Suggestions for destinations in the USA

[naxalite0906]

Hello everyone.

I am writing this as I am in need of some help/advice as I am currently looking into visiting the USA.

As many of you know, I love travelling to the US. I have visited it numerous times in the last few years and with flights dropping in price, and the exchange rate going back up I want to go on another trip.

I am not the type of person who normally travels alone, but last year I changed this by going on my own to New York. This was a good place to go as I had visited the city before so I knew my way around. Plus the city has so many wonderful people that I felt safe and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The next trip I take will also be on my own, so really I am looking for any advice or suggestions that people might be able to offer. I should also mention that I will probably not be hiring a car, or driving anywhere and I am generally looking for a city to visit, rather than somewhere more remote (although that would not be out of the question, but the lack of transport could make it awkward).

I was mainly thinking of places along the East Coast (due to the flight times etc) but anyone taking the time to comment and offer suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I could do NYC again, but its probably time to mix it up. Top of the list right now are Boston and Chicago, but that is no way limited.

Please feel free to comment as I would love to get as much information as possible.

 

[wicked woman]

Both Boston and Chicago would be wonderful choices, although Chicago is usually considered to be in the mid-west and it's no where near the east coast so your flight time would be a bit longer than Boston.


Other options off the top of my head would be Washington, DC, Philadelphia or Savannah.

It might help us if you shared what your preferences are to do when you travel. Also, when are you planning to travel? Summer is much different than late fall.

 

[naxalite0906]

Very true... Oh, and chicago is a direct flight so that doesn't affect the time too much from what I can see.

I have been to philly before, and I'd love to visit it again, but I would rather goto places I haven't seen. (if that makes sense)!

I just like to walk around, take in the sights and meet some new people and see new things. I also want to take in a baseball/nfl game too so I am looking to go in September I guess. Washington was somewhere I considered, but some of my friends who have been weren't too impressed. Maybe they were wrong though!

 

[midwestyankee]

Very true... Oh, and chicago is a direct flight so that doesn't affect the time too much from what I can see.

I have been to philly before, and I'd love to visit it again, but I would rather goto places I haven't seen. (if that makes sense)!

I just like to walk around, take in the sights and meet some new people and see new things. I also want to take in a baseball/nfl game too so I am looking to go in September I guess. Washington was somewhere I considered, but some of my friends who have been weren't too impressed. Maybe they were wrong though!

If watching an American professional baseball or football game is a high priority, then you may be disappointed with a visit to Boston. While Boston is highest on my list of cities to recommend to visitors from abroad (followed by Chicago and San Francisco), both the Red Sox and the Patriots sell their games out completely well in advance. It's quite difficult to get into these games.

The same is not true in Chicago. The White Sox, Cubs, and Bears all do quite well with their ticket sales it's still possible to find tickets for the less popular games (i.e., against opponents that are not traditional rivals or that have a bad record in the current season).

That said, either city can be quite a fine experience for travelers.

 

[naxalite0906]

I know boston has a number of historical landmarks to see, what is there to see in chicago?

 

[wicked woman]

Throwing in my vote for San Francisco as well. That was my first thought but then saw you said east coast.

 

[naxalite0906]

Throwing in my vote for San Francisco as well. That was my first thought but then saw you said east coast.

I have been there and loved the place. It was fantastic. I would love to go back, but its a lonnnnnng flight and if I only have a week to visit somewhere, it may be a little too far. I would love to goto a baseball game there though as the stadium looked amazing.

 

[Netzach]

I know boston has a number of historical landmarks to see, what is there to see in chicago?

A million things, I'll let Yanks sing the praises, but I will say this:

The Architectural boat tour - is something I would never have voluntarily thought to do, but was part of my program, our mandatory Chicago architecture 101 deal. It's great. We followed up going into a Mies office building.

I'd check the lobby of the Rookery out, it's really incredible and it's been in a bunch of movies.

If you wind up staying in the Loop, that's one that's easy to overlook but totally worth doing, the architecture thing. Chicago is still littered with amazing deco treasures you can just walk into and peek around the lobby.

Architecturally, I like Chicago better than NYC in that there's more architectural unity and visible timeline - it's like seeing Jurassic Triassic and Cretaceous in the strata and it makes sense.

Boston, OTOH, is about quaint touchable scale, it's not grand and industrial. It's amazing too.

 

[ownedsubgal]

New Orleans New Orleans New Orleans...the public transpo. is pretty reliable, and the tangible history and romance of the place are just amazing. imo you cannot visit the United States without making a trip to the beautiful south. the idea of "America" being defined by NYC, Chicago, L.A. and San Fran....yikes!!!

 

[naxalite0906]

New Orleans New Orleans New Orleans...the public transpo. is pretty reliable, and the tangible history and romance of the place are just amazing. imo you cannot visit the United States without making a trip to the beautiful south. the idea of "America" being defined by NYC, Chicago, L.A. and San Fran....yikes!!!

*smiles* I would never define America like that. New Orleans wasn't somewhere that I instantly thought of though, and I cannot explain why as it is a silly place to overlook. I will check flights and see how easy it is for me to get there..

 

[ChainedEros]

I agree with OwnedSubGal. You need to get away from places like New York, Chicago and LA. The heart of America is elsewhere in the country. New Orleans is a good suggestion. There's a rich culture and vibrancy there ... and the food! lol

 

[Netzach]

I agree with OwnedSubGal. You need to get away from places like New York, Chicago and LA. The heart of America is elsewhere in the country. New Orleans is a good suggestion. There's a rich culture and vibrancy there ... and the food! lol

Yeah, there's no rich culture or vibrancy or multiculturalism in Chicago. Admittedly, you have to navigate the El a bit to actually encounter it. Same in NYC, if you think you just hop off the plane go downtown and there's the soul of America, it's a little more subtle than that.

Not to dis NOLA which is a perfectly sound choice of vacay.

 

[JMohegan]

I agree with OwnedSubGal. You need to get away from places like New York, Chicago and LA. The heart of America is elsewhere in the country. New Orleans is a good suggestion. There's a rich culture and vibrancy there ... and the food! lol

Where do you consider the "heart of America" to be?



If your goals are NFL & MLB games, plus vibrancy and multiculturalism - Naxalite, have you considered Miami?

 

[ChainedEros]

Yeah, there's no rich culture or vibrancy or multiculturalism in Chicago. Admittedly, you have to navigate the El a bit to actually encounter it. Same in NYC, if you think you just hop off the plane go downtown and there's the soul of America, it's a little more subtle than that.

Not to dis NOLA which is a perfectly sound choice of vacay.

A little more subtle than that. You don't say.

Actually, in your rush to contradict me you made the same point I was making. Visiting "America" is a little more ... subtle ... than hitting the typical tourist spots ... or even downtown USA.

Not to dismiss the typical tourist spots or downtown USA. Just that there are interesting places to be found off the beaten path. That's all.

 

[00Syd]

Boston's alright, I guess. I'm there now for school and coming from NYC (NO OFFENCE BOSTON PEOPLE) it's kind of a downgrade. Its like the size of lower manhattan from Houston down. That's it. You can walk the entire city in a day. Maybe do a tour of the East Coast, go to Boston then make your way down on the bus or the train, hit NYC again, then Philly, then DC and maybe even further if you want.

And if your thinking of Miami I would say reconsider that and go to Ft. Lauderdale instead. A trip to The Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale is worth a flight to Fl.

And, I mean, yeah you already did NYC, but of course I'm going to suggest NYC. Its teh shit!

And lets avoid some silly debate over where the heart of America is because, I mean, really, that's just silly. Of course it's in no one place and no its in the south and no its in the cities and blah blah blah blah blah.... YAWN

 

[00Syd]

Oh, and also, I've been asked before what its like to live in a tourist trap, and I absolutely hate hate hate having NYC dimissed as being just that.

Yeah, its just a tourist trap, nobody lives there. Thbbbtttttt (btw, that's the sound of me sticking my tongue out at the world)


and also, yes, I've had a few to drink by the pool, sorry my thoughts are a little, uh, meadering.

 

[midwestyankee]

Netz is absolutely right about two things: the architecture in Chicago is first rate and a well-preserved local treasure. She's also right that Chicago is a wide-ranging city on many cultural levels. Yes, we have one of the world's best symphony orchestras and certainly a few of the best museums as well (Art Institute, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry), but we are also home to dozens of ethnic groups. For example, one neighborhood that I visit regularly for a class has Swedish, middle eastern, Greek, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Algerian, and Ethiopian restaurants all within walking distance of one another.

I would also argue that there is no single heart of America. We are simply much too varied for there to be a single heart.

 

[Netzach]

A little more subtle than that. You don't say.

Actually, in your rush to contradict me you made the same point I was making. Visiting "America" is a little more ... subtle ... than hitting the typical tourist spots ... or even downtown USA.

Not to dismiss the typical tourist spots or downtown USA. Just that there are interesting places to be found off the beaten path. That's all.

I actually agree with this. I'm the total hit the non-highlights traveler when the itinerary is up to me, but here for that you pretty much need a car.

Although taking greyhound is actually an illuminating experience. Everyone should do it long distance at LEAST once, I think.

 

[JMohegan]

I would also argue that there is no single heart of America. We are simply much too varied for there to be a single heart.

I think people have a right to think of a particular area or type of community as representative of the heart of America, as they see it.

Beyond the obvious geography and political structure, perspectives on what constitutes the essence of America vary considerably, and I'm always interested to learn what people consider that to be.

I don't expect a guy from Mississippi to share my view, and that's okay with me.

 

[midwestyankee]

I think people have a right to think of a particular area or type of community as representative of the heart of America, as they see it.

Beyond the obvious geography and political structure, perspectives on what constitutes the essence of America vary considerably, and I'm always interested to learn what people consider that to be.

I don't expect a guy from Mississippi to share my view, and that's okay with me.

Makes sense to me, but then I'm not a regional parochialist, either. Most people who claim that their part of the country represents the heart of America fail to see that others have legitimate and identical claims.

 

[ChainedEros]

Normally, I wouldn't even address this. But, you guys are reading far more into that "heart of America" phrase than I ever intended. And I never said it was in the South.

Again, all I was suggesting was that the traveler consider parts of America other than the typical tourist destinations. That's it.

There is nothing to debate. There is no need for you to defend your part of country or your lofty opinions.

Like Netzach, I like to visit some of the lesser know locales when I travel. I seem to always leave with a greater appreciation of the country when I do that. If you feel differently, then that's your prerogative.

 

[00Syd]

And lets avoid some silly debate over where the heart of America is because, I mean, really, that's just silly. Of course it's in no one place and no its in the south and no its in the cities and blah blah blah blah blah.... YAWN

Quoting myself because it seems like my well-intentioned advice was ignored! No need to debate this, you guys. Seriously. It will only end in tears.

 

[WriterDom]

I'm going to Charleston SC next week.

 

[ChainedEros]

Quoting myself because it seems like my well-intentioned advice was ignored! No need to debate this, you guys. Seriously. It will only end in tears.

I'm done. I promise not to make them cry.

 

[JMohegan]

Normally, I wouldn't even address this. But, you guys are reading far more into that "heart of America" phrase than I ever intended. And I never said it was in the South.

Again, all I was suggesting was that the traveler consider parts of America other than the typical tourist destinations. That's it.

There is nothing to debate. There is no need for you to defend your part of country or your lofty opinions.

Like Netzach, I like to visit some of the lesser know locales when I travel. I seem to always leave with a greater appreciation of the country when I do that. If you feel differently, then that's your prerogative.

You never said the heart was only found in the South, that's true. However, you did say that America's heart is not to be found in NY, Chicago, LA. (See quote below.)

When I visited the Illinois State Fair, I spoke to lots of local people who responded with comments like: "Oh! Well, welcome to the heart and soul of America!" when I told them where I was from.

I wasn't offended in the slightest. These people were warm, friendly, and clearly proud of the agricultural achievements on display.

They were also part of the whitest, largest (in terms of average body size) crowd of people I've ever seen. There was no evidence of diversity or the Great Melting Pot. The only nod to multiculturalism was an "International Tent" for food - where I stood in line behind an enormous woman, loudly proclaiming: "Hewwwmus? HEWWWWWMUS! I could never eat something called that!"

The Illinois State Fair was clearly American, but it wasn't part of the America in which I interact on a daily basis.

I agree with you, that getting outside the big cities is helpful in developing an appreciation for the range of American experiences. But I also think it would helpful for people who live outside major metropolitan areas to develop an appreciation for America's biggest cities, as something other than a concentration of tourist sites.

I agree with OwnedSubGal. You need to get away from places like New York, Chicago and LA. The heart of America is elsewhere in the country. New Orleans is a good suggestion. There's a rich culture and vibrancy there ... and the food! lol