2017 USA Trip # 3 (71c=1USD) Blue Line 4500km
Hawaii HI
We flew with Hawaiian Airlines 12 hours out of Brisbane bound for New York but had a 3 day stopover in O’ahu Hawaii, in downtown Waikiki beach. Honolulu, on the island of Oahu’s south shore, is capital of Hawaii and gateway to the U.S. island chain. The Waikiki neighbourhood is its centre for dining, nightlife and shopping, famed for its iconic crescent beach backed by palms and high-rise hotels, with volcanic Diamond Head crater looming in the distance. Sites relating to the World War II attack on Pearl Harbour include the USS Arizona Memorial. Its compulsory to hire convertible Mustang so that’s what we drove for the 3 days. We used ALAMO car hire close to the airport for $200 for the 3 days, cheaper than a shitbox commodore in Australia.
New York
An additional 12 hour flight from Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines landed us in NYC, The Big Apple where it was about 10 degrees when we landed at JFK International Airport. Here we caught the Metro directly to Bowery on the Brown line see subway map below (BMT Nassau Street Line) via a train change at Howard Beach Station 5 stops after you board at JFK, for $10 per person and its about an hours journey. New York City consists of 5 boroughs where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Hudson River. Manhattan is at its core, a densely populated borough that is one of the biggest commercial, financial and cultural centers in the world. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building, Twin Towers Memorial, Liberty Statue, Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and sprawling Central Park.
Broadway theatre is located in the neon-lit Times Square, that you see in all the movies. We stayed in the World Hotel rated one star with a thousand negative reviews on Trip Adviser its located in China Town within walking distance to the Brooklyn Bridge and Bowery metro Station. This hotel was by far the cheapest and an excellent location, however the best advice here is to pay extra and choose an ensuited room, the rooms are very small. Basically just enough room for a bed and a suitcase, but location location location, for $700 a week. See the Liberty Statue for free using the Staten Island ferry from Staten Island’s St. George Ferry Terminal and Lower Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal.. The trip is about 25 minutes long and the Ferry is free. Getting around Manhattan was easy , just use the Metro Subway for $3 a trip per person hop on hop off. (buy metro card at JFK airport on arrival). After a week in Manhattan we hired a car and drove 160 km south to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia PA
160 km South of NYC, Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, stands out for its rich history at the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution was signed) and other American Revolutionary sites. The steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, immortalized by the triumphant run of Sylvester Stallone in the movie “Rocky,” are also iconic.
York PA
140 Km west of Philadelphia is York, home of the Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations Plant. Established as an assembly facility in 1973, the Touring, CVOTM and Trike models are assembled by Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations in York, PA. They also carry out a variety of production operations-making parts such as frames, fuel tanks, and fenders. There are a number of tours, but we have chosen the free tour as opposed to the more detailed Steel Toe Tour, which costs $50 per person. The Steel Toe Tour goes through areas previously unseen by the public behind the scenes, where safety gear will need to be worn, so a safety jacket, safety glasses and steel toe protection are provided.
CLASSIC FACTORY TOUR
The Classic Factory Tour offers individuals and small groups an in depth detailed view of Harley-Davidson’s assembly line and fabrication areas. These Tours are free and last roughly one hour.
TOURS BEGIN AT REGULAR INTERVALS BETWEEN
9:00AM – 2:00PM | MONDAY – FRIDAY
• Tours start from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at regular intervals. Tickets are limited, distributed on a first come, first served basis and are free for walk-in groups of 9 or less. You are advised to arrive early in the day.
• These tours operate only on week days and are closed during production changes and maintenance periods, so plan ahead if possible.
Harrisburg PA
Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania, is situated 170 km west of Philadelphia on the Susquehanna River. The National Civil War Museum, through interactive exhibits and re-enactments, illustrates both sides of the conflict. The State Museum of Pennsylvania celebrates the natural, cultural and industrial heritage of the area next to the imposing Capitol building. Hershey park is a chocolate-themed park with rides and entertainment to the east of the city.
Pittsburgh PA
Columbus OH
Columbus is located in Ohio State, 250 km west of Pittsburgh and is the capital city of the state of Ohio. The Scioto Mile is a string of parks on both sides of the river Scioto with a huge interactive fountain and trails. The COSI science center offers scientific exhibits and a planetarium on the west side. Downtown, there are American and European paintings and a sculpture garden at the Columbus Museum of Art. The area of the German Village restored brick houses built by settlers of the 1800s. We found a genuine German Sausage Haus 240 E Kossuth St, Columbus, OH.
Indianapolis IN
280 km west of Columbus is Indianapolis the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. As of 2017, Indianapolis is the American Midwest’s third most populous city and the U.S.’s 16th most populous. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an automotive racing circuit located in the United States of Speedway, Indiana. It is home to the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400, and formerly home to the Grand Prix of the United States, 4790 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA.
Considered by American standards to be relatively flat, the track is a rectangular oval of 2,5 miles (4,0 km) with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its construction. Lucas Oil Stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, USA is a multi-purpose stadium. It replaced the RCA Dome as the Indianapolis Colts home field of the NFL and opened on 16 August 2008.
La Cross WI
700 km north west of Indianapolis on interstate 74 via Davenport Iowa is the small town of La Cross. La Crosse is a city on the Mississippi River, in western Wisconsin. Riverboats depart from Riverside Park, where the International Friendship Gardens feature landscape styles from around the world. We found a pub that serve kids as long as the parents sign a waiver lol. They serve 400 different beers with 15 on tap, check it out here https://bodegabrewpublax.com/
Milwaukee WI
350 km East of la Cross is the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan’s western shore. It’s known for its breweries, many of which offer tours chronicling its role in the beer industry. Overlooking the Menomonee River, the Harley-Davidson Museum displays classic motorcycles as well as the Milwaukee is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan’s western shore. It’s known for its breweries, many of which offer tours chronicling its role in the beer industry. Pabst Mansion and Miller Park Stadium are also worth a look. But the highlight for us was the Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations facility in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin is home of the Big Twin, Milwaukee-Eight™ and Sportster power-trains. There is also a free tour option the same as the York plant in PA, address W156 N9000 Pilgrim Road Menomonee Falls, WI 53051.
CLASSIC FACTORY TOUR
Our Classic Factory Tour offers a video and insight into machining areas contributing to the assembly of H-D engines and transmissions. Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
TOURS BEGIN AT REGULAR INTERVALS BETWEEN
9:00AM – 1:30PM | MONDAY – FRIDAY
• Tours begin at regular intervals between the hours of 9:00 am – 1:30 pm Monday through Friday. Tickets are limited, distributed on a first come, first served basis for each day’s available tours, and are free for walk-in groups of 9 people or less. It is recommended that you arrive early in the day.
Chicago IL
150 km south of Milwaukee is Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, it has a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Centre, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is also renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its noted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Free stuff to do is check out the BEAN, Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. … Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed The Bean because of its shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates. The Field Museum is huge and you can spend hours there, check it out here http://www.fieldmuseum.org/
Best place to stay is IHSP Chicago Hostel 1616 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA across the road from the train line and a rooftop deck with sensational views for $70 per night.
Battle Creek MI
330 Km East of Chicago is Battle Creek, where all we did was sing Karoake, it was just a stopover on the way to Detroit.
Detroit MI
200 Km east of Battle Creek is the metropolis of Detroit, which is the largest city in the Midwestern state of Michigan. Near Downtown, the neoclassical Detroit Institute of Arts is famed for the Detroit Industry Murals painted by Diego Rivera, and inspired by the city’s ties to the auto industry, giving it the nickname “Motor City.” Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown Records, whose chart-topping history is on display at their original headquarters, Hitsville U.S.A.. Here we went to watch the Detroit Tigers play the Minnesota Twins baseball game. met some fans who sold us some great tickets in the car park.
London ON Canada
After Detroit baseball game we left USA at the border crossing and 200 km onto London for a stopover on our way to Niagara Falls.
Montpelier VT
After driving 900 East Km from Detroit to Montreal through Ontario and Quebec CA along ON 401-E driving East , we crossed back into the United States at the USA/Canada Vermont Border Crossing. Driving a further 120 km south east we ended up in Montpelier, the capital city of Vermont, home of the 1859 Vermont State House is a gold-domed Greek Revival building with decorative and fine art collections. We stayed the night in Travel Lodge South Burlington, 1016 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT 05403, USA.
VT NH and MA
Privincetown MA
Here we stayed at sandcastles resort located 929 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657, USA. Provincetown is at the northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The seaside town is on the site of the Mayflower’s landing in 1620, commemorated by the towering Pilgrim Monument and neighbouring Provincetown Museum. P-town is known as a longtime haven for artists, lesbians and gay men
Salem MA
Salem is a city on the north coast of Massachusetts above Boston. It’s famous for its 1692 witch trials, during which several locals were executed for allegedly practicing witchcraft. Landmarks from this episode include the Witch House, the former home of a trial judge
Boston MA
After driving through Vermont and New Hampshire staying in South Burlington VT, North Conway VT and Danvers Massachusetts we ended up in Boston. Boston is Massachusetts’ capital and largest city. Founded in 1630, it’s one of the oldest cities in the U.S. The key role it played in the American Revolution is highlighted on the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walking route of historic sites that tells the story of the nation’s founding. One stop, former meeting house Faneuil Hall, is a popular marketplace. Things to see here are the New England Aquarium https://www.neaq.org/
and Fenway Park a baseball park located in Boston, Massachusetts near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home for the Boston Red Sox, the city’s American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Baseball franchise. It is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball.
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is always held on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics
Providence RI & New Haven CT
These was our last two city stops before returning home to Australia via JFK and Honolulu airports.
