Driving Trip instead of Hawaii
 

so, hawaii's flights are too expensive.

We would like to travel to each state and visit the main attractions there so now thinking about driving in a circle...perhaps from florida to alabama to mississippi to louisiana to arkansas to tennessee to georgia and back to florida...wow, i'm already worn out![

We have done all those States on our way to Illinois. Lol. I would suggest the far northeast, especially, this time of year to see the turning of summer into winter. I have a neighbor who touched each state in a two year timeframe. Exhausting could be the word! We have been to them all (States) only if I can count a couple of airports. But who is counting? For sure, America is a beautiful place. If I had to pick one, perhaps Yellowstone National Park.

I agree, America must be among the most beautiful countries in the world. I love Yellowstone and visit the countryside around it too. People and pets are super-friendly. Something about ranches, you go back in time. The West really was/is something!

We were riding through Yellowstone and stopped at Cody for a meal. People were smoking outside, wearing their ranch gear, boots with spurs and cowboy hats, coming from a day of work. Outside the benches were arranged in a large circle. Everyone was welcome. You sat down and people talked to each other, just like you’d do at your house. No separate tables or seats etc. A stray dog came by. And met the house cat. And even they got along.

You must be a full timer. Us snowflakes do enough dam driving traveling between our far away homes. The only road trips I want to take are in a golf cart.

You're correct! LOL!!

I would suggest a trip through the southwest. Meteor Crater just west of Winslow, AZ is a sight to see, amazing the devastation a small meteor can cause. The Grand Canyon has to be seen in person, pictures or videos don't even come close to conveying its size and magnificence. It is truly awe inspiring. Hoover Dam is quite an engineering feat when you consider it was built with early 1930's technology.

As another alternative suggestion, I have friends who just took a trip through a bunch of National Parks (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier, etc.) by train that they picked up in Chicago. Vacations By Rail or some such similar name. They loved it!

We enjoyed Cody when staying there and the street fights were a lot of fun to watch. The first time we visited Yellowstone we had a Native American guide and got to see places that would be difficult to find and see if you didn’t have such a knowledgeable guide.

If you go to the Grand Canyon, try to be at the rim to watch the sun come up. We were at the south rim and the rock of the canyon changed color as the sun gets higher, an amazing sight!

So how much is considered too expensive? You’re going to spend at least a grand either way per ticket. Try a travel agent or go during their non peak their season (assume our summer?). I say this because do not discount Hawaii as any place you go there is unforgettable. Definitely allow two weeks being there because the time change is a killer.

Have you thought about multi day train trips to different states. No driving involved

Did you check out Bus fares to Hawaii?

In Kentucky visit the Ark, it's an amazing structure and the attraction is well done!

FWIW - Keep an eye on the airfare to HI, it's well worth the trip. I never wanted to go, but my wife talked me into it and now it's my favorite destination. I could never live there, but its a great place to visit. The culture, the people, the colors and scenery. Sadly my favorite destination is gone though, always in my heart Lahaina...

Good idea! I suggest avoiding the interstates and drive on the smaller roads between towns—the backroads. You will get a much better picture of the real America that way.