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March/April visit to the US

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Impenitent
Post subject: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sat 16 Jan , 2010 12:34 pm
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I'll be in the US in late March and April and would love to meet with any virtual friends who are up for it. An update of my itinerary:

CONFIRMED

21 Mar Arrive LA

23 Mar Arrive SFO at 6:10 pm

28 Mar Depart SFO at 00:40 (just after midnight)

28 Mar Arrive Boston 9:10 am

31 Mar Depart Boston (bus)

31 Mar Arrive NYC

14 Apr Depart NYC

14 Apr Arrive Philly

16 Apr Depart Philly


To be confirmed:

Washington DC

Charlotte

Miami

Miami is definite - I'll be there from approx 20 April until my departure on 1 May (with side trips to the Keys)

Proposed moot/meet dates (confirmed mooters/meeters in bold)

San Francisco 24 - 27 March
Nerdanel
Frelga
Teremia
Elfshadow
Voronwe
Laureanna
Imp

Boston 28 - 30 March
Rebecca & Holby
Jewelsong
Imp

New York City 9-10-11 April
vison
Nin
Jewelsong
Mahima

Tinwe
MaidenofTheShieldarm
Lidless & Estel
Rebecca & Holby
Imp

I'll be staying on the Upper West Side, in case you're wondering about locations.

Jewelsong's accommodation suggestions in Manhattan in this post:
http://www.thehalloffire.net/forum/view ... 607#180607

Let me know if you're coming - I've gleaned these names from posts, but if I've got it wrong let me know.

================

I will be visiting a friend in New York city, and another friend in Miami. I'll be coming in via either San Francisco or Los Angeles. I'll be taking a side trip to Washington DC with my New York friend, and my Florida friend is also planning to take me on a road trip.

The whole trip will be no longer than 6 weeks, and I'm on a shoe string once I hit US soil.

So, I need advice.

I have to choose: San Francisco or Los Angeles?

If I have the chance I'd like to stop off in additional places between NYC and Miami.

Meeting people would be fun but agai, I'm on a shoestring. Any suggestions?

Last edited by Impenitent on Mon 01 Feb , 2010 1:28 am, edited 3 times in total.

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sat 16 Jan , 2010 3:44 pm
The Grey Amaretto as Supermega-awesome Proud Heretic Girl
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Have fun! That's my suggestion. :)

I have no good advice, but I've always thought San Francisco looked beautiful and interesting while not so much for LA. I think that would be a personal choice, though. I think there are more Ringers in the Bay Area, too, so you might want to opt for that--greater chances for a m00t.

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Ara-anna
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sat 16 Jan , 2010 3:51 pm
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San Francisco over LA any day. Plus you could meet up with a bunch of Ringers in SF.

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Impenitent
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sun 17 Jan , 2010 4:39 am
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San Francisco seems to be the consensus of all the advice-givers I've asked. The travel agency is offering the same very attractive fare to those two cities, so I guess SF is it.

Thank you for chipping in. :)

I still can't believe it's real! But it is. Unexpected saviour of my mental health.

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Estel
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sun 17 Jan , 2010 11:27 am
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New York, eh? When and for how long in that city precioussss?


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Impenitent
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sun 17 Jan , 2010 11:47 am
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Dates aren't set yet, Estel, but New York will be near the end of the trip, mid to late April.

What I've got so far is SF for about 5 days, then fly to Fort Lauderdale where I'll stay with a friend for maybe 10 days, then travel (by bus?) to Charlotte, onto New York. I'll be staying in a friend's apartment (on her floor, under her desk, apparently) as my base and take trips to Boston, Washington and (I have yearning to visit) Trenton NJ (don't ask).

So NY will probably be the last couple of weeks of April.

I'll advise as I firm things up and make plane bookings.

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Jude
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Sun 17 Jan , 2010 3:56 pm
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What, no Ottawa? :Q :Q :Q

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Impenitent
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Mon 18 Jan , 2010 11:48 pm
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Hi Jude. :)

I would have enjoyed a 12 month ramble through the whole of the north American subcontinent (come to think, the southern subcontinent would be good, too) but life's just not like that. Not enough time, and certainly not enough money.

I'm having kittens at the thought of leaving my family for so long as it is - it's a bad time (FIL is very, very unwell, dying, actually; MIL not coping; husband grieving; daughter just coming out of depression and starting a new school; son commencing high school) but my husband is encouraging me to go, to clear my head and recharge my batteries. He's pretty wonderful.

Tentative dates and schedule:

Depart Melb 22/3
Arrive LA 24/3
Depart LA 25/3 (or maybe on 26/3 - if I'm in the city, I'd like a chance to walk the pavements)
Arrive SF 25/3
Depart SF 28/3
Arrive Miami 28/3
Depart Miami 12/4
Arrive Charlotte, NC 12/4 (tentative - this is looking harder all the time in terms of cost)
Depart NC 13/4 (tentative)
Arrive NYC 13/4 (using NYC as base, trips to Boston, Washington DC, Pennsylvania U, Trenton NJ)
Depart NYC 1/5 - to LAX/MLB

Pretty well fixed on Melbourne departure and return dates; the rest remains flexible. May spend more time with my Miami friend and a little less in NYC (although - I really want to spend time in NYC!)

I'm hoping to meet with 'virtual' friends where the opportunity arises. :) There are a number of people meeting in NY on the weekend of 24-25 April. Please let me know if there are any other opportunities offering.

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elfshadow
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Tue 19 Jan , 2010 1:35 am
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Well, unfortunately I will be in DC in mid-May, so it seems I will miss you by just a few weeks. :( Let me know if you need any advice about getting around there or what to see and I'd be happy to offer my opinion.


I agree with SF over LA. SF is a much better tourist destination, I think.


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laureanna
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Tue 19 Jan , 2010 5:55 am
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Impy!

I am soooo excited! :love:

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

COME TO SAN FRANCISCO!!! PLEEEEEEZZZE!

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Fri 22 Jan , 2010 5:13 am
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CG may have some suggestions on where to stay (or not to stay) in LA. ?? I don't know where he lives exactly, but he might be able to help.

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Impenitent
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Fri 22 Jan , 2010 9:44 am
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Lali, on the map Ohio looks like it's about an inch away from Miami and NYC. Wish it was as easy on the ground.

I'm checking out LA hotels now.

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Fri 22 Jan , 2010 2:10 pm
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:D Yeah, I wish it was that easy. I think NYC is about 9 hours or so from here. Miami is a two-day drive. (I'm guessing. Without taking the time to look it up, I'd guess it's close to 24 hours from here.)

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Cenedril_Gildinaur
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Wed 27 Jan , 2010 8:39 pm
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Since you're going to San Fran, I can't recommend anything. Unfortunately if you were going to LA I couldn't recommend anything either, other than all the usual stuff.

I'd offer you our spare room, but you'd rather see LA instead of miles of desert. Well, if you decide LA you can decide if we're too far.

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Last edited by Cenedril_Gildinaur on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total


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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Thu 28 Jan , 2010 2:23 am
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No, she is going to LA. (I think she has a better update on HoF; I don't know if you're still over there or not.) She's flying into LA and staying for a few days before going to SF. I think she was concerned about where to get a hotel in LA, as in, she doesn't want to end up in a bad area.

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Impenitent
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Thu 28 Jan , 2010 3:04 am
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Yes (thanks for covering my tushie, Lali), I am staying in LA for two days/nights only - I figured if I'm in the city I should at least look around.

I still need to work out my accommodation; found lots of hotels but don't have a clue how to judge locations. I'm hoping to find a safe area that is within walking distance of cafes/restaurants so I can go out for dinner rather than resorting to room service. As for getting around during the day, I'm prepared to rely on cabs. It's only two days, after all.

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elfshadow
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Thu 28 Jan , 2010 3:56 am
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Stay away from South Central (also called South LA), Compton, Inglewood, East LA. You are not likely to find yourself any of these areas unless you try, but be careful about where you book a hotel. Your best bet may be in one of the wealthier suburbs such as Santa Monica. But you'd likely be just fine downtown. Knowing very little about LA, I can't give too many suggestions!


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Lord_Morningstar
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Thu 28 Jan , 2010 4:20 am
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elfshadow wrote:
Stay away from South Central (also called South LA), Compton, Inglewood, East LA.
Yeah, I can see that staying away from places appearing in the names of Gangsta Rap Albums could be prudent...

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Impenitent
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Thu 28 Jan , 2010 4:43 am
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Does this mean I should be listening to Gangsta Rap albums with pen and notepad in hand? :blackeye:

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sauronsfinger
Post subject: Re: March/April visit to the US
Posted: Thu 28 Jan , 2010 5:25 pm
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Impenitent

I would go with San Francisco over LA anytime. LA is a souless place that is nothing compared to San Francisco. I was just there for five days in September. Stayed at the Donatello Hotel - which has a website.

http://www.shellhospitality.com/hotels/ ... natello_09
it was a very nice place and priced fairly for its excellent location and facilities. I would give it a big thumbs up. I spent most of one day going through scores of hotels on the net and this was among the best deal for what you got. And they had a consierge who had a real knack of picking out great restaurants to go to that suited us to a tee.

A must is the evening tour of Alcatraz. That is something to see especially after dark.
http://www.alcatraxcruises.com
this was one of the highlights of my trip but you have to book in advance or settle for the lesser daytime tour.

Another great place is the John Muir forest which is just 15 minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge and it is something you should not miss with all the giant redwoods and its like going back to Fangorn Forest. On the way back to the city stop in Sausalito which is a gorgeous waterfront community that is right off a postcard.

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