https://forum.videohelp.com/ en Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:43:20 GMT vBulletin 60 https://forum.videohelp.com/images/misc/rss.png https://forum.videohelp.com/ https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420899-If-you-ever-want-to-travel-to-the-US?goto=newpost Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:57:09 GMT This isfrom two posts on another forum I made. If you can't see pics let me know.
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I've watched with interest the reactions of Europeans and others over US culture and sights during the World Cup games. I've traveled extensively here including a 20 state, 10,600 mile, 5 week trip in 2022. Of that perhaps 1500 miles was on divided highway, most of it was winding off the beaten path roads.

If visiting cities is your thing I'm not going to be of much help however if you are looking to see natural sights I have a lot of personal experience. If you have any questions I can offer some advice whether it's a few days or weeks.

As some general advice I'd suggest the early Fall, start after the first Monday in September which is a big holiday here that marks the end of Summer. Crowds are lighter, weather should be nice most places and nothing should be closed because of snow yet.

If you have extensive time to do this don't have a plan. :lol: By that I mean don't be making reservations or expect to be somewhere at certain date and time. This gives great flexibility in staying somewhere longer or moving onto the next attraction. Try and time it so you have accommodations as close to the attraction as possible. Leave for the park very early morning, even if it's still dark. Most of these places don't start seeing a lot of visitors arrive until 9 or 10AM. Be aware travel from one destination to the next is usually a days ride if not more.

Don't be afraid to use the mom and pop motels, they are typically cheaper and a lot cleaner. If you are comfortable with camping bring a tent. There is all kinds of opportunities for camping.

When traveling between destinations start looking for a place to stay around 3 PM or so. You should not have any problem finding accommodations for the night. Over 5 weeks I only used my laptop three times to find accommodations. Cash is king at these smaller places, ask and you'll probably get a discount. By not having reservation it also allows you to check the place out before putting money down.

Be sure to check ahead for restrictions in National Parks, Glacier National Park for example limits car traffic and you need a pass. It's free but you need to get it a few days ahead of time. Most parks have entrance fees, they aren't much but if you are going to visit multiple locations get the pass that is good for a year at the first park you visit.

Lastly always be aware of the gas level in your car. Fill up at any opportunity you have after it's past half full. If you are heading into a really desolate area like Death Valley for example fill up at last gas station even if's almost full.

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Crazy Horse near Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota. This is a private venture started in 1948. Completion could extend into the next century.For scale if you zoom in there is excavator visible. It's enormous, Mt. Rushmore could fit on the forehead.


Traffic Jam in Yellowstone, Wyoming


Entering East side of Glacier National Park, Montana


There is land more westerly and land more northerly but this is the most Northwestern point in the continental US, Washington State. Second one is my car in turn around for RV's near the trailhead, the most northwestern point in the US you could drive. :D



Oregon Coast


Avenue of the Giants, Northern California. It's like this for 30 miles.



Section of Pacific Coast Highway in Norther California. This is one of the more scenic drives in the US, it's 655 miles (1050KM) long. It meanders along the coast though mostly rural areas with the occasional small town and through some bigger cities including San Francisco. This is not a very good picture but best one I have online.


Golden Gate, San Francisco California


Sequoia National Park, California. It's very difficult to convey how large these trees are. The largest branches on the General Sherman are 6 feet wide, the branches could be huge trees themselves. It's 130 ft (40M) from the base of the tree to the first branch.




Engage Light Speed, West of Death Valley California


Zion National Park, Utah (or outside it). Left this for another day hopefully.


Bryce Canyon, Utah... Stunning.


Monument Valley, Utah



Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado - Native American Ruins



Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado



Colorado...Hit this with perfect timing. The leaves were just changing and it had snowed the previous day.


A few more, I only have a 2500 to choose from. :D

Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota. Each US state has a flag and plaque.


Needles Highway near Mt. Rushmore.


Another one of Crazy Horse Memorial. This will be more than twice the height of any sculpture on earth when completed.


Devil's Tower, Wyoming



Yellowstone, Wyoming. The buffalo roam freely, the one in first picture is about 100 ft. off the path. It's also home to grizzlies , elk, moose, wolves and many other wildlife. Yellowstone National Park combined with Grand Tetons National Park directly adjacent to the south and the protected national forests/public lands surrounding both are referred to as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, in total it's roughly the size of Portugal.



Sundance, Wyoming. Other than an expensive one on the Pacific Ocean this was best room of the trip. $85, super clean and it even had towel sculptures with chocolate mints.



To the west of Glacier National Park.


North Cascades, Washington State- The impression I had here was like watching Jurassic Park. Unfortunately there was forest fire in nearby area, that's the haze. It was like this for two days of travel.


Atop the Space Needle, Seattle, Washington State


Second highest peak at Olympic National Park, Mt. Olympus is to the left under cloud cover. Unfortunately there was extensive cloud cover and I never got a peak at it, it took me about half and hour to get this shot. It opened up for about 30 seconds and then it was gone. The second one is zoomed shot of the glacier.



Another one from Avenue of the Giants, Northern California. This was from side road off the main road. These are redwoods, typically taller than the Giant sequoias but no where near girth.


Tourist trap on private property, couldn't help myself. The cutout dates to 1930.


Another one from the Pacific Coast Highway
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Above San Francisco the Pacific Coast Highway goes inland and follows along this small bay. Don't miss that turn!


Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay. This was the highest security federal prison in US until it was closed in the 60's. It's now part of the National Parks System.



Another one of the general Sherman. It's 36.5 feet(11m) at the base.


Kings Canyon is adjacent to Sequoia National Park, this is just the parking lot for the General Grant tree. Early morning so I was first one there.


Tourist trap in King's Canyon, didn't need gas but I got some anyway. It's gravity fed, no power. There was minimum purchase and it was quite a bit more expensive, this is middle of no where. It worked out in the end because I took a more off the beaten path road after exiting King's Canyon that I would not have taken otherwise.


Heading east towards home, This is from overlook, far off in the distance is Mt. Whitney the tallest peak in lower 48 states.


Exiting the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, China Lake which is US military installation is in this general direction. Death Valley is over the mountain range in the background and to the left.


Death Valley was closed due to washouts from massive storm a little bit before I got there. I could of headed south and hooked up with an Interstate for quick ride to Las Vegas but that's not me. I took the 300+ mile trip around north of Death Valley. Free range cattle here, note the cow sign.


Hoover Damn Nevada/Arizona, I was there early morning and got some great shots with no people or cars.





A few more from Bryce Canyon, Utah



Escalante National Park, Utah


Capital Reef National Park, Utah



Somewhere near Canyonlands National Park Colorado, Utah. River is the Colorado River



Natural Bridges National Park, Utah


"Mexican Hat" near Monument Valley, Utah


Monument Valley, Utah - Monument Valley is on Navajo reservation and controlled by them. There is one way dirt road that is 17 miles long.



Mesa Verde Nationa Park - Native American Ruins. This is series with second and third images zoomed in.




Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado



Independence Pass and the Continental Divide, Colorado - Elevation 12,000 ft.


Pikes Peak, Colorado, Unfortunately not a very good day to be there. I was leaving the next day and it was as clear as it could get, I almost did it again. It's at least a 2 hour drive to get to the top.



Some my wonder where the Yosemite and Grand Canyon pictures are. I was to both places and others in my 20's. Comments about my chicken legs are verboten!

Arches National Park, Utah - You may recognize this from one of the opening sequences of one of Inadian Jones movies.


Badwater, Death Valley, California - Lowest point in the US. 282 foot below sea level.


North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona


El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California


Last but not least, Pacific Coast Highway, South of Big Sur
]]> Off topic thecoalman https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420899-If-you-ever-want-to-travel-to-the-US https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420898-Black-Magic-Design-Management-Shenanigans?goto=newpost Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:21:28 GMT Interesting news item on the fun and games at the top of BMD:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-24/blackmagic-design-cofounders-take-share-battle-..._content=other ]]> Off topic Alwyn https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420898-Black-Magic-Design-Management-Shenanigans https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420860-Thassos-island-in-Greece-with-a7iv-gopro12-and-swimming-in-a-Cave?goto=newpost Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:21:13 GMT Good morning, everyone!
I spent two days on nearby Thassos, where I visited the Trypiti Cave for the first time.
It’s an amazing natural spot nestled among the rocks, with seawater forming a small, "hidden" beach behind them.
Here is the video covering the two-day trip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_FGa_vlrBs ]]> Off topic mallllias https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420860-Thassos-island-in-Greece-with-a7iv-gopro12-and-swimming-in-a-Cave