Lever, did you inherit a fortune, because if you are going to go to all of those places you will surely spend one.
Anthony, the potential destinations are all going on a list and will be looked at very logically. I really need to get a proper holiday this year (not been away for 3/4 years - not so good for the soul, need to flex the spirit a bit) so I'm very much into getting this right Expenses can always be balanced by sniffing out bargains... The loan and credit cards are on their way to being confined to the history bin in a couple of months, so this year "I am not a number, I am a free man" I earn a reasonable f/t wage and run a business on the side so I'm looking to be able to tuck some cash away and afford a little soul wax. Heaven knows I need it
You talking about pure expense or gambling in Vegas, Anthony? I don't gamble so I'd hunt a bargain and holiday that way
Don't waste time in Las Vegas unless you are looking to spend a fortune or blow all of your money. You would be much better off taking a donkey through the valley at Grand Canyon. I looked at it from the rim at the observation decks at the top, never went to the bottom and looked up, but that is the most incredible place on earth. God's hand did touch there, I think it was the great flood that made that one. You got to see it before you die man
I have this feeling I may be seeing the Grand Canyon then... An old friend of mine (where is she now - I hate losing track of people) came back from a holiday in the Grand Canyon years ago and she never stopped talking about it. She kept apologising that the photos she took never quite did the place justice. There's a helicopter trip but she said it was v pricey, but I really fancy the thought of paddling a canoe in the Grand Canyon Funnily enough I got a copy of Dan Price's "Moonlight Chronicles" here, though he does the "Hell's Canyon"... I should plan a GC trip and catch up with the man-made stuff later
Well when you head out west, you can also see Yellowstone Park, there are some great sites to see in the western USA. I am sure you can find a tour guide that can take you places that most never think of going to. I am not an expert by any means, but if you find some, please post the links for others that will read this in the future Lever. Thanks, good holiday to you when you decide to take it. PS: a simple search on Yahoo gives this: http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=sfp&p=grand+canyon+tours http://www.grandcanyon.com/train.html I guess you were right about the helicopter tours, looks like a giant industry revolves around the Grand Canyon.
The canyon and other western parks get terribly busy in the summer months when school is out. Many are also VERY hot and dry in the summer. April or Sept. would be good months for the canyon since the weather will be nice and the crowds are smaller. If you plan to get out of your car and hike, you need to think about conditioning. The south rim of the Grand Canyon is at 7,500 feet and if you are coming from near sea level you will really feel the altitude. The canyon tricks you because it seems so easy going down. The hike up is a killer and they frequently have to haul hikers out on muleback. On your way across Arizona to the Grand Canyon you might stop in Ganado and visit Hubbel's trading post. Hubbel established his trading post there in the 1870's and it is operated now by the park service. You can tour his home and see really nice old pottery, Navajo rugs, baskets etc. (I use old in the American sense; nothing here is old in the European sense Paul
Dude, just visit San Diego and have a good time. Forget all this Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon whatever they want tourists to visit San Diego, Santa Monica, places like that is where the parties are all summer! It all depends on what you like in a vacation, just saying, I have never been to Canyon or Yellowstone hehe
SiteTutor, I did not know that your apartment was a national vacation attraction Why not make Lever an offer sort of like the game shows do, let me give you an example. Lever you have won a 4 week all expenses paid vacation to beautiful San Diego, California. Your trip starts out with first class airfare from London direct to your destination in San Diego, next a limousine will pick you up at the airport, drop you off directly to the SiteTutor estate for fun in the Sun with the SiteTutor cheerleaders. After wine, women and song at SiteTutor's for a week you get to go to Compton and meet Snoop Doggy Dog and Kid Rock for a night of Rock and Rap and you will be included in their next music video along with the Snoop dancers. This will launch your career in show business and you will next stop in Hollywood to meet Stephen Speilberg to replace Brad Pitt in the next blockbuster 500 million dollar film. All this because SiteTutor changed your vacation plans Lever, if I were you I would take him up on this ASAP. PS: Can I be your agent? My fees range from 10% - 30%
Lever, I'm goin to the US in September I'm doin the East Coast; Atlanta > Chicago > NY > Boston > Washington DC Cant wait!
Anthony, no traffic problems - I'm flyin to all of the destinations ;-) Basketball games, for sure.. and some baseball definatly! Especially the cubbies
WW, hate to break the news to you, but they will not let you fly to the stadium, you will have to get caught in traffic jams to get to the ballparks What about the traffic jams at the airport? Maybe they will clear the traffic and block streets off for you like they do when the Presidential motorcade comes through town WW
Anthony, I'm goin to the ballparks with a US friend so she'll know the short cuts, either that or I'll hire an helicopter and arrive in style LOL
I'll have to agree with most of the stuff said. Everything here is "new" to Europeans... We don't have many castles and such, so our "history" is your last week. But I can agree that the Grand Canyon is pretty unbelievable, and they don't have any of them in England. Also in that region is Four Corners and the nearby Indian Ruins(Don't go out of your way, but if you are there already...), Redwood Park (Largest trees in the world), Yellowstone, and Yosemite. I visited Boston this fall, and have to say that it was probably my favorite destination so far... But it is expensive, and most of the history is "Yea, we kicked out the brits", so be prepared for that. I had a ball in Panama City Beach Florida, but was VERY disappointed in Key West. KW has very little beach, and there's no place for straight people to hang out. I would advise that if you are going anywhere to see the history, that you start with a tour. I've tried several times to just "wander" looking for it, and that never worked well. Start with a tour of the town, and if something catches your eye, come back to it. Boston has a get-on-and-get-off bus tour so you can see everything, and wander around at the same time. Boston and DC have "Duck Tours" (Boston | DC ) that are amphibious vehicles so you can see the streets and the water. Plus traffic is less of a problem that way. I'm a bad person to ask about DC because I live a half hour away and never go there... But they have the Pentagon, Arlington Cemetary, Washington Monument, Capitol, White House, Jefferson and Lincoln Monuments, The Smithsonian(It's like a dozen museums, and you could spend a day in each one), and lots of "national" churches and stuff. If you like "busy" city life, you can't beat New York. While you're there, hit Niagra Falls. Superman was there. There's lots of "Touristy" things to do in Orlando, FL. They have Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and lots of water parks. Epcot sucks, skip it. Just do like everyone said and go OUTSIDE of the "summer months" to avoid the rush. Keep in mind that it's a "take your kids for vacation" town, so if you don't like kids, you don't want to be there. There you have it... My random mumblings about US travel. Enjoy!
CafeMonkey, there are nothing but skyscraper condos going up on Panama City Beach now. I know, I was building the concrete forms for the jobs. So next time you come, you will see a bunch of old folks with money and a lot of concrete walls keeping you from viewing the ocean The developers and bankers love it as Billions are being made while they destroy the beaches.