Off to the USA on Friday for 5 weeks

<p>Thanks to all of the wonderful images posted of some of the landmark images of the USA.It is because of this site that ibecame familiar with a lot of them. And subsequently planned this trip. I guess it goes to show how web sites even when they are comunal in nature value add to our economies with regard to tourism etc. Really looking forward to it, looking forward to meeting the locals and photographing a new visualexperience.</p>

<p>I do envy you. I used to live there but sadly I never traveled around much. From what photographs I've seen (a lot!) the USA is a visually rich place. Yes there are cliches but there are hidden gems - probably an infinite number of them!</p>

<p>Keep us updated!</p>

<p>An advance welcome to you, Richard. Enjoy your visit. Hope you'll post a few images, as it's always interesting to see the familiar through unfamiliar eyes. Have fun!</p>

<p>Richard, I second Matt's welcome. If you let us know what areas you'll be visiting, I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions about where to go and what to see. Which, of course, you're free to ignore... ;-)</p>

<p>Cool! I hope you have a wonderful vacation here! In addition to taking in some of our extremely diverse photographic opportunities, don't neglect to avail yourself of our diverse gastronomic opportunities. My favorites are Cajun food (Louisiana) and the numerous varieties of BBQ (particularly Texas BBQ).</p>

<p>I look forward to seeing what photographs you carry away.</p>

<p>If you can get to Yellowstone or Yosemite I can't recommend them highly enough, what a shame I wasn't a photographer when I visited those parks on my travels around America, Yellowstone really is jaw dropping, I will go back one day.</p>

<p>So, you'll be the guy with the camera hanging around your neck?</p>

<p>Welcome!</p>

<p>Thanks for the welcome in advance, freinds who have been have told me how friendly you lot are. going to - Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Antelop Canyony (page) Zion NP, Portland, Canon Beach, Alaska, Yosimite, San Francisco.<br>

Will have to do Yllowstone next time.<br>

And yes, there is a fair chance I will be the guy with a camera roundmy neck, most likely ill be the guy with the black one.</p>

<p>I take it you are an Aussie? Have fun on your visit!</p>

<p>The coastal highway -- both north and south of San Francsicoi is an AMAZING viewing and photographic locale. That is PCH (Pacific Coast Highway -- AKA Hwy 1)</p>

<p>I prefer Hwy 1 north of S.F. --- from Marin County up to Mendocino County. Insanely gorgeous landscapes. Maybe see some Redwoods too in the numerous parks of Sonoma, Marin, & Mendocino counties.</p>

<p>Thanks Ken, Yes i willbe seeing the Redwoods in Muir State forrest?is that what its called.<br>

I have a lot of Old Friends in the US that I will be catching up with,(I went to an American School in BA) So that will be great. One of them is a Keen Photographer, We will spend 8 Daysin the RV around Utah So that should be GREAT.</p>

<p>Richard:</p>

<p>I just got back from Page.</p>

<p>Upper Antelope Canyon is quite crowded, but that's where you get the beam of light shots if you go around midday. I went on a regular tour instead of the double-priced photographer's tour. I paused to take this shot, and a guide actually started pushing me to move along. Meanwhile, on the photo tour, they worked to make sure people weren't coming into long exposure shots on tripods. It's all about the revenue for them. I was shooting hand held with higher ISOs. I think putting a hand on me was excessively rude of the guide. It's a beautiful location, but it's packed with people, and customer service isn't their top priority. The story might have been different if I had paid $80 for a single tour instead of $60 for my 10-year old daughter and myself.</p>

<p><a href="http://canid.com/arizona/120402_upper_antelope_canyon_030b.html">http://canid.com/arizona/120402_upper_antelope_canyon_030b.html</a></p>

<p>At the Grand Canyon, you're just a couple hours away from Sedona. Beautiful country, and wonderful people. In contrast to the guide story above, I went on a Pink Jeep tour, and had the luck of getting a fantastic driver. She actually took time at the end of the scheduled tour to take us by another spot she thought I might find photogenic. She was willing to stop at any (safe) time for me to take photos. Needless to say, she earned a nice tip. :)</p>

<p>Based on my experience with the guide at Antelope, I won't be going back there. I'd love to go back to Sedona, though.</p>

<p>Eric</p>

<p>Eric, I have heard about the crowds at Antelope, Sounds like they are just rushing to many through instead of Allowing people to enjoy it by staggering the times more. In the end with bad press and feedback to people they will loose out in the end. Unfortunately I wont have time to go to Sedona, But thanks anyways.</p>

<p>ye enjoy your trip. You will have time to look around.<br>

as far as food is concerned, America is not really a Melting Pot. it is sometimes like a tossed salad.<br>

each ethnic group has it's own kind of food, and try to preserve and encourage that style<br>

so it can be a "gastonomic" adventure.<br>

i am sure there are things like that in OZ.<br>

Spring is a great time. summer has not burned out the leaves.<br>

it will be hard to find B&W or slide film or anything except 35mm color negative, except in large cities. film processing is cheap wal-mart uses send out to fuji and dwaynes and a 24 exp costs $7.00. </p>

<p>Thanks Walter, The one thing that scares me is the size of the portions they serve, (from what i have seen anyhow) I don't eat much so maybe my wife and I will share. Australia has Excellent food choice. I am keen to try real american style food. I have heard that Spring is great. I have been monitoring the weather patterns and Death Valley has been around 34-37 degrees C looks like the day we arrive they are forecasting rain and snow and possible thunder storms, So that is pretty exciting, Bad weather good photography.</p>

<p>I hope that you enjoy your trip here. Most Americans are friendly. Sorry you're not coming to NY. If you ever do, I'll be happy to give you some places not to miss.</p>

<p>Richard, its official names is Muir Woods National Monument. Saturday and Sunday it gets a lot of people -- any other day is best unless you get there before 10AM on the weekends.<br>

My guess is that more than 90% of the people in the world who see their only redwood ever see those trees at Muir Woods. Cheers!</p>

 

<p>Thanks Mark and Ken</p>

<p>+1 for Ken's recommendation of the Pacific Coast Highway. (I assume you'll have a rental car.) I think there is a concensus here that the PCH is America's prettiest and most dramatic drive. Many of us argue about second and third place (I would pitch a case for Hocking Hills, Ohio and various drives in Virginia), but I think first place definitely goes to the PCH. Take the drive south from San Francisco, past Carmel and Monterrey (the general area where the PCH is the most dramatic). Take a picnic lunch, and eat it at one of the pull-overs. You might see some whales pass by as you're munching your sandwich. Also somewhere along that stretch is a wildlife preserve for elephant seals. It's quite a lot of fun.</p>

<p>PS Take turns in the driver's seat. You should probably drive on the way out, so your wife can enjoy gazing over the cliffs. And then you can ride in left rear seat on the way back, photographing the dramatic views as they crumble to ruin behind you. :-P The pulloffs are quite well situated for photography, BTW. Bring a tripod and some telephoto glass.</p>

<p>Finally, I remember there is not a bad restaurant to be found anywhere in the city of San Francisco, provided you avoid the high-tourism areas (e.g. Fisherman's Wharf).</p>

<p>It is indeed call Muir Woods, just a bit north of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.</p>

<p>If you are going to the Pacific-Coast Highway (Highway 1), it is better to drive from north to south (San Francisco to Los Angeles) since in the US, we drive on the right side of the road so that you can just pull over to the scenic view points along the coast. If you drive from south to north, every time you get in and out of those scenic areas, you need to cross in-coming traffic. I have done that both ways, and from south to north is a bit of a pain and you need to be extra careful.</p>

<p>Another thing to keep in mind is that Bryce Canyon in Utah is at high elevation, around 8000 feet. Back in 1999, we went there in mid May and they were just opened for the first day that year. If you go there in April, it could still be frozen in snow. I would check conditions before you go to Bryce; same for the Grand Canyon North Rim. The South Rim is open year round.</p>

<p>There is certainly no shortage of fantastic places to visit in the States, as I see you're already aware of. But if you're going to be in an RV in Utah, if you get a chance you should check out the White Pocket area and N. Coyote Buttes of Arizona. There is really nothing quite like them, although they are not in the mainstream tourist books as destinations. There is one photographer whose name comes to mind here on PN.....he loves that area and has some great shots of it. Wanghan Li....http://www.photo.net/photos/W-J-Li<br>

Go to his website and scroll down to his 2 folders on White Pocket and Coyote Buttes. Have a great trip, and please post your impressions as well as your photographs when you return. Just another word of caution. In the tourist places, take the signs seriously about not leaving valuables in your car. We've learned the hard way! :-)</p>

Sarah, we won't have time to go the pacific coast highway north of San Francisco. But we are hoping to be able to go

south on the last leg of our journey. I have been in contact with a friend in LA and he suggested to me the train south

might be a good option, some feedback on that would be great.

Shun, when we travel in the RV, we will be with another friend, she lives in new Mexico , she is keeping an eye on the

weather for us. We know we won't be able to go to the north rim, we have checked and it will be closed. We have

booked to stay in the RV park in Bryce, I actually hope there may be some snow.

Christen, I am very familiar with Wanghans work, it has inspired me to go to some of these places. He has given me

some advice on some of these locations. Since we will be traveling in an RV it will be impossible not to leave

valuables in the vehicle, any recommendations?.

Finally driving on the wrong side of the road is going to be a bit tricky. 1 MORE SLEEP.

<p>While portions of the train ride south from the Bay Area to L.A. are spectacular, the drive allows you to stop and enjoy as you feel moved. You may find that Southern California reminds you some of Australia. Weather similarities, eucalyptus trees, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about leaving things in an RV. If you meet up early with friends, they might be able to come up with a lockbox of some sort. I don't recall a lot of discussion of break-ins at most popular big parks, etc., although there are some spots where people are advised to lock valuables up, not leave them visible in vehicles. </p>

<p>I've tent camped and tent trailered around Southern California and the west and never worried too much about it. I do keep things locked up and out of sight. When doing re-enacting we were more cautious and usually kept someone in camp due to the value of some of the props, uniforms, firearms, etc. People in campgrounds are usually very friendly and willing to help with suggestions, driving route tips, local attractions and the like. There will be no shortage of other international tourists either.</p>

<p>I didn't mean to unduly worry you about car break-ins. That could happen anywhere, of course, but if you're careful not to leave things out in plain view, you should be fine. Better still, keep your valuables in the RV. We also have an RV, and somehow I think it's not as likely to be broken into. Glad to hear you've been in touch with Wanghan...he seems very generous about offering suggestions. I can't help you with any suggestions for driving on the wrong side of the road though. :-) Good luck with that!</p>

No more sleeps, off we go. Thanks for all the advice everyone!