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Bengali Bomber said:
LA is a hole. San Fran is good. Unless you're a mormon Salt Lake City is meh. Denver is nice but not a whole lot to do.
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Figured that about SLC, but I've gotta see them in their own environment instead of hounding people at the uni bus stop in their ties and short-sleeved white shirts :D

Also thinking San Diego but I don't think that qualifies as a minor destination. And some national park in Wyoming if memory serves correctly (formed my basic plan a few weeks ago now, it's written down somewhere...).
 
DrVanNostrand said:
Figured that about SLC, but I've gotta see them in their own environment instead of hounding people at the uni bus stop in their ties and short-sleeved white shirts :D

Also thinking San Diego but I don't think that qualifies as a minor destination. And some national park in Wyoming if memory serves correctly (formed my basic plan a few weeks ago now, it's written down somewhere...).
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San Diego is awesome. Lots of bars and restaurants in the Gaslamp part of town.

You have to go to Vegas. Even if you don't gamble, there is still heaps to do. You will regret not going there. There is no place like it.
 
Bengali Bomber said:
My tip would be to see some less visited cities. I loved Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Portland, and Albuquerque.
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Agree! That whole midwest corridor is awesome and not teaming with bogans that'll ruin your trip - and make you seem more interesting to the locals. Even the 'more touristy' places like Memphis, Nashville, St Louis are great for a run.
College football in these areas is unreal - and it's something that sports fans should visit even if it's just for the atmosphere. Tailgaiting is pretty fantastic.
 
Leon said:
Couldn't be arsed reading through this thread or creating my own so thought I'd ask in here.

I'm going to New York in December. First time I will have been in this city since 1992.

Just wondering about the Subway - how easy is it to use and navigate?

Is it always jam packed around the clock, given it's NYC? Or depends on the hour?

I lived in London for a bit some years ago and found the London Underground a great system for getting around, designed for tourists with colour codes etc, the people I know say the NYC Subway is very similar, is it?

Thanks in advance :thumbsu:
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As said above its easy. It was the first subway system I ever dealt with and I did it fine alone. I didnt find it overly busy. London was worse in areas.
 

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AGC said:
Agree! That whole midwest corridor is awesome and not teaming with bogans that'll ruin your trip - and make you seem more interesting to the locals. Even the 'more touristy' places like Memphis, Nashville, St Louis are great for a run.
College football in these areas is unreal - and it's something that sports fans should visit even if it's just for the atmosphere. Tailgaiting is pretty fantastic.
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I'm going to a game at the University of South Carolina, playing against the Florida Gators. Really looking forward to it, even got myself in on some tailgate action with some locals.
 
Nelso said:
San Diego is awesome. Lots of bars and restaurants in the Gaslamp part of town.

You have to go to Vegas. Even if you don't gamble, there is still heaps to do. You will regret not going there. There is no place like it.
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Agree with San Diego. See Pacific Beach and head down to Tijuana. Make sure you give yourself a couple of hours to get back over the border though.
Richo is God said:
Has anyone travelled through the South? Places like Mississippi (Oxford), Alabama (Tuscaloosa), Texas (Austin), Lousiana (Baton Rouge)? What's it like and is it relatively safe?
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Havn't been to any of those cities but apparently Austin is awesome. Have been to New Orleans and that is one fun city. Stay in the touristy side of town and you'll be fine.
 
I'm wrapping up a couple of weeks in Hawaii on Sunday. Have spent 6 nights on Maui & 8 nights on Oahu's North Shore. Pretty cruisey place to spend some time, but ventured down to Waikiki the other day & didnt even last 1/2 a day there. The beach was full, and the rest was a concrete jungle. Traffic was a nightmare also. Shopping at Ala Moana was pretty good though. The Premium Outlets though were shit and not comparable to the mainland.

We got to see Pipeline at 10-12ft & clean on Monday which was a sight to behold, and the official opening of the winter swells for this season. All the way around from Haleiwa to Sunset Beach (where we're staying in a treehouse), there are crazy waves. Starting to die down over the weekend though. You are basically living with pro surfers up here as they are starting to arrive in their droves.. Have seen Jamie O'Brien nearly every day either in the surf or supermarkets etc and John John Florence is back home for the winter swells as we've seen him around a few times. The nightlife is basically non-existent though up here which makes it a bit harder, but we just kick back each night and drink in our digs. Some great little food trucks all around the coast serving the famous shrimp, but also pizza, tacos, Thai, vegetarian, anything really..

As for the rest of Oahu, we've travelled up the Windward Coast a couple of times as there are some cool beaches more for swimming at this time of the year in Kahana Bay & Kailua/Lanikai. Lanikai Beach is a damn nice beach and rivals any I've been to in some of the more renowned destinations for those amazing blues - Mexico, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean, South Pacific.

Maui was nice also but didnt really do as much there as it was booked very late due to our Philippines plans being canned after a large earthquake struck and killed many on the small island of Bohol where we were heading only a few days afterwards. We stayed and lounged by the pool a lot there in the Kaanapali Beach resort area. The resort itself was huge and had everything you'd ever need. Was nice to relax after our Asian leg of the trip. Lahaina is a nice little town with heaps of decent places to eat/drink on Front St. We did drive the Road to Hana which was nothing short of amazing. Waterfalls, rainforests, beaches, old lava flows, natural pools, and a road that begs belief at some points. I'd rate it a fair amount higher than the Pacific Coast Highway as a whole which in turn is better than our Great Ocean Road for comparison.

We'll come back to Hawaii again one day I'm sure. Has a little bit of everything, for everyone.
 
Okay, so here's my foggy itinerary. Leaving March next year, I want to spend 6 weeks exploring the west coast before heading to Canada to live for a while. Will get to the east coast sometime in early 2015. Strictly hostelling and living the backpacker life.

San Fran (7 nights)
LA (3 nights, or until I've been to a taping of Craig Ferguson)
Vegas (3 nights)
San Diego (3 nights)
Phoenix (2 nights)
ABQ (3 nights)
Austin (4 nights)
Denver (2 nights)
Salt Lake City (3 nights)
Yellowstone National Park (5 nights)
Boise (1 night)
Portland (3 nights)
Seattle (5 nights)

Have I got the ratios right? Any other national parks that are must-sees? Doing the backwater places a bit to see more than just tourist attractions and meet a variety of traveller types.
 
DrVanNostrand said:
Okay, so here's my foggy itinerary. Leaving March next year, I want to spend 6 weeks exploring the west coast before heading to Canada to live for a while. Will get to the east coast sometime in early 2015. Strictly hostelling and living the backpacker life.

San Fran (7 nights)
LA (3 nights, or until I've been to a taping of Craig Ferguson)
Vegas (3 nights)
San Diego (3 nights)
Phoenix (2 nights)
ABQ (3 nights)
Austin (4 nights)
Denver (2 nights)
Salt Lake City (3 nights)
Yellowstone National Park (5 nights)
Boise (1 night)
Portland (3 nights)
Seattle (5 nights)

Have I got the ratios right? Any other national parks that are must-sees? Doing the backwater places a bit to see more than just tourist attractions and meet a variety of traveller types.
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7 nights in San Fran is pushing it. Really depends on what you are planning to do there? You should be able to get away with max of 4-5 nights there. I would personally bump up the number of nights in Vegas if you include a trip to the Grand Canyon in the time you are staying there?
 
DrVanNostrand said:
Okay, so here's my foggy itinerary. Leaving March next year, I want to spend 6 weeks exploring the west coast before heading to Canada to live for a while. Will get to the east coast sometime in early 2015. Strictly hostelling and living the backpacker life.

San Fran (7 nights)
LA (3 nights, or until I've been to a taping of Craig Ferguson)
Vegas (3 nights)
San Diego (3 nights)
Phoenix (2 nights)
ABQ (3 nights)
Austin (4 nights)
Denver (2 nights)
Salt Lake City (3 nights)
Yellowstone National Park (5 nights)
Boise (1 night)
Portland (3 nights)
Seattle (5 nights)

Have I got the ratios right? Any other national parks that are must-sees? Doing the backwater places a bit to see more than just tourist attractions and meet a variety of traveller types.
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Boise is like Adelaide. Picturesque, little to do in the city, but more than enough options just around it. If you're staying in the city, 1 day is more than enough, but if you're more adventurous, maybe add a day or two to it.
 

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DrVanNostrand said:
Okay, so here's my foggy itinerary. Leaving March next year, I want to spend 6 weeks exploring the west coast before heading to Canada to live for a while. Will get to the east coast sometime in early 2015. Strictly hostelling and living the backpacker life.

San Fran (7 nights)
LA (3 nights, or until I've been to a taping of Craig Ferguson)
Vegas (3 nights)
San Diego (3 nights)
Phoenix (2 nights)
ABQ (3 nights)
Austin (4 nights)
Denver (2 nights)
Salt Lake City (3 nights)
Yellowstone National Park (5 nights)
Boise (1 night)
Portland (3 nights)
Seattle (5 nights)

Have I got the ratios right? Any other national parks that are must-sees? Doing the backwater places a bit to see more than just tourist attractions and meet a variety of traveller types.
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For San Fran - I think 7 days is good, if you're travelling around the bay area - but you shouldn't get married to the idea of just staying in SF city itself.

San Jose is really nice - and means you can access places like Palo Alto if they interest you. If Berkeley interests you - that trip is easily a day. If Oakland interests you (and it did for me) that's another day.


I'd definitely bump up the time you spend in Vegas.
Interested to see what route you take between Vegas and Alberquerque. There's two options (either through Flagstaff and then see the South Rim or go up through Zion NP and through monument valley - which can even mean you get to the 4 corners (which is a shithole but a great pic nonetheless). You could also take a day trip from Vegas to the GC.

3 days is more than enough to do LA. (I'd have happily cut it back given the time constraints) but there's some nifty areas like Venice, and there's enough pop culture things to keep you interested (Golds Gym if you lift, Roscos if you like Snoop etc etc).

SD -perfect timing. Unreal city. So underrated!

I'd also say (and I think 5days is good for Yellowstone) if you're obviously interested in the National Parks, go to Yosemite. You can do it from San Fran and it's well worth it imo.
 
Nelso said:
7 nights in San Fran is pushing it. Really depends on what you are planning to do there? You should be able to get away with max of 4-5 nights there. I would personally bump up the number of nights in Vegas if you include a trip to the Grand Canyon in the time you are staying there?
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Dirty Bird said:
Boise is like Adelaide. Picturesque, little to do in the city, but more than enough options just around it. If you're staying in the city, 1 day is more than enough, but if you're more adventurous, maybe add a day or two to it.
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AGC said:
For San Fran - I think 7 days is good, if you're travelling around the bay area - but you shouldn't get married to the idea of just staying in SF city itself.

San Jose is really nice - and means you can access places like Palo Alto if they interest you. If Berkeley interests you - that trip is easily a day. If Oakland interests you (and it did for me) that's another day.


I'd definitely bump up the time you spend in Vegas.
Interested to see what route you take between Vegas and Alberquerque. There's two options (either through Flagstaff and then see the South Rim or go up through Zion NP and through monument valley - which can even mean you get to the 4 corners (which is a shithole but a great pic nonetheless). You could also take a day trip from Vegas to the GC.

3 days is more than enough to do LA. (I'd have happily cut it back given the time constraints) but there's some nifty areas like Venice, and there's enough pop culture things to keep you interested (Golds Gym if you lift, Roscos if you like Snoop etc etc).

SD -perfect timing. Unreal city. So underrated!

I'd also say (and I think 5days is good for Yellowstone) if you're obviously interested in the National Parks, go to Yosemite. You can do it from San Fran and it's well worth it imo.
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Fantastic ideas, thank you gentlemen.

Seems to be a recurring theme to spend more time in Vegas. I don't gamble at all and just figured I see it just for the sake of it. Definitely will take in as many of the entertainment options available as possible. I'd forgotten all about the Grand Canyon! Will certainly be working that in.

Doing just the one night in Boise to break up the trip between Yellowstone and Portland, figuring there's nothing worth seeing in Nebraska. But will defs do some more research now, I'm very interested in seeing a few non-touristy towns in the West.

I have the feeling I'll really enjoy SF, so I'm happy to take a week. Hadn't thought about staying out in San Jose or Oakland, figured I'd make day trips out of them from the SF city. Is this practical? The wider bay area interests me greatly. Forgot all about Yosemite, will defs add, love the idea of just getting out away from anywhere, off the grid and just chilling. This is stretching out a touch now, haha!

Four Corners is a must for photo-op, so whichever route gives me that opportunity. Only goals for LA are to see Craig Ferguson and visit the building that was used for exterior shots of Jerry's appartment in Seinfeld...and the Santa Monica pier where Kramer rollerblades :thumbsu: Couldn't care less about DisneyLand, etc.


Anyone been to Alaska? I'm thinking Anchorage and Fairbanks (I just want to see bears roam and streets and eat out of garbage bins). Might save it for after I've been settled in Vancouver/Victoria, BC for a while.
 
DrVanNostrand said:
I have the feeling I'll really enjoy SF, so I'm happy to take a week. Hadn't thought about staying out in San Jose or Oakland, figured I'd make day trips out of them from the SF city. Is this practical? The wider bay area interests me greatly. Forgot all about Yosemite, will defs add, love the idea of just getting out away from anywhere, off the grid and just chilling. This is stretching out a touch now, haha!

Four Corners is a must for photo-op, so whichever route gives me that opportunity. Only goals for LA are to see Craig Ferguson and visit the building that was used for exterior shots of Jerry's appartment in Seinfeld...and the Santa Monica pier where Kramer rollerblades :thumbsu: Couldn't care less about DisneyLand, etc.

.
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I would stay in San Jose or somewhere in that lower bay area - so you've got the most time to check it out. Santa Cruz is really nice especially if you like surfing, or that whole surf-ey Californian vibe. Would much rather spend my time there than LA. They're about an hour out of San Fran - but if you're going to chomp 2-3hrs a day on transport it's going to get tiring. There's a young crowd as well in the lower-Bay area, so you'll always have something to do. Oakland/Berkeley can be accessed from the BART in very short time - so I would definitely base yourself in SF for those trips. and Oakland isn't the safest place going around either (But a great hub if you want to see the Raiders (where tickets are a lot cheaper than the 49ers for NFL), the A's or the Warriors - as they're got their own little sports-precint going.

How are you travelling between cities? Hiring a car (esp with mates) isn't the worst option when going through Monument Valley etc; as it means you can stop off wherever you want. Little side street stalls selling food are great value along here, and you're in Navajo territory as well.

If you're down on LA - you can almost do a pretty cheap tour for about 40$ that'll just hit you through the main sites (Hollywood blvd, venice, Santa Monica, Rodeo Drive, and you can see what you like etc). 2 days max if that's all you care about.
 
Hey DrVanNostrand, not going to NYC?
Have you been to Tom's Restuarant in NYC, it's Monk's Diner in Seinfeld?
 
DrVanNostrand said:
Anyone been to Alaska? I'm thinking Anchorage and Fairbanks (I just want to see bears roam and streets and eat out of garbage bins). Might save it for after I've been settled in Vancouver/Victoria, BC for a while.
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Yes - Would recommend Juneau
 
I was in terminal three at LAX yesterday (USA time) when the gunman went on his rampage.
Dropped my bags. And stayed at LAX for a total of 13 hours. Happened 10 mins after I got there.
An hour on the phone at about 1am this morning got me new flights today
Had to stay the night in LA. Didn't have any of my bags, nothing. So went back today.
Within two minutes of being there I had my carry on back. Tick.
Waited another four hours for my checked baggage that never arrived, so after talking with the Virgin America staffers (they had people from thief headquarters come in and help sort the bags and deal with people) we decided that I'd go catch my plane and my bag will come to me somehow sometime. With a slim chance that it'd make its way onto the new flight, that was ultimately delayed by four hours as it was four when we flew out and 12pm was the scheduled time.
Anyway. Took the chance and waited at Dallas Fort Worth to see if my bag would make an appearance on the luggage carousel.

It appearerack.

Ultimately, I was probably 100 metrs and some stairs from where he started at security shooting. I ended up in all the commotion randomly finding and Aussie. And throughout the day found more and more of them, they're easy to pick out.
And some of their stories make mine pretty small in comparison but still something I will never forget.
(By that, some saw it happen. Saw the injured people, were barged out by police squads with hands in air etc, whereas I was near a door when it happened and bolted for international. Where I stayed most of the day)

36 hours later, finally had a decent (non take away) feed and a shower and a change of clothes.

my holiday is back on track.
 

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What happened at LAX yesterday was awful alrouund.

It reminds you that you should always have a spare change of clothes with you in your carry on bags at all times. Collecting baggage or being reunited with it would have been impossible. But it again puts everything into perspective. I hope everyone was understanding of the situation and not abusing people like the cops or airline staff.
 
Hoping to get to the US around this time next year for a month or so, but the boys have had a stint Europe in May 2015 planned for years (obviously the priority) so will be super tough to get the money together for both. I'm a really good saver, just need to actually start working again lol.

Anyways, anyone done Trek America/opinions? Want to see the country, and cars look a bit expensive as a solo traveller.
 
cammania said:
I was in terminal three at LAX yesterday (USA time) when the gunman went on his rampage.
Dropped my bags. And stayed at LAX for a total of 13 hours. Happened 10 mins after I got there.
An hour on the phone at about 1am this morning got me new flights today
Had to stay the night in LA. Didn't have any of my bags, nothing. So went back today.
Within two minutes of being there I had my carry on back. Tick.
Waited another four hours for my checked baggage that never arrived, so after talking with the Virgin America staffers (they had people from thief headquarters come in and help sort the bags and deal with people) we decided that I'd go catch my plane and my bag will come to me somehow sometime. With a slim chance that it'd make its way onto the new flight, that was ultimately delayed by four hours as it was four when we flew out and 12pm was the scheduled time.
Anyway. Took the chance and waited at Dallas Fort Worth to see if my bag would make an appearance on the luggage carousel.

It appearerack.

Ultimately, I was probably 100 metrs and some stairs from where he started at security shooting. I ended up in all the commotion randomly finding and Aussie. And throughout the day found more and more of them, they're easy to pick out.
And some of their stories make mine pretty small in comparison but still something I will never forget.
(By that, some saw it happen. Saw the injured people, were barged out by police squads with hands in air etc, whereas I was near a door when it happened and bolted for international. Where I stayed most of the day)

36 hours later, finally had a decent (non take away) feed and a shower and a change of clothes.

my holiday is back on track.
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Incredible story. You just never know when you are going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although you were 100 metres away from the absolutely wrong place.

LAX is the hub for most Aussie travellers. I went there 5 separate times during a 3 week holiday from the West Coast to the East Coast and Hawaii. I can't imagine how much chaos that would have caused.
 
AGC said:
I would stay in San Jose or somewhere in that lower bay area - so you've got the most time to check it out. Santa Cruz is really nice especially if you like surfing, or that whole surf-ey Californian vibe. Would much rather spend my time there than LA. They're about an hour out of San Fran - but if you're going to chomp 2-3hrs a day on transport it's going to get tiring. There's a young crowd as well in the lower-Bay area, so you'll always have something to do. Oakland/Berkeley can be accessed from the BART in very short time - so I would definitely base yourself in SF for those trips. and Oakland isn't the safest place going around either (But a great hub if you want to see the Raiders (where tickets are a lot cheaper than the 49ers for NFL), the A's or the Warriors - as they're got their own little sports-precint going.

How are you travelling between cities? Hiring a car (esp with mates) isn't the worst option when going through Monument Valley etc; as it means you can stop off wherever you want. Little side street stalls selling food are great value along here, and you're in Navajo territory as well.

If you're down on LA - you can almost do a pretty cheap tour for about 40$ that'll just hit you through the main sites (Hollywood blvd, venice, Santa Monica, Rodeo Drive, and you can see what you like etc). 2 days max if that's all you care about.
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Thanks, sounds like San Jose is a goer. Was worrying if I'd see the whole bay area from being based in the middle of SF, but that's a great idea. Maybe 5 in SF and 2 in SJ. Any idea about the Golden Gate National Rec Area? Alcatraz is my only absolute must at this stage.

Greyhound between cities with the occasional hire car when the mood strikes. The order I've got the cities at this stage just seems like would be the most convenient routes. That tour idea sounds pretty good actually, don't know a lot about LA to be perfectly honest.

Dee Won said:
Hey DrVanNostrand, not going to NYC?
Have you been to Tom's Restuarant in NYC, it's Monk's Diner in Seinfeld?
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I've got a list of about 30 Seinfeld landmarks and recreations I want to see/carry out. Don't worry, I know all about Tom's. Not doing the east coast until early 2015 (west coast Mar-Apr '14, Canada May-Dec '14, east coast Jan-Feb '15).


Cousin Jed said:
Yes - Would recommend Juneau
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From the reading I've done it sounds like a great quirky little place. I'm fascinated by isolated places like that, would love to hit it up. A state capital with no road access, that's awesome. Not sure of the hostel situation there.
 
Def would recommend Yosemite from San Fran, amazing place, I did it via a tour booked from Viator, which meant we only spent 4 hours at the national park and it probably wasn't enough.
You can do Grand Canyon from Vegas, do it via Helicopter, to get a great view from above and it's much quicker.
For Alcatraz you might want to consider the night tour they open up more areas iirc that are usually closed during the day
 

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