Tips/Suggestions for trip to the USA!

[klaus]

Hello, from the 13th to the 28th of may, i'll be visiting the USA (from Belgium) and since i've only visited Seattle a couple of years ago, i'm wondering what things are really a must see/do! Below is the list of the cities we are going with the stuff we already have pinned down to visit there. If there's something missing or just plain boring, shout!


We're flying to LA with a stopover in New York for 2 nights. We'll be renting a car in LA and visit Las Vegas, Yosemite National park and San Francisco.


NY (arrival at noon):

- Empire State Building and the other skyscrapers
- Central Park
- Shoppin
- Guggenheim museum
- Times Square (at night)
- Apple Store (24 hours/day)
- Liberty Island (Statue of Liberty)

LA (Arrival in the afternoon)

- Santa Monica visit
- Pier
- Venice Beach & Santa Monica beach
- Beverly Hills -> Rodeo Drive
- Hollywood sign
- Hollywood walk of fame
- Universal Studios
- LA Shopping
- Drive to Vegas through the desert

Las Vegas (arrival in the evening, staying 2 nights)

- Visit casinos, hotel's, shows on the Strip
- Stratotower

Yosemite National park, on the way to San Francisco from Vegas

San Francisco (longest stay in this city)

- Golden Gate
- Lombard Street
- Fisherman's wharf
- Alcatraz
- Chinaton
- Union Square


Those are the things we already had in mind. We really want to see some kind of live sports game as well. Football/Hockey/Basket, it's all the same, city doesn't matter as well. Anybody knows how tourists can get tickets easy?

What are the limitations for renting a car? I'm 25 myself, and been driving since 18. Can the other person drive as well, or do we have to adjust the insurance then?

Thanks for the long read and hopefully you'll be able to point me to some awesome things to see and experience. It will be great!

Thx

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

A New Yorker Here.

Definitely go take a tour of MSG (if you can). It's not the world's most famous arena for nothing.

If you're into baseball try taking a tour of Yankee Stadium. Even if you're not, it's a very historic place. (It is being torn down at the end of 2008). Commonly refered to by Yankee Fans as "The Cathedral" or "The House That Ruth Built"

If you want to see a game you'll have to go to Shea Stadium (also being torn down at the end of 2008) to see the Mets play.

You can always go to where the Twin Towers once stood (I hate refering to it as Ground Zero).

There are plenty of places to eat, so I wouldn't worry about that.

A Broadway show is always fun.

Most of all, have a great time in all of the cities!

 

[rdowns]

Here's some recommendations I made for NYC to another member.

 

[klaus]

Thanks for the replies! Rdowns, i think i don't have sufficient priviliges to read that topic. Been a while since I posted here, was very active during the "Waiting for Powermac G5 dual 2.5" MONSTER thread

Keep'm coming!

I'm only staying in NYC for 2 nights, so i'm kind of short on time..

 

[shecky]

San Francisco (longest stay in this city)

- Golden Gate
- Lombard Street
- Fisherman's wharf
- Alcatraz
- Chinaton
- Union Square

chinatown is great. lombard street is interesting for about 10 minutes. DO NOT waste your time at Fisherman's wharf - it sucks bigtime. Depending on what you are interested in (art and design for me when i was there) i would be sure to check out the de Young museum and the Japanese tea garden in golden gate park. also do not miss William Stout Books on Montgomery behind the trans-america pyramid - best art+design bookstore in the USA. you should also check out the Mission for some cheap mexican food at any of the taqueria's there, and if you have some cash, desert/drinks at Foreign Cinema at Mission and 21st is great. Ghiradelli Square is nice for a walk-through.

 

[klaus]

Thx, i'm definitely interested in the Art-scene. My partner (just a friend, not girlfriend) not that much but we'll have to make some concessions to satisfy our different needs!

 

[szark]

Here's some recommendations I made for NYC to another member.

Careful where you're linking there, rdowns.

Definitely Little Italy for some Italian food- try Paesano's. For dessert, go around the corner where there are several nice pastry places.

Chinatown for excellent and cheap Chinese food - on Mott Street try Hung Fat or my favorite, Wo Hop (downstairs). The best places look live dives.

You must eat in a NY Diner- breakfast is always good there. I miss diners when I travel. Always good food and excellent service.

South Street Seaport - touristy but good seafood and shops. You can take a boat ride around lower Manhattan which will take you near the Statue of Liberty.

If not too cold, walk around Greenwich Village.

Definitely Serendipity's for frozen hot chocolate.

Forget eating in Jersey near the arena- eat early in the city and then head through the tunnel.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Besides, I'm a NYer and we're anything but helpful.

 

[rdowns]

My bad. Here's the post.


Definitely Little Italy for some Italian food- try Paesano's. For dessert, go around the corner where there are several nice pastry places.

Chinatown for excellent and cheap Chinese food - on Mott Street try Hung Fat or my favorite, Wo Hop (downstairs). The best places look live dives.

You must eat in a NY Diner- breakfast is always good there. I miss diners when I travel. Always good food and excellent service.

South Street Seaport - touristy but good seafood and shops. You can take a boat ride around lower Manhattan which will take you near the Statue of Liberty. Don't bother going to Liberty Island.

Definitely walk around Greenwich Village. Good shopping.

Definitely Serendipity's for frozen hot chocolate.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Besides, I'm a NYer and we're anything but helpful.

 

[klaus]

Great szark.

Explain something to me. Frozen hot chocolate?
Belgium is known for it's great chocolate but i've never heard of this one!

 

[szark]

Try it and find out. The recipe's posted in the link.

I'll second the recommendation for Serendipity's. Wonderful place.

 

[rdowns]

Great szark.

Explain something to me. Frozen hot chocolate?
Belgium is known for it's great chocolate but i've never heard of this one!

Don't ask, just go there. It is well worth it.

 

[klaus]

rdowns and szark, are you twins or something. You've been posting the exact same thing twice already

Have to go to bed now, well past midnight here, have to get up reaaal early.
See you all tomorrow!

 

[CanadaRAM]

Tip:
Don't underestimate the driving time or distances in the USA. Leave more time for driving, traffic, rest stops etc, than you would think, or than online map / route planners would have you believe.

For example, Las Vegas to San Francisco is 919 Km, or almost 4 x the distance from Bastogne to Ostende

 

[ErikCLDR]

When you go to Liberty Island, the boat also stops at Ellis Island which is kind of interesting- Its was one of the main immigration ports the US. Boats come every 15 or 30 min. I believe the boat stops at Ellis Island first so get off there. It costs $7-8 to get on the ferry, and it stops at the two islands so you might as well go.

 

[livingfortoday]

Aww, no Chicago!?

My only advice in the US, is don't do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NevgQXKPfI

(really starts about 40 seconds in)