A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

[MissThundercat]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

the elevators are weird - they go up at an angle.

We're also checking out the Fantasy show while we're there.

As for my trip to Chicago this weekend, I'm packing my own snacks; why get ripped off by either Amtrak or the Hyatt? Hopefully there's a convenience or grocery store nearby so I can purchase some beverages...

 

[The Rube]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

the elevators are weird - they go up at an angle.

And "go" time starts at 2am.

*, I wanna go back to Vegas with a pimproll.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I wanna go to Vegas! with or without a pimproll.

We are wandering the Four Corners for the next two weeks.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Going to New Orleans on Wednesday. Any suggestions? (besides "expect to pay more for seafood... unless you want it with a side of Quaker State")

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I wanna go to Vegas! with or without a pimproll.

We are wandering the Four Corners for the next two weeks.

My wife and I were up in that area a week ago, visiting the school she used to teach at. Have you checked out Canyon de Chelly? Pretty great scenery, not a lot of crowds to fight, and a cool hike down into the canyon if you like that type of thing.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Going to New Orleans on Wednesday. Any suggestions? (besides "expect to pay more for seafood... unless you want it with a side of Quaker State")

Set aside a few hours for the GrayLine Hurricane Katrina Tour. I was skeptical at being a tourist for seeing such disaster sites, but I'm really glad I did it, as you can't really sense the scale of devastation until you've seen it with your own eyes....

http://www.graylineneworleans.com/katrina.shtml

Also, have dinner at one of the grand creole restaurants in the French Quarter that have defined the city for years- Galatoire's, Antoine's or Arnaud's. Great history and great food.

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Aside from the delays, I could get used to train travel. Relatively smooth ride, no annoyances to speak of, and they really don't care if you bring your own snacks on board.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Going to New Orleans on Wednesday. Any suggestions? (besides "expect to pay more for seafood... unless you want it with a side of Quaker State")

Commander's Palace, Mother's, Petunia's for breakfast, Laura's for pralines, beignets from street vendors...

My wife and I were up in that area a week ago, visiting the school she used to teach at. Have you checked out Canyon de Chelly? Pretty great scenery, not a lot of crowds to fight, and a cool hike down into the canyon if you like that type of thing.

no, we have never been to Canyon de Chelly and its on the short list. also Bandelier and Canyon of the Ancients.

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Aside from the delays, I could get used to train travel. Relatively smooth ride, no annoyances to speak of, and they really don't care if you bring your own snacks on board.

Yup - I really enjoy it for that reason. If there were more than one departure in each direction from MSP daily, I'd take it more often. (It'd help if I could get to the UP by train, hah.)

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Speaking of MSP, other than going to Las Vegas in September and Detroit in October, I'm debating whether I want to come back to Chicago later this year or head on up to MN like I've wanted to do for the last 4 years. A straight train ride to MSP would cost $260; I'm thinking it would be cheaper to take the Lake Express to Milwaukee, then ride the train to MSP.

 

[The Rube]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Speaking of MSP, other than going to Las Vegas in September and Detroit in October, I'm debating whether I want to come back to Chicago later this year or head on up to MN like I've wanted to do for the last 4 years. A straight train ride to MSP would cost $260; I'm thinking it would be cheaper to take the Lake Express to Milwaukee, then ride the train to MSP.

Head up to MN. Depending on when your trip is, I could probably offer up a couch to crash on, at least during the weekend.

And I know others will back me up on this, but summer in MN is grand. And for a good night of relaxing, it's tough to beat chilling at an outside table at a bar/restaurant in downtown Mpls, or walking around there, etc etc etc.

Maybe hit a Twins game, there's rooftop seating in Uptown (Stella's and The Drink; both nice views of the city) and Brit's (lawn bowling on the roof there). Basically, if a place doesn't have outdoor summer seating, they lose a competitive edge in summer, IMO.

And if need be, it's only a $25 cab ride from my place to DT Mpls (about a 20 minute drive).

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

ditto on Minnesota summers.

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Speaking of MSP, other than going to Las Vegas in September and Detroit in October, I'm debating whether I want to come back to Chicago later this year or head on up to MN like I've wanted to do for the last 4 years. A straight train ride to MSP would cost $260; I'm thinking it would be cheaper to take the Lake Express to Milwaukee, then ride the train to MSP.

Thirded on the Minneapolis - St. Paul. You could look into Megabus too, they'd be cheaper from Chicago or Milwaukee to MSP, though they're generally packed.

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Thirded on the Minneapolis - St. Paul. You could look into Megabus too, they'd be cheaper from Chicago or Milwaukee to MSP, though they're generally packed.

And I did look at the prices; it would be roughly $330 round-trip if I took Lake Express to Milwaukee, then Amtrak into MSP. Straight train travel would cost roughly $500.

It'll depend on how many hours I'm getting at work; right now, I need to save money for Vegas in September and Detroit in October.

 

[thebrain]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

And I did look at the prices; it would be roughly $330 round-trip if I took Lake Express to Milwaukee, then Amtrak into MSP. Straight train travel would cost roughly $500.

It'll depend on how many hours I'm getting at work; right now, I need to save money for Vegas in September and Detroit in October.

How much is it to fly? I've found flying to be cheaper than taking a train. Plus, it's a heck of a lot faster.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

How much is it to fly? I've found flying to be cheaper than taking a train. Plus, it's a heck of a lot faster.

Ditto...

I dunno if Southwest does anything close to you Bob, but they have some dirt cheap fares on flights under 2 hours...

 

[Zudnic]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

beignets

what he said. nothing quite like them. The food there is outrageous too - please promise to not eat at TGI AppleChili's.

We did a fan boat ride, which was fun and got us all muddy. Recommended.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

what he said. nothing quite like them. The food there is outrageous too - please promise to not eat at TGI AppleChili's.

We did a fan boat ride, which was fun and got us all muddy. Recommended.

what SHE said. I was in New Orleans pre-Katrina so I don't know about it now, but it was the best food I've ever had.

 

[Gibber]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I wanna go to Vegas! with or without a pimproll.

We are wandering the Four Corners for the next two weeks.

Let me know where you end up going, I'm still planning a trip in late Sept/early Oct (it depends on when my brother's Police Academy graduation is in Ct., likely Sept 23 but we want a firm answer before planning!)

We've put in for hiking permit to the Wave, where they only let 20 people in/day, and we'll plan around if/when we get one of those. Gonna fly into vegas probably the 24th and spend 10-12 days driving around to a few of the many spots we want to check out. Likely going to check out Lake Powell/Rainbow Bridge, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches, Bryce and Zion...

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Let me know where you end up going, I'm still planning a trip in late Sept/early Oct (it depends on when my brother's Police Academy graduation is in Ct., likely Sept 23 but we want a firm answer before planning!)

We've put in for hiking permit to the Wave, where they only let 20 people in/day, and we'll plan around if/when we get one of those. Gonna fly into vegas probably the 24th and spend 10-12 days driving around to a few of the many spots we want to check out. Likely going to check out Lake Powell/Rainbow Bridge, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches, Bryce and Zion...

great choices, all! hiking to the wave would be so amazing. we showed up one morning but we too late to get the walk in permits. maybe another day.
Zion is spectacular. actually they all are. we like quiet out of the way areas. my two favorites Hovenweep and Natural Bridges. oh and Capital Reef. the Henry Mountains area is beautiful. spent yesterday at Mesa Verde. worth the visit if you are into the Anasazi. eat at Pepperheads in Cortez, get coffee at the Silver Bean - coffeeshop in an Airstream.
the mother of all Anasazi sites is Chaco Canyon. its very out of the way and the road in is rough (to say the least) but the ruins, roads, stairways up the cliffs are utterly amazing. 800 rooms palaces. be sure to stop at the Glen Canyon Dam. good bookstore and displays. Arches (Moab) is very cool. visit Dead Horse State Park. THE VIEW!! I could go on and on. Love this area.