Fun Stuff > CHATTER
Non-obvious awesome things to do on holiday in northeast USA
actreal:
Thanks all for the suggestions so far.
I deliberately didn't give much guidance in my first post because I didn't want to narrow people's suggestions and perhaps miss out on something interesting. However, I agree with the various posters above that this makes it a lot harder to come up with suggestions in the first place.
Things I like doing on holiday include: learning about stuff (museums, art galleries, etc.), eating (particularly local food that I would get in Australia) and generally experiencing the difference of being wherever I am to wherever I'm from. Walking around aimlessly in a new place just taking it all in is always good.
I know stuff all about American history so things you might only think worthy of a school trip I might find enthralling.
I tend to go hard at the touristing all day and crash at night. To me, dark nightclubs where you don't know anyone are the same all over the world. I do like pubs, particularly for a lazy lunch with a local beer (although I have not found many decent American beers in previous trips). I'm well over 21, although Americans do like to "card" older-looking people more often than anywhere else I've been in the world.
@0bsessions
I think we'll be staying outside the range of Boston's wonderful public transport system (Newton?), so we had been advised to rent a car. However, my thoughts that this would be sub-optimal have been confirmed by your comments. Would you suggest trying to get a taxi closer in and then use the T to get around?
@ Ballard
Your food suggestions sound awesome. Last time I was in New York I stayed on the Upper West Side and we wandered into West Harlem to see Columbia University (Spiderman or perhaps Spiderman 2 had just come out) and had no problems so we might have to try your restaurant suggestions.
The tunnel sounds intriguing but I'm terrified hesitant about breaking any laws while in the US. With the security overkill everywhere, it's very hard to travel around the US on a foreign passport even if you are white and speak perfect English.
We have Max Brenner's in Melbourne, in fact in the same building as my office. It is awesome and very difficult to resist.
We'll be staying near Penn Station I think, but we'll get subway passes. Last time I was in NYC, my best mate and travelling companion tried to wander from our hotel (Upper West Side) to Downtown and back over the course a day. He almost made it, but was knackered by the end of it.
valley_parade:
There are two or three T stations in Newton, all on the Green Line. I know there's Newton Highlands and Newton Centre (with an "re").
jhocking:
Whether or not you rent a car, do make sure to ride the T at least once, switching between several lines. I've ridden subways in many cities and Boston's is definitely the most bizarre. Like, the Red line is a subway train, the Green line is a trolley, and the Silver line is actually a bus. surreal
0bsessions:
--- Quote from: actreal on 09 Dec 2008, 23:39 ---@0bsessions
I think we'll be staying outside the range of Boston's wonderful public transport system (Newton?), so we had been advised to rent a car. However, my thoughts that this would be sub-optimal have been confirmed by your comments. Would you suggest trying to get a taxi closer in and then use the T to get around?
--- End quote ---
As Shane mentioned, there are multiple T stops in Newton and many bus routes. No cab necessary. I'd avoid renting a car altogether. I don't know how bad winter is in Melbourne, but the roads up here are less than ideal in January anyway. Figure out the address of where you're staying and going to MBTA.com to find out the closest routes.
All the best stuff in Massachusetts is accessible by public transit. Really, it's mostly the East Coast and then the rest of the state is just hanging on and leeching off our cool. Via subway, bus or commuter rail (Which is, at most, around ten bucks a trip) you can hit up the entire city, parts of Cape Cod, Salem, Lowell and Providence. You can even get to some pretty good skiing via train.
redglasscurls:
Rent a car when you are in DC and go out to the National Arboretum! It is absolutely huge and gorgeous every time of year, a relaxing green respite on the edge of DC and its crappy neighbor Prince Georges county. The grounds are huge and a lot of fun to wander/drive, and there is an astounding bonsai collection in the asian gardens right near the parking area.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version