My better half and me will be visiting in early April for a couple of weeks or so (she's running the Boston Marathon on the 17th). We're about to book flights (leaving it a bit late I know, but lessening the risk of training injury causing a cancellation!). Given it's early in the year and spring is just coming in, any suggestions for places to visit? We're keen on the outdoors but not looking for any major treks, or a Kerouac road trip (I do enough driving for work). We can stretch to taking an internal flight and getting to the mid west/south somewhere for a few days. Probably arriving and leaving via Boston or NY.
forgive me if i've missed from where it is you come.
there are myriad suggestions that spring to mind, but i come to a bit of an impasse when you speak of an internal flight. as my initial thought is the southwest (grand canyon or moab or arches or santa fe or...) is not to be missed if given the opportunity, but that internal flight is on the order of 4+ hours.
(and i've made more than one trip to a destination wherein i had a couple days of nothing to do after a late developing running injury.)
flyin solo, post: 415575, member: 8089 wrote: but that internal flight is on the order of 4+ hours.
with more time for airport delays.... I also am not able to bring to memory just where you are located, but I do send heartfelt congratulations to the Mrs for running a marathon. I myself would not run if chased, so ... As for advice on seeing something in the USof A. Well, I am of course partial to the bits of it that exist in Texas, anything from the Big Bend region, to the Palo Dura Canyon, to the Mexican influence of San Antonio. Yet, with the exception of San Antonio, there are no airports near those. And, I keep you from America's other great wonders. Mt. Rushmore. The beauty of the Grand Canyon. The Smokey Mountains. The Florida Keys, Just around Boston there are no doubt many attractions to do with the arrival of European settlers some time back (The Texas heat has warped my sense of humor) New York City has some charm, to some, to many people for me. Upperstate New York is beautiful, as is Maine, or the entire North East Coast, just stay away from Derry, Maine (Stephen King joke). I do hope some fine folks from that general neighborhood chime in soon to give you some advice on some of the hidden gems that part of the country has to offer.
Artie Kay, post: 415567, member: 3428 wrote: My better half and me will be visiting in early April for a couple of weeks or so (she's running the Boston Marathon on the 17th). We're about to book flights (leaving it a bit late I know, but lessening the risk of training injury causing a cancellation!). Given it's early in the year and spring is just coming in, any suggestions for places to visit? We're keen on the outdoors but not looking for any major treks, or a Kerouac road trip (I do enough driving for work). We can stretch to taking an internal flight and getting to the mid west/south somewhere for a few days. Probably arriving and leaving via Boston or NY.
If you have time, the natural wonders in Arizona and Utah are amazing.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=2146
Crater of Diamonds State Park, Pike County, Arkansas. They let you keep all the diamonds you find! Nate lives a bit down the road...maybe stop by and go fishing.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=5251
Visit Little Rock, Arkansas...visit the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. I'll even show you rubble of the rock outcropping called ÛÏle Petit RocherÛ.
DDSM
.. I'll even show you rubble of the rock outcropping called ÛÏle Petit RocherÛ.
DDSM
and if little rocks aren't your thing you could come to El Paseo del Norte and take a gander at some big rocks . http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks
Contrary to popular belief, we do have an international airport here, you just may have to stop in Denver or Dallas to get to it.
For me, there are so many places to see but I could pick one, I'd say Yellow Stone.
Baaston area has Plymouth, Salem and Cape Cod with some quaint shops in Provincetown. The Hudson Valley is about a 4hr drive from Boston (to avoid NYC if you want), there's great scenery and the homes of FDR, Frederick Vanderbilt and a nice hike over the Hudson on the converted RR Bridge at Poughkeepsie. Not quite in the Hudson Valley, but West of Albany is the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Artie Kay, post: 415567, member: 3428 wrote: My better half and me will be visiting in early April for a couple of weeks or so (she's running the Boston Marathon on the 17th). We're about to book flights (leaving it a bit late I know, but lessening the risk of training injury causing a cancellation!). Given it's early in the year and spring is just coming in, any suggestions for places to visit? We're keen on the outdoors but not looking for any major treks, or a Kerouac road trip (I do enough driving for work). We can stretch to taking an internal flight and getting to the mid west/south somewhere for a few days. Probably arriving and leaving via Boston or NY.
On our annual baseball trips we've seen quite a few cities.
Our theory is that any city that can support an Major League team will also have plenty of history,
culture, activities, metro transit systems and good food.
(Of course, not to exclude those that don't have a team, see the last three, and there are of course others.)
We usually seek out bus tours and walking tours on line before we go.
Depending on your itinerary, and where you are flying in from, I can recommend the following:
New York (always first, from my POV), lots to see and do, museums, theater, historical sights, etc.;
Boston, a lot like New York but smaller and very walk-able;
Chicago, the so-called "Second City", big, flat, sprawling, with lots to see and do;
Washington DC, can't be beat with all those monuments, the National Mall and the Smithsonian;
Baltimore, 1 hour from DC, Inner Harbor is a nice way to spend an afternoon;
Philadelphia, also walk-able, with tons of history and museums;
Cleveland, believe it or not, was pretty nice, and its got the R'n'R Hall of Fame;
St Louis, with the Mississippi River and the Gateway Arch,plus some great BBQ restaurants;
Portland Maine, 90 minutes from Boston, great regional seafood;
New Orleans (non-baseball, BTW), great food, great town, interesting history;
Memphis, same as New Orleans.
Have a great trip.
Angelo
I am of course partial to New Orleans, as well as the beautiful bayou country to the southwest where I reside and work. But it's hard to argue against the awe inspiring natural beauty of the Grand Canyon; Sedona, AZ, which is a fantastic place to visit and is about 2 hours or so from the Canyon; Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Yosemite national parks. There's a lot of other things in reasonable proximity to all of the above, like the Meteor Crater, Lake Meade and the Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe, etc.
Bottom line is that there are literally thousands of incredible destinations and sights in the US, so you need to choose what best interests you and suits your life style to narrow it down.
Thanks to all for the generous advice. Lee D has it in one - so many places, so we'll do some homework and plan for doing a few places properly rather than trying to do as much as possible! We'll be flying from the UK so quite a few options for arrival then working towards Boston by the 17th.
Artie Kay, post: 415567, member: 3428 wrote: My better half and me will be visiting in early April for a couple of weeks or so (she's running the Boston Marathon on the 17th). We're about to book flights (leaving it a bit late I know, but lessening the risk of training injury causing a cancellation!). Given it's early in the year and spring is just coming in, any suggestions for places to visit? We're keen on the outdoors but not looking for any major treks, or a Kerouac road trip (I do enough driving for work). We can stretch to taking an internal flight and getting to the mid west/south somewhere for a few days. Probably arriving and leaving via Boston or NY.
Why sit in airports for hours when you can drive a short 2-1/2 hours from Boston to beautiful Vermont, and stay in my wife's gorgeous solid timber home on 24 acres. See here:
https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p294008 .
ps: If you bring your GPS equipment along to help me with my control network there, I might even be able to talk her into a discount. 😉
Its a long ways from Boston over here, but like Bruce and Lee, I find the Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona truly awe-inspiring. I'm about halfway between them and can give you additional info if you like.
Please be prepared to learn that no one actually speaks anything close to what you refer to as your mother tongue. We're a mess!
There is so much to see and do within a couple hundred miles of Boston that I wouldn't wander any further than that for a few days. For kicks you could take a side trip to Nova Scotia just to check out the differences.
Artie Kay, post: 415567, member: 3428 wrote: Probably arriving and leaving via Boston
Well, if a Scotsman wanted to learn about how independence minded people split off from Britain, there isn't a better place to do it than Boston. Lots of history.
If you are into golfing, I'm told that the Carolinas are a great, low cost place to do it. The weather in April should be outstanding.
Depends on what interests you the most. Do you want to stay in the Northeast? Do you want a beach, mountains, the west,or something else? Whats on your bucket list?
I would recommend a day trip to Provincetown. The fast ferry is only a 45 minute ride and it's a great trip. If you're coming to the Cape, let me know, maybe we can catch a pop somewhere. I have several friends running in the marathon, too!
I don't know your interests or what your wife's interest besides the marathon ( a tip
of my hat to her).
Spring is a great time to visit.
You should know that Amtrak can get you up and down the NE corridor from Boston to NYC to Philadelphia to D.C. with ease.
Boston Museum of Science is a nice stop. Bradford Washburn, famed American Explorer, mountaineer, Cartographer was the executive director. Foggy's locale on Cape Cod is a nice day trip.
NYC for everything mentioned by SC plus the 9/11 Memorial. NYC could be $$$ depending on your choices. NYC people are very interesting.
Philadelphia for history.
Personally I think the Philly Cheesesteak is the most overrated sandwich in USA.
You can walk (or taxi orUber) Philly in a day. The Reading Terminal Market is s good place to eat or buy provisions. Old RR terminal made into vendor stalls.
Washington DC . You probably miss the Cherry trees blossom but the Smithsonian and other attractions are free like the National Zoo, Museum of Native Americans etc courtesy of the USA citizens. James Fleming would steer you here.
New Orleans in April has the French Quarter Festival which is free. At the end of April is the Jazz Fest that attracts tourists from all over the planet. New Orleans has a unique culture and people.
African-American, Creole, French, German,Italian and American cultural gumbo.
As others have said the Southwest is beautiful landscapes and has fascinating cultural places.
Taos and Chaco Canyon are still on my bucket list.
Try to say in touch with the forum when you arrive and have an itenerary worked out.
Happy trails
Please don't visit Chicago without your bullet proof vest and combat helmet - I hear it's literally a war zone - worse than any conflict area in the middle east I'm told. 😉
imaudigger, post: 415816, member: 7286 wrote: Please don't visit Chicago without your bullet proof vest and combat helmet - I hear it's literally a war zone - worse than any conflict area in the middle east I'm told. 😉
I've heard that is absolutely true if one visits Soldiers Field as an opposing fan at an NFL game. Da Bears fans are very hostile to visitors.
That being said...our son's class is going on a 4 day trip to Chicago in early May. Besides the museum visits, they are on an architecture tour, attending a Cubs-Yankees game at Wrigley and evening seeing Blue Man Group. No mention of any required body armor yet. 😉
