Traveling New England and the Carolinas...

[Harlas Ravelkione]

Hey everyone! :p

I am making a three week trip to the north east of the USA and I am asking for input regarding places to visit, places to stay, cities we should not miss, lovely beaches, places to go hiking.... you name it!

We are arriving in New York, where we (me and my girlfriend) will be staying for a couple of days. Then we're going to Boston, from there to the Niagra Falls and Toronto in Canada. From there we will either go to Chicago and then south east towards Charleston and Savannah in South Carolina or we will go straight from Toronto to South Carolina in search of a nice beach and a place to mostly relax for a couple of days before we go back to New York and our flight back to Denmark.

If you have ANY suggestions, input, ideas at all, please let me know before the upcoming weekend. We're leaving on Sunday the 17.th of June.

Thanks in advance, Harlas.

[Yllyrryon]

*Grins* I hope you two have a great time throughout your trip along the eastern seaboard. Here is what comes to mind:
 
 1. The Appalachian Trail. A well-maintained trail that runs 2,160 miles from Georgia all the way to Maine, along the scenic Appalachian Mountain range. Spend at least an afternoon hiking on it! A couple of web sites for you.
 
 Home - Appalachian Trail Conservancy
 http://www.nps.gov/appa/
 
 2. Monticello. Thomas Jeffersons Mansion and Plantation in Virginia.
 http://www.monticello.org/
 
 3. Williamsburg, Virginia. The site of an early North American colony.
 http://www.history.org/
 
 4. Virginia Beach. Havent been there, but its on my list. *winks*
 http://www.vbfun.com/visitors/default.asp
 
 5. The Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. Nineteen of some of the best museums you will ever visit.
 http://www.si.edu/
 
 6. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. If you are at all interested in the American Civil War, this is the battlefield you should visit. Here is an excerpt from the governments web site:
 
 

The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, the Union victory in the summer of 1863 that ended General Robert E. Lees second and most ambitious invasion of the North. Often referred to as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy, it was the wars bloodiest battle with 51,000 casualties. It also provided President Abraham Lincoln with the setting for his most famous address.

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 And the site itself:
 http://www.nps.gov/gett/
 
 7. The Florida Keys. Dude. Skip the Carolinas and travel down I-95 to Florida, especially the Florida Keys. Then take Highway U.S. 1, which by virtue of one of the worlds longest bridges, connects each of the tropical gems comprising this chain of islands.
 http://www.fla-keys.com/
 
 Welcome to the States, Harlas! And I hope you and your girlfriend have a thoroughly wonderful and memorable time!
 
 -Ylly

[Shadowblade225]

For Boston:

1 - Boston Harbor Sunset cruise.  The information is found here.  It's relatively inexpensive and a great thing to do with your girlfriend

I'd make sure to check a weather site such as weather.com with the zip "02111" - making sure to go on a day it's not too cloudy.  I've done it several times, and it's quite beautiful to see the sunset and the hole city light up.  Make sure you two bring a sweatshirt.  And they do sell drinks.

2 - Faneuil Hall - usually there's something interesting around there.  Plenty of bars and restaurants.

3 - The Boston Public Garden.  Small, but a nice walk when traversing the city.

4 - You've got the [http://www.neaq.org/index.flash4.htmlaquarium]Aquarium[/url]

5 - [http://www.mos.org/]Museum of Science[/url]

6 - Always alot of music events - all styles, from rock to classical, to more "cultural and less commercial types".

I've been to all, and all are good.  As for music, that varies and events are a dime-a-dozen in the summer season as is, with most cities.  A good starting point is [http://boston.citysearch.com/find/section/boston/events.html]Here[/url]

[Shadowblade225]

For Boston:

1 - Boston Harbor Sunset cruise. The information is found here. It's relatively inexpensive and a great thing to do with your girlfriend

I'd make sure to check a weather site such as weather.com with the zip "02111" - making sure to go on a day it's not too cloudy. I've done it several times, and it's quite beautiful to see the sunset and the whole city light up. Make sure you two bring a sweatshirt. And they do sell drinks.

2 - Faneuil Hall - usually there's something interesting around there. Plenty of bars and restaurants.

3 - The Boston Public Garden. Small, but a nice walk when traversing the city.

4 - You've got the Aquarium    

5 - Museum of Science

6 - Always alot of music events - all styles, from rock to classical, to more "cultural and less commercial types".

I've been to all, and all are good. As for music, that varies and events are a dime-a-dozen in the summer season as is, with most cities. A good starting point is Here

[Varka]

Harlas: check this out Download gratis bøger - onLibri.dk

[Eight-Bit]

Let me warn you that South Carolina is a lot 'Souther' than North Carolina. Lock the doors, roll up the windows, and refuse to talk to anyone with less than 11 teeth.

[LynnJuniper]

I love how everyone forgets Philadelphia exists...

I see how it is

(truthfully I wouldn't want to come here either)

[scifibarbie]

If you make it to CHicago,

There are lots of street festivals, music festival, art festivals and any other thing you can think of happening at any given time during the summer.

Plus there is the standard tourist fare, SHedd Aquarium, Sears Tower, Field Museum, Art Museum etc.

Plus public transportation is pretty decent for getting around in this town, and at the very least its colorful.

Check out these sites to see whats happening in Chi-town.

Chicago Festivals - Summer Guide to Outdoor Festivals, Gatherings, Art Fairs, Events, Concerts, Neighborhood Festivals, Chicago Festivals, Festivals Chicago, Farmers Markets, Taste of Chicago, Blues Festival, Jazz Festival, Bike Chicago, Viva! Chicag

or here

CHicago events

[lonnarin]

*DONT* hang off the guard-rails at Niagra Falls.  Otherwise you'll spoil Superman's honeymoon.

[Shadowblade225]

Oh, I'd also recommend you take a walk down Newbury Street.  You can get there easily from the Boston Common/Garden.  The shops are expensive though, as it's a really high end area.  Some great restaurants too!

[gilshem ironstone]

While in Toronto, visit Kensington Market for some great vintage clothes shops and to see how the dirty, hippie artisit section of Toronto live.  Go to a baseball game, or pick up a "NOW" Magazine, and go check out one of potentially hundreds of live music or theatre shows.  Yes the CN Tower is tall and all, but more scenic is a picnic on the Toronto Islands.  Welcome to Canada and enjoy yourself eh?

[Harlas Ravelkione]

Thank you all for your great ideas and help. I had a blast!

[Leanthar]

Glad you had a good time! Welcome back.

[miltonyorkcastle]

Indeed! What L said.

[Skywatcher]

Glad you're back