Did New York. It was pretty rad! Had a great time, dropped a bunch of money, totally smashed it at the arcade and now have nearly more cuddly toys than I know kids to give them to.
Now…overtime has reared its gorgeous, potentially profitable head at work once more. If I max it, and hit my usual target (both achievable if I put the effort in) that November pay packet will fund yet another venture to the US of A.
But I don’t know where I want to go. New York was ace, if bloody expensive. And I don’t feel a burning need to revisit just yet, as I did more or less everything I wanted to.
And this, Dear Dakka, is where I seek to impale my ignorance on the spike of your wisdom. Recommend some cities in the USA. Tell me what there is to do (I like visiting filming locations, walks in the park, beaches, food, beer and history).
DC or Boston (though... not for cheap beer, obviously).
DCs still one of my favorites for museums (and older monuments, the newer ones are designed to be just 'generally symbolic'). Lots of forgotten places as well as public ones.
DC has a lot of good steak places for some reason. The Capitol Grille is great if you like dry-aged steak with the occasional floorshow of congressional aides (or congress members themselves) doing something they shouldn't.
Lots of places to walk (especially if you head north from the zoo) and a wide metropolitan area to explore. Baltimore is worth it for a short day visit to the aquarium and Inner Harbor.
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Boston is great for a historical small city, with most of it foot-accessible. Outlying stuff like Salem as well, if you like cheap novelty settings. It does tend toward bloody expensive, however.
I have been to Boston, but so long ago. Like, 28 years ago!
I’m not adverse to revisiting as an adult, but, and you know I mentioned my ignorance? Is it not just a Wee New York, given its geographical location? I mean, that’s what Mr Brain is saying, and we all know he’s an idiot.
They all do. Paid $14 for a Bud last time I was in Portland.
If you want more bang for your buck, there are more interesting places to consider. Miami, San Antonio, Las Vegas, San Diego, etc.
Las Vegas is great, everything's relatively cheap and it has the highest concentration of hobby shops I've ever seen. Pennsylvania is good if you stay out of the cities.
Depends on what you are looking for. What would you like to do for your next visit?
I enjoyed New York because in Manhattan, everything is easy to get to. And because it’s all somewhat spread out, once I’ve done X, I could have a jolly wander and indeed bimble, seeing New Things.
Most days I had one thing in my diary I was doing. That might take three to four hours getting there, doing it, and getting back to my hotel room. New experience experienced, I was then free to explore whatever other delights presented without planning.
If you like filming locations, you really can’t beat LA. You can visit Universal Stidios, all kinds of locations in La, Burbank, watch some show tapings, visit Vazquez Rocks (from every Sci Fi series ever), and an hour or two north of there is Alabama Hills, where practically every western ever was filmed. (Alabama Hills is nearish to Red Rock Canyon and Death Valley, if you want some desert majesty.). There are National parks, mountains, beaches, Disneyland, Medieval Times, Knott’s Berry Farm, Sci Fi conventions if you time it right, museums, and sightseeing tours.
San Francisco/Bay Area is a bit more appealing if you’re a foodie and want to spend less time driving. Parks, famous landmarks, crazy, crazy parades and street performers, the most famous street for car chases, a world-class Nuclear Accelerator, amazing architecture, a strong art and stand up scene, less driving, etc.
If you have the time and inclination, a drive from one to the other along the 101 will pass by the Winchester Mansion, Hearst Castle, Monterey Bay, Carmel By The Sea, and some amazing beachside landscapes.
I enjoyed New York because in Manhattan, everything is easy to get to. And because it’s all somewhat spread out, once I’ve done X, I could have a jolly wander and indeed bimble, seeing New Things.
Most days I had one thing in my diary I was doing. That might take three to four hours getting there, doing it, and getting back to my hotel room. New experience experienced, I was then free to explore whatever other delights presented without planning.
Understood.
I enjoy Las Vegas because of the painted deserts, the mountains, the good dining options and the culture. There is never a lack of things to do, safe to say I've never been bored there. As mentioned before, there are a lot of hobby shops. If you time it right, you could be there for the LVO. Airfare tends to be cheaper than other places, they have an international airport and receive visitors on direct flights from all over the world.
I enjoy Austin because of the live music, the food options (Lockhart is the home of East TX BBQ and about a 30 minute ride outside of the city), the historical buildings and bars. It's a different pace, I tend to be full up on BBQ and want to relax in pools. San Antonio is even better, they have gondolas and the Alamo (along with other bits of Texas history.) Airfare is a little sillier, it's common for a flight to be cancelled.
I enjoy Miami for the beaches, the water sports, the Cuban culture and the art. I've stayed at condos on the beach and spent time in spas, which are outrageously awesome. The town is spread out, you would want to take an Uber between places, but you will not have a bad time doing so because there is so much to see. Miami has an international airport as well, I've received guests there from all over the world.
I enjoy San Diego for the convention center area and the waterfront. They have one of the best food selections on the West Coast, you can take a tour on battleships, and everything is relatively cheap. They have a lot of hobby shops as well, but not as many as Las Vegas. San Diego has an airport, but I'm not sure if you can get an international flight from the UK.
Personally, I'd look at these places before anywhere else in the US. When it comes to travel, I'm usually on business and want a place I can explore while I'm there. If business is not involved, I'm heading for the outdoors. Let me know if you want to talk national parks, which is a whole other ballgame.
What are outer paths? And what daily fresh distraction might they offer an idiot with a shockingly responsible job looking to just escape it all via novel distractions?
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: What are outer paths? And what daily fresh distraction might they offer an idiot with a shockingly responsible job looking to just escape it all via novel distractions?
Outer Banks, NC. Beach islands, tourist central. I've no idea why Kan thinks its 'off the beaten path,' as a huge chunk of the rural MidAtlantic states decamp there and occupy it from memorial day to labor day (end of May to beginning of September), or until hurricane season and the school year chases them off. Almost everyone I know in rural PA that works in libraries, public education or national parks and is 45 years or older takes their entire fething extended families down there for a chunk of Every. Single. Summer. (Seriously, I have co-workers (and their daughters and their daughters' kids) there right now, and another that has rental property down there that he complains about never getting to use himself.)
When yokels who've never left the country tell you that at least they've been out of their home state for something other than various high school sports play-offs, the Outer Banks is the one other place they've been. Avoid.
If you've spent even one single day on a crowded American beach, you know enough.
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: What are outer paths? And what daily fresh distraction might they offer an idiot with a shockingly responsible job looking to just escape it all via novel distractions?
Outer Banks, NC. Beach islands, tourist central. I've no idea why Kan thinks its 'off the beaten path,'
I suggested something off the beaten path and then suggested the Outer Banks. The two were not one single thought.
as a huge chunk of the rural MidAtlantic states decamp there and occupy it from memorial day to labor day (end of May to beginning of September), or until hurricane season and the school year chases them off. Almost everyone I know in rural PA that works in libraries, public education or national parks and is 45 years or older takes their entire fething extended families down there for a chunk of Every. Single. Summer. (Seriously, I have co-workers (and their daughters and their daughters' kids) there right now, and another that has rental property down there that he complains about never getting to use himself.)
When yokels who've never left the country tell you that at least they've been out of their home state for something other than various high school sports play-offs, the Outer Banks is the one other place they've been. Avoid. If you've spent even one single day on a crowded American beach, you know enough.
It's worth mentioning that simply saying "the Outer Banks" is a huge thing. It's also a spot that is possibly going to be gone within our lifetimes because of environmental changes.
What you're referring to is the Crystal Coast aka the more "touristy" bits. You can still visit the Outer Banks and not be really doing the whole tourist trap nonsense.
Alaska, I'm pretty sure if you want to go for places people usually don't to go as often, I doubt that's often raised as a common state to go to during the summer.
Up until recently I would have recommended New Orleans or Seattle, but both cities have growing crime and homeless problems.
A coworker and a friend both took trips within the past couple months to NOLA and both had encounters with gun crime on/near Bourbon Street (which is very touristy but also has some very good restaurants). Neither were hurt, in one case hot-headed gang kids got into a tussle after they bumped eachother on Bourbon Stand ended up pulling guns but cooler heads prevailed and they walked off instead of pulling triggers, in the other case they basically turned the corner walking back to their hotel as someone was shot dead on the opposite corner.
Seattle doesn't quite have the issue with gun crime, but friends in the area have been complaining about growing petty theft/muggings in the cool parts of downtown Seattle that everyone goes to visit, so I'm not sure how safe it is.
San Francisco likewise has a monstrous homelessness problem with a lot of drug issues, but less crime trouble.
San Antonio and Austin Texas are supposed to be a great time, never been myself but many of my friends have and say only good things, though politically the state is becoming a bit of a hot-button problem.
Boston is a great time, its been a few years since I was last up there, but if nothing has changed theres about two females for every male that lives in the city limits, many of whom are young and attractive, so if you're into that you might have a good time. Its always been a really interesting city to me, very modern vibes but also very old architecturally in terms of urban planning, I like the energy.
If you time it right, I also really recommend Columbus, Ohio - come during Origins for some gaming and nerdiness during convention season - enjoy the food, fun, theater, etc. Note - Columbus is a somewhat stereotypical mid-western city, almost nobody actually lives in Columbus, everyone lives in the suburbs and surrounding rural areas and commutes in and out, so it can feel somewhat dead and deserted in the evenings in large parts of the city which can make for an eerie experience. Theres definitely an active nightlife, but its dominated by the college aged crowd going to bars, clubs, and concerts located in certain areas of the city, other areas will be stunningly quiet. If you go during Origins theres a lot of activity around the hotels and convention center though. The city itself though, outside of some spectacular restaurants and local events, doesn't necessarily have a lot going on, theres not a ton of interesting or exciting history thats happened in Columbus unlike places like NYC, Seattle, NOLA, Boston, LA, etc.
Phoenix is also a fun city, fairly cosmopolitan as almost nobody actually seems to be native to Phoenix, everyone is a transplant from somewhere else - but the city is absolutely sprawling, they build out rather than up. The most interesting things about Phoenix is the landscape around it, the mountains and desert, grand canyon not too too far north (day trip/overnight trip it). The city itself is very new for the most part, events/clubs/bars/restaurants a plenty but not a ton of historical landmarks and the like to spend your time on.
Most people will disagree with me, but Chicago is the worst, nothing good comes from Chicago. (In reality its okayish, lots of crime and gang violence issues in some areas of the city, good food but feels like the city is a never-ending traffic jam sometimes and a lot of the city and surrounding areas are very run down and its frighteningly easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the tracks if you don't pay attention).
If you're into sun, surf, and wild nightlife Miami is a great time (though personally for me the best part of Miami is all the Art Deco architecture, it looks like nowhere else I've ever seen). Its a bit too crazy and fast-paced for my liking personally but I know others who really dig it. Still, Little Havana has some incredible Cuban food and you can get high-end hand-rolled cigars for a really good price, walk a few blocks and have a smoke on a lovely (albeit likely crowded) beach.
Nashville, Memphis, and Louisville also have some interesting stuff going on but I don't know a ton about them - I'm sure someone else can fill in details better than I can.
And yeah, I'll echo what Voss said. Everyone and their cousin goes to the Outer Banks, its basically become the new Jersey Shore with lots of people owning summer and/or retirement homes down there. Lots of people in the northeast (or at least in the NY/NJ/PA area) have basically been priced out of owning summer homes along the Jersey shore and the beaches themselves have become almost miserably crowded in a lot of areas. The blue-collar american dream is still attainable for those folks in the Outer Banks though so its become a destination for people up here. Same with South Carolina, it feels like every 3rd car in New Jersey has a palmetto and crescent bumper sticker.
Did New York. It was pretty rad! Had a great time, dropped a bunch of money, totally smashed it at the arcade and now have nearly more cuddly toys than I know kids to give them to.
Now…overtime has reared its gorgeous, potentially profitable head at work once more. If I max it, and hit my usual target (both achievable if I put the effort in) that November pay packet will fund yet another venture to the US of A.
But I don’t know where I want to go. New York was ace, if bloody expensive. And I don’t feel a burning need to revisit just yet, as I did more or less everything I wanted to.
And this, Dear Dakka, is where I seek to impale my ignorance on the spike of your wisdom. Recommend some cities in the USA. Tell me what there is to do (I like visiting filming locations, walks in the park, beaches, food, beer and history).
not America but proably close eneugh for you, but I'd suggest Vancouver BC Canada. wonderful city
chaos0xomega wrote:Really, thinking about US cities... most of them are kinda shitholes.
Maybe just avoid the US.
Some people are quite happy visiting a war zone / revolutionary camp. See my post at the top of the thread.
But not every US city is a shithole. It's a matter of how you want to occupy your time. I'm on a nature kick right now and mostly focus trips to places with a nearby national park.
Nashville, Memphis, and Louisville also have some interesting stuff going on but I don't know a ton about them - I'm sure someone else can fill in details better than I can.
While it’s been a while since I lived there full time, I’ve still got family in Louisville and visit a few times a year.
It’s a nice mix. It’s got some of the perks of a big city (zoo, orchestra, theater, some museums, sports) but it’s not huge. Tons of good restaurants and a lot of foodie stuff. If you are into horse racing there is Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby (they do not run all year, museum is nice if you care) If you are into baseball they built a very nice stadium where you can catch a minor league game, and there is the Louisville Slugger museum. The city has a bit of history scattered around, both human and natural. The Falls of the Ohio are where rapids forced people on the river to portage around and is why the city is where it is. They built a lock/dam now, and one of the perks is that often you can go and walk out on the old riverbed and walk back in geological time looking at fossils. Lot of greenspace and parks around. Small amusement park at the old fairgrounds. Fort Knox is not far away; I understand the armor museum is no longer there, but still might be worth a day trip. Mammoth Cave is also within striking distance.
My understanding is that they are trying to get more stuff going on downtown, but it does have the issue of historic white flight where all the money went to the suburbs. While not NYC, there is a bus system to help get around. But cars are the amaricain way, and it’s a pretty sprawling city. Traffic is not horrible, as it’s laid out pretty well.
Phoenix does sound interesting. Seems I get a non-stop flight from Heathrow, flying Business Class, for around £2,400. Given its a near 11 hour flight, I wouldn’t fly anything less than Business Class!
Seattle doesn't quite have the issue with gun crime, but friends in the area have been complaining about growing petty theft/muggings in the cool parts of downtown Seattle that everyone goes to visit, so I'm not sure how safe it is.
#1 piece of advice for anyone concerned with personal safety and not being a victim of crime: you gotta look like you know what you're on about. . . Basically, don't be staring at your phone. Keep your head up and looking around. If you LOOK like someone who's paying attention, would-be criminals do not see an easy target, and will often steer clear.
Last time I was up in the Seattle area, well, both times, things were perfectly fine. Most recently, we went to MOPOP for the Mrs. birthday (which is near enough to a bunch of touristy stuff that you could easily make a day of the whole area)
But the cool thing with Seattle is that if museums and whatnot aren't your thing, and if downtown urban stuff isn't your thing, its such a good sized metro area that there's plenty around as you get out toward Federal Way, or even all the way down to Tacoma (but I generally dislike Tacoma. . . Far far too easy to go from a decent part of town, to a gak part of town in a blink)
I’d back up the “don’t look like an easy mark”. I’m nor sure I can really describe how. I’m lucky enough to be tall and heavy set, and in terms of the West, ethnically ambiguous.
Don’t get me wrong here. I am a self avowed wuss. But. Crucially? I don’t look it, and whilst I never act “The Big I Am”, I don’t look as meek and mild and wussy as I truly am.
Always be aware of your surroundings, and the folk within. That is not to say be paranoid. Just aware. Awareness will carry you quite far in life.
I’ve been watching Ghostbusters (nice to be able to mentally map the locations), and Gremlins, now onto to Gremlins 2.
The opening of Gremlins 2 in particular makes me want to revisit New York already, as I managed to entirely miss Chinatown and Little Italy!
My ex was American and about 10 years ago we went for a road trip through parts of the South. We went from Washington DC through Tennessee to Memphis and then went back through Georgia to Savannah, up through the Carolinas and back up to DC.
Washington DC is pretty cool, lots of museums. I particularly liked the Spy Museum and the Newseum. Both really interesting, something a little more unusual. The Smithsonian is real cool. There was also the Museum of the American Indian that was really worth going to see.
I really liked Nashville, lots of nice bars and nice to float about. I like folk music and very specific non-bollocks country music. There's cool stuff around there, plenty of bars with talented musicians hoping to make it. I'm a big fan of blues music so I thought Memphis would be great but I didn't really like it. The studio tours were pretty cool but the main drag was a bit naff.
Savannah was great to visit but I don't think it would be worth doing a full trip there.
My wife went to New Orleans a while ago, she really enjoyed it, I've not been but always wanted to go. Austin, Texas would also be a place to recommend. She also went to places in New Mexico which were fantastic. I don't know if you can go direct though.
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: Tell me what there is to do (I like visiting filming locations, walks in the park, beaches, food, beer and history).
Some of this depends on time. You can make a case for any city in the US (really, you can!) but I'd at keep weather in mind. Winter can be pretty miserable in the northern half, while summer can be oppressive in the south. Fall is often really nice in both though.
I'd also ask if you were willing to either rent a car, or look into train/bus to visit a string of cities. There are certainly plenty of cities that will give you a weeks worth of stuff to do, but there are also some neat pockets where smaller cities are spread out a couple hundred miles that can be rewarding.
Assuming you're going in or after November, I would recommend Miami. It's crazy diverse, has amazing food, cool art, wonderful beaches, and it hits the sweet spot of being a common enough tourist destination to have all the infrastructure while not being too expensive.
If you're willing to be mobile, I'd consider flying into Atlanta, spending a few days there, then hitting Savannah, Asheville, and Charleston each for a day or two. Atlanta has a great walkable downtown, Asheville is a beer drinkers paradise, Savannah and charleston both have history and fine dining.
You'll have an amazing time in Kansas City. BBQ to die for, Kemper and Nelson Atkins Museums of Art, The Riverfront, Steamboat Arabia, lots of beautiful fountains, the Plaza and Power and Light districts. One hasn't lived until they've had In-A-Tub tacos, a KC experience.
The US has a decent interstate system, maybe just rent a car and go from place to place. That's what I did with a friend, we had a few "missions" of things we wanted to see but otherwise just spent a few days in each city, stopped by a few smaller towns to see some local attractions or just stop by the local pub for a meal and have chat to the locals.
We started in NYC, to Niagra Falls, a couple of small towns on the way to Indianapolis to watch a NASCAR race, a mission out to the midwest, back down to St Louis for a night, a few days wandering around Kentucky seeing some small towns and local attractions, down to Nashville for a few nights (mostly staying off the main drag and enjoying some smaller and friendlier joints), over to South Carolina for another mission, down to Georgia, up through the mountains to see some nice scenery for a couple of days north of Atlanta, took the long way up the Appalachians heading towards DC stopping only briefly but enjoying the scenery, didn't end up spending any time in DC itself but checked out Baltimore for some crab (don't stray too far from the port area, things get pretty rough pretty quick outside of it), stopped by Philadelphia for some cheesesteaks, saw some sights around PA and then back to NYC to fly out.
Stopped at a lot of smaller towns and attractions on the way.
It probably says something about me and the places I'm likely to frequent, but the only place I remember paying a lot for booze was Nashville, lol. The general plan was to get somewhere in the afternoon, park the car, get a few beverages, then drive out after a day or two.
I would have like to have gotten down to Louisiana, but I had a limited vacation window and it was the middle of the hot and humid season, so we decided to skip. If I ever get a chance to go back then I might do a similar thing but on the west coast.
Baltimore has a very nice tourist district with an aquarium, a tall ship, and a ferry ride out to a revolutionary war fort. I visited Baltimore and did not die! I should have bought the T-shirt!
I think you could make a nice little visit with some rental cars of TN with Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis all nearby. You could also do a fun little triangle with Sr, Louis, Omaha, and KC but again a rented car would be a must.
How much does a rental car run to? In terms of cost.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I’m also super nervous about that, as I’d be driving on the other side (the wrong side) of the road. And I’d want a manual transmission, because that’s what I’m used to.
Easy E wrote: Baltimore has a very nice tourist district with an aquarium, a tall ship, and a ferry ride out to a revolutionary war fort. I visited Baltimore and did not die! I should have bought the T-shirt!
Yeah, some okay-ish restaurants too, but the tourist district is small, stray a few blocks from there and things get sketchy. I've been there a couple of times and I grab a hotel not far from the port, drive in, park my car, then everything you want to see will be within walking distance.
I did venture outside of the tourist area a couple of times just to see what the vibe was like and the surrounding areas gave me a sketchy sort of vibe. Those sorts of areas exist in most cities but it was impressive how quickly it switched from "nice tourist area" to "wouldn't want to get caught down a dark alley".
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I visited Baltimore, as you say, nice tourist area, but I probably wouldn't spend more than a couple of days there.
It was close to a decade ago I was there, not sure what'd be like these days, a local might have a better idea.
I’m also super nervous about that, as I’d be driving on the other side (the wrong side) of the road. And I’d want a manual transmission, because that’s what I’m used to.
I got used to it pretty quick. The main thing was sitting on the wrong side of the car while driving. Good luck finding a manual in the USA, lol, they love their automatics. I did drive manuals while I was over there, and I got used to them pretty quick, but manuals weren't the first car I jumped into (not for lack of trying, I just couldn't find them). In Oz I've driven manuals since day 1, they're the only cars I've owned, and I adjusted pretty quick.
I lived over there for a while, the only time I got confused was when I had been over there for a year, flew back to Oz and drove here for a few weeks, then flew back and drove over there, it seemed to confuse my brain and there was 1 time after that back-and-forth that I drove on the wrong side of the street But it was an unmarked road so I'll blame that, haha. The centre lines in the US are yellow and every other marking is white, so that helps a bit.
Easy E wrote: Rental cars are super expensive right now.
Most places downsized the fleet during COVID, and have had a hard time upgraded with new vehicles due to the chip shortage.
At least, that is the "official' answer.
Part of it is that, another part of it is that the majority of rental companies work with local US auto dealers (for instance, I work at a Chevy store, and we use Enterprise for rental coverage beyond what our pathetic fleet of loaners can handle, especially for multi-day things). Due to availability of repair parts, we sometimes had up to 30 or 40 rental bookings with that local Enterprise. . . Per Day. And that Enterprise location handles my dealer as well as the VW, Subaru, Ford/Lincoln, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, and Hyundai dealers. So you can imagine the pressure put on the entire system if the other dealers have similar issues with their supply chains (I know for a fact the Ford dealer was hurting as much as we were with backordered stuff)
The "best" part of it all, for me, is that GM covers up to, I think 50-70 bucks a day for rental coverage if your car is down in the shop for warranty work. . . At its worst, the cheapest/smallest rental was 80-100 bucks a day.
Not at all sold on a rental car. I do love driving (I do a 140 miles round trip commute twice a week, so I better love it!), but not sure I’d want to do it as a holiday.
Much more keen on pitching up in a city and exploring it.
If I do go back to NYC, and I can book in at the New Yorker again (it’s not great, but it’s clean and centrally located, so plenty good enough. Shame the attached diner is a bit crap. Those chicken tenders were vile. And my fries soggy), then I’ll be nicely located for a train station and bus station to head much further afield should I fancy seeing more.
Olthannon wrote: My ex was American and about 10 years ago we went for a road trip through parts of the South. We went from Washington DC through Tennessee to Memphis and then went back through Georgia to Savannah, up through the Carolinas and back up to DC.
Washington DC is pretty cool, lots of museums. I particularly liked the Spy Museum and the Newseum. Both really interesting, something a little more unusual. The Smithsonian is real cool. There was also the Museum of the American Indian that was really worth going to see.
The Newseum unfortunately closed some years back.
The museum of the American Indian is something of a horror show in how not to do a museum (by committee, with minimal input from the peoples it supposedly represents). Any group that didn't sign on was cut out, and largely goes unrepresented. The rest are badly mis-represented, as various nations are glomped together in weird cultural-mishmashes, language and religious groups that they themselves don't recognize. At times the museum gives the impression of a singular, but divided, people that isn't anyone's lived experience.
Custer has more of an exhibit there (or did, when I gave into my morbid curiosity and went) than many of the tribes he fought. Its pretty much hands down the worst museum experience I've ever had, an error built by bureaucracy and extremely embarrassing (to put it mildly). Go next door to the botanic garden or Air & Space instead.
Olthannon wrote: My ex was American and about 10 years ago we went for a road trip through parts of the South. We went from Washington DC through Tennessee to Memphis and then went back through Georgia to Savannah, up through the Carolinas and back up to DC.
Washington DC is pretty cool, lots of museums. I particularly liked the Spy Museum and the Newseum. Both really interesting, something a little more unusual. The Smithsonian is real cool. There was also the Museum of the American Indian that was really worth going to see.
The Newseum unfortunately closed some years back.
The museum of the American Indian is something of a horror show in how not to do a museum (by committee, with minimal input from the peoples it supposedly represents). Any group that didn't sign on was cut out, and largely goes unrepresented. The rest are badly mis-represented, as various nations are glomped together in weird cultural-mishmashes, language and religious groups that they themselves don't recognize. At times the museum gives the impression of a singular, but divided, people that isn't anyone's lived experience.
Custer has more of an exhibit there (or did, when I gave into my morbid curiosity and went) than many of the tribes he fought. Its pretty much hands down the worst museum experience I've ever had, an error built by bureaucracy and extremely embarrassing (to put it mildly). Go next door to the botanic garden or Air & Space instead.
That's a real shame about the Newseum, it had some great exhibits.
As for the NMAI, I had heard that before I went and I was reasonably dubious. We had actually just been to the botanic garden and still had some time left. I think when I went in 2013, the director was a Pawnee man and had changed up a lot of stuff. I'm not sure if that was the case when you visited?
As a foreigner, it was interesting anyway. Architecturally odd certainly. As someone who has spent a good deal of their working life in a museum, a lot have much more to offer than what you see in exhibits. Unfortunately, the people with knowledge, understanding and skills are underpaid, don't get much of a say in the running of the museum and aren't given much of a platform to make a difference. It is much worse in the UK right now. But anyway, that's enough of that
Being from southern California and growing up in North Hollywood, yes, it is definitely the film capital with lots to see - even if you just get out to Vasquez Rocks in Acton to see the super familiar rock hills that you saw in dozens of TV and movies (remember the Gorn and Capt. Kirk on Star Trek?), the ONLY Universal Studios in the country where they actually filmed just about everything way back when (every other Universal location is just a movie-themed park with no connection to anything they actually filmed), Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Hollywood (Walk of Fame), etc.
That being said, you would need a car to get around and many areas are simply NOT SAFE and traffic will be he bane of your existence.
However, I have lived in Austin, TX for the last couple of decades and it is a super cool town and you can get around with an Uber or two wherever you want to go with some walking downtown. Great food, awesome music, a bit of film industry, soccer, F1 racing, Colorado river, super cool vibe. I could give you a list of the things that are 'musts' to do and maybe even send my adult sons along to keep you company.
My oldest son had a girl from England that came to visit him for holiday twice a number of years ago, she liked Austin so much. On her last trip here they went to Las Vegas for a couple of days, which is definitely a town everyone should experience once in their life.
Someone else suggested Nashville and that is a super neat place to visit, if you are into the country western music scene. Lots of museums and places to ditch into - I enjoyed the few days I was there.
Edit: San Diego is a totally great place. I lived there for a couple of years when I was in the Navy and you can take the trolley down to Tijuana if you a re feeling adventurous and brave. They have great scenic beaches, great parks, the best zoo in the country, great nightlife, etc. I have my middle son living there now, as he is a pilot in the Navy - maybe he could show you a few hangouts.
Olthannon wrote: My ex was American and about 10 years ago we went for a road trip through parts of the South. We went from Washington DC through Tennessee to Memphis and then went back through Georgia to Savannah, up through the Carolinas and back up to DC.
Washington DC is pretty cool, lots of museums. I particularly liked the Spy Museum and the Newseum. Both really interesting, something a little more unusual. The Smithsonian is real cool. There was also the Museum of the American Indian that was really worth going to see.
The Newseum unfortunately closed some years back.
The museum of the American Indian is something of a horror show in how not to do a museum (by committee, with minimal input from the peoples it supposedly represents). Any group that didn't sign on was cut out, and largely goes unrepresented. The rest are badly mis-represented, as various nations are glomped together in weird cultural-mishmashes, language and religious groups that they themselves don't recognize. At times the museum gives the impression of a singular, but divided, people that isn't anyone's lived experience.
Custer has more of an exhibit there (or did, when I gave into my morbid curiosity and went) than many of the tribes he fought. Its pretty much hands down the worst museum experience I've ever had, an error built by bureaucracy and extremely embarrassing (to put it mildly). Go next door to the botanic garden or Air & Space instead.
That's a real shame about the Newseum, it had some great exhibits.
As for the NMAI, I had heard that before I went and I was reasonably dubious. We had actually just been to the botanic garden and still had some time left. I think when I went in 2013, the director was a Pawnee man and had changed up a lot of stuff. I'm not sure if that was the case when you visited?
As a foreigner, it was interesting anyway. Architecturally odd certainly. As someone who has spent a good deal of their working life in a museum, a lot have much more to offer than what you see in exhibits. Unfortunately, the people with knowledge, understanding and skills are underpaid, don't get much of a say in the running of the museum and aren't given much of a platform to make a difference. It is much worse in the UK right now. But anyway, that's enough of that
The architecture is actually an interesting story (with a couple layers of issues, the primary architect was removed due to 'disagreements'), but his plans were still followed). The roof is supposed to open, and the circular area at the base of the spiral ramp is supposed to be a ritual space. I don't know if it has ever been used that way (past the opening ceremonies), but that was the design intent. I know they've used a space outside for events & rituals, however. But it is very interesting, which is a change from a lot of the 21st century monuments and museums (design and groundbreaking was done in the 90s), which are symbolically pretty empty. Most older stuff in DC has layers of symbolism.
But yeah, I went not long after it opened (I lived down there for several years, and a friend and I regularly went to various museums- we decided to take a look I think in 2005?) Let's just say I agreed with the Washington Post critiques of the initial opening.
As for having more to offer- oh yeah. Definitely feel that from my own work. Unfortunately, their collection has a lot of issues- its primarily based on the 'collection' of George Heye, a fairly typical 19th/early 20th century 'collector' and for some reason is explicitly exempt from the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which is hugely problematic.
Nah, plenty of the US is still fine. It's the coastal very large city areas that are going to hell in a handbasket. Just don't hang out in San Fran, New York, etc...
I would say maybe start somewhere like Portland or Seattle, but immediately get a long distance rental car and drive cross country. Go through Glacier National Park, drive down to Yellowstone, maybe Craters of the Moon. Then drive down to Texas and fly out from there, or if you're willing for a little bit longer travel keep going along the coast and fly out of Florida.
You'll get to see the best landscapes in the world.
For natural beauty, I would put Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and Zion above the Grand Canyon. I’d also put the Tetons above Yellowstone, but Yellowstone is definitely worth a visit. Jacksonhole was way more crowded and frustrating than any big, coastal city.
California has Yosemite, of course, along with the 1/101 coastal drive, Mt Shasta, Big Bear, Tahoe, the Bay, etc.. The deserts are amazing (especially during the superbloom), the mountains are beautiful places to hike and camp, and the beaches are fabulous. In one day, you can start at the Salton Sea, walk on a beach made of skulls (fish and bird skulls, anyway), drive to the desert of Anza Borrego, walk past the cacti and butterflies, drive over the dry mountain into a forest, past a lake overlook, up to Palomar, play in the snow and the woods, then continue on past the protected wetlands and experience sunset on the beach. You can hike Mt Whitney and drive down to Death Valley past the Alabama Rocks and the Star Wars Canyon.
For big cities, New York is my favorite to visit. I’ve been there twice and would love to go again and again. Seattle was a blast. I used to live in San Francisco and fell in love with that city, although the tech bro gentrification seems to have sapped some of its character. I’d recommend parts of Oakland for foodie purposes: dim sum in Oakland Chinatown beats SF Chinatown’s, and there is a place called Cafe Colucci I can’t recommend highly enough. We always make time to eat there when we are in the area. San Diego is also a fun city to spend time in, and has some rather legendary nightlife for a single young man, especially during/after Comicon.
I have to say Tennessee would not be one of the first places I'd send someone who's visiting the country. And that's not a knock on the place, it just doesn't rate that way like plenty of other states and cities.
I can say it's a vacation that my wife and I really enjoyed. Between Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, Tuckaleechee Caverns, etc. There are a lot of things to see and do that are historic, natural, and touristy. A nice slice of the USA that isn't just a big city.
Just tossing the suggestion out there for Mad Doc to consider.
gorgon wrote: I have to say Tennessee would not be one of the first places I'd send someone who's visiting the country. And that's not a knock on the place, it just doesn't rate that way like plenty of other states and cities.
I agree, it might be "nice" but it certainly isn't a vacation destination for someone coming here from a foreign country. You can find the same scenery in half the Eastern US and outside of scenery and Civil War museums, there isn't a whole lot there. I would definitely do the national parks out West, or cities like NYC, Chicago, or Miami before Pidgeon Forge TN. That's a dream vacation for your uncle who's obsessed with NASCAR and collects Case pocket knives with Confederate flags on them but probably not very exciting for anyone from Europe.
These from techsoldaten's post seem like pretty solid suggestions to me. IME, Miami can be a little divisive, but it's certainly an interesting American place. San Diego might be the all-around nicest American city I've visited.
Spoiler:
techsoldaten wrote: I enjoy Las Vegas because of the painted deserts, the mountains, the good dining options and the culture. There is never a lack of things to do, safe to say I've never been bored there. As mentioned before, there are a lot of hobby shops. If you time it right, you could be there for the LVO. Airfare tends to be cheaper than other places, they have an international airport and receive visitors on direct flights from all over the world.
I enjoy Austin because of the live music, the food options (Lockhart is the home of East TX BBQ and about a 30 minute ride outside of the city), the historical buildings and bars. It's a different pace, I tend to be full up on BBQ and want to relax in pools. San Antonio is even better, they have gondolas and the Alamo (along with other bits of Texas history.) Airfare is a little sillier, it's common for a flight to be cancelled.
I enjoy Miami for the beaches, the water sports, the Cuban culture and the art. I've stayed at condos on the beach and spent time in spas, which are outrageously awesome. The town is spread out, you would want to take an Uber between places, but you will not have a bad time doing so because there is so much to see. Miami has an international airport as well, I've received guests there from all over the world.
I enjoy San Diego for the convention center area and the waterfront. They have one of the best food selections on the West Coast, you can take a tour on battleships, and everything is relatively cheap. They have a lot of hobby shops as well, but not as many as Las Vegas. San Diego has an airport, but I'm not sure if you can get an international flight from the UK.
Personally, I'd look at these places before anywhere else in the US. When it comes to travel, I'm usually on business and want a place I can explore while I'm there. If business is not involved, I'm heading for the outdoors. Let me know if you want to talk national parks, which is a whole other ballgame.
Also, as others have said, Boston might scratch your itch.
It's obviously full of history, fun (lots of young people at all the local colleges bring that energy), and just generally kind of an interesting mix of old and new. It's not far from NYC, but definitely has a different vibe. Driving around there absolutely sucks, but Boston has a pretty good public transit system for an American city. Which might be up your alley, MDG.
gorgon wrote: Do you really think the touristy sections of major cities are filled with gunfire?
When a city has more instances of indiscriminate gun violence and crime than another locale, do you REALLY need to assume that all the shooting is happening where you'd intend to visit/tourist at? Don't be obtuse. My point is that supercities like that have some MAJOR issues and really don't reward with enough to deal with the bs. I dread every time I need to go to Chicago, for instance.
A low-key southern vacation spot isn't nearly as bad as some people in the thread are selling it as.
If violent crime is a concern, definitely avoid bigger cities along the west and east coasts. Though you are quite unlikely to be the target of random violence, it's really not that bad as long as you aren't walking through the most scuzzy of areas. The bigger concern is stuff like pickpocketing and petty theft, stuff which tourists are absolutely a target of and will be everywhere in touristy areas. Definitely don't go to San Fransisco or NY if you want to avoid that. It's not really even illegal in CA anymore.
But like anything, stuff like that can be avoided with a little self-awareness. There are plenty of videos online about how to avoid pickpockets. Don't leave valuable stuff in your car, etc... If an area seems shady, it probably is.
gorgon wrote: Do you really think the touristy sections of major cities are filled with gunfire?
When a city has more instances of indiscriminate gun violence and crime than another locale, do you REALLY need to assume that all the shooting is happening where you'd intend to visit/tourist at? Don't be obtuse. My point is that supercities like that have some MAJOR issues and really don't reward with enough to deal with the bs. I dread every time I need to go to Chicago, for instance.
A low-key southern vacation spot isn't nearly as bad as some people in the thread are selling it as.
As someone who lived in Oakland for a while, and now lives in a smaller “gunfire city”, I think the news have made you more afraid than you really need to be. Especially if you are just staying in the parts of the city with hotels and museums and shops. Cities are not as dangerous as they are portrayed any more than rural folk are all Deliverance and Texas Chainsaw.
However, it would help us give Mad Doc Grotsnik better advice if he could weigh in with more specifics on what he really wants to get out of a vacation.
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Grey Templar wrote: If violent crime is a concern, definitely avoid bigger cities along the west and east coasts. Though you are quite unlikely to be the target of random violence, it's really not that bad as long as you aren't walking through the most scuzzy of areas. The bigger concern is stuff like pickpocketing and petty theft, stuff which tourists are absolutely a target of and will be everywhere in touristy areas. Definitely don't go to San Fransisco or NY if you want to avoid that. It's not really even illegal in CA anymore.
But like anything, stuff like that can be avoided with a little self-awareness. There are plenty of videos online about how to avoid pickpockets. Don't leave valuable stuff in your car, etc... If an area seems shady, it probably is.
Lol whut?
Seriously?
I’ve lived in CA my whole life, including in San Francisco, been to marches and massive block parties, rode the BART standing room only, and no one has ever tried to pick my pocket. The only person I know who ever had his pocket (attempted) picked was my Dad…when he was in Paris.
But I agree with your advice not to leave stuff in your car, and always to be aware of your surroundings. That’s good advice anywhere.
Grey Templar wrote: If violent crime is a concern, definitely avoid bigger cities along the west and east coasts. Though you are quite unlikely to be the target of random violence, it's really not that bad as long as you aren't walking through the most scuzzy of areas. The bigger concern is stuff like pickpocketing and petty theft, stuff which tourists are absolutely a target of and will be everywhere in touristy areas. Definitely don't go to San Fransisco or NY if you want to avoid that. It's not really even illegal in CA anymore.
But like anything, stuff like that can be avoided with a little self-awareness. There are plenty of videos online about how to avoid pickpockets. Don't leave valuable stuff in your car, etc... If an area seems shady, it probably is.
Lol whut?
Seriously?
I’ve lived in CA my whole life, including in San Francisco, been to marches and massive block parties, rode the BART standing room only, and no one has ever tried to pick my pocket. The only person I know who ever had his pocket (attempted) picked was my Dad…when he was in Paris.
But I agree with your advice not to leave stuff in your car, and always to be aware of your surroundings. That’s good advice anywhere.
Yeah, didn't you know all major cities in the US were burnt to the ground and all crime legalized in the past 3-4 years?
At least according whichever news channel the above posters are obviously watching.
I just find it odd that people who believe media stereotypes so readily keep advising a poster, who if I recall described himself as ethnically ambiguous, to visit the South, considering the news stories.
It’s almost like it’s unfair, even rude, to push such biased descriptions about places people are unfamiliar with. And all to convince a poster who loved visiting NYC so much he wants to visit the USA again that all American big cities like NYC are terrible places for him to visit.
I will admit I am perhaps overstating the crime in SF, it's not a wasteland(yet) but relatively speaking it is quite bad and has gotten a lot worse than it was over the previous decades.
Will everybody who walks around the touristy areas get pickpocketed or have their car broken into? No, you've most likely still got a 90%+ chance of not getting victimized. But it is a fact that there has been a meteoric rise in petty crime in this big cities as a result of lenient DAs and laws.
I work for Costco. We don't even call the cops when we catch someone shoplifting stuff anymore. Unless its for $1000+ they won't do anything. On the chance they do show up, they just wag their fingers and let the person go. Anybody who does get arrested, they're let go on no bail.
What we are being is honest. Petty crime is massively up. Take that into consideration.
To be honest, whilst I was taken out of the city decades ago, you can’t take the city out of the boy.
What follows may sound like Internet Hardman 101, but I assure you I am in fact soft and wussy, and about as hard as…..mashed potato. I just….don’t look it. Pretty decently built, 6’2”. Big enough to generally be left alone. I’m street smart enough to know not to wander off down alleys on my own, and not to stare, even at the smackheads in SmackDonalds across from my hotel (that was a rude awakening!)
So there is of course always a risk, but for me that risk is pretty low. Walk with confidence, but not cockiness.
gorgon wrote: I have to say Tennessee would not be one of the first places I'd send someone who's visiting the country. And that's not a knock on the place, it just doesn't rate that way like plenty of other states and cities.
I agree, it might be "nice" but it certainly isn't a vacation destination for someone coming here from a foreign country. You can find the same scenery in half the Eastern US and outside of scenery and Civil War museums, there isn't a whole lot there. I would definitely do the national parks out West, or cities like NYC, Chicago, or Miami before Pidgeon Forge TN. That's a dream vacation for your uncle who's obsessed with NASCAR and collects Case pocket knives with Confederate flags on them but probably not very exciting for anyone from Europe.
Well, I'm not from TN but if you like music, TN might be a fun place to go or start. You've got Graceland if you're an Elvis fan, the Memphis Blues Scene, then Nashville for some Country Music, and based on the author, he said he likes to drive so NOLA is also an option for more great food and music. Be prepared to eat some rich food, lots of meats, and lots of BBQ. The Ozarks are definitely beautiful and the smokey mountains are fun to drive through too.
Yeah, didn't you know all major cities in the US were burnt to the ground and all crime legalized in the past 3-4 years?
At least according whichever news channel the above posters are obviously watching.
Nope, just $5B in damages according to the insurance industry (many small businesses weren't covered for riot/looting damage under their policies, so are excluded from that total). How many billions of dollars in looting damages per year is acceptable to you? My goal for us as a civilized society would be near zero...
Well, I'm not from TN but if you like music, TN might be a fun place to go or start. You've got Graceland if you're an Elvis fan, the Memphis Blues Scene, then Nashville for some Country Music, and based on the author, he said he likes to drive so NOLA is also an option for more great food and music. Be prepared to eat some rich food, lots of meats, and lots of BBQ. The Ozarks are definitely beautiful and the smokey mountains are fun to drive through too.
The Dragon and Cherahola Skyway are the best roads in the US. Driving the Skyway at 100mph with the top down and the weather just right so we were above the clouds was like something out of a video game. 10/10 car experience
gorgon wrote: I have to say Tennessee would not be one of the first places I'd send someone who's visiting the country. And that's not a knock on the place, it just doesn't rate that way like plenty of other states and cities.
I agree, it might be "nice" but it certainly isn't a vacation destination for someone coming here from a foreign country. You can find the same scenery in half the Eastern US and outside of scenery and Civil War museums, there isn't a whole lot there. I would definitely do the national parks out West, or cities like NYC, Chicago, or Miami before Pidgeon Forge TN. That's a dream vacation for your uncle who's obsessed with NASCAR and collects Case pocket knives with Confederate flags on them but probably not very exciting for anyone from Europe.
Well, I'm not from TN but if you like music, TN might be a fun place to go or start. You've got Graceland if you're an Elvis fan, the Memphis Blues Scene, then Nashville for some Country Music, and based on the author, he said he likes to drive so NOLA is also an option for more great food and music. Be prepared to eat some rich food, lots of meats, and lots of BBQ. The Ozarks are definitely beautiful and the smokey mountains are fun to drive through too.
Again, not saying it isn't a nice place. But I don't see it as the first place I'd recommend to someone from another country who's been to NYC and loved it and asked me "so what next?" Most of the US is in that same category...it's nothing personal.
I live on the Space Coast so for me, I can say watching the rockets and shuttles launch was pretty unique.
It really depends on what type of vacation you want to have. The US has several mountain ranges to explore, a desert, lots of beaches, lots of rivers, countryside, and big cities to explore. Really, you just need to narrow it down to some kind of activity.
Some great info in this thread for someone planning some city trips to the US. I am actually planning to go next year (probably April). Though I've already seen a fair bit of the US, including a couple of long distance road trips, there are some places I would still like to see for the first time or return to.
I've been meaning to visit Chicago for a long time, years in fact. I know very little about the appeal of the place, also the few comments about Chicago in this thread are not complimentary. Is it best avoided?
My current thinking is to fly to Boston direct from London. Then make my way to New York (either by bus or train). I might just leave it there but now I'm thinking of extending the trip to go to Philadelphia and Washington DC.
Is Philadelphia worth a visit if you're travelling from New York to DC anyway? Even if it's just for one or two nights.
I'm visiting family in the US so was planning to spend one week city hopping. If I'm going to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC would be wise to extend the city hopping by an additional week.
Apologies for the slight highjack, I didn't see the point of creating a new thread.
El Torro wrote: Some great info in this thread for someone planning some city trips to the US. I am actually planning to go next year (probably April). Though I've already seen a fair bit of the US, including a couple of long distance road trips, there are some places I would still like to see for the first time or return to.
I've been meaning to visit Chicago for a long time, years in fact. I know very little about the appeal of the place, also the few comments about Chicago in this thread are not complimentary. Is it best avoided?
My current thinking is to fly to Boston direct from London. Then make my way to New York (either by bus or train). I might just leave it there but now I'm thinking of extending the trip to go to Philadelphia and Washington DC.
Is Philadelphia worth a visit if you're travelling from New York to DC anyway? Even if it's just for one or two nights.
I'm visiting family in the US so was planning to spend one week city hopping. If I'm going to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC would be wise to extend the city hopping by an additional week.
Apologies for the slight highjack, I didn't see the point of creating a new thread.
Honestly, Chicago is a fantastic city and has some of the best museums in the country. Highly recommend the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute. The parks along the lake front are fantastic, and there's some great architecture tours along the river. The food scene is great too. Crime is pretty overstated, and you're already visiting more dangerous cities on your current planned route.
My only concern would be with how much time you'd be adding to the trip: The drive from the East Coast to Chicago isn't really a short one, and public transit between the two is even longer.
Laughing Man wrote: Honestly, Chicago is a fantastic city and has some of the best museums in the country. Highly recommend the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute. The parks along the lake front are fantastic, and there's some great architecture tours along the river. The food scene is great too. Crime is pretty overstated, and you're already visiting more dangerous cities on your current planned route.
My only concern would be with how much time you'd be adding to the trip: The drive from the East Coast to Chicago isn't really a short one, and public transit between the two is even longer.
Finally, someone says something nice about Chicago
My original plan was to fly to New York and get an internal flight from there to Chicago. If I go with the Boston to DC option I won’t include Chicago. Would be a longer (and more expensive) trip than I want. I think I’ll leave Chicago for another time. I won’t be hiring a car for this trip either, trains and busses should be enough for the Boston/New York/Philadelphia/Washington DC trip.
One city that hasn’t been mentioned so far in this thread (probably for good reason) is Salt Lake City. I was there a few years ago on my way south from Yellowstone and enjoyed it. Being the home of the Mormons the churches / museums / institutions dedicated to this are impressive. Even for an atheist like me. Also of note was the opulence of the Utah State Capitol building. I can’t say I’ve seen many US state capitol buildings to compare it to but it left an impression on me.
There’s a fair bit of nature to see near the city too, which can be done easily if you have a car. Can probably be done on a tour bus too I imagine.
Salt Lake City probably doesn’t rank highly on many people’s lists of places to go, I would certainly consider it for a few days on the way to somewhere else though.
The SLC Capitol building is pretty cool. We cut or stay in SLC short because it was too hot to spend much time there. Also, navigating in Utah is like a Who’s On First sketch since half the streets are named, like, West 200 North 800 Street.
Mad Doc, you ride motorcycles? If so, the Pacific Northwest in late spring is absolutely fabulous. Personally I'm biased because I live here but I think Tacoma is a really great spot for day excursions. Halfway-ish between Portland and Seattle, tons of great rides to fun places. Can see a rainforest on Monday, cross the mountain and ride a desert on Tuesday, pop a ferry and cruise the islands on Wednesday...etc.
Perfect for a series of mini "Walkabouts" with fun stops on the way.
As I’m likely headed back to NYC next year, what places are worth a visit, including potentially an overnight stay, within say three or four hours travel? And anywhere within a couple of hours train ride would be a Day Trip, there and back job.\
For instance, whilst most definitely an over-nighter, I do want to visit Lizzie Borden’s house!
3-4 hours from NYC should get you to Boston or DC, both of which you could spend a week+ doing stuff in. Should be easy to catch a train to both. Philly as well probably, but I have less experience there (despite it being where I was born)
You could also head upstate or into New England. Depending on the time of year, there is a ton of great things to do/see.
Come for the seafood, stay for the evil cults! So much to do in quaint New England towns. 9 out of yellow Old Ones agree, you’ll have a maddeningly good time!
I’ve never done the Salem thing, but if you cast your net outside of Boston proper, there is plenty of things to do/see/be corrupted by. Boston itself has enough happening you could kill a week there easy and still not lack for things to do.
I have family in Boston, so a lot of my youth was spent visiting old ladies in stuffy apartments there. Went back a few years ago just to visit the city and do touristy things and had a blast. Would recommend.
I went there a lifetime ago, when I was much too young and far too skint to be able to appreciate it. Sniffing around Expedia has shown Salem to be
A) super interesting in its own right for a Goth
B) somewhat cheaper than Boston proper
C) close enough to various places.
Also I’m mad for seafood!
Here's what to know about Salem. The town is either very busy or nearly empty, there is no happy medium.
When it's busy, busloads of kids and tourists take over the town. They pack the museums and attractions, lines spring up everywhere and the place becomes a big party.
When it's nearly empty, stores, restaurants, museums and attractions close early or don't open. You will still be able to find a walking tour, but it might just be you and your guide.
Seems impossible to predict what it will be like. I've been there the week before Halloween and it was dead. I've been there in the middle of summer and it was a madhouse.
Advice for travel:
1) Make plans, then make backup plans. Expect something you want to see won't be available, be grateful when it is.
2) You will run into colorful characters. Remember most of them are actors trying to get you to see a show. Don't expect deep philosophical conversations, it's more about being spooky.
3) If you decide to visit one of the many psychics, do it purely for entertainment. Don't expect any revelatory insights.
4) Restaurants that cater to locals are better than the ones aimed at tourists. Especially for seafood.
For me, the town lost all mystique after reading about ergot poisoning and it's possible connection to the trials. I've been there since, but that definitely changes the tone.
One more vote for Chicago.
Affordable, amazing food scene and great museums. Good art and music scene.
Haven't read everything in this thread, but has anyone mentioned DC? If you like museums it is unbeatable. It's not hard to find a fairly priced room just off the "Mall" and you're in walking distance to about a dozen of the world's best museums, most of them free and part of the Smithsonian group. History, art, culture, technology. Good food too. Been there twice in the last 8 years and it's a great time.
May I throw out a little oddball? Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Within a stone's throw of a major Airport you have The Mall of America, with it's own Aquarium, Theme park, roller coasters, go carting, several miniature golf courses, Lego Land, Ax throwing, and frankly the best Lazer tag course I've ever been to (Tactical Urban Combat). There is also a pretty god selection of food there from stuff that's rather pedestrian to higher class eats.
There are also a number of other attractions in the area including escape rooms, a couple museums, etc. If you want to head just a little out of the city you can find rustic cabins near large bodies of water with good fishing for a number of fish species small to large.
If you come at the right time there are regular battlebot tournaments in the area that could fill a couple hours for a spectator. It's where I cut my teeth at me first event.
I recommend Las Vegas. There's so much to do and so much good food. Been there a few times, and never even gambled in the casinos once and still had a great time.
Straits of Mackinac, between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas.
The climate is cool and breezy and the scenery is epic. It's relative inexpensive, safe, and you've got lots of places to see, including two forts. Mackinac Island famously has no cars allowed on it, so it is a biking paradise. I live downstate, but try to get up there every year because it is so beautiful.
Just Tony wrote: Is that the joint that's across the water from Camp Grayling?
No.
Grayling is an hour south of the Straits.
On the south side you have Mackinaw City (note the spelling) and on the north St. Ignace, Michigan's oldest settlement. There's a reconstructed stockade fort on the southern shore (Michilimackinac) and Fort Mackinac is on the island and overlooks the whole area. Stay on the St. Ignace side, as the hotels are better, less crowded and the ferry tickets to the island are cheaper.
But it was an unmarked road so I'll blame that, haha. The centre lines in the US are yellow and every other marking is white, so that helps a bit.
