Stuffs to do in the US

[major_panic]

Hey everyone,

Will be heading to the US for about three weeks across December-January, and will be in the following locations: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, New York and the general lower west coast area.

So, anyone have any suggestions on what'd be good to do as a touristy type person? Will be looking to do a couple of Broadway shows, but the rest of it is completely open, and I guess I'm just scouting for ideas at the moment. The locations aren't even set in stone just yet.

Your thoughts are much appreciated!

 

[cobl04]

you're not 21 are you...

Vegas is still really cool even if you aren't.

I was there in June/July last year.

The San Diego city bus tour is pretty cool and interesting.

Santa Monica is pretty cool.

Compton.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

there's nothing, sorry

 

[martha]

Go see Hoover Dam when you're in Las Vegas. Take the long way from LA to Vegas and go through Death Valley.

 

[u2popmofo]

there's nothing, sorry

Friggin' US.

 

[Dfit00]

Visit the Getty Center in LA, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery in the Palos Verdes peninsula, roam around the beach in Santa Monica/Venice/Marina Del Rey. If you have enough time you can also go to Disneyland in Anaheim.

Whatver you do on New York, don't miss the opportunity to eat at Vapiano, a casual italian restaurant located within Union Square. The way you look at the world will change after you eat there.

 

[Reggo]

I never said you could come here. We haven't finished cleaning up yet from Friggin' Cobbler's visit.

LA is unremarkable. The surrounding areas, like Newport Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, etc., are more interesting. All I've seen of Vegas was in The Hangover.

I love San Diego. Haven't been there in fourteen years, but I loved how laid-back it was, the weather was absolutely gorgeous, so was the landscape. And the San Diego Zoo was so much fun, so was Sea World. We had dinner at this restaurant on Shelter Island that looked out over the marina and I saw the most gorgeous sunset over the Pacific. The only downside are the sea lions in the harbor are noisy bastards.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Strip clubs.

 

[Canadiens1131]

Hey everyone,

Will be heading to the US for about three weeks across December-January, [...]

So, anyone have any suggestions on what'd be good to do as a touristy type person?

Make sure to have your civil rights violated by a TSA agent serving parole at the airport while you're here; it's part of the whole experience.

You can also marvel at California's incredible lack of high speed rail

 

[Danny Boy]

Cow tipping.

 

[trojanchick99]

I never said you could come here. We haven't finished cleaning up yet from Friggin' Cobbler's visit.

LA is unremarkable. The surrounding areas, like Newport Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, etc., are more interesting. All I've seen of Vegas was in The Hangover.

I love San Diego. Haven't been there in fourteen years, but I loved how laid-back it was, the weather was absolutely gorgeous, so was the landscape. And the San Diego Zoo was so much fun, so was Sea World. We had dinner at this restaurant on Shelter Island that looked out over the marina and I saw the most gorgeous sunset over the Pacific. The only downside are the sea lions in the harbor are noisy bastards.

Uh, I'd rather hang in LA than Orange county any day.

As far as touristy stuff, Hollywood is fun and convenient to an In-n-Out burger. You can try to get tickets to see a taping of Conan or Jimmy Kimmel. Griffith Park is also in that area, so you could check out the observatory, or if you are a hiker, the Hollywood sign. Further west, if you like museums, there's LACMA and west of that The Getty (which is free). As for beaches, Venice is great for people watching, but Malibu is better for actual beaches. If you like sporting events, the NBA and NHL are in season that time, so you could catch a game at Staples.

I'm guessing you'll have a car? If so, I highly recommend a trip up the coast to San Francisco, take the 101 up until you hit Pismo then the 1. It's some of the most spectacular coast line you'll ever see.

Other great parts of California include Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park and of course Yosemite National Park. There will be snow up there that time of year, so check weather reports.

Re: Vegas. If you aren't 21, your options can be limited, especially since the weather that time of year isn't conducive to hanging by the pool. The shows are fun as is the stroll down the strip.

 

[Mrs. Garrison]

scenic tour of LA, especially Compton, my homies will hook you up.

 

[Danny Boy]

scenic tour of LA, especially Compton, my homies will jack you up.

Fixed that for you.

 

[cobl04]

scenic tour of LA, especially Compton, my homies will jack you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up

I'm guessing you'll have a car? If so, I highly recommend a trip up the coast to San Francisco, take the 101 up until you hit Pismo then the 1. It's some of the most spectacular coast line you'll ever see.

The shows are fun as is the stroll down the strip.

i can vouch for these two. i was absolutely blown away by the drive from LA to San Fran, and i got hypnotised at one of the shows in Vegas, hella fun.

 

[BoMac]

So at one point and time I was dating a California girl from the L.A. area. She wanted to show me around, but got the directions wrong. After a while I turned to her and said: "Uh, did that street sign just say Compton?".

*horrified stares*

We didn't stay too long after that.

 

[MsPurrl]

Sounds like MrPurrl when we got lost in Chicago a few years ago and ended up in a verrrrrry bad part of town: "We . . . are going to die." (Obviously, we survived. )

 

[lazarus]

LA is unremarkable. The surrounding areas, like Newport Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, etc., are more interesting.

Uh, I'd rather hang than go to Orange county

Fixed.

As far as touristy stuff, Hollywood is fun and convenient to an In-n-Out burger. You can try to get tickets to see a taping of Conan or Jimmy Kimmel. Griffith Park is also in that area, so you could check out the observatory, or if you are a hiker, the Hollywood sign. Further west, if you like museums, there's LACMA and west of that The Getty (which is free). As for beaches, Venice is great for people watching, but Malibu is better for actual beaches. If you like sporting events, the NBA and NHL are in season that time, so you could catch a game at Staples.

I'm guessing you'll have a car? If so, I highly recommend a trip up the coast to San Francisco, take the 101 up until you hit Pismo then the 1. It's some of the most spectacular coast line you'll ever see.

Other great parts of California include Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park and of course Yosemite National Park. There will be snow up there that time of year, so check weather reports.

Minus the part about Jimmy Kimmel.

Also, if you feel like catching a movie, you should check out the New Beverly Cinema, which Quentin Tarantino now owns. They show a lot of cool older stuff, and the man himself is in the audience very frequently.

New Beverly Cinema

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

Sounds like MrPurrl when we got lost in Chicago a few years ago and ended up in a verrrrrry bad part of town: "We . . . are going to die." (Obviously, we survived. )

haha, and this in turn reminds me of when i drove to st. louis once. i missed my exit, so hey i'll just take the next, turn around, and be on my way.

i didn't notice the next exit was for east st. louis. i've been in some hairy situations in memphis but i can honestly say that was the first time i had a hooker try to walk up to my car.

 

[solemole]

; )

 

[kramwest1]

i didn't notice the next exit was for east st. louis. i've been in some hairy situations in memphis but i can honestly say that was the first time i had a hooker try to walk up to my car.

I knew I had fully entered adulthood when I was propositioned by a hooker in a casino in Las Vegas.

Touring America's gritty underbelly can make for an exciting trip, too.

 

[Reggo]

well, I suppose I've never been to Los Angeles proper. Can't even say I've ridden in a car while going through it on the 5 or the 405, cause we always flew into Santa Ana when going on vacation. Suppose I should correct that one day. /neonwhitegirlwhoshouldcheckgooglebeforeshootinghermouthoff

Scariest place I've ever been was Tijuana. My mom attracted a herd of children by giving one of them candy from the bottom of her purse, my dad wandered off to watch a donkey show. Or star in it. And somehow it was decided that we should eat dinner there. My dad was full of ideas, and none of them good.

EDIT: Wait. We always drove past the Hollywood sign on our way from the airport to Disneyland. And it only takes 20 minutes to get from John Wayne to Anaheim? God, he was an idiot.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

I knew I had fully entered adulthood when I was propositioned by a hooker in a casino in Las Vegas.

i must admit, i was disappointed when i walked around the strip and i saw people handing out flyers, but no one gave me one. i wanted a flyer damnit!

Scariest place I've ever been was Tijuana.

did you have barbecued iguana while you were there?

 

[martha]

Now I have that damn song in my head. Thanks.

 

[cobl04]

the "gritty underbelly" put a dampener on our trip, i must say. there weren't many cities where i felt 100% safe all the time (even though i more than likely was). and see, even though Melbourne gets a bad rap at times, there's not one suburb i can think of that i'd be uncomfortable driving around in at night, and there's certainly no way of getting in trouble if you miss your exit on the freeway.

i must admit, i was disappointed when i walked around the strip and i saw people handing out flyers, but no one gave me one. i wanted a flyer damnit!

there were hispanic kids, 8 or 9, handing out "direct-2-u" flyers when i was there!!

 

[kramwest1]

there were hispanic kids, 8 or 9, handing out "direct-2-u" flyers when i was there!!

The Porn Slappers.

 

[Reggo]

did you have barbecued iguana while you were there?

I don't remember. I remember refusing to eat, and especially refusing to drink the water. I also remember thanking the Customs officer who welcomed us back to the States.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

I don't remember.

Spoiler

YouTube - Wall Of Voodoo - Mexican Radio

 

[Reggo]

I can honestly say I've never heard or seen that before in my life.

 

[indra]

Sounds like MrPurrl when we got lost in Chicago a few years ago and ended up in a verrrrrry bad part of town: "We . . . are going to die." (Obviously, we survived. )

I drove to Detroit for a concert (by myself) and in one area I swear all the buildings looked bombed out. That was definitely an Oh shit! moment.

 

[MsPurrl]

I drove to Detroit for a concert (by myself) and in one area I swear all the buildings looked bombed out. That was definitely an Oh shit! moment.

That's the way it looked in the area of Chicago we were!

Then there's the time that my late mother and my brother's wife's mother were driving around Miami by themselves, kept missing their exit, and kept ending up in an area of Miami where storefronts were boarded up and chained up at night! Boy, were they glad to finally find their way back to where they were supposed to be--bless their hearts!