Coming to America!! The travel thread

[emmie]

@renny

North Carolina has better Bar B Que than Florida, and nicer people. Where are you coming from Em? I’ll bet we have cultural links to where ever it is. Hey, we’ve got mountains too and did I mention we really need the money? J/K I hope you have a great time where ever you go.

I haven’t counted out NC. I’m just collecting the info then we’ll sit down and work out our budgets and all that. The link you gave me is great by the way. It truly looks like a great place.

Emmie

[emmie]

@Phya

I need to represent my home state of California! We’re called the Golden State for a reason.

Southern California is definitely hot, but can get expensive. It’s near the coast, but if you want to be near water, I’d suggest San Diego over Los Angeles.

Local wildlife? I’m not sure about that, but it’s only a 4 hour drive to Yosemite National Park.

Very multi-cultural, I’m sure you can find a lot of art and culture.

I’m not too sure about the non-aggressive and patient part. LA folks, in my experience, can be touchy. I’ve found San Diego to be much more laid back.

Now, if you don’t mind slightly colder weather (a light jacket at most times, no overcoats or anything), the San Francisco/Bay Area is awesome!

Multi-cultural? CHHHECK! Arts and Culture? Phff, short of NYC, I don’t think you’ll find as much art, live music, or cultural attractions as San Francisco. There is so much culture there.

It is also roughly 4 hours away from Yosemite, and only 2 hours away from Lake Tahoe, a great place to ski/snowboard starting mid November. There is plenty of local wildlife in the form of raccoons, deer, foxes, and such..there are regional parks in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. I’m sure there are a couple more, but those are the ones I’ve personally been to. Golden Gate Park in SF is very nice to visit.

San Francisco has many accomodations, not all are expensive. You can always find accomodation across the bay in Berkeley, Oakland or Emeryville.

Lastly, the people really couldn’t be any nicer, more patient, or helpful. People are straight up friendly in the Bay. Take my word for it. I haven’t heard of anyone disliking the people there, save the occasional homophobe who makes fun of San Francisco’s extensive gay population.

One major thing to consider when coming to visit the states is your mode of transportation. European countries have much better public transportation systems than America. I haven’t had the pleasure of using every public transportation in all of America, but I can say that Los Angeles has pretty bad public transportation, and relatively, it isn’t that safe.

San Francisco has an awesome local transit system (MUNI) and a very good city to city transit (BART), in the East Bay, you also have local transit (I forget their name). You can get anywhere in the Bay Area using a combination of those three systems from morning to late night. It is fairly affordable, except they don’t offer week passes or anything of the sort. At least, not to my knowledge, it has been a while since I’ve been back home.

I would say that is a critical factor you may want to consider, if you will not be renting a car. America is a terrible place to try and manuver without a vehicle or sufficient public transportation.

I have been to New York City with my mom (single mother as well, and actually I think I was around the same age as your son), and while it was on the expensive side, there was plenty of culture and art to see. The people are not the friendliest, but they aren’t jerks either. I see no reason to avoid NYC because of their ‘attitude’. The transportation is also good, it may be packed, but at least there is one. The level of safety is lower than San Francisco, but not terrible. Like any city, you just need to watch where you are, and what time of the day you’re out. If you are in the shady side of town at 3 am, no matter what city you’re in, you may find trouble.

Good luck with your travels, it should be really exciting for you and your son. If you choose to visit SF/Bay Area, I can suggest many places for you and your son to visit.

WOW!!! Is all I Can say to this Bio. Thanks you so much. I could only thank you once but you deserve a round of drinks too.

I’m looking it up as we speak.

[emmie]

@Mtnjim

I have to agree with San Diego. You want animals?
We have the original Seaworld, not to mention the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park (cage less zoo). I work in San Diego but live 50 minutes away in mountains (San Diego Mountains, Cleveland National Forest Maps, Laguna Mountain, San Diego Camping), drive another 50 minutes and you’ll be in a desert state park (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638). Lots of variety.

You can also see the first mission in California, founded by the Spanish. And then there’s Old Town, the site of San Diego’s original location. The current majority of downtown San Diego is an area originally called “New Town”. Then there’s Balboa Park, the largest city park in the US, it’s where the zoo is, and has lots of museums.

Then there’s the beaches, but it’s getting to be a time of year when you’ll probably want to skip the beaches due to winter weather. There are even nude beachs (Blacks and San Onofre) if that trips your trigger.

You could cross the border into Mexico using the busiest port of entry in the world, but you probably shouldn’t. The State Department issued travel warning because of a war between the Mexican Government and the drug cartels.

San Diego has one of the largest Chaldean populations out side of the Middle East as well as a large Somali population. You will hear Spanish spoken here almost as much as English, no to mention Viet Namese.

All of this stuff should keep you busy.

Oh, I almost forgot we’re only an hour (on a good day) away from Los Angeles and Smartmones.com!!

Lol! WOW! again. I can’t believe you guys. Love the links too. looking forward to exploring them.

[Wrlprchnx]

Yeh Canada is a great place… just freezing in the winter…
Yeh woofie in the summer Canada is great (particularily Winnipeg… we have almost constant sunshine and normally a good 3-4 weeks of +30 celcius weather with one of the highest rated beaches in North America about an hour and a half away)

But in the winter everyone hibernates out here… it’s -25 degrees celcius today… I actually don’t consider it to have gotten cold yet (I reserve “cold” for our -50 celcius cold snap in January)

[tfrankz]

Hello Emmie
I have driven across the USA when I was 16 years old a two+ week trip. I love the mountains and have to say North Carolina is nice, you have the smoky mountains and the beaches too. I just went this year to franklin NC to mine for rubies and sapphires. Got me a 3 carat ruby! I love Las Vegas and Atlantic City but thats not what you want.

What type of climate you looking for?

I live in Pennsylvania close to Maryland. And I think that the southern states people are nicer.

[TheCoop]

When did you say you wanted to come over ? Washington state is nice in the summer time and has everything from beaches, forests, mountains and deserts. Washington State On-line trip-planning guide for Washington State with Group Tour and Travel Itineraries and Vacation Planning.
in the winter you will want something a little more southwestern or southeastern maybe California, Texas or Florida. I love America it is beautiful coast to coast,wherever you choose, have a safe and fun trip! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_8_11.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_6_7.gif

[emmie]

@tfrankz

Hello Emmie
I have driven across the USA when I was 16 years old a two+ week trip. I love the mountains and have to say North Carolina is nice, you have the smoky mountains and the beaches too. I just went this year to franklin NC to mine for rubies and sapphires. Got me a 3 carat ruby! I love Las Vegas and Atlantic City but thats not what you want.

What type of climate you looking for?

I live in Pennsylvania close to Maryland. And I think that the southern states people are nicer.

Ohhh that sounds like fun. I’m looking for a hot climate and near the coast.

[emmie]

@TheCoop

When did you say you wanted to come over ? Washington state is nice in the summer time and has everything from beaches, forests, mountains and deserts. Washington State On-line trip-planning guide for Washington State with Group Tour and Travel Itineraries and Vacation Planning.
in the winter you will want something a little more southwestern or southeastern maybe California, Texas or Florida. I love America it is beautiful coast to coast,wherever you choose, have a safe and fun trip! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_8_11.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_6_7.gif

ahh thanks coop!!