I'm going to visit my family!!

My poor husband has no good view of what the US can offer, as we've only spent time in the armpit town I grew up in and car journeys to visit family and friends (of which he, of course, doesn't know very well, so it's awkward).

That sounds like a real problem.  You really should plan a long road trip out West , see some National Parks and the Grand Canyon.  Rent a Mustang or a massive SUV.  For me, the idea of road tripping through the west is such a defining part of being American that I wouldn't feel right unless my partner understood it.  I'm actually being serious, if he doesn't really want to visit the US because he hasn't seen the interesting bits, that could lead to problems 10 or 15 years down the road.

He definitely does want to see the interesting bits Jimbo, it just hasn't worked out that way so far