Always the way to go and not just in the USA.
To name just a few Ive done it in New Zealand ( to Milford Sound) and in France ( for an hours circuits at Courcheval).
If you want to do the flying always make it clear that you want to fly with an Instructor and that you want to do the flying.
I had a very poor experience at the large gliding site at Omarama in New Zealand when flying with someone in a 2 seater glider. I was only allowed to fly about 30 seconds of the tow after which he took over and flew for about an hour.After that I had seen enough and said we might as well go back. And that was after explaining I had over 1100 hours gliding...so he knew.
i suspect I was hived off onto a private owner of a two seater who was (judging by his flying) rather inexperienced, or incompetent.