Roadtrip USA

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jasonpoxxon

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Feb 23, 2011
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Been traveling all over Asia earlier this year and now it's time to go Stateside. (I'm a Brit)

I just sorted a road trip across the the East and South of the US, from Chicago to the carolinas and up to New England for two plus months with two other friends. Can't wait.

Got very few strict plans as we're mostly going with the flow. Going to visit friends in Chicago, Missouri and North Carolina though.

Anyone done similar? Or recommend any good spots/experiences stateside?

two random QS for any Americans 1) think I'll be able to pick up the Internet through 3G or similar in the car, even when we are way outta of urban areas? If so, what company would you recommend for this? 2) Gyms in the US - can i just rock in and do a one day pass without an induction etc?

Thanks for any comments!
 


jasonpoxxon said:
two random QS for any Americans 1) think I'll be able to pick up the Internet through 3G or similar in the car, even when we are way outta of urban areas? If so, what company would you recommend for this? 2) Gyms in the US - can i just rock in and do a one day pass without an induction etc?
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1) Yes, you probably want tmobile since they use gsm and don't require a credit check.

2) Those guys are really vultures and a lot of gyms require you jump through hoops to show them you actually live in the area before trying a 'free trial', but i'm sure you could con your way into it.
 
jasonpoxxon said:
2) Gyms in the US - can i just rock in and do a one day pass without an induction etc?
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If I was on a road-trip the last thing I want to worry about is finding gyms that give daily passes. Fuck, if you want to work out that bad why don't you just buy a free weight set from Walmart and stick it in your trunk. Take a few pit stops to work out in nature.
 
I'm not sure about who they allow to use truck stop workout centers, but I do see them frequently at truck stops. They aren't glamorous, but if you don't have to show a cdl to use them it might be worth checking out.
 
Get a membership @ 24 hour fitness.. They have them anywhere you would go in the US for the most part. Not sure how you're traveling, but 24 has showers and all that too.
 
crackp0t said:
I'm not sure about who they allow to use truck stop workout centers, but I do see them frequently at truck stops. They aren't glamorous, but if you don't have to show a cdl to use them it might be worth checking out.
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most hotels and even motels do as well. They aren't amazing, but they'd work.

That said, there are a few chains that are no-contract memberships, meaning you usually pay some kind of a initiation fee ($100-$200) and then a monthly fee on top of that. That's how both LA Fitness and Planet Fitness operate at least, the only problem is finding their locations in other places you stop.
 
1) Pull over on side of road
2) Take empty gallon (we don't like metric system here) jugs for a jog
3) find a stream
4) fill gallon jugs with water
5) jog with gallons of water back to the car
6) rinse and repeat (literally)
 
Like music said most halfway decent hotels have some kind of exercise room.

You might get tips on things to do IF you had posted some interests, things you definitely want to do or see or even time of year.

Chicago, you could go to the Sears (Willis) tower, have drinks or dinner in the Hancock tower, see a baseball, football (not soccer), basketball, hockey depending on time of year. If you want to waste money go shopping on Michigan ave. Take the river architectural cruise. There are beaches, museums, I recommend the Field museum or Science and industry or maybe art institute or go to a zoo. Skip planetariums and aquarium. Hang out on Rush street. Check to see if there are any interesting trade shows at McCormick Place. Drive up the North shore and check out the riches or the south shore and check out the parts you don't want your car to brake down in. Go to Indiana Dunes and hang out on the beaches.

In St Louis go to the arch, maybe the brewery, eat at the Spaghetti Factory down by the river. Take a helicopter tour, go to Six Flags or their zoo (better than the ones in Chicago and free).

Go to a Bass Pro or Cabelas store while you are here. There are some in the Chicago, Joliet, Peoria Illinois and St Louis area.

Go to Smoky Mountain national park, be sure to actually get out of the car. Stay in the tourist packed Gatlinburg on the north side, but be sure to get a newer hotel, the fairfield inn was nice. Eat BBQ at Bennetts, take the chair lifts at night, play mini golf if your into that. Drive the tail of the dragon, but watch for cops and motorcycles. On the south side there is an old steam train you can ride. Pass through Cherokee without stopping. Go to the Biltmore estate in Ashville, our attempt at a castle, but very cool.

You can tour the Corvette plant and museum in Bowling Green Kentucky and Mammoth cave is near there.

Each state has a tourism website as well as most cities that you'd be interested in seeing.

Sometimes it can't be helped but try not to get rooms when you get to a hotel, you'll save money and headaches. Since you'll have internet, when you know where you'll be look for a hotel online. Use trip adviser etc to find out if it's a dump. I saved about 30% at Holiday Inn in San Francisco booking it with their 800 number over the front desk.

Take a Garmin GPS with US maps or buy one at wall mart when you get here. Don't rent one from the rental car place.

But if you give us some ideas what kind of stuff you want to see and do and what cities and time of year you're going to visit you'll get better infos.

Keep in mind the US is hella bigger than European countries and Chicago to North Carolina will be 700-900 miles, on a direct route.
 
Fellow Brit, Chicago is cool, go to the top of whatever it's called tower. It gets to easily -10 in winter, you don't say when you're going?
 
if in the future if you get a chance, check out the west coast. Not sure if your traveling to see national parks and sightseeing, not too much out on the east coast. I personally love the west coast and so much to see out there, hoping to move out there one day.
 
Your best bet for a nation wide gym is the YMCA. For 35 bucks a month you can grab a single membership. Most Y's will let you come up to 10 times a month if you have a membership in a different city for free. After your 10 they will usually charge you like $10 a day, but you can always just go to a different Y and start fresh. Most major cities will have like 5 to 10, and even if your not in a major city you shouldn't have to much trouble finding one
 
I did a similar tour this past summer. One of my favorite stops was Asheville, NC, which is easily one of the coolest towns in the country. Lots of craft beer, good food, art, and strangeness to discover.

The Smokey Mountains in Tennessee are a must see, and if you're looking to do some touristy shit, then you can stop in Gatlinburg, which is pretty much in the heart of the mountains.

Mammoth Cave was mentioned above, and are definitely worth checking out. However, I was unable to get any data signal (Verizon) through most of that part of Kentucky, so keep that in mind.

West Virginia is also a beautiful state, despite all the shitty, backwoods stuff you hear about it. If you plan to do any camping while you're here, then that's the place to do it.
 
pfgannon said:
I did a similar tour this past summer. One of my favorite stops was Asheville, NC, which is easily one of the coolest towns in the country. Lots of craft beer, good food, art, and strangeness to discover.

The Smokey Mountains in Tennessee are a must see, and if you're looking to do some touristy shit, then you can stop in Gatlinburg, which is pretty much in the heart of the mountains.

Mammoth Cave was mentioned above, and are definitely worth checking out. However, I was unable to get any data signal (Verizon) through most of that part of Kentucky, so keep that in mind.

West Virginia is also a beautiful state, despite all the shitty, backwoods stuff you hear about it. If you plan to do any camping while you're here, then that's the place to do it.
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If you go to West Virginia be sure to go to Ace Adventure and go rafting on the Vew or preferably the Gaulley river. They also have mountain biking, rock climbing, paintball, zip lines, horse riding, etc.
 
dmnEPC said:
Your best bet for a nation wide gym is the YMCA. For 35 bucks a month you can grab a single membership. Most Y's will let you come up to 10 times a month if you have a membership in a different city for free. After your 10 they will usually charge you like $10 a day, but you can always just go to a different Y and start fresh. Most major cities will have like 5 to 10, and even if your not in a major city you shouldn't have to much trouble finding one
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Didn't even think about that.. Definitely will be cheaper than 24hr.
 
pfgannon said:
Mammoth Cave was mentioned above, and are definitely worth checking out. However, I was unable to get any data signal (Verizon) through most of that part of Kentucky, so keep that in mind.

West Virginia is also a beautiful state, despite all the shitty, backwoods stuff you hear about it. If you plan to do any camping while you're here, then that's the place to do it.
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I haven't been to Mammoth but Luray Caverns in Virginia is really good.

WV has a few places to stop at, but not a lot. Hawk's Nest would be one place to go, and also the New River Gorge bridge (find the one-lane road that goes down below it)
 
to the OP - the west coast and desert southwest are by far the best places to go sightsee in america. If you haven't been there yet and are able to swing it, I highly recommend going there. The midwest and east coast are boring as fuck.
 
You should stop by the national welfare and foodstamp office, it's one of our greatest national treasures.

Niggers, white trash, and other undesirables for as far as the eye can see. You usually won't see any Mexicans or Asians though as they are too busy doing jobs murikans don't want to do. Sometimes, however, you can see them working on the National Welfare & Foodstamp Building (painting, cleaning, etc.). But if you want to really get a good view of Mexican and Asian Americans in their natural habitat you will want to visit hair salons and construction sites.

Good luck eurofag, stay well armed for your stay in murica and don't go out after dark especially near minority neighborhoods and trailer parks.
 
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Not to mention the chick factor - best chicks are in the south - Socal, TX, Florida. You beez hittin all the ugly bitches! Hot chicks dig foreign accents, time to take advantage...
 
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