Im making my way to the USA.

[CW]

Time to represent NYC – and I’ll do it via two things that I love, food and movies…

DAY TWO
Early in morning, before the crowds hit, you should trek to the top of the Empire State Building.  The K2 of NYC skyscrapers.  Do it because it is there, and you can say that you did it.  But skip the crowds, it is not worth waiting in line.  The Empire State Building it is one of the Seven Wonders of NYC.  After you’ve come down from the top, stop at a deli and have a NYC breakfast, an egg, cheese and bacon roll with coffee. 

Oh how I miss the egg and cheese rolls (plus a touch of salt and pepper minus the bacon) I am not sure why it does not taste the same in Cali.
Oh!.... now I remember,  California's rolls suck!! and the pizza and the salami too; but the tacos and burritos do rock...hmmm.....OK we can call it a tie

[aharris2]

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK!!! Geysers, hot springs, wildlife, plate tectonics!

We have never been there but it is my dream. Your trip is very different depending on whether or not you are driving, but it appears that it is doable in either event. Bill Peckham's itinerary of the west looked cool ending in flying out of Salt Lake City, Utah. DON'T LEAVE YET!!! Tour Yellowstone. I looked at Yellowstone when you first posted and found that Salt Lake City is the closest major airport to Yellowstone, about 5 hrs away by car or by tour bus(!). July and August are ideal for visiting. It is when the weather is the warmest - approaching 80F in the day and upper 40s overnight.

I am with you Bill, I feel the wanderlust stirring

Alene
(More to come...)

[Sluff]

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK!!! Geysers, hot springs, wildlife, plate tectonics!

We have never been there but it is my dream. Your trip is very different depending on whether or not you are driving, but it appears that it is doable in either event. Bill Peckham's itinerary of the west looked cool ending in flying out of Salt Lake City, Utah. DON'T LEAVE YET!!! Tour Yellowstone. I looked at Yellowstone when you first posted and found that Salt Lake City is the closest major airport to Yellowstone, about 5 hrs away by car or by tour bus(!). July and August are ideal for visiting. It is when the weather is the warmest - approaching 80F in the day and upper 40s overnight.

I am with you Bill, I feel the wanderlust stirring

Alene
(More to come...)

I rode through Yellowstone on the bike and spent 2-3 days in west Yellowstone Montana in cabins just inside the city on the left (south)they were beautiful.

[Bill Peckham]

Here is a link to a road trip I did with the dog in 2006 from Seattle to Chicago through Yellowstone with a stop for a few nights just to the east of Yellowstone in the Shoshone Forest at the Elephant Head Lodge. http://forums.homedialysis.org/showthread.php?t=1069

This trip also marks the first time I used the NxStage - so there is a bunch of talk about it too.

[kidney4traci]

CW - California pizza is way better than what they try to pass off for pizza in South Texas!  Can't say anything about NY pizza - never been there...

[aharris2]

...Meinuk's three days sound great and really there is a lot to be said for making NY NY your first stop. When you step into Penn Station you'll know you're not in Oz anymore (heh). A key advantage of the east coast over the west coast is the availability of train travel. I believe there is a train pass on Amtrak for US visitors - like the Eurail pass. With it you could connect east coast cities without having to drive. From the east coast you could start your way home by heading west. It would be a real juxtaposition to fly from the east coast Megopolis to Phoenix and then drive through Northern Arizona - here you'd be able to visit the Navajo-  to the north rim of the Grand Canyon and then on to Zion National Park. Plan to spend a couple days in wilderness de-New Yorkifying yourself on your way to Vegas - there must be a way to do this even if you aren't driving. Then on to IHD central in Lala land.

I'm getting wanderdesire.

Meinuk, Bill, you're killing me! I grew up in the "New York metropolitan area" and spent many good times in the City.

Amanda, if you are not driving, there are a number of locations that have well developed public transportation systems. New York City is the most well developed, and well worth a visit whether or not you're driving.

You mentioned the possibility of travel in July. If you make it to New York on Independence Day (July 4th) you're in for a great show - Fireworks over the East River. Bring a radio. Spectacular show!!! (Meinuk???) I saw it one time and it was memorable.

(Now, I have no experience with these, but both Boston and Washington DC are both commuter friendly and must also have excellent Independence Day celebrations - Boston for its history and DC as the national capital.)

Back to NYC. Don't simply take a ferry past the Statue of Liberty, stop!!! This is, to me, what America is (was, or should be) all about. This is (a part of) what is written on her:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these the homeless, tempest-tost to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

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See it up close and see Ellis Island.  And, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (you'll be able to see Lady Liberty as you walk.)

As Bill said, there's Amtrak and it goes to Boston and DC, both tourist destinations with mass transit. And I like the contrast offered by the west as Bill suggests (don't forget Yellowstone!)
 

Alene
(...more mass transit locations later...)

[livecam]

Flights to and from Australia often stop in Hawaii.  I could be persuaded to conduct a tour there featuring a stop for some very good steaks.  Think about that one!

[Meinuk]

Alene, Don't get me started on the Brooklyn Bridge...  You can walk across, get some of the best Pizza in NY (Grimaldi's), and some ice cream next door, and then walk back again.  Ohh sometimes winter makes me sad.  As soon as the weather gets better, I'm walking over that Bridge!

Fireworks - Yes, NYC can be amazing, but I have to say, I lived in London for years, and the Brits really know their fireworks (lighting up the Thames for the millennium WOW a river of fire).  But, the best ever 4th of July experience I've ever had was catching a flight from LAX to JFK, it was a clear night and thanks to the time change, I watched so many of our nation's fireworks from above.  It was a truly spectacular totally 20th Century view of the celebration.

[Sluff]

Alene,

Don't get me started on the Brooklyn Bridge...  You can walk across, get some of the best Pizza in NY (Grinmaldi's), and some ice cream next door, and then walk back again.  Ohh sometimes winter makes me sad.  As soon as the weather gets better, I'm walking over that Bridge!

Fireworks - Yes, NYC can be amazing, but I have to say, I lived in London for years, and the Brits really know their fireworks (lighting up the Themes for the millennium WOW a river of fire).  But, the best ever 4th of July experience I've ever had was catching a flight from LAX to JFK, it was a clear night and thanks to the time change, I watched so many of our nation's fireworks from above.  It was a truly spectacular totally 20th Century view of the celebration.

One day I'm coming to NY. And we must go for pizza. Of course you may have to drag me if it's too far.

[Meinuk]

Sluff,  this summer, grab the wife, jump on the Harley and come to NYC!!!!  After the pizza and icecream, I'll even drive you back over the bridge.  I kinda like the thought of being your permanent vacation driver!

[Sluff]

Sluff,  this summer, grab the wife, jump on the Harley and come to NYC!!!!  After the pizza and icecream, I'll even drive you back over the bridge.  I kinda like the thought of being your permanent vacation driver!

So do I 

[Bill Peckham]

Sluff,  this summer, grab the wife, jump on the Harley and come to NYC!!!!  After the pizza and icecream, I'll even drive you back over the bridge.  I kinda like the thought of being your permanent vacation driver!

Sluff are you on a permanent vacation?

[aharris2]

...One day I'm coming to NY. And we must go for pizza...

(alene writing)
Alright, is this where the "which pizza is better, New York pizza or Chicago pizza" discussion  begins...

[Meinuk]

...One day I'm coming to NY. And we must go for pizza...

(alene writing)
Alright, is this where the "which pizza is better, New York pizza or Chicago pizza" discussion  begins...

I really don't know much about Chicago, and the only Chicago Pizza I've ever had is UNOS - so  you'll get no  from me!

FYI - my best Pizza ever in Turin (Torino) Italy (of course, I think that everything is better in Italy),  second, NYC...

[Sluff]

...One day I'm coming to NY. And we must go for pizza...

(alene writing)
Alright, is this where the "which pizza is better, New York pizza or Chicago pizza" discussion  begins...

I really don't know much about Chicago, and the only Chicago Pizza I've ever had is UNOS - so  you'll get no  from me!

FYI - my best Pizza ever in Turin (Torino) Italy (of course, I think that everything is better in Italy),  second, NYC...

What's it cost to go to Italy? nevermind I would need a passport.

[Bill Peckham]

...One day I'm coming to NY. And we must go for pizza...

(alene writing)
Alright, is this where the "which pizza is better, New York pizza or Chicago pizza" discussion  begins...

Cough, cough, Chicago, cough cough

Bill (ex Chicago pizza flipper) Peckham

[KT0930]

what a great load of information. Thanks everyone.

I have put together with all your advice a itinerary. I will post it tomorrow after uni. (college)

Fitting everything into a few weeks is not going to be easy.

So what's the word, what part(s) are you going to get to see?

[paddbear0000]

  Any news? What happened to the itinerary?