Hi all -
After my amazing trip to see my first football matches last 'fall', I think I've managed to convince my wife to take the kids over the 'pond'. We're just at initial stages of planning the trip. I've been on some other forums but wondered whether the Americans amongst you could add your tuppence worth of advice:
We aren't keen on doing the Florida NY LA etc usual thing as that wouldn't suit us.
We are a family of 5 (kids will be 14, 11 and 7 in Aug 2019).
We don't want a one resort all inclusive place that we could get in Spain etc.
Happy with one or two bases over the fortnight.
We don't want the heat of Florida etc.
We want it cheap to reach (so probably east coast?)
We want to experience real America (like you see in the movies!) - diners, drive in movie, dirt racing on oval track, monster truck show, sporting event (think baseball or nfl pre season game maybe?).
Near a lake or stream for kids to play in (not river Mississippi or lake Michigan!).
Water park for a day
We're not fussed about the beach but seeing the sea would be a nice day trip maybe.
Hire bikes for a day in a forest
Some driving through little villages or towns to get somewhere for a day but we're not after a touring holiday where there will be 4hr+ trips!
Oh and a final thing: we'd prefer not to come across a bear in the wood or a hurricane!
So there's a challenge for you all! Look forward to seeing who can tick the most boxes! So far, on other forums, one person suggested San Fran > Lake Tahoe > Yosemite which looks just amazing but maybe costly to reach. Another suggested Denver as a base then into mountains for second week. Again, flights may be the only problem?
Thanks in advance!
jh