Travel Guide Côte Ouest Etats-Unis
To set out for the great American West, in the footsteps of the 19th century pioneers who either climbed toOregon or went to the banks of the Californian rivers to extract gold, is to set out on a grandiose adventure, to discover breathtaking wide-open spaces. Two hundred years later, the megalopolises and small country towns of the West Coast of the United States still vibrate with this energy, that of these valiant migrants driven by a desire to succeed that is all in the formula " do it yourself ". The cities bordering the Pacific Ocean, from Seattle to San Diego, via Portland, San Francisco and of course Los Angeles, are not indifferent, immense and seductive by their capacity to reinvent themselves. Between the skyscrapers of the West Coast cities, tolerance and freedom are the watchwords: as soon as you step inside, you are seized with the feeling that everything is possible, that a new life is beginning. But this guide to the West Coast of the United States also delves into the wild and untamed landscapes of the Pacific coastline, made up of plains and mountains, and pushes the journey inland, from Yellowstone Park, where nature has gathered most of the landscapes of the planet, to the national parks ofUtah such as Zion or Bryce Canyon, without forgetting the Mormon city of Salt Lake City or the madness of Las Vegas, not far from the famous Death Valley. Welcome to the West Coast of the United States, its legendary Wild West, a destination as fascinating as ever, a portrait of a dream America.
What to visit sur la Côte Ouest Etats-Unis?
Suggested addresses de la Côte Ouest Etats-Unis
When to go to sur la Côte Ouest Etats-Unis?
When to go to the West Coast of the United States? In California, the weather is good year-round. Summer or fall is a great time to visit Oregon, Washington and Idaho, as the rest of the year it rains quite a bit and temperatures can drop. As for Arizona, Utah and Nevada, some areas can be snowed in during the winter.
Generally speaking, there is no single answer to the question of when to go to the West Coast of the United States: it is possible to go at any time of the year, although you should be aware that some roads and parks may be partially closed due to snow in winter, or if they remain open, you will need a suitable vehicle to access them (as in Crater Lake, for example). So it's best to check on road and park conditions beforehand. Summer, which begins with Memorial Day (last Monday in May) and ends with Labor Day (first Monday in September) in the United States, is the vacation season. Prices go up and crowds flock to the area. However, high season in one region is not necessarily high season in another. In July, the Pacific Northwest is wonderful. But further south, it's a furnace. In general, latitude and altitude help predict the weather and seasons. The further north you go, the later the summer and the earlier the winter. So there is no better time to go to the West Coast of the United States!
Weather at the moment
The weather on the West Coast of the United States varies from one region to another. To the north, the Cascade Mountains divide the states of Washington and Oregon in two: in the east, the climate is dry; in the west, humid. California's climate is mild most of the year, although it is cold in the winter in the mountains and warm in the south all year round. In the interior plains, the climate is continental. Temperatures on the West Coast of the United States are highly variable.
New York (Manhattan)
San Francisco
Miami
Anchorage
A stay on the West Coast of the United States can be very expensive or reasonable (outside the price of the flight of course). It all depends on the period, knowing that summer is the high season. It is difficult to go below 130 US$ per day, unless you prefer camping or youth hostels, although their rates are increasing. A dormitory bed costs between 15 and 25 US$, a camping site between 10 and 20 US$ or more depending on the park and the season.
Valid passports in the United States : biometric passports, issued since 2009, and electronic passports issued since May 2006. However, all machine-readable passports are no longer accepted in the United States.
For stays of less than 90 days : French nationals are allowed to enter the United States without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. In addition to the passport, the traveler must be in possession of a non-refundable round-trip ticket to the United States and must have filled out the ESTA form 72 hours before departure and paid the US$14 fee (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
If you have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen, between March 2011 and today, regardless of the duration or reason for your trip (tourism or business), and you plan to come to the United States for less than 90 days, you will now, as of January 2017, need a visa.
No particular precautions to take: the mandatory vaccinations on the West Coast of the United States are the same as in Europe. On site, beware of the desert heat and mountain cold: glasses, hat and water to avoid sunstroke and dehydration are recommended. The water is drinkable in some areas of the West Coast of the United States. Ask the locals if you can drink tap water. Otherwise, bottled water is best.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to sur la Côte Ouest Etats-Unis? Our advice & tips
The West Coast of the United States is a very vast region that allows for a wide variety of stays. Many French-speaking travel agencies work with the area. Whether you wish to organize a tailor-made tour, a family vacation, a honeymoon, a sports or cultural trip, follow a nature tour or even opt for an all-inclusive stay, you will surely find the formula best suited to your desires in the catalogs of these agencies.
To get to the West Coast of the United States, the most appropriate way is by plane. The price variation depends on the company borrowed, but above all, on the booking time. To get the best rates in high season (between €700 and €1,200), buy your tickets six months in advance. As for the shorter periods, a shorter period should not prevent you from getting an attractive price (between 500 and 800 €).
Getting around the West Coast of the United States is all about time. The Amtrak train company is a scenic way to travel (not very cheap). Renting a car is the best option for complete independence. To connect major cities, the bus can be a good solution too (see www.greyhound.com). Finally, the plane is often cheap, compared to the distance covered (Seattle - San Francisco for about a hundred dollars).
