I'm going to America

[connorkimbro]

I'll be stationed in san angelo at goodfellow AFB from probably mid jun until probably end of november, beginning of december.

[Kaak]

cool....don't forget the steakhouse! it is amazing!

[connorkimbro]

cool....don't forget the steakhouse! it is amazing!

I'll remember that, thanks.

[Juggernaut]

Me and my friends are planning an US road trip as well...

We'll fly to NY were buy some scrappy old car. From then Washington. Then we'd probably go Detroit-->Chicago------>Denver--->Las Vegas--->LA. Well there we dump the car down some ravine (I've always wanted to do that, just like in the movies ). Then, first, best flight home.

We'll most likely skip the confederates. People seem a little xenophobiac there, especially after 11/9. Besides, my two best friends are Iranian and either the KKK or some loony highway sheriff would probably make us mysteriously disappear.

We hope to visit Canada at some point. Seems cool, one imagines the whole country looks like Twin Peaks, giant trees and idyllic log houses.

[mactbone]

Woot! Woot! The Midwest is great, especially the Windy City! Yons of great old buildings, and overall great atmosphere. Don't waste your time at the Pier though, unless there's a concert, the place is sooooo dull. I was walking the street one time and some guy was playing a tuba . I would recommend skipping Detroit, it's not one of the cities that Americans tend to brag about. Indianapolis on the other hand, is on of the cleaner cities and very cool. Also, since you seem tto be going from East to West, South Bend is just a 2 and a half hours East of Chi-town, you know, home of Notre Dame, and IIRC the world's largest musical instrument store - Woodwind and Brasswind, imagine a Best Buy, wall to wall with guitars, strings, woodwinds, and drums.

[Lars-E]

Originally posted by Juggernaut
Me and my friends are planning an US road trip as well...
We'll fly to NY were buy some scrappy old car. From then Washington.

Pass thru Pittsburgh which is a 10-12 hours drive from NYC, to get free board and lodging for the night at my dad's place, before going to Washington. I think Washington is a 4-5 hour drive from Pittsburgh.

The road from NYC-Pittsburgh is pretty much a straight line. You don't wanna enter Philly which is a dull brownish-grey place. I think Harrisburg is boring to, but you can see Three Miles Island - nuclear plants. Which is a sight? Nah... Maybe you'll get radioactive.. They've had accidents there.

Then we'd probably go Detroit-->Chicago------>Denver--->Las Vegas--->LA. Well there we dump the car down some ravine (I've always wanted to do that, just like in the movies ).

Thelma and Louise coming along?

From Chicago to LA take the route that's the best - route 66!

http://www.route66.com/

At this link you can find some really nice maps you can order. They show you interesting route66-stuff along the way. Route 66 is also called 'The Mother Road' and 'Mainstreet USA'. It was the "old" way to the west.

We'll most likely skip the confederates. People seem a little xenophobiac there, especially after 11/9. Besides, my two best friends are Iranian and either the KKK or some loony highway sheriff would probably make us mysteriously disappear.

They might think you're terrorists cause you're foreigners. I'm not joking.

You can drive fast thru Oklahoma on interstate 40. Max speed limit is 75 mph. Which is the fastest I think between Chicago and LA.

We hope to visit Canada at some point. Seems cool, one imagines the whole country looks like Twin Peaks, giant trees and idyllic log houses.

Oh Canada! Oh brother! Land-o-lakes like the butter package says. Like Finland? Which is called the land of thousand lakes.

If you could drive from LA to Vancouver it would be great. Drive on route #1 - PCH. As the abbrev indicates this is a journey along the west coast. You might wanna go south and cross the border to Mexico first, just to have been there. But I wouldn't reccomend it. The border area is dirty and the roads are bad. Kinda creepy. Also you might hit illegal immigrants trying to cross a 10-lane street. They have signs along the road on the American side showing a man holding a woman and a child fleeing.

Skip Mexico. Nothing interesting from LA to the border. They say San Diego is America's finest city. I strongly disagree. Flat area with a hill in the middle. Dull place. You might wanna buy Mexican insurance here - 25 bucks - I guess you can get it at a car-rental dealership.

Go straight from LA to Vancouver along the coast. When you get close to San Fransisco it gets really scenic. Rugged coastline. Taking a swim might be dangerous. Cliffs etc. And undertos (that's not how you spell it) which I'm sure you'll find all along the coastline. In LA too.

Oh I forgot, about halfway between LA and SF you find Hearst Castle which is lavish. That castle must have cost some dough! Expect to pay a stiff price for a guided tour.

Spend a day or two in SF which gotta be the most beautiful city on earth. It's very nicely situated in the bay area. Golden Gate is beautiful and there are other bridges as well to look at. Go out to Alcatraz - I'm sure it's very interesting listening to the tour guides who are ex-convicts from that place. Hear about Al Capone and and escape attempts. You might wanna get a ticket in advance cos they might be fullbooked and you'll not be able to check it out for a couple of days. This happened to me . So I didn't go there.

About 5 hours north of SF is the area of the redwood trees which are absolutely huge. I drove my car thru one of the trees and visited a house that was carved out inside the stem. There's a tree there that is several thousand years old. Drive thru 'Avenue of the Giants'. Beautiful.

Oregon is scenic. Nice beaches you'll find on postcards. But the water is cold north of LA.

When you come to Washington try to go around the peninsula which is called Olympic park or something. Might be a national park. Lot of trees here and maybe you'll spot animals. Almost around the penninsula you come across a small town called Paulsbo which is predominantly inhabited by Norwegian descendants. Parking in the town area is for Norwegians only. Yes they have signs that says that.

Before Paulsbo you can take the ferry across to Canada - Vancouver Island. You'll enter a small nice town there. Drive north and take the ferry to Vancover. Nice city! The whole area is beautiful and looks similar to Scandinavia. The ferry trip is scenic. Check the islands you pass, you can buy your own private island for as little as $20.000: http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/home_e.html

You might wanna spend some time in Vancouver. I've heard it's very nice, but when I got there it was raining. Couldn't see much. Go up to Whistler Mnt if you'd like. It's an alpine area 1 hour north of Vancouver. Expensive lodging. I think the Olympic Games or World Cup will be held there at some time.

Anyways, all along the coast from LA to Vancouver Island (or via Seattle to Vancouver) you see signs saying 'scenic road'. Try a few, they can be nice and are not too long and you'll end up at the main road in most cases.

Then, first, best flight home.

And then you might wanna drive down to LA again. Or maybe take the 'Great White Northener' along the Canadian border to NYC. Must be fantastic! I'd like to try it. Then the Concorde to London. Saves you time and is a great flight. Excellent service of course. Good for avoiding jet-lag. And it's not that expensive either.

[Jon Miller]

I would alter that course

about mid-Oregon coast head inward and see the gorgeous Wilamette Valley and maybe stop at places like Crater lake

then go north to portland and from there to the olympic penisula

Victoria is very cool

Jon Miller

[MattHiggs]

Has anyone got a link to a general map of the US showing states and their positions?

[Ming]

You can find a map of the US here...

http://mappoint.msn.com/map.aspx?C=4...SA0409&CV=1&P=|F4|&TI=United%20States

[OldWarrior_42]

We'll most likely skip the confederates. People seem a little xenophobiac there, especially after 11/9. Besides, my two best friends are Iranian and either the KKK or some loony highway sheriff would probably make us mysteriously disappear.

And people say that it is only Americans that have no clue about the rest of the world.

They will make you dissapear much faster in NY than they would down south. I know , I grew up in NYC. Just ask or Guido.

They might think you're terrorists cause you're foreigners. I'm not joking.

Another well informed young man, I see. (Sarcasm, just for the record)

[Kaak]

my daggum horse that i ride to school dun like dem terryrist none either...

[Tiamat]

dm & Wraith are right. Austin has much to offer. We have a place here called the Oasis out on the lake and it has awesome sunsets. As far as the music scene goes Austin has much to offer. Since I'm pretty far into it would be glad to offer some sugesstions as to where you might want to go for music.

If you need a place to plop your head you're more then welcome to bunk in with Selfbiased and me for a few nights. You can visit Ramo as well he lives about 3 streets over from us!

[Kaak]

kaak doesn't get to be right too? j/k =) Anyway, I would recommend the Iguana Grill over the Oasis, but that's just me. I like the food better!

PS, can i bunk with y'all too

[Tiamat]

Kaak you would be correct!! Oasis food can suck but the sunset's are excellent! And yes you can bunk in with us. We are about to move to a much large place so there will be plenty of room

[Kaak]

sweeeeeet! nothing like having girls to bunk with after that brutal drive from Waco to austin Have you eaten at the Iguana?