A Trip to the USA

[TechnoViking]

Hi All.

Im going to be flying to the US at the end of next week, and staying in Atlanta, then going to Baltimore then New York, total of 2 1/2 weeks.

I have never been to New York before, apart from the normal tourist spots, does anyone know of any places of intrest? so far my list comprises of
*Statue of Liberty
*Central Park
*The Enterprise space shuttle
*Times Square
*Adorama (LOL may have to destroy my creditcard)

Ive only got 2 days in NY and I think i can do most of my list on the first day.

any ideas would be great :)

[Octane]

B&H Photo Video.

H

[brian nordstrom]

CompanySeven NY ( thats New Hamsphere ) .:D .
Brian.

[Astro_Bot]

Not sure if you've done any of these before, and forgive me if any are too obvious, but these are worth considering:

Empire State Building
Metropolitan Museum
Guggenheim
Eat at Carnegie Deli
United Nations compound (it's not a bad tour)
Intrepid museum (aircraft carrier and a bunch of aircraft - not sure if that's where the Shuttle went)
Some cool bars south of Houston (SOHO) to try out your Aussie accent
Catch a Broadway show (if there are any good ones on)
Some good clothes shopping - more for the ladies, but gents prices are also cheap if you need stuff


I thought Central Park was an anti-climax - it's just a park.

[wavelandscott]

The shuttle is at the Intrepid...
Grand Central Terminal is pretty cool too.
In the mornings several of the TV networks are doing live shows in Times Square
With some preplanning you can get tickets to David Letterman etc.
There are several great restaurants...
The other stuff listed is pretty good too...

[jjjnettie]

Hayden Planetarium..

I'm following this thread with interest. I'll be in NYC for a couple of days in June. :)

[pluto]

If I had only 2 days my plan would be:
Day 1 - Intrepid then cab up to American Museum of Natural History. From there walk around through the park and maybe even a quick visit to the zoo if your doing well for time. Then through the park to the MET and/or the Guggenheim. If you're there around the evening the MET has a bar on the roof with nice views over the park and surrounds, would be worth stopping for a drink (I did!). Then I'd head to the observation deck of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, similar view to the Empire State but further up-town (and smaller queues). You could also have a walk around Times Square as it's pretty close to 30 rock.

Day 2 - Downtown, check out Wall St then down to Battery Point where the ferries to the Statue of Liberty leave from. When I was there around the same time 2 years ago the lines for the ferry tours were well over 2 hours long so I ended up just taking a round trip on the Staten Island ferry instead. The Staten Island ferry doesn't go to the statue but it sails past about 150m(?) away. It's also a good way to see alot of the lower harbour that you wouldn't normally see. Then up to little Italy for lunch. Then up to Times Square and across to 5th Ave (if you didn't do it already). After dinner finish off with a trip up the Empire State.

Obviously there are a million other things to do but I'd be happy with this for 2 days.

It's a great city to walk around in but if you're time-poor then cabs are cheap, you can go from downtown up to Times square for probably less than $10.

Have fun! :D

[Stardrifter_WA]

I too am following this thread. I will be in New York in August for a few days, before heading off to Boston to pick up a camper and head up to "Stellafane". I will be in the states for 4 weeks. Roll on August! :D

Then it will back to New York and then onto Washington to visit the Smithsonian Aerospace museums in the Washington Mall and Virginia. Then by train to Chicago and onto LA, where I pick up another camper and head off to Las Vegas, then Flagstaff (to visit the Lowell Observatory) and finally up into the Colorado mountains (going to drive Highway 550 from Bernalillo, near Albuquerque, over Red Mountain Pass and onto Green River and then its back to LA and down to San Diego (will also visit OPT in Oceanside).

As Humayun suggests, the first place I am going to hit when I get to New York will be B&H Photo. The must see also for me is the Natural History Museum.

[jjjnettie]

While you're in Flagstaff you must take in Barringer Crater and the Grand Canyon as well. Oh, in Flagstaff itself is the Apollo Tree. :)
I'm sharing my drive with Heather Archuletta from NASA. With luck she'll be able to get us the VIP tours. :)

[Peter Ward]

Ditto.

It's also just off central park. They spent a good deal of money doing it up the Planetarium. The meteorite exhibition (in a back room of the adjacent Natural History Museum) is a little tricky to find but worth a look.

It's an amazing, and quite old, city......the Intrepid museum, Empire State, Twin towers site and Times square, Broadway....all worth a visit.

Adorama? Underwhelming. They actually "buzz" you in via a security door, vast range of stock but pricing is questionable.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks jjjnettie, I fully intend to do that anyway. In addition to that I am taking a helicopter flight from Las Vegas over the Hoover Dam and landing in the Grand Canyon. Bugger climbing down into it :D

I also hope to get a VIP tour around Lowell, as I have done some work for them in the late 90's whilst at Perth Observatory. I am really hoping to get a look at the new Discovery Telescope as well. May also visit other Observatories as well, time permitting.

Cheers Peter :)

[Kal]

Liberty island (and Ellis island) is still closed due to Hurricane Sandy damage (http://www.nps.gov/stli/after-hurricane-sandy.htm), set to reopen july 4th

I enjoyed the museum of natural history. It includes the hall of meteorites which has a nice 34 ton piece of iron as its centerpiece.

Make sure you have a meal in a deli. Some of the sandwiches you get there are fantastic. If you want a challenge try Carnagie Deli (http://www.carnegiedeli.com/home.php)

A more sombre place to visit would be the 911 memorial

[Matt Wastell]

Hi James
I was in NYC for 6 nights recently.
I checked the online list of things to do - surprisingly the top ten was close to the top don't do!!!!!
Do the Empire State Building - get there early in the morning 8 am - no queues - I was not going to do it but well worth the time.
Take the subway south and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - gives great scale to the city.
Time Square is a tad weird. I stayed there - just a large intersection with TV commercials.
Natural History Museum.
Take your most comfortable walking shoes - everything looks close - but that is just a perception due to the size!
Have fun!

[TechnoViking]

Thanks guys, looks like my list is full. The most important visit for me is the shuttle, its been a childhood dream from as early as i can remember. I do want to visit the empire state building, just so i can experience the sheer scale of it.

4 days till i fly out, im nervous and excited at the same time, I hate flying and add the 22 hours worth of flying to get to atlanta its going to drive me stir crazy, Ive packed the last 8 issues of S&T, loaded up 50+ games and 20 movies. it should keep me out of trouble for a while :rofl:

[barx1963]

James and anyone else going to NYC. The Empire State Building is absolutely worth it ....BUT by an Express Ticket beforehand. It is $47.50 as against $25 but very worth it. The queues are enormous, but the express ticket means you jump to the head of each queue (there is more than 1 queue). When we went we timed it for sunset and we saw people in the queues as we were coming down that had been there when we started up 2 hours earlier. If you go at a popular time of day eg. sunset!!, the ppl will be 6 deep at the top, but a bit of patience and you will see some fantastic views.
Broadway shows are definitely worth it. We saw Jersey Boys (a real experience in New York!), the Lion King (awesome) and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. We decided not to take chances on getting the cheap tickets from the booth in Times Square as the queues again can be very long and with limited time we had better things to do so book beforehand, well worth the $$$ for good shows.
The Natural History Museum is spectacular. We actually run out of time and didn't make the Hayden! Central Park is worth a full day just on it's own.
We did a walking tour with this crowd http://realnewyorktours.com/index.htm
They were excellent. Use native New Yorkers as guides and you see so many little things that you would miss otherwise. We had Jimmy Napoli as a guide and he was very knowledgeable, just don't get him started on Alexander Hamilton if you get him as a guide!!
Shame about The Statue and Ellis Island. Ellis is really interesting, beautiful buildings and lots of history!
B&H is worth a visit, just be aware they close for the Jewish Sabbath (friday) and all Jewish holidays.
Times Square is fun, try to pass through a few times as there are often street performers. We tried to walk as much as possible just because it is such a vibrant city and there are things to see, but the subway is excellent once you get the hang of it. We stayed south of Central Park the whole time and felt quite safe the whole time. That said a bit of caution and knowing where you are is essential, but NYC is a safe city on the whole, there are parts of Melbourne I would sooner avoid.

Thats all I can think of for the moment!

Malcolm

[Astro_Bot]

Yes, I thought stories of crime and violence in NY seemed exaggerated. I felt safer there than parts of Sydney, where I lived for many years. That said, on my first night, I heard "gun play" (I think) a couple of blocks away from my hotel.

[Kal]

I remember that loooong queue that you are talking about (stretched for a couple of hundred meters when I was there looking to buy tickets). I ended up just going straight to the theatre that was playing the show I wanted to see (monty pythons spamalot). Walked in the door, no one was there (apart from the guy in the booth) and I got a great price on tickets with no wait!

[mithrandir]

Have to agree with just about everything Malcolm said. We had a couple of days in a hotel just south of Times Square, and almost a week not far from where John Lennon was shot.

We did Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Plaza) instead of Empire State and the queues were much shorter.

Walk through Central Park and see the Ghostbusters buildings across the lakes. Take a guided tour to get the hang of it and come back later. Museums and art galleries are everywhere around the park.

Times Square is wall to wall advertising, but an absolute scream. We took one look at the quick ticket queue and said "no". Walked around the corner to the theatre, chose a time that suited us, paid full price and saw "The Addams Family" with Brooke Shields playing Morticia.

If you want to go to B&H, Malcolm is dead right. Read their opening times extremely carefully. They were closed the whole time we were in NY - on both occasions.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks for all the tips mentioned regarding New York. I know it wasn't my thread, but thanks for the tips anyway.

Has anyone been to Los Angeles? I will be in LA at the end of August. I don't want to do the usual movie studios and only have the following:

Midway Aircraft Museum
Natural History Museum
Page Museum L Brea Tar Pits

I will be all 'museumed' (is that actually a word?) out by the time I get to LA, as I will have visited a number of museums by then, including the Smithsonian museums in Washington and Virginia. Now that is something I am really looking forward to seeing! :eyepop: I am allowing two full days for them alone!

Also, any tips for Chicago, as I will be there for a day or two. The only place I have for Chicago is Astro Physics.

So, any suggestions for LA or Chicago would be appreciated, thanks.

Leaving at the end of July and returning at the end of August.

Should just about have everything booked by next week. Is July here yet? :P

Cheers Peter

[wavelandscott]

Chicago - depending upon the time of year...the lake shore is great for walking/biking.

Adler Planetarium, Sears Tower/John Hancock Building.

Check out Wrigley Field and the Cubs (sit in the bleachers). I know that you said you might be musemed out but the Field Museum, Art Institute are fabulous. The Chicago Symphony is one of the best (if they are playing) In the evening there are several blues clubs...Saturday Night Live fans will enjoy any of the Second City shows...Billy Goat Tavern (featured in an old SNL skit No coke, Pepsi)...and a stroll down the Magnificent Mile for shopping (near water tower) is a must.

You must eat real Deep Dish Pizza (Chicago Style)...and lots of locations from the Blues Brothers/Ferris Buehler movies are must dos...

LA - don't waste your time...after the Hollywood sign and the Chinese Theater it goes down hill fast (in my opinion)...

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks Scott,

I have got the Field Museum and Adler on my list for Chicago anyway. Thanks for the other tips though. Actually, I hadn't even considered the Blues Brothers.

Cheers

[04Stefan07]

Stock up on Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren stuff! My girlfriend went to the USA last year and bought a whole heap of clothes.

Example:
- Tommy plain t shirt (AUS: $50, USA: $12)
- Tommy jumper (AUS: $90, USA: $25)

When I eventually go there I will dedicate one whole day to shop!

[barx1963]

Peter
Re: Chicago. We took a bike tour along the lakefront and up to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Don't know if you like zoos but is a good one and free!
The architecture in Chicago is brilliant if you like that sort of thing. The Magnificent Mile is great for shopping, again if you like that sort of thing! Blues Brothers locations such as Wrigley Field, the Daley Plaza (that's where they have the Picasso) are easy to get to. Some others can be a bit harder to find. Maxwell St is very gentrified now, not like the movie at all.
With LA, we had a great day at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Universal Studios was fun. We did the Paramount Studio tours which was brilliant! Much less theme parky than Universal and more personal with a small group. A trip down to Santa Monica and hire some bikes to cycle down to Venice Beach for lunch is interesting. Also did a tour of the Kodak Theatre.
I actually liked LA!

Malcolm

[IanT]

Hi
Too much to do and so little time. I reckon take one day to do a frenetic tour of a handful of the must see iconic places and then use the second day to mooch around Harlem or East Village or somewhere lively and just watch and listen to New Yorkers as you munch on a few local treats - with lots of cawfee.

In Arizona, Flagstaff Observatory is good value as are the viewing sessions at Kitt's Peak, just out of Tucson. I agree with Scott, LA is best avoided; quite depressing in my opinion. Don't forget that in US restaurants an entrée is actually the main course - how did they get that wrong?
Ian

[barx1963]

Yes that was one of the weirder things in the US!:screwy:

Malcolm

[Astro_Bot]

... and don't forget to tip. The wait staff live on tips.

[barx1963]

Yes tipping is really important... but we only did it if service was OK. On a couple of occasions, we decided not to.

Malcolm

[PCH]

Not really understanding at the time how they relied on tips for the bulk of their wage, we didn't tip as a matter of course. And we certainly didn't when we went to a buffet restaurant.

It seemed reasonable, as all they did was hand us a plate on the way in - and that was it.

But it caused a bit of a 'to-do' when it came time to pay, I can tell you. They weren't shy about arguing the toss either.

[barx1963]

We were told that for waiters and similar jobs, the Tax dept in the US will make an assumed level of tips and apply tax based on that. So they poor buggers have to pay tax regardless of whether you tip them or not.

Malcolm

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hi Malcolm,

On the practice of tipping, who do you tip and when. How much should the tips be?

Cheers Peter

[barx1963]

Waiters are the main ones. It is all quite open and in some restaurants they include suggested tips on the bill for you. A couple of times we even asked them to work it out. In some places (hotel restaurants especially!) it will be itemised on your bill. The percentage is 15-18%, sometimes if services was less than exemplary we only did 10%.

We usually didn't tip apart from wait staff, you will have porters try to carry your bags in hotels, we just ignored them!

One other time we tipped was when I went on a bus tour up to Muir Woods near San Francisco. The tour driver was excellent so lobbed him a tip of $20!

Malcolm

[RickS]

Another suggestion for New York - go for a walk on the High Line. It's a very long, thin park built on an unused, elevated railway line. My wife liked the Chelsea markets too. There's some interesting hand made arty/crafty stuff as well as more conventional shops.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks Rick. There was another thread that gave some interesting things to see in New York, but none of these came up.

I am mostly working out accommodation at present. The only place that I have decided an itinerary for is Washington. Will visit the Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, The Library of Congress, The Naval Observatory Library and a couple of other museums.

My major emphasis is on the Air and Space Museums, in the National Mall and the Steve Hazy Centre in Virginia.

One problem I have encountered in Washington is rather annoying and that is you cannot hire a car on a weekend, after midday or drop it off on a Sunday. The national tourist attraction and you can't easily get around. There is no public transport to the Steve Hazy Centre. There used to be a shuttle service from the air and space museum in the national mall to the Steve Hazy Centre, but due to budget cuts it is no longer in service. A car is the only way to get there or a $150 taxi fare there and back :sadeyes:

Cheers Peter

[TechnoViking]

Well im back in one piece from the whirlwind trip around the US. Im still very jetlagged and im trying to get back into some sort of sleeping pattern so that i can start playing in the observatory again.

New York was a huge culture shock for me as my town has a population of 400 compaired to the 8.5 million in new york city . Crossing the roads in NY was like a battle scene from the lord of the rings with a mass of people charging head on to get across the road.

My favorite parts of the trip where visiting the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, and the intrepid in NY, unfortunately the space shuttle exhibit was closed due to some damage caused by last year's wild weather, but i got a few happy snaps while on a boat doing the liberty island tour.

It was a great trip, but im glad to be back home in my sleepy town.

Thank to everyone for ideas of what to do, i think i did just about everything that i wanted to do, but i will be heading back over in 4 years with my children.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hi James,

Glad to hear that you had a great trip to the US and arrived home safe, if somewhat tired.

I start my journey around the US, when I land in LA on July 19, ending up back in LA at the beginning of September. I am sure that NY is a culture shock, even coming from a place like Perth, let alone from a town of only 400 people. I have 4 nights there, before heading off the the Stellafane Telescope Makers Conference in Springfield Vermont.

I wanted to ask. Did you go to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre (Air and Space Museum ) in Virginia, or just to the one in the National Mall. If so, how did you get to the Steven Hazy Centre in Chantilly, Virginia? I am in Washington for 5 days and I really didn't want to hire a car and drive around Washington. However, I have been informed that there isn't any public transport to Chantilly. What was your experience? Did you find it worth it going to both?

I am also still considering which way to go from Flagstaff AZ, where I am going to Lowell Observatory, the Barringer Crater and the Grand Canyon. I was originally going to Vegas, but have decided against it; all that light would probably depress me anyway :sadeyes: No stars to be seen there, at least not those in the night sky, as there ain't no night there :lol:

I am now considering going to the PIMA air and space museum (The Boneyard) in Tucson, but haven't decided yet.

Any tips you can give me would be great, thanks.

Cheers Peter

[jjjnettie]

25 Days to go before I leave for my US Trip. !!!

[Stardrifter_WA]

Not that you are counting, hey jjjnettie. :D It sure is a great time to be going, dollar wise. :)

Where are you going in the US?

Cheers Peter

[IanT]

The boneyard in Tucson is really interesting as is the Desert Museum which is just on the city fringe. The uni of Arizona has a spectacular collection of meteorites in the Geology building. If you are going back to LA from Tucson, go via Joshua Tree National Park which is not only spectacular but also has good dark skies with open horizons.

[Stardrifter_WA]

:)

Thanks Ian.

Unfortunately, I had to decide against Tucson, as I just cannot fit in in, due to time constraints. I would loved to had had an extra week off work, but having taken six and half weeks off already, I am stretching it as it is. Mind you, I would have quit if they hadn't given me the six and half weeks off. :D I ain't missin' this trip for anythin" :P I only work permanent casual, part time, and don't actually get holidays, as such.

I am now heading straight to LA, from Flagstaff, and then down to Oceanside to visit Mt Palomar and OPT (to pick up a new scope and some accessories :D) I may try to fit in Joshua Tree National Park, as it is only another 100 km from Mount Palomar. I have a car hired in Oceanside for two days anyway. So thanks for the tip.

Cheers Peter

[IanT]

I'm sure you will have a great time. Watch out for those left hand turns!

[Stardrifter_WA]

Someone told me to just find a car and follow what it does......too bad if I get someone who doesn't know how to drive. :lol:

[jjjnettie]

:) It's going to be a whirl wind 3 week visit.
Starting in LA - La Brea Tar Pits, Endeavour, California Science Centre, and hopefully a star party with some locals out of town.
Flagstaff - A Star Trek Landing Party to the Grand Canyon with 2 nerds from the UK and a lady friend from San Francisco. (in OS costume)
Barringer Crater, Lowell Obs and the Apollo Tree.
Phoenix- High tea at the Ritz.
Tucson- 4 days and 5 nights of geeking it out with our Petra and a heap of others at SpacefestV. http://www.spacefest.info/V/Speak.html
Washington/Maryland - a tour of Goddard Space Flight Centre, lunch with the amazing Ed Rezac and 2 days visiting the Smithsonian.
NYC - Hayden Planetarium, Chrysler Building Empire State Building and more.
LA - Mt Wilson Obs and a viewing session at Griffith Obs.
then home again. :)
:)

[Stardrifter_WA]

That sounds great. It is so hard trying to fit a lot in when you only have a short time. I am going for six weeks and I still can't do everything I want.

When in Washington, are you going to both the Air and Space museums (The Mall and Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Chantilly)? I will be do both.

I would have loved to go to Mount Wilson too, however, my astronomical appetite should be well sated with Stellafane, Lowell Observatory, Mount Palomar and probably Griifith Observatory too. Didn't want to do all the Hollywood stuff, so I only allowed for two days, before heading home. The only thing I am doing in LA is the La Brae pits (Page Museum) and the Californian Science Centre.

Have a great trip jjjnettie. I hope you thoroughly enjoy it. :)

Cheers Peter

[TechnoViking]

Pete the best advice for Washington is catch a train in, walk from the station to 3rd st, now becareful as there are 3 third streets ?!? lol I only went to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum, but i HIGHLY recommend it, i could have sent an entire day in there, so many things to see, but unfortunately i was with my wife who finds anything to do with space or aircraft boring :( so i was a little rushed, when i go back im taking my 2 sons who will love it as much as i did :)

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks James,

I have been told before to allow a few days to visit both air and space museums and that is why I am allowing 5 days in Washington.

Cheers Peter