[OT] Where to go in the USA?

[Maldur]

thx for all these wonderfull suggestions.

Well see where we might end up

Keep em coming!!

 

[Seaver]

... Chicago also has a Medieval Times, which is possibly a little cheezy, but somehow very neat at the same time. The one in Orlando Florida's supposed to be better, but Chicago's closer to GENCON. ...

In St. Louis itself, we have the old Indian mounds on the East side if that interests you at all. A little to the north on the Illinois we have our local monster "The Piasa bird" (stats can be found in GURPS Horror) painted on the bluffs of the Mississippi....

Hey another St. Louisian, didn't realize there were any others that posted here.

Just on the off chance you do come through St. Louis on your trek across the states, the Indian Mounds are in Cahokia to be more specific. The "East Side" is where the strip clubs are. Also you probably want to avoid the area called, East St. Louis. All of the above are not actually in St. Louis, but right across the Mississippi River in Illinois.

As far as the Piasa Bird, I dunno the last time you were over there Kilmore, but they replaced the painting on the bluff with a painted metal billboard type thing that is bolted to the cliffs. Seriously ticked me off when they did that. I remember studying the old myths and legends of this area when I was a kid, and seeing that painted picture of the Piasa Bird, just as the indians had painted it so many years ago was awe inspiring.

Repainting it every year got too expensive supposedly. That was maybe a decade ago. By the way it too is on the Illinois side of the river if anyone plans on coming out this way. It's probably 30 minutes or so from St. Louis county, a bit north of a city called East Alton,

Either way it's still an interesting legend and a super, wicked, nasty monster.

The story of the Cahokia indians is interesting as well. It seems that they just pretty much up and left one day leaving most of their belongings behind. No one knows where they went or why. One of those old "strange disappearance" tales. Kinda like the story of Roanoke (more Native American related lore.)

By the way, Orlando's Medieval Times is okay. I was there about two years ago. Frankly, I wouldn't waste your money though. The swordplay is still pretty cheesy. The food is good though, but not worth $40 a person.


Personally I'd suggest seeing things you don't have back home.

A thunder storm coming in as you cross the Great Plains seeing lighting strike from horizon to horizon is an incredible sight. Although, if there are no storms the Great Plains represent the definition of "boring."

Someone else mentioned the Grand Canyon.

Maybe the sun setting or rising across the desert as you travel the South West.

Just try to see new things that you'll never forget.

 

[Buttercup]

Deadman's Curve can be tricky. I've seen plenty of overturned tractor-tailers there.



Then you didn't try very hard.

Cleveland has its orchestra (world class), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Cinematheque, the USS Cod (an intact US fleet submarine from WWII), Tower City, and access to one of the Great Lakes. Plenty of stuff.

Ohio not intriguing...bah...

Yeah, back when I was in high school, my mother flipped our Volkswagen bug over on deadman's curve, right during rush hour. She walked away with only minor bruises, but caused a multi-car pileup, and of course totalled the bug.

While we're talking about Cleveland, it has the best Italian bakery outside of Italy that I've ever encountered, and I'm Italian, so I consider myself a bit of an expert. Colonel, I can't remember the name of it, it's on Euclid Ave, right in Little Italy, on the right as you're going up the hill. What's the name of that place?

 

[Westwind]

(quote)
New Orleans is fantastic, as long as you don't go in summer. For the love of God, don't go in summer. Shudder. In spring, late fall or winter it's a fascinating city with amusing tourists and my favorite cuisine. Heck, if I could live anywhere just on the basis of the food, it would be here - although I'd be one fat little Piratecat. New Orleans isn't the safest city in the country, so use good judgement when exploring.
(/quote)

Why are there no brackets on German keyboards?

Piratecat, not only do you have to good fortune of living in the same town as I do, you have to good taste to pick the same city as favorite US locale.

As long as people are plugging their favorite places to visit, I always loved heading to Maine in the summer. Acadia National Park is an amazing place and you generally won't boil (as you will in many places in the US during the summer, especially if you're used to the Dutch climate).

 

[ColonelHardisson]

While we're talking about Cleveland, it has the best Italian bakery outside of Italy that I've ever encountered, and I'm Italian, so I consider myself a bit of an expert. Colonel, I can't remember the name of it, it's on Euclid Ave, right in Little Italy, on the right as you're going up the hill. What's the name of that place?

I think I know the place you're talking about, but I can't remember its name. I'll check and see if I can find its name.

EDIT: Is it Baraona's?

 

[Mark]

Perhaps, Presti’s, Gallucci’s, or the Stone Oven?

 

[Tsyr]

I'll second the Mall of America... if you wanna see Capitalism and Consumerism (Is that a word) diped in molten gold and placed on a pedastal, see the Mall of America. It's actualy a great place to see.

 

[Wicht]

Interestingly enough, if you are interested in that sort of thing, one of the nicest capital buildings in the United States is actually to be found in Charleston, West Virginia. (It has always boggled me that WV should have such a great capitol building, one which includes a gold-plated roof)

Not far from Charleston (going east) there are also some fairly breathtaking scenic areas including IIRC, a bridge that is the highest off the ground in the US (very, very scenic bridge)

 

[Maldur]

Any more of these wonderful ideas?


(aka bump)

 

[der_kluge]

I've been to a fair amount of states in the South. Not done as much travelling in the midwest. I went to California as a boy, and have been to Las Vegas. This is the trip I'd recommend -

Starting in Indianapolis -

You definitely want to drive over to St. Louis (probably about 4 hours away) and visit the Arch. There's also some great Italian restaurants there (but you probably have those in Europe, too. )
From there, you could go down to Memphis, and see Graceland, Elvis's mansion. There's not much else to visit in Memphis, IIRC. From Memphis, travel towards Little Rock (home of Troll Lords) and the state I call home (Arkansas, born and raised). Travel to Hot Springs, and soak in luxurious natural spring baths. Go up scenic hwy 7 towards Russellville (my hometown) and then over to I-40 to Alma - then head north to Fayetteville and NW Arkansas. I lived in that area for 3 years. From here, you absolutely MUST visit Eureka Springs. It's an amazing little town, and has enough interesting stuff to keep you busy for a day or two.
From here, travel north to my current stomping ground - Kansas City. You must have the barbecue while you're here. I'd recommend Jack Stack - it's world famous, and do Gates for lunch. While you're here, check out the Toy and Miniature museum, and then the Steamboat Arabia museum (an exhibit of an unearthed steamboat - way cool). There's not much else to do here, so travel on north on I-29 to Omaha, and then up into South Dakota.

I've not been up there, personally, but you've got a couple of options. You could go up and over to Minneapolis to the Mall of America (something I'd like to see myself), or go west to see Mount Rushmore (something else I'd like to visit). I'd recommend Mt. Rushmore, since you could continue on west from there, and then head southwards towards Las Vegas. On the way down, be sure to stop in Area 51, Nevada, and have lunch at the Alie-Inn(sp).