Help me plan my pilgrimage
 

Well, it's not spiritual, although it could end up being exactly that.

In July I'm leaving my home, in my car, for a month long trip, and I'm hoping to go cross country through the states and come back north from the west side, all the way back to NB, Canada.

The thing is, I want to know what I have to experience.

I know there are two stops I'm making. One to NY where I hope to see everything I've always passed by while there. I will be in WV at one point so anything near there is doable. Also hoping I make it to Wis. so I can see Lambeau field and maybe take in a mini camp. Boston has Harvard which I want to see. I want to see lots of things.

What needs to be seen? What do I need to experience? Food, art, music, people, places, things, bars, shops, etc. I want a list of things I need to see. So I'm leaving from here: http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

I don't care where I go but lead me there. Enjoy! And please, give me a reason why I should see it. When I come back, I'll find the post and post some pictures. I'm so excited guys!

PMF21

Why New Brunswick? Do you have family there?

My recommendations depend entirely on how much of Canada you want to see. Are you planning on hitting any other provinces, or just NB? At the very least, you can cross the bridge over to PEI and see the smallest province in Canada (population ~130 000).

If you cross the border at Niagara Falls you can see the falls, along with a bit of Ontario. You can hop the 401 and/or follow the Trans-Canada Highway out to your final destination; this will also take you through Toronto, where you can see some of the landmarks like the CN Tower and (if you're so inclined) the Royal Ontario Museum. On the plus side, once we know when you're coming through the Toronto crowd could probably meet up with you. Downside, you'll probably have to skip out on New England, or else double back at some point and extend your trip.

Maybe I should explain. Right now I live in Fredericton. My plan is to make a loop, starting by going south into New England, and across the United States by any route chosen by what I want to see and experience. Once I hit the west coast I plan to drive back north to my motherland canada, into BC (which I've never even really seen), and head back east. I will be in Ont. and Que. at one point but plan to go to the US first as I've seen so very little of it. But Martian, I would like pointers on what to see in Ontario because you're from there, yes?

And also, to make this clear, I'm not only looking for the obvious answers (see the Statue of Liberty, go to the french quarter, etc) but also the amazing inner-american and inner-canadian things that one would miss when driving to the obvious. But, I do want the obvious as well.

Sorry, I should of been more clear. I am starting in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and crossing the border in Woodstock into Maine. Where do I go?

Or along the way, what do I have to see?

Are you over 21? That has an impact on some of my recommendations.

let me know how much time you want to spend running about and where you plan on staying in NYC and I'll make a custom made tour for you.

i'll try to tailor it to tourist, locals, and off the beaten path for you.

Aha, my apologies. Somehow I got it into my head that you were American. Now that I have a better understanding I can give you some more options.

I am indeed from Ontario, although it's a big province and I haven't even come close to seeing all of it. If you're coming out of the praries you'll probably do well to come into the province via Highway 17. That'll take you through Thunder Bay (I've always wanted to see Ouimet Canyon myself) and Sault St Marie; you can follow it right across the province, or take Highway 69 (heh) in Sudbury, where you can stop to see the giant nickel if you want. Highway 69 will put you on 400, which takes you right into Toronto. I could list off a few of the sights there, but you'd probably do better to wait for one of the natives; I grew up near Toronto, but haven't spent enough time actually in the city to name any real landmarks besides the obvious ones. At any rate, you can follow the 401 from there right out through Kingston and right into Quebec, or you can take a detour to see Ottawa if that's your thing.

I've been here since 2003 Snowy, I'd hope I'm over twenty one. Otherwise I'd be a rule breaker ;).

Cynth: As many days as possible. Four at the most. I want to see a broadway show (either Spring Awakening, Jersey Boys, or Avenue Q). I wouldn't mind seeing some off broadway stuff either (straight plays). Sights are also good. I would also love to see either Conan or The Daily show. How do those work? Do I line up for hours, or can I get them in advance? I'm not planning on doing much shopping, if anything, but seeing the shops are interesting.

daily show is by mail. conan i have no idea.

you can standby daily show, but if they don't need you it's a wasted afternoon.

only ones i can get any seating for now is people's court

as far as broadway shows, i'm not sure if spring awakening or jersey boys is on TKTS. TKTS is a booth in the middle of Times Square that has 30-50% off same night performances. If you know specifically when in July you'd be here, there are other offers to take advantage as well.

is a cheaper way of getting seats and knowing what day you'll be seeing a show.
http://www.theatermania.com/discounts/index.cfm/city/1

I confess to having missed that! Haha.

If you're planning on driving up the West Coast of the United States, I have plenty of suggestions. Most of them involve beer; I hope that appeals to you.

The Lost Coast of California is a must-see; Eureka has lots of historical Victorian houses that are really architecturally interesting. Ferndale, CA (just south of Eureka) has a cemetery on a steep hillside where the cement surrounding many of the graves has been exposed, and it looks as if the graves are stacked one on top of another up the hillside. Just north of Eureka the Redwoods start, and they continue up on into Oregon. The coastline of California here is very dramatic and lush--absolutely beautiful. If you make it to Eureka, check out: http://www.lostcoast.com/restaurant.html Haven't been to the brewery yet, but I am a great fan of Lost Coast's beers.

Going on up into Oregon, I also recommend a visit to the Rogue River Valley, especially Ashland. Ashland is the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Depending on when you're there, you might be interested in catching a show. Otherwise, the town itself is worth seeing, or at least eating in--there are a lot of good restaurants in Ashland. Stone Brewing is my favorite place to eat and drink there. If you go, don't miss Lithia Park, and make sure to try some of the lithia water.

Outside of Ashland is a small town called Jacksonville that is a National Historic Landmark. Due to this designation, the buildings are well-preserved. This is also a good town to grab a bite in--lots of good places to eat. The entire Rogue River Valley is home to many wineries and if you like cheese http://www.roguecreamery.com is in Medford. A friend of mine in the area recommends the Powderhorn Cafe in downtown Grants Pass for a killer piece of pie.

From the Rogue River Valley, you're within spitting distance of Crater Lake National Park. From there, if you wish, it's really easy to get to Central Oregon. My favorite place in Central Oregon is the Cascade Lakes area; it's full of wonderful hikes with great views. Bend, Oregon is where most of the action is in Central Oregon; I vacation there as often as I can. There are tons of things to do in Bend, from catching concerts at the amphitheater to floating the Deschutes River to riding bikes in Drake Park. Perilla's Grill on the west side serves awesome wraps; Jake's on the east side has the best (and biggest) breakfast in town. There are three big breweries in Bend, and a couple smaller ones. The big ones are Cascade Lakes Brewing, Descutes Brewing, and Bend Brewing. Another great spot in Bend is the Bend Distillery's martini bar. If you like gin, their Desert Juniper gin is a must try; they distill other craft liquors as well.

From Bend it's a three-hour drive back over the mountains into the Willamette Valley--which is where I live. It's a beautiful area. Since they produce a lot of grass seed here, most of the Valley is open green fields spotted with oak groves. There are also a lot of wineries here. The Valley's appeal is subtle; there aren't many touristy things to do, but it is a great place to enjoy the good life.

Portland is a great city to visit. I'd recommend spending a day here just poking around. It's an easy town to get around in; the public transportation is fantastic and well-coordinated. Powell's Books is not to be missed in Portland. Saturday Market (a misnomer, the market runs most days these days) in Old Town is also a great people-watching experience. If it's the right season, a visit to the West Hills and the International Rose Test Garden may be in order. Pittock Mansion, which is just up the hill, offers a great panorama of Portland and Mts. Hood, Adams, and St. Helens. Portland is full of great brewpubs and breweries--you can't miss them. Portland coffee is also a must-try, if you like coffee. I recommend Stumptown--they're one of the institutions that keeps Portland weird.

Speaking of Mt. St. Helens, a short drive off of I-5 will put you fairly close to the volcano, if you wish to see it once you get into Washington. Another popular site that is a short drive from Portland is Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. It's really beautiful and the perfect spot to get an ice cream cone on a hot day.

Well, that's my state, from California to Washington :)

Exactly what I wanted. Thanks Snowy.

No problem. If you need more information about the Western United States, just ask. I've been all over everywhere in between San Francisco and Vancouver, B.C. on car trips, and even some parts of the Southwest.

If your in Wis anyways, the EAA museum is cool if you are into aircraft.

Crater Lake, Oregon is a place I intend to see again in my lifetime.
http://www.nps.gov/crla/

Closer to home, some cool spots in Alberta.

Banff, Lake Louise (of course)
BadLands - Drumheller, Royal Tyrrell Museum (dinos)

When you get to Toronto, there's lots to do of course, but I recommend a more submersive experience thancrossing off a checklist of landmarks. Have a wander up and down Yonge St. and then maybe along Queen St. West and into Chinatown on Spadina for some great food.

You're a musician right? Pick up a copy of Now or Eye magazine (they have websites too) and check out the week's concert and event listings. There's bound to be a great band to catch. Or see an arty film at one of the Rep cinemas.

And keeping in the spirit of your trip, take the ferry over to the Island and go get naked and swimming at Hanlon's Point. It'll be a great way to work out the kinks after sitting in a car or pounding the pavement all day.

If you want more specific advice about certain landmarks or attractions in the area, let me know and I can fill in the gaps.

I've driven as far east as Cape Breton and as far West as Prince Rupert and as far North as Whitehorse, so I know you can have an amazing trip.

If you're going to do Eureka Ca. and the Rogue River Valley, as Snowy suggested, you MUST come into the valley via US Hwy. 199 through the California Redwoods...it's an absolutely beautiful drive through a forest of the worlds largest trees. That takes you into Grants Pass, where if you look me up, I will buy you a beer :D Snowy is also spot on about the Powderhorn Cafe for Pie.

I would hike Hermit Trail or Havasupai trail at the Grand Canyon. Spend a day or two hiking and relaxing at the bottom. You won't see too many other hikers on the Hermit trail once you get past the first 2 miles. If you have a tent, you can stay in the national forest outside of the park for free if you know how to rough it.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...RGTBH8UAO1.DTL

Part of me says that a good route would be from Chicago to LA on old route 66/I-40. You could hang out in Chicago(Others may be better suited to tell you want to do, I can only say to go see The Second City show)
You would head down through the midwest and end up in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. Make sure you drive during the day when you are in Arizona/Nevada, it is really neat.

In Canada, I would recommend staying a night or two at tthe Banff YHA youth hostel (preferably Friday night, you will meet a lot of people there on that night). It is the best one I have been to in the world (well at least in Canada, New Zealand and Australia). Also drive during the day through the Banff national park (on 1) because once you hit 30 miles outside of Calgary, it is flat and plain for a long time.

How many months are you going to do this in? Take your time and don't rush things. And don't spend all your time getting someplace if the trip isn't fun.

If you haven't seen the movie Into The Wild, I would recommend watching it.

Hey, actually I'll be in TO in two weeks, from the 18th to the 22nd so I can go for an interview at George Brown; that's nerve wracking. So any bars you recommend, or things I should see? Point me. What about a musical or play? I'm seeing a bunch of friends do a show at Sheridan in Oakville on the 19th I believe. I'm so pumped.

Let me know Fres, thanks.

Actually, the redwoods extend south to around Monterey; there are several good places to see them, including Muir woods in Marin county and Henry Cowell State Park in the Santa Cruz mountains.

I'd highly recommend visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and walking around the local shops afterward. Yosemite is another place you should see if you can. You might want to buy a national parks pass if you plan on seeing more than one park while you're here, as it will save you a lot of money.

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place in the summer or winter, with water/snow sports, gambling, wilderness areas, off-roading, and a few historic houses to tour. There are also plenty of good restaurants around the lake.

San Francisco is a must-see, but there are so many attractions there I wouldn't know where to begin. If you go through San Jose, there's the Tech Museum of Innovation, if you're into the history and science behind Silicon Valley, and the Winchester Mystery House, if you're into crazy old houses built by crazy old people.

I was speaking more of the national park, to be clear.

Hit me up in when you figure out if/when you'll make it to Green Bay, WI - I live here. I'll take you out for lunch at Curley's - inside Lambeau.

Drive safely :D

Well...Cambridge mostly...

Harvard Square (Cambridge) can be an interesting place to people watch.

Boston is a big college town which means lots of clubs with national and local acts. The Boston Phoenix is a good source for who's playing where.

If you like historical stuff, there is The Freedom Trail. Its a walking tour through the city. Goes by all the major historical sites. It can take a good chunk of the day though. The Duck Tours are a quicker way around but its pretty "touristy".
If its a clear day, going to the top of either the Prudential or Hancock buildings will offer a great view of the city and suburbs.

You can go on a whale watch. There are a few places in Boston and Plymouth where you can catch a boat. There is a big feeding ground for them just off the tip of the Cape. I've gone out of Plymouth several times and have always seen at least a few whales.

I wouldn't advise going to the Cape during the summer. Especially on the weekend. Heavy traffic and everything is packed. Beautiful shorelines but much better off season.

I've lived on the east coast my whole life; marine life doesn't appeal to me, so no worries when it comes to the cape.

No Soup - I will do just that. As soon as I have a solid itinerary I'll give you the dates and where I'm staying. We can get together and grab something to eat.

I totally forgot to mention the McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend. McMenamins is an Oregon institution; they are a homegrown chain of brewpubs around the state, and the Old St. Francis School is a parochial school just south of downtown Bend that they converted into a hotel. The property also includes a brewery, a bar with pool tables, an Irish pub, and a restaurant/brewpub area, in addition to a movie theater (where you can have beer and food) and a Turkish bath (a giant hot tub). The Turkish bath is a must after a long day in Bend. Given that my typical day in Bend consists of many outdoor activities--hiking, biking, floating the river, playing ultimate frisbee--you can see why such a soak would be called for. The general public can use the bath for a small fee, and it's totally worth it.

If you're there during the summer months, a beer on the patio outside of the Irish pub, beside one of the many outdoor firepits, is a must.

PMF21 - if you're going to see NoSoup in Green Bay, you might as well stop by Chicago. There are a bunch of us here if you want to try a meetup. And Chicago's a pretty cool place at times. You can go have a beer at the Berghoff (liquor license #1 in the city and still brews their own brand of beer). The museums are really neat if you're into that kind of stuff (dinosaurs, German U-boats, beluga whales, etc.). Wrigleyville on a game day is a whole lot of fun, even if they lose. And it's possible to buy a single ticket to some of the rooftops mid-week, if you know who to ask. The White Sox, despite everything that sucks about them (and there's too much to list here), do have great food at their park. There are architectural tours, gangster tours and river tours. You could eat your way through the city if that's what you want, having a different genre of food for ever meal for a week without repeating. There's also all sorts of music and plays going on.

Beyond that, you could go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, see Ruby Falls and Rock City, tour the Confedarama, visit the Jack Daniels distillery, ride the rollercoaster on top of the Stratosphere, see the LDS Temple in SLC, go to the top of the St. Louis Arch, take a boat ride on Lake Minnetonka on the same boat as the infamous Vikings booze cruise, cook your own steak at Rube's in Iowa, sleep overnight inside the Lost Sea (world's largest underground lake), have a Pat O'Brien's hurricane, hike to the top of Pikes Peak or walk from Fishermans Wharf to the Golden Gate.

Just some ideas.

Excellent - as far as a place to stay, may I make a recommendation? The Tundra Lodge here in Green Bay is pretty nice, as is the Regency Suites.

And as far as what we grab to eat, I don't mind, as long as it isn't....

Let me know :D