The voyage of a thousand miles starts with the first step

[_w_o_o_d_]

So I'm applying for a new passport. One that will allow me to enter the United States of America. Which kinda makes it official that I'm going there in the near future.

I have no dates yet, but it'll probably be around january. I hope to get 4 weeks of vacation. I suck at making long-term plans, anyway

Comments

[rainbowparty]

I would say go to Boston. It's underrated by a lot of people. Yes, there are college kids and a lot of them, but if you're going in early January most of them won't be back just yet. There's the Museum of Fine Arts, the public library with Sargent frescoes, the Red Sox, Haymarket/North End, the Aquarium... loads of fun things.

Also if you feel like renting a car (if you can..?) Thoreau's Walden Pond is about 20 minutes drive from Fenway.

Another vote for car rental

[ndgmtlcd]

Yes! Plan for car rental at crucial points, even on the East coast where, in theory you can see a whole lot of things using public transit and taxis. I've done all variants, flying in carless and going completely without a car for some trips to the U.S. and doing it with a plane and car combo or completely by car for other trips to the U.S..

You'll miss a lot of what the U.S. is all about if you don't drive around for at least a few days. Also, you can keep good food in the car instead of having to count on MacDonald's. Don't hesitate to buy a cheap ice pack cooler once you get to the U.S..

I think you should stick to the East coast for that first trip, staying in the Boston-New York-Philadelphia corridor. But if you pick the West coast, there's always the Portland-Seattle-Vancouver corridor which will let you discover the fun of eating out in Vancouver.

Re: Another vote for car rental

[_w_o_o_d_]

Thanks for all the advice but... I can't drive.

Re: Another vote for car rental

[ndgmtlcd]

Find someone who can!

[solmaru]

Phssst. East coast! who needs ya! I say visit San Francisco, Portland and seattle! I can show you around SF and You know Erika up in Portland right?

[_w_o_o_d_]

Duly noted. I've wanted to see San Francisco ever since I read R.L.Stevenson's "The Wrecker", even if I know it's not really the same city anymore.

[_w_o_o_d_]

Also, yeah, I kinda owe Erika a visit.

[soygirl]

West Coast! I would say don't visit NYC unless you have someone there to show you around. The West Coast is great. Portland and SF are definitely good spots. I live in Santa Cruz which is about an hour and a half south of San Francisco by car (or about 3 hours if you take the train/bus combo... yeah it's pretty awful compared to France). On top of San Francisco though... you could check out Berkeley (lookie! http://www.comicrelief.net/) and Oakland, since they are all in the Bay Area and are connected by metro.

Anyway there is a lot to do in all of these cities, for you it would be a matter of finding a rideshare etc to get in between them, or take the slow going train. But be prepared - all the aforementioned spots are pretty rainy come January. Perhaps you should add Los Angeles to your list. :)

[_w_o_o_d_]

Well I kinda someone in NYC who actually offered to show me around... And I've seen too many movies, read too many books and comics about this city. I've got to see it with my own eyes.

Of course the same applies to San Francisco... Entre les deux mon coeur balance.

[ndgmtlcd]

Well if you do decide for NYC I have a bit of info that's somewhat more useful than my previous one. Public transit in the US is pretty dismal even in the Boston-NYC-Wash corridor. There is an exception though, made up entirely by the NYC "commuter" lines. They run in and out of NY in every direction at a fantastic rate at rush hours. Most importantly, they go very far out of NY. Some of them run out as far as Providence, Rhode Island. Providence is a nice little city. I wish I could have spent more time in it.

Anyway, the gist of it is that by using what are supposed to be "commuter" rail lines you can go in and out of three states, exploring the ancient towns on their coast lines. You can soak in the Lovecraftian atmosphere, and bathe in the myhtos behind the whaling past of those New England towns. You don't need to go up the Mass coast to get into the spirit of "Moby Dick".

[jabberworks]

Hey, how's your trip planning going?

I'd say stick to big cities unless you drive, and NYC is great without a car. And Portland with a friend would be fun. Maybe you can go over with her to the coast? The Oregon coast is beautiful, but again, a bit tricky without a car.

This was my great little find last time I went to NYC, off the northwest corner of Central Park. A nice place to chill out after the city bustle:
http://www.roerich.org

[_w_o_o_d_]

Thanks for the tips ! I haven't done much in terms of planning yet... But I do have the passport !