Roadtrip USA - Nevada, Colorado & Utah
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Before ever setting foot in the US, my attention was drawn by its national parks. Keep the cities, we have those back home with a sliver more history and culture, to be frank… I’m craving for a deep dose of unspoilt American wilderness. Turns out, the stretch of land between Sin City and Denver is practically overflowing with geological wonders. Forget sweating it out on endless desert hikes and drop the hilarious notion of trying to knock it out with public transport (non-existent), this calls for a good old-fashioned American road trip. Of epic proportions, I may add. I'm talking a whirlwind tour from the crimson depths of the Grand Canyon to the iconic landscapes of Monument Valley and beyond, all the way to the majestic "Big Five" of Utah. After I traced down a travel buddy (Gee, Philippina globetrotter extraordinaire from Guam) and a rental car so cheap it practically pays us to drive it, I embarked on a whirlwind tour through the iconic landscapes of the Southwest.
Day 1: Las Vegas – Williams (Nevada / Arizona)
Alright partner, keep on rollin’ baby, you know what time it is. Leaving the neon-drenched chaos of Las Vegas receding in the rearview mirror, we gassed onwards to the very first point of interest: the imposing Hoover Dam. Its origins lie in a confluence of factors: a burgeoning population in the Southwest desperately needing reliable water and electricity, the Colorado River's unpredictable nature (prone to both devastating floods and crippling droughts), and the ambitious vision of a nation eager to prove its engineering spirit. Indeed, a concrete testament to human ingenuity and, apparently, a powerful deterrent to sobriety. Legend has it, back in the day, a particularly inebriated individual attempted to swim across Lake Mead, a feat of questionable brilliance that I imagine ended with a rather abrupt and, quite literally, sobering realization of the dam's sheer scale.
From there, we pressed on to Williams, Arizona, a delightful little town that wholeheartedly embraces its identity as a Route 66 pitstop. They're not subtle about it, and frankly, why should they be? We crashed for the night in a surprisingly affordable hotel, a welcome respite after a day of desert driving. Who knew such charming, budget-friendly accommodations could still exist along such an iconic stretch of highway?
Day 1: Las Vegas – Williams (Nevada / Arizona)
Alright partner, keep on rollin’ baby, you know what time it is. Leaving the neon-drenched chaos of Las Vegas receding in the rearview mirror, we gassed onwards to the very first point of interest: the imposing Hoover Dam. Its origins lie in a confluence of factors: a burgeoning population in the Southwest desperately needing reliable water and electricity, the Colorado River's unpredictable nature (prone to both devastating floods and crippling droughts), and the ambitious vision of a nation eager to prove its engineering spirit. Indeed, a concrete testament to human ingenuity and, apparently, a powerful deterrent to sobriety. Legend has it, back in the day, a particularly inebriated individual attempted to swim across Lake Mead, a feat of questionable brilliance that I imagine ended with a rather abrupt and, quite literally, sobering realization of the dam's sheer scale.
From there, we pressed on to Williams, Arizona, a delightful little town that wholeheartedly embraces its identity as a Route 66 pitstop. They're not subtle about it, and frankly, why should they be? We crashed for the night in a surprisingly affordable hotel, a welcome respite after a day of desert driving. Who knew such charming, budget-friendly accommodations could still exist along such an iconic stretch of highway?
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Day 2: Williams – Page (Arizona)
The alarm rudely shattered the pre-dawn stillness, a wholly unwelcome sound hours before the sun even considered making an appearance. Painful? Absolutely. But a swift reminder of the reward – sunrise at the Grand Canyon – promptly propelled me from under the covers. I still grapple with the sheer luck of this life sometimes! Freezing temperatures demanded I treated the trails more like a brisk jog than a leisurely stroll, anything to keep warm, but the view? Utterly breathtaking. It’s almost impossible to fully grasp the scale and majesty of the Canyon, a geological masterpiece carved over millennia by the relentless whims of the Colorado River. Born out of the Earth's shifting plates and persistent erosion, today the Grand Canyon draws nearly 5 million visitors a year, all seeking a taste of its grandeur. Today, me being one of them.
And as if the Canyon wasn't enough, sunset found us at Horseshoe Bend in Page, another must-see Arizona spectacle. For those unfamiliar: It’s a dramatic, near-perfect horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, offering an equally stunning vantage point. Fortunately, I'd found my partner-in-wine in Gee, and we made sure to drag along a bottle to celebrate this sunset in style. All in all, Arizona persistently captivates me with its remarkable wealth of natural beauty.
The alarm rudely shattered the pre-dawn stillness, a wholly unwelcome sound hours before the sun even considered making an appearance. Painful? Absolutely. But a swift reminder of the reward – sunrise at the Grand Canyon – promptly propelled me from under the covers. I still grapple with the sheer luck of this life sometimes! Freezing temperatures demanded I treated the trails more like a brisk jog than a leisurely stroll, anything to keep warm, but the view? Utterly breathtaking. It’s almost impossible to fully grasp the scale and majesty of the Canyon, a geological masterpiece carved over millennia by the relentless whims of the Colorado River. Born out of the Earth's shifting plates and persistent erosion, today the Grand Canyon draws nearly 5 million visitors a year, all seeking a taste of its grandeur. Today, me being one of them.
And as if the Canyon wasn't enough, sunset found us at Horseshoe Bend in Page, another must-see Arizona spectacle. For those unfamiliar: It’s a dramatic, near-perfect horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, offering an equally stunning vantage point. Fortunately, I'd found my partner-in-wine in Gee, and we made sure to drag along a bottle to celebrate this sunset in style. All in all, Arizona persistently captivates me with its remarkable wealth of natural beauty.
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Day 3: Page – Moab (Arizona / Utah)
Waking up in a stranger's house thanks to the wonders of Couchsurfing is always an experience, and this particular morning in Arizona marked the friendly beginning of our Utah adventure. Utah, it turns out, is practically bursting at the seams with national parks, with our first stop being the legendary Monument Valley. A place I mainly know from “that Soulfly videoclip”, some heroes in metal. Stepping onto that ochre landscape felt like horseback-riding directly into a classic Western. Located in the Navajo Nation, a territory considered sacred by its people, Monument Valley has shaped the cinematic image of the "American West" for generations. Think Sergio Leone's operatic "Once Upon a Time in the West," or the more recent "Lone Ranger" – all filmed against this breathtaking backdrop. Naturally, a pilgrimage to the "Forrest Gump Hill" was also in order, where we paid homage to the spot where a weary, bearded Forrest famously declared, "I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home now."
What truly surprised me about Utah was the stark contradiction in landscape: a seemingly endless desert interrupted by the dramatic, snow-capped peaks looming in the distance – a geographical push and pull. We even found ourselves dodging a few rainstorms, just to keep things interesting. Our evening landed us in Moab, a town with a name that carries a certain weight. "Moab" hails from the Bible, referring to a region east of the Jordan River, though not in the most flattering of terms – the Moabites weren't exactly known for their virtuous behavior (incestuous and idolatrous, is what I mean). Attempts to rename the town have been unsuccessful, but today, Moab thrives as a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, perfectly positioned for exploring the surrounding national parks and trails. Which, unsurprisingly, is exactly what brought us here.
Waking up in a stranger's house thanks to the wonders of Couchsurfing is always an experience, and this particular morning in Arizona marked the friendly beginning of our Utah adventure. Utah, it turns out, is practically bursting at the seams with national parks, with our first stop being the legendary Monument Valley. A place I mainly know from “that Soulfly videoclip”, some heroes in metal. Stepping onto that ochre landscape felt like horseback-riding directly into a classic Western. Located in the Navajo Nation, a territory considered sacred by its people, Monument Valley has shaped the cinematic image of the "American West" for generations. Think Sergio Leone's operatic "Once Upon a Time in the West," or the more recent "Lone Ranger" – all filmed against this breathtaking backdrop. Naturally, a pilgrimage to the "Forrest Gump Hill" was also in order, where we paid homage to the spot where a weary, bearded Forrest famously declared, "I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home now."
What truly surprised me about Utah was the stark contradiction in landscape: a seemingly endless desert interrupted by the dramatic, snow-capped peaks looming in the distance – a geographical push and pull. We even found ourselves dodging a few rainstorms, just to keep things interesting. Our evening landed us in Moab, a town with a name that carries a certain weight. "Moab" hails from the Bible, referring to a region east of the Jordan River, though not in the most flattering of terms – the Moabites weren't exactly known for their virtuous behavior (incestuous and idolatrous, is what I mean). Attempts to rename the town have been unsuccessful, but today, Moab thrives as a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, perfectly positioned for exploring the surrounding national parks and trails. Which, unsurprisingly, is exactly what brought us here.
Day 4: Moab – Escalante (Utah)
Today was shaping up to be the apex of our road trip itinerary – an ambitious quest to conquer three of Utah's "Big Five" national parks in a single, glorious day. We launched our jampacked journey with a sunrise drive to Arches National Park, just outside of Moab. While undeniably beautiful, Arches is surprisingly compact; a few hours proved a satisfying dose of its sandstone splendour. Witnessing the sun's golden fingers creep through the planet's highest concentration of natural arches was, indeed, a rather surreal experience.
Next on the agenda was Canyonlands National Park, which quite abruptly wrestled its way into my personal US Favorites List. The sheer, unadulterated beauty of this place sparked the imagination. One can almost picture lumbering dinosaurs once roaming this very landscape. The parched, ruddy desert bisected by the mighty Colorado River, strangely contradicted by a backdrop of dramatic, snow-capped mountains, creates a visual symphony. I felt a pang of regret leaving so soon and vowed to return someday for a more substantial hiking expedition. You can’t get rid of me that easily, Canyonlands!
After a lengthy drive, we finally stumbled into Capitol Reef National Park in the late afternoon, greeted by a vibrant panorama of crimson cliffs, canyons, domes, and natural bridges. What struck me as peculiar was the abundance of foliage thriving in this arid environment. These trees, now adorned in the fiery hues of autumn, presented an unusual yet captivating contrast against the desert's stark palette.
For me this would have been a perfect campsite setting for a good night’s rest, but the inexhaustible Philippina at the driver’s seat pressed to drive further. So off we sped, onwards to the quaint village of Escalante to conclude our jam-packed day. We randomly stumbled upon what must surely be the nation's most underwhelming Halloween celebration. An anti-climax at the end of a sequence of American climaxes. It felt like we compressed weeks' worth of experiences into a single, tiring, yet memorable day.
Today was shaping up to be the apex of our road trip itinerary – an ambitious quest to conquer three of Utah's "Big Five" national parks in a single, glorious day. We launched our jampacked journey with a sunrise drive to Arches National Park, just outside of Moab. While undeniably beautiful, Arches is surprisingly compact; a few hours proved a satisfying dose of its sandstone splendour. Witnessing the sun's golden fingers creep through the planet's highest concentration of natural arches was, indeed, a rather surreal experience.
Next on the agenda was Canyonlands National Park, which quite abruptly wrestled its way into my personal US Favorites List. The sheer, unadulterated beauty of this place sparked the imagination. One can almost picture lumbering dinosaurs once roaming this very landscape. The parched, ruddy desert bisected by the mighty Colorado River, strangely contradicted by a backdrop of dramatic, snow-capped mountains, creates a visual symphony. I felt a pang of regret leaving so soon and vowed to return someday for a more substantial hiking expedition. You can’t get rid of me that easily, Canyonlands!
After a lengthy drive, we finally stumbled into Capitol Reef National Park in the late afternoon, greeted by a vibrant panorama of crimson cliffs, canyons, domes, and natural bridges. What struck me as peculiar was the abundance of foliage thriving in this arid environment. These trees, now adorned in the fiery hues of autumn, presented an unusual yet captivating contrast against the desert's stark palette.
For me this would have been a perfect campsite setting for a good night’s rest, but the inexhaustible Philippina at the driver’s seat pressed to drive further. So off we sped, onwards to the quaint village of Escalante to conclude our jam-packed day. We randomly stumbled upon what must surely be the nation's most underwhelming Halloween celebration. An anti-climax at the end of a sequence of American climaxes. It felt like we compressed weeks' worth of experiences into a single, tiring, yet memorable day.
Day 5: Escalante – Bryce Canyon NP (Utah)
The next day dawned bright, ushering us towards one of Utah's crown jewels: Bryce Canyon National Park. I must confess, I felt as though I'd stumbled onto the set of a Grimm’s fairytale. Imagine a landscape sculpted by mischievous earth spirits, a whimsical domain of hoodoos - those peculiar, spindly rock formations born from the patient artistry of frost and erosion. The sedimentary rock, once the bed of ancient rivers and lakes, now stands as vibrant pillars and arches, splashed with hues of red, orange, and white, creating a vista so enchanting, it practically begs for hobbits and elves to come frolicking through. Or in this case, a Stephanie (oh man, was I frolicking!).
Finally, a proper day of hiking awaited me! I seized the opportunity, ambitiously stringing together all the trails into one glorious loop, even breaking into a run at times, fuelled by pure, unadulterated enthusiasm. Honestly, could you blame me? It's hard not to feel a little Tolkien-esque joy in a place like that.
The next day dawned bright, ushering us towards one of Utah's crown jewels: Bryce Canyon National Park. I must confess, I felt as though I'd stumbled onto the set of a Grimm’s fairytale. Imagine a landscape sculpted by mischievous earth spirits, a whimsical domain of hoodoos - those peculiar, spindly rock formations born from the patient artistry of frost and erosion. The sedimentary rock, once the bed of ancient rivers and lakes, now stands as vibrant pillars and arches, splashed with hues of red, orange, and white, creating a vista so enchanting, it practically begs for hobbits and elves to come frolicking through. Or in this case, a Stephanie (oh man, was I frolicking!).
Finally, a proper day of hiking awaited me! I seized the opportunity, ambitiously stringing together all the trails into one glorious loop, even breaking into a run at times, fuelled by pure, unadulterated enthusiasm. Honestly, could you blame me? It's hard not to feel a little Tolkien-esque joy in a place like that.
Day 6: Bryce Canyon NP – Zion NP (Utah)
Our grand American road trip continued, and this day we ticked off Zion National Park, the last of Utah's famed "Big Five." Zion, in particular, promised dramatic landscapes, an artwork of red cliffs carved deep by the Virgin River, inviting forest trails, and an all-around natural spectacle. And while its beauty is undeniable, I must admit that coming fresh off the heels of Bryce Canyon, I found myself slightly less… awestruck. Perhaps it was the weather, a rather somber grey that muted the vibrant hues. Or perhaps it was the sheer volume of visitors, the excruciatingly slow moving crowds clogging the trails entirely. Even finding parking became an Olympic sport involving strategy, patience, and a healthy dose of luck. While I appreciate the effort to make these natural gifts accessible to all, I couldn't help but wonder if everyone had received the same memo regarding optimal visitation times. It seems that to truly appreciate Zion, one needs to escape the crowds and venture into the backcountry, a feat requiring more time than we had allotted. Next time, perhaps.
Despite the throng, the park did offer one unexpected highlight: a tarantula sighting! Witnessing that hairy behemoth crawling its way through its natural habitat definitely added a touch of the wild to an otherwise slightly-too-tame experience.
Our grand American road trip continued, and this day we ticked off Zion National Park, the last of Utah's famed "Big Five." Zion, in particular, promised dramatic landscapes, an artwork of red cliffs carved deep by the Virgin River, inviting forest trails, and an all-around natural spectacle. And while its beauty is undeniable, I must admit that coming fresh off the heels of Bryce Canyon, I found myself slightly less… awestruck. Perhaps it was the weather, a rather somber grey that muted the vibrant hues. Or perhaps it was the sheer volume of visitors, the excruciatingly slow moving crowds clogging the trails entirely. Even finding parking became an Olympic sport involving strategy, patience, and a healthy dose of luck. While I appreciate the effort to make these natural gifts accessible to all, I couldn't help but wonder if everyone had received the same memo regarding optimal visitation times. It seems that to truly appreciate Zion, one needs to escape the crowds and venture into the backcountry, a feat requiring more time than we had allotted. Next time, perhaps.
Despite the throng, the park did offer one unexpected highlight: a tarantula sighting! Witnessing that hairy behemoth crawling its way through its natural habitat definitely added a touch of the wild to an otherwise slightly-too-tame experience.
Day 7: Zion NP – Las Vegas (Utah / Nevada)
Our time was up, but we certainly wrung every last drop of experience out of this week. Even on the day we had to return the rental car, we managed to cram in one more adventure: a visit to the Valley of Fire State Park. As the official website boasts, this geological marvel showcases 40,000 acres of vibrant red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled amongst grey and tan limestone. Supposedly, the park also contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back over two millennia. My own, admittedly unrefined, eye simply registered "a bunch of really cool rocks," one shaped remarkably like an elephant.
With our geological curiosity piqued (and hopefully satiated), it was off to Vegas again. Time to trade in wilderness for a different type of wild.
Our time was up, but we certainly wrung every last drop of experience out of this week. Even on the day we had to return the rental car, we managed to cram in one more adventure: a visit to the Valley of Fire State Park. As the official website boasts, this geological marvel showcases 40,000 acres of vibrant red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled amongst grey and tan limestone. Supposedly, the park also contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back over two millennia. My own, admittedly unrefined, eye simply registered "a bunch of really cool rocks," one shaped remarkably like an elephant.
With our geological curiosity piqued (and hopefully satiated), it was off to Vegas again. Time to trade in wilderness for a different type of wild.
Quick Budget Fact Overview
US Facts
Short History Recap
1565: 1st permanent European settlement: St Augustine, now Florida (Spanish). 1607: Jamestown, Virginia, founded by English. 17th-18th centuries: 100,000s of Africans brought in as slaves to work on cotton and tobacco plantations. 1763: Seven Years' War: England gets control over territory up to the Mississippi. ’74: Colonists form First Continental Congress. ’75: American Revolution: Continental Army under George Washington fight British rule. ’76: Declaration of Independence, colonies declare independence. ’83: Treaty of Paris, UK loses colonies. ’87: Founding Fathers, new constitution. ’89: George Washington first president. ’91: Bill of Rights, individual freedom. 1803: France sells Louisiana to US. ’08: Atlantic slave trade abolished. ‘12-’15: War of 1812 US -UK. Resistance by indigenous people. Massive European immigration. Number of states rises from 17 to 45.’46-48: Mexican War - US acquires large territories of Mexico, incl. New Mexico & California.’54: Abolitionists of slavery start Republican Party. ’60: Abraham Lincoln Republican president. ‘60-’61: 11 pro-slavery southern states secede from Union and form Confederate States of America = civil war with abolitionist northern states. ’63: Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln, slaves in Confederate free. ’65: Slavery abolished in 13th Amendment. Lincoln killed. ’98: Spanish-American War = Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam & Cuba American. US annexes Hawaii. 1917-’18: US mingles in WWI. Rejects membership of League of Nation. ’20: Women voting right. Sale and manufacture of alcohol forbidden. ’24: Indigenous people allowed citizenship. ’29-33: Wall Street stock market crash, triggers the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s "New Deal" recovery programme. Alcohol legal again. ’41: Japanese Pearl Harbour attack. Leads to US joining WWII against Axis powers. ’45: US drops 2 atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki. ’47: Truman Doctrine: aid against communism. Start Cold War with Soviet Union. ’48: Marshall Plan. ‘50-’53: US participates in Korean War. ‘50-’54: Anti-communist crusade within US by Senator McCarthy.’54: Racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. Civil disobedience, pro African-American. ‘60: Nixon. ’61: Bay of Pigs = attempt to invade Cuba, unsuccessful. ’62: Cuban missile crisis. ’63: John F Kennedy assassinated. Johnson president. ’64: Military intervention Vietnam. Nationally, anti-discrimination law. ’68: Martin Luther King assassinated. ’69: Republican Nixon. Neil Armstrong on the Moon. ’73: Vietnam ceasefire. ’74: Watergate scandal, Nixon resigns. ’76: Carter. ’79: US embassy in Tehran hostage crisis. ’80: Reagan, Republican. Anti-communist. ’86: Bombing Libyan cities. ’88: Bush Sr. ’89: Panama invasion, Noriega arrested for drug-trafficking. ’91: Iraq War involvement. ’92: Clinton, democratic. ’92: Nafta. ’99: Nato bombardment Yugoslavia in response to Serb violence against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. 2000: Bush Jr. ’01: 9/11, excuse for War on Terror. Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Against Taliban. ’02: Department of Homeland Security. ’05: Hurricane Katrina. ’08: Democratic Obama, 1st black president. ’09: 1st Tea Party rally = protest against bailing out banks and introduce healthcare reform. ’11: Presumed Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden killed. ’13: Snowden flees to Russia after leaking info on extensive internet and telephone surveillance by US. ’14: Diplomatic relations with Cuba. ’16: Trump. ’17: Trump restricts visas for Muslim-majority countries. Recognises Jerusalem as capital of Israel & sovereignty over Golan Heights. ’18: Trump meets Kim Jong-un (North Korea). New Trade deal with Canada & Mexico. ’19: Withdrawing troops from northern Syria. Turkey occupy Kurdish-run parts, create buffer zone. Trump impeached by House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. ’20: Covid-19 pandemic. Nationwide protests about killing of African-American George Floyd. ’21: Biden. ’25: Trump again.
US Facts
- Capital: Washington DC
- Language: English (Spanish)
- Population: ± 334.9mln
- Sq km: ± 9,833,517
- Currency: Dollar ($ - USD)
- Electricity Outlet: A + B / 120 V / 60 Hz.
- Country Code Phone: +1
- Emergency Phone: 911
- Visa: Some countries need to apply for a visa, which can be done here .Residents of visa-exempt countries can apply online for a visa waiver, called an ESTA.
- Vaccinations: None.
- Climate: The country is so huge, that we’re dealing with several climate zones. Find a map overview here.
- High season: June-August. Summer attracts most crowds due to school vacations.
Short History Recap
1565: 1st permanent European settlement: St Augustine, now Florida (Spanish). 1607: Jamestown, Virginia, founded by English. 17th-18th centuries: 100,000s of Africans brought in as slaves to work on cotton and tobacco plantations. 1763: Seven Years' War: England gets control over territory up to the Mississippi. ’74: Colonists form First Continental Congress. ’75: American Revolution: Continental Army under George Washington fight British rule. ’76: Declaration of Independence, colonies declare independence. ’83: Treaty of Paris, UK loses colonies. ’87: Founding Fathers, new constitution. ’89: George Washington first president. ’91: Bill of Rights, individual freedom. 1803: France sells Louisiana to US. ’08: Atlantic slave trade abolished. ‘12-’15: War of 1812 US -UK. Resistance by indigenous people. Massive European immigration. Number of states rises from 17 to 45.’46-48: Mexican War - US acquires large territories of Mexico, incl. New Mexico & California.’54: Abolitionists of slavery start Republican Party. ’60: Abraham Lincoln Republican president. ‘60-’61: 11 pro-slavery southern states secede from Union and form Confederate States of America = civil war with abolitionist northern states. ’63: Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln, slaves in Confederate free. ’65: Slavery abolished in 13th Amendment. Lincoln killed. ’98: Spanish-American War = Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam & Cuba American. US annexes Hawaii. 1917-’18: US mingles in WWI. Rejects membership of League of Nation. ’20: Women voting right. Sale and manufacture of alcohol forbidden. ’24: Indigenous people allowed citizenship. ’29-33: Wall Street stock market crash, triggers the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s "New Deal" recovery programme. Alcohol legal again. ’41: Japanese Pearl Harbour attack. Leads to US joining WWII against Axis powers. ’45: US drops 2 atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki. ’47: Truman Doctrine: aid against communism. Start Cold War with Soviet Union. ’48: Marshall Plan. ‘50-’53: US participates in Korean War. ‘50-’54: Anti-communist crusade within US by Senator McCarthy.’54: Racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. Civil disobedience, pro African-American. ‘60: Nixon. ’61: Bay of Pigs = attempt to invade Cuba, unsuccessful. ’62: Cuban missile crisis. ’63: John F Kennedy assassinated. Johnson president. ’64: Military intervention Vietnam. Nationally, anti-discrimination law. ’68: Martin Luther King assassinated. ’69: Republican Nixon. Neil Armstrong on the Moon. ’73: Vietnam ceasefire. ’74: Watergate scandal, Nixon resigns. ’76: Carter. ’79: US embassy in Tehran hostage crisis. ’80: Reagan, Republican. Anti-communist. ’86: Bombing Libyan cities. ’88: Bush Sr. ’89: Panama invasion, Noriega arrested for drug-trafficking. ’91: Iraq War involvement. ’92: Clinton, democratic. ’92: Nafta. ’99: Nato bombardment Yugoslavia in response to Serb violence against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. 2000: Bush Jr. ’01: 9/11, excuse for War on Terror. Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Against Taliban. ’02: Department of Homeland Security. ’05: Hurricane Katrina. ’08: Democratic Obama, 1st black president. ’09: 1st Tea Party rally = protest against bailing out banks and introduce healthcare reform. ’11: Presumed Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden killed. ’13: Snowden flees to Russia after leaking info on extensive internet and telephone surveillance by US. ’14: Diplomatic relations with Cuba. ’16: Trump. ’17: Trump restricts visas for Muslim-majority countries. Recognises Jerusalem as capital of Israel & sovereignty over Golan Heights. ’18: Trump meets Kim Jong-un (North Korea). New Trade deal with Canada & Mexico. ’19: Withdrawing troops from northern Syria. Turkey occupy Kurdish-run parts, create buffer zone. Trump impeached by House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. ’20: Covid-19 pandemic. Nationwide protests about killing of African-American George Floyd. ’21: Biden. ’25: Trump again.
Budget Bites
- Main Supermarket Chains (Washington): Trader Joe’s, Safeway, Wholefoods, Metropolitan Market, Target, Albertsons, Walmart.
- Local Dishes (national): Hamburger, Hot Dogs, Buffalo Wings, BBQ Ribs, Roasted Turkey, Mac & Cheese, Meat Loaf, Sweet Potato Casserole, Fried Okra, Cobb Salad (avocado, chicken, hardboiled egg), Tex-Mex, Crab Cake, Corndogs, Clam Chowder, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Crayfish, General Tso Chicken, Chicago-Style Pizza, Chicken & Waffles, Biscuits and Gravy, Mission Burrito, Cheesesteak, Cornbread, Peanutbutter & Jelly Sandwich, Club Sandwich, Frybread, Po Boy (sandwich), Reuben Sandwich, Sloppy Joe, American Pancakes, Breakfast Burrito, Monterey Jack Cheese, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Brownies, Fudge, Jell-O, S’mores, Donuts, Hushpuppies.
- The Veg Situation: Going veg is not so complicated in the United States, as vegetarianism and veganism is widely accepted. Most supermarkets contain veg products, be it very processed at times. Veg restaurants can be found here: https://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/
- National Drink: Coca Cola.
Sleep Cheap
Mama Said
- Hostels / Hotels / Guesthouses: You probably knew already, before even booking your trip, that visiting the USA isn’t cheap. This goes for accommodation as well. Without being paid to say so, I love Booking.com: They have the biggest selection, are transparent about the final price and have an efficient search engine tailored to your specific needs (cheapest first!). If you use it often enough, Genius-discounts are applied. Air BnB is not what it used to be, price-wise, often displaying even higher rates than hotels. Be mindful of the additional booking and cleaning costs as well, as they can really add up. Writer’s Choice: I spent several visits and at least 2 months in Seattle, where I stayed with my partner who worked there as well as at various housesits. I also did a housesit on Whidbey Island. On the PCT I camped out each night, which is also the only option.
- Couchsurfing: allows you to stay with locals. Nowadays it has a moderate sign-up cost (unless you put a third-world country as homebase), but paying extra for verification is unnecessary: Positive reviews are way more important. Once active, there are no costs for staying at someone’s house. In order to get accepted, make sure to write an elaborate review explaining why you applied to this specific profile and think you and your host are a good match (copy-pastes tend to be ignored). The Couchsurfing community in the US definitely is a rather active one, incl. events organized in most of the cities. If you’re bikepacking you can also look into Warm Showers, which is a bikepacking community focussing primarily on 1-night stays.
- Wild Camping: is officially legal in the US on public lands and in national forests, grasslands and wildlife management areas. In national and provincial parks as well as in the backcountry camping is only allowed with a permit, sometimes for a fee.
Mama Said
- Safety: Overall, the United States is a safe country. Yet, all cities deal with a major drug addiction and homelessness problem, which can bring safety in jeopardy. Also, with guns legal to all, gun violence is always around the corner. Don’t trespass, interact with caution and like everywhere else in the world, go around using common sense.
- Tap Water: is safe to drink.
- The best credit/debit card for traveling is Wise, as they use the live conversion rates with minimal exchange fees. Wise also has the lowest fees for sending money to foreign accounts. That said, I do find their customer service rather questionable. Revolut is comparable, but they have higher exchange fees in the weekend and less wallet-options. Also, you can only wire money to Revolut in the currency you opened the account with, whereas Wise has IBAN’s from a wide variety of currencies, so you don’t have to pay a double exchange fee. Both Revolut and Wise have the option to open an American Dollar wallet. Most American ATMs charge a fee for cash outs, but card payments are accepted everywhere.
- Simcard: This can be of considerate cost in the United States. However, lately the market is opening up with more budget players entering the scene. During my 5-month visit, I order a Mint Mobile simcard, which has great coverage and offers low cost packages with particularly economical deals to new members. Other budget operators are Boost Mobile, Lyca, Mobile X, Ultra Mobile, Visible, Cricket, Metro and Tracfone. The main providers are AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Transport
Next?
- Walking: The bigger American cities are quite spread out and designed for car traffic. Walking is generally a feasible option per neighbourhood, but might be too much of an effort on a city-wide level.
- Cycling: The United States does not have a cycling culture whatsoever. However, recently many cities are making an effort to promote this green way of transport by building cycle lanes and creating shared-bike-programs.
- Public Transport: Within the bigger cities, public transport is usually widely available. Expect an extensive bus network, potentially including a metro, tram or light rail network. On the coast, ferries are generally included in the public transit system. Day passes offer affordable deals within the city limits. To get from city to city, public transportation options are limited to bus lines and certain train connections. Smaller towns and villages are harder to reach.
- Taxi / Uber: The US has taxi apps such as Uber, Lyft and Easy Taxi.
- Train: The train network in the United States is limited. Trajectories are operated by Amtrak, BNSF Railway, Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The cities on the east- and west-coast are well-connected, but land inwards only certain routes are available. Find an overview on this map.
- Car Rental: This is not a cheap option in the US. However, the best deals can generally be found when the car is picked up from an airport or… from Las Vegas.
- Hitchhiking: is uncommon in the US, but certainly possible. Americans tend to be sceptical and scared in this regards, so it’s definitely not always easy to be picked up, yet I managed to get a ride on all the occasions when I tried to do so. Be aware that on some highway entries and around correctional facilities there are signs stating that hitchhiking is prohibited. More info on hitchhiking in the USA can be found on Hitchwiki.
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