A question for the non-US X-Markers...

[Sir William]

Surely there must be SOME limitation here other than the continental U.S. Even if there isn't, does that mean I could recommend New York AND L.A. with regional flights connecting them?

That is exactly what it means - no limitation except for time, which will only concern me when I get into the scheduling part of the assignment. There is no "theme" such as historical, cultural, or nature sites.

What I wanted to see was where visitors to the US would want to go and see, not necessarily where I, as a US resident, would want them to go.

Interestingly enough, I drew up a possible list of places and most of the suggestions so far, though not all, were on the list I made up. There were a few surprises though, such as the Rocky Mountains and Mississippi (though I did think of Yellowstone and New Orleans).

[davedove]

Because the US is so big, it's hard to plan a trip without some sort of defining factor. That could be a theme (historical sites, natural wonders, big city, etc.) or a region (New England, the Mississippi valley, Texas, etc.).

Having lived in the eastern half of the US my whole life, I made the mistake of forgetting how big the western states are when I visited the southwest. I spent a big portion of my vacation driving from site to site.

[BoldHighlander]

Having lived in the eastern half of the US my whole life, I made the mistake of forgetting how big the western states are when I visited the southwest. I spent a big portion of my vacation driving from site to site.

Excellent point & something to keep in mind!

That is one of things, as a living historian/reenactor, we use to complain about out here. How the guys back east could easily hit a vast amount of events (travel wise), while ours are so spread out we spend most of our time just getting there (& back again)!

[ThistleDown]

Colonial Williamsburg; New York City; Chicago for its architecture; Boston for its accent ; Vermont & New Hampshire in the Fall; Grandfather Mountain in a week or so; New Orleans at Mardi Gras; Ohio for the mounds; Wyoming for Yellowstone; South Dakota for the Badlands; prairie enormity; Nevada for the dessert; Arizona for the balloons (and soaring); S California for its culture ; Oregon for its diversity; Washington just because it is there

Rex (t-o-o)

[Sir William]

Colonial Williamsburg; New York City; Chicago for its architecture; Boston for its accent ; Vermont & New Hampshire in the Fall; Grandfather Mountain in a week or so; New Orleans at Mardi Gras; Ohio for the mounds; Wyoming for Yellowstone; South Dakota for the Badlands; prairie enormity; Nevada for the dessert; Arizona for the balloons (and soaring); S California for its culture ; Oregon for its diversity; Washington just because it is there

Rex (t-o-o)

Excellent!

I'm assuming you meant Washington STATE and not Washington, DC? Seattle and the Puget Sound would be on my list, but I know there are lots of people who think DC with all its monuments and museums.

[ThistleDown]

Excellent!

I'm assuming you meant Washington STATE and not Washington, DC? Seattle and the Puget Sound would be on my list, but I know there are lots of people who think DC with all its monuments and museums.

Yes, but you are American and you directed your questions to those who were not. I don't know anybody in Europe who has some sort of burning desire to "see" Washington (DC), but almost all on my list would receive a nod from most of those same folk (I think). I doubt there is a single city west of the Mississippi that would be on a European's list, and probably Boston and Williamsburg wouldn't be there, either. Florida is widely promoted and popular in the UK, but less so on the continent.

As you pointed out, this excercise doesn't have to do with specific markets. As soon as you zero in on, for example, wild fauna, there will be an entirely new list.

[Sir William]

Yes, but you are American and you directed your questions to those who were not. I don't know anybody in Europe who has some sort of burning desire to "see" Washington (DC), but almost all on my list would receive a nod from most of those same folk (I think). I doubt there is a single city west of the Mississippi that would be on a European's list, and probably Boston and Williamsburg wouldn't be there, either. Florida is widely promoted and popular in the UK, but less so on the continent.

Works for me - that is why I asked the original question.

When I was first stationed in the Washington, DC area I vowed I would never return. Three years later I was back and haven't left (but not that I haven't constantly thought about doing so).

My initial thoughts were that most Europeans would want to visit cities or other places that they'd heard about through films and television. So far, based on the answers I've seen, that seems to be holding fairly constant. I once met someone who wanted to see Dallas for no other reason then they had seen the TV show. Probably why most Americans want to see Paris, Rome and London - those are the cities they have heard about. Ask them what they want to see in those cities and most don't seem to have a clue.

[MacBean]

Colonial Williamsburg; New York City; Chicago for its architecture; Boston for its accent ; Vermont & New Hampshire in the Fall; Grandfather Mountain in a week or so; New Orleans at Mardi Gras; Ohio for the mounds; Wyoming for Yellowstone; South Dakota for the Badlands; prairie enormity; Nevada for the dessert; Arizona for the balloons (and soaring); S California for its culture ; Oregon for its diversity; Washington just because it is there

Rex (t-o-o)

That's a really excellent list. I might amend it slightly from an American perspective? I would suggest the Grand Tetons over Yellowstone and the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tuscon or the Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona as superb desert spots over anything in Nevada. I don't care for Washington, D.C. much either, but art buffs would certainly appreciate the National Gallery and might make that a destination. I appreciate the reason for visiting Chicago and add a recommendation to take an architetural boat tour on the River. Of course, Alaska and Hawaii might make some lists given time and resources.

[ThistleDown]

That's a really excellent list. I might amend it slightly from an American perspective? I would suggest the Grand Tetons over Yellowstone and the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tuscon or the Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona as superb desert spots over anything in Nevada. I don't care for Washington, D.C. much either, but art buffs would certainly appreciate the National Gallery and might make that a destination. I appreciate the reason for visiting Chicago and add a recommendation to take an architetural boat tour on the River. Of course, Alaska and Hawaii might make some lists given time and resources.

doh: Yes, of course, Mark. Thank you. The Desert Museum is superb (although they have a snake house I'll not be going into a second time) and the Botanical Garden provides a sufficient reason to visit Phoenix.

Rex

[ali8780]

That's a really excellent list. I might amend it slightly from an American perspective? I would suggest the Grand Tetons over Yellowstone and the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tuscon or the Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona as superb desert spots over anything in Nevada. I don't care for Washington, D.C. much either, but art buffs would certainly appreciate the National Gallery and might make that a destination. I appreciate the reason for visiting Chicago and add a recommendation to take an architetural boat tour on the River. Of course, Alaska and Hawaii might make some lists given time and resources.

There's a garden in Phoenix?

hmm.. How did I miss that I wonder?


And why do I feel the need to warn everyone against visiting Hollywood? Maybe because it's dirty and disappointing and small, and one may find him or herself wishing they had been able to see it in its heyday in the 1930's

We have wonderful canyons in Utah though-- I'd be happy to lead a tour