Big sur in California to start still cheap enough to park and plenty of outdoors, head up to Humboldt then towards Denver as the weather allows then down to Texas for a month or two then across the borner down toward Puerta Vallarta. I would skip anything east of the Mississippi but that is just me.
Nicaragua or Columbia. He can live into his late 30s on that money if he is careful ;)
I have a friend that travelled around the country after college. When I asked him what surprised him the most, he said west Texas.
No recommendations or experience, but a big thumbs up to your son! Hope he has a blast. I am hoping to do a similar move at some point in the near future.
-John
The places I'd go with a conversion van are not always the places I might want to live. For example, it's probably pretty cheap to live out of a van in California, but actually living there is another story.
Oregon seems like a rad state, but I'm not sure its any cheaper than California if you need a job. Some areas get snow, some areas get rain, and some are as dry as Nevada.
Texas is the land of opportunity, unless you need mountains, in which case it's the land of flat sprawling suburbia. I think every young person should check out Austin, although I'm pretty sure every young person has checked out Austin, which is why its congested.
Colorado seems like California with water and cheaper housing, but I encountered a lot of traffic when I was there.
I'd like to see more of Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. I think there are places in these states that would resemble the northeast corridor while being cheaper and less congested, oh and without snow.
I like cities, I like mountains, and I hate traffic getting between the two.
Has he been outside of the east coast much? What other states or places has he spent large amounts of time?
Where wouldn't I go. I wish I had thought to take a trip like that then. It's getting harder to plan for it now.
I'd probably hit every national park west of the Mississippi.
National parks
Duh, Australia
eastsidemav wrote: I'd probably hit every national park west of the Mississippi.
At the first, get an annual pass to all parks. It will pay off quite quickly.
Back in 1991, I did a 30 day drive around the country- camping mostly, and staying in hotels when the weather did let me be comfortable. It was really, really fun. Between the national parks and a KOA book, it was pretty easy to string together great camping.
He'll have a trip that he will never, ever forget.
For the time span you suggest- the question is more- where not to go. There's enough empty space that you can see every corner in a year pretty easy. Including some camping sites near major cities where one can take public transportation into.
From what we have observed in Europe, it's still quite popular to get a long term rail pass and backpack around many areas. The only caution- the youth hostels in the major cities- not sure how safe they are. On the other hand, small European towns are really great.
Be this guy for a year?
Visit all of the lower 48. Then Canada and Alaska.
Don't forget the middle. There is a lot of affordable opportunity in the corridor that goes from Texas up through Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and into the Illinois-Indiana-Ohio-Pennsylvania belt. These are states skipped over by people traveling to one coast or another but there's a lot to be said for a "smaller" big city in the middle.
Loop the great lakes. Park/camp near the shores.
RossD wrote: Loop the great lakes. Park/camp near the shores.
This is good. I've looped Lake Michigan. My dad is always telling me to loop Lake Superior........someday....
G. P. Snorklewacker wrote: Nicaragua or Columbia. He can live into his late 30s on that money if he is careful ;)
If he goes to Vegas and puts it all on black he can live there even longer.
at 23 i'd put all 40k into long term investments and retire well over a millionaire guaranteed with no other savings set aside at age 63.
even if i was homeless at the time, that seed money potential is incredible at 23... but i'm weird
madmallard wrote: at 23 i'd put all 40k into long term investments and retire well over a millionaire guaranteed with no other savings set aside at age 63. even if i was homeless at the time, that seed money potential is incredible at 23... but i'm weird
Yeah, but that's boring. Why do that for future you? Future you is a jerk living in the future.
madmallard wrote: at 23 i'd put all 40k into long term investments and retire well over a millionaire guaranteed with no other savings set aside at age 63. even if i was homeless at the time, that seed money potential is incredible at 23... but i'm weird
But then you'd be old, without any stories to tell about the time you sold everything, bought a van, and traveled around the country, meeting all the Amy's while you were still young enough to do something about it.
Cuba...and retire
I second Cuba and Live like a king for 2 years.
Nick sort of beat me to it. It isn't the destination, it's the journey. And the traveling companion for the journey. Does he have an Amy for this adventure?
Hey, like I said guys, I'm weird. and I have no idea what his earning potential is.
Please not Austin.....Please. We have too many already :)
Honestly, I'd check out the south east. TN and NC have a lot of great places to see and a lot of great places to camp and visit. Oh and I would ditch the van and hike the Appalachian trail. Then you can have some of the money left after the year of hiking.
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