America, where should I visit.

[MegoNinja]

Hello everyone,

As most of you might already know I currently live in Australia, but next year I have the pleasure of touring around the United States of America. My parent's are going there for a holiday and are taking me along all expenses paid, so I am really looking foward to it.
Enough of the life story, my question is, my parent's really are clueless as to where they would like to visit, my mom keeps suggesting we go to California to see celebrity related places. Honeslty I couldnt care less where "so-and-so walked" or where "such-and-such was filmed", so where would be a good place to visit for a few weeks?
I would love to see New York, but I am told that it is a busy place with nothing but business and commerce with no real tourist attractions.
We are heading up to the States around Easter time, is there any thing going on around that time? Megomeet? Comic-con? Is there any thing like that which I could show up to to make my stay really memorable?
any help would be appreciated.
thanks

[johnmiic]

I live in NY and it's a great place to visit. If you decide to come let me know. You have the whole city to explore.

The top of the Empire ST bldg., The Statue of Liberty, The old Worlds Fair Buildings are still standing in Queens,( They appeared in the film Men in Black). You could see a base-ball game, Mets or Yankees. We have the Museum of Natural History, The Rose Science and Space Planetarium, The Guggenhiem, The Cloisters, The Hall of Science in Queens, Times Square, Madame Taussauds Wax Museum....there's a heck of a lot of stuff to see here.

[MegoNinja]

thanks for the tip John, I have always wanted to see New York, I want to visit the Troma office aswell, I would love to just walk around New York and experience the culture of such a well developed city. I am having a little trouble with my parents though, they think that New York is full of crime and gang's. I know that it isnt because New York is now considered one the safest cities in America, with most of the crime being gang on gang violence, which would pose no real threat to tourists and is probably something you wouldnt even see unless you went out of your way to find it.
I think people get the wrong impression of New York from Hollywood, which seems to portray New York as a "don't go out after dark" place(I hate Hollywood).
thanks for the help though I will take that into consideration, I would love to watch a baseball game with a hotdog and coke in the heart of New York, sounds like my idea of fun.

[Wee67]

Wow! It is a rather large place with a lot to see and take in. There are lots of different geographies with differing cultures (of course, America is not radically different, but there are marked differences in various areas).

So much depends on your personal tastes and pocketbook. I assume you will land on the west coast in California. Getting to the East coast will take about 6 hours by plane and will cost you a few American dollars (although, if the USD continues to slide, that Aussie dollar may get you there cheap ).

I'll leave the west coast to the guys here that live on that side of the country. I live in New York City and let me tell there is PLENTY to do and see here. I've traveled to over 30 countries in the world and there is nowhere quite like it. Form the Broadway to the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Bldg to Central Park, this city has tons to do and see.

Other East coast stops might include Washington, DC to see the US Capitol (the White House, the National Mall and the Smithsonian) and Philadelphia to see America's birthplace (Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Museum of Art).

If you decide to hit any of those cities, LMK. I've lived in all 3 and can suggest some things to do and see.
-Bill

[Wee67]

As for crime, New York is now rated one of the safest big cities in the US. That doesn;t mean you shouldn't be aware of crime, but most of Manhattan is pretty safe.

[jds1911a1]

and I am a Phialdeplphian (suburbs) and sadly our violent crime rate is one of the worst.

Philadlephia does have some nice historical sites but New york (manhattan) has lots of other things to entertain and some of the best mueums in the county.

Florida is one of the biggest trourist desintation with disney world

basically it's a really big country so where to go is driven by what you like

[Mikey]

If you love scenery .....

BTW, i've been to all these places ......

Grand Canyon
Devils' Tower
The Everglades
Yellowstone National Park
Niagra Horseshoe Falls-- in Canada
Martha's Vineyard
Pocono Mountains

m

[UOBob]

Stay away from Baltimore... it's an open sewer.

[toys2cool]

and I am a Phialdeplphian (suburbs) and sadly our violent crime rate is one of the worst.

Philadlephia does have some nice historical sites but New york (manhattan) has lots of other things to entertain and some of the best mueums in the county.

Florida is one of the biggest trourist desintation with disney world

basically it's a really big country so where to go is driven by what you like

I was gonna say Florida baby you can't go wrong with all those theme parks in Orlando and then you have all them beautiful beaches like S.Beach with so many hot chicks

[Mikey]

I went to Miami a few years ago .....
I think around 2000.
I was shocked to see graffiti -- spraypaint all over the palm trees.
REALLY turned me off to that place.
Miami actually made Newark (or as we say Nawk) look clean

[Adam West]

There is so much to do, I wouldn't know where to start.

Although I live on the East Coast, I was in Hollywood just a few months ago on a business trip to our corporate office. There are some neat attractions there but it isn't all glam and glitz. Just like any other big city, there are some seedy areas so you have to do your homework and ask around.

I would definitely spend at least a day in New York. There are a lot of people but as was already stated, there is so much to do and it is safe to walk around most parts of the city.

I would head down the East Coast to Philadelphia which is about a 2 hour drive or so from New York City? We were there earlier this year and I recommend going to South Philly for an original Philly cheese steak (Pat's or Geno's will do although I personally prefer Pat's). You can drive through the Italian market where Rocky was filmed (when he was training), drive up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and see the bronze Rocky statue and run up the steps and then hit Historical Philadelphia. There is the U.S. Mint, the grave of Ben Franklin, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, all within walking distance of one another.

Drive another 2 hours south to Washington D.C. The Cherry blossoms should be in full bloom around the tidal basin by then. There is the Washington Monument, The Capitol, The Lincoln and Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial, the White House, Vietnam War Memorial and lot's of museums (the Smithsonian is a group of a bunch of different museums. Personally, I like the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, and the Museum of Natural History).

If you wanted to keep going down the coast, Virginia is a beautiful state full of history and you could go to Jamestown (1st U.S. Settlement), Williamsburg (oldest existing U.S. colony), Monticello (Jefferson's home), Mt. Vernon (Washington's home) and too much more to mention.

I would definitely recommend a visit to Disney World in Florida. I went for the first time 5 years ago and there really is no theme park that compares.

[ABMAC]

Yes, you should definitely waste your time and money flying from a beach city in Australia to see a filthy American beach.

[toys2cool]

Yes, you should definitely waste your time and money flying from a beach city in Australia to see a filthy American beach.

S.Beach is more of a night life & clubs type of thing... plus that was just a thought if he decided to go to Orlando for the theme parks in the first place ,Miami happens to be one of the hot spots for tourist from all over the world

yeah Mike there are some parts in Miami that are pretty scary

[Marvelmania]

Las Vegas or New York would be my choices. As previously said it depends on what you're wanting to get out of your vacation. What about Hawaii?

[txteach]

The only place worth seeing is Texas. Come check out where our heros died (The alamo) fighting Santa Anna's soldiers for their Independence. The last battle during the war for Independence was faught about 30 miles from where I live here in houston at San Jacinto.