driving across the usa: the beginning

Shashay Doofray wrote:
I don't know how things are in England, but be advised that in the US
*NOTHING* (well almost nothing) will be open on Christmas Eve and/or
Christmas Day.

I'm not aware of anything (except some restaurants, and maybe a storefront
pet psychic or something) in this city (DC) that's closed on Christmas Eve.

Therefore, make certain that you are stocked up on food, supplies and
gasoline.

In big cities at least a handful of supermarkets generally open late in the
day on Christmas. I'm not sure what happens in smaller towns. There is no
shortage of gas stations and restaurants open on Christmas.

The same applies (generally speaking) to New Year's Day.

Not nearly as much.

The US is far more advanced in this regard than most western nations - in
many places in Europe, most things are closed for days.

miguel
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EmbarCadero

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Did this in 1998, but did not get there until 11.30. By 12.30 they ran
out of beer and only one band playing - Brian Setzer & his orchestra and
by 1am it was all over. So we were very dissappointed. Get there early
it is very crowded.


--
suebo


Posted via http://britishexpats.com

On 18 Sep 2003 12:30:33 -0700, (Alan Follett)
wrote:

"rob tyler" wrote in message ...

snip

...so i think the seeing of the Pacific will be a Big Moment - where
is the best place to see the Pacific for the first time?

Upon a peak in Darien?

But seriously, folks...it has been suggested elsewhere in the thread
that Monterey or Big Sur would be ideal. For impressive views of the
Pacific, I'd endorse both, but it would be hard to work out an
itinerary under which either one would be your *first* view of the
Pacific.

It's rather difficult to get to Monterey or, especially, Big Sur
without having already gotten a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. In
fact, if you are flying you would have to choose your destination
carefully to avoid seeing the Pacific Ocean before actually
setting foot in California.



************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

"rob tyler" wrote in message ...

snip

...so i think the seeing of the Pacific will be a Big Moment - where
is the best place to see the Pacific for the first time?

Upon a peak in Darien?

But seriously, folks...it has been suggested elsewhere in the thread
that Monterey or Big Sur would be ideal. For impressive views of the
Pacific, I'd endorse both, but it would be hard to work out an
itinerary under which either one would be your *first* view of the
Pacific.

Alan Follett

Miguel Cruz wrote in message
...
Shashay Doofray wrote:
I don't know how things are in England, but be advised that in the US
*NOTHING* (well almost nothing) will be open on Christmas Eve and/or
Christmas Day.

I'm not aware of anything (except some restaurants, and maybe a storefront
pet psychic or something) in this city (DC) that's closed on Christmas
Eve.

Therefore, make certain that you are stocked up on food, supplies and
gasoline.

In big cities at least a handful of supermarkets generally open late in
the
day on Christmas. I'm not sure what happens in smaller towns. There is no
shortage of gas stations and restaurants open on Christmas.


I think the key word is "big cities". I will never forget two Easter's ago
when we were caught in the middle of nowhere and the one gas station and two
restaurants were closed. Needless to say we needed gas desperately and were
hungry! Luckily, the next town down the line had a convenience store that
had the wisdom to stay open. Hostess Cupcakes never tasted so good.

SD

"Shashay Doofray" wrote:
in the US *NOTHING* (well almost nothing) will be open on Christmas
Eve and/or Christmas Day.

That might be true in some parts of the USA but it certainly isn't on
the coasts where Christianity is just another mythology along with
those of the Jews and Moslems and many others for whom Christmas is
little more than a pleasant holiday to be celebrated along with the
rest of society.

Your caveat is generally more applicable to ThanksGiving Day and New
Year's Day than to Christmas Day.

Therefore, make certain that you are stocked up on food,
supplies and gasoline. The same applies (generally speaking) to New Year's
Day. Particularly in El Paso, where New Year's Day is a BIG Catholic Church
day and most certainly anybody who is Catholic and has a business - the
business wil most probably NOT be open.
__________________________________________________ ___________
A San Franciscan who's visited 49 of 50 US states
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ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 IClast at SFbay Net

Hatunen wrote:
On 18 Sep 2003 12:30:33 -0700, (Alan Follett)
wrote:

It's rather difficult to get to Monterey or, especially, Big Sur
without having already gotten a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. In
fact, if you are flying you would have to choose your destination
carefully to avoid seeing the Pacific Ocean before actually
setting foot in California.

Nah, just keep your eyes closed! :-)

Just $0.02

Jan Jongejan
Dept. Comp.Sci.,
Univ. of Groningen,
Netherlands.
email:

where is the best place to see the Pacific
for the first time?

As others have said, Monterey and Big Sur are fantastic spots.
They may not be the very first spots where you see the
ocean on your route, but they offer some of the most spectacular
views.

My personal preference is Monterey, which is about a 2-hour
drive south of San Francisco. (Big Sur is further south.)

Monterey is a peninsula (an large area of land that juts out into
the ocean). The best ocean views are are along a a scenic road
called the "17 Mile Drive" that follows the Monterey shoreline.
There are numerous overlooks where you get *spectacular*
ocean views, and in some places can see otters and sea lions,
and if you're there in December or January you might even see
migrating whales!

If you want to sit on the beach or take a dip in the ocean,
Carmel-By-The-Sea (at the south end of the 17 Mile Drive) has
a nice public beach. And Carmel is just a few miles from Point
Lobos state park where you can walk on hiking trails that have
dramatic ocean views.

Other towns in the area that tourists often visit are Pacific Grove,
the city of Monterey, and the famous Pebble Beach golf club is there.
But the best ocean views are *not* in the towns but along
the 17 Mile Drive.

Here's a map of the area:
http://www.pebblebeach.com/2c1m.html

James


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Remove "NOSPAM" from my address when sending me e-mail.
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On 09/17/2003 9:43 PM Miguel Cruz wrote:

Hatunen wrote:


"rob tyler" wrote:


up near san franscisco - where would you recommend for a good New Year
celebration? - i'm going to be in that area as it stands - is the city
safe? -


San Francisco has a big New Years Eve blowout party on the
Embaradero. Not sure of the mechanics of attending, but it's
quite a do.



Do they still do the Castro & Market event? It was much more lively (and had
a lot more character) than the Embarcadero.

miguel


Probably a good idea to check Out & About or Planet Out for gay events
in SanFran.

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Brian M. Kochera
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View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On the Pacific Coast leg of your journey, I suggest a stop at Heart Castle.

http://www.hearstcastle.org/


"rob tyler" wrote in message
...
thank you for all the advice and ideas - i've come up with this as an
itinery (and would welcome comments) - arrive Ney York 13th december
(preferably Newark)(preferably leaving london early morning and getting to
the US with some light) - pick up car and drive not far south (i'm
ignoring
New York-see before) - the general idea of the trip becomes triangular:
New
York; New Orleans; Los Angeles
- so i thought of this:
it's the 14th: washingtom - and then out into the wilds of West Virginia
(it's the music - and the look of the country..)by the 16th i'm heading
down
the road to Knoxville - down thru Birmingham and Jackson - to arrive at
New
Orleans 7 days later - 20th december - spend a couple of days there - i
was
wondering where to spend christmas day - and thought of NO originally -
but
the momentum carries on out thru Hueston - to Austin (a friend has been
there this year and appreciated the music) and it's 23rd - the deadly 550
miles from san antonio to El Paso - christmas in El Paso! - on the Mexicon
border - sounds interesting.........
- and then a week to see the wonders of SW USA - i've denitely included
the
Carlsbad Caverns - and if weather permits foreys into the national parks -
i
was toying with hiring a motorvan - nice idea about being able to drive to
a
place and sleep there - but they are very expensive when you leave them
where you dont pick them up - so i would then head north towards Las Vegas
and Yosemite Park and either do New Year there or in San Francisco - back
to LA by sunday 4th to fly home to london (and the going rate at the
moment
seems to be $900 - cant be right..)
- and i presume that doesnt include route 66 - i want to do the
southernmost
route - i come from the southwest of england and feel happier in that
quadrant - so i think the seeing of the Pacific will be a Big Moment -
where
is the best place to see the Pacific for the first time?
- the desolation of the NM/east texas road leading up into the SW deserts
and mountains -
- so the second part would be a week from El Paso to LA via the best
way...............
- any advice appreciated ...