Stuck sheltering in place like others, not supposed to leave the house let alone the country.
Got me thinking about places in the U.S. I'd like to visit but have not yet.
Oddly I've never been to Seattlle despite living in CA for many years. Dungeness crab is a mike drop shellfish.
Chicago because deep dish pizza and hot dogs dragged through the garden intrigues me.
Milwaukee of all places as I'm a huge fan of traditional German food and beer and that city appears to deliver.
Anybody?
Hawaii and the Florida Keys and perhaps Puerto Rico or some other territories in the Caribbean would be cool. I have never been to DC, I'd like to do that as well.
I'd also love to check out Nashville, Boston, Maine, Louisville, and I've got an odd and very likely incorrect romantic impression of main streets in the midwest.
I've done a ton of pac northwest exploration as we consider moving there frequently, but most places have some sort of vague vibe I just can't shake. Bellingham and Olypmia, WA are currently the front-runners, and I also dig a lot of Puget Sound towns (particularly Poulsbo).
And CR, if you live near the Bay Area, just swing by Zachary's for a deep dish pizza right up there with the Chicago entries.
I dont know. I've heard San Fran is a toilet now.
The homeless-related blight gets all the press and while I'm not going to deny it is there, I'm actually more put off by the culture change I've observed in SF over the past two decades.
It's become a tech bro haven, and it was downright depressing to see all of these historic live music venues replaced by upscale martini bars or whatever. Enter and you'll hear nothing but shitty DJ music and patrons saying the word "like" 50 times a minute.
I used to theorize that if you pulled fifty twenty-somethings in SF and asked them to name their 3 favorite local bands, most would struggle to name more than one (if they could name any at all). Now I bet that's true tenfold.
It just feels like a city of transients.
I'd also love to check out Nashville, Boston, Maine, Louisville, and I've got an odd and very likely incorrect romantic impression of main streets in the midwest.
I've done a ton of pac northwest exploration as we consider moving there frequently, but most places have some sort of vague vibe I just can't shake. Bellingham and Olypmia, WA are currently the front-runners, and I also dig a lot of Puget Sound towns (particularly Poulsbo).
And CR, if you live near the Bay Area, just swing by Zachary's for a deep dish pizza right up there with the Chicago entries.
Lived many years in the Bay Area.
Zachary's pizza is about as meh as you can get.
Perhaps I am just not a fan of deep dish pizza, or any pizza or pie that has a crust reminiscent of cardboard.
Give me a Nellie's or Kinchley's or any number of Manhattan style pies anytime.
That deep dish crap isn't even remotely close to anything you'd find in Italy.
That deep dish crap isn't even remotely close to anything you'd find in Italy.
That might be true, but I have no problem not giving a shit.
As for most all of Americas' destinations I didn't want anything to do with those places where tourists gathered. I was more of a backwater guy. Thinking that is where one gets a true flavor for what's happening and why. The aroma of the different cultures is distinctly different.
As for New Orleans I had a good friend who was on occasion married and for a lifetime associated with Breaux Bridge, La. And him being a real life Cajun he made his money in the cane industry. So when I wanted to do Nawlins I would call and head for Breaux Bridge for long weekend. We didn't go anywhere near the French Quarter but rather the back water stuff. That would be the cities' wards mostly west and south of downtown. That's where the real flavor of New Orleans resides. But you do need a guide to accomplish that.
As for when he wanted to do Houston Galveston I did the same...never go where the tourists go just the opposite. And he needed a guide for that.
Now the reason for not liking Atlanta, I didn't know how to navigate finding those types of things I typically enjoy doing, should have tried to find a guide.
Also the Pacific NW
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Atlanta, San Francisco is all that's left.
I dont know. I've heard San Fran is a toilet now.
The homeless-related blight gets all the press and while I'm not going to deny it is there, I'm actually more put off by the culture change I've observed in SF over the past two decades.
It's become a tech bro haven, and it was downright depressing to see all of these historic live music venues replaced by upscale martini bars or whatever. Enter and you'll hear nothing but shitty DJ music and patrons saying the word "like" 50 times a minute.
I used to theorize that if you pulled fifty twenty-somethings in SF and asked them to name their 3 favorite local bands, most would struggle to name more than one (if they could name any at all). Now I bet that's true tenfold.
It just feels like a city of transients.
It wasn't the press. It was some friends of mine who recently moved from the California area who told me how much SF went down the shitter.
The foliage is very bright green up there. And Portland airport workers smoking pot on their break.
Do the Old Spanish Trail road trip. Start in St. Augustine at the zero mile marker and drive west to San Diego. Drive the original Highway 90 where you can instead of taking the interstate.
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to see Montana.
And I will marry a round American woman and raise rabbits, and she will cook them for me. And I will have a pickup truck... maybe even a "recreational vehicle."
You arrogant ass, you killed us.
We just cancelled a trip to Hawaii - were gonna do a week on Kauai and a week on Big Island. Painful.
Somebody mentioned Glacier NP - yes, absolutely, go. Zion NP, too.
Would love to do an extended RV jaunt in Utah / northern AZ.
Yes! Small, walk everywhere, casual, no chain restaurants (I think there is one subway shop) terrific food and right next to Acadia Nat'l Park. That park has a little bit for everyone and is driving distance to most of the northeast. Unfortunately only about 3 months of decent weather.
A few underrated places that we really like in the NC/SC area are Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC. Both very walkable fun small cities with tons of restaurants, bars/breweries and outdoor stuff to do nearby.
Especially on Sundays, in Sports bars, in the Autumn.
Err, not so much lately...
There are several national parks I've never been to that I'd love to see: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Olympic, Zion, Canyonlands, Glacier.
Key West, FL
How to See the World When You’re Stuck at Home - ( New Window )
It was at a place called the Calderone Club.
I have had great German food there too, but nothing was better than the meal(s) at Calderone.
Pacific NW also.
Been to the Carolinas but never OBX.
2. I'd like to take an RV trip from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone to Yosemite to Zion and wind up in Vegas and go to something like Battlefield Vegas where you can shoot all kind of exotic firearms/weapons - take my time doing it - a few weeks
3. Alaska - probably a cruise
4. The Dakotas - Mt Rushmore and deadwood maybe Fargo - no burning desire, but I'd like to visit all 50 states eventually and I just need to knock these two off the list
Hawaii and the Florida Keys and perhaps Puerto Rico or some other territories in the Caribbean would be cool. I have never been to DC, I'd like to do that as well.
Before wives and kids this was our way of seeing the country. We saw Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco (Candlestick and Levi’s Stadiums) and Tampa before families derailed everything.
It was at a place called the Calderone Club.
I have had great German food there too, but nothing was better than the meal(s) at Calderone.
Wow, I ate at the Calderone Club too. It's right next to the Hyatt. And I have only been to Milwaukee once in my life.
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a few times and I had one of the best Italian food meals I've ever had (outside of my mother's house).
It was at a place called the Calderone Club.
I have had great German food there too, but nothing was better than the meal(s) at Calderone.
Wow, I ate at the Calderone Club too. It's right next to the Hyatt. And I have only been to Milwaukee once in my life.
Did you like it? First time there locals brought us (it was a work trip), so I felt like they'd know what is good, but some cities I've bee to like Lincoln Nebraska the locals definition of "good Italian" was not the same as mine.
I was impressed.
And to Diver-Down...in Houston there's a street named Old Spanish Trail, or drum roll please...US 90 Alt.
Key West - relax in a house on the water and fish for a week.
RV tour of the national parks out west (yellowstone, etc)
Slow tour of the Pacific coast highway taking time to stop for a while in each area
Key West - relax in a house on the water and fish for a week.
RV tour of the national parks out west (yellowstone, etc)
Slow tour of the Pacific coast highway taking time to stop for a while in each area
I forgot to add two weeks in Alaska during prime fishing season. Salmon and halibut...
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In comment 14850136 pjcas18 said:
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a few times and I had one of the best Italian food meals I've ever had (outside of my mother's house).
It was at a place called the Calderone Club.
I have had great German food there too, but nothing was better than the meal(s) at Calderone.
Wow, I ate at the Calderone Club too. It's right next to the Hyatt. And I have only been to Milwaukee once in my life.
Did you like it? First time there locals brought us (it was a work trip), so I felt like they'd know what is good, but some cities I've bee to like Lincoln Nebraska the locals definition of "good Italian" was not the same as mine.
I was impressed.
Had that happen to me in Martinsburg, WV. Locals brought us for Mexican and claimed it was amazing. My colleague and I were up all night fighting acid reflux and indigestion. It was awful.
Rebel, take Fairbanks off your list. It’s a shit hole. Anchorage is I nice little city, but Fairbanks is really a dump.
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In comment 14850147 Pete in MD said:
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In comment 14850136 pjcas18 said:
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a few times and I had one of the best Italian food meals I've ever had (outside of my mother's house).
It was at a place called the Calderone Club.
I have had great German food there too, but nothing was better than the meal(s) at Calderone.
Wow, I ate at the Calderone Club too. It's right next to the Hyatt. And I have only been to Milwaukee once in my life.
Did you like it? First time there locals brought us (it was a work trip), so I felt like they'd know what is good, but some cities I've bee to like Lincoln Nebraska the locals definition of "good Italian" was not the same as mine.
I was impressed.
Had that happen to me in Martinsburg, WV. Locals brought us for Mexican and claimed it was amazing. My colleague and I were up all night fighting acid reflux and indigestion. It was awful.
lol, I had two colleagues of mine when I lived in Northern Virginia walk into the office after a sales call and they were bragging about how they got these massive trays of tacos from a gas station in Manassas, VA for $3. They were so proud. Both wound up with Montezuma's revenge.
I consider Italian in Milwaukee a safer bet than Mexican in WV, but fair point.
Still have Nashville ,nawlins , Portland, Chicago and Austin on my list
My goal is to move to Flagstaff from the east coast in 2-3 years. Great town. Want to use it as a base for hiking and camping on the weekends.
I’d like to explore the national parks in Utah, Alaska, California and Montana. There are several left in Arizona.
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In comment 14849926 Route 9 said:
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Atlanta, San Francisco is all that's left.
I dont know. I've heard San Fran is a toilet now.
The homeless-related blight gets all the press and while I'm not going to deny it is there, I'm actually more put off by the culture change I've observed in SF over the past two decades.
It's become a tech bro haven, and it was downright depressing to see all of these historic live music venues replaced by upscale martini bars or whatever. Enter and you'll hear nothing but shitty DJ music and patrons saying the word "like" 50 times a minute.
I used to theorize that if you pulled fifty twenty-somethings in SF and asked them to name their 3 favorite local bands, most would struggle to name more than one (if they could name any at all). Now I bet that's true tenfold.
It just feels like a city of transients.
It wasn't the press. It was some friends of mine who recently moved from the California area who told me how much SF went down the shitter.
I'm not saying they're wrong. I'm simply saying that it doesn't affect me as much as other issues.
You can generally avoid the homeless encampments and related filth. But avoiding the homogenous, sterily tech culture and ridiculously overpriced food and beer is far more difficult.
I've been to every single state, except North/South Dakota and Hawaii.
Alaska was awesome for the very brief time I was there.
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are Hawaii and Alaska. I used to have the goal to visit every state, and I've been to just about every other state in the nation but those two. I doubt I will get to either at this stage in my life but those are the two I wish I had, I almost hit them all.
I've been to every single state, except North/South Dakota and Hawaii.
Alaska was awesome for the very brief time I was there.
I really enjoyed that area. The Black Hills/Badlands and then Mount Rushmore make it worth the trip. Mount Rushmore probably stands out most in my mind as the one thing that in person was much more impressive than I had imagined/expected it would.
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In comment 14850760 steve in ky said:
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are Hawaii and Alaska. I used to have the goal to visit every state, and I've been to just about every other state in the nation but those two. I doubt I will get to either at this stage in my life but those are the two I wish I had, I almost hit them all.
I've been to every single state, except North/South Dakota and Hawaii.
Alaska was awesome for the very brief time I was there.
I really enjoyed that area. The Black Hills/Badlands and then Mount Rushmore make it worth the trip. Mount Rushmore probably stands out most in my mind as the one thing that in person was much more impressive than I had imagined/expected it would.
+1 SteveinKY agree 100% that the Badlands, Black Hills, and Rushmore all 3 of them are probably the most under-rateded beautiful and majestic parts of the US. I've been to lots of impressive physical spaces from Yosemite to Grand Canyon to Grand Tetons, and others, but relative to it's modest reputation South Dakota's sights stand out. IMO.
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In comment 14850762 Route 9 said:
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In comment 14850760 steve in ky said:
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are Hawaii and Alaska. I used to have the goal to visit every state, and I've been to just about every other state in the nation but those two. I doubt I will get to either at this stage in my life but those are the two I wish I had, I almost hit them all.
I've been to every single state, except North/South Dakota and Hawaii.
Alaska was awesome for the very brief time I was there.
I really enjoyed that area. The Black Hills/Badlands and then Mount Rushmore make it worth the trip. Mount Rushmore probably stands out most in my mind as the one thing that in person was much more impressive than I had imagined/expected it would.
+1 SteveinKY agree 100% that the Badlands, Black Hills, and Rushmore all 3 of them are probably the most under-rateded beautiful and majestic parts of the US. I've been to lots of impressive physical spaces from Yosemite to Grand Canyon to Grand Tetons, and others, but relative to it's modest reputation South Dakota's sights stand out. IMO.
Took a northern drive from Utah about 7 years ago. Devil's Tower was a nice half day, Little Big Horn was good for about an hour, Rushmore also a nice half day. Badlands a nice drive through for a few hours. Had been to Yellowstone a couple of times and that can be a good couple of days as well a Jackson Hole and Ketchum/Sun Valley, the latter two having some real nice restaurants. Grand Canyon is awesome-include the more rustic North side also if you can. In Utah, Zion and especially the red rock of Bryce is great, as well as Arches and Canyonlands in Moab. Also Antelope Canyon near the Utah-AZ border. Sedona also has beautiful red rock and some nice hiking trails and scenery. Haven't been to Winslow, but friends tell me it's just the statue to the Eagles on the corner and one very good restaurant, the Turquoise Room. Went to Portland area last year for 8 days- some real nice day trips out of Portland. The city itself was underwhelming. Went down the coast from there- some cool views from the shore, but it starts to get old. Could have spent 2 days less. Not a lot to see in Seattle and the city has become a real shithole. Enjoyed Alaska cruise several years back. We were lucky with the weather, but there's often a lot of rain