Hi, everyone.
This is my first post on this wonderful message bord.

We are four friends from Italy. One of us has landed a one year scholarship in Ann Arbor (beginning on september). That has become an excuse for a 3 week trip across the USA, in August.

Being unable to afford a month, I would have opted for a two week stay, with a relaxed schedule, focusing on the Eastern States, but the others remained adamant that it would have to be more or less "coast to coast".

We'll rent a vehicle at the JFK airport.

On the third day, a quick stop in Ann Arbor for bureaucratic fulfillments will be required. We'll then proceed westwards.

The "closing" destination is still to be decided. It should be a city on the west coast or possibly Las Vegas.

I understand we'll have to drive a lot, but we can take turns if needed.
(A couple of two-days stops is not ruled out)

We'd be grateful for any suggestion about the route and especially a *list* of locations not to be missed.

Is "standard" insurance coverage provided by most car rental services enough?

Unfortunately it seems that our Dept. of Transportation only issues a "1968 Vienna Convention" intl. driving license while in the USA, a "1948 Geneva Convention" license would be requested (if at all) by police officers.
Is there any hope for our untranslated italian licenses to be enough?

Any practical piece of advice is welcome.


Thanks in advance.