it been decdes for most of my big trips.....
when I had money I was too scared to fly much, so I couldn't go over the water to Europe/Asia/ Africa etc
SO I took one trip by bus (like a eurorail pass - 2 weeks unlimited
travel) across the USA- concentrating on the Southwest route Arizona & New Mexico and visiting the Navajo & Hopi nations (in NE arizona).
Also saw the Grand Canyon (but not near sun set or sunrise when the colors really, really come out on the rock formations), a bit of the Painted desert, 2 other canyons. plus ( the incredible) Monument Valley.
If you like the look of the high desert & canyons then THOSE are splendid areas to go to. Utah also have alot of rock formations.
You also get to visit and experience - unlike some of the Native-American Tribes that totally got pushed off their lands-- the Hopi & Navajos do live in some of the areas they've lived in for over a 1,000 years.
going by bus or train you get to see the landscape change which was fascinating.
I had ALSO a great time visiting San Fransico. Hope to viait aGAIN SOME DAY. I even heard some local punk bands of that time (79).
VISITED A COUSIN IN LA (FUN, BUT I'D BEEN STUCK WITHJ OUT A CAR (II DON'T DRIVE) sorry on the caps....
Then the next trip I stopped again in Alberquerque and visited my some friends of my dad. then I went up to SOuth Dakota (saw Mount Rusmore and the early work on Geronimo Mountain from a special get-together , and visited my cousin Denver who took me on a motorcycle up into The Rocky Mountains!
On our way up to the Rockieswe also stopped off at Red Rocks ! But this was ? 4- 6 years BEFORE U2 played there..... but it was beautiful!
I have also visited Philly, Boston & Washington DC. Dc is the city I've visited the most.
And the rare jet trip to Georgia - Altanta & Athens .... way back.
a realtive gifted me w a vacation, so 2 yrs back i finally got back on a jet and finally got over SOME water & visited San Juan/ Puerto Rico. Lovely Hotel. Old San Juan is quite fascinating And the gorgeous teal/turquoise water is
dreamy!
my "advice"??
... read up/google up where you think you'd like to go.
SAve up - i did ( except that special trip) .... plan some things/ leave room for some happy, unexpected occurrences or places to suddenly take off to from where you are.
Also see if there are places your interests would take you....
like I hope to visit chicago b/c I love Architecture and it has some of the best in the USA.
I enjoy politics & some History so I've been to DC a bunch of times.
I love the high-desert landscape so I went parts of the south west.
and as you are doing here--- ask people!
See if you can also stay a bit w friends or relatives you like!
and if you get some ideas over time--- come back and tell us what you're thinking of doing.
i