Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[00Stinger]

I know that this is Chicago and not New York, but a young black guy I met on the L-Train told me that after dark, any train station with a number in it (31st St, 12th Ave, etc), don't get off there. You will be mugged before you hit the street. He wasn't proud of it, he was just telling me what it was like. There are certain areas that are just off limits to outsiders after dark. As long as you know where they are before hand, you should be ok. Everywhere else is a "Normally ok but still be aware of your surroundings" kind of situation.

You must be talking about Chicago?

NY you are fine around Manhatten and Williamsburg is one stop ou of the. N problems at all

 

[TheStinger]

You must be talking about Chicago?

NY you are fine around Manhatten and Williamsburg is one stop ou of the. N problems at all

Yeah, Chicago. There are certain sections you don't go in after dark. Even the guy who I was talking to who lives there says there are certain street corners in his neighbourhood that he avoids after dark.

 

[00Stinger]

Yeah, Chicago. There are certain sections you don't go in after dark. Even the guy who I was talking to who lives there says there are certain street corners in his neighbourhood that he avoids after dark.

A bit different to the main parts of NY. Manhatten and Williamsberg feel very safe. However that might have to do with the fact the place is busy no matter what time of day/night it is.

 

[MrKK]

I am arriving into JFK at 2am. Is it safe for me to take the train to my accomodation?

I'd be more worried about the hassle of taking luggage on the subway and any walk from the station to your accommodation at the end of it, than any safety concerns. TBH, I'd just take a cab - if your accommodation is Manhattan then I think it's a fixed fare by law from memory.

EDIT: Ignore this, I should've read the other replies first.

 

[The_Answer3]

Never felt unsafe in Amercia.

Despite walking past a couple of junkies fighting, walking streets of Brooklyn and everywhere else at all hours.

Like anywhere else, there's always going to be places you don't want to venture at certain times, but you have to go out of your way a little to find them.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

What is the best value for money theme or attraction pass for Orlando Florida?

Does it include both Disney and Universal?

Trying to look at it but can not get my head around it.

 

[00Stinger]

What is the best value for money theme or attraction pass for Orlando Florida?

Does it include both Disney and Universal?

Trying to look at it but can not get my head around it.

I bought a pass that got me entrance to Seaworld, Aquatica & Busch Gardens. Was about $120 and Busch Gardens was the best park out of the lot and I also went to both Universal Parks and a disney one as well.I would HIGHLY recommend Busch Gardens, you get a bus from Seaworld out to it in Tampa, must do if you like thrill roller coasters and zoos

 

[Wickzki]

I bought a pass that got me entrance to Seaworld, Aquatica & Busch Gardens. Was about $120 and Busch Gardens was the best park out of the lot and I also went to both Universal Parks and a disney one as well.I would HIGHLY recommend Busch Gardens, you get a bus from Seaworld out to it in Tampa, must do if you like thrill roller coasters and zoos

Amen on that recommendation. Busch Gardens lacks the "big" name of the others but is a helluva lot of fun.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Maybe a touch ambitious for the three months we're allowed to stay?

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

^^^^^ Personally I'd go straight from LA to San Diego to Arizona to Texas and give Utah, Idaho, Montana, Calgary, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma a miss.

I'd possibly go to Oklahoma as they have this brilliant memorial to the Oklahoma City bombing back into the 1990's that I'd love to see at a public school but as far as the rest of the Mid West goes, yeah Na.

Hope you enjoy it but that leg would bore the shit out of me.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

^^^^^ Personally I'd go straight from LA to San Diego to Arizona to Texas and give Utah, Idaho, Montana, Calgary, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma a miss.

I'd possibly go to Oklahoma as they have this brilliant memorial to the Oklahoma City bombing back into the 1990's that I'd love to see at a public school but as far as the rest of the Mid West goes, yeah Na.

Hope you enjoy it but that leg would bore the shit out of me.

You're not wrong there, good advice.

I want to do LA/SF/LV before I move on from the west coast, and want to sneak in a few stops in Canada before doing the rest. I want to do a lot of it by driving, but I certainly wouldn't miss much if I flew straight from Vegas to Calgary. Although seeing all the nutjobs in Salt Lake City could be good for a laugh. Looks like another long stretch of nothing between Winnipeg and Dallas, and again between NO and Columbus.

 

[MrKK]

You're not wrong there, good advice.

I want to do LA/SF/LV before I move on from the west coast, and want to sneak in a few stops in Canada before doing the rest. I want to do a lot of it by driving, but I certainly wouldn't miss much if I flew straight from Vegas to Calgary. Although seeing all the nutjobs in Salt Lake City could be good for a laugh. Looks like another long stretch of nothing between Winnipeg and Dallas, and again between NO and Columbus.

Your route from Las Vegas to Calgary goes close to a lot of great National Parks, if that is your thing. The 5 in Utah (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches), Yellowstone and Glacier.

I agree the stretch between Winnipeg and Dallas would be a whole lotta nothing.

How flexible is your route from NO? I drove from there to DC in 2011 via this route:
follow the Great River Road to Memphis (definitely a city worth visiting)
head through Tennessee/northern Alabama to the Great Smoky Mountains then go over these to North Carolina and join the Blue Ridge Parkway, and follow that onto Shenandoah and all the way into Virginia.
It can be slow going in parts but there is some spectacular scenery and heaps of historical sites and beautiful old towns in Virginia. It also wouldn't be too far from the end of that to get to Columbus if that is somewhere you needed to go.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Your route from Las Vegas to Calgary goes close to a lot of great National Parks, if that is your thing. The 5 in Utah (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches), Yellowstone and Glacier.

I agree the stretch between Winnipeg and Dallas would be a whole lotta nothing.

How flexible is your route from NO? I drove from there to DC in 2011 via this route:
follow the Great River Road to Memphis (definitely a city worth visiting)
head through Tennessee/northern Alabama to the Great Smoky Mountains then go over these to North Carolina and join the Blue Ridge Parkway, and follow that onto Shenandoah and all the way into Virginia.
It can be slow going in parts but there is some spectacular scenery and heaps of historical sites and beautiful old towns in Virginia. It also wouldn't be too far from the end of that to get to Columbus if that is somewhere you needed to go.

Hadn't considered the national parks, that would certainly interest me.

Route from NO is extremely flexible. There to DC isn't a bad idea at all, really had no idea which way to go to get from Texas/NO up to the north-east. Thanks. And Memphis would be way more interesting than a dull drive through Arkansas and Missouri. I guess I could go: DC --> Pittsburg --> Ohio (Columbus & Youngstown) --> Toronto, and then do the rest in a loop on the way back to Philadelphia.

 

[Nelso]

Hadn't considered the national parks, that would certainly interest me.

Route from NO is extremely flexible. There to DC isn't a bad idea at all, really had no idea which way to go to get from Texas/NO up to the north-east. Thanks. And Memphis would be way more interesting than a dull drive through Arkansas and Missouri. I guess I could go: DC --> Pittsburg --> Ohio (Columbus & Youngstown) --> Toronto, and then do the rest in a loop on the way back to Philadelphia.

If I was you I would go straight from Vegas to Vancouver. It is an awesome city. Very much like Sydney being on the harbor. Whistler is only 2 hours north of Vancouver. Plus the drive from Vancouver to Calgary via Banff and Jasper (Icefields Parkway) is one of the best drives in the world. We spent 6 days going from Vancouver to Calgary and it was fantastic. Athabasca Glacier and Lake Louise were unreal (check out the Canada thread here in the Lifestyle forum - I posted some pics from our trip). There is not much in Calgary to do unless you are there when the Stampede is being held. It is not a very large city. I would cut out the Calgary to Winnipeg leg. From what I have read there is not much to see at all. It is all mainly farming land.

Toronto was one of my favourite places. It is very much like Melbourne. Niagara Falls is only 90 minutes down the road. Make sure you go up the CNN tower which is taller than the Empire State Building. Fantastic views. The SkyDome is right next door where the BlueJays play in the MLB.

 

[00Stinger]

Toronto was one of my favourite places. It is very much like Melbourne. Niagara Falls is only 90 minutes down the road. Make sure you go up the CNN tower which is taller than the Empire State Building. Fantastic views. The SkyDome is right next door where the BlueJays play in the MLB.

I found Toronto a little boring personally. I see what you mean about it feeling like Melbourne, it does in many ways. The CN tower is pretty impressive and Niagara Falls are fairly close, but other than that the place is a tad boring. The islands are terrible (the Canadians all recommended them to me as well) and I must say after 5 days i was glad to be moving on from there.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

If I was you I would go straight from Vegas to Vancouver. It is an awesome city. Very much like Sydney being on the harbor. Whistler is only 2 hours north of Vancouver. Plus the drive from Vancouver to Calgary via Banff and Jasper (Icefields Parkway) is one of the best drives in the world. We spent 6 days going from Vancouver to Calgary and it was fantastic. Athabasca Glacier and Lake Louise were unreal (check out the Canada thread here in the Lifestyle forum - I posted some pics from our trip). There is not much in Calgary to do unless you are there when the Stampede is being held. It is not a very large city. I would cut out the Calgary to Winnipeg leg. From what I have read there is not much to see at all. It is all mainly farming land.

Toronto was one of my favourite places. It is very much like Melbourne. Niagara Falls is only 90 minutes down the road. Make sure you go up the CNN tower which is taller than the Empire State Building. Fantastic views. The SkyDome is right next door where the BlueJays play in the MLB.

Thanks for the advice. I've read heaps about Whistler but just wasn't sure how'd I'd fit it in. Seems impossible trying to do both south-west Canada and Texas on one trip. If I did do the Vegas --> Vancouver route, it would give me a chance to see Seattle which is another interest of mine. Could do San Fran on the way instead of before Vegas, too.

Good to know there's something to see from Vancouver to Calgary. Winnipeg is hanging by a thread at this stage, but yeah I have no idea what to expect other than I wanted to see a decent sample of Canada and not just the usual Toronto/Ottawa. I guess I could fly from Calgary to Austin/Dallas/Houston and start again there. It's all in the (very) preliminary stage at the moment.

 

[Nelso]

Thanks for the advice. I've read heaps about Whistler but just wasn't sure how'd I'd fit it in. Seems impossible trying to do both south-west Canada and Texas on one trip. If I did do the Vegas --> Vancouver route, it would give me a chance to see Seattle which is another interest of mine. Could do San Fran on the way instead of before Vegas, too.

Good to know there's something to see from Vancouver to Calgary. Winnipeg is hanging by a thread at this stage, but yeah I have no idea what to expect other than I wanted to see a decent sample of Canada and not just the usual Toronto/Ottawa. I guess I could fly from Calgary to Austin/Dallas/Houston and start again there. It's all in the (very) preliminary stage at the moment.

What time of the year are you going?

Our trip was in October, so there was not much snow at that point of time but Whistler was still packed with mountain bike riders and hikers.

You have to go the through the Rockies in Canada. The scenery is breathtaking. Seattle is a 3 hr drive from Vancouver.

I think you are on the right track with ditching Winnipeg. Flying from Calgary back down to somewhere in Texas is the way to go.

 

[shammersting]

Just returned from US, incredibile..... No need to spend more then one night in Memphis as it's a dump but make sure you see Graceland and Sun Studio. Worth going just for that..

 

[DrVanNostrand]

What time of the year are you going?

Our trip was in October, so there was not much snow at that point of time but Whistler was still packed with mountain bike riders and hikers.

You have to go the through the Rockies in Canada. The scenery is breathtaking. Seattle is a 3 hr drive from Vancouver.

I think you are on the right track with ditching Winnipeg. Flying from Calgary back down to somewhere in Texas is the way to go.

Aiming for about this time next year. Very keen to be there for as long as possible (3 months) so want to make sure I've given myself plenty of time to get my shit together. Here's my revised draft:

People in the know, Salt Lake City and Denver? Two possible stops between Calgary and Texas, either of which worthwhile?

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Vancouver is amazing. It's a beautiful part of the country, especially during winter.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Booked New York flights today (8 nights), Washington DC (3nights) and Orlando (10 nights)

Adelaide to Dubai then onto New York, train it down to Washington DC and then fly down to Orlando.

Leaving Christmas night and coming back mid January. Missing the cricket season again.

 

[Nelso]

Aiming for about this time next year. Very keen to be there for as long as possible (3 months) so want to make sure I've given myself plenty of time to get my shit together. Here's my revised draft:

People in the know, Salt Lake City and Denver? Two possible stops between Calgary and Texas, either of which worthwhile?

Looks great mate. I am jealous!

For your info, this is what we did when we drove from Vancouver to Calgary.

1st day - Vancouver to Kamloops (about 5 hr drive). Not much at Kamloops. It is quite a large town in the middle of nowhere.
2nd day - Kamloops to Jasper (about 5 hr drive). We stayed 2 nights at Jasper. Just go out into the mountains and explore!
4th day - Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway (about 5 hr drive non stop) Stop at the Athabasca Glacier. They take you out to the Glacier on big snow coaches. Also stop at Lake Louise which is at the end of the Icefields Parkway. We stayed 2 nights at Banff. What a place! I could have stayed there much longer exploring the scenery. Make sure you get the gondola up to Sulphur Mountain - unbelievable views. One of the best golf courses I have ever played!!!
6th day - Banff to Calgary (90 min drive). On the way you go past the Ski jump which was used in the Winter Olympics when Calgary was the host.

When you are in Vancouver, make sure you to Whistler via the Sea to Sky Highway. What a great drive, the mountains on one side of the road and the ocean on the other side.

 

[crownie]

anyone been to Indianapolis?

 

[MrKK]

Booked New York flights today (8 nights), Washington DC (3nights) and Orlando (10 nights)

Adelaide to Dubai then onto New York, train it down to Washington DC and then fly down to Orlando.

Leaving Christmas night and coming back mid January. Missing the cricket season again.

Likely to be a blessing in disguise this summer.

 

[Goodo73]

No need to spend more then one night in Memphis as it's a dump but make sure you see Graceland and Sun Studio. Worth going just for that..

I really liked Memphis. Having said that, I understand what you're saying, even though I wouldn't use the word 'dump'.

Agree re Graceland & Sun Studios. I'd also recommend the Rock 'n' Soul Museum and BB King's Blues Club (and I'm no blues fan). I was bummed that I didn't get to the National Civil Rights Museum (ie. the former Lorraine Motel, where MLK Jr. was assassinated).