I can't resist it anymore, I have to visit this country. I would like to make a trip through all the states, starting in Maine.
I don't know yet whether I will do it alone or with friends. I know I want to see America in it's purest form, not just the touristic attractions.
Currently I'm in my last year of a journalism Master's degree so I probably could make money writing articles about it. As I'm a white belgian male I should have no problems going through the conservative areas like the deep south or midwest.
I'm asking for your advice ameribro's, howlong would this journey take? What's the best way to plan this and how much would it cost?
American who's visited all 50 states here
1. It will take an absolute FUCKLOAD of time to visit all 48 continental states. The United States is as big as continental Europe, and there's a lot of states that are not necessary to visit at all.
2. It will also cost quite a bit. Hostels aren't common in the US so you'd have to find an alternative place to sleep. The cheapest way to do it is probably AirBNB or couchsurfing, although I've never used either.
3. In my opinion, the best parts of the US are the national parks/nature in the West and the cities in the East. Those represent two different trips to the United States. One trip is on the eastern seaboard from South Carolina to Maine (at the most) and the other trip is kind of a C shape, where the top of the C is Chicago and the bottom is New Orleans (at the most), and hitting some of the major national parks between. The bulk of the midwest and the deep south are completely skippable - not because they're super conservative or because they hate Europeans, but because there's just not anything interesting to do. Keep in mind that the trip from Chicago-Seattle-LA-New Orleans is over 70 hours of driving.
I mean, I get that there's this romanticized idea of what middle America is, but I don't see the appeal of paying $1000 in airfare to come see a small American town. All people really do fro fun in middle America is drink, so maybe stop at some bars in small towns when you're traveling between interesting cities.
Doing a roadtrip through all 50 states would be very difficult to do in 3 months if you plan to stop and enjoy some cities/national parks from more than a day. I would, and I'm sure everyone else here would recommend you do the U.S. in parts. For first time Euro travelers we recommend the Northeast because people are more educated/less xenophobic and public trans is decent (for American standards anyways, euros may find it embarrassing though).
>>1062062
>The bulk of the midwest and the deep south are completely skippable ... because there's just not anything interesting to do.
A very strange thing for a traveler to post.
Of course, what you like to do and what interests you may not be what anybody else likes to do or what interests them, but the idea that in roughly half odf the continental US there is nothing interesting is laughable.
I'm laughing right now.
Pic related, laughing a lot like that.
>>1062063
Do you seriously contend that xenophobia towards Belgians is going to be a real problem in the benighted parts of the country where you go not live?
>>1062067
Maybe I'm biased as I've spent a lot of my life in the deep south and Midwest, but I couldn't imagine what someone would want to come here to do that they couldn't do in other parts of the US. You don't sound like you've spent a lot of time around there.
And I don't know what he likes to do or what interests him, but unless those answers involve corn I can already name 5 states he has no reason to ever visit.
>>1062069
>You don't sound like you've spent a lot of time around there.
Lived all my life in NC. My time in the midwest has been limited, I'll admit that. But there is interesting stuff everywhere if you look for it -- but it is a common feature of humanity that what is across the street seems boring while the same thing located across an ocean is fascinating.
>>1062077
I mean, my recommendation was pretty quickly given by looking at a map and plotting where I would say the most interesting parts of America are. It's definitely not a well thought out or complete guide to the US. But with a gun to my head I legitimately could not name a single thing in, say, Mississippi, that's worth crossing an ocean for.
>>1062080
Sure I understand that, and I hope I'm not coming off as argumentative or being a jerk. It's just that as somebody who loves tot travel, I am pretty convinced that most everyplace is worth a gander if you look into it a it.
Just as an example, since you mentioned Mississippi, if I were heading down that way I'd hit up the Elvis Birthplace and Museum, and some of the Civil War sites, maybe one of the big ol' Gone With the Wind looking plantation houses if I had never seen one Oh, and there's some decent Southern and Cajun style eating down there.
That's just with no research, off the top of my head, and it may be stuff that doesn't interest you, which is fine. And I don't know if I'd cross an ocean for those particular ideas -- but if'n I'd crossed the ocean anyway, and was wanting to see something in every state, that would be a good start for me for Mississippi...
>>1062063
>For first time Euro travelers we recommend the Northeast because people are more educated/less xenophobic and public trans is decent (for American standards anyways, euros may find it embarrassing though).
Lol, for one Xenophobia isn't going to be a thing with a white European, no matter where you go. Literally the only kind of white European an American might regard with suspicion and caution would be a Russian, (and seriously that's not going to be a problem either).
If you think that Europeans are more tolerant, educated and less xenophobic than Americans you are very mistaken. In case you are unaware of current world climate, the xenophobic, populist right wing is surging in Europe to an extent not seen since the days of the Weimar Republic. That is not an exaggeration. The OP's home country is hotbed of this sentiment, especially given the unintegrated Muslim communities in Belgium.
>>1062045
>As I'm a white belgian male I should have no problems going through the conservative areas like the deep south or midwest.
The Midwest is many ways actually very culturally distinct from the Deep South. The Midwest was Union during the Civil War and had less extensive segregation during he Jim Crow era that was only de facto, not de jure (The North definitely did have segregation, don't get me wrong, just not codified and as extensive).
I'm not sure where you got the idea the Midwest is super conservative, basically as a general rule the US is center-right in rural, suburban areas, and center-left in populated and urban areas. This holds true even in the Deep South, as big southern cities like Atlanta have huge black populations and 95% of American blacks are left wing.
>>1062155
>The U.S. is center-right in rural areas
Your country's politics are very far right (Republican) and center-right (Democrats). There nothing moderate about the midwest. The midwest is a hotbed for tea-party politics, which is very right-wing.
>>1062164
The Republicans are really not actually "very far right." Saying this displays ignorance of the nature of a two party first-past-the-post system and how politics and elections in America work. Idk if you're OP or not-- not to be a dick, but please don't profess to know more about my country and its politics than I do, man. I can with confidence say that you are wrong for thinking the Republicans are "very right wing."
The Republican establishment is center-right. You cannot win elections in this country without shoring up moderate/centerist support. Primary races tend to project a distorted picture because generally only very active, dyed-in-the-wool rightists and leftists participate in them, so you are pandering to gain that support. General elections pander to the center and this is reflected in policy making. A common criticism of the two parties by many Americans is indeed that they are too similar.
The Tea Party is a vocal--but somewhat small faction of the American right. The Republican Party, through the Speaker of the House himself, has publicly condemned Donald Trump and the populist right.
>>1062167
An interesting and, I think accurate post, with the proviso that what looks "center" to somebody in a country where the center is in one part of the spectrum may look less central to somebody from somewhere else.
As an American with a family history in politics, I had a great time visiting Colombia, as it happened during an election. The differences and similarities were fascinating, if that sort of thing fascinates you, and might make next year a great time to visit the US...
>>1062192
I tend to agree.
Really, you have to apply some kind of relativity principle to political positions. There is no absolute center that everyone can agree upon, nor will everyone agree on how to squeeze things down to a single left-right axis.
>>1062167
I'm from France and I spent 2 years studying at Georgetown University. A lot of the students there do a lot of intern work for congresspeople and various agency under the scope of the federal government. Compared to literally every other developed country (especially ones in Europe) everything about your country stinks of far-right yokels. Even your so called left wing party are market fetishists and wall street shills. Look at some of the most right wing parties in major European countries (Tories in U.K, FN here in France and to a lesser extent Republicans) your right wing makes those parties look center of left. Not even Democrats support things like public healthcare or more gun control, its a joke.
>>1062242
>I'm from France and I spent 2 years studying at Georgetown University
Whoa, I better shut up, then. I'm mean I've only spent the 26 years of my whole life here not just confined to the bubble of a fucking university. So clearly you'll know better.
You think the the American Republicans are more right wing than fucking Marine Le Pen? Are you out of your mind? The Republican leadership has publicly condemned Trump and the xenophobic right wing populism, which is the exact same shit FN stands for. Le Pen is France's Trump. In your own country the Center-left and Center-right parties are actually teaming up to cock block the FN in regional elections-- the prime minister himself ordered the Socialists to sacrifice their own candidates to the center-right in certain areas for this end. It's illustrative. This kind of jostling does not happen in America because the parties are huge and cohesive and *centerist*. Again, insisting the Republicans are far right displays patent ignorance over the mechanics of a two party system and first-past-the-post voting.
If we're all such stinky far-right yokels why did you spend two years of your life here?
Go home frog, you're drunk.
>>1062242
>Not even Democrats support things like public healthcare or more gun control
I really hope you're trolling, as otherwise you're an idiot of epic proportions to post drivel like this. Unfortunately, I suspect you're the latter (i.e., a complete and total idiot). Standards at Georgetown must be way, way down to accommodate someone of your obviously limited intellect and understanding.
I hope you weren't scared off by the flame war OP. Basically, seeing all 50 states is overkill. I would focus on things you can only do in America.
Go to an SEC college football tailgate and game in the south. Absolutely an experience like no where else. Qts everywhere, parties everywhere. The game will be a blast too. It's a huge stadium that feels like pro. Tailgating is so fun. Just approach some fun looking students and introduce yourself and say you're from Belgium, etc. They'll be excited to meet and hang out with you.
Shoot a mini gun at a Vegas gun range?/See the Grand Canyon... etc.
I'd definitely go to DC and New England and see historical/colonial/revolutionary stuff.
>I know I want to see America in it's purest form, not just the touristic attractions.
We (4 Europeans) went on a roadtrip from Florida to California and wanted the same thing. Walmart, suburbs, frat parties, burger joints... then thing is, you get bored fast. Literally everyting looks the same, everything tastes the same, everyone acts the same. America is not this exotic place that it portrays itself to be. It will certainly be a fun trip but you will never want to spend the time needed to visit all states. There is more of the world to see.
>>1062588
Are you American?
>Just approach some fun looking students and introduce yourself and say you're from Belgium, etc. They'll be excited to meet and hang out with you.
I think you are overestimating the curiosity of young Americans. The people who were interested in us and wanted to talk was older people. Younger people seem to mostly stick to their own groups or maybe our language/country was not interesting enough.
>>1062699
>Literally everyting looks the same
By that I meant mostly the cities and especially the suburbs. The nature of course will differ and was the best thing about the US.
OP here, just wanted to say I read travels with charley and it inspired me.
>>1062758
never heard of it. university degree and a wife that's an english teacher and i had to google it.
I always recommend something like mystic, Connecticut, New york city,(skip long island) unless you have loads of money to stay in places i will never see, philadelphia, PA. Baltimore, MD. Washington, DC. side trips atlantic city, NJ. Lancaster PA. Boston, MA. Ocean City, MD. Niagara Falls, NY
Its along a train route. It gives you a good sense of different cities. It is the shortest physical distance to cover many major metropolitan areas. None of the suggestions are trolls. There are plenty of fun and different things to do in all these cities. someone is gonna say some crap about baltimore but its not that bad.
This route does not really provide a good insight into daily life for the average person. But no way are you going to run out of things to see.
>>1062699
your route was bad. too much driving. see above route I just posted. also an area not known for being outgoing. you would have more outgoing new yorkers than say people in tesax.
>>1062045
Are you just going to do the road trip and not try to get deep into things? If so, 4 months you can do it easily. The biggest problem is the rental. I would honestly suggest to see if you can find a caravan or something you can sleep in. Camp grounds and such are a rather nice way to travel. Understand, though, America is fucking huge and fucking expensive to travel around in for long periods of time if you don't already outright own the vehicle you are traveling in.
You can also do a lot of what you are looking to do via train and bus. Pick a city in each state you want to do to and take the train or bus there from where you are now. If you do do this, travel light as possible. Cellphone should be your only real piece of technology. I'd say no more then a 46L bag, something like the Osprey Porter 46 or Kelty Catalyst 46. Couch surfing would be a good way to go, cheap and easy to deal with. Just make sure you having your sleeping arrangements ready to go before you get to your next destination.
>>1062811
actually he should really do like most "real" americans and take a plane. the only reason americans take a car 1. so many travelers it happens to be cheaper than flying. 2. your moving and like your possessions. 3. you are terrified of flying. 4. weird instances where flight delays might make it longer than driving this is usually drive time in the 3 to 4 hour range. 5. you are going to visit some relative in such a remote location that their are no nearby airports.
>>1062811
Consider buying an old car then selling it when you leave. Might end up a lot cheaper then a many month rental.
