"four directions on this map"

[jazzfish]

Thanks to United overbooking a Denver-O'Hare flight nearly a year ago, I've got a free trip anywhere in the continental US. Its intended use is sadly not going to come to pass before it expires (2008-04-09), so I'll be traveling somewhere more or less at random.

I'm looking at probably evening on April 4 (Friday) through evening on April 6 (Sunday), but I can take an extra day on either side of that if it'd be particularly cool.

I'm interested in doing things that don't require much money: I'm willing to spring for a hotel and a car if necessary but that's about it. (I'm also considering flying somewhere just for Satyrday, getting in too early in the morning and leaving too late at night.)

So . . . where should I go?

Comments

[lizthefair.livejournal.com]

If you don't hate NYC you could fly up there and do museums. I'm pretty sure Natural History, and the MET are free/choose your own donation. And subway/bus cheaper than a car.

Could probably do the same type of thing in Chicago--I just don't know that city as well.

[jazzfish]

Ooh, I'd forgotten about the MET (and the MOMA!). That's tempting.

NYC feels too close to fly to. But that would certainly make day-tripping a lot easier. (Well, no, no it wouldn't, then I'd get back at like one and have no way to get home.)

Chicago's another possibility but my hatred of O'Hare may keep me out of it.

[uilos.livejournal.com]

There's a bus service just starting up that is offering promotional round-trip fares to NY for $2. I think they're called Bolt.

[absolutliz.livejournal.com]

I am in the same predicament. I have a ticket to use before Sept. 9th or so.

I'm thinking disney for my ticket, cause, well, it's me.

Might I suggest Cali? Just for the sake of getting your lack of money's worth?

[jazzfish]

The nice thing about being a Disney fanatic is that you never have to worry about where to go on vacation. :)

Yeah, I was kind of thinking Cali or maybe Portland. Actually I was originally thinking Hawai'i but then I reread the voucher and saw "48 contiguous states."

[darkfyre-muse.livejournal.com]

I have a guest room and an air matress. San Diego has some nice stuff or a not too far drive north gets you to the Getty.

[jazzfish]

. . . tempting. The offer is definitely much appreciated.

[jsciv.livejournal.com]

I got sidetracked at work, but yeah, I was going to mention beautiful southern CA. I forget the exact dates, but one of our mutual friends will be here (not named for privacy) around that time. I'm not great at random touring, but I do have two things that I tend to offer for visitors. First, I can often pull together people for gaming (if that would be sufficient lure), and second yeah, you know I'll gladly play Disney tourgude (my friend R knows enough Cast Members that we can often make the trip more interesting and ride-filled than usual).

[jazzfish]

Disney's not really my thing, but gaming is always good.

[callendrethe.livejournal.com]

Fly to Chicago just to get a real slice of pizza.

[jazzfish]

Possible, but I hate O'Hare airport with a passion.

[lizthefair.livejournal.com]

if you can fly TED on your free ticket (Which is part of United I believe) you could fly into Midway.

If you decide to stay the night there is also a pretty nice Hostel in Chicago if you can deal with sleeping in a room with strangers.

[salzara-tirwen.livejournal.com]

Throw a dart?

[jazzfish]

I don't think a dart will carry me quite far enough.

[salzara-tirwen.livejournal.com]

At a map, but if your aim with darts is anything like mine you might find yourself booked for Mars.

[europasings.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, what about New Orleans? Support the tour industry a little, see the area, listen to some damn fine music.

Or you could do Las Vegas, or some place like Phoenix and drive to National Parks here & there. For that matter you could fly in Salt Lake City and drive down to Zion & Bryce. There's even a hot springs place along the way that has a nice pool and some more frightening bathtubs sitting on the side of a mountain.

And there's always Miami. Drive to the Everglades, ride the people mover, go to the Museum of Erotic Art (I kid you not - went there during a conference, very interesting), maybe dip your toes in the water.

Know anyone in Atlanta? Gotta great zoo & botantical gardens. and good bookshops.

Montreal? Niagra? I think I've babbled too long. Have fun wherever you go!!

[jazzfish]

Nawlins is a possibility I hadn't considered, as is Miami. I'd ruled out Key West (world's largest t-shirt shop) on the grounds that I've been there before, and that sort of spread to include the rest of Florida.

Desert's not really my speed, and the naked consumerism of Vegas scares me anyway.

I did Atlanta for a week in 2004. It's a nice city but I'm wanting to go somewhere new.

[laughin.livejournal.com]

If it were me, I would throw a dart at a map and go there.

Is there some American author's birthplace or hang out you have wanted to visit? Which reminds me, if you go to NYC, go to the Algonquin Hotel. Unfortunately, the round table is no longer there.

[scathach.livejournal.com]

Come here and see my show! There's a swimming pool in it!

[jazzfish]

That's a possibility, too. (A swimming pool?)

[scathach.livejournal.com]

It's the prevailing theory, anyway. There wasn't any water in it as of 5pm today, but tech doesn't start till sunday. Can we say sea battle?