Thread: Im off to the US in 4-5 weeks

Shane,

In Virginia you should try to visit Williamsburg and the surrounding area. The Chrysler Museum in Norfolk is also worth looking over. Enjoy your visit!

-Jerry

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

Intending on landing in NY at JFK will be heading straight out to Connecticut to stay with a mate an his missus for about a week then heading south..

Intend to end up in Floriday about a month later (maybe 5 weeks depending ) am wondering if anyone knows of any MUST SEES in the southern states? definantly visiting Nth and Sth Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and Alabama

I'll be travelling by car god thats a terrifying thought me drivin on the left hand side yeah right get a big Aussie flag and have it wavin from the boot they'll take pity on me as I pass them going down the middle of the road right?

Anyway aside from Gracelands in Memphis what other MUST SEES are there?

Plan is to take full advantage of the 90 day no visa thing so plenty of time to wander

Cheers
Shane

Well Shane, since you will be in my bailiwick more or less, I will take a crack at it. Coming from "up north" and ending in Florida, you will most likely travel through the states in this order:

Virginia:

The University of Virginia and Monticello (Charlottesville). Good examples of Thos. Jefferson's architectural vision and inventive prowess. Well worth a dekko.

Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg). Example of 18th Centruy American life, including demos of WWing, wheelwrights, barrel making, candles, paper, and on and on.

Blue Ridge Parkway (Waynesboro, Virginia to Asheville, NC). About 200 odd miles of scenic beauty running along the mountaintops. Many places to get off and wander as your fancy takes you. Allow at least 3 days.

Luray Caverns (south of Waynesboro Virginia off the I-81). If you are into looking at stalactites, etc.


Forget Kentucky.

Tennessee:

Graceland in Memphis, as you know.

Grand Old Opry (Nashville) if you are into American country music.

Jack Daniels distilery (Lynchburg, Tenn.) to see them make their famous bourbon whiskey.


North Carolina:

Wall Lumber Company (Mayodan, NC) to see a broad array of American wood species. Ask for Clarence and tell him Bob from Greenville sent you.

Old Salem (Winston-Salem). 18th and 19th Century woodworking.

Then drive all the way to the coast to Wilmington, NC for some nice beaches and good seafood.

Back to Charlotte and the Lowes Motor Speedway if you are into Nascar auto racing.

South Carolina:

From Charlotte, NC, down the I-85 to Greenville and a BBQ with me and 'er Indoors if you like. No Fosters or 4-X, I promise.

The Battery and Fort Sumter (Charleston, SC). Where the colonists fought off the Poms and later where the American Civil War began.

Georgia:

Atlanta Aquarium (Atlanta). The world's largest and home to thousands of fish species.

Savannah. Setting for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Beautiful homes built on parklike squares. Great seafood. Still a goodish bit of Black Magic going on down there.

Alabama:

The best of Alabama, IMO, is on the coast (Mobile).

Battleship USS Alabama (Mobile). WWII battleship on display. Tour at your own pace.

Bellingrath Gardens (Mobile area). Beautiful, large garden with many exotic species. Very peaceful.

Florida:

I'll leave that to Joe Greiner.


These are just a very few, of course, off the top of my head. I'll add more as I think of them.

Bob

Well Ding, looks like you have scored one free feed already

Have a good one!

Have a good one Ding, watch out for dodgey real estate agents.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Have a good one Ding, watch out for dodgey real estate agents.

I am retired, yer honour.

Have a good one Ding, watch out for dodgey retired real estate agents.


PS. I could have put the 'retired' bit before the 'dodgey' bit but that was the point I was trying to make.

G'day, Shane. Sounds like an adventure.

Speeds in mph will feel different from kph; just match the numbers with the speed limits. Use cruise control whenever possible and safe.

Mystic Seaport museums in Connecticut. Other waterfront stuff in Old Saybrook.

There is/was a really big DIY windmill near Phillipsburg NJ someplace. I'll contact some rellies for verification and location.

Definitely yes to Colonial Williamsburg. IIRC, Roy Underhill (The Woodwright's Shop) is/was a co-conspirator there.

NO to "Forget Kentucky." PM (if necessary) WWF member Hickory for info about car restorations.

You can have a quick drool session in Dillon SC (just South of NC), at Harbor Freight's warehouse and store - about 1 million square feet overall. (305m each way).

From Alabama to Florida, be sure to stop in Tallahassee. Timing might be off for our WT club meeting (2 June), but King Arthur's Tools is run by an ex-pat Ozzie; you might be able to communicate with each other. Oh, there's also a WT club in Dothan AL; Gil Jones is one of the ringleaders. I reckon he or I, or both of us, would be honoured to hoist a few with you.

I haven't visited South Florida for years. Aside from Disney/EPCOT, I'll have to dredge the memory banks.

Watch out for dodgey retired engineers and airplane mechanics.

Keep us posted as your itinerary develops. Have a good one, no matter what.

Cheers,
Joe

Cheers all!!!

Great stuff fellas Now I have a few must see places its all good!!

Bob and Joe will definantly give you a hoi when I lob as NC and Florida are absolutely on the itinerary!!

Keep your eye either here or on the WBF for updates on my movements... or if you want pm me your contact details and I'll give you a hoi on the blower when I get into the area and you can direct me!

remember Im the sorta fella that gets lost in a straight line HERE!! so given I'll be on the wrong side of the road in another planet with people that talk weird and carry bloody guns!!! okay not everyone I guess but enough to worry a fella

Cheers
Shane

ITS DONE!!!

Went in and booked the ticket on Thursday... THIS IS HAPPENING!!!

Straight from here to KL to Newark NY on the 6th May... then back the same route on 3 August... 90 days in the states!! WHAHOOOOOOO!!!

Worked out to the 90 days simply cause when the sheila asked when I wanted to come back I had a brain fart and couldnt for the life of me think of any particular day I had any need to come back so "mmm the no visa thing is for 90 days isnt it?" "yes sir thats right shall we see how that works out for you?" "yeah love go for it" and so she did "So there is no set date you need to come back home sir? wife? kids?" a sad "no... sigh" she smiled hugely and said "Well then thats wonderful sir! 90 days in the USA will be something you will remember forever!" I looked at her brilliant smile a small twinkle in her eye and thought "shyte yer bloody wombat thats right its gonna be bloody brilliant!!" and that was that I was over the "sigh" caper and grinning from ear to ear... "Thats the one love book me in"... an so its done

Actually SERIOUSLY REALLY looking forward to leaving what an adventure this is going to be!! weird place weird road rules weird cars weird wildlife and even weirder people! Gonna be a hoot!!

So the countdown has begun in earnest now!!

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

Actually SERIOUSLY REALLY looking forward to leaving what an adventure this is going to be!! weird place weird road rules weird cars weird wildlife and even weirder people! Gonna be a hoot!!

Should be a real adventure for certain! Especially for us poor Seppos.

Remember to look to the left before crossing the street or it will be a short trip.

I will PM you my contact info.

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

Actually SERIOUSLY REALLY looking forward to leaving what an adventure this is going to be!! weird place weird road rules weird cars weird wildlife and even weirder people! Gonna be a hoot!!

So many lines, so many replies . . .

Have a good one Shane and I'll keep a watch on the seppo news services for reports of a Wild Dingo terrorizing parts of Sepposota

PM for contact in process.

I'll alert potential victims of your invasion, just in case.

Cheers,
Joe

The windmill seems to have fallen into disuse: http://www.millpictures.com/mills/de...fm?millid=1071

It was cool when it was operating; probably not worth the trip now.

Cheers,
Joe

Shane,

If you're driving from New York south, make time for:

Philadelphia - Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's House, an extraordinary art museum, fantastic city hall, University of Pennsylvania (founded by B Franklin in 1740) and etc etc. Two days minimum.

then,

if you like furniture from 1720-1850, stop at Winterthur (in Delaware, just south of Philadelphia. A fantastic museum and if you tell them you make furniture they often let you look under and behind the furniture to see how it's put together. Amazing stuff in there, you will be inspired.

then,

Baltimore is an interesting city, though you probably won't need more than a day.

then,

definitely save a few days for Washington DC. The Smithsonian can take several days, and the monuments are really worth some time. It is an extraordinary place and even if you can't get a White House tour, you can see it all. I'd recommend a proper tour here, as the tour guides can cut queues at the monuments and know amazing stuff about them.

From DC, it's 3-4 hours drive to Williamsburg, definitely worth a visit. Also Carter's Grove, Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house) and Mt Vernon (George Washington's house).

IMO, from Williamsburg to Florida is kind of interesting, but boring compared to the mid Atlantic (Connecticut to Virginia).

Have a great trip, and post pics!

Tex