Englishmum

I've just remembered that this company (which I think was originally founded by a few San Francisco-based hippies) does a variety of inexpensive coast-to-coast road trip tours of the USA (as well as trips to Alaska and Mexico):

http://www.greentortoise.com/

http://www.greentortoise.com/about.html

They do a 34 days USA Explorer Trip which goes to a lot of places and starts and ends in Boston or New York (then afterward you could perhaps take a cheap internal flight with Virgin America or JetBlue to visit other parts of the States:

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventu....explorer.html

There is a messageboard as well. It seems to have a lot of international participants. The 'Burning Man' festival looks totally wild LOL!

mayhemuk

If their tours are like their hostels then bring plenty of patience and a very relaxed attitude dudeeeeeeeeee!
I stayed in Seattle and San Fran and they were poor in terms of getting things doen for you. But they are kinda fun if you want to hang out with some 'interesting' people.

Bob

Those things are well expensive and so is the petrol...

tonrob

Yeah - we looked into one of those once and it can be surprisingly difficult to find somewhere to park them too (lots of places you have to book well in advance and pay up front!) - we first thought they'd give us loads of flexibility but in fact they offer a lot less.

ugacrew

Virgin Atlantic and Jet Blue aren't really the cheapest options and don't offer a enough destinations. Your best bet would be Southwest Airlines. They offer the best domestic service based on arrival rates. Plus the frequent flier program is excellent too. I love that airline.

Bob

that's what walmart is for, free parking and a lot of them have hook ups...

tonrob

You're joshing me? But what a dream... Coast-to-coast tour of Wal-marts!

Fantastic!

Giantaxe

I did a coast to coast Trek America too too back when I lived in the UK. I thought it was a great way to get introduced to America. I'm not really a group vacation kind of person, but the trip leader was excellent and the group interacted well (both these of risks of not working out so well, of course). Plus the leader had done many cross-country trips and she took us to loads of "off the tourist track" places that were fascinating. All in all I'd recommend it as a first US trip, particularly if you're hesitant about driving it all yourself.

Bob

I'm sadly not

ugacrew

I think you should go for it. Make the trip as cheesy as possible. Stop off at bizarre road stops. The weirder the better. For instance if you are in South Carolina stop of at 'South of the Border' for some kitsch. Go to Graceland in Tennessee. Take a photo at a gator museum in Louisiana. Shake it up a bit.

EDIT: Don't forget to wear an outlandish sombrero and a Hawaiian shirt on your journey.

another bloody yank

Branson.

ugacrew

Yeah!!! That's the spirit. Go to Branson. Buy some crap from one of the dollar stores. Maybe a back scratcher or big ass pencil. Go see Shoji. If you go there you'll see a crap load of billboards advertising him. Have fun at a mini fun park with go-karting and mini-golf. You are right on target ABY

another bloody yank

tonrob

Actually been to a couple of those!!!

South of the Border - very tacky and grubby round the edges (a shit-hole in the nicest possible way!)

Graceland - been twice, and not even an Elvis fan! Great fun.

Speaking of tacky, Mrs tonrob wanted to go and eyeball Heath Ledger's apartment while in NYC last weekend - managed to dissuade her thankfully and steer her towards the nearest good beer bar!

ugacrew

That's why I chose South of the Border. How can you not go having read all those funny billboard signs telling you not to miss it.

I'm glad you persuaded Mrs. tonrob from seeing Heath's place. That's a bit morbid because his death was so recent. Good decision on making it a microbrewpub.