Long term planning: USA Road Trip, 2015

[Barrister]

And Yuros always talk like selling a car is a snap.  Unless you dump it at a dealer for half of what you paid you're going to have to put an ad in the paper (or online) and wait a couple weeks for people to respond.

I suggested buying a car, but Yi's advice is completely true.  You'd be looking at selling it for a lot less then it's worth on the other end.  But if the car was affordable in the first place that might not be a bad thing.

[Jaron]

I don't think looking at trees and mountains out the car window is going to be a big hit with kids.

[The Larch]

And Yuros always talk like selling a car is a snap.  Unless you dump it at a dealer for half of what you paid you're going to have to put an ad in the paper (or online) and wait a couple weeks for people to respond.

I suggested buying a car, but Yi's advice is completely true.  You'd be looking at selling it for a lot less then it's worth on the other end.  But if the car was affordable in the first place that might not be a bad thing.

And you're going to put a helluva lot of miles on it...

[Jaron]

Sell it to the mafia to use for a car bomb.

[Razgovory]

Or just buy an anatomy display put it the trunk and dump it in the woods.

[MadBurgerMaker]

How much do long term car rentals cost anyway?  Surely you can rent one for less than you would pay for a non total piece of shit (and rental cars are generally at least late-ish models).  Also, I guess depending on the state, you might have to insure the thing at least minimally.  And what happens when the cheap shitbox car breaks down because he's putting a zillion miles on it and it was barely hanging on to begin with?  The big car rental places have roadside assistance.

Oh and it's going to be hotter than hell in Texas/the Southwest when you're passing through (summer lasts a long time here), so make sure the a/c works on whatever you're driving.  Actually, it's pretty toasty all over the South.

[DisturbedPervert]

Yosemite is very overrated in my opinion.  It's ridiculously over crowded and the area you can actually visit without a multiday hiking trip is very small.  Yellowstone is superior in every way.  In California I'd go to Sequoia, Redwoods, or Lassen over Yosemite any day.

[Barrister]

Just for kicks, went to a random car rental company.  Renting an intermediate car, pickup from JFK July 1st, return at LAX August 31st, total cost is $3600USD, plus $750 one-way fee.

[Admiral Yi]

Which company?  I always rented from Dollar.

[alfred russel]

Ok, so the kids are becoming annoying in their "will you take us to Disneyland puhlease? and will you take us to see the redwoods, and the Grand Canyon? and New York City?", and I've decided the following:

In summer 2015 I'll take a two months leave (and a half-lifetime of savings  ) and bring them to the USA for a big road trip.

Why 2015? Because the youngest will be 6 1/2 years old, and will enjoy the trip instead of being trolleyed around; and the oldest will be 12, and hopefully she won't yet be all adulescent and emo and will enjoy the trip, too. I hope.

Two months would be enough time to wander through the country (and perhaps take a stray tour towards Canada or Mexico), and I'm looking for suggestions about almost everything: places to visit, modes of transportation, hidden gems, Languishite caves, everything you've visited, or would love to visit in the whole continent.

Remember: it will be a family trip, so places like Las Vegas (except for the exterior of the crazy casinos), or that strip club with the hottest dancers in town, will be forbidden 

And yes, this comes up in April 2010 because it's a slow day at work 

A very first draft of notable places I'd love to visit:
Yosemite National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon
New York City
Niagara Falls
Chicago
San Francisco
Disneyland (California)
the Great Salt Lake
Volcano National Park, Hawaii
Boston
Grand Tetons Nat'l Park
Some scenic road in the Rockies or everywhere else
Texas
The Great Vagina Wall
Cal's Burner (it's said it can roast a whole beef in a couple hours)
New Orleans, Charleston
do some whalewatching, in either of the oceans
redwoods
highway to Alaska (short detour to Whitehorse) (Barrister)
Florida (theme parks, snorkeling in the Keys, gators) (Zanza)
Rochester, NY (Berkut)
Disneyland Paris (the Larch  )
L.

Edit: updated with suggestions

I love the idea--but this is too much driving, even over 2 months. If you are basically circling the country, and hitting points in the center as well, you may end up driving well over10,000 miles. Even if you did a simple trip of Key West-->New Orleans-->California-->Boston-->Charleston it would be over 8,000 miles according to yahoo maps. Whitehorse, or even Alaska, would add several thousand miles. My suggestion is to divide the US into 4, and eliminate one corner for visits. Also give up on driving to Alaska/Canada. If you don't do that the driving will be too much.

NYC is fantastic. A must see on a trip to America. Scratch Chicago and strongly consider scratching San Fransisco--both are great cities, but neither is especially interesting from a tourist perspective (two very good reasons to vacation in SF--the vibrant gay community and wine tasting in Napa Valley, but neither will probably appeal to you on a family vacation).

Yellowstone is the best of the national parks, imo. The Grand Canyon was disappointing--while it is great, at the end of the day it is a canyon in the desert. I don't think I wasted time going to see it, but it wouldn't be on my must see list. Yellowstone with its geysers, scenery, and bison herds is the best.

Washington DC is a must see, and Gettysburg is the place to go for any American battlefield. The Keys are the best place for the sea/snorkeling/fishing.

[Barrister]

Avis.  I'm sure you can find cheaper, but it gives you a basic idea.

[Barrister]

highway to Alaska (short detour to Whitehorse) (Barrister)

Edit: updated with suggestions

Oh, because I didn't realize you'd updated your list.

The good news is that no detour is needed.  My house practically backs onto the Highway. 

And you can fit in your whalewatching once you arrive in Alaska.

[Admiral Yi]

Italians are little people.  He doesn't need an intermediate.

[Barrister]

Italians are little people.  He doesn't need an intermediate.

He's save $100 by going with a compact (Cobalt), or $200 with a subcompact (Aveo).  Any of which might be tough for Pedrito after driving his 5-series back home...

[DisturbedPervert]

I suggest taking the ferry from Washington to Alaska instead of driving. It's tons of fun and you'll get your whale watching in too.