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America for Beginners


A poignant debut that explores unlikely friendships forged in unusual ...
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What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

Created: 07/26/19

Replies: 17

Posted Jul. 26, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

Rebecca "looked at the itinerary for the umpteenth time. It was strange, she thought, what people who came to this country seemed to this was important to see. Mrs. Sengupta had booked a very elaborate cross-country trip, with all the American greatest hits on the menu." What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?


Posted Jul. 29, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebajane

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 320

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

This is an interesting question. I’ve seen a lot of the us so I’d have to go back to favorite places, I think. It’s actually difficult to see too much in two weeks but I’d start in the east where I live, head down to the keys, across to the grand canyon, up the coast of California. I’d stop in Vegas, then head to Utah, one of the most beautiful places in my opinion and back across to New England. I might have to do more than two weeks!


Posted Jul. 29, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
josephinej

Join Date: 05/11/15

Posts: 95

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

The summer I turned 12, my family and I took a cross-country trip - NY to California by the southern route, and back home dipping up into Canada several times. Highlights for me, and where I'd go back in a minute, were the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verdi, the drive up Route 1 in California; going to a tuna packing factory in Washington (I think); Victoria, BC; and Yellowstone. But I also now would want to stop in Santa Fe for the opera.


Posted Jul. 29, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JLPen77

Join Date: 02/05/16

Posts: 362

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

I’ve not seen much of this country beyond the East Coast, from Florida to New England and the Canadian maritime provinces, New York (city and upstate), Pennsylvania, a bit of Ohio and Illinois, and California, mainly San Francisco and the coast north and south: Marin, Napa, San Rafael. I’d love to see the West, all of the places rebajane and josephinej mentioned—especially the places mentioned in Tony Hillerman mysteries. I’d love to see Alaska. Then I could be better informed to put together a “greatest hits” itinerary.


Posted Jul. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
teacher reader

Join Date: 02/14/18

Posts: 64

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

in 1985 we took our 3 sons (15, 12, and 6) in the minivan from middle TN to Yellowstone, across Nevada, down the California coast to San Diego, and all the way across Texas from El Paso to Texarkana. No internet, just books that I read aloud to them about each state. We wanted them to see just how big this country is. I always tell anyone who hasn't been west of the Mississippi to see Yellowstone first! And everybody should see Alaska!!

Our French exchange student in the 80's was most amazed by the vastness of the open spaces--even in Tennessee.


Posted Jul. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
louisee

Join Date: 06/29/15

Posts: 143

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

I would visit Hawaii and Alaska again along with Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks. I would include Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, places I haven't visited yet.


Posted Jul. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

What would you put on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

We didn't do a lot of traveling as a family when I was young, and I have always felt a little ripped off--like I knew I was missing some really amazing things. So there were definitely places I wanted my son to see before he left home for college. (And to be quite honest, there where places I wanted to see for my very first time as well) One of my favorite trips we took together was out west. I used Sharon Creech's book, Walk Two Moons, as an inspiration and guide for our trip. We filled in other spots along the way. Caleb still gives me a hard time for our stop at Devil's Tower. We walked around the entire monument- -"It is the same on EVERY side, Mom." And he still groans every time I mention Pipestone National Monument!

I am more of a nature person, so my "greatest hits" list would include Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Yosemite, and a return to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Glacier. If I had time, I'd hit Washington and the eastern side of Alaska. I'm probably going to need two two-week tours!

And I am super excited about my trip to the Albequeque Hot Air Balloon Festival this fall!

Oh! And someday I will see Maine!!!!


Posted Jul. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ritah

Join Date: 05/26/11

Posts: 80

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Mesa Verde, all of Colorado, the canyons of Utah, New York City, Washington,DC, Charleston, New Orleans, the Great Lakes, San Francisco, the Redwood forest, Boston, Virginia.


Posted Jul. 31, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beckys

Join Date: 08/12/16

Posts: 233

RE: What would you put on your "greatest hits" list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

Such a loaded question! I live in the Midwest and have seen most parts of the country but haven’t been to the northwest .. the places I love the most are the Colorado mountains, San Diego, the Black Hills of South Dakota, The French quarter in New orleans, and the city of Boston Mass.


Posted Jul. 31, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianeh

Join Date: 08/01/16

Posts: 70

RE: What would you put on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

I would go back to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. I would drive the Oregon coast and spend time exploring Washington State. I would return to Washington D.C. and spend hours at the museums and galleries.


Posted Jul. 31, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
garyr

Join Date: 10/23/12

Posts: 35

RE: What would you put on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA?

It would have to be all the natural wonders we have here, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, canyon country in Utah, California, etc. before they’re sold to the corporate vultures for political favors$


Posted Aug. 01, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
reene

Join Date: 02/18/15

Posts: 497

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

New York Museum of Modern Art, 911 Museum, Ellis Island, in the Fall Vermont, New Hampshire to see the leaves changing and then out to the coast to listen to the waves, on to the Grand Canyon to touch and feel the stone, Yellowstone, California, up the coast making all the stops. Hawaii another time.


Posted Aug. 01, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
AmberH

Join Date: 05/09/18

Posts: 85

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

The stops on the itinerary were interesting ones from my perspective. There were so many quintessential American tourist stops that were not on the itinerary, especially the entire middle of the country. In California, San Francisco, Yosemite and Death Valley would be great. Yellowstone. The Blue Ridge Mountains (Parkway?), Chicago, Milwaukee, Nashville. And I just kept wanting them to eat something other than Indian food!


Posted Aug. 05, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beckyh

Join Date: 05/08/11

Posts: 113

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

I've looked over the other lists above and saw lots of "natural wonders" but I think America is more ideas than places. So I would include Washington, DC and all the monuments including a visit to the Supreme Court and one to the Library of Congress. A road trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and the Continental Congress. Then I would head to New York City (one of my personal least favorite places) and take in Wall Street, Times Square and Liberty Island. Then a train to Florida to observe the vastness of the country and the Everglades. While in Florida stop at Cape Canaveral. Then South Carolina for the Sea Islands, the Gullah people and Cherokee with the soberiety of the Trail of Tears. Then Middle America -- Vicksburg and the Civil War battlefield, the Mississippi River, Springfield, Illinois and Abraham Lincoln, north to Chicago, Michigan Avenue and the Great Lakes, Fort Dearborn and the massacre, and a tour of Churches, Synagogues and Mosques. A road trip to the Amana Colonies in Iowa. Then back on a train through the farms of Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas and then the Sierras. Stop at Utah's Golden Spike Park and the Donnor Pass. Finally on to California, the middle farmland, San Francisco's Chinatown, the Gold Rush and, the last stop, Hollywood and Grauman's Chinese Theater.


Posted Aug. 06, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

I really love your list, beckyh!!!


Posted Aug. 08, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pennyp

Join Date: 03/22/12

Posts: 353

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

We live in a wonderful, diverse country. There are so many places. We just returned from the Pebble Beach Area in Monterey County. It has to be one of California’s most scenic areas. I live in Santa Barbara which is also beautiful and then there is our own San Francisco. Outside of Calif, my favorite city, New York.
The beautiful state of Maine and all of the East Coast. Our National Parks are all beautiful and the Badlands in South Dakota were very unique. The Grand Canyon, Crater lake in Oregon, Everglades in Florida and of course New Orleans. Sun Valley Idaho, San Juan islands in Washington and of course weird Portland. There are so many places, I could go on, but I think the itinerary was for two weeks??


Posted Aug. 09, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Liz K

Join Date: 08/09/19

Posts: 4

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

The Rocky Mountain train trip. New England cruise in the fall. Door County, Wisconsin in the summer. A river boat cruise on the Mississippi. Visiting every National Park. Touring every Presidential Library. I could come up with more but this is already too many for two weeks!


Posted Aug. 13, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
christinep

Join Date: 07/16/13

Posts: 45

RE: What would be on your 'greatest hits' list if you were to arrange a two-week tour across the USA (without concern for cost or logistics)?

My first thought goes to our national parks. I live in the west so I think I would concentrate on the east coast. Start in Maine at Arcadia and move south to Florida and see the Everglades, probably with a couple days stop in New York City.


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