat trip down river to see the whirlpool.

Chicago
Chicago is not really a “see the major sites” destination. It’s a great town, but it’s more about atmosphere and people. Before Americans go, we ask each other where to get the best pizza, the best hot dogs etc.. Seven nights in Chicago means taking lots of side trips.

Hmm your starting in Orlando and you like outdoor stuff. Let me do some dreaming and seewhat I’d do if I could completely re-write your itinerary (just for fun).

9

Boston
Boston is a great town for history and seafood. I don’t know when whale watching season is. I’d check before booking a $50 tour. I like the side trip to Plymouth. Somewhere on this forum I have linked a couple of films that you might want to watch before arriving.

Yeah I'll look into that further, thanks for the info!

Niagara Falls
I felt the "Cave of the Winds Tour (either side) was the best part of Niagara and the (Maiden of the Mist) boat was over-crowded and over-priced. Of course in November your experience might be different. The Canadian side has all the better stuff although sometimes families with children are happier spending their days on the Canadian side and nights at the calm family-friendly motels on the American side.

Niagara Falls has a lot of neat side things to do (like casinos, water parks or hiking the gorge) but if you arrive early on Monday and leave late on Tuesday one night is sufficient for the major parts, especially during the colder months.

We really want to just do the relaxing mostly in niagara. And the boat tour one we wanted to do was the one that went on the rapids and got you soaked, we'll have to look into it further!

Hmm, if the leaves are in color, stay the extra night hike the gorge AND take the boat trip down river to see the whirlpool.

Chicago
Chicago is not really a “see the major sites” destination. It’s a great town, but it’s more about atmosphere and people. Before Americans go, we ask each other where to get the best pizza, the best hot dogs etc.. Seven nights in Chicago means taking lots of side trips.

We don't know much about Chicago so all advice is great. We may cut down the nights, everything is subject to change we're just doing rough drafts right now. A friend of ours is from Chicago and was recommending it which is why its that long!

Hmm your starting in Orlando and you like outdoor stuff. Let me do some dreaming and seewhat I’d do if I could completely re-write your itinerary (just for fun).

Go ahead, let us know anything you come up with :) Don't get me wrong we're generally not huge outdoorsy people. We're big children really! Its very hard to describe what we like but we definitely want to do more outdoorsy things just to see different places. We would prefer to have groups to do it with if possible, but any advice on the itinerary is great!

10

Hello again,

I’m not sure what kind of budget you are on. I travel by car with my family of three. Normally I take discount vacations (lying on a beach, or hiking a mountain doesn’t cost much) and budget $1,000 for a week including hotel and gas.

You seem to have some sort of “hop around the US ticket” and are not worried about hotel costs but otherwise are on a budget, and are 100% opposed to driving. Given that He’s how I’d do it. (I’m just dreaming it’s okay if my itinerary doesn’t suit you.)

1.
4 full days in Orlando. Amusement park, waterpark, Sea World and the budget-busting-once-in-a-lifetime Discovery Cove.

2.
A couple of days on a Florida Beach, preferably in a University town where I could hook up with some locals for college football tailgating. It’s hard to describe the phenomenon that is American college football (especially with tailgating), but for a couple of 20-somethings, it could be the highlight of your trip.

3.
You mentioned doing New Orleans at the end of your trip I would, (depending on budget) go there or to Nashville, (or maybe Atlanta) right out of Florida. Either way, enjoy some southern cuisine some music and some atmosphere. There are no major “Eiffel Tower” type sites to see anywhere in the SE, but it’s a great place for anyone who knows how to travel for food, fun and atmosphere. Plus it’s got some great hiking and an endless number of mid-level “side trip” type sites.

4.
There are an endless number of things to see, eat and do in Virginia (the northernmost part of the south). It’s kind of like the entire south in concentrated form. But seeing it means either renting a car or making a series of expensive bus tours, so skip it and go to Wash DC.

5.
DC
Once you have your accommodations worked out DC is actually a budget location. Museums monuments etc. etc. almost everything to see or do there is free. DuPont circle is where the cool people hang out. Georgetown is also popular, Hotels there tend to be priced according to their distance from the metro station.

6.
On the way to NYC.
Between DC and NYC there are a number of interesting stops you could make

• Gettysburg Battlefield
• Philadelphia PA
• Hawk Watching at Cape May Point

But they are lined up horizontally so if you visit any of them it makes sense to pick only 1.

7.
NYC
I cannot imagine doing it on a budget. Some people have done it, but I don’t know how. Everything is $20 for this, $40 for that $60 to get dinner for two then $100 per person for concert tickets. It’s a great place, with and endless variety of things to do, but it is a budget breaker.

8
Boston, as I mentioned is a great town for history and seafood and it has a great side-trip to Plymouth. I have not taken the side trip to Lexington and Concord, but I imagine it is worthwhile as well.

9.
Given the season I’d skip Maine and head to one of the major cities of Eastern Canada (there are 4 of them), and make my way to Niagara Falls. If the leaves and the weather cooperate it’s worth going downstream and well, I already explained that.

10
I already said what I have to say about Chicago and my knowledge of the US west coast is so thin I’m sure you can get better advice from others.

Enjoy your journey.

Edited by: LongIslandBob

11

In Boston walking the Freedom Trail is pretty much mandatory on most visitors agenda. You can also get to Charlestown and see the Constitution (the ship, not the document) and Bunker Hill Monument. Depending on the weather, you could maybe take a Boston Harbor Island ferry ride of either the harbor or out to one of the islands (part of the National Park Service). Walking tour of Harvard Yard in autumn could be really pretty if the foliage cooperates with you (you can download from Harvard's website a self-walking tour for your iPhone or during the academic year there are student-led tours). Head of the Charles rowing race takes place early October and can be a madhouse but great fun to see. Also in Cambridge is MIT (posssible tour) and Longfellow House (right near Harvard Square, very accessible) if you have any interest in history or literature it is a nice quick visit. Accessbile via the Red Line is the JFK Library right on the water - a wonderful excursion that not only features our former president, but also his two brothers. JFK's birthplace home in Brookline can be accessed via public transportation as well.

There are numerous walking tours of Boston you can also participate in. Whale watching in October? Burrr. I agree with perhaps doing this in CA. For cheap veggies/fruit, go to Haymarket on either Friday or Saturday 9-5 and treat yourself to a slice of pizza at the Haymarket Pizza shop located right there (but don't handle the produce unless the vendors tell you its okay or you will get an earfull of colorful profanity in a Boston accent!). Tons of cheap eats also in Central Square Cambridge (probably more so than in Boston and Harvard Sq itself).

Getting to the Lexington/Concord sites without a car would be challenging and probably not realistic. Even getting to Plymouth might be a bit difficult without a vehicle. If you have fantastic weather consider taking a ferry out to Provincetown on Cape Cod from Boston. It'd be worth the trip and an overnight stay. Salem in October can be a great excursion cause they go crazy with Halloween/witch-themed stuff but offhand I can't remember how easy it is to get to without a car.

I didn't even go into outdoors stuff cause the weather can be tricky in October but if you cycle, there are a few great bike paths worth renting a bike - one is along the Charles River and goes through Cambridge and Boston. The other is the Minuteman Bike Path (the country's first rail-trail!) that is accessible via public transportation as it starts at the Alewife Red Line T stop and goes for 11 miles into Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford; it is one way to get out to Lexington! I will guess that seeing a Red Sox game at Fenway is unlikely but maybe a tour of the park if you are a ball fan could happen in October.

Too much to do in Boston! And I didn't even mention stuff like Duck Tours, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, etc...

12

You seem to have some sort of “hop around the US ticket” and are not worried about hotel costs but otherwise are on a budget, and are 100% opposed to driving. Given that He’s how I’d do it. (I’m just dreaming it’s okay if my itinerary doesn’t suit you.)

The reason we are so against driving is because neither of us can drive, and neither of us want to learn (buy a car, insurance, lessons etc) before we come to the us.

We have already checked our travel around everywhere, a combination of bus, train and flying. We have priced it all already and checked length and reviews and everything. So that's why we don't need advice on travel.

We don't specifically want to do it all on a budget. We are spending quite a lot on travel. Hotel costs sorted because i work for a large hotel chain and I am using staff discounts on all the hotels which is why I don't need advice on that.

We're not looking to scrimp on everything but we want to spend money on things we'll enjoy etc. shows and things rather than fancy food etc.

Basically all we're looking for mainly is advice on how much we can get by with per day for food and incidentals. We will budget separately for the big things we want to do. (shows, whale watching, tours etc).

Obviously any way we can save money is a bonus. So any advice on that is great. Cheaper tours, etc would be good to know.

But mainly if someone could just give us advice on how much we will be spending on food and such without underestimating would be great.

Nicole ~Thank you very much for advice on Boston, will def keep us busy for our few days!

13

It's hard to estimate food costs, because it will very much depend on how you plan on feeding yourself. You can spend $100 per person at the best restaurant in town or subsist on items from the $1 menu at McDonalds. You can do a lot of self-catering or eat every single meal out. The San Francisco newspaper has a list of what they call Bargain Bites which they define as "the majority of a restaurant's entrees must be under $12. " ("entree" is what you'd call a main course. It does not mean "starter" in the US.)

Here's what Lonely PLanet says

So you can subtract your hotel costs from that, as a start. Although you won't have a car and gas, you will have transit passes and taxis. Don't forget to factor in the cost of tips. Again, from LP

14

Food and entertainment costs can vary widely according to where you are and what you do.

In Orlando
park entrance fees are about $90 per person and even the simplest food is part of the “you’re stuck here and can’t go anywhere else so we’re gonna charge you triple the regular price” game. It’s a worthwhile destination but food an entertainment alone is going to cost a minimum of $120 per person per day, and it is easy to spend ~ $150 and still feel like you are saving your money for your next destination.

In Boston
my (upscalish) hotel was near a supermarket. We went there,

• had coffee and donuts for breakfast ($5 per person) and
• got chef salad’s and French bread for lunch ($7 per person) then
• headed off for the freedom trail. (free)
• Along the way we stopped for some overpriced but delicious clam chowder ($10 per person) and
• picked up some canollis ($4 per person)
• We probably could have gotten pizza for dinner ($7 per person) or gone to a regular restaurant ($30 per person) but our dinner was part of my wife’s conference package.
• During the day we also went to the USS Constitution (free but a $5 per person donation is suggested), and
• Stopped at a terribly overcrowded Aquarium ($23 per person)
• Getting to the historic section probably cost us $2 per person for the bus ride.

Either that day or on day 2 we bought tickets for the tour trolley. They usually cost $40 per person but the day was nearly over so we got them for $10 each.

That works out to about $75 per day per person (on the pizza dinner, and $10 tour trolley budget) plus hotel plus getting there. Had we skipped the aquarium it would have been closer to $50 per day per person.

In Washington DC
We probably also spent $70 per day per person. There is no “canolli and clam chowder mandate” there and almost everywhere has free admission so we could have spent less, (DC is a discount location), instead we ate in restaurants 3 meals a day (something real budget travelers never do) and spent about the same.

Oh DC is also a good place to catch the road version of a Broadway show for half the price of actually seeing it on Broadway.

I hope this helps.

Edited by: LongIslandBob