Got my ESTA Visa approved, now where to go?

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

Got confirmation of approval to travel to the states.

Planning to visit Detroit Woodward Dream Cruise festival to see the cars I love but will never own. Arriving at Chicago O’Hare Agust 17th then to Detroit for the show. Return ticket Agust 31st. Travelling alone, (of course).

What would my American brothers reccomend I see on my first trip? I want a taste of traditional American culture, take in some natural wonders, relax and see life from your perspective. Not filtered through a Hollywood lense. I’ve been told I need to plan my trip well in advance.

If it were possible I would really like to meet some of the people I converse with here in person, but I respect annomymity if that’s your thing. Please send private message if agreeable to the idea.

Any suggestions welcome.

This is a big step for me and I want it to be an experience I remember and want to repeat.

Plan to hire a car for freedom of movement.

Just want to live again before I die.

It's Time to get Wise

[BlacqueJacqueShellacqueParticipant 6890]

Wholly s~~~ Greg! Congrats! This will be an awesome trip for you. I’m way far away from there but visited there for two weeks. Go the Ford Museum

https://www.thehenryford.org/

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

First real holiday for me. First long haul flight. Never been out of Europe. Just want to live a little. If it goes well I’ll repeat, I can afford it.

Would like to meet people in person and talk, drink, smoke etc.

I can pay my own way.

Want to connect in reality rather than in cyberspace.

Locals always know best.

Looking for friendship and experience.

It's Time to get Wise

[Anonymous 42]

See any of the national parks, be careful in Detroit, muggings and robbery are common, don’t go wandering, especially if you’re a white boy! Personally, I wouldn’t go there unarmed.

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

Anonymous wrote:

See any of the national parks, be careful in Detroit, muggings and robbery are common, don’t go wandering, especially if you’re a white boy! Personally, I wouldn’t go there unarmed.

I will obviously be unarmed, and am a white boy. I would however like to experience handling a weapon on a range. I think Pistol Pete could help out in that respect 🙂

I will wander alone, but can usually judge a situation in advance. If I’m meant to get shot and die I don’t care.

Life will take me where I’m meant to go. I fear not.

It's Time to get Wise

[anonymousyamParticipant 4605]

Greg Honda wrote:

What would my American brothers reccomend I see on my first trip? I want a taste of traditional American culture, take in some natural wonders, relax and see life from your perspective. Not filtered through a Hollywood lense. I’ve been told I need to plan my trip well in advance.

Mcdonalds, burger king, budwiser, malboro reds, buffets and walmart If you want to feel American eat, drink and smoke and shop these to prepare.

While here you should go to a variety of places if you can but not the fantasy places like Manhattan, Los Angles, San Francisco and Chicago rather you should go to the real cities but try not to get stabbed or shot as well. If you want a real American experience go to f~~~ing New Orleans, Philly, Camden, Atlantic city, Newark, possibly Bronx and Baltimore.

And go to a f~~~ing southern baptist church one sunday then stuff your face full of food afterwards at a buffet.

Shop in the flea markets of America and interact with Americans, go to walmart sometime during your trip, go to a baseball game if you can (go to Philly if you want the tough crowd, Yankee stadium if you want the traditional experience and met’s stadium if you believe in miracles).

Also on a final note i hope you actually have a good amount of cash on you since renting a car and driving thousands of miles is expensive here and you will spend a good time of the day on the road if you go with my plan of it.

Just an east coast asshole who likes to curse, If you get offended by words like fuck, cunt, shit, piss, bitch or any racial slurs then you just scroll down.

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

I want to experience the South.

I love the accent. I want to get to know the people who are riddiculed by the MSM for their old school religion and country ways.

I love soul music and Country Music. Music from the heart.

I want to know what inspires this art form.

And I want to drive a Musscle car! If only once 🙂

Am I crazy? Delusional?

It's Time to get Wise

[anonymousyamParticipant 4605]

As long as you don’t skimp out at the northeast you should be fine because there is more to America then simply the south and it involves ghetto cities around the northeast.

Also for the love of God do not start impersonating southerners in the south unless you want to get your ass kicked by the people and when the cops come beaten by the police.

Just an east coast asshole who likes to curse, If you get offended by words like fuck, cunt, shit, piss, bitch or any racial slurs then you just scroll down.

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

anonymousyam wrote:

Also for the love of God do not start impersonating southerners in the south unless you want to get your ass kicked by the people and when the cops come beaten by the police.

I’m not going to impersonate anybody. But thanks for the advice Yams. I like being different and as soon as I open my Ultra Polite English mouth people will know I’m trying to be no one but myself.

If violence occurs then it was meant to be. I hope it doesn’t and I won’t be looking for it.

I always want to beleive that there are more decent good people than scumbags.

I don’t prejudge people based on their skin and I hope they don’t judge me on mine. I didn’t have a say in the Melanine content of my skin, and I’m no more guilty of the crimes of my ancestors than anyone else.

Guess I’m a bit naieve in this respect but I won’t be made to see any man as an enemy who has done me no harm.

It's Time to get Wise

[PistolPeteParticipant 27143]

Well Greg, I grew up near Chicago but that was more than 40 years ago. Some things change some don’t. Our brother Resident Evil lives further west beyond west Chicago but his info would be more contemporary than mine.

I will say this. Both Chicago and Detroit are dangerous…day or night. Don’t dress up, or wear jewelry of any kind. Stay on the main drags—if you gets lost in a neighborhood, especially on the south side DON’T stop and ask anyone for directions, just follow signs to the nearest interstate highway. (Blue/Red) sign. If you see a gaggle of teens coming your direction duck into a store or something. It is not uncommon for groups to bum-rush you and rob you—in a matter of seconds. The only “sites” in Chicago worth seeing: Sears Tower, the Planetarium, and Holy name Cathedral. (Of course coming from England I’m sure you’ve seen more cathedrals than anyone on the planet BUT…Holy name has a very large and excellent Flentrop pipe organ. ITs worth seeing.

Going to Detroit you are going to pass through Indiana and Ohio on interstate 90. Although firearms are tightly restricted in Illinois (unless you are a gang member) Indiana and Ohio are more sensitive to the rights of law-abiding citizens. There is a Gun show in South Bend Indiana on August 19/20. Although you cannot buy I think you would find it interesting to attend. Tickets are usually $7.00 Just go and walk around and talk to folks. (There is also one on the 26th just outside Cleveland)

Now if you visit an indoor gun range (indiana/ohio)they will often have firearms to rent for an hour or two and you can go out on the range and shoot up some stuff. WARNING Firearms/shooting is VERY addictive…once you do it you’re hooked for life—so going back to merry ol’ England ie. Nation-wide gun free zone/mooslum rape paradise might be a tough pill to swallow.

There is another MGTOW who is near Joliet but there is nothing there except the prison.

Shame you’re not coming down south, I could put you up for a day or two.

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

PistolPete wrote:

Shame you’re not coming down south, I could put you up for a day or two.

Thanks Pete. I really wanted to meet you, (and others too), I can go anywhere I want. I’m planning now and put this post out to see if anyone else on the forum want’s to meet.

Life is about people, not just places. The people I converse with here are the ones I want to know in person. I think we could get on well. And theres somethings you can only discuss in person. Please PM me 🙂

It's Time to get Wise

[anonymousyamParticipant 4605]

Greg Honda wrote:

I always want to beleive that there are more decent good people than scumbags.

Even if you believe people are good you should always watch your ass just like pete said when he talked about Chicago.

If you head up through the northeast in the ghetto cities avoid staying out later then you need to. Don’t go out at night in Camden, avoid going out past 10 in Philly, if you are out past 10 in Atlantic city then stick to the boardwalk and don’t f~~~ing think about walking the street or even worse the side streets.

And if you ever hit Jersey there is always some place to eat past midnight whether it be diners, fast food, or even walmart.

Just an east coast asshole who likes to curse, If you get offended by words like fuck, cunt, shit, piss, bitch or any racial slurs then you just scroll down.

[Anonymous 0]

I’m from Canada but to see the U.S. I would travel Route 66 from Chicago to LA (Los Angeles)
Here’s a link:

Route 66

Good luck!

[PistolPeteParticipant 27143]

That is a great one M52 but I got you beat—Highway 90 runs from Jacksonville beach to California. Yes across the entire country Coast to Coast. Yeah buddy!

[sidecarParticipant 35837]

Greg Honda wrote:

Got confirmation of approval to travel to the states.

How can that be? The media have clearly told us Trump isn’t letting anyone in. They wouldn’t lie to us, would they? /sarcasm

Arriving Agust 17th. Return ticket Agust 31st.

So you’re going to miss Sturgis by a couple of days. That’s a shame.

Also two weeks is not enough time to see much. You’re going to lose a day driving to Detroit from Chicago and another day driving back.

Why are you flying into Chicago to go to Detroit anyways? Wouldn’t it be easier to fly into Detroit?

Detroit

The extra optional insurance on your rental car is not optional in Detroit. Get it. Trust me on this.

And you’ve already been told not to wander around in Detroit alone or at night. Listen to that advice. Especially anywhere away from the metro core. DO NOT EXPLORE THE SUBURBS. I’ve heard that Flint is more dangerous than Detroit these days, but that is only because Detroit is running out of people to mug and murder.

Chicago

Go see the Field Museum. This could take a few days by itself.

Chicago is only slightly less dangerous than Detroit. They same advice about not wandering about at night still applies.

take in some natural wonders,

Honestly, there’s not a lot of them in the rust belt. I think Cuyahoga in Ohio is the nearest National Park to Detroit. The UP is really f~~~ing beautiful (in the summer), but it’s so far up there that it’s practically a different state. Isle Royale is technically in Michigan, but it’s so far up there it’s practically Canada.

Greg Honda wrote:

I want to experience the South.

So again, why are you flying into Chicago?

“The South” is a very general term. There is a hell of a lot of variety in the U.S. For example New Orleans and Miami are both in the south, but are completely different experiences.

I love soul music

There a Motown museum where the old studios used to be. You might want to check that out.

and Country Music.

If you head down I-75 from Detroit, you’ll hit I-71 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then I-65 in Louisville, Kentucky. That will take you past Fort Knox (see it just to say you’ve been there) and Mammoth Cave National Park (the largest cave system anywhere at 400+ miles and growing) and will eventually drop you down to Nashville, Tennessee and the Grand Old Opry. It’s a tourist trap though. Check out the Parthenon while you’re there. Then I-40 west to Graceland in Memphis if you need an Elvis fix. It’s an even worse tourist trap. Then straight up I-55 or I-57 back to Chicago.

If you haul ass you might be able to manage that loop in two weeks and still have time to really see stuff.

[ThanasiParticipant 428]

I’m from Australia.

The drive from San Francisco to Seattle is awesome. I wish I could have done it from LA.

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

sidecar wrote:

So you’re going to miss Sturgis by a couple of days. That’s a shame.

Also two weeks is not enough time to see much. You’re going to lose a day driving to Detroit from Chicago and another day driving back.

Why are you flying into Chicago to go to Detroit anyways? Wouldn’t it be easier to fly into Detroit?

Thanks for advice Sidecar. Appreciated as with others who’ve commented.

What’s Sturgis?

I’m flying to Chicago as this is £300 cheaper connection from my local airport. Detroit direct was over $700, so I looked at the map and picked a nearby international airport. I figure take route 90/94 frpm Chicago to Detroit

sidecar wrote:

If you head down I-75 from Detroit, you’ll hit I-71 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then I-65 in Louisville, Kentucky. That will take you past Fort Knox (see it just to say you’ve been there) and Mammoth Cave National Park (the largest cave system anywhere at 400+ miles and growing) and will eventually drop you down to Nashville, Tennessee and the Grand Old Opry. It’s a tourist trap though. Check out the Parthenon while you’re there. Then I-40 west to Graceland in Memphis if you need an Elvis fix. It’s an even worse tourist trap. Then straight up I-55 or I-57 back to Chicago.

If you haul ass you might be able to manage that loop in two weeks and still have time to really see stuff.

Sounds like a good route. Thank God for Google Earth.

I’m going to need more time aren’t I?

Haven’t brought the plane ticket yet so can adjust my schedule if needs be. Gotta’ ask at work how long I can take vacation in one hit.

It’s kinda scarry that everyone here says the same thing about street crime and not exploring. Think I’d be able to relax a little more in the smaller towns along the way.

Still planning, then I buy the ticket next week.

It's Time to get Wise

[Greg HondaParticipant 6406]

PistolPete wrote:

That is a great one M52 but I got you beat—Highway 90 runs from Jacksonville beach to California. Yes across the entire country Coast to Coast. Yeah buddy!

I90 Looks good as well and I like the idea of only having one road to navigate. I’ll be researching options this week.

What ever happens it’s going to be a massive adventure by my standards.

It's Time to get Wise

[sidecarParticipant 35837]

Greg Honda wrote:

What’s Sturgis?

A town in South Dakota that hosts THE motorcycle rally once a year.

so I looked at the map and picked a nearby international airport.

Three hundred miles is a little bit far to be considered “nearby”. But £300 is almost worth driving it. I wonder why the huge difference? O’Hare must be a bigger international hub for your airline or something. One of the pilots here might be able to shed some light on this.

I figure take route 90/94 frpm Chicago to Detroit

I-94 is the direct route. I-90 runs too far south so you’ll have to turn north on I-75 around Toledo to hit Detroit.

I’m going to need more time aren’t I?

That depends on how much you want to see. If you’re going by car you’ll spend most of your time looking at the road. Most road trips usually run one day driving for every day seeing stuff, and that’s assuming nothing goes wrong. Granted some things like “The World’s Largest Ball Of Twine” or whatever can be seen in under five minutes, but other things can take much much longer. I could spend days at just the Field Museum, and months at, say, Yellowstone if I had the time.

It’s kinda scarry that everyone here says the same thing about street crime and not exploring. Think I’d be able to relax a little more in the smaller towns along the way.

On the whole, the U.S. is actually one of the safest places to visit. It’s just the exceptions, like Detroit, are exceptionally dangerous. Not Mogadishu dangerous or Caracas dangerous, but dangerous enough. As a basic rule of thumb, the bluer the state and county and the stronger the local gun control laws, the more dangerous the city. However once you get away from Detroit and other such singularities of criminality, the rest of the U.S. is generally safer than Europe and Canada etc.

[Author]

Posts