If you are looking to plan a trip to the US, it is a wonderland of great deals and amazing family adventures. There is something for everyone and every kind of traveler or vacationer. Though some might be tempted to try to tour the whole country in one trip, that is often impractical and you will have more fun and a better adventure if you decide to target a or state instead. Visiting one of the coasts, the West Coast or East Coast will provide you with enough to do and see that you could even fill a six-week vacation with nonstop travel delights and still have plenty more to see and do.

Eastern United States

Each side of the United States has its own set of attractions that would fit any kind of budget. On the East coast, you can plan a trip which includes visits to monuments and locations of historical importance to American History like the Washington DC. You have historic sites and artifacts relating to the revolutionary war, the establishment of the United States government, the Civil War and the more recent historical events of the Twin Towers. Though you can pay for tours and access to a number of museums and places of historical importance, you will also find a number of free activities and attractions including Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.

You can also visit New York, a world-class international city that has both historical importance and is filled with options for entertainment including Broadway. Going farther south in the Eastern United States you have Florida where you can soak up the sunshine and enjoy some of the world’s best amusement parks. If you need ideas to help you start planning here are some of the best vacation areas in the Eastern US.

• Washington DC- historical sites, museums, educational opportunities
• New York City – the entertainment capital, museums, luxury hotels, state parks, food trucks
• Virginia – important civil war and other historic sites, Blue Ridge Mountains, hiking, fly fishing, camping
• Florida – sunshine, Disney, Universal Studios, Lego Land, Sea World, Miami nightlife, the Everglades, beaches, Sanibel and Captiva islands,
• New Jersey – Jersey Shore, Atlantic City
• Tennessee – Smokey mountains, Distillery tours, hiking, rafting, skiing, and snowboarding

Western United States

The West Coast of the United States is just as amazing but considered to be a bit younger since most of the Western United States wasn’t settled until the 19^th century. There are fewer historical attractions, but it is still packed with adventures. In Seattle, you have world-famous attractions like the Pike Place Market and the Seattle Center. If you happen to visit at the right time of the year Seattle is also a place where you can find amazing festivals and events. You can also check out farm and wine country in Eastern Washing State or start traveling down the Western US into California where you can find wine tours, camping as well as cultural and social centers like San Francisco.

Further south you have Disneyland and Hollywood, the western entertainment capital of the US. There are mountains, deserts, ocean and just about every climate imaginable all on the West Coast. In addition, you have natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and the Redwood Forest. Ideas for trips to the western United States include:

• Washington – City life in Seattle, camping, hiking, rafting, skiing, mountain climbing, wine tours
• California – Redwood Forest, San Francisco, Hollywood, Disney Land, Universal Studios, camping, hiking, wine country, San Diego, Los Angeles
• Nevada – Death Valley, Las Vegas
• Arizona – Grand Canyon, Cathedral Rock, Native American History

For international travelers, before you book your tickets to start your family adventures in the US, you do want to make sure you have all of the travel documents you will need, including ESTA. Who needs ESTA? If you live in a country where the US allows a Visa waiver for travel you will need to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization or ESTA to apply for entry into the United States. This is an online application process and you do not need to visit the embassy or consulate to get travel documents.

If you are planning in staying in the US for more than 90 days or have ever been denied entry you will still need to get a Visa, but for many people using the ESTA system has simplified travel to the US. If you do not qualify for the Visa waiver program, you will not be able to use ESTA and will need a Visa. You should also not use the ESTA system if you already have a Visa.

Once you take care of your travel documentation then the planning can begin. Though we have talked about the Western and Eastern US, there is the whole middle of the United States, including Texas. One thing to keep in mind is that the US is a much bigger place than you might imagine. If you are looking for unique experiences you might want to look at renting a motorhome, the cost of that rental is often less than paying for hotels and other accommodations and gives you transportation that will allow you to see and do more than you might be able to with a traditional vacation. Because of the size of the US, there is a lot of infrastructures that makes traveling by motorhome easy and affordable and it is a unique way to experience the country.

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