Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[brutus76]

I went 3 times

1997 - Los Angeles (Anaheim), San Francisco, San Diego

2014 - Miami, Atlanta, Orlando, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Boise, Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

2017 - Houston

The only places I want to go for non sporting reasons (Buffalo and Oklahoma City) are Philladelphia, Seattle and Washington DC.

Though, I wouldn't be opposed to going back to Orlando (I need to do Epcot), Los Angeles (California Adventure), New York (I went in ignorant last time, I want to give it another go) Boston (Loved it), Boise (Loved it) and Las Vegas (I want to focus on the non-resort aspect next time as I now know Vegas offers a whole lot more)

Red Rock and Summerlin excellent days out if you're in Vegas. I'm glad i spent an extra couple of days to explore outside of the city

 

[revo333]

Have been to about 20 cities over 5 trips with some cities multi times.

For a first timer or for those wth limited time I'd probably recommend 6-7 of those places and the rest you are not missing out on much but that's not because they are all similar.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Have been to about 20 cities over 5 trips with some cities multi times.

For a first timer or for those wth limited time I'd probably recommend 6-7 of those places and the rest you are not missing out on much but that's not because they are all similar.

What are the 6-7 places? Not a first timer but have time restraints

 

[Cuzz09]

The more I think about it and actually sit and make a list I really don't get the same desire to go to America anymore.

The main reason I'd like to go would be because my GF has never been overseas and is a huge Disney fan and reckon she'd love it.

So maybe a few days in LA to do Disney/Universal and all the celebrity type stuff and take her to New York to see all the major sites.

Would be great to see her reaction to all of it

Also every time we watch TV and a scene of somewhere pops up she rolls her eyes when I say "Oooh I've been there!"

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[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

The more I think about it and actually sit and make a list I really don't get the same desire to go to America anymore.

Its not a great time to go to US at the moment as the exchange rate is so bad and cost of accomodation is very high.

If I was to rank the top 7 cities I have been this would be my list:

1. New York.
Has it all. Great siteseeing and museums for tourists. Amazing nightlife - comedy clubs, live music, broadway musicals. Fantastic sports scene, there is not a major sport you can't see in new york. And best shopping in USA imo.

2. Nashville
The best live music scene and you have to go to Grand Old Opry and visit the honky tonk bars on Broadway. If you love BBQ food, Nashville is the place to dine. Also i recommend taking a day trip to visit Jack Daniels distillery. Very cool tour and great whiskey.

3. New Orleans
Another great live music scene and i recommend seeing Jazz at Preservation Hall. Bourbon St is a giant street party and some very unique food options in New Orleans that you wont find anywhere else. Loved beignets, po'boys, gumbo.

4. Miami
If you want a vacation where it is warm and to relax on the beach, then Miami is a great city to chill out. You can spend all day just people watching. Mojitos here are amazing. Everglades are nearby if your are interested in seeing gators and swamp wildlife.

5. Los Angeles
Huge city. You need a car to get around or you will rack up a lot of money on taxi/uber. There is something for everyone. Kids will love the theme parks and beaches. Plenty of nightlife - best comedy clubs is in LA. I saw Sebastian Maniscalo, Niki Glaser, Craig Robinson, Bobby Lee were at the same Hollywood improv show. Not bad for a $30 ticket. West Hollywood was a cool place to stay, i liked the sunset strip music scene. Hollywood walk of fame is a little disappointing but it is the starting place for many LA tours. If you go on a celebrity homes tour, expect to see a lot of large gates and trees blocking houses. Day trips to San Diego and Anaheim for Disneyland are must dos.

6. Las Vegas
Its all about nightlife here. Its on the list because you have to go at least once even if your not into gambling at the casinos, there is still plenty to do. The vegas shows are pretty spectacular. Personally I find 4 days is enough for me. Very crowded walking the strip. The interesting thing about Vegas recently it has become a sports city. All the major US sports will have a team in Vegas. Only waiting on baseball for a stadium to be built.

7. San Francisco - Another great tourist city with very good shopping. Love Pier 39 Fishermans wharf and Alcatraz tour. However when I went I saw a lot of homeless people panhandling.

Other quick thoughts:

Memphis - Day trip only to see Graceland and Beale St. Nashville is so much better.

Orlando - Great for theme parks.

Washington DC - Amazing museums. Very easy to get to via Amtrak train from New York. I used Amtrak for day trips to Philadelphia too. Got to try a cheesesteak while you are there!

 

[jerry springer]

I went 3 times

1997 - Los Angeles (Anaheim), San Francisco, San Diego

2014 - Miami, Atlanta, Orlando, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Boise, Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

2017 - Houston

The only places I want to go for non sporting reasons (Buffalo and Oklahoma City) are Philladelphia, Seattle and Washington DC.

Though, I wouldn't be opposed to going back to Orlando (I need to do Epcot), Los Angeles (California Adventure), New York (I went in ignorant last time, I want to give it another go) Boston (Loved it), Boise (Loved it) and Las Vegas (I want to focus on the non-resort aspect next time as I now know Vegas offers a whole lot more)

Its funny you mention OKC

I've been to USA 3 times as well

2012 for 3 months ( St Louis several times, lake of the Ozarks during summer Break , Kansas City, Charlotte, DC , Philly, NY, Boston, Buffalo,Chicago,Tulsa, OKC, Chicago, Vegas, LA, and a million small towns all in-between them)

2019 for 2 weeks - Dallas/Vegas/LA

2022/23 for 6 weeks - Dallas, Tampa, Orlando several times, all around Florida, DC

And out of all the cities , small towns I've visited I think OKC was was my favourite experience.

The OKC memorial was most of the most sobering experiences' of my life, incredibly moving. OKC Just had the friendliest people i have ever met , they would give you the shirt of their back, there is zero Australians in the Mid-West, if you order a coffee in your accent people will stare at you like your a alien and just ask you so many questions about where your from.

The entire downtown was amazing, Bricktown brewery, , the Bar scene. I went and saw Thunder Vs Lakers 2nd round Play-offs. thunder were down by 7 with two minutes to go and KD hit the go-ahead with 17 seconds to go, Ive never heard such a roar in my life, that City loves that Team. Kobe (RIP) missed the game winner on the buzzer, just a amazing experience. Tulsa was awesome too

I'm planning to get back to OKC in 3 years, prob will go via Dallas again, then hire a Van and drive north to Oklahoma, then do Denver, Wyoming, Montana etc for a month or two

It's the Smaller City's like OKC that make the US so special, cannot recommend it enough

 

[jerry springer]

Heading back next year for summer. Looking for 2 more recommendations for a week stay each. Already heading to LA, NYC & Austin. 30 year old, love the bar scene, sports, scenery, nowhere to full on (already doing NYC). Done norleans, Miami, Nashville, Portland. Don't feel the need to go back. Any tips would be great!

Catch a Amtrack train from NY to Boston, takes 4 hours amazing bar scene, great walking trails, history, sports,and just a amazing Vibe

Boston has everything

 

[revo333]

What are the 6-7 places? Not a first timer but have time restraints

New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Nashville, San Diego, Texas/New Orleans, Las Vegas

I really like LA but I don't recommend it as it is very hit and miss with people.

I don't like San Francisco as much as LA but people seem to like it better than LA

I know a few people who just went to Nashville and said it was the best place ever

People should experience some part in Texas or see New Orleans even though for me New Orleans was just ok.

Also I've never been to Washington DC but everyone seems to enjoy it so I'd recommend that as well.

 

[revo333]

And out of all the cities , small towns I've visited I think OKC was was my favourite experience.

Last year I went to Tulsa for a concert, small city vibes can be great and for the time I was there it felt like I had the whole city to myself.

 

[jerry springer]

Just a tip for people going to DC

Been there twice now, all the Smithsonian's are free, i did them again in Jan this year. go to the Space museum first it has the biggest line at 1000 from memory, the other just walk in anytime. Food vans everywhere for foodies out there

what people don't know, if you have friends or family who live in the US that you are meeting up with or visiting, Get them in advance to write to their local Congressman/woman. Their local congressman has a unlimited supply of free tickets to get their local constituents to other places in DC

For example My sister was living in St Louis and presently lives in Tampa. She wrote to her local Congressman Office and because of this I got a tour of the East Wing of the White house,The Capitol Building (in 2012 and it just reopened) and the Pentagon. All completely free, they just put them in the mail

they always give out a million of these tickets' for their local schools visiting DC so they are dead easy to get

hopefully this assist's

Edit - Make sure you do a night tour of all the monuments, DC looks amazing at night

Edit 2- if you want to go and get a nice meal, I thoroughly recommend going to the Old Ebbitt Grill, Near the white house, the history in that place is just amazing - note make a booking for dinner!

About Us | Old Ebbitt Grill

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Lots of talk about Chicago here.. I am not planning on going too far east, but is it worth it? Looking at $700 one way to Chicago from where I'll be. Have 4 nights to kill.

 

[Cap]

Lots of talk about Chicago here.. I am not planning on going too far east, but is it worth it? Looking at $700 one way to Chicago from where I'll be. Have 4 nights to kill.

Was there a couple of months ago , so not winter

But loved it. Beautiful city, probably my favourite US city that I've visited (which to be fair is largely limited to New York , LA and some peripherals)

 

[offtherails9]

Was there a couple of months ago , so not winter

But loved it. Beautiful city, probably my favourite US city that I've visited (which to be fair is largely limited to New York , LA and some peripherals)

I've got 24 hours there, will do an Architecture Boat Tour and get to the bean, what else is a must?

 

[Cap]

I've got 24 hours there, will do an Architecture Boat Tour and get to the bean, what else is a must?

Wallis Tower is a great attraction and walking the magnificent mile (stay in this area as well)

Probably won't be open but the Navy Pier is pretty cool.

We did the Architecture Museums boat tour, gets you a ticket to their museum as well.

But otherwise really depends what you are looking for.

 

[revo333]

I've got 24 hours there, will do an Architecture Boat Tour and get to the bean, what else is a must?

I got a nice sunny day when I did a boat tour, you should have the chance to take some amazing photos.

You probably won't have time but I enjoyed the walk from the Bean to Soldier Field via Buckingham Fountain.

 

[phantom13]

If I'm not going to be stabbed in New York wearing a Red Sox jersey, or shot in New Orleans in an Atlanta jersey, I'm not gonna be harmed anywhere in America

From my experience most of the sports fans in New York are tourists. Its such a big transient population in NYC that alot didnt care at all about sports. I was there when the Mets were in the world series and all the Yankees stores had been converted for the world series and nobody cared in the slightest.

 

[offtherails9]

Wallis Tower is a great attraction and walking the magnificent mile (stay in this area as well)

Probably won't be open but the Navy Pier is pretty cool.

We did the Architecture Museums boat tour, gets you a ticket to their museum as well.

But otherwise really depends what you are looking for.

Cool, I'm not staying too far from there so will check it out.

I'll walk along the river that's for sure. Probably find somewhere to watch the Bears lose their MNF game against the Vikings that night and eat some deep dish pizza.

 

[Cap]

Cool, I'm not staying too far from there so will check it out.

I'll walk along the river that's for sure. Probably find somewhere to watch the Bears lose their MNF game against the Vikings that night and eat some deep dish pizza.

Personally don't get your hopes up re Deep dish.

Thin crust pizza is way better. Find a Blues Bar as well.

 

[revo333]

If I'm not going to be stabbed in New York wearing a Red Sox jersey, or shot in New Orleans in an Atlanta jersey, I'm not gonna be harmed anywhere in America

It sounds like Philadelphia sports fans are the most hostile.

 

[offtherails9]

Personally don't get your hopes up re Deep dish.

Thin crust pizza is way better. Find a Blues Bar as well.

Yeah I've had some in Australia before, it's not the best but wouldn't mind trying some over there

 

[deck]

Cool, I'm not staying too far from there so will check it out.

I'll walk along the river that's for sure. Probably find somewhere to watch the Bears lose their MNF game against the Vikings that night and eat some deep dish pizza.

My brother and I had a good time at the Snickers Bar & Grill on N State St near the Grand red station watching the Niners and Seahawks playoff game back in January. My brother stayed until about 3 or 4am and left his credit card behind with a bunch of other people. Don't forget to have a Malort shot or 2.

As for the deep dish have had it twice now but the crust just doesn't do it for me. Although I have seen there are a couple of places that do it with a crust similar to a Detroit or Sicilian style crust. Although I do highly recommend the Italian Beef sandwiches.

Cold weather isn't a problem as long as you are prepared. Never got above 0c the 3 days we were there but we were well prepared for the conditions.

 

[00Stinger]

Doing a quick calculation in my head. I've been to 19 cities in the US

San Antonio is the hidden gem imo

Feels totally different to the rest of America. The city riverwalk is one of the best things and kind of unique I have been to in any city in the world

Plus in the parks they have wood smokers instead of electric bbqs

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk

 

[Shell]

Lots of talk about Chicago here.. I am not planning on going too far east, but is it worth it? Looking at $700 one way to Chicago from where I'll be. Have 4 nights to kill.

Chicago is my favourite city in the US, easily. Love love love it. Is the only city I felt like I could live there (minus winter)

 

[Spirit Level]

Chicago is my favourite city in the US, easily. Love love love it. Is the only city I felt like I could live there (minus winter)

I was pleasantly surprised by Chicago.

I only went there for a gig and was expecting it to be a hole, stayed in Wicker Park and it was very cool!

Will be heading back there this December to do it properly

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Tough one... everyone talking up Chicago but it's now $800 1 way from where I'll be..