USA for 14 days, where would you go?

[11sjw]

If you enjoy museums the Smithsonian stop in Washington DC is thoroughly worth it. We spent 5 days there in 2004 and nearly all of it was spent at one museum or another. The Air & Space exhibition out near the airport is amazing (bus departs from the front of the central DC A&S Museum). The night time monument tours are also of interest.

In fact our whole North East coast trip was fun. Wash, Philly, NYC & Boston via train. Pay the extra for BC on the trains.

 

[bnroz]

Also allow some time for Memphis; Graceland,Beale St etc

was in Memphis last Feb and it was a dive!! went to Graceland, but that was about all that memphis had going for it, main street was like a ghost town, shops run down and closed (im sure the GFC caused this).... i would definitly recommend Nashville but, had a blast down the main street in the bars listening to country bands, different!

 

[coco50]

:mrgreen::mrgreen: Unfortunately the other half isn't as much a fan of my RTW antics and has expressed a preference for concentrating on just Europe this time so we might have to see you in America another time...

But a tip about LV stores in the US for Mrs!: the capital of LV isn't Fith Avenue, nor is it Rodeo Dr, nor even Bal Harbour - head down to Orange County (about an hour to 90 mins away from LA depending on where in LA you're starting out of) where they have 3 stores in South Coast Plaza alone! 1 free standing store, and another 2 in Saks and Bloomingdales respectively. They collectively have the best range out of all the ones I've been to in the US. Really, it's hard to beat South Coast for shopping.

The shopping's not bad in the "Magnificent Mile" in Chicago either!

 

[Maca44]

LAX - SFO driving (overnight in Santa Barbara).

Or for something a little more interesting overnight in Solvang, about 40 mins drive from Santa Barbara. A beautiful village with nearly everything of Danish design and great Danish food, and only a short drive from the Napa wine area.

 

[dede]

Or for something a little more interesting overnight in Solvang, about 40 mins drive from Santa Barbara. A beautiful village with nearly everything of Danish design and great Danish food, and only a short drive from the Napa wine area.

mmmmm, danish pastries (insert Homer Simpson drooling noise here)

 

[Keith009]

The shopping's not bad in the "Magnificent Mile" in Chicago either!

South Coast Plaza is much more than simply 'not bad.' A lot of the boutiques are much bigger than they are in even Rodeo. In short, Heaven.

 

[Bang4Buck]

Or for something a little more interesting overnight in Solvang, about 40 mins drive from Santa Barbara. A beautiful village with nearly everything of Danish design and great Danish food, and only a short drive from the Napa wine area.

Solvang is quaint, but with limited hotel and restaurant options. I'd recommend to go there for breakfast; then Napa for lunch before heading off to SFO. Alternatively, check into SB and drive up there in the afternoon.

Santa Barbara reminds me of Byron Bay, while Solvang is more like Lismore, albeit with a Danish theme. Personally, I prefer to stay in Byron.

Agree with a previous poster that Nashville is uber fun. If I were to add one more city to my list of suggestions, it would be BNA, at the expense of New Orleans, Miami, Boston etc etc etc.

 

[coco50]

Solvang is quaint, but with limited hotel and restaurant options. I'd recommend to go there for breakfast; then Napa for lunch before heading off to SFO. Alternatively, check into SB and drive up there in the afternoon.

Santa Barbara reminds me of Byron Bay, while Solvang is more like Lismore, albeit with a Danish theme. Personally, I prefer to stay in Byron.

Agree with a previous poster that Nashville is uber fun. If I were to add one more city to my list of suggestions, it would be BNA, at the expense of New Orleans, Miami, Boston etc etc etc.

Having worked in Lismore for 17 years and living just half an hour's drive from Byron and having been to both Santa Barbara I would have to say that SB is nothing like Byron and Solvang is nothing like Lismore which is a hole. Both Solvang and SB are beautiful and while Byron may have the physical beauty it is totally different to SB

 

[Bang4Buck]

Having worked in Lismore for 17 years and living just half an hour's drive from Byron and having been to both Santa Barbara I would have to say that SB is nothing like Byron and Solvang is nothing like Lismore which is a hole. Both Solvang and SB are beautiful and while Byron may have the physical beauty it is totally different to SB

Actually, I feel Byron (I lived on the beach at Belongil) and SB are similar; YMVV. It's the hippy rich paradox. As for the Lismore reference, it was a euphemism. I found both Solvang and Lismore charming, but I wouldn't choose to live in either, but they are roughly the same distance away from SB and BB. Sure, I could overnight in either, but given the choice Solvang (like Lismore) has limited options to stay; hence my recommdation for SB.

PS: If I had lived in Lismore 17 years, I wouldn't admit to it.

 

[Keith009]

Hmm.... Fire Island? :mrgreen:

 

[coco50]

Actually, I feel Byron (I lived on the beach at Belongil) and SB are similar; YMVV. It's the hippy rich paradox. As for the Lismore reference, it was a euphemism. I found both Solvang and Lismore charming, but I wouldn't choose to live in either, but they are roughly the same distance away from SB and BB. Sure, I could overnight in either, but given the choice Solvang (like Lismore) has limited options to stay; hence my recommdation for SB.

PS: If I had lived in Lismore 17 years, I wouldn't admit to it.

There is not much charm about Lismore. It is in a bowl and in summer it can be unbearably hot with little breeze to provide relief. Many shops in the CBD are vacant. It has become known as the pothole capital of the Far North Coast - in fact, some of the potholes have their own postcode. At night bands of ferals roam the streets.

BTW - I never said that I lived in Lismore for 17 years - I only said I worked there. Have a look at my details to ascertain where I live.

 

[dede]

There is not much charm about Lismore. It is in a bowl and in summer it can be unbearably hot with little breeze to provide relief. Many shops in the CBD are vacant. It has become known as the pothole capital of the Far North Coast - in fact, some of the potholes have their own postcode. At night bands of ferals roam the streets.

BTW - I never said that I lived in Lismore for 17 years - I only said I worked there. Have a look at my details to ascertain where I live.

I was in Lismore for NYE. Stayed next to the airport and it was very pleasant. I must have been lucky with the weather. Having said that a few days was long enough. I'm not good with humidity.

 

[clifford]

This thread seems to have gone slightly O/T.

 

[hazel]

Hey all

I am thinking the following - 23 - 29 DEC West coast then fly across to Orlando until about 6 or 7 Jan, back to LA via Las Vegas then home.

Except for the West to East flights, I would rent a car and drive between destinations...

I would consider train travel from FL north with a NY-LAX return flight...

I spent 5 months living/working in Orlando -for my sins. If you fly LAX to Miami you can visit Miami and then drive to Orlando via the turnpike. Good beaches - gulf coast is 1.5hrs drive , NASA -1 hour ish drive. You can also go to Tupperware & Melbourne. Have 'nickel beers' at a bar in Church St on Thursdays. Fly Orlando to New York - freezing cold but lovely in the winter with the Christmas lights, ice skating & not as many people about.
New Jersey is cheaper for shopping including LV - no state tax unlike NY.
Then go to Newport RI & Martha's Vineyard.
I love trains & have travelled on Amtrak quite a lot - it's not great - particularly in winter expect somtimes very long delays.

 

[Bang4Buck]

There is not much charm about Lismore. It is in a bowl and in summer it can be unbearably hot with little breeze to provide relief. Many shops in the CBD are vacant. It has become known as the pothole capital of the Far North Coast - in fact, some of the potholes have their own postcode. At night bands of ferals roam the streets.

BTW - I never said that I lived in Lismore for 17 years - I only said I worked there. Have a look at my details to ascertain where I live.

YMMV but I found Lismore charming on the four separate occasions I visited there, around 2001.

Yeah, I know Ballina; had a beachfront place at Lennox too. I'm not trying to pick fights. E.g. tourist friends of mine went to Lismore early Nov 09. They loved it; to them it felt "kind of like they imagined Australia".

But we are getting off track. Both Santa Barbara or Solvang e.g. are great; it's just the former has more accom and food options; hence my recommendation. Peace to U.