15-Day City Experience Round Trip in the US

  • Day 1: Santa Monica Pier
    10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Downtown Santa Monica

    The Santa Monica Pier is a landmark and popular attraction located in Santa Monica. It's known for its amusement park, beautiful beach, and various attractions for tourists and locals to enjoy.

  • Day 2: Griffith Observatory
    12 minutes (5.3 miles) from Santa Monica Pier

    Offering breathtaking views of the city, the Griffith Observatory is a public observatory with high-powered telescopes, planetarium shows, and exhibits on space and science.

  • Day 3: The Getty Center
    15 minutes (6.4 miles) from Griffith Observatory

    The Getty Center is a museum showcasing impressive works of art, architecture, and gardens. Visitors can enjoy guided tours or explore the galleries and exhibitions on their own.

  • Day 4: Golden Gate Park
    1 hour 20 minutes (390 miles) from The Getty Center

    A beautiful urban park in the heart of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is a perfect destination for nature lovers. It features gardens, museums, lakes, trails, and numerous activities, including a Japanese Tea Garden and a bison paddock.

  • Day 5: Golden Gate Bridge
    15 minutes (5.9 miles) from Golden Gate Park

    The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate Strait, connecting San Francisco to Marin County. Visitors can walk, cycle, or drive across the bridge and enjoy stunning views of the bay and the skyline.

  • Day 6: Alcatraz Island
    30 minutes (5.5 miles) from Golden Gate Bridge

    Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island once housed a famous federal prison that was home to notorious criminals such as Al Capone and Robert Stroud. Visitors can explore the island and tour the prison, which is now a National Historic Landmark.

  • Day 7: Pike Place Market
    1 hour 30 minutes (808 miles) from Alcatraz Island

    A Seattle landmark since 1907, Pike Place Market is a bustling public market featuring fresh seafood, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, flowers, and crafts from local merchants. Visitors can also enjoy street music, magic shows, and a peek at the famous fish throwers.

  • Day 8: Space Needle
    6 minutes (1.5 miles) from Pike Place Market

    An iconic symbol of Seattle, the Space Needle is a futuristic observation tower with a rotating restaurant and stunning views of the city and surrounding mountains. Visitors can also explore the nearby Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit or visit the Pacific Science Center.

  • Day 9: OMSI - Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
    2 hours 50 minutes (175 miles) from Space Needle

    The OMSI is a large science and technology museum in Portland, featuring hands-on exhibits, interactive demonstrations, a planetarium, a submarine tour, and an IMAX theater. Visitors can also explore the nearby Tom McCall Waterfront Park or the Portland Art Museum.

  • Day 10: Powell's City of Books
    10 minutes (2.4 miles) from OMSI

    Located in Portland, the Powell's City of Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world, offering a vast selection of new and used books, rare editions, and gifts. Visitors can explore the different rooms and sections of the store, attend book signings and author readings, or have a cup of coffee in the adjoining café.

  • Day 11: Pike's Peak
    17 hours (1,141 miles) from Powell's City of Books

    The famous Pike's Peak is a mountain peak in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado that offers scenic drives, hiking trails, and recreational activities year-round. Visitors can also explore the nearby Garden of the Gods, a public park with unique red rock formations.

  • Day 12: American Museum of Natural History
    2 hours 40 minutes (152 miles) from Pike's Peak

    Located in New York City, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most famous natural history museums in the world, featuring exhibits on anthropology, astronomy, biology, geology, and paleontology. Visitors can also enjoy special shows, movies, and educational programs.

  • Day 13: Central Park
    10 minutes (2.5 miles) from American Museum of Natural History

    Located in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is a large urban park with lakes, gardens, walking paths, and recreational areas. Visitors can rent a bike, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, attend a concert or a theater performance, or simply enjoy the nature and the cityscape.

  • Day 14: Times Square
    10 minutes (1.7 miles) from Central Park

    An iconic commercial and entertainment hub of New York City, Times Square is a vibrant and colorful destination that attracts millions of tourists every year. Visitors can explore the shops, restaurants, theaters, and attractions, such as the Broadway shows, the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, or the Ripley's Believe It or Not Exhibition.

  • Day 15: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
    30 minutes (5.5 miles) from Times Square

    A symbol of freedom and democracy, the Statue of Liberty is a world-famous sculpture that stands on Liberty Island, facing the New York Harbor. Visitors can take a ferry ride, climb up to the crown, or visit the nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum, which tells the story of the millions of immigrants who passed through the island on their way to America.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Santa Monica Pier (2-4 hours, free)
  • Griffith Observatory (2-3 hours, free)
  • The Getty Center (3-4 hours, free)
  • Golden Gate Park (2-5 hours, free)
  • Golden Gate Bridge (1-2 hours, free)
  • Alcatraz Island (2-3 hours, $44.25-48.30)
  • Pike Place Market (1-2 hours, free)
  • Space Needle (1-2 hours, $32-39)
  • OMSI - Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (3-4 hours, $16-19.75)
  • Powell's City of Books (2-3 hours, free)
  • Pike's Peak (4-6 hours, $15-50)
  • American Museum of Natural History (2-4 hours, $13-28)
  • Central Park (1-3 hours, free)
  • Times Square (2-4 hours, free)
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (3-5 hours, $25-50)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $131.25 - $264.30

Transportation

During the trip, travelers will need to consider several modes of transportation, including rental cars, public transportation, taxis, ferries, and walking. Costs and travel time vary depending on the destination and the season. It is recommended to book transportation in advance and to research travel options and routes before starting the trip.

Useful Tips

If travelers have more time, they can add additional destinations, such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Miami Beach, or Las Vegas. If they have less time, they can shorten their stay in some destinations, such as Portland, Seattle, or San Francisco, or combine some neighboring attractions, such as Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate Bridge, or Pike Place Market and Space Needle. It is also recommended to check the weather conditions and the opening hours for each destination, as some attractions may be closed due to maintenance or holidays.

Airports

The United States has several major international airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Seattle, Portland International Airport (PDX) in Portland, and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City. LAX is located 16 miles from Downtown LA, SFO is located 13 miles from Downtown SF, SEA is located 14 miles from Downtown Seattle, PDX is located 9 miles from Downtown Portland, JFK is located 16 miles from Midtown Manhattan, and LGA is located 7 miles from Midtown Manhattan.

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