Traveling around the USA. Cool, cheap, long

04.11.2019

This was my 5th trip to the USA. This time I wanted something unusual, diverse, the city, the beach, nature, parties, tranquility and impressions, in general, everything at once. There were 23 days available, the task was to celebrate my birthday and see my father in Florida. When I was very young, I lived here for 5 years. In adulthood, he visited Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. I didn't know how much I would like US national parks and whether I would love Pacific Ocean, but I was sure that my soul demanded a dynamic journey across America, through serpentines and oceans.

USA route for 3 weeks the result was the following:

Moscow – New York – Moscow (Aeroflot): RUR 21,300 x 2
New York - Orlando, Los Angeles - New York (United): RUR 9,500 x 2
Fort Lauderdale – Las Vegas (Spirit): RUR 4,000 x 2

New York greeted us with rainy and damp weather. To be honest, at first I didn’t like New York at all. Everyone is in a hurry, it’s cold, damp, traffic jams, it’s not clear how to walk, how to move around. My God, how my opinion changed a few days later.

This is the place where you can buy two Samsonite suitcases for $139, where you buy a Guess leather jacket for $120, and when you go to the checkout you find that it’s still on sale and you end up picking it up for $79, where you buy one pair of shoes, and two more come as a gift, where for $317 you get...

My father probably forgot how old I was and took me to Disneyland to celebrate my birthday☺. Well, unlike the last trip, this time there was a Food and Wine Festival at Epcot Center and I was hoping for something new. Well, more on that a little later, but for now I’ll write a little about what all these amusement parks are.

In the morning we went to the shores Atlantic Ocean. Last time we constantly went to the ocean and often stayed with a friend in a house on Cocoa Beach. In principle, everything there, even without an overnight stay, is intended to…

This morning, a friend showed us the LIV club, the same Mansion and Space. She singled out the latter with great caution, warning that he was located in a very dangerous area. Well...she was damn right.

A Police Car is parked behind us. Two big guys with glasses come out of a huge jeep, one is wearing a cap, the other is holding a toothpick in his mouth and they come up to us with the questions “what’s going on, guys”?

In fact, I chose the hotel for one night at random: I saw a nice terrace, a jacuzzi and good rating. As it turned out later, the hotel is one of the best and the only one that has its own terrace with such a breathtaking view.

Everyone is buckled up, headphones are put on, instructions are given again and let’s go! Let's take off! We gradually gain altitude, I try to take the first pictures, but everything is in vain - the windows are too dirty. The idea comes to stick your lens into the gaps between the windows, and, oh, miracle, it fits perfectly and the pictures turn out just right. While the flight is passing over a dense forest, a certain cliff can be seen ahead.

And yet, how wonderful it is on a beautiful, albeit slightly cold, morning to sit on the edge of the ledge of the observation deck, looking somewhere down or into the distance. At this moment you need to put aside all your photographic equipment, tripods and other little things, you just need to listen and freeze, then you not only hear silence, but begin to realize unity with nature.

After a few minutes of wandering around Antelope, you begin to realize that you are very far from home, as if on another planet, and you are trying to make out various figures and understand HOW water and wind could have created this?!

At first, there were no signs of any unusual colors from the sun, but after drinking a couple of glasses of wine, we began to observe how the clouds turned purple, the colors began to thicken, and the silhouettes of monuments against the background of the sunset began to give the picture even more grandeur and mystery. After 10-15 minutes, the sun began to seem to burn the clouds, monuments and sky, and it seemed that a little more and the parking lot at our hotel would be engulfed in flames. Amazing colors!

At 06.20 the alarm sounded, which means that within 40 minutes the Sun should rise from the horizon. My girlfriend has apparently already announced a boycott national parks and this morning I quietly basked under the blanket. I quickly got some coffee and went to the balcony at dusk to set up my tripod and camera. Next door, by the way, the noise from the closing and opening of the shutter was already loudly heard. Sitting on the balcony, you look at these huge sculptures, another creation of nature, and you get the impression that you are in a cinema hall hotel The View, and now we will be watching another film called “Dawn”.

In the USA there are natural attractions known throughout the world, from the “must see” series; as a rule, these are huge parks that require several days to study in detail. However, there are also small places located along the way, and it seemed that you didn’t expect anything special from them, but they take you and reward you with an intricacy of vivid emotions and engrave them in your memory for life. Such a place is Horsheshoe Bend (the bend of the Colorado River or simply a horseshoe).

The next stopping place did not take long to arrive; literally, after driving 5-10 miles from the horseshoe, we turned onto a secondary road to see another beauty of nature - Lake Powell.

A couple of hours later, an arrow to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park was spotted. Back in Moscow, I sketched out alternate places that could be visited along each section of the route, so, having resigned myself to the fact that we would get to Bryce Canyon in the night, with tires whistling, I turned towards the park. Usually the coral dunes are visited on the way to Zion and Kanab, but our experience shows that you can easily stop here on the way to Bryce.

Parked at Best Western PLUS Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, we noticed the air temperature on the screen display: 10 degrees Fahrenheit! For a second, when we left Monument Valley it was +75!!! That is, it was + 24 Celsius during the day, and 12 in the evening!!! Holy shit, and I’m in a T-shirt and moccasins! We opened the roof to get a suitcase with warm clothes and made a march from the parking lot to the reception.

One thing was clear: tomorrow after visiting Bryce we were going to Vegas, and what would happen then...

My morning started at 07.00. I got ready, went outside, was shocked by how cold it was, quickly jumped into the car and drove to Bryce Canyon, picking up hot coffee and chocolate along the way. For some reason there was no one at the checkpoint, so I just drove by and unintentionally saved 30 bucks. Well, I'm there. After leaving the car in the parking lot, I went to wander to the Sunrise point observation deck.

Around 17.00 I pulled into the valet parking of the Bellagio Hotel, where we had booked a deluxe room with a fountain view for 2 nights. I imagined that I would throw the keys to the jack-boy and feel like the hero of another movie, walking with my lady along the hall of one of the most popular hotels, past noisy casinos and pretentious restaurants. But the whole picture began to fall apart even before I gave the keys to the valet.

Having checked out from Bellagio Las Vegas 5* and received a car, I take off and head, of course, to The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas 5*, where we stayed on the first night. Unfortunately, Cosmo was completely filled to capacity. I tried to connect to Wi-Fi to look at other hotels, but it was all in vain - only guests can connect to the network, and our previous password had already been revoked. Well, we get out onto the road and look for some McDonald's or a snack bar, but there is no parking anywhere, so I'm starting to get a little mad.

Well, we're in Vegas! It's time to go play at the casino! Along with the fact that men in suits and ladies in evening dresses walk around the first floor of our Encore Las Vegas hotel, the stakes here, gentlemen, are not small! For example, at Black Jack the minimum is $25! It only took 10 minutes to miss 2 hundred dollars. But this only provoked us!

Before choosing an evening performance, I spent a very long time reading reviews and reviews about best shows Las Vegas. Initially, we wanted to go to the show “O” by Cirque Du Soleil, which takes place at the Bellagio Hotel, but just before departure we were strongly recommended to pay attention to the show of professional acrobats from the group Le Reve - The Dream, who were performing on the stage of the Wynn Theater Wynn Hotel Las Vegas. We listened to the recommendation and did not regret it.

When the pretentious hotels of the Strip make your eyes a little blurry and you want to change the picture, it’s time to go to Downtown Las Vegas, aka old center city - Fremont Street.

This day was dedicated to walking around the hotels and the Strip. Therefore, when the relaxation by the pool was completed, we just went for a walk wherever our eyes looked. Each hotel has its own feature and feature, and many also host free shows.

When the free shows are over, you should head to the tallest hotel in Las Vegas - the Stratosphere Tower. On its roof there are 4 attractions that are 100% capable of tickling your nerves.

When we talk about a buffet, most Russians involuntarily come up with a picture of a Turkish all-inclusive hotel, which in its restaurant offers to taste a whole variety of meat, fish, salads, desserts and much more. The same associative series arose for me until recently. But after visiting Vegas, my performance will never be the same.

I didn’t intend to go to America at all, but somehow an acquaintance who had never been abroad more than once told me that you wouldn’t go to the USA, I thought about it and decided - yes! A true traveler must visit all continents. I read a huge number of reviews and then I already understood that the USA would not be on my top list best countries. I’m not a millionaire, so I had to go on a budget. My plan was this - New York - Las Vegas - Los Angeles - Washington and New York. But all knowledgeable independent travelers will understand me, my plan to explore America began to increase - and I added Hawaii and Miami, although I wanted San Francisco and Chicago. But I'm not a millionaire. It should be said that I understood that America is not a country where tourists return after visiting it, but still the task was set to see and at least slightly understand this world. But the United States was not surprised by anything; not only ours, but also Europeans write about this. Conclusions 1) I did not feel that this is the richest country, our Moscow is undoubtedly superior to New York 2) sights of world significance are almost zero, it should be said that without having imperial palaces, they make rooms in museums! Ha ha!

And now what we liked about the USA.

1) AVAILABILITY OF TOILETS - those who have traveled around Russia will understand me. As one German said, I have seen a lot of beauties of Russia, but I will never forget a wooden winter toilet with bags! So the Americans are great (otherwise they will consider me a hater of America). even on a beach where there are only three or four people there will be a changing room and a toilet, and not just a simple one, but for wheelchair users

2) Americans - they know how to promote their country - I was always surprised how they show our cities in Hollywood - such crap - but theirs are just lovely. But in fact, it’s the other way around. In Europe, in the same ordinary Prague, you go and photograph everything - such a photographable city, but in Los Angeles there are no normal photos! Except for the beaches.

3) Availability free museums- and really chic ones - both the Metropolitan in New York and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

But still, you need to visit America and compare!

I flew to America from Moscow on the Delta for 26 thousand rubles, bought tickets in February after I received a US visa in Yekaterinburg (that’s also surprising, is it really impossible to get fingerprints at the entrance, like in Cambodia, for example -) and booked hotels for 10 months

Everything I planned came true - my advice - definitely Hawaii and Miami, without them my tour would have been a complete disappointment and book 11 months in advance, if they don’t give you a visa - cancel your hotel reservation without additional costs - the cheapest were in Las Vegas, and the most expensive are New York, Washington and Honolulu.

There are a ton of trails in the US that are worth exploring, but there are some that you simply can't miss.

A selection of these was collected by Buzzfeed.

A musical journey from rocking Cleveland to blues Memphis

Approximate distance: 735 miles (1,183 km).

What to see: Start your trip with a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, take in the countryside and Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry, and top it off with a little blues at Graceland in Memphis.

2. Drive through the desert from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon. Photo: Depositphotos

Approximate distance: 230 miles (370 km).

What to see: Architecture lovers must visit Taliesen West in Scottsdale. In addition, it is worth visiting the ecological town of Arcosanti, hiking on the red slopes of Sedona and completing a trip through the Grand Canyon.

3. Tour through Kentucky: from Lexington to Louisville and back

Approximate distance: 200 miles (322 km).

What to see: Stop at distilleries in Lexington, Lawrenceburg, Loretto and Clermont for tastings (make sure you have a driver to take your place). And enjoy the sight of plants and white fences as you go.

4. Scenic trip along the California coast: from San Francisco to San Diego

San Francisco. Photo: Depositphotos

Approximate distance: 500 miles (805 km).

What to see: Head south from San Francisco along the coast through quaint Half Moon Bay and you'll see some of the most beautiful coastal sights in the United States. Stop to soak up the beaches of Malibu and end your trip with a stroll to San Diego's Gaslamp District.

5. Road trip through the Midwest from Chicago, Illinois to Door County, Wisconsin

Approximate distance: 280 miles (451 km).

What to see: Stop at the Milwaukee Art Museum for west bank Lake Michigan, then take a sports-oriented visit to Lambeau Field and end your trip in Door County for activities walking, boating or tasting old-fashioned fish soup.

6. Explore the oldest cities in America along the Atlantic Ocean, starting in Boston, Massachusetts and ending in Key West, Florida

What to see: Inspect the hot spot Civil War— Boston. Next, visit the Silesian Witches' House in Salem, Massachusetts, then head south to the most Old city in America - St. Augustine, Florida, ending the trip in tropical Key West.

7. Heart of Texas Tour: Dallas to Corpus Christi

Approximate distance: 420 miles (676 km).

What to see: Explore microbreweries in Dallas, then check out the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, followed by more live music on stage in Austin. Also visit the Alamo in San Antonio and end your trip on the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi.

8. Travel through natural wonders from the Dakotas to the Badlands to Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park. Photo: Depositphotos

Approximate distance: 1,300 miles (2,092 km).

What to see: Along the way you will have the opportunity to observe fantastic rocks and Mountain peaks, stop near Mount Rushmore, visit Devils Tower, and end the trip in good old Yellowstone.

9. A nostalgic trip through cities in American style: from Chicago to Los Angeles

Los Angeles. Photo: Depositphotos

Approximate distance: 2,400 miles (3,862 km).

What to see: Windy City's skyline will blow your mind, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is also worth a look. Then you can visit the Colman Theater in Oklahoma, as well as the Seligman Historic District in Arizona. And finally, explore the Arizona Crater in Arizona on your way to sunny Los Angeles.

10. Drive from Provincetown, Massachusetts to the Oregon Coast

Approximate distance: 3,300 miles (5,311 km).

What to see: Experience what the first settlers in the United States experienced as they roamed from coast to coast. Stop along the way to enjoy panoramic views of the Finger Lakes, views of Chicago, and end your trip with untouched beauty Oregon coast.

11. Fun trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Las Vegas. Photo: Depositphotos

Approximate distance: 320 miles (515 km).

What to see: Start with the ocean views from the Santa Monica Pier, then head east from Los Angeles to Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch and Calico Ghost Town. If you get hungry on your way to Nevada, don't miss the 50s-style diner called Peggy Sue's Diner at the entrance to Sin City.

The idea of travel appeared after the first trip to America, combined with a cruise on Caribbean Sea from Miami. The country seemed very interesting, unusual and comfortable for a stay and independent travel. And the history of the United States is not so ancient, which allows us to better experience it and draw some parallels.
It was decided to continue on warm summer days in the northeast, capturing the largest and famous cities from the must see category.

In our time of the Internet, Google maps and navigators, preparing such a trip is not difficult and even quite exciting. True, then more than once I caught myself feeling that I had already seen it all and was walking, for example, around Chicago, as I did around Moscow, which, however, did not spoil the impressions I received at all.

The Internet resources http://samsebeskazal.livejournal.com/ and the Vinsky forum http://forum.awd.ru provided enormous assistance in preparing the trip, for which my sincere gratitude to all the authors.

The route consisted of a 4-day stay in New York, then to rental car trip to Niagara Falls, Chicago, Detroit, Washington DC, Philadelphia and after a short rest on the beaches of Atlantic City, return directly to JFK airport.

Google Maps quite accurately calculates the travel time between points. There were doubts about the possibility of maintaining an average speed of about 100 km/h, but they quickly dissipated. Highways and interstates have no traffic lights, no traffic jams, and even interchanges usually have a 45 mph limit sign. Road repairs only involve a 10-15 mile slowdown, not an hours-long traffic jam.

Only daytime, relaxed trips were planned with an inspection of the destination the next day.

Back in January, the route was calculated, hotels along the route were booked, and plane tickets were purchased. Oddly enough, this time Aeroflot presented the most advantageous offer.

An Airbus called A. Sakharov was served on Aeroflot's signature flight SU-100.

Each passenger has his own monitor with a multimedia system. During takeoff and landing, forward and downward views are shown; during horizontal flight, you can watch a choice of about 50 movies, play games or view information about the flight. Standard 2 meals a day and wine from a paper bag.

We're approaching

Arrival in New York was marked by a 2-hour queue for passport control, we were basically ready for this. Passengers on connecting flights were shown bypassing the queue. In general, of course, New York is a city of queues, so it is better to plan visits to all sorts of popular tourist sites in the morning. Looking ahead, I’ll say that at 9 am we went to the Empire State Building without a queue at all, but the museum of the aircraft carrier Intrepid in the afternoon took us probably the same 2 hours in queues.

Without further ado, we took a taxi to the hotel. Car service was offered for about the same money, only you had to call it from the airport and look for it somewhere. As it turned out, they drive up to the right of the exit from the airport, a little to the right behind the taxi rank, with a piece of paper pasted on the glass with the name of the person who ordered it.

Taxi drivers in New York use navigators. A native of China handed me this device with a request to give him directions. No problem. I knew the location of our hotel in Brooklyn as the “Our Father.” As a result, we got there for 30 and a penny of dollars according to the meter, bypassing toll roads, this is at a flat rate from the airport of $50.

It was evening, in Moscow it was already deep night, so we didn’t go to Manhattan, looked around our Brooklyn neighborhood, had dinner, and bought a MetroCard for a week from the machine at the Subway station for $29. This pass allows you to make unlimited trips on the metro, bus and cable car to Roosevelt Island for a week.

The next day in the morning we start at the Empire State Building. We are riding on the subway to Manhattan, along with New Yorkers, having breakfast on the go with iced coffee.

Arrived just in time. There are no people yet. We looked at the postcard views.

Neighborhood observation deck at Top of the Rock

The sea gates are visible in the distance New York Verrazano Neuros Bridge

Hudson

Lower Manhattan

Flatiron building

East River, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges

Empire State Building May 1, 1931 - the official opening of the building, which for more than 40 years became the most tall building in New York and around the globe. This is the first building in the world to have more than 100 floors. It has a total of 102 floors. The basement part, where the lobby is located, has a height of 5 floors. The skyscraper tower itself rises to the 86th floor and has a classic wedding cake shape with rectangular ledges. The upper floors "compress" after certain distances and have a smaller area than the lower ones. This design allows for much less shading of streets and neighboring buildings. The Art Deco style superstructure begins on the 86th floor. observation deck, located on the 102nd floor. At the top of the skyscraper there is a spire, originally intended for mooring airships. However, after a couple of practical attempts to moor to the spire, this idea had to be abandoned due to powerful upward air currents. Today, telecommunications equipment, which is actively used today, is installed on the spire of the skyscraper.

Next we explore the middle part of Manhattan ( Midtown Manhattan ) with Central Park.

US national debt scoreboard, including per-family calculations.

The famous stairs at Times Square. under the steps are the box office for Broadway musicals.

Times Square
Times Square has the nicknames “the crossroads of the world”, “The Great White Way”, and has achieved the status of being an iconic landmark of the world and a symbol of New York and the entire United States.