Plannin a trip

Ello.

So Im planning on going over to the USA and Canada later this year, a bit of touring, see some friends, be a tourist etc etc. If my saving goes as planned, should be in July/August/Sept time. Also depends on booking and such how long I can stay for.

I've been a couple times before when I was a sprog, but didnt see much of the place at all. Really wanna see as much as is possible. Im a gluten for long train rides and so on, so hopefully I'll get to see everything.

Whats some good places to visit? Obviously Im gonna try and see the classic touristy things, but also what kinda weird stuff is there that's not so well known.

And also, can anyone recomend some good events in their area that can help a young Brit out with getting some bookings to play? I have a few things lined up, NYC, Torronto, and possibly a few things on the West Coast. But obviously loads of space between em. So if anyone can help me out to get in contact with some organisers in their area, would be a really great help!!

Thanks if you can help!! Hopefully this'll turn into a good trip!

banff and jasper national park

riding a train through the rockies would be nice. riding a train across the plains would be pretty rough though

If pass through the over populated amazingly entertaining mega turbo city of Boise, Idaho let me know heh.

There's a lot of purty cool places to go across the US, don't know what your looking for really, I guess as far as cities go a unique experience to America would be to hit up Vegas, Nevada.

I don't know much about the scene at most big cities but I'm moderately certain Seattle and Portland are fairly excepting of different electronic artists.

I don't know 2 favorite places I've been to here would probably be San Francisco, California and Vegas.

don't go to salt lake city

Riding a train across Texas is pretty much the way to make you contemplate suicide, but the plus side is, you get to stop off at New Orleans as a reward.

Are you getting one of those Amtrak railpass things? I've done that twice, and it was utterly amazing both times. (Went with family first time, with then-boyfriend second time.) It's better than going by car because you can actually sit in comfort in an observation car (American trains west of the Mississipi are double deckers!) and drink while you watch the awe-inspiring scenery.

The one through the Rockies books up months in advance, but the middle crossing (not the one that goes along the Mexican border, which is kinda grim, but the one which goes through some Monument Valley type scenery) is almost as beautiful. Also there are a couple of other train runs that are unmissable - NYC to Albany (on the way to Toronto) is stunning, up the Hudson River. As noted before, the bridge into New Orleans is spectacular (and New Orleans is such a beautiful spooky old city). The train that goes up the West Coast - we did LA to San Francisco and it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen - you can see dophins playing out in the Pacific on some stretches.

For my money, the places you absolutely don't want to miss are NYC, New Orleans and San Franciso, but your mileage may vary. All of which are on stunning train routes.

if you come through buffalo i hope you like pink floyd and led zeppelin cover bands.

Jedediah Smith National Redwood Forest FTW!!!

It is at the northwestern most corner of California. It's where they shot the return of the Jedi "endor" stuff. I camped there a few years back and it was truly magical. Don't pass it up.

hit california if you like trees

  On 1/27/2010 at 7:22 PM, rocky path said:

hit california if you like trees

Yes!

Unless you're going in October, then go to Vermont. BRIGHTLY COLOURED TRIPPY TREES!!!

the trees in colorado all got eaten by beatles. so stay the fuck out of colorado

by trees i meant cannabis, soz for the confusion

is that what all the cool kids are calling it these days

Waw cool guy, thatnks for the suggestions!!

I like the sound of the Amtrak rail passes, any idea what kinda millage I can get from one of those things, and how much they cost? TBH I'm a sucker for long train rides, awesome way to see the scenery, and because I suffer from RLS, it helps being able to get up and move about a bit.

The Jedediah Smith National Redwood Forest sounds awesome, definately put that on the list. I think California is an definate. I have some friends there to go and visit, and looks like theres a lot to do in that area. I'm gonna suffer from the heat for sure but ah well =D

NYC for definate as well, think i got a first gig sorted there, and its on the right side of the country for a cheeper flight over.

Vegas I dunno, maybe for 1 day but I think that stuff would just drive me round the bend. I imagine it being super expencive as well, would love to see the hoover dam since big engineering stuff like that fascinates me.

Ah man, too much stuff I wanna see!! You guys are so fkn lucky!!!

  On 1/27/2010 at 5:19 PM, theSun said:

if you come through buffalo i hope you like pink floyd and led zeppelin cover bands.

LOL.

Yeah America is bugged, but you might be better off renting a car than taking the Train. Amtrak are a bunch of cunts and the train system is an insane rip off in the states.

Do your best to wander around the midwest and see shit like the worlds biggest donut, or the worlds biggest foil ball, or the worlds biggest rubber band ball etc.

  On 1/27/2010 at 7:25 PM, Masonic Boom said:

  On 1/27/2010 at 7:22 PM, rocky path said:

hit california if you like trees

 

Yes!

 

Unless you're going in October, then go to Vermont. BRIGHTLY COLOURED TRIPPY TREES!!!

yeah, and if you go to vermont hit my ass up

Careful with that Amtrak stuff, I'd maybe do some regional ones perhaps but sure as hell wouldn't recommend taking a slow-ass American train from one side of the country to the other. By the time you reach your destination it's time to go home and you will have seen too much of the same.

a word of caution about taking a train around america. It's a very big country. and even bigger if you're going into canada. I took a train from san francisco to chicago (nearly blew my brains out in kansas) and it was stunning but also very very very long. and Amtrak is a piece of shit and have terrible food and terrible service. Unless your heart is totally set on the west coast or the rockies, I think perhaps staying in the east coast/great lakes region it the ticket. You get large cities, for sure NYC, maybe Boston, you mentioned Toronto which is brilliant, and NEVER count out Chicago (one of the cleanest, friendliest cities on earth), [also cleveland, milwaukee and detroit, although I give these somewhat less of a recommendation] then you get amazing scenery: new england coasts, hudson valley, and the golden horseshoe and coasts of michigan are just stunning. I love the great lakes in the fall, something calming and magical about them.

with large cities and beautiful scenery, and the "midwest nice" attitude, you'll get a great american experience, and a chance to perhaps see the not as well-known parts of america, which would take you ALLLL over the country. I would have a hard time recommending that someone try and see all of america/canada on one trip.

  On 1/28/2010 at 1:45 AM, thanks robert moses said:

 

Yeah America is bugged, but you might be better off renting a car than taking the Train. Amtrak are a bunch of cunts and the train system is an insane rip off in the states.

 

Do your best to wander around the midwest and see shit like the worlds biggest donut, or the worlds biggest foil ball, or the worlds biggest rubber band ball etc.

lol for real... Come to Kansas and I'll take you to the Worlds Largest Ball of Twine!

Hmm, just been looking at some pics of Vermont, looks really pretty, definately worth stopping at. That whole area looks like a nice place to visit, Chicago is a place I've always wanted to visit, and Boston I'd like to visit again also, but I guess ultimately it'll all depend on where I can get bookings and the like. Gigging first, tourist second. But this all gives me ideas of where I wanna get to, and I can start trying to find some organisers in the area.

Driving would be cool, and it all depends on whether I'm on my own or not, My eyesite is so bad, I cant drive =(. Could be (hopefully) that Im going together with a friend of mine Sam (wAgAwAgA) who can drive, but cant expect the poor lad to do all the hardwork. Should be a laugh tho, been ages since we played gigs together.

I'm off to Russia again for a similar trip in March, getting around everywhere by train. The distances there are massive, and the trains are nasty! Im certain that a run down Amtrak will feel like luxury after the Moscow to Ekaterinburg Express =D Slightly concerned though, will a Russian visa in my passport affect my chances of getting a visa into the states?

You hit the nail on the head tho, there is faaar to much to see in one go. That'll be the tricky part, trying to cram all the real juicy stuff into a few months..

Someone mentioned the worlds largest elastic band ball? I Gotta see that!!!!

if you're bringing waga stop in vermont. i would loovve to see you guys play, even though there isn't a huge electronic scene here in vermont i know a few places you could play at. and definitely come in the fall, but you're going to have to look up peak because i can't remember the week.

  On 1/28/2010 at 2:13 AM, dr lopez said:

a word of caution about taking a train around america. It's a very big country. and even bigger if you're going into canada. I took a train from san francisco to chicago (nearly blew my brains out in kansas) and it was stunning but also very very very long. and Amtrak is a piece of shit and have terrible food and terrible service. Unless your heart is totally set on the west coast or the rockies, I think perhaps staying in the east coast/great lakes region it the ticket. You get large cities, for sure NYC, maybe Boston, you mentioned Toronto which is brilliant, and NEVER count out Chicago (one of the cleanest, friendliest cities on earth), [also cleveland, milwaukee and detroit, although I give these somewhat less of a recommendation] then you get amazing scenery: new england coasts, hudson valley, and the golden horseshoe and coasts of michigan are just stunning. I love the great lakes in the fall, something calming and magical about them.

 

with large cities and beautiful scenery, and the "midwest nice" attitude, you'll get a great american experience, and a chance to perhaps see the not as well-known parts of america, which would take you ALLLL over the country. I would have a hard time recommending that someone try and see all of america/canada on one trip.

hmmmmm yeah chicago being clean not so much, especially if you're telling that to a european where the cities actually are clean.

If you take a car, avoid the interstate.

Someone once described the interstate as "the best way to travel across America without seeing any of it."

I agree that the trains can be slow, unreliable, and painfully boring. I think renting a car would be your best bet due to the freedom, intimacy, and ability to go at your own pace. As for where to go... boy, I don't know. You can have fun exploring just about anywhere if you're with the right people, but it's a big country and I would think it foolish to assume you can even come close to seeing it all. If you've never been, New York City is a must, The Appalachian mountains along the East coast are gorgeous and give you a great survey of American culture as you head south to Florida or Louisiana. If you were to head west from there, I would try to avoid the midwest (Kansas, Oklahoma and such) since they're nice, but a bit sparse. Arizona, Texas and Colorado (Rocky Mountains) are nice. You could then go through Southern California all the way North until you hit San Francisco. That should make for a pretty solid trip.

gig wise:

new york (hit up six and we kill soapskum)

chicago (sneaksta, encey, lol alzado)

atlanta (don't know of any watmmers there i remember there being one)

miami

Los Angeles (me, producer snafu... a bunch of other i know that don't post on watmm)

San Fran (awepetance, kcisnu, cats on earth)

detroit (i think blicero is up there)

site seeing wise:

everglades

redwood national forest

grand canyon

deserts and mountains and shit.

come to Niagara. It's da bomb.