I achieved that - Boston, New York, DC, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego - but I have many excuses to go back. It was a great trip, I met some really cool people and I'm really looking forward to my next opportunity to go back.
General tips for people thinking of travelling in the US:
- Book hostels early/before you go - there aren't that many of them and they get booked up early. Some people were forced to go elsewhere, others resorted to moving room every morning. So definitely worth planning ahead by at least two weeks.
- You will meet a lot of Australians and Germans - but they're all very nice :)
- Hostelling International hostels are generally very good (clean etc), but they don't allow alcohol and they tend to attract families or an older crowd from time to time.
- Food is not a problem, even for vegetarians. But it's unhealthy everywhere. Finding healthy food can be a bit of a challenge and/or is expensive. Sometimes you just want a Boots Meal Deal!
- The East Coast is hot and very humid...at least it was when I was there due to the heatwave. Vegas is hot but dry, so bearable. The West Coast is much cooler and comfortable, though San Francisco gets cold in the evenings so bring a hoodie/jacket for that.
- Vegas does have hostels. And the only one you should stay at is Hostel Cat. Craaazy good fun!
- Drinking laws vary from state to state.
- You don't need a car to get around the US. That is simply a myth. Getting from place to place by bus (Greyhound, Megabus etc), flights and trains is entirely doable.
- Things in LA are really far apart. But you can get buses and the metro. They just take a while so you may find you can only feasibly do one thing/location a day. A car is useful here, but not necessary.
- If HI New York hostel somehow loses items of your clothing, write a complaint email to the UK Hostelling International head office.
Boston
Monday 18th July
Wally's Jazz Cafe
Tuesday 19th
Tour of MIT
Brief look at Harvard
Pinkberry froyo
Harbour Cruise followed by a look at the USS Constitution
Wednesday 20th
Freedom Trail
MFA - Museum of Fine Art
Thursday 21st
Fenway Park - home of the Boston Red Sox
Church of Christian Science
Harpoon Brewery - including raspberry beer and some light summer beers
Prudential Center (sort of)
New York City
Friday 22nd
Patio Party and HI New York hostel
Saturday 23rd
All day walking tour: Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Ground Zero
New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas football (soccer). Result: 2-2
Webster Hall night club
Sunday 24th
Avenue Q musical, off Broadway
Workd famous frozen margarita
Monday 25th
Central Park (west)
Grand Central Station
Chrysler Building
Jake's Dilemma pub - $1 draft beers
Tuesday 26th
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Ripley's Believe it or Not!
NY Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners. Rained off half way through (thankfully!)
Wednesday 27th
Top of the Rock observation deck at Rockefeller Center
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Natural History Museum
Delicious pasta dinner with Bridgette from Boston!
Washington, DC
Thursday 28th
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
Capitol Building
Georgetown Tour + Uni + Haagan Daas ice cream
Friday 29th
White House
Washington Momument
US Holocoast Museum
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial Park
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Saturday 30th
International Spy Museum
Miami (South Beach)
Sunday 31st
Beach
Monday 1st August
Rented bike and cycled along coast and around
Duck Tour
Night out at a ghetto bar
Tuesday 2nd
Nothing :)
Las Vegas
Wednesday 3rd
Dustin's Birthday at Hostel Cat: Limo, club (briefly), casino
Thursday 4th
Monte Carlo pool
Monte Carlo and MGM Grand Casinos with Zi No and 4 Wisconsin music teachers!
Friday 5th
Walked along strip visiting the major casinos
Chipotle for lunch
Rain Club at Palms Hotel - flamethrowers along ceiling and snow/foam, tott - lovely
Saturday 6th
Stratosphere pool
Absinthe show at Caesars Palace (incredible!)
San Francisco
Sunday 7th
Walked to and along Pier with Stephanie from Germany
Thai dinner with Guille
Monday 8th
Ferry around Alcatraz and up to Golden Gate Bridge
Chinatown
Chinese Tea Ceremony at hostel
Tuesday 9th
Cycled over Golden Gate Bridge
Bought A&F t-shirts
Pubs/bars in evening - which all stop serving alcohol at 2am because of stupid California drinking laws
Wednesday 10th
Rene & Steph hired car - drove over Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Park
Tacos - SF-style at the hotel
Los Angeles
Thursday 11th
Artwalk
Friday 12th
Venice Beach
Santa Monica Beach/Pier
Santa Monica Third Street Promenade
Rodeo Drive
Saturday 13th
Captain America with Danielle
Sunday 14th
La Brea Tar Pits (courtesy of Danielle's friend Hallie)
WWE Summerslam - seat upgraded for free, for some reason, to where the TV camera is. Commentary earpiece.
San Diego
Monday 15th
Tuesday 16th
San Diego Zoo
Pub Crawl, with Brydie
Wednesday 17th
Seaworld
Thursday 18th
Mission Beach
Pacific Beach
Pub crawl - Hard Rock Hotel w/ open bar for 2 hours
Los Angeles
Friday 19th
Amtrak to LA
Boba
Phone for Danielle...Android :P
Avalon Club
Saturday 20th
Museum of Psychiatry: An Industry of Death
Hollywood Blvd
Griffith Observatory - Hollywood Sign
LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes football. Result: 2-0
In 'n' Out Burger
Sunday 21st
Universal Studios City Walk
Museum of Jurassic Technology
Third Street Promenade
Hooters
Santa Monica Pier + Beach
Jamba Juice
Taco Bell
Monday 22nd - Wednesday 24th
Crappy journey home, though involved one night at Ramada Hotel in Minneapolis.
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