Visiting USA

[Winston]

For the past week or so I've been thinking about making a return trip to the U.S. which gave me so many thrills and good memories 5 years ago. It's always been in the back of my head that I wanted to go back someday, but then over a family dinner last week the subject came up, and I started to think about it seriously. And just a couple of days ago here in the OT, I got to reminisce a little with pchang and JohnT over my last trip, and now I've practically decided the time has come.

I have the time, as I'm currently "between jobs", which I don't plan on being for too much longer, I have the financial means I need, and this time of year is to me the best time to go on vacation, before the summer holiday rush becomes too overwhelming. And the exchange rate is favourable.

I'm going to see my travel agent today, and I've checked out some hotels, but I have to admit it's a bit of a jungle out there to pick a decent place to stay that's convenient and at the same time reasonably affordable for just one person.

Last time I travelled mostly in the Mid- and Southwest, so this time I'd like to visit Washington D.C., Philadelphia (briefly) and New York City. I'm planning on getting a flight to Washington and then go by train to Phil. and N.Y., then fly home from there.

Initial planning is for 10 June - 28 June, with 7 days in Washington (my main interest), 2-3 days in Philadelphia, and the rest in New York.

I have lots of things I want to see in the capital and N.Y., while my schedule is a little thin yet for Philadelphia. I'm planning on renting a car for a few days while in Washington, but I'll get back to the subject of what I plan to see later. Just wanted to get a thread started on it.

Any advice, tips and suggestions are of course most welcome. Especially if you know of any hotels that are conveniently located and not much above $100, in Washington and New York. I don't need anything too fancy.

And good, preferably non-homicidal Poly folk who want to meet and buy me drinks (or get their drinks paid for by a crazy Dane) should make themselves known. This may be the only chance you'll ever get.

But this is just the initial outline, I'll have more detailed info once I've talked to the travel agent.

USA!

[Pekka]

I have advices for you most likely, let me just get back to this in about 30 minutes. Need to go buy some cigarettes and then I'll give you solid, gold worth answers which none of thise fat head Americans can give you.

[DanS]

I should be around during that time.

You have the right amount of time set aside for Washington (5+2), depending on your interests.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Philadelphia is the birthplace of America, you should spend a few more days there (liberty bell, liberty hall etc)

[Alexander's Horse]

*alert US Immigration troublemaker on the way*

[Winston]

Brilliant, most of you.

I'm flexible as far as Philadelphia goes, definitely. I don't know too much about the city, but your advice of taking more time there is duely noted.

I've concentrated mostly on must-see's for Washington so far, and they include Capitol, the monuments and memorials, National Air & Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, Arlington cemetary, Natural History Museum, the National Cathedral, Georgetown quarter. I want to drive out and see the Pentagon building, maybe go as far as Fredericksburg. At least see some of the surrounding area on one or two day trips.

If I can catch a football game this time around it will be a plus also, don't even know if they're playing at the moment.

Any thoughts on the total length of the trip? I could add a few days to it, but I don't want to risk getting bored the last couple of days.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

no football games in the summer, but you can catch a baseball game (Washington Nationals)

[ColdWizard]

Are you planning on seeing the Udvar-Hazy Center portion of the Air and Space Museum in Chantilly? I took my sister there in January and it was pretty interesting though the parking fare was a bit steep ($12). Enola Gay, Enterprise, SR-71, and quite a lot of other planes to see though

[Winston]

Argh, then I should've tried harder to see a football game last time, that was in Sept/Oct. I went to see a baseball game in St. Louis then. But I guess another one couldn't hurt. I liked the atmosphere, but the game itself went completely over my head.

[KrazyHorse]

DC is my turf.

And I can legally get a gun.

So be careful.

[Winston]

Originally posted by ColdWizard
Are you planning on seeing the Udvar-Hazy Center portion of the Air and Space Museum in Chantilly? I took my sister there in January and it was pretty interesting though the parking fare was a bit steep ($12). Enola Gay, Enterprise, SR-71, and quite a lot of other planes to see though

No, not before you mentioned it. I wasn't aware they had two divisions, I had only thought of the one on the Mall, but I'll definitely look into that. Thanks.

[ColdWizard]

It opened in December 2003 so it's relatively new. For reference: http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/

[Winston]

The dreaded KrazyHorse is in Washington too? Here's hoping the town is big enough for the both of us.

I didn't know you lived there when planning all of this, I swear.

ColdWizard, I have it bookmarked! Sounds like just the thing I'd enjoy.

[Pekka]

Those museums you mentioned in DC are pretty good. YOu should visit them. National Air & Space Museum is especially worth a visit. These are quite big, so you might find yourself spending a whole day, so if you have a schedule, be notified.

I don't know much about Philly. Try Philly Steak or what you call them. YOu put meat in bred. Perverted idea. Rocky was filmed in Philadelphia, so you find those stairs there I'd suppose, so you can run them and feel like a champ, or dork, depends how you look at it.

NY is a place of its own, it's too big to cover in any human time. ALSO some people say just wander around because there's so much things so .. I wouldn't recommend this strategy. Find out what oyu want to see there, at least some things first. Because it could happen that you go and wander around your NY time and later on realize there were tons of stuff you DIDN'T see or experience because you were just wandering. Do not go to NY Hooters it sucks. Strip clubs in Manhattan sucks too, so avoid boob entertainment in Manhattan all together, not worth it.

Consider the subway being your main method of transportation in there if possible. It's cheap, it's fast and it's very convinient. For example with cabs you only get stuck in traffic. With busses, duh, who wants to ride in busses. Subway

There are plenty of places to sleep, you can get rooms for just little over 100 bucks a night in most places. Depends what time of the year it is though.. for example we were in SF when it was graduation from HS time, every place went up up and away, you couldn't get even a motel room under 250. So there are things to consider.

If you want to spice up your trip, look suspicious in the airport when you fly in.

HMm what else. You have to be more spesific. What do you like, what do ou ywant to do etc.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Winston
The dreaded KrazyHorse is in Washington too?

Baltimore.

But they're only 45 minutes apart, and I have peeps in DC.