First visit to the US. How to spend 4 weeks backpacking?

On Thu, 06 Jul 2006 10:57:52 GMT, Matt B
wrote:

On Thu, 06 Jul 2006 03:18:56 GMT, Brian K
wrote:

Matt,

I don't know if you have dropped Philadelphia completely. If you
haven't you might want to consider either a day trip or a day or two in
Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Towns like Intercourse, Bird-In-Hand and
Paradise aren't too far from Philadelphia. This is where you'll find
Amish, Mennonite and other "plain folk". While tourism has added a
patina of theme park to some locations there is still enough of the
Pennsylvania Dutch culture to be found. Plus there are plenty of
farms. The Amish are known for raising Trotters, racehorses that pull a
small carriage behind them. The food is hearty and of a German influence.


Yeah, I would definitely like to visit Pennsylvania at some point so
if I don't manage it this time (which looks likely), it will be on the
itinerary for a return visit. I've read a little on the Amish
community and I would certainly like to experience the culture
first-hand. It looks so completely different to anything I've
experienced in the UK.

There are several Amish communities in the US and Canada, and some of
the others don't have the tacky tourist surroundings. There are
communities in central and western Pennsylvania, southern Ontario,
eastern Ohio, upper New York state, and northern and central Indiana,
and probably others I don't remember offhand. It's not easy to make
meaningful contact with members of the these communities, though. Your
best bet would be to stay in the vicinity of a community for a week or
more and frequent one of their shops or workshops several times to
instill confidence. The community in central Pennsylvania is probably
a good choice. It's located mostly in what is know as the Big Valley
of Pennsylvania, which runs betweent he Appalchian and Allegheny
mountain ranges.
--
Barbara Vaughan

My email address is my first initial followed by my last name at libero dot it.

"Matt B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 04 Jul 2006 14:05:01 GMT, Matt B
wrote:

Hi all,
sinpped
Lastly, are Greyhound really that awful? I'm looking at paying £240
for a 30-day discovery pass. Surely this can't be a bad deal?

Matt,
I thought of your question when I read her trip report.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sapphyre"
Newsgroups: rec.travel.usa-canada
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 10:27 PM
Subject: Completed Pacific North West Road Trip


Hi Everyone,

I'm back from my Pacific North West Road Trip!!

So the grand total is 24 days (four were wasted going from Canada to
Salt Lake City and back). I did a stupid thing... I waited too long to
book anything reasonable and got convinced to try GREYHOUND!! Argh,
it's a NEVER AGAIN!! I've taken buses before, and although it hasn't
always been perfect, never in my life did I see so many people who
could not get a bus because of lack of space (luckily it wasn't me),
and on every leg of my trip there was drama... drinking drama, crime
drama, body odour drama, loud people, rude people, slobs, criminals,
you get the idea.

'nuf said ?

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

"Casey" wrote in message
...
Someone else commented on visas and I want to amplify that. The
USA has absolutely no sense of humor with respect to visas. I do
not pretend to understand visas, but I have had to obtain visas for
other countries. They usually come in a few varieties, and two of
them are single entry and multiple entry. If you visit the USA, then
leave to visit Canada, and then re-enter the USA, you will probably
require a multiple entry visa. To avoid this problem, it might be a
lot easier to obtain single entry visas for the USA and Canada, and
make your open jaw starting in the USA and ending in Canada.



One more time with feeling

For a UK citizen travelling on the visa waiver scheme there is
NO PROBLEM crossing into Canada.

Its on the goddam website if you dont believe me

Not every propective visitor to the US is a UK citizen. And, the particular
question is about re-entering the US after visiting Canada.

Marianne

"Mimi" wrote in message
. ..

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

"Casey" wrote in message
...
Someone else commented on visas and I want to amplify that. The
USA has absolutely no sense of humor with respect to visas. I do
not pretend to understand visas, but I have had to obtain visas for
other countries. They usually come in a few varieties, and two of
them are single entry and multiple entry. If you visit the USA, then
leave to visit Canada, and then re-enter the USA, you will probably
require a multiple entry visa. To avoid this problem, it might be a
lot easier to obtain single entry visas for the USA and Canada, and
make your open jaw starting in the USA and ending in Canada.



One more time with feeling

For a UK citizen travelling on the visa waiver scheme there is
NO PROBLEM crossing into Canada.

Its on the goddam website if you dont believe me

Not every propective visitor to the US is a UK citizen.

The original poster was however

And, the particular question is about re-entering the US after visiting
Canada.



Which I answered TWICE AND pointed to the US Immigration web site.

Keith



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On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 16:47:14 +0100, "Keith W"
wrote:


"Mimi" wrote in message
...

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

For a UK citizen travelling on the visa waiver scheme there is
NO PROBLEM crossing into Canada.

Its on the goddam website if you dont believe me

Not every propective visitor to the US is a UK citizen.

The original poster was however

And still is!


And, the particular question is about re-entering the US after visiting
Canada.



Which I answered TWICE AND pointed to the US Immigration web site.


Re this visa waiver scheme, a girl I spoke to recently who went over
last year said that she filled out her waiver form when they were
given out on the plane immediately before takeoff. Will the same thing
apply in this case? And is there therefore nothing I need to do
beforehand?

Matt

On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 09:56:18 -0400, "- Bobb -"
wrote:


Matt,
I thought of your question when I read her trip report.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sapphyre"
Newsgroups: rec.travel.usa-canada
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 10:27 PM
Subject: Completed Pacific North West Road Trip


Hi Everyone,

I'm back from my Pacific North West Road Trip!!

So the grand total is 24 days (four were wasted going from Canada to
Salt Lake City and back). I did a stupid thing... I waited too long to
book anything reasonable and got convinced to try GREYHOUND!! Argh,
it's a NEVER AGAIN!! I've taken buses before, and although it hasn't
always been perfect, never in my life did I see so many people who
could not get a bus because of lack of space (luckily it wasn't me),
and on every leg of my trip there was drama... drinking drama, crime
drama, body odour drama, loud people, rude people, slobs, criminals,
you get the idea.

'nuf said ?


Great! Really looking forward to that!

In that case I'm quite glad I declined the offer of a Greyhound
Discovery pass when the travel agent offered it to me earlier today.
The guy ended up practically begging me to take it, but at £292 it's
just too much and would probably work out cheaper to buy each fare
individually.

I will still be travelling a fair bit on Greyhound, due to lack of any
alternatives, but on some longer journeys (e.g NY to Montreal) I'll
opt for Amtrak.

Gives me a chance to meet the locals anyway.

Matt

Re this visa waiver scheme, a girl I spoke to recently who went over
last year said that she filled out her waiver form when they were
given out on the plane immediately before takeoff. Will the same
thing apply in this case? And is there therefore nothing I need to do
beforehand?

Do not listen to anyone in this newsgroup on the subject of visas!
Get it from the horse's mouth, i.e. the UK and/or USA websites.
People have been thrown in jail for having an invalid visa. As I
understand it, if you, as a UK citizen, have a machine readable
passport you are fine, but read the appropriate websites.


Casey

"Matt B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 09:56:18 -0400, "- Bobb -"
wrote:



Great! Really looking forward to that!

In that case I'm quite glad I declined the offer of a Greyhound
Discovery pass when the travel agent offered it to me earlier today.
The guy ended up practically begging me to take it, but at £292 it's
just too much and would probably work out cheaper to buy each fare
individually.

I will still be travelling a fair bit on Greyhound, due to lack of any
alternatives, but on some longer journeys (e.g NY to Montreal) I'll
opt for Amtrak.

Good decision, the train is much more comfortable, you can at least get
up and go for a walk.

Keith

"Matt B" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 16:47:14 +0100, "Keith W"

The original poster was however

And still is!


And, the particular question is about re-entering the US after visiting
Canada.



Which I answered TWICE AND pointed to the US Immigration web site.


Re this visa waiver scheme, a girl I spoke to recently who went over
last year said that she filled out her waiver form when they were
given out on the plane immediately before takeoff. Will the same thing
apply in this case?

Yes

And is there therefore nothing I need to do
beforehand?


Make sure you are eligible. If you have a criminal record, even
if the convictions have lapsed in British law this may disqualify
you from the scheme.

Traffic violations dont count, essentially they are concerned
about offences that can carry a custodial sentence. Drugs
offences are the most common reason for refusing entry.

Keith

Matt B.:
... on some longer journeys (e.g NY to Montreal) I'll opt for Amtrak.

Good. Now be awa Amtrak also has a downside. Many routes have
infrequent service, like once a day, and you have to reserve in
advance, although for coach (as opposed to sleeping car) travel this
is unlikely to be a problem. (The reservation just gets you on the
train; Amtrak doesn't reserve specific seats like they do in Europe.)

Also, long delays beyond Amtrak's control are always possible; they
share track space with freight trains, which tend to get priority.
Such problems are more likely on longer routes.

The exception is the Boston - New York - Philadelphia - Washington
route, known as the Northeast Corridor. Schedules on this line are
comparable to a European main line, with many trains every day.
Many trains still require reservations, though, and some trains
(called Acela Expresses) charge a substantially higher fare for a
trip that's only slightly faster.

Incidentally, for phone reservations they have an automated response
system that is by far the best-designed one I have encountered, based
on voice recognition, and which allows you to ask for a human agent
at any time. You can also reserve by Internet or at a station.
--
Mark Brader | "I always pass on good advice. It's the only thing
Toronto | to do with it. It is never any use to oneself."
| -- Lord Goring (Oscar Wilde: An Ideal Husband)

My text in this article is in the public domain.