United States of America (USA)
Area: 9,826,630 sq km
Population: 305,603,000
Population density: 31 per sq km
Capital: Washington DC
Area: 9,826,630 sq km
Population: 305,603,000
Population density: 31 per sq km
Capital: Washington DC
USA country information
Passport & visa | Getting there | Cycling & maps | Cost of living | Accommodation | Food | Bike shops | Climate | Distances
Passport & Visa
| Passport Required? | |
|---|---|
| British | Yes |
| Australian | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes |
| USA | N/A |
| Other EU | Yes |
| Visa Required? | |
| British | No/2 |
| Australian | No |
| Canadian | No |
| USA | N/A |
| Other EU | 1 |
Passports
Valid passport required
by all nationals referred to in the chart above;
validity varies - for most countries the passport
must be valid for at least six months from the
date on which the holder enters the USA. If
not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration
date on the passport; check with the embassy.
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included
in the Visa Waiver Program (see Visas),
passports must be valid for at least 90 days
from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) As of 12 January 2009, all travellers visiting the US under the Visa Waiver Programme are to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel. For more information, please see below.
(d) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI): All persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea were introduced on 1 June 2009.
For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html ).
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) As of 12 January 2009, all travellers visiting the US under the Visa Waiver Programme are to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel. For more information, please see below.
(d) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI): All persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea were introduced on 1 June 2009.
For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html ).
Visas
Not required by nationals
referred to in the chart above for stays of
up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania, who do require a visa as they are not included in the Visa Waiver Program.
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania, who do require a visa as they are not included in the Visa Waiver Program.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of
Canada and British residents of Bermuda who
are citizens of, and have valid passports from,
Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not
eligible to enter the USA without a visa.
(b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
(c) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. They must also obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). See below for more information.
(d) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft.
(e) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel.
(f) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder's passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality.
(g) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov . The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.
(b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
(c) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. They must also obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). See below for more information.
(d) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft.
(e) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel.
(f) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder's passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality.
(g) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov . The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business,
Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel
to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas
are valid for multiple entries. The length of
stay in the USA is determined by US immigration
officials at the time of entry but is generally
six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate.
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview.
Some cases may take up to 12 weeks - check
with embassy/consulate.
Hassle
free return to the USA?
It is paramount that you hand in your I-94 Arrival-Departure
Card, usually stapled to a page in your passport,
when you leave the country. While this might sound
like a simple procedure, at many of the Mexican
border towns it is unclear just where you should
perform this duty. Quite often, you’ll find
yourself off American soil, smelling the barbeque
chicken and preparing yourself for the entourage
of taxi touts, when you realise you are still
in possession of this official piece of paper.
If in doubt, ask one of the immigration authorities
to point you in the right direction. Sometimes
handing it in through the wired gate is sufficient
to get it into the right hands.
For those of you passing through Canada between
Alaska and Seattle, it may not be necessary to part
with your I-94 card, but to be on the safe side
check all your documents with officials before leaving.
Getting there
Getting There by Air
The principal US airlines
operating international services are: American
Airlines (AA) (website:
www.aa.com
), Continental Airlines (website:
www.continental.com
), Delta Air (website:
www.delta.com
), Northwest Airlines (website:
www.nwa.com
) and United Airlines (website:
www.ual.com
).
Approximate Flight Times
From London
to Miami is 9 hours 45 minutes, to New York is
7 hours 30 minutes, to San Francisco is 11 hours,
to Seattle is 9 hours 45 minutes and to Washington
DC is 8 hours (all times are by non-stop flight).
Note: Return flights to Europe from the east coast of the USA take approximately 30 to 40 minutes less than outward westbound flights, and from the west coast of the USA approximately 60 minutes less. Visitors arriving in the USA via international airports may be subject to serious delays. A stringent security system, which requires all visitors with visas to be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry, was put into operation in 2004, as part of US anti-terrorism measures. Experts warn that this heightened state of alert will prevail for some years.
Note: Return flights to Europe from the east coast of the USA take approximately 30 to 40 minutes less than outward westbound flights, and from the west coast of the USA approximately 60 minutes less. Visitors arriving in the USA via international airports may be subject to serious delays. A stringent security system, which requires all visitors with visas to be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry, was put into operation in 2004, as part of US anti-terrorism measures. Experts warn that this heightened state of alert will prevail for some years.
Main Airports
The busiest
airports in the USA include Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International (ATL) (website:
www.atlanta-airport.com
), Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
(website:
www.ohare.com
), Los Angeles International (LAX)
(website:
www.lawa.org/lax
), Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
(website:
www.dfwairport.com
) and Denver International (website:
www.flydenver.com
). For further details, consult the individual
state sections.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
Main
ports: Port
of Anchorage, Honolulu, Port of New Orleans (website:
www.portno.com
), New York (website:
www.panynj.gov) and Tampa Port Authority
(website:
www.tampaport.com
).
Numerous cruise lines sail from ports worldwide to both the east and west coasts.
Numerous cruise lines sail from ports worldwide to both the east and west coasts.
Getting There by Rail
The US and
Mexican rail networks connect at Yuma (Arizona),
El Paso (Texas) and Del Rio (Texas), with limited
scheduled passenger services. There are several
connections with the Canadian network, including
New York-Montréal, Chicago-Toronto and Seattle-Vancouver
services. For further information, contact Amtrak
(tel: (212) 582 6875 or 1 800 872
7245 in the USA and Canada only; website:
www.amtrak.com
).
Getting There by Road
There are
many crossing points from Canada to the USA. The
major road routes are: New York to Montréal/ Ottawa,
Detroit to Toronto/Hamilton, Minneapolis to Winnipeg
and Seattle to Vancouver/Edmonton/Calgary. There
are road links to Mexican destinations from El
Paso (Texas), San Diego (California), Tucson (Arizona)
and San Antonio (Texas).
Bus: Greyhound offers services to many destinations in Canada and some destinations in Mexico (tel: 1 800 231 2222 in the USA amd Canada only; website: www.greyhound.com ).
Bus: Greyhound offers services to many destinations in Canada and some destinations in Mexico (tel: 1 800 231 2222 in the USA amd Canada only; website: www.greyhound.com ).
Cycling & Maps
most states have visitor centres near their state boundaries. They hand out very usefull free maps, like:
AAA membership
If you are a member of AAA or
any of its affiliates (32 European ones, like
ADAC, ANWB etc), you can get all the maps you
need for free at any AAA-shop! So don't forget
to bring that card.
Biking4women was
created to build awareness of the importance of women's
health and healthy living. The website also has a clickable
map with state trails and a bike shop directory
Bikekitchen: do-it yourself bicycle resource run by volunteers
San Fran Bike Coalition: tonnes of bike stuff; resources; tips; links; you name it.
Bikekitchen: do-it yourself bicycle resource run by volunteers
San Fran Bike Coalition: tonnes of bike stuff; resources; tips; links; you name it.
Cost of living
all prices
in US Dollars (USD)
A couple of extra tips:
| drinks | food: local markets; restaurants; and stores | ||||
water |
1.5 litre 1 litre 330ml 2 litre 700g tin |
1.00 1.65 0.60 1.50 5.00 |
bread loaf-white bread loaf-multi grain |
450g 700g |
4.00 6.00 |
| cheap chinese meal pizza takeaway chips (chippery) udon noodles (fresh) instant noodles |
one serve |
5.00-8.00 18.00 1.50 1.00 |
|||
| beer wine |
355ml can 750ml |
0.60 5.00+ |
|||
| tea coffee (cafe / bar) Nescafe instant coffee-ground |
25 bags per cup 226g 500g |
1.50 2.50-3.50 5.20 4.50 |
rice (white) pasta eggs tinned tomatoes |
kg 500g per 6 250g |
1.40 0.75 1.90 0.80 |
| milk yoghurt cheese magnum icecream |
1 litre 200g kg each |
2.30 0.55 8.00 2.50 |
potatoes onions tomatoes avocado |
kg kg kg each |
1.40 1.20 4.25 1.00 |
| chips tortilla chips salted peanuts |
265g 500g 500g |
2.00 2.40 3.50 |
asparagus mushrooms corn on the cob |
kg (special) kg per 3 |
3.99 5.00 1.00 |
| california sultanas cornflakes chocolate museli bars muffin biscuits (marietttas) biscuits (cream) |
kg 375g 100g block 8x25g pack each 90g pack 90g pack |
1.70 1.69 0.75 0.90 0.50 0.50 |
apples oranges bananas |
kg kg kg |
2.60 1.65 2.80 |
| pineapple (can) oil (corn) |
500g 500ml |
2.80 0.80 |
|||
| honey peanut paste jam |
340g 500g 350g |
3.50 1.99 1.65 |
|||
| accommodation | personal | ||||
| budget city hostel budget city hotel |
13-25 per dorm bed 40-60 double with ensuite |
deodorant soap shampoo toothbrush toothpaste disposable razor toilet paper |
(small roll-on) 150g 200ml each 100ml each 10 rolls |
3.00 1.00 3.50 1.50 2.50 3.70 |
|
| camping |
from as little as 3.00 per person in a hiker biker site to 25.00 per night for a campsite in a RV park | ||||
| internet | wifi hotspots available | ||||
A couple of extra tips:
| * | Bargaining
is not really accepted in the purchasing culture
unless it is in bulk, or you are asking for a
discount for buying certain brands or items. |
| * | Tipping
is a complex system in the US and it is expected
in all service areas. In fact you'll come away
from an evening out thinking, my goodness that
wasn't so cheap after all. Nowadays, it basically
boils down to 15-25% for restaurants; 10-15% for
taxis; and a miserable evening if you don't give
the bartender a whopping $US1 per drink in each
round. If your travelling in a group, the restaurant
may even charge a mandatory 18% service charge
on the bill before you've even got your order
taken. |
| * | And the
forking out doesn't stop with the tips. You'll
also be stung with government taxes as well. All
and all estimate a 30-40% of the menu price on
top and that's what you'll be paying at the end
of the night. |
| * | For all
of you who like getting out the exact change while
in line at the supermarket, in the US its bad
luck unless of course you know the exact tax bracket
percentage of the item you are purchasing. The
prices on the shelf are all not including taxes.
You will also pay deposit on all drink cans and
bottles: plastic or glass; beer or wine and getting
that deposit back is difficult. |
| * |
It
pays to sign up for a Safeway Card (or similar)
while in the US. They are free and done on the
spot at the cash register. it'll save you 30%
and more of your bill if you don't mind choosing
their weekly specials. |
* tba = price to be announced
*January 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 0.78 EUR
all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in USA. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with the occasional craving for a bit of luxoury.
*January 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 0.78 EUR
all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in USA. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with the occasional craving for a bit of luxoury.
Source:www.exchange-rates.org
Accommodation
There are some great budget hotels in the USA – you just have to know where to look. HostelBookers.com has some top low-priced hotels, including in many top cities, choose from cheap Las Vegas hotels and to cheap hotels in San Francisco. They have the best budget accommodation - perfect for city breaks, beach holidays and weekends away. Staying in a cheap, unique hotel is more fun, and you’re likelier to be in the centre of the city rather than when you stay at the huge chain hotels on the edge of town. You’ll also get a more personalised service that’s sure to be friendlier.
HostelBookers.com also specialises in great value hostel dorm beds in the USA. Some of which are super cycle friendly with racks, rental and secure parking. Having the peace of mind of knowing that your bike is safe will ensure you sleep that bit sounder. Many of the hostels also offer free breakfasts, barbecues and drinks, so you’ll save money too.
Wild camping for cyclists is legal but pretty well restricted to remote areas. The rest of the populated areas are fenced off with threatening signage to 'keep out'. But the State Parks make up for that with their fantastic hiker-biker arrangement (see below for more details). For $US3-4 per night you can camp in a designated area and shower in some of the most beautiful environments the US has on offer. The Oregon and Californian coastline would have to be the easiest cycling run you could think of in terms of food and accommodation logistics.
Hiker-biker (hike bike) sites along the westcoast of the USA
Hiker-biker sites are special areas in a campground set aside for people using non motorised forms of transport. In the state of Washington these sites are quite expensive ($12-$14 per person per night, including showers), so it might not be worthwhile staying here. In Oregon and California on the other hand, the sites are $4 and $3 per person respectively and therefore a bargain. Showers are free in Oregon and $0,50 in most campgrounds in California. Here is a list of hiker-biker campgrounds along the Pacific coast of the US (from north to south)
| Washington | orientation (in miles) | more info |
| San Juan County Park (San Juan Island) | 16 miles W of Friday Harbor | |
| Moran State Park (Orcas Island) | 13 miles N of Orcas | |
| Washington Park (Fidalgo Island) | 1 mile W of Anacortes | |
| Deception Pass State Park (Fidalgo Island) | 8 miles S of Anacortes | Cranberry Lake Campground |
| Fort Casey State Park (Whidbey Island) | @ Keystone Ferry | |
| Fort Worden State Park | 3 miles W of Port Townsend | |
| Old Fort Townsend State Park | 7 miles S of Port Townsend | |
Dosewallips State Park |
12 miles S Quilcene | |
| Potlatch State Park | 4 miles S Hoodsport | |
| Lake Sylvia State Park | 1 mile W of Montesano | |
| Twin Harbors State Park | 1 mile S of Westport | |
| Lincoln County Park Campground | 3 miles W of Port Angeles | |
| Bogachiel State Park | 5 miles S of Forks | |
| Ocean City State Park | 3 miles S of Ocean City | |
| Grayland Beach State Park | 2 miles S of Grayland | |
| Cape Disappointment State Park | 4 miles SW of Ilwaco | |
| Oregon | orientation (in miles) | more info |
| Fort Stevens State Park | 11 miles W of Astoria | |
| Nehalem Bay State Park | 3 miles S of Manzanita | |
| Cape Lookout State Park | 6 miles S of Netarts | |
| Devils Lake State Park | 2 miles S of Lincoln City | |
| Beverly Beach State Park | 8 miles S of Depoe Bay | |
| South Beach State Park | 2 miles S of Newport | |
| Rock Creek Campground (Forest Service) | 10 miles S of Yachats | |
| Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park | 12 miles S of Yachats | |
| Jessy M. Honeyman Memorial State Park | 2 miles S Glenada | |
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park |
2 miles S of Winchester Bay | |
| William M. Tugman State Park | 7 miles S of Winchester Bay | |
| Sunset Bay State Park | 3 miles W of Charleston | |
| Bullards Beach State Park | 2 miles N of Brandon | |
| Capo Blanco State Park | 6 miles NW of Port Orford | |
| Humbug Mountain State Park | 8 miles S of Port Orford | |
| Harris Beach State Park | 1 mile N of Brookings | |
| California | orientation (in miles) | more info |
| Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park | 11 miles S of Crescent City | Mill Creek Campground |
| Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park | 6 miles N of Orick | Elk Prairie Campground |
| Patricks Point State Park | 4 miles N of Trinidad | |
| Humboldt Redwoods State Park | 5 miles N of Myers Flat | Marina Garden Club Grove Campgr. |
| Humboldt Redwoods State Park | 4 miles N of Myers Falt | Burlington Campground |
| Benbow Lake State Recreation Area | 5 miles S of Garberville | |
| Richardson Grove State Park | 8 miles D of Garberville | |
| Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area | 2 miles N of Leggett | |
| MacKerricher Beach State Park | 2 miles N of Fort Bragg | |
| Russian Gulch State Park | 2 miles N of Mendocino | |
| Van Damme Beach State Park | 3 miles S of Mendocino | |
| Manchester State Beach | 2 miles NW of Manchester | |
| Gualala Point Regional Park | 2 miles S of Gualala | |
| Woodside Campground | 8 miles S of Stewarts Point | |
| Stillwater Cove State Park | 10 miles S of Stewart Point | * $5 per person, showers $1,50 |
| Bodega Dunes State Beach | 10 miles S of Jenner | |
| Samuel P. Taylor State Park | 6 miles SE of Olema | |
| Half Moon Bay State Beach | 4 miles W of Half Moon Bay | |
| New Brighton State Beach | 8 miles SE of Santa Cruz | |
| Sunset State Beach | 20 miles SE of Santa Cruz | |
| Vets Memorial Park | 3 miles SW of Monterey | |
| Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park | 2 miles S of Big Sur | |
| Kirk Creek Campground | 4 miles S of Lucia | |
| Plaskett Creek Campground | 3 miles N of Gorda | |
| San Simeon State Beach | 5 miles S of San Simeon | |
| Morro Bay State Park | 6 miles SW of Morro Bay | |
| North Beach Campground | 5 miles S of Pismo Beach | |
| Oceano Campground | 7 miles S of Pismo Beach | |
| Lake Cachuma County Park | 11 miles SE of Solvang | |
| Refugio State Beach | 9 miles N of Goleta | |
| Carpintaria State Beach | 1 mile S of Carpintaria | |
| Emma Wood State Beach | @ Ventura | |
| McGrath State Beach Campground | 7 miles S of Ventura | |
| Sycamore Cove and Canyon | 5 miles S of Port Hueneme | |
| Leo Carillo State Beach | 10 miles S of Port Hueneme | |
| San Clemente State Beach | 3 miles S of San Clemente | |
| San Onofre State Beachround | @ San Onofre | Bluffs Campground |
| South Carlsbad State Beach Campground | 2 miles N of Leucadia | |
| San Elijo State Beach | 4 miles S of Leucadia |
There is also an array of other camping opportunities and you'll pay anything from 15 dollars to 35 dollars. And for this money you never really know whether it is going to be a primitive pitch in a National Forest or all the mod-cons in a characterless RV Park right next to the busy highway. When planning your cycle route, spend a bit of time online on the National Park Services and National Forest Camping websites for camp spots and available amenities.
Other useful links:
www.nps.gov
National Park Services
Forestcamping.com
National Forest Camping facilities
Free camping in the States!
Gifford
Pinchot National Forest
Washington
State Highway
Washington
State Highway map
Oregon
Coast Bike Route Map
Oregon
State Transportation
Californian
State Parks
California State Parks
camping
(pdf)
East
Bay regional park district
with several good trail maps
The other side of California
Death Valley and the eastern Sierra
Bicycle
Nevada
Las Vegas regional transport commission
of Southern Nevada
Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition
Inyo
County
parks and recreation
Travelworm
for cheap accommodation in Las Vegas
BikerCamps.com:
a website actually dedicated to motorcycle rallies
& camping, but has a decent list of linked campsites
throughout USA and Canada too.
Tap water is okay to drink, but it often tastes a bit brackish, so for the water connoisseur, you can buy bottled varieties for reasonable prices in the supermarkets. Otherwise there is plenty of free-flowing rivers and streams to filter and wash yourself from. That is, unless you are heading into desert regions and then you really need to take extra water on board and read up about the area so you know where all the water stops are. Places like Death Valley have well documented information on their website about this.
| Acommodation we used while in the USA (August - November 2008): (prices based on two people sharing) | ||||
| Star system explained: from 0 to ***** where 0 is a total disaster and ***** is luxurious (and out of our price range) | ||||
| City / town: | Name accommodation: | Our experience: | Price: | Stars: |
| 29 Palms | 29 Palms Resort | big RV park, not for camping really | US$ 20 | * |
| Banning | KOA Campground | that much? WiFi | US$ 25 | ½ |
| Bishop | Brown's Town campground | rip-off, poor facilities | US$ 20 | ½ |
| Boulder City | Boulder Beach campground | nice site, shady spots | US$ 10 | ** |
| Briceburg | Merced River Canyon campsite | great setting, poor facilities | US$ 10 | *½ |
| Brookings | Harris Beach SP hiker/biker site | great campsite, plenty of space | US$ 8 | *** |
| Clatskanie | Perkins RV | big open space, free firewood | US$ 20 | *½ |
| Coos Bay | Sunset Bay SP hiker/biker site | bit of a dump | US$ 8 | * |
| Cottonwood Cove | Cottonwood Cove campground | basically very basic | US$ -- | * |
| Cougar | Lone Fir Resort | well kept campsite, friendly, WiFi | US$ 15 | *** |
| Coulee City | Coulee City campground | lacks some tender loving care | US$ 15 | ** |
| Florence | Honeyman SP hiker/biker site | cute, but cramped | US$ 8 | ** |
| Fort Ross | Stillwater Cove SP | quiet little campsite | US$ 5 | ** |
| Furnace Creek | Sunset Campground | camp on concrete, no showers | US$ -- | ½ |
| Keller | Sanpoil campground | beautiful spot, basic facilities | US$ 15 | **½ |
| Kettle Falls | Kettle Falls SP Campground | great site, good facilities | US$ 10 | ***½ |
| La Grange | Stanislaus Off Highway Park | poor | US$ -- | ½ |
| Lake Elsinore | Lake Elsinore campground | poor state of repairs | US$ 20 | ½ |
| Las Vegas | Binions Hotel and Casino | internet bargain booking, great! | US$ 19 | ***½ |
| Lee Vining | Mono Vista RV | hot shower, recreation room | US$ 20 | **½ |
| Leggett | Standish-Hickey SP hiker/biker | pretty bare site | US$ 6 | *½ |
| Lone Pine | Portagee Joe | smelly and barren | US$ 10 | ½ |
| Manzanita | Nehalem Bay SP hiker/biker site | ok site, bit small | US$ 8 | ** |
| Mendocino | Van Damme SP hiker/biker site | basic, old facilities | US$ 6 | *½ |
| Netarts | Cape Lookout SP hiker/biker site | scenic spot, right on the beach | US$ 8 | *** |
| Newport | Beverly Beach SP hiker/biker site | too small for all those cyclists | US$ 8 | * |
| Olema | Samuel P. Taylor SP h/b site | watch out for those racoons | US$ 5 | ** |
| Orick | Elk Prairie SP hiker/biker site | towering trees, elegant elk | US$ 6 | *** |
| Pahrump | 7 Palms RV Park | decent camp, friendly folk, WiFi | US$ 15 | ** |
| Panamint Springs | Panamint Springs Resort | could do with a clean | US$ 15 | * |
| Port Orford | Humbug Mountain SP hiker/biker | good set-up, friendly host | US$ 8 | *** |
| Steamboat Rock | Steamboat Rock SP campground | great setting, luxury at a price | US$ 19 | ***½ |
| Tracy | Carnegie SVRA campground | out in the sticks and in the dirt | US$ 10 | *½ |
| Trinidad | Patrick's Point SP hiker/biker site | wonderful, simple, quiet | US$ 6 | ***½ |
| Vantage | Vantage campground | ridiculous prices due to concert | US$ 30 | * |
| Warrenton | Fort Stevens SP hiker/biker site | nice little spot | US$ 8 | **½ |
| Weott | Humboldt Redwoods SP h/b site | bit dark, not too much sun light | US$ 6 | **½ |
| Wilmont Creek Bay | Wlmont Creek Bay campground | very simple, very quiet | US$ -- | *½ |
| Yosemite NP | North Pines Backpackers | basic, big bear boxes | US$ 10 | *½ |
| Yosemite NP | Porcupine Flat campground | basic facilities | US$ -- | *½ |
| Yoesmite NP | Toulumne Meadows campground | basic facilities, great site | US$ -- | ** |
Food & drink
Welcome to the United States and the world of food consumerism. In recent years, every type of dietary requirement is and I dare say for fear of discrimination, must be considered. Low fat or calorie light meals are even sold in fast food joints where the idea was once to go and get a fat-fix. Vegetarian options are therefore represented quite well in the restaurant sector, as well and in heavenly proportion in the supermarkets. Not only that but organic and environmentally friendly products line the shelves.
Outside of the larger urban areas, vegans may have a bit more of a problem finding something suitable in the local take-away and cafes, but you can always step across the road to the Safeway, Vons, Walmart or Albertsons, (often you'll have a choice of two) to buy from their infinite range of ready-made meals or snacks. Self catering is easy if you camp throughout the country and little planning is necessary, unless you are heading into remote areas and National Parklands. With an eye for bargains, you can eat well for very little outlay.
Co-operative stores are also well worth taking a peek inside. Their produce is quite often locally grown and produced and selling at very reasonable prices considering the quality. The only frustration you are likely to battle with, is the inability to get things in small sizes. Toilet paper rarely comes in 4-packs anymore, let alone one and condiments and dry goods tend to be expensive in the smaller volumes. Ironically, you can sometimes purchase double quantities of the product you want for exactly the same price.
The main cities have a wide network of vegan/vegetarian and alternative living restaurants and if you are not on a budget, you could eat something different every night. It is expensive to dine out though, especially after you have finished paying all the extra added taxes and service charges. For a full list of veggie restaurants in the USA take a look at the HappyCow website
American Cookery is quite difficult to categorize as it is more a blend of cuisines from across the world and then adapted to the environment and traditions of the land. One thing is for sure, it is not just about hamburgers, pizza and fries. However, from a vegetarians point of view, there is little in the way of traditional cooking that is suitable. Meat plays an important element in soul food, cajun, tex-mex and new-england styles. There are a few adaptations that may be considered worthwhile hunting down and then there is always time for sweet treat.
| Why not try these
for starters? |
Baked Potatoes with
Boston Beans |
| From the
Soul: Corn Fritters, Fried Green Tomatoes, Chowchow
and Home-Style White Gravy. |
| Steamin' Hot Corn
Cobs and a Hoppin' John Salad |
Orleans Pecan Pie
with Vanilla Whipped Cream Tradition holds that the French brought this delicacy to New Orleans: sweet and syrupy roasted pecan nut custard in a flaky pastry is nothing short of gastronomic heaven. Top it off with vanilla spiked cream and a strong espresso and your day will be better than absolute. |
Blueberry Buckle If you like blueberry muffins, you're gonna love this old-fashioned single layer cake. Dotted with berries and topped with streusel crumble it is literally like one big delicious muffin. Serve as is or warm with custard. |
| Chocolate Brownie
à la Mode Outside of the States, the image of American beer goes about as far as Miller and Budweiser. This is so far from the truth, it is amazing that not more is written about the booming boutique beer industry. Bottles with punchy names and groovy labels, and beer with fantasy flavours of unlimited varieties: flying dog - doggie style; arrogant bastard; boont amber; brooklyn black chocolate; goose island honkers ale; left hand milk stout; rogue brutal bitter are just the tip of the icebox. While they might be of excellent quality, they are not cheap. |
Bike shops
| Laguna Beach, CA | Rainbow Bicycle Co. **
485 N. Coast Highway Laguna Beach, California 92651 USA tel: (949) 494 5806 Website: www.teamrain.com |
| Our experience: tiny one-man store; but great service and wheel building skills. More repairs than accessories. (October 2008) | |
Road distances
The USA has an extensive road network...
and it would be almost impossible to get all the distances
within the US on to a website. But, there is
Mapquest
. Mapquest calculates road distances in the US (and
also some countries in Europe) and gives you the opportunity
to costumise your route; include/exclude freeways, toll
roads; and add up to 10 destinations within one search.
