fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2962 ]

[ SECRET POST #2962 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2962 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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[Final Fantasy IX]

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[Gaia Online]

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(Guardians of the Galaxy)

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[Batman: Arkham City]

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(Ming Na Wen)

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[Terry Pratchett]

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[The Fall]

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[Markiplier's Youtube Let's Plays]

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(Karen Gillan in Guardians of the Galaxy)

Notes:

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Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
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As some people may have seen, I am hoping to take a trip with my sister to NYC and Washington D.C. in 2016 (probably early May). And while that is far away, I am starting to get some planning done now because this will be the first trip I have ever planned myself (and to the biggest city BY FAR).

shortysc22 has been giving me some good advice and I just wanted to see if there is anyone else here that I can bother for the next year or so with questions.

These are some places I know I want to visit in NYC.
-Jewish Heritage Museum
-Museum of Moving Image
-American Museum of Natural History
-Bronx Zoo
-Minskoff Theatre (Lion King showing)

I have not looked at stuff for DC but I know I want to go to some of the Smithsonian stuff.

So, any advice would be awesome. I'll need to figure out public transportation (I have never been in a city big enough to have it). If you have any hotel recommendations (safe, clean, and around $300 [or less]), those would be great. Also, any cool places we should see or eat at!

Thanks again!

I've gone on a number of train trips, and DC is the most common place I've been for layovers (well, that and Chicago, but that's not the point). The Smithsonian locations open at 10 in the morning, so you'll have some time in the morning to wander around. Also, since the DC fare system makes next to no sense, you may want to buy a SmarTrip fare card in advance (see http://www.wmata.com/fares/?forcedesktop=1 for details). That way, you can have something with money already on it in advance, and you'll spend a little less time attempting to calculate exactly how much money you need to travel from stop to stop.

Thanks for the website link! I'll be bookmarking and reading through it. :D First glance is a bit confusing but thankfully it seems like an updated site.

I'll add about public transit- look into day passes for both if you plan on traveling a lot. NYC is easier to get away with a metro card because it's the same fare no matter where you go but if you'll be on and off the metro in DC a day pass is a better option.

DC- I love the American History museum. It's by far my favorite. If you don't have a fear of heights, check out the Washington Monument. You have to get tickets months in advance, IIRC so look into that. Same for Statue of Liberty, you need tickets far in advance. Also the Zoo in DC is nice and free.

Do you have a credit card with rewards points? See if they offer any special deals. When I went to Chicago and LA, I cashed in some points and got free tours. The Hop on Hop Off bus tour was great in LA and I remember doing one in DC as a kid and loving it.

Food-remind me when it gets closer. There's an amazing sushi place in NYC that is fairly reasonable and super neat called East on 26th St (I think)

I do have a credit card with reward points. I'll have to see what I can cash them in for!

I'll have to figure out more solidly what I want to visit in DC.

There's so much in DC too. Air and Space Museum and American History are the two I always visit. The memorials are all incredibly impressive. It was so hot the one time we went that we decided to go to the Jefferson Memorial at night and it was one of the prettiest sights, walking around the Tidal Basin with the sunset.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is neat to check out, but when I went last, they gave out time tickets in the morning so my parents went and got the tickets while my siblings and I had breakfast.

Arlington National Cemetery is a solemn place to visit and watching the changing of the guard is an impressive ceremony.

Walk, walk, walk. Another thing to possibly consider when booking flights is to figure out whether it's cheaper to fly between every where or take a train in between. For example book a flight from you to NYC then train it down to DC and fly out of DC. Or roundtrip in and out of NYC with train in between or roundtrip to DC and train it up. The train is a nice three hour train ride, so it's less hassle than getting to the airports. None of the airports in NYC are near downtown, they're all a good bit out of the way.

I've always found NYC rather overwhelming, but I deeply enjoyed the off-off-Broadway show we saw once! It was a minimalist version of Hamlet, very nice and affordable. Broadway is fun too, of course, but if you want something a little smaller....

--Miranda

I'm curious about your thoughts on the American History museum because to me it was so small and overrated. Although the entire west wing was closed when I was there. But I was so disappointed in the Civil Rights exhibit that was tiny and only covered two small parts of civil rights history.

I've been multiple times and I love the pop culture aspects of it. Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie so I always check out the ruby slippers and Archie and Edith's chair from All in the Family. I love the large dollhouse they have set up, Julia Child's kitchen, the hall of First Ladies and the war exhibit.

When I was there last (May 2012) there was a large transportation exhibit on the history of the US traveling westward and the development of trains and cars with the push westward. I liked the exhibit on the Vietnam War too, where they collected gifts left at the memorial and leave them on display.

Perhaps it is because the entire West Wing was closed and I don't know the museum well enough to know what the covered but I always felt it was a great museum that I'd spend with my family or friends.

Okay, that makes sense if you like the pop culture parts. Part of what bugged me was that I was expecting a history museum and felt like it was mostly a pop culture museum with a few other things thrown in. And the first lady's part at least when I went there mostly focused on their clothes.

I guess I just went expecting a museum with a lot of information on history and I didn't get that.

The Air and Space Museum in DC is always a lot of fun! As far as public transit goes, the Metro is reliable and there's a pretty good bus system. The information booths in the Metro stations will be able to help you figure out what'll work best for you while you're in town.

As far as food: if you're into Middle Eastern fare at all, you have to check out Amsterdam Falafelshop. It's so good. And pretty reasonable prices, too! Also, it's open ridiculously late, so it's awesome for a bite to eat after hanging in a bar, if you're into that, haha.

It'll probably help when I get a better idea of where I'll be saying and visiting.

I am not into Middle Eastern fare but that is because I have never had any! One of the things I am looking forward to is trying new food. Living in such small towns has really limited my food choices.

Falafel can be sort of an acquired taste! It's ground chickpeas/fava beans and some herbs/spices rolled into a ball and deep fried. I'm a very big fan, and that's my favorite place to go for it-- they serve it with warm pita and a huge slew of fresh toppings and sauces. The peanut sauce is like liquid crack, omg. It's so good.

gah stahp anon you're making me wish I were in NYC myself

>:(

As a NYer [all the years of my life], when you visit the Bronx Zoo, attempt to do so on a Wednesday, as it is free on Wednesdays. After you do so, please, go visit the REAL Little Italy in the Bronx, (you have o exit on the Fordham Rd side of the zoo. The best sandwich you'll ever eat will be from Tino's Deli, Palombo's has great cannolis, and Otto's (or is it Zero Otto Nove? I don't recall) is pretty good too.

Check out Roosevelt Island at night/evening (it is on 57th street? You take a tram and BAM you're in the middle of Manhattan and Queens. The view is gorgeous.

The Bryant Park Library (42nd street, aka library with the lions out front) is the most amazing library you may ever lay your eyes on. As is the Grand Central terminal. I mean, really, get out there, see everything, o whatever you please. The Brooklyn Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island out in Brooklyn (which has changed quite a bit, but still great).

Transport wise--the fare may go up to $2.75, if you're going to be there for a few days, and plan on going to MANY places, that will require public transport, get yourself a weekly metro card, usually is $30. The price might rise. But it's a good option, as it provides an unlimited number of rides for $30 vs 12 rides for $30. Also, there is a $1 charge for a new metrocard.

Enjoy the greatest city on earth--it is unlike anything you'll ever experience! :]

Thank you anon for the tips/recs. Is there anyway to contact you later if I have questions?

I love the National Gallery of Art in DC--it's free like all of the Smithsonians. When I went in November, the contemporary art branch was closed for renovations but I'm sure it'll be open by the time you go. A ton of famous artists including, I believe the only da Vinci in the United States. YMMV though, I don't know how much you like art. :)

Founding Farmers is a really fantastic, reasonably priced restaurant. It seems to be well liked by tourists and locals alike.

NYC restaurants:
Bonchon - Korean fried chicken. I know it's a franchise and probably not as good as fried chicken from actual Korea but it's still pretty good.
Ippudo - actually a chain from Japan I believe but I've never had bad ramen here. A broth with actual depth ~~unlike Momofuku, don't eat at Momofuku~~. People also really like Totto (chicken broth instead of pork) but I find Totto kind of meh.
Northern Spy Food Co - American contemporary, get the biscuit.
The Meatball Shop

I would also suggest MoMA & the Met but yeah idk if you're really into art.

Thank you for the food recs. I added them to my list. My sister wants to go to MoMA I know. I'll have to see which ones we will have time for.

For DC, I'd recommend the Air and Space, the Natural History Museum, and the Spy Museum. The American History Museum is not very good and mostly a waste of time. The Supreme Court is interesting, though that may just be me. The White House is kind of dull unless you like to hear about the artwork/interior design/etc. Definitely do the memorials. You can do them all in one day probably.

Also, don't do museums in DC on the weekend except smaller ones. The Smithsonians get horrifying on the weekends/on holidays.

Public transportation wise, DC is kind of unique in that the rate is different depending on the time of day and how far you are going. You have to swipe going both in and out. It is pretty expensive, but you save a little bit of money buy getting a Metro card.

Hotel-wise I'm not sure because the only place I stayed was a house for students who are studying/interning in DC.

Either bring lots of money or don't go near any of the museum shops because there is a lot of awesome, tempting stuff. :)

OH, also, food wise during the day food trucks are totally the way to go. Reasonably priced for the most part and an amazing variety. I've never been in any city that has such an amazing variety of food trucks.

This website shows where they are each day: http://foodtruckfiesta.com/washington-dc-food-truck-locator/

That website will also usually post tweets from the food trucks that show the menu for a given day.

SPY MUSEUM? Oooooh. I want to see that for sure!

Yeah, the DC transportation system seems weird. Maybe we will get lucky with a hotel room and be able to walk most places.

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[ SECRET POST #2962 ]

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