A Trip to the USA

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by IanT

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

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.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

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

Where are you going in the US?

Cheers Peter

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (James)]

Originally Posted by 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 No stars to be seen there, at least not those in the night sky, as there ain't no night there

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

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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