Aussie Travelling to States: What to do?

[Lord7]

Hey all!

I'm travelling to the states later this year, aiming for September and November. I am definitely going to New York City (always wanted to) for potentially two weeks, but I want to spend 5-6 in the states...so where else to go?

I am currently considering Boston, as it has some awesome touristy attractions such as Salem, I have been to California before so will be avoiding there (not that it wasn't AWESOME but I want to see some new places), and I need ideas as to where to go next!

I am open to suggestions, and there are many awesome people here on Lit who I'm sure can help! Why post here you may ask? Well it's also my not so secret agenda to meet up hopefully with some people from Lit to discover America and perhaps enjoy some more deviant fun

Thanks all in advance

 

[Saint Peter]

It is too crowded here.

Maybe give Canada a try.

 

[Vagina_Dentata]

Walkabout over to San Diego. Should only take a couple days.

 

[yossi]

Salem is really cool to visit, especially that time of year. I went one Columbus day weekend and they had a neat street fair being held with all sorts of junk to buy.

 

[Lord7]

Walkabout over to San Diego. Should only take a couple days.

Always wanted to go to San Diego Comic Con, and I heard it was a cool place. Anything in particular to do when I'm there?

 

[Lord7]

Salem is really cool to visit, especially that time of year. I went one Columbus day weekend and they had a neat street fair being held with all sorts of junk to buy.

That sounds cool! Street markets are rare in Oz so I'd be keen to see how the American's do it

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

After you see the Big Apple (Manhattan), go out to KANSAS and see the little apple, Manhattan.



See how they live in fly-over country...

See the real America. Take a river boat cruise up the Mississippi.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

That sounds cool! Street markets are rare in Oz so I'd be keen to see how the American's do it

Farmer's markets...

 

[Saint Peter]

Kansas?

Say the airfare and just go watch some dirt.

 

[Lord7]

After you see the Big Apple (Manhattan), go out to KANSAS and see the little apple, Manhattan.



See how they live in fly-over country...

See the real America. Take a river boat cruise up the Mississippi.

Duly noted! A river cruise up the Mississippi...hadn't even thought of that! Good call!

 

[yossi]

Philadelphia is another city that's fun to visit, since it looks like you'll be on the east coast, anyway.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

If you stop in St. Louie, avoid East St. Louie (the Illinois side).



It's one step away from Mogadishu...



Petey, one more day to choke day!

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Philadelphia is another city that's fun to visit, since it looks like you'll be on the east coast, anyway.

I've been there.

One scary place...



Atlanta is pretty cool. Well, not in the summer.

 

[Saint Peter]

Petey, one more day to choke day!

Just breathe through your nose.

Peyton will tap on your shoulder. He is a gentleman and shit.

 

[yossi]

Pfft, Philly isn't scary. It's just misunderstood.

 

[Lord7]

Philadelphia, East Coast, got it. What are the main attractions on the east coast

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Pfft, Philly isn't scary. It's just misunderstood.

*chuckle*

I once took a very expensive cab ride in Philly with some of my platoon mates...

It seemed that we were being taken for a ride; we just wanted to see a movie.

Well, he told us he would wait for us and dropped us off at a theater that was showing Taxi Driver, you know, the young De Nero and under-age Jodie Foster...



Needless to say, after that movie, we had nothing to say about the fare. We just paid.

 

[someoneyouknow]

After you see the Big Apple (Manhattan), go out to KANSAS and see the little apple, Manhattan.



See how they live in fly-over country...

See the real America. Take a river boat cruise up the Mississippi.

Have to agree with this. I was in Manhattan, KS in October on my drive most of the way across the country and once you cross the Missouri river, Kansas is a whole other place.

Get halfway out on 70 towards Colorado and the term "see forever" starts to come into play. Also, you can't miss the forest of windmills Kansas has in place.

One other thing you might want to consider IF you do go to Kansas. The Kansas Speedway hosts what is called The Richard Petty Driving Experience. You pay to be driven around the speedway at high speed for either 2 or 4 laps though if you really want to spend big bucks you can go for more.

You park inside the track and can walk to the pit wall. You are in pit lane, just like where the drivers would be and they have the winner's circle open with a car you walk around.

If you're considering this you would have to check the Speedway schedule to see what dates, if any, they have this. I lucked out and made sure to plan my drive out to stop by. It's free to go in and hang out as long as you want.

Oh, and Manhattan, KS is a nice place. Not overly large but it is a university town. For a wide selection of food places and bars you can try Aggieville which is just off the SE corner of the university. Free parking as well!

 

[Lord7]

Have to agree with this. I was in Manhattan, KS in October on my drive most of the way across the country and once you cross the Missouri river, Kansas is a whole other place.

Get halfway out on 70 towards Colorado and the term "see forever" starts to come into play. Also, you can't miss the forest of windmills Kansas has in place.

One other thing you might want to consider IF you do go to Kansas. The Kansas Speedway hosts what is called The Richard Petty Driving Experience. You pay to be driven around the speedway at high speed for either 2 or 4 laps though if you really want to spend big bucks you can go for more.

You park inside the track and can walk to the pit wall. You are in pit lane, just like where the drivers would be and they have the winner's circle open with a car you walk around.

If you're considering this you would have to check the Speedway schedule to see what dates, if any, they have this. I lucked out and made sure to plan my drive out to stop by. It's free to go in and hang out as long as you want.

Oh, and Manhattan, KS is a nice place. Not overly large but it is a university town. For a wide selection of food places and bars you can try Aggieville which is just off the SE corner of the university. Free parking as well!

Awesome! Thank you very much! I've never done anything like that, would be super cool to try it!

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

*sniff* *sniff*

I miss KANSAS!

Right now I'm in Misery...

 

[someoneyouknow]

Philadelphia, East Coast, got it. What are the main attractions on the east coast

Not so much the East Coast but of course D.C., our capital is there with the various Smithsonian museums and the numerous monuments. Across the river, behind the Lincoln Memorial, is Arlington National Cemetery. Mainly a military cemetery, there is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a guard who is always on duty walking back and forth. Not far from the tomb is the monument to and the graves of the Challenger astronauts.

Something a little further outside of D.C. next door to Dulles Airport is the Udvar-Hazy Center. It is part of the Smithsonian. It is one enormous hangar in which planes of all types are housed. They have both an SR-71 AND one of the space shuttles. You can get within a few feet of everything though you cannot climb in any of them. What makes it so odd is you know how big these planes are yet inside the building they look small. Very cool if you're into that kind of stuff.

 

[Lord7]

Not so much the East Coast but of course D.C., our capital is there with the various Smithsonian museums and the numerous monuments. Across the river, behind the Lincoln Memorial, is Arlington National Cemetery. Mainly a military cemetery, there is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a guard who is always on duty walking back and forth. Not far from the tomb is the monument to and the graves of the Challenger astronauts.

Something a little further outside of D.C. next door to Dulles Airport is the Udvar-Hazy Center. It is part of the Smithsonian. It is one enormous hangar in which planes of all types are housed. They have both an SR-71 AND one of the space shuttles. You can get within a few feet of everything though you cannot climb in any of them. What makes it so odd is you know how big these planes are yet inside the building they look small. Very cool if you're into that kind of stuff.

I LOVE Museums, that sounds like the perfect place to visit! Maybe a few days in DC then? Or could you fit it into a day trip?


Thank you very much to all who have contributed so far by the way

 

[someoneyouknow]

I'll keep adding in so my apologies for monopolizing the thread. In Pennsylvania there is the Gettysburg National Battlefield. You can get a CD tour of the battlefield describing, in broad terms, what happened on each day and where. Or, if you prefer to do your own thing, get a map and drive around the battlefield.

One thing which is interesting is people are living on the grounds so it can be odd to see homes along the official route.

You can stop almost anywhere, get out of your car and walk on the fields of battle. There are markers everywhere, everything from small stone to huge monuments as well as actual artillery pieces, representing the units along with a brief description. There are also two or three towers you can climb to get a bird's eye view of the battlefield.

In Virginia there are numerous civil war battlefields to see, again, if you're interested. Everything from the Battle of Bull Run (both battles) to Appomattox Court House where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant.

Also in Virginia is the Fort Lee where they have the Army Ordnance Museum. It houses tanks, weapons and vehicles of all kinds. From their site:

Among some of the many tanks and weapons that will be available for viewing are German, French and British WWII tanks, and Italian tank destroyers. There will also be a variety of Japanese and Soviet tanks from WWII for the public to view. On some of the tanks, there have been parts of the side of the tank grafted out and covered with mesh. This will allow the public to view the inside of the tank as well.

If you go to Kentucky they have the Patton Museum which has its own collection of weapons, vehicles and memorabilia.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

There's a battlefield in KANSAS too!





Bloody KANSAS!

 

[Lord7]

There's a battlefield in KANSAS too!





Bloody KANSAS!

;P I will keep that in mind!