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Coming to America!

Started by Octoman, September 10, 2005, 04:43:36 PM

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Octoman

On the 18th September I will be arriving in America for a whole four weeks, New York to be specific!  My girlfriend is working there at the moment so i'm taking the opportunity to visit.  After the initial fun of celebrating my birthday in "Hooters" we are planing to get out of the city for a week, probably the first or second week of October and go on holiday somewhere else, for example Florida Keys.  We would really appreciate some local knowledge on where to go for a week.  We are open to suggestions, i.e. beach, mountains, city etc! Thanks in advance, Octoman!
WM LT 15 - Fortune favours the Brave!

Furby

Oh boy!
That sounds like fun!
So what do you have back home that you don't need to see here?
How far are you willing to travel?

Jeff

Well, if you go to the florida keys at that time of year, good chance of seeing something we dont have here in Michigan. Hurricanes!

Lots of foeum members on the way from New York down through Florida. Meting up with a member is a great time in its self.
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

Kevin

Be very careful in Florida, they still haven't caught this thing ...



The SawSquatch

:D

Jeff

This may be the first time I smiled in a week. Thanks Kevin. :)
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

DanG

If you could adjust your schedule to come south in the third week of October, you could hit the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, Ga. and meet a whole bunch of ForestryForum members. ;) ;D
"I don't feel like an old man.  I feel like a young man who has something wrong with him."  Dick Cavett
"Beat not thy sword into a plowshare, rather beat the sword of thine enemy into a plowshare."

Octoman

Thanks for the input so far guys! :)
Our summer is over here, which means it is starting to rain LOTS, so perhaps i will give the hurricanes a miss!!  There is no real limit on distance within the states, it seems the internal air travel is very simple.
I guess we are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary rather than going to theme parks etc!
WM LT 15 - Fortune favours the Brave!

beenthere

There is the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the Redwoods, the Great Lakes Region, the Northeast colors, the vast corn and soybean crops in the Plains, the softwood timber in the Southeast, the hardwood timber in the northeast, the Western timber ........... could go on ...wife and I drove 10,000 miles early this year going out to the West Coast area and back through the Southwest, and there wasn't an inch of it that we didn't enjoy seeing... 

What is your pleasure?  It helps to know that Disney is out  :)  Any particular hobbies or special interests?

Flying is pretty reasonable to many places, like into Las Vegas and then renta car to drive to the Canyon and back into Utah to see some spectacular rock formations and colors of the landscape. Could easily be to other locations and drives.  One I would recommend would be around Lake Superior, this time of year especially. Upstate New York and Vermont and Maine and into Canada are also spectacular.  So many places to see 'spectacular' that sorting them out won't be easy.  Every State has something to see and can be of interest, IMO.   

south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

Tobacco Plug

Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie is a great show.  You will see more farm stuff in one place than you ever imagined and plenty of different sawmills.  I have only been once, and that was many years ago, but it was a highlight in my travels.  Plus meeting FF members really makes this a consideration.

Then NC State Fair runs October 14-23 and is another great event.  Lots of exhibits ranging from agricultural, industrial, technological, crafts, food, music and fun.  Check out http://www.ncstatefair.org/2005/
for more information.  If you go, be sure to go by the NC State University Food Science School's ice cream parlor and get a cone or shake.  MMM!  You can also see a water powered grist mill grinding corn for meal and GRITS.  Other states have fairs too, so you might want to do a web search and see if any others are going on at the time of your visit if the NC Fair is not possible for you. 
How's everybody doing out in cyberspace?

Furby

Beenthere has suggested everything I had in mind (great minds think alike eh? ;) ).
If you don't want to go as far, there is Acadia National Park in Maine, should be almost perfect timing for a color tour through there. Even if it's a bit late for the color, it's still worth seeing.
Could also rent a car and drive Southward along the East coast. TONS of little out of the way spots down through the mountains.
Been thinking about the Moultrie show myself, just don't see any way to do it.

Tom

Years ago, I took a trip north on US-1.  I ended up being on I-95 and didn't enjoy it much at all.   I went to Maine and turned around to come home.  I swore I wouldn't drive the coast again.  For some reason I wandered west and got off on  I-81.  I traveled it through the Poconos (mountains), some of the prettiest farm land I'd seen in Pennsylvania, Down the edge of the Alleghenies (mountains) where I began to notice Civil war battlefields that had been turned into parks.  The Civil War is an interest of mine so it added an unexpected wonder to my trip.  I continued on through the corners of Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, following the west side of the Appalachians (mountains) along the Shenandoah valley to the New Market  Battlefield where I spent an enjoyable and nostalgic day standing in the same fields as my ancestors.  As it began to get dark, I crossed the mountains, to the east, spent the night in a little mountain motel (where I ate little green apples and had the "bejesus" scared out of me by a train that passed within a few feet of the back of my motel room) and continued toward Asheville, North Carolina on mountain roads.  In Asheville, I home-based at a motel and road the Blue Ridge Parkway some.  Then southeast on I-26, through South Carolina,  toward Savannah, Georgia and South on I-95 to Florida and home.  It wasn't just a "Hell-bent-for-leather" Interstate trip, but was speckled with many, many little side trips into Historical or scenic places that culminated in my own backyard and the world renowned, Okeefenokee Swamp.

I'd take that trip, or one similar,  again in a heartbeat.  I would not take I-95 south from New York to South Carolina.  The coast is nothing but a beehive of angry people on over-crowded, bad roads.


Bro. Noble

Our favorite places in that area are the Blueridge parkway and cape hatteras.

In the northwest,  our very vavorite place of all is Glacier Park.  Driving around Lake Superior is a wonderful trip.

That area in Utah that Beenthere mentioned is a very unique place that few people visit.  You can drive along the Colorado river,  see fantastic rock formations,  and see snow on the mountains all from the same area :D  Lots of Native American sites too.
milking and logging and sawing and milking

beenthere

Tom
I agree that makes a great trip. Wife and I did just that on our Western trip. Stayed off the I-roads.
In '79, we spent 3 weeks in England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France in a rental car travelling without any, but one, hotel reservation ahead of time. Stayed off every Autobahn and had a fantastic time. Locals were very gracious but were envious of our trip, as we saw things they hadn't seen themselves because of being in a hurry.
I usually do it too, all too often in a rush to get there in the least amount of time.
Hopefully we will get away in October for a couple weeks and head a ways south, or wherever.........
(Thanks Furby for flattering me with your great mind  eh?  ;D )
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

Furby

Quote from: beenthere on September 11, 2005, 02:14:03 PM
(Thanks Furby for flattering me with your great mind  eh?  ;D )
:D I thought it was the other way around. ;)

Octoman,
If any of these sugestion interest you, I'm sure we can provide more detailed info if you can pick a few possibilities.
Might even have to start throwing darts at a map, just to narrow things down a bit, have done it myself!
There is always so much to see and so little time/$.

Minnesota_boy

Octoman,
  I hope you enjoy your trip to the US as there are lots of interesting things to see.  Be aware, however, that the US is a fairly big place and if you are going to drive, leave plenty of time to get places.  Driving from New York to the Florida keys is like driving from London to Jerusalem.  It's a long drive.  Plenty of things to see along the way, but it all takes time.
I eat a high-fiber diet.  Lots of sawdust!

Octoman

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions so far!!  There are so many options we are spoilt for choice!  At the weekends i think we will try and visit places within say a three hour radius of NYC by car or train.  Then for our week long break probably try a fly/drive combination!
Luckily with so many options there seems no rush to decide immediately!  So i think the best plan for the moment will be to buy myself a large map of USA and a set of darts! :D
Will be in touch again for more advice as the plans come together! :)
WM LT 15 - Fortune favours the Brave!

SwampDonkey

Me and the folks are planning to go across Canada next year and see off the beaten trail places, then on return we're hoping to go see the dinosaur museum, yellow stone and take in some of the grand canyon. We're staying away from the big cities.


Just a side note: ;)
Wish there was someone from the Ramouski, Que area that could tell me the name of that Historic Manson near  there (or Mont Joli) that was owned by the railroad tycoon. The manson overlooks the ocean. I can't find nothing about it on the Quebec tourism sites. It's not far from the path to the Matepedia Valley.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

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Tom

Are you thinking of Fulford Place?

SwampDonkey

Tom, thanks but too far west. This place I'm thinking is east of Riviere De Loup and Ramouski (Gaspe Pinensula). It's not a modern mansion, but it was once a school and general store and hotel  and now has a restaurant with the other sections being used as a museum. It had quite a few flower gardens. I'll continue to bang away at the web. ;)
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Octoman

Got into JFK last night and so far today have been getting my bearings in NY whilst the missus is at work!! :D
Have already found the local cycling shop, the guys there said i had to have a go at Bear Mountain when i get a chance!!
As for the trip we are planning its looking like a flight to san francisco or las vegas and hiring a car.  We definitely want to take in the Grand Canyon and perhaps a bit of the coast.  I don't think the Florida Keys option is looking so good now!!
WM LT 15 - Fortune favours the Brave!

Tom

Las Vegas has the Casinos and the Hoover Dam.  San Francisco is a purely Urbanized territory.  If your heart is set on the West Coast, You should  consider Northern California, Oregon and Washington State.   A flight into Portland and a rented car ride over the Cascade Mountains and up and down the Coast will be something you will never forget.

Tobacco Plug

If nothing else, fly to Seattle and rent a car to drive around the Olympic Peninsula.  You can see the coast, big trees, rain forest, wildlife and with a couple of side trips Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Ranier.  Beautiful country. :)
How's everybody doing out in cyberspace?

Furby

I'll second the last two posts!

Paschale

San Francisco's going to be a great starting off point.  I would have to say top on my list would be going to Yosemite.  Seeing Half Dome and El Capitan in all their glory is absolutely breathtaking!  I'll try and post a picture tomorrow sometime. 

Also, if you're looking for a GREAT restaurant in San Francisco, then I would recommend the Slanted Door, which is in the Ferry Building.  It's a Vietnamese restaurant, and the chef just won a huge award as the best chef on the West Coast.  I ate there this summer and it was GREAT!  Also, check out this link for some good recommendations of other places to eat there:  http://www.epicurious.com/restaurants/erg/sanfran/index/index

The Fisherman's Wharf area is a huge tourist place, but it's a bit too much like Disney in my estimation.  I didn't enjoy it that much, and I don't think I'll ever go back.  Doing a driving loop that goes in and over each of the bridges can be fun too, though you'll be amazed at the FOG!!! 

I hope you have a GREAT time here in the states!

Oh...and if you take some of the recommendations and go to Portland or Seattle...those are GREAT food towns...let me know, and I'll steer you in the right direction.   ;)

One more thing...if you're planning on trying to stay at any of the National Parks, double check that they'll have vacancies.  Some of these places book up way early, though you're at an advantage because you won't be at peak season.
Y'all can pronounce it "puh-SKOLLY"

Furby

This time of year is great for visits to the National Parks out West.
It can be busy some days, but not at all like the summer time madness!

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