Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[Special Agent Utah]

NFL fixture come out today, worked out we can get to 2 games.

LA Rams v Texans in LA

Jets v Panthers in NJ

pretty pumped to be honest. have already seen NBA and NHL but missed the NFL Season both times i went previously

Nice!


I have been doing the same thing this morning.

Jets @ Miami
Bears @ New Orleans
Bills @ Jets (Maybe)
Packers @ Bears

Also going to go to Syracuse @ Miami (Day before Dolphins Game)
Aztecs @ UNLV Rebels
Oregon @ Stanford


Pumped. Can't wait for NBA schedule to drop as well

 

[Michaels]

Nice!


I have been doing the same thing this morning.

Jets @ Miami
Bears @ New Orleans
Bills @ Jets (Maybe)
Packers @ Bears

Also going to go to Syracuse @ Miami (Day before Dolphins Game)
Aztecs @ UNLV Rebels
Oregon @ Stanford


Pumped. Can't wait for NBA schedule to drop as well

I'm jealous you got college games as well!

I checked those and every place we go the team is on an away game. Couldn't believe it.


NBA fixture is sometime in August isnt it?

 

[Special Agent Utah]

I'm jealous you got college games as well!

I checked those and every place we go the team is on an away game. Couldn't believe it.


NBA fixture is sometime in August isnt it?

Yeah i think that and the NHL come out about the same time. Yeah i was pretty lucky with the College games! Really looking forward to Oregon game

 

[NitroFan]

At this point it looks like I might get to New England, Green Bay and Minnesota in the first week and then maybe the Raiders in the second week.

Will have a look at college schedules when I get home

edit - quick look at college football and I could do Stanford at San Diego on the 17th of September . A shame San Francisco are playing their Thursday night game in week 3 instead of week 2 as i couldve done San Fran-SD college-Raiders over that weekend.

 

[Michaels]

Yeah i think that and the NHL come out about the same time. Yeah i was pretty lucky with the College games! Really looking forward to Oregon game

You use stub hub for your tickets?

 

[Special Agent Utah]

You use stub hub for your tickets?

I did last time i went over and was fine, Might try Seat Geek as well though

 

[lyall]

Careful buying with seat geek, me and a mate both had our cards blocked after buying through them while over there.

 

[crownie]

exciting time when the NFL schedule gets released.

I'm possibly looking at Colts vs Steelers and Titans and plenty of options to consider in the the other week.

 

[crownie]

Has anyone done their trip solo? Or at least chunks of it?

I am heading back in October and will be by myself for first week and a week in the middle.

last trip was solo for six weeks.

 

[Special Agent Utah]

last trip was solo for six weeks.

Enjoyed it?? Any trouble settling in?

 

[crownie]

Enjoyed it?? Any trouble settling in?

yeah I've been 3 times and it was my best trip but thats nothing to do with me travelling on my own.

I hit a wall after 4 weeks and caught up with someone i knew which helped lifted my spirits and energy for the last 2 weeks but if you are only solo for a few weeks then you shouldn't have any concerns, Americans are friendly and very approachable so if you go out or go on tours someone will mostly likely start talking to you!

 

[Kakkle]

Just came back from a solo trip, only doing Los Angeles & Chicago.

Los Angeles in particular can be a very lonely city if you're alone, thankfully I was not. Made a lot of new friends as well. Americans are by far some of the nicest and welcoming people I've encountered while travelling.

Some thoughts/suggestions/recap on my trip -

Los Angeles ~

- Visit the Getty Center. While the museum itself is quite basic and probably worthy of a very quick rushed look at look, the architecturee is incredibly pleasing. You also get some great views of greater Los Angeles.

- Spend a day in Downtown Los Angeles. I feel like there is a lot more going on downtown then is usually mentioned. Check out the Broad (book free tickets in advance on their website), and check out the MOCA right across the street. Take a walk down S Broadway, and check out the Bradbury Building (where Blade Runner was filmed) & take a walk through Grand Central Market.

- N Fairfax is good for shopping/browsing as well. Kind of like Fitzroy/Brunswick. Amazing you'll see here as well. Saw a very slim Jonah Hill in the Supreme Store. Family Books is a great bookstore worth checking out.

- Eat at Erewhon (thank me later)

- The famous Pink's Hotdog spot is def worth checking out late at night.

- There is literally something on in Los Angeles every night, and it's very easy to not know about these things, below are some links to ensure you don't miss out - Came across a Westworld Q&A at the Dolby Theatre and now I'm convinced I need to marry Evan Rachel Wood.

http://www.laweekly.com/calendar
http://www.songkick.com/metro_areas/17835-us-los-angeles
http://www.ticketfly.com/
http://1iota.com/

- Take a hike up Runyon Canyon (Mulholland Drive entry) Great view of Los Angeles. Griffith Park Observatory never gets old for me.

- Laguna & Manhattan Beach worth visiting for a day trip.

- Saw Edward Norton at a grocery store in Silverlake.

+ A bunch of other stuff I can't really mention on here , would love to spend like a month in Los Angeles, but I feel like I'd lose my mind


Chicago ~

Chicago part of the trip was mainly to watch Blackhawks/Bulls games, so I didn't do a lot of exploring as it was just way to cold (was on average minus 6, yet the last day it was 26 degrees, global warming, eh?)

- Eat at Jim's Original. Those Polish Sausages. Dear god. Although it's a in sketchy area, so don't go down any further south.

- Art Institute of Chicago. I think this is rated best museum in the country? I can see why. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours here.

- Garfield Park Conservatory is really beautiful. I wish we had something like in Melbourne. (Maybe we do?)

- 360 Chicago. Amazing 360 degree view of Chicago.

- You could spend a day walking up and down The Magnificent Mile.

- Check out Wicker Park



TL;DR - Trip was amazing and I can't wait to get back.

 

[Michaels]

what is everyones thoughts on AirBnB opposed to hotels in certain areas?

There looks like a few good ones in LA and we though we may as well just hire a car to get to themeparks etc.

think the wife will need some convincing though!

 

[taseeagles]

what is everyones thoughts on AirBnB opposed to hotels in certain areas?

There looks like a few good ones in LA and we though we may as well just hire a car to get to themeparks etc.

think the wife will need some convincing though!

Just came back from a solo trip, only doing Los Angeles & Chicago.

Los Angeles in particular can be a very lonely city if you're alone, thankfully I was not. Made a lot of new friends as well. Americans are by far some of the nicest and welcoming people I've encountered while travelling.

Some thoughts/suggestions/recap on my trip -

Los Angeles ~

- Visit the Getty Center. While the museum itself is quite basic and probably worthy of a very quick rushed look at look, the architecturee is incredibly pleasing. You also get some great views of greater Los Angeles.

- Spend a day in Downtown Los Angeles. I feel like there is a lot more going on downtown then is usually mentioned. Check out the Broad (book free tickets in advance on their website), and check out the MOCA right across the street. Take a walk down S Broadway, and check out the Bradbury Building (where Blade Runner was filmed) & take a walk through Grand Central Market.

- N Fairfax is good for shopping/browsing as well. Kind of like Fitzroy/Brunswick. Amazing you'll see here as well. Saw a very slim Jonah Hill in the Supreme Store. Family Books is a great bookstore worth checking out.

- Eat at Erewhon (thank me later)

- The famous Pink's Hotdog spot is def worth checking out late at night.

- There is literally something on in Los Angeles every night, and it's very easy to not know about these things, below are some links to ensure you don't miss out - Came across a Westworld Q&A at the Dolby Theatre and now I'm convinced I need to marry Evan Rachel Wood.

http://www.laweekly.com/calendar
http://www.songkick.com/metro_areas/17835-us-los-angeles
http://www.ticketfly.com/
http://1iota.com/

- Take a hike up Runyon Canyon (Mulholland Drive entry) Great view of Los Angeles. Griffith Park Observatory never gets old for me.

- Laguna & Manhattan Beach worth visiting for a day trip.

- Saw Edward Norton at a grocery store in Silverlake.

+ A bunch of other stuff I can't really mention on here , would love to spend like a month in Los Angeles, but I feel like I'd lose my mind


Chicago ~

Chicago part of the trip was mainly to watch Blackhawks/Bulls games, so I didn't do a lot of exploring as it was just way to cold (was on average minus 6, yet the last day it was 26 degrees, global warming, eh?)

- Eat at Jim's Original. Those Polish Sausages. Dear god. Although it's a in sketchy area, so don't go down any further south.

- Art Institute of Chicago. I think this is rated best museum in the country? I can see why. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours here.

- Garfield Park Conservatory is really beautiful. I wish we had something like in Melbourne. (Maybe we do?)

- 360 Chicago. Amazing 360 degree view of Chicago.

- You could spend a day walking up and down The Magnificent Mile.

- Check out Wicker Park



TL;DR - Trip was amazing and I can't wait to get back.

 

[taseeagles]

Hi everyone of to the states next tuesday,of to chicago for 5 days,then minneapolis for 2 days,then fort worth for 4days,then austin for 2 days followed by 3 days in LA, can't wait

 

[Kakkle]

Enjoy your trip! Let me know what Minneapolis is like, I've heard great things, and definitely want to visit it on my next trip.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

what is everyones thoughts on AirBnB opposed to hotels in certain areas?

There looks like a few good ones in LA and we though we may as well just hire a car to get to themeparks etc.

think the wife will need some convincing though!

Did the amount of time in LA feel like too much?

 

[Snake Charmer]

what is everyones thoughts on AirBnB opposed to hotels in certain areas?

There looks like a few good ones in LA and we though we may as well just hire a car to get to themeparks etc.

think the wife will need some convincing though!

I recommend Airbnb for sure. You can get some real,y good deals

 

[Silent Alarm]

Hi everyone of to the states next tuesday,of to chicago for 5 days,then minneapolis for 2 days,then fort worth for 4days,then austin for 2 days followed by 3 days in LA, can't wait

Man, great avatar! Love Reg Mombassa.

 

[Silent Alarm]

Has anyone been to Lollapalooza or Outside Lands?

 

[crownie]

what is everyones thoughts on AirBnB opposed to hotels in certain areas?

There looks like a few good ones in LA and we though we may as well just hire a car to get to themeparks etc.

think the wife will need some convincing though!

Used it twice last year and had no issues, made sure the people i booked with had positive reviews and replied to my messages before i left.

 

[taseeagles]

Enjoy your trip! Let me know what Minneapolis is like, I've heard great things, and definitely want to visit it on my next trip.

Thanks will post a report about my trip,Have got tickets for cubs vs phillies next thursday

 

[FootyJunkie]

Thanks will post a report about my trip,Have got tickets for cubs vs phillies next thursday

Wrigley Field is great... old school feel

 

[Smoooothy]

What does everyone do about SIM cards while they're over there? Is it better to get a prepaid sim once over there or to use an Aussie SIM and enable roaming?

 

[robbieando]

What does everyone do about SIM cards while they're over there? Is it better to get a prepaid sim once over there or to use an Aussie SIM and enable roaming?

I just head into the nearest AT&T Store (or Verizon and T-Mobile) depending on where I'm staying and buy a prepaid sim that lasts for a month and swap out my Aussie SIM. Because calls are included, I make sure I have enough data to last.