Ok, me and Eric's goal for 2016 is to see each state.. *L* since I fly free (I work for airlines).. so please list some MUST see's that we can hit off our list.. also CHEAP places to stay/do fun things.. are on the top of our list!
Camping at National/State Parks is a good way to see cool stuff for relatively cheap, if you don't mind all the nature. I'm not much of an outdoor person, but I still really enjoyed Yellowstone NP and Arches NP.
I got a national park pass.. so they are on my list for sure! I did not know that you could CAMP in them.. *L* nice to know! convicing Eric to camp though..may be a different story
I've been to 46/50 states. I agree with Lorry about the National Parks, but I am NOT a camper. If you are looking for city recommendations, my top 3 would be: NYC, Boston and Chicago!
Laura..I have been to A LOT of the states, but Eric hasn't.. so its mostly for him..*L* his sister lives in Chicago so we go there A LOT.. but NYC and Boston are on my list! I kinda want to be in NYC for new years.. we will see if that pans out
Catalina Island in California and you can also see Long Beach and LA all those fun places like Hollywood, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm, Lego Land, Sea World, and Disneyland while there as well.
I've totally been there... the day I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, no less! DH has family in Frankfurt/Benzonia area. His uncle lives in a cabin on Crystal Lake. We want to go back to visit with the kids.
Disneyland and St Louis are my favorite places to visit. I have friends in Granite City, right across the river. I absolutely love visiting them.
If you go, let me know!!! We have a house at Crystal Mountain that we spend a lot of time at (we were just there for Thanksgiving and will return for two weeks at Christmas). We do all of our grocery shopping in Benzonia and we love to go wander around Frankfort (and we've been to their ER more times that we should). This past summer we rented a boat and spent the whole day out on Crystal Lake. Love, love, love that area!
From what I know of the area, you probably know his uncle (Doug DeWitt). Tight knit community! Lol! A&W coming out of Frankfurt- his cousin Renee runs that place, or did, for many many years. Lol!
NYC for sure. So much to see/do, and you don't have to spend a lot. Coney Island, Central Park, art galleries, Law & Order locations giggle). I'm dying to go back. The red rocks in Utah. Glacier National Park in Montana. Portland, Oregon. Kenny and Zuke's restaurant for great breakfast and bagels. Powell's Books. VooDoo Donuts. So many funky/weird places and amazing culture. Of course Seattle.
In Alabama, Dauphin Island is gorgeous! You may have to fly into Mobile or somewhere close by for that. My husband is in medical school in Mobile, and we love that it's only an hour from the beach. I totally second, third, and fourth the National Park recommendations. I am not much of a camper, either...unless I am in an actual camper. We did a 2 week loop through 15 states and maybe half a dozen National Parks a couple of years ago with our camper, and it was FAB!
Maybe you should ask what you should see in *your* state too? {like, what is the can't miss thing to do where you live? Since we all live in different places?} Like I'm in Utah and I recommend both the southern area {lots of national parks, and they are gorgeous!} as well as Salt Lake. After seeing some amazing and usually bigger and taller downtowns in other states, SLC is tiny. The Capital is situated really cool though especially if you go up to the avenues and look down at it and the mountains. Seattle is great. We took Amtrack from there to Vancouver Canada and that was beautiful! Same for the train from Boston to Portland Maine. That one we took in the fall though, so I'm slightly prejudiced. Crater Lake in Oregon is beautiful.
San Francisco - I went for a conference years ago and took dh along and we had the most enjoyable weekend exploring. If you go, try to find time to take a trip to see the Muir Woods - they are majestic!
A lot of national parks have lodges too. More expensive but not camping and need reservations. My wish list would include the Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, big sur and San Francisco. I've been all over the east and south.
You will often need reservations to camp as well. Definitely check ahead of time. I can camp for a little bit but I would not do it for an entire fifty-state tour!
I highly recommend the beaches in my area. Pensacola Beach, Destin, Sandestin . . . all are fabulous beaches in Florida. Pensacola has a lot to offer in the downtown area to keep you busy as well.