Guys, travelling around the USA is an impressive adventure. The USA is always a cool place to travel to. A lot of lights, action and street artists. If you planning a road trip along the east coast here is a suggestion for a route.
Travel around USA with Manhattan, New York as starting point
Our route starts in Manhattan, New York but below you’ll find tips for another city as starting point. One week should be fine to see all the cool and touristic places but if you’re able to stay a couple days longer you should do it. I highly recommend the New York City Pass (or the New York Explorer Pass). You can choose between three (minimum) up to eleven choices. Means you should make clear what attractions you definitily want to see. The pass isn’t cheap but you really save money with it. And I guess you know already how many attractions New York has which you should better see while you’re there. To get to the different attractions you should buy a metro card to use the trains and busses. Hiring a car in New York isn’t recommendable. Only if you plan to drive to other cities. But while staying in New York using the trains is smarter because the streets are very crowded with cars and the traffic is crazy.
The USA is of course a place of fast food but a place for cakes and cookies as well. Don’t miss the Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan. They have the best cheesecakes and cookies in the whole world!
Maybe you find some more restaurants and cafes of your favourite series or movies like the Cheesecake factory which has nothing in common with the one from Big Bang Theory but their cakes are heaven on earth.
Manhattan to Cape Cod
Time to relax at the beach after being in New York! You can find the city in the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. During the summer months you’ll find a lot of tourists there. How about a romantic walk on the beach in the evening or some delicious fish at one of the restaurants at the beach? Cape Cod hasn’t a lot of touristic attractions. Staying two or three days should be fine. What you should do, is visiting Provincetown, which is around an hour away by car. Provincetown has a big gay community. You can’t unsee the rainbow flags and happy couples. Besides that, you’ll find a big variety of boutiques to go shopping.
Cape Cod to Boston
From Cape Cod to Boston it’s only a two hour drive.
When you’re in America, you shouldn’t miss a NBA basketball game, even if you aren’t interested in sports, this is a big opportunity to catch some sports spirit and game atmosphere. Check the link to see the prices but buy the tickets at the stadium.
Freedom Trial
If visiting a NBA game isn’t on your mind, you may do the Freedom Trail. Good thing about it, it’s for free and you’ll be busy for at least half a day, if you do all attractions. Stretching 2½ miles, the Freedom Trail weaves past 16 of the city’s most historic sites, including Fanuiel and the Paul Revere House. On your tour you’ll be crossing the Public Garden which is ideal for a break at the “Good Will Hunting Bench”. If you watched the movie you probably remember the scene where Matt Damon and Robin Williams were sitting on the bench.
Being in Boston you get the golden opportunity to see one of the most popular and famous elite Universities: Harvard. Have a look at the campus with its architecture and its students.
Boston to Portland
Another two hour drive along the coast to reach our next destination Portland in Maine. This place has a kind of old school charm. Portland is suitable as a stopover on our route but not neccessary to see. But if you want to eat fresh red lobster from the ocean you should definitely stay!
Portland to New Haven
No question: When I hear New Haven I automatically think about another famous elite university, which is world wide known. The Yale University. Entering the campus feels like being in a different world with all the students and tourists. It takes almost four hours by car to get there. Close to the Campus you’ll find some tables, which are perfect for a picnic.
New Haven to Washington D.C.
Grab some snacks because this drive will be a bit longer than the ones before! The last city of the route is Washington DC and it takes six hours from New Haven to get there. Good thing is: you’ll cross Philadelphia. So if you don’t want to do the whole drive in one, you can change the route and do a stopover there.
“I have a dream”. Everybody knows this history changing sentence which was part of Martin Luther Kings famous speech. Washington has a long list of world changing historical happenings and plays still a big role. Not at least because it’s the capital of the USA. Being in Washington means a lot of sightseeing. You have the White House, Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, Washington Monument and many more.
Niagara Falls as alternative starting point
Before you start the actual route you may should think about visiting the Niagara Falls, which are between the Canadian province of Ontario and the American state of New York. There are several websites offering a day trip to the falls, but it takes more than six hours to get there.
Niagara Falls to Watkins Glen
Three hours away from the Niagara Falls you’ll reach the small town called Watkins Glen. The town is well-known for its role in auto racing like Watkins Glen International or host of NASCAR Cup Series. But the city has more to offer than cars and races. How about a beautiful walk at Watkins Glen State Park?
Watkins Glen to Letchworth State Park
This park is made for hiking. But besides that you have a great offer of activities such as white water rafting, fishing, kayaking and many more. If you miss the Niagara Falls already, here is a chance to see waterfalls as well.
From Letchworth State Park to Manhattan it’s a five hour drive. You can take a flight as well. Delta is one of the leading Airlines in the US and offers affordable flights.
Anyways. However your decision for your route is, have fun and enjoy your time!