GabiStephan

Hi to all,
my husband hasn`t that much work-off-days than I have. Because of that I am thinking about a trip/stay just alone, maybe to the USA. I fell in love with the USA since our vacation in Florida. In my opinion the USA have the friendliest people and the most spectacular nature. I am still impressed of the wideness and sizes. So now I am looking for a city or area in this wonderful country.
-I am looking for a single-room with TV (TV because I`d like to train my school-english)
Bathroom could be shared. Breakfast with american people would be nice but is not a must.
-a good public transportation would be nice.Then I wouldnt need a car.
-I love photography and flowers
-I like browsing through secure! streets and stores or shopping-malls
-I like sitting at public places or coffee-shops to get an impression of real american life

I would be thankful for answers.
Lots of greetings
Gabi

lincasanova

what time of year?

GabiStephan

Whether fall 2005 or spring 2006. I havent a fix date until now. First I have to save enough money.

Thanks
Gabi

indytravel

Hi Gabi.

Hmmm the hard part is public tranportation in the US. It's limited to the largest of cities for good coverage. To combine this with nature makes it hard too.

San Francisco comes to mind. Ocean, Golden Gate Park, ferry to Angel Island. The flowers on Alcatraz are pretty too. Lots & lots of shopping and cafes in San Francisco.

Hotels in the US are different than in the much of the rest of the world. It will be almost impossible to find a hotel room without a TV. Almost all hotels have rooms that hold at least 2 people. Almost all hotels have their own bathroom. The cost of the room is usually the same for 1 as it is for 2.

Now a Bed & Breakfast where you stay in peoples homes might have a single room and a room without a TV. I've not stayed in many B&B's though.

I think you can easily have a wonderful time here. The dollar is low on the world market. Come on over and shop!

JJ5

Don't know your age, but regardless- look at the exchange programs that are possible through your local educational institutions.

For instance, you may come to take one accelerated class or workshop and get lodging with the combination. Search google for art, cooking, etc. or anything you are interested in.

Some of these last 5 or 7 days with lodging and are in big city areas that would give you a good American taste/feel. Florida is quite different from NYC, from California, etc. etc. etc.

If coming from May to October- I would suggest Chicago. Maybe the Art Institute would have a workshop with lodgings across the street (they did have this at one time)at discounted rates for workshop students. It has every other requirement you detailed. People are very friendly and open to all here, and you could have a individual American experience quite nicely. Workshop or class would take little of your time and be quite fun.

pepper131

Austin is city to visit that is surrounded by nature - the Hill Country. And you are close to Mexico.

Transportation around the city is free on the 'Dillo buses. And I'm sure you could get a bus to the border. But getting into the Hill Country without a car could be tricky.

Nature - in the city, you can rent a canoe near Barton Spring Pool (a natural spring-fed pool) and explore Town Lake. There is a large population of bats under Congress Ave Bridge. Various caves and spring fed pools in the country.

The Austin Motel (on S Congress) has cheap rates, good rooms, and a pool. And next door is Jo's coffee shop at the San Jose Hotel) where you can sit all day watching people go by. The first Thursday of the month, there is live music everywhere on S Congress and all the shops are open late.

GoTravel

NYC would be spectacular in the Spring or Fall.

jimmyk64

Chicago would be my first choice, Gabi. It's a large, vibrant, clean city with an absolutely terrifice city center. It's also among the best North American locations for restaurants and entertainment. Miracle Mile shopping is an adventure in itself.

acwsf

I would recommend San Francisco, Chicago, or New York. SF and Chicago are smaller in size to New York. All three cities are different and are very different than Florida.

New York will be wonderful for a big-city experience - endless things to do and sites to see, restaurants, theatre, and lots of people watching opportunities. New York and the subway system is very safe even later at night, so you shouldn't be worried. Just use common sense and you should be fine.

San Francisco is a smaller size city with breathtaking views, beautiful architecture, great restaurants, and many different interesting neighborhoods to explore. Nature is a little more accessible here than in NY, where the only nature is Central Park. It may feel a little more manageable for a one person trip than New York.

Chicago is a city I know less about (I've lived both in SF and NYC). I've only been there a couple of times, but it is still a place that I really like and always want to return. I love its lake views and the european style bridges that run through downtown. Chicago is also smaller than NY. It has a vibrant music scene and there are a lot of things to do. The only drawback is the weather (the winters are horrible). It might be better in the summer than in early spring. Early fall would probably be fabulous.

bellairegirl

I would also suggest visiting Washington, D.C. Now, there are parts of Washington that are NOT safe; however, the majority of it is fine. There is great public transportation, shopping, cafes, museums, stately homes nearby with gardens (such as Mount Vernon), and beautiful architecture, open spaces, and parks.

The website for Mount Vernon is http://www.mountvernon.org. You might want to stay in Alexandria, Virginia. Old Town Alexandria has wonderful shopping and good access to Washington via the metro (subway).

Susan

Cassandra

"Real American life"? Gabi, there are so many variations -- if you doubt it, look at the results of the last election. We have an urban-rural split, and if you stay in major cities, you'll get that kind of "real America" but you won't see so much of the beauty. Still, given your description of how you want to live, I think you are best off in one of the cities with the best urban transportation system and perhaps a fair number of students (because you are describing the kind of rooming situation found in such areas). That says Boston/Cambridge to me, or San Francisco/Berkeley, or Seattle, ---or if you are up to the unique experience of it, New York, which is "real" but in many ways unlike anywhere else in the country. But none of these are going to be anything like Florida.

How long would you be here, in what season, doing what other than just "experiencing"?

Cassandra

"in which season" -- actually what I meant is which season would you prefer? Spring and fall come at slightly different times in different areas, and they mean slightly different changes on the West Coast.

GabiStephan

Thanks for your great advices so far.
I am 37 years old. I am thinking about a 3 weeks stay. I guess too, that the most beauty of this land, where find in the countryside and not in big cities. But because I dont want rent a car, a city is the best. San Francisco, Chicago or Washington sounds great. Do I have to be afraid of earthquake in SF? Bed and breakfast is an advice from my husband.
Greetings
Gabi

xrae

With three weeks, you could give yourself a real tour of the US! Maybe Chicago for a few days, then down to Charleston, SC, then to D.C. or to New Orleans. Charleston and New Orleans would be so much fun to photograph! (However, New Orleans at night can be frightening.)

Cassandra

Although Washington is an exciting place with lots to do, and I loved living there for so many years, I suggest you try Chicago or San Francisco (sorry you ruled out Boston but ok) for an "American" experience. Washington is a sort of merry-go-round of politics and diplomacy, and a lot of the residents are transient -- only there until the administration of our country or their country changes. It's exciting but not exactly a taste of the rest of the US.

Chicago is very American, and if you aren't there during the coldest or hottest months, it's lovely. There's plenty to do both in the city and up and down the lake shore communities. San Francisco itself is comparatively small but there's plenty to do there and around the Bay area - and it's just gorgeous. You will find it breathtaking to come out of a building and see the bay sparkling at you. It has a more international flavor than Chicago (sorry, Chikaga, but it's true and you like it that way anyway), so it's maybe a little less "typical" but exciting in its own way.

As to earthquakes: they're a lower probability than experiencing extreme weather, including tornadoes, in Chicago (although there haven't been any tornadoes in the downtown area in recorded history there, to my knowledge). But neither probability is high enough to avoid either city in any case.

GabiStephan

Thanks so far.
Are the flowers in the city are blooming in september in SF, especially in the street with the curves?
Do you think a 3-week-stay in a bed and breakfast is possible for 500.00 USD?
In Germany we have "Pension" (you have 1 room in a private household) Do you have this as well and where can I find in the net?

BayouGal

I would recommend San Francisco also. Depending on the time of year you choose to visit, maybe you could get in a whale watching expedition. The flowers should be blooming in September. I doubt you'd find any B & B for $500 for 3 weeks anywhere in the US. B & Bs usually tend to be a little more expensive than hotels, due to the privacy, use of the house, antique decorations, or whatever might be the specialty of that particular house. You will probably need to budget about $500 a week for lodging. The US does not have the hosteling program in place to the extent that Europe does, nor do we have "pension" housing. There may be private homes in SF that rent out rooms on a weekly basis, but I am not aware of any.

Good luck!

Stephanie

Gabi:

I'd suggest coming to the U.S. in fall and renting a car, if you want to see spectacular nature you'll have to have one. Also, by the time you buy all kinds of train and bus tickets it would be worth your while to just get a car. My dream vacation would be to see more of the western U.S. than I have, such as Arizona, Colorado and NM. The place whose pics have blown me away is Sedona, AZ with all the amazing red rocks. Accommodations wise I'd recommend Motel 6. While I wouldn't suggest this chain in big cities, I'd recommend them in the rural countryside because they offer a cheap room with shower and basic amenities for usually $30-50 and the farther out from big cities the cheaper it gets. You will also notice "mom and pop" motels and they are good places too at cheap rates.

bellairegirl

You might want to look into staying at a hostel. I found this website about a hostel in Washington, DC. It also has locations in San Francisco and Chicago. Just check to make sure that the neighborhood you're thinking about staying in is a safe one. Post on Fodor's to ask before making definitive plans. Some hostels only have dormitory-style rooms available (where there is 4 or more beds in a room and a shared bathroom, while some have a private room with one bed, although that might be out of your price range.

http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/index.htm

Susan

GabiStephan

Stephanie, I am interesting in the Southwest too, but this (travelling from motel to motel) i would like to do with my husband.
I am just surfing for a bed and breakfast in San Francisco for 3 weeks for less. You told me that 500.00 USD its more a weekly rate than a 3weeks-rate.
But now, I cant believe. I just found this site: www.globalstore.com.au/maryei.htm
What do you all think about this?
I