Any advice for a Brit doing an American road trip?

[Puppystarfish23]

I've just booked a 2 week trip in September with my husband to America whilst there were going to be travelling around a lot.

Were saying in new york 7th avenue for 3 nights then were getting the train down to hayannis in cape cod and staying for 3 nights again whilst there were picking up are car and after the 3 night stay travelling down to Boston for 2 nights. Next were off to North Conway for 2 nights then Bar harbor for 3 nights which I'm most excited about as it looks beautiful from what I've seen, then back to Boston again for a day before we leave to go back to England.

I've seen a couple tiktoks and done some looking online I know the obvious stuff like we have to pay city fees and driving the opposite side of the road.

I know there's a lot of Americans on this site and I wondered if any of you would have more knowledge, recommendations etc. I assume some of you have visited these places before or even possibly live there or near.

I'm also thinking of visiting Salem too as it isn't far from Boston by car when we googled it said 30mins

[BeeNee]

My advice to you when you get here is to ask a local for recommendations. Even as an American, when I'm road tripping with friends and family, we always talk to the locals and ask them for their recommendations for restaurants or things to do in the areas we are visiting. I specifically ask for non-touristy things or spots they love that are sort of off the beaten path.

Second, definitely check out the website Groupon for the specific areas you're visiting because they offer ideas and plenty of discounts to local events, entertainment, and restaurants. My best friend and I planned a whole trip once just based on Groupon discounts, and we met the most amazing guy who owned this tiny small restaurant. He ended up introducing us to his family who were randomly in town who were so sweet an amazing, and the next thing we knew, we were going to their family party. Some of THE best memories I've ever had on a vacation.

You can also look up free things to do in (fill in the blank) which can give fun suggestions that will save some money in your budget for other things.

[northerngal]

OK I have traveled the USA extensively. Both for work and for pleasure. Frankly I hate to admit in recent years I have no desire to travel to the USA anymore... except maybe Hawaii It may be wrong but I perceive a lot of anger and paranoia towards travelers and each other in the USA. There has been a shift in the past 10 years. Also I admit to being on guard to my personal safety too often. Violence is always in the back of my mind now. I would not recommend a trip to the USA but the areas you have described used to be wonderful and scenic. Friendly. Hopefully your experience is a positive one.

[KostasKouvalis]

"I perceive a lot of anger and paranoia towards travelers and each other in the USA"

Yeah. Don't take it personally, because we treat each other like this too. I wouldn't advise people against coming to the US for tourism, but if you want a nice stress free holiday, you need to avoid the big cities and visit our parks and small towns.

[KostasKouvalis]

What's a "city fee"? I've never heard of this. You mean a "parking fee"?

I don't know what sort of advice you're looking as it seems you already have everything planned out. If I'm completely honest, there are FAR better places in the US, even in the northeast than the ones you picked.

England has far nicer coastline than Cape Cod. I heard Salem is kind of a tourist trap, but they have a few cool sites. The Crane Estate and Plymouth are far cooler places, though if you're English, these might not interest you.

New York City and Bar Harbor I can make an argument for. But the rest. I would visit Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands and the Adirondacks instead of Boston and Cape Cod. North Conway I had to Google 'cuz I've never even heard of. You don't need two nights there. Just see Mt. Washington and move-on.

Trust me, forget Cape Cod and Boston, and see Upstate New York instead. People are gonna be asking you if you went to Niagara Falls. Everyone knows Niagara Falls. It's the most famous waterfall on earth. I guarantee you you've seen nothing like it in the UK

[KostasKouvalis]

I will add, I've road tripped a lot in the US. It's good to have a basic itinerary on things you want to see, but don't book any accommodations in advance.
More often than not, we've ended up falling behind schedule/changing plans last minute. When road tripping through the U. S. it's best to just plan a route, but not a schedule and just sleep wherever nightfall befalls you, booking accommodations as a walk-in.

[Levin]

American attempts at 'historical' buildings are funny :D

[TheSpaceGnome]

NYC is a great choice, go visit the American natural history museum and all the shops, but the others are not great this time of year because its winter. My advice is skip those and stay in manhatten and see everything, or wait until the spring or summer when most tourist attractions will actually be open and most nature areas won't be freezing temps. If you go to all those other places in the middle of winter its going to be dull and freezing and almost everything fun or interesting will be closed.

[exitseven]

Stop in Plymouth on your way back from Cape Cod. Have lunch on the waterfront and check out the replica of the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock. See if the Red Sox are in town while you are there and visit Fenway Park. North Conway is awesome. Check out the Flume and see if there is a show at the Stone mountain Arts Center in nearby Brownfield. Maine.

In Bar Harbor visit northwest Harbor and drive to the top of Mt Cadillac. It is the easternmost point of the United States and an amazing view. See if you can find some place that rents kayaks. I think it is the best place i ever went kayaking.

PM me if you have any questions.

[Kaneki05]

Well you already made your first mistake New York lol. But Salem should be cool. New York I imagine it been like Chicago no thanks.

The best parts of America are the more homely places, nice calm sunny, good places to eat, not overwhelming there is a lot of people in Us a lot and you can avoid that chaotic mess.

I went in 2023, Illinos around there and colorado. Was pretty nice. Traveling in America is pretty easy just long to get everywhere then I again I did more of extreme than you are. 7hr train down from Chicago, a 13hr drive to colorado and back etc.

City fees? Do you mean tolls? Because otherwise I have no clue what that is lol. If speaking tolls yeah annoying bs money grabbing things.

[AviatorTom]

You have a well-planned itinerary and should enjoy it. In Boston, check out the walking tour of the downtown area that visits several historical places; if you're interested, take in a baseball game at historic Fenway Park, the second oldest baseball stadium in the country. When at Bar Harbor Maine, visit Acadia National Park; in late September, the leaves should start changing and the colors are fantastic.

[Puppystarfish23]

Thank you 😊

[abc3643]

Before going to Salem, watch this 1960 classic British horror film: "City of the Dead" (known as "Horror Hotel" in the USA, but with two critical scenes of dialog removed from the UK version because 1960 US audience were puritanical idiots.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MozeAso__M

[D_Bone_Steak]

N-words are not cool hip hop personalities. They will rape you and murder you. I mean you'd already know that if you listened to the lyrics of their music instead of just jiggling around to the beat.

You're probably gonna at least get raped. Why didn't you choose to go to Japan or something else?

[Crazzyyworld]

America travel used to be fun with big shopping malls and wide road to unknown places but these days there are lots of traffics and shopping malls are closing down. You should travel to the south for nature. Or Disney world which america can offer the best. National parks are beautiful middle west. And go to Las Vegas. If you go there during the week day you can find a good price and there are tons of shows and buffet. Air ticket is cheap too. Hawaii is also good. It’s a paradise.

[Avicenna]

Be sure to visit the High Line Park in Manhattan

[Phoenix98]

I can't really be of much help sorry I don't live where you are traveling also what's a city fee? do you mean a parking free or something?

[KostasKouvalis]

I was wondering that as well. I've never heard of a "city fee"

[Phoenix98]

@KostasKouvalis Yeah me neither /=

[Puppystarfish23]

You have to pay a tourist tax in a lot of these big cities now. New York Is 40 dollars a night

[Phoenix98]

Are you serious? These big cities are so stupid /=.

[NathanDavis]

definitely do it on the right side of the roads...

[Mangospacho]

You’re going from England to New England. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. They’re pretty much the same place only one is older than the other.

[virtualwasp]

They drive on the other side

[Nikki1989]

Yeah, don't!

[NicholasRedone]

Route 66 with a spare tire/tyre or two?

[monorprise]

That would take a lot longer than they have. @nicholasredone A day just to get to where it starts in Chicago from New York by car. It is best that they stick to the North east for this trip. Come back when you want to see the plantations and southern life of southern states, the painted deserts and mountains of the South West, west coast, and Cascadia

[dustybiker2]

Bad timing.

[Puppystarfish23]

Why?

[RedTiefling]

Stay home

[Cormac995]

Stay home.

[Cormac995]

I'm not even kidding why would you want to come here? I'm an American and I don't want to be here.

[eagle1951]

don't forget me lol