Post A Reply
my profile
|
directory
login
|
register
|
search
|
faq
|
forum home
»
RAILforum
»
Passenger Trains
»
Amtrak
»
Hi! New and looking for advice!
» Post A Reply
Post A Reply
Login Name:
Password:
Message Icon:
Message:
HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by sojourner: [QB] Glenwood Springs is a scenic little Rocky Mountain town--it is NOT the Midwest. Chicago is the Midwest--once you leave, quite flat, as the Midwest mostly is. Denver is at the very end of the Midwest; then you start to climb. Note that Glenwood Springs is not super different from Jasper in some ways (the mountains in Alberta there are the extension of the same Rockies, pretty much), which is one reason I mentioned Salt Lake City as a possible alternative Zephyr stop. But they are both nice in different ways, and Glenwood Springs will be much cooler. In New York City, I recommend walk on the High Line on a weekday morning. It's lovely and not far from Penn Station (go down the south side of W30th to just past 10th Av); there is some construction right there but you will find the elevator up. Many people go on it, so be sure to go before 10AM, weekday if at all possible. Walk all the way down to the end (it's just over a mile), then back up to Chelsea Piers, where there are some fun things for kids (possibly even boat rides). In addition to the plantings, interesting viewing spots, seats, architecture along the way, there are more distant views from including the Empire State at one point (on the left heading down) and even, further down, the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Some other neat places in Midtown are Grand Central Station (runs from E 42nd to E 45th St, best approached from Park Av South or Vanderbilt Av down the main staircase), which used to have free (with donation) tours from the clock at 12:30 Wednesdays; also a nice market downstairs and eating, though very crowded weekdays. And, nearby, the main branch of the NY Public Library (5th Av & W 42nd), which is a fantasitc building to tour and also has free neat exhibits inside. If you walk up to the library on E41st St from Park Av S or Madison Av to 5th Av, you can see embedded in the sidewalk neat quotes of famous authors--"library walk." East of here at 1st Av and E42nd is the United Nations. SuperStorm Sandy damage was very heavy downtown, especially on the East side (including South St Seport Museum very badly hit, though hopefully will be back on track by summer). From Battery Park, which is nice, there are ferries (statue itself has very long waits, and you need to book ahead to go inside) to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; don't know what storm damage did to all this). But there are boat rides from other places too, including I think maybe Chelsea Piers. Manhattan by boat is a very nice thing to do, esp on a warmish day. In Central Park, be sure to see the Alice in Wonderland clock outside the zoo, and the feeding of the seals (I think 2PM and another, maybe 3?3:15? you can check the website for the times). Heading up (about 15-20 blocks; you can walk on Fifth Ave too) is the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the price they ask is steep but you can pay what you like, read the fine print!), the Egyptian hall (with pyramid etc) and the armory are among the things there likely to appeal to kids, and rooftop sculpture (though can be crowded). Walking through to the West Side of Central Park is the famous Museum of Natural History (Central Park West and W79th St) with Planetarium, but it's rather pricey and you can see the same sort of stuff (dinosaur bones etc) for free at the one in DC. In fact, I would recommend the various Washington DC Smithsonian museums over Chicago's for that reason. In Washington DC, as noted, most things are free. The Capitol (and its visitors center) is very much worth a tour but the White House is actually a bit dull, with long lines and speedy runthroughs (unless things have changed; I was last there when Clinton was president). Regarding the Capitol, lines are long, get there early in the morning--but Americans can write their Congressperson in advance to get into the Capitol early on a shorter line--you might inquire at the American Embassy for something comparable. Union Station itself is splendid. In the National Portrait Gallery you can see all the American presidents etc etc. Nearby, your kids might like a visit to the Spy Museum, though that one has a charge; one can go there after closings of other things, though. Chinatown has inexpensive places to eat, such as Eat First. Also not far from here, I found the FBI tour dull, esp as it's an ugly building, but boys usually like it. In Chicago you want to go down to Millennium Park and see "the Bean" (real name, Cloud Gate), Gehry stage, and walk across the BP Bridge to the Lake (Lake Michigan), walking along down at least to around Jackson, where you would go back into Grant Park (runs along the lake) to see the Franklin Fountain. [Also, forgot to mention opposite Millennium Park across Michigan Av is the Chicago Cultural Center, former library, famous Tiffany ceiling etc (scenes from the film Untouchables filmed here).] Continuing down along the lake you can go all the way to the Field Museum, even the Aquarium (long walk but nice in summer)--but IMO if you've seen one Aquarium you've seen them all), planetarium etc. The science museum may be fun but it's more out of the way, you need to take public transit. Instead you might consider another place kids like, well on the other side of Millennium Park, Navy Pier, which you can access by water taxi, as from the canal by Union Station. And be sure to see the old Main Hall at Union Station itself. San Francisco has the overcrowded Fisherman's Wharf, though walking along the bay all the way up to the Marina district (toward the Golden Gate Bridge) is lovely, as is the Palace des Arts (sp?) Yuou can take the boat tour to Alcatraz and perhaps a bus tour to Muir Woods; I believe they come back with a stop in Sausalito, where you can stay and come back by ferry. Get up very early to take a cable car (check when they start, take the first one) or they get super busy. Portland is a small city, I don't know that it would appeal that much to kids but it does have a lovely train station and good light rail system you can run around on. Walk along the river (Willamette), down to Pioneer Square, along that street with the museums, have lunch in Pings in the small Chinatown (trendy good restaurant), and most of all try to get to the International Rose Testing Gardens (I think you can take the light rail there), which are lovely, with good views of the city. There is also the big bookstore, Powells. Vancouver has a nice market, magnificent harbor, terrific park designed by same fellow as did Central Park in NYC (I'm blanking on name--Stanley Park--with zoo etc I'm sure), Kitsilano (sp?) Beach, trolleys (similar in Toronto). I think my posts above crossed with yours so you might not have seen my "edit." [/QB][/QUOTE]
Instant Graemlins
Instant UBB Code™
What is UBB Code™?
Options
Disable Graemlins in this post.
*** Click here to review this topic. ***
Contact Us
|
Home Page
Powered by
Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2
Copyright © 2007-2016
TrainWeb, Inc.
Top of Page
|
TrainWeb
|
About Us
|
Advertise With Us
|
Contact Us