Going to the US for the first time

When I lived in the Houston area, it was an 800-mile drive to visit my sister in Clayton, New Mexico.
All but 10 miles was inside Texas.

Leee said:

Yep.
Interstate 10 is 880 miles across Texas.

The further you get away from New England, the further apart everything gets.

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That threw us for a loop the first time we were in Boston. It was paper maps back then. We thought the major roads were miles apart like back home. Nope, they were blocks. We had to back track a lot.

Bring sunblock to Philly. Always sunny.

Leee said:

The further you get away from New England, the further apart everything gets.

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Leee said:

When I lived in the Houston area, it was an 800-mile drive to visit my sister in Clayton, New Mexico.
All but 10 miles was inside Texas.

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“The sun has ris’, the sun has set, and we ain’t out of Texas yet!“

pnuggett said:

Bring sunblock to Philly. Always sunny.

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As I look up from my keyboard, watching the rain piss down, outside my windows

There's nothing but cows and corn outside of the east coast. Until you hit Los Angeles.

I don't know if you can still find a 'real' Italian Pizzeria in the NYC metro area, but a slice or two of authentic NY Pizza is a must, if they still make it.

I live in the DC Metro and cannot recommend anything that hasn't already been mentioned.

mdubya said:

I don't know if you can still find a 'real' Italian Pizzeria in the NYC metro area, but a slice or two of authentic NY Pizza is a must, if they still make it.

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They do.

If you want a classic NYC style slice, go to Stromboli Pizza at 83 St Marks Pl. The best cup of coffee is on that block too, at Porto Rico Importers, at 40½ St Marks. They have a location on the west side of town too, if you're in that area.

If you want a killer Neapolitan style pie in a nice sit down restaurant, go to Motorino. Incredible pizza without the hype (and wait time) of the more trendy places.

Most of the other NYC recs already mentioned upthread I can get behind.

The museums are great, my faves are The Met and the History Museum. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and Guggenheim are fun too. Depends on your interest.

If you want steak, my go-to's are Strip House, Vinyl, or Knickerbocker Bar & Grill. Keen's is good too, as is Del Frisco's and many others of the more corporate set. Still a quality meal, just less locals there.

Peter Luger's isn't worth it anymore IME... not nearly as good as it used to be. But it is an experience, and if you want that experience, go for it. Cash only though.

IMO, if you want a better old school NY experience, go to Katz's Deli. Another cash only spot, and when they give you the ticket to pay at the end of your meal, don't lose it!

There are tons of good options - it'll depend a lot on what neighborhood you end up in.

mdubya said:

There's nothing but cows and corn outside of the east coast. Until you hit Los Angeles.

I don't know if you can still find a 'real' Italian Pizzeria in the NYC metro area, but a slice or two of authentic NY Pizza is a must, if they still make it.

I live in the DC Metro and cannot recommend anything that hasn't already been mentioned.

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What about going to see Hank?????

KamZigZag said:

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it


Not on this trip, planning to go again next year and explore more



I'll add Charleston to my destination book for next year, definitely would be up for meeting up and grabbing a beer!


Got Texas planned for next year, thought I'd start off with the basic touristy stuff and then properly explore afterwards. Definitely want some proper barbecue and guns are always fun, very limited access to them over here

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Come on ,,, You can buy the first round !!

six-string said:

What about going to see Hank?????

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Hank resides in a very historic area about an hour outside of DC. He lives near Hollowed Ground designated areas rich with Civil War history (and Blair Witch folklore). He lives just off of the Appalachian Trail, too.

There used to be a NY style pizza place just up the road from him in Boonesboro, MD. Pizza by the slice. Regretfully part of history, now.

mdubya said:

There's nothing but cows and corn outside of the east coast. Until you hit Los Angeles.

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They are not called the "flyover states" for nothing.

Leee said:

Yep.
Interstate 10 is 880 miles across Texas.

The further you get away from New England, the further apart everything gets.

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and we complain when anything is more than an hour away, mostly because of the traffic and the other drivers.

rcole_sooner said:

That threw us for a loop the first time we were in Boston. It was paper maps back then. We thought the major roads were miles apart like back home. Nope, they were blocks. We had to back track a lot.

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oh dear god, paper maps? Boston? I'm lucky to have been born next door (Cambridge) and my folks already knew their way around. I watched when we drove so I learned Boston by osmosis. I can't imagine what it must be like for a complete outsider.

The streets of Boston were paved cow paths. Drunken cow paths.

SteveC said:

They are not called the "flyover states" for nothing.

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It is beautiful.

But the people that think that is 'real' America?

Bless their little hearts.

I saw a graphic the other day about the Atlantic Seaboard states and the West Coast generate 80% of US revenues.

I lived in Appalachia where the career path was:

1. get on public assistance.

2. leave.

DeafDumbBlind Kid said:

oh dear god, paper maps? Boston? I'm lucky to have been born next door (Cambridge) and my folks already knew their way around. I watched when we drove so I learned Boston by osmosis. I can't imagine what it must be like for a complete outsider.

The streets of Boston were paved cow paths. Drunken cow paths.

View attachment 856063

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I would hate to try to synchronize the signals.
Grids are easy. I complain when the old sheep trails cut the grid on a 45 and create godaweful huge 6-legged intersections. Those really throw a monkey wrench into your timing plans.

mdubya said:

It is beautiful.

But the people that think that is 'real' America?

Bless their little hearts.

I saw a graphic the other day about the Atlantic Seaboard states and the West Coast generate 80% of US revenues.

I lived in Appalachia where the career path was:

1. get on public assistance.

2. leave.

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I've spent more than enough time "between the coasts" to realize that I much prefer flying over it.

Outside of a few places that are absolutely beautiful, it's desolation and about 200 years behind the times.

SteveC said:

it's desolation and about 200 years behind the times.

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Sounds like my kind of place

Seriously... Parts of Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming are the most beautiful land in this country, from the desert to the forest.

CB91710 said:

Sounds like my kind of place

Seriously... Parts of Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming are the most beautiful land in this country, from the desert to the forest.

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Couldn't agree more.... absolutely magnificent. It is spectacular, and it's what our country looked like when we came here, and took it from its' owners.

Life there, OTOH???? I'd slice my wrists after a week.

SteveC said:

Life there, OTOH???? I'd slice my wrists after a week.

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And we would let you.