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What to do in the USA
So I'm going to visit my grandparents in *shudder* Florida in June/July. I will probably spend about 10 days with them but for the rest of the time I am going to be in New York and I'll probably go to DC. I won't have a car and won't have too much money. What should I do, what should I see? What is the best/cheapest way to travel internally in the USA?
Comments
Unlike Florida, there are infinity things to do in NY. I was born in the damn city (even though I didn't live there very long), and I still haven't seen a lot of things. Most of the touristy stuff in the city is things like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, ground zero, Times Square, The UN, Ellis Island, the big museums, etc. You can spend an entire day just in one museum. Yeah, NY is awesome.
Going from NY to DC or vice versa can be done by plane or train. Both are expensive and quick.
DC is not that awesome. Everything there is expensive and painful. The only exciting things to do are to go around looking at all the important buildings. Actually getting a tour of the Capitol or the White House sucks, if they are even open when you are there. In DC the only buildings you really need to go into are the National Archives so you can see the Constitution and the Smithsonian Institution. Arlington cemetery is also worth visiting. IIRC, there's also an old post office that is now a shopping mall. It has good food to eat inside. DC just really isn't that exciting if you ask me. You can see everything you need to see there in one day.
If you're looking for an exciting night life, then DC is not the place to be. It really is a government city - and clears out after 5pm. If, however, you like museums and monuments, then you're in the right place. There are also some cool ethnic neighborhoods and restaurants. (Ethiopian food anyone?)
One note: The Old Post Office that Scott mentioned is pretty lame now. They've introduced all sorts of security since 9/11 - and most people don't want to put up with the hassle just to get some lunch. You still see tourists there, but the last time I was there (in September), it was kind of sad to see how dead it was.
Scott hit Florida on the head. The problem with Florida is that nothing is old and most people are transients. It just doesn't have any charm like you see in some other parts of the country. If you like strip malls, then you're in the right place. What part of Florida will you be going to?
You might want to consider Boston instead of Washington. I like both, and they are about the same distance from New York.
If you have time, definitely go to Mount Vernon. It will cost to get in, but it's worth it. Mount Vernon will take a day.
Please allow some almost-bragging: My current office is on 14th and K Street. I see the White House and the Washington Monument every day when I walk to my office. It takes twenty minutes for me to walk from my office to the Lincoln Memorial.
Oh yeah, I also forgot. In DC, you want to go to the Holocaust Museum. It sucks at the American History Museum is closed. That's the best one. I remember I went in there and saw the ENIAC, or was it the UNIVAC? The Air + Space Smithsonian is the second best one, go there.
I would recommend getting a hotel close to any Metro Station., the DC metro works pretty good at least for me, just do not take any food, also taxis are pretty expensive and they can do pretty much anything on the road.
This company offers a fare of $35 for a round trip New York - DC ticket. Slightly better than the cheapest ticket ($137) on Rym's "fairly cheap" Amtrak.
If you found a car that got 35 miles to the gallon, then you'd spend about $35 on gas for the round trip. Not quite the "cheapest by far" option.
You also have to get Amtrak tickets in advance with the periodic deals. I probably should have mentioned that. ^_~ I only ever take Amtrak when I can get a promotional ticket. Last time, I rode from Rochester to Chicago for some $45. (Nevermind the fact that -driving- would have been faster, and taking a cab in Chicago cost me a fair penny...)
At least as for gas mileage, my 98 Sunfire gets between 28 and 32 depending on the road and conditions. I've managed 33 if I keep the speed under 80 or so.
The one nice thing about train travel is that stations are generally located in a downtown area. If you drive to a city, you have to factor in the cost of parking or the hassle of parking in an outlying area and taking mass transit to the downtown area. Of course buses also take you downtown.
That's what makes the train so competitive in the northeast. The fact that you don't have to deal with the airport is a real time saver. I remember the good old days when I used to show up 25 minutes before my flight. Those days are long gone.
Just to show you how absurd the Amtrak fares are:
It costs the same to travel from Vermont to Washington DC as it does from New Haven, CT to Washington DC. That's thanks to the Vermont subsidies.
Automobiles tend to really beat the competition when you start adding passengers. I doubt there is anything that beats four people in an automobile.
Public transportation drives me nuts sometimes. On my upcoming trip to Washington DC, I want to get from Alexandria VA to Maryland. It's just across the river - about 7 miles. There isn't a single bus that crosses the state line. I have to travel into the city and then back down into Maryland and then get a bus. It's about 1.5 hours to go 7 miles. A taxi is about $17 (one way), assuming there is minimal traffic. (Which is a huge assumption at the time I want to travel.)
I'm going to North Port Florida, about all that is around there is old people. I won't be doing anything in Florida except seeing my grandparents, my grandfather has cancer and this may be the last time I get to see him.
I probably wouldn't spend much time in DC but I want to see all the musems and monuments and shit. I really haven't travelled the East Coast at all, my father lives in San Diego and when I went when I was little I had to spend the whole time with him instead of travelling around with my mother and grandmother. This time I don't have to see him at all, YAY!
Thanks for the good advice.