Travel and Vacations

Western Us Travel Tips

Story Published on December 5, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Are you taking a holiday in the Western US this year? Maybe you are looking for cheap travel by staying in your own region? Most Americans do their holiday travel in in their own country, and the West is no exception. All over the region, there are undiscovered gems waiting for you to come visit them. Perhaps one of these tips will be your next destination?

Travel Tip number one: Washington state is a fantastic tourist area. Its natural and outdoor sights rival the best in the world, and can be surprisingly exotic to Americans from other parts of the country. Discover the otherworldly beauty of Rattlesnake Mountain or Cape Alava, just two among the hundreds of picturesque spots in the state. Hiking or bicycle trails will take you to many of them if you enjoy outdoor activities, but there are also tours and cruises for the less athletic. If you’re more of a big city person, Seattle is a vibrant and interesting place to spend a couple of days of your holiday.

Travel Tip number two: Nevada has more than casinos. Outside Las Vegas, the Silver State offers world class skiing in the Lake Tahoe area. Snowmobiling, golf, hiking and biking are also among the available activities. And if you used to dream of being a cowboy, the northern area of the state is home to ranchers and cowboys as rugged as the place they inhabit. Further south in the desolate Nevada desert is Pony Express country. You can take a drive along Highway 50, known as the loneliest road in America, and imagine yourself on the legendary Wild West mail route.

Travel Tip number three: Water sports in Arizona. The deserts state isn’t immediately associated with water and boating, but it does have lakes, and some of them are a paradise for boating and water activities. The best one might just be Lake Pleasant, just thirty miles north of Phoenix. It offers excellent water skiing, sailing, jet skiing and fishing. Fifty miles of shoreline and crystal clear water makes it a great stop on your holiday.

Tip number four: Culture in Salt Lake City. Who would have thought it? The Utah capital has a ballet company, Ballet West, an opera company, a symphony orchestra and several excellent theaters. Outside of these classical art and culture attraction, Salt Lake City offers interesting local color. The Mormon capital is genuinely different, a unique character among US cities. It is very American, but at the same time feels foreign to visitors from other areas.

Great travel destination five: Have you ever been to Yosemite? Everyone’s heard of it, so itas time to finally make the trip. In contrast to the parts of California that are more well known and highly overcrowded, this national park is quite soothing and refreshing with its beautiful redwoods and scenic mountains. There is also the scenic drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to look forward to, with historic sites from Monterey’s Cannery Row to Lone Cyprus to the Carmel Mission that’s over 200 years old.

Great travel destination six: Portland, Oregon is another gem you might have missed. Their urban area is quite different from most big cities. It offers large open spaces, a multitude of sparks, and a growing arts presence. You will be impressed with this easy going, livable city that’s really very vibrant yet serene.

It doesn’t matter what type of vacation you’re looking for, the Western United States has what you need. These ideas will get you started, but don’t limit yourself. Go exploring and find your own special paradise. Be safe, and have a great vacation!

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