Coming to America (Cultural Learnings to Make Benefit Australia)

[Captain_Nick]

So .. I've been accepted into a three week intensive study program at Michigan State University (go Spartans!)

In a few months then, like Borat and Prince Akeem Joffer, I will be coming to America for the first time in my life.

I can't wait (!) Going to try a proper Chicago style deep dish pizza, not the poor imitations served in my country.

I've decided to spend a few days touristing around the country before the course begins. Trouble is, the US is about as big as Australia, and I know that I can't see all of Australia in just one week. So where should I go? Give us some top ideas.

I know this is a ridiculously broad question, but there are so many places I'd like to visit I'm having a hard time knowing where to start.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Depending on how far from Michigan you are willing to travel, I'd recommend spending some time in NYC - if only to compare its pizza to Chicago's.

In all seriousness, it's got something for just about every taste, pursuit or interest. Sure, Times Square is overly corporate ... but the clubs, bars, dives, museums, theaters and so on make spending a day or three in The City more than worthwhile.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

@Nick: I recommend as much baseball as you can handle.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

You should definitely go to NYC. It is a great city for tourists. You can walk everywhere in Manhatten and everything is interesting. Public transport everywhere if you want it, easy to understand, most of the island is a grid. Very unique compared to other cities, great fun, safe and will just blow you away. Plenty to do no matter what your interests. If you like walking you can see tons in one day and feel like you really experienced the place (as opposed to say, L.A. where you definitely need a car and a tolerance for traffic).

 

[Mary Ann]

Also, if you're going in a few months' time it sounds as if you won't be there during the tourist high season, which is another good reason for visiting NYC during your visit. I have to travel during school holidays, so I was in Times Square last August. I do NOT recommend anyone else do so if at all possible.

 

[1001001]

It really depends on how much time, money, etc. you have. It also depends on what you enjoy doing.

One thing I always tell people is that the United States has some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. So if you're an outdoors/nature type, go see the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Yellowstone, stuff like that.

If you're interested in big city stuff, fly into Los Angeles and check it out before you head to Michigan. Los Angeles has lots of great stuff to see and do. I can give you more specifics by PM if you want.

Having lived in Australia, I can tell you that you will not be disappointed by how good American pizza is. It is great. Australian pizza....not so much.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I'm going to be a contrarian and push back against NYC a bit (not that I don't think you should go, but it's worth keeping in mind). To me, one mistake foreigners make is underestimating the size of the United States. East Lansing to Chicago is 200 miles, which is long but manageable. East Lansing to NYC is something like 700 miles. Granted, Australia is a big place too, so the distances might be easier to picture (I think it's comparable to going from Melbourne to Sydney), but it's worth keeping in mind.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I agree that NYC is ideal. If you have the time, money and energy, consider also spending a couple days in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Beautiful mountains and desert, lots of art, Native American culture. Nice contrast with NYC and Chicago.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I was in Times Square last August. I do NOT recommend anyone else do so if at all possible.

Me neither. It's just too damn crowded in Times Square. Although I do like to sit on the huge bleacher section in the middle of the plaza and just watch the people go by. Plus, it helps that many of the streets around TS are closed to vehicular traffic now.

(Fun fact, though: There's buildings in TS that are pretty much empty. They're more valuable for the ad space on the outside than anything that could be on the inside. That alone should tell you something!)

Most of NYC, though, isn't too hard to navigate, even in the height of summer. Just remember not to stay in one place too long if you don't have a hat. I learned that the hard way one time.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I agree with Alidar Jarok: Chicago (222 miles/357 km from East Lansing) would be my primary focus, I think. Wrigley Field, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum of Natural History, Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank, Six Flags Great America (amusement park), and real Chicago pizza. And, despite what Ancient Mariner might have you believe, real NYC style pizza can be had there, and you can get good Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, and Carolina style ribs there, too, if you're into those. (A further hour southwest in Joliet, IL, you can see the actual car from the Blues Brothers, too, if you're a big fan of the movie.)

Also, closer to where you're going to be, anyway, it might be interesting to check out the GM truck assembly tour in Flint, MI - 48 miles (77 km) from East Lansing - and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI - about 88 miles (142 km) away from East Lansing. (40 miles - 65 km - more in the same direction as the GM tour.)

Also also, Riverside, IA ("birthplace of Captain Kirk") is about 6.5 hours from East Lansing, and Metropolis, IL, is about 8 hours away. Neither has much to recommend them aside from a tenuous connection to geekdom , but you'd be able to say that you'd been to them, see some American countryside on the way (warning, this mostly means dead boring corn, wheat, and soybean fields as far as the eye can see), and wandering around a bit in either of them would give you a feel for how middle America really is, if you're interested in that sort of thing. (Spoiler: Mostly, everyone either really enjoys hunting and fishing, or, they'd really like to move somewhere else like one of the cities. )

 

[RoJoHen]

I can't wait (!) Going to try a proper Chicago style deep dish pizza, not the poor imitations served in my country.

I really love that this was the first goal you decided to mention. I think you'll do just fine.

Just remember to tip your servers and bartenders. I've waited on a lot of foreigners, and Australians are notoriously cheap.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Just remember to tip your servers and bartenders. I've waited on a lot of foreigners, and Australians are notoriously cheap.

Those workers get minimum wage or better in Australia, not whatever the crap this stupidity we do here is. 10% is considered a nice gesture there. Here, I do 21% unless the service is bad (as the fault of the server not the kitchen).

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I agree with Alidar Jarok: Chicago (222 miles/357 km from East Lansing) would be my primary focus, I think. Wrigley Field, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum of Natural History, Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank, Six Flags Great America (amusement park), and real Chicago pizza.

You skipped US Cellular Field!

(srsly: If you're going to a city with two teams, why not try them both. And I like the Cell better than Wrigley, in fact. Better stadium, better team, and most importantly, better food!)

Also, Nick, if you go anywhere near Kansas City, you must try barbeque. Such as Arthur Bryant's.

 

[USS Triumphant]

You skipped US Cellular Field!

(srsly: If you're going to a city with two teams, why not try them both. And I like the Cell better than Wrigley, in fact. Better stadium, better team, and most importantly, better food!)

All well and good, but that park was opened in 1991. Wrigley goes back to 1914 and holds a significance in culture and history that goes well beyond the considerations you're citing.

If you lived in Chicago and could go to either on a regular basis, I see your point. But honestly, if you had just one chance to go to either one, which would you choose?

 

[RoJoHen]

Indeed. Gotta go to Wrigley and drink lots of Old Style!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If you only have time to visit one or the other? I suppose it's a toss-up, really. Although - and I mean no disrespect when I say this - Wrigley's not exactly in the best of shape. I really hope those damn rooftop owners pull the scorpions out of their asses and let the Cubs renovate the place!

@Nick: If you do visit Wrigley, be sure to sit in the Steve Bartman seat. Aisle 4, row 8, seat 113.

 

[RoJoHen]

Wrigley isn't in the best shape, no, but it is a cultural landmark of Chicago. I have never had more fun at a baseball game than when I've been at Wrigley Field. Cubs fans are just so much more lively and welcoming than any other fans I've been around.

US Cellular is a fine stadium to be sure, but that's not the reason to go.

And I should mention that I'm NOT a Cubs fan. I'm not even really a huge baseball fan. I'm just someone who occasionally enjoys a game.

Besides, where else are you going to experience the wonderful American sports tradition of peeing in a trough?!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, Wrigley is a worthwhile tourist attraction even if you don't like baseball. Everything else is a nice baseball field, but I wouldn't recommend going unless you're at least a baseball fan. Given the three hour drive to Chicago, go to Wrigley if any, look at the Ivy covered wall and drink beer.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Have any of you been to the Billy Goat Tavern? I completely forgot about it the last time I was in Chicago.

Oh, speaking of restaurants, though: Nick, I would NOT recommend Ed Debevics, unless you actually WANT the waitstaff to insult you.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Looking at flights from Australia to Lansing, it looks like they would all involve a layover (some that I saw were brief like 2 hours, some as long as 14 hours) in Los Angeles. So it might be worth picking out something you wouldn't mind seeing there, too, just in case you get a long layover.