Travelling Alone...?

[Jimbo]

Hey Fellas, Long time no see for a 'wee bit

As some are you are aware, i start university in September and i've been working real hard this summer, lots of work. I work at a golf club, so even though because of the rain, when it is open, its bloody packed.
I've come to the summative conclusion that i need to get away for a good 9 days.

I've got many friends, no problem in that direction, BUT i'm sure you can all agree, is that when you and your friends have this great vision of going it away, it sounds good.. BUT... What happens in the end "Oh i cant get it off work" and/or "i cant afford it".

I've booked 2 weeks off work, i've got the money, and i'm prepared to go.. Exploring.. Alone if need's be.

I tend to do many things on my own, doesn't bother me, infact i prefere it because i get things done a lot quicker that way. Some people say its a bit odd, and even more odd that i should be off out on my own... but it really doesn't bother me.

I was thinking, regardless of all situation with friends, that i would like a good 2 weeks in the US. I've been to the US lots of times, but with my family.. So i would like to venture and see it myself for two weeks. I was planning on starting off in New York for 3 days, seeing the sites, then moving on etc. Eventually ending up somewhere warm.. Money isn't a great deal..i've been saving money like you wouldn't believe it!

So i would like some advice on travelling alone.. is it worth it? Whats it like? Also, places to visit in the US?

[Fozzer]

Traveling on your own is good, Jimbo...

You go where you want, when you want, if you want...

...and no arguments and confusion......!

Have a good time... ...!

San Francisco is a long way from New York, but I would love to visit it to compare the area with my 10 years of flight simming, and map reading, around it......!

.....(it's never going to happen tho')... ...!

Paul... 8-)...!

[ozzy72]

New York is a cool place. I used to live there! Many many years ago.
If you're a bit low on dosh you could try doing one of those 'take this car across the country for us' things. That is one weird but fun way to see things you'd never normally see!
Whatever you do do have fun

[Xyn_Air]

I prefer traveling alone.  It is not so much that I am anti-social, I just prefer to be out having new experiences rather than holding conference for 3 hours discussing whether or not to go out and have new experiences.  ;)

Then again, it all depends on who you travel with.  I can think of a couple friends who I would always travel with no matter what simply for the insanity factor.  ;D

Anyway . . .

Good places to travel in the U.S.:

San Francisco is definitely a lovely city to spend a few days in.  Lots to see and do, relatively easy to get around in (BART, taxis, heck, even walking most everywhere is pretty doable).

Portland, Oregon, is absolutely a beaut of a city.  Also, it has some of the most well-run mass transit of anywhere I have been, which makes getting around a breeze.  While there isn't a lot of wow factor to Portland (nothing like a Times Square or a Disneyland or some such ridiculously famous landmark), it is just all-round fun to walk about, sightseeing, shopping, and relaxing.

Finally, there is also Seattle.  I lived for a number of years in Seattle and believe it to be a great place to visit (obtuse humor in there somewhere).  Being the de facto home of Boeing (Everett is really just a part of the greater Seattle area, though well across a sizable lake from Seattle proper) and an excellent flight museum, Seattle is a great place to go for any aviation enthusiast.  If you do decide to go to Seattle, let me know, as I could give you a few more specific suggestions.

And that, folks, is my 2-yen.  Wish you well on your trip!  Sounds like a grand idea!

~Darrin

[a1]

OK OK I actually live in the US so i might know a bit of places you can visit with nice weather. Try to avoid the southeast this time of year as you might know hurricanes and stormy weather is always imminent.

On the west side around California and such the weather is always good. For scenic views go to the Grand Canyon. Or stop by Las Vegas for all your casino needs. (you won't win more then gambled most of the time ) Get a good view of the hover Dam while in vegas.

[Fozzer]

I've often wondered how much it costs per hour to hire a Pilot and his Aeroplane (Cessna 152/172) to take you where you want to go, sight-seeing from the air, in the U.S.?

..that would be nice... ...!

Paul... 8-)...!

[a1]

Oh cheap in some parts. They charge you by hour. There are services around the places that I mentioned that take you around in helies and props for the view.

More good places to visit:

Visit the beaches of California if you have the chance. Lovely weather predicted for weeks and weeks to come. Climb the rookies and visit the Salt Lake City. Or If you really have the time and money visit Hawaii. New York if you like city life.

Lots of places that I don't have time to mention in these posts.

[Triple_7]

Been all over the place and seen a lot.  Favorite place would have to be camping up in the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona.  Take an old fashion train ride to and from the stunning Grand Canyon.  Then if you go the other way out of Flagstaff you will find the beautiful Painted Desert.  Not to far would be Las Vegas as well.  (didn't get to see it though, darn school trip ) Want some fun go white water rafting down the Rio Grande in New Mexico.  Also must find your way to the little town of Taos New, Mexico and enjoy the old time stores in the town square.  If you can, find yourself and Indian trading post, all kinds of handmade goodies.  Could take a look at the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings in Colorado.

Just a few of the places I liked in this country.  Theres not much in this area unless you just want to relax in the simple country life.

[Jimbo]

Hey Fellas, THANKS very much for the reccomendations. I've come accross some very neat airfairs..

Heres what i plan

1) MANCHESTER > BOSTON/OR NEW YORK for around 2 - 3 days
2) FROM BOSTON/NY to ?.. I was thinking somewhere warm-ish or DC... I know for a fact the US get good deals on Caribbean area from over there, i may.. It's just deciding as to where. Just somwhere for a good 4 - 5 days.

Cheers.. Cant wait to get away, and travel.. the proper way.. None of this "Package holiday" stuff... Nah!

I KNOW i sound very general and Vague, but.. Like everyone says, i've got the whole world at my feet.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

New York is a cool place. I used to live there! Many many years ago.
If you're a bit low on dosh you could try doing one of those 'take this car across the country for us' things. That is one weird but fun way to see things you'd never normally see!
Whatever you do do have fun

Let's hope he's never seen 'Vanishing Point.'  ;D

[H]

So I would like some advice on travelling alone.. is it worth it? Whats it like?

Except for business, I did most of my land travel alone. Since my only time element was in regard to my time off work, it was easier to make any side visits, only using a motel if necessary (unless you find one of those full accomodation truck stops or bring your own bath-on-wheels, you may wish to rent a room to shower on occasion); I have a travel kit so shaving, brushing teeth and general wash-up could be done in facilitied rest stops (or a McDonald's...). As I think about it, most of the problematic long distance (1000 to 1800 miles) trips were when I wasn't travelling alone. To increase the down side, the last such trips I made in my own vehicle were in 2003 (NH to NE and back): gasoline costs nearly twice as much now. Haven't gone by bus for more than a decade.

8-)

[beaky]

Sadly, I will probably be away from home during that time, so I won't be able to give you an aerial tour of the NY area.
However... I will be in San Diego, CA thru September... a very nice city and not too hot; if you stop there, be sure to look me up.

As for recommendations: In NYC,be sure to visit Chinatown, Little Italy, Central Park, and the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center (not as tall as the Empire State Bldg., but the view is better).  And if you like a pint of stout made properly, be sure to go to the Dublin House on 79th and Amsterdam.

Take the Circle Line cruise up the Hudson to West Point, take a helicopter or floatplane ride if you have the money... or go cheap and take the Staten Island Ferry across the harbor. NYC and environs is interesting from the water.


Another interesting thing about that area: the Adirondack Park, which begins about 4 hours' drive north of NYC, is the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi. Beautiful mountain country (highest peak in the range is just over 5000 feet), and there is rail and bus service into that area. But beware- traveling by train or bus is not on a par with Europe- it's not exactly cheap, and the service ain't what it used to be.


But don't hang around NY State too long... definitely be sure to try to travel around a bit.



The Southwest is interesting, New Orleans is a lot of fun, California has some of the most beautiful scenery... but those are just a few places I know- it's a vast country with a lot of variety.

And there are loads of aviation museums everywhere!  ;D

I agree that driving is an excellent way to see the country- it's all the same from the interstates but if you're just wandering, the old scenic highways are a lot of fun, if slower. Try to find one of those "ferrying" trips- not sure how that would work with a UK license, but if you rent a car the usual way and return it to where you got it, it's not very expensive at all for an economy model (about $250/week).

[Hagar]

I've travelled alone to the US several times & thoroughly enjoyed it, bearing in mind that my last vist was over 10 years ago so things might have changed since then. It's interesting to see what Americans themselves recommend so I won't add my comments. However, most suggestions seem to assume that you will have a car. I forget how old Jimbo is but it's quite possible that he doesn't have a driving licence. Even if he has, it's quite possible there is a minimum age limit for hiring one. A car is very handy & this could well affect your options. For example; I wouldn't consider driving in a city like NYC but other places would be very difficult to visit without one.

It might vary in some states but it's also worth remembering that the minimum legal age for consuming alcohol in the US is 21. I've found that this is strictly enforced in most places which might not go down too well with British teenagers who are used to drinking from a much earlier age.

[Triple_7]

Good points Hagar.  The minimum age to even rent a car is 25, minimum drinking age is 21 (like many actually follow that law :-/ )  I don't know what the public transportation is like in the big cities like New York but with most of the US you will find a car is the only/easiest way to get from A to B.  Public transportation is nonexistent in a good majority of this country.  Someplace warm?  Right now thats not a problem wherever you go...its about 90

[BAW0343]

Heard a few suggestions of the southwest and I would personally agree with spending a day or two here in AZ.  If your into history, this IS the old west, and many parts of that still exist.  Also my town is home to one of the best boneyards, Davis-Monthan, and its very inexpensive to get a tour of it, as well as the air museum. Also a nice thing is gas prices here are the lowest in the country (  ;) )  Our mountains are 8000+ ft and are just the little foothills to the Rockies (another good place to go) and the amount of available camping here is great.  City life isn't the most exciting but what we have in nature and just originality is pretty nice.

Grand canyon and northern AZ are very nice this time of year, and having been to Colorado in summer I would also highly suggest there.  I'm sure you'll be able to find something that best suits what you want to do no matter where you go  :D