Start here:
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...-part-1-a.html
If you have any further questions, go ahead.
Oh, and "the states" is actually half a continent plus some odd bits and pieces elsewhere. It kinda depends a little where you go, what's the weather is going to be like. Sort of. A bit. I guess Hawaii would be great in Feb/Mar, Alaska would not.