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Post by iancransonsknees on Aug 25, 2019 19:04:53 GMT
Fly out on Friday for 2 weeks.
Got a city pass for Chicago. Stopping on the magnificent mile for 5 days.
Got another 5 days in Portland, doing a couple of trips to the coast and mountains, got tickets for Portland Timbers and Iron Maiden.
Finish up in Toronto, no real expectations just scouting it out as it's easy to get a direct flight from Manchester as a route into North America.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
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Post by bathstoke on Aug 25, 2019 19:16:43 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it.
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Post by numpty40 on Aug 25, 2019 20:00:19 GMT
Fly out on Friday for 2 weeks. Got a city pass for Chicago. Stopping on the magnificent mile for 5 days. Got another 5 days in Portland, doing a couple of trips to the coast and mountains, got tickets for Portland Timbers and Iron Maiden. Finish up in Toronto, no real expectations just scouting it out as it's easy to get a direct flight from Manchester as a route into North America. Any advice greatly appreciated. Toronto is a great city, go to Toronto Islands and as you're so close if you've never been before do the Niagara Falls. A bit touristy but they are amazing. Niagara on the Lake is well worth a visit as well. |
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Post by lordherefordsknob on Aug 25, 2019 20:16:45 GMT
You're not doing this properly, you have to ask where the best bars are to watch Stoke in these cities.
Unless we're that bad you couldn't arsed to watch us out there.😂
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Post by iancransonsknees on Aug 26, 2019 7:22:50 GMT
You're not doing this properly, you have to ask where the best bars are to watch Stoke in these cities. Unless we're that bad you couldn't arsed to watch us out there.😂 I was bemoaning the fact that the Birmingham match (the only game I miss) was an away game and not a home match. They don't deserve the steam off my piss, they're worse than Kamara's side. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Aug 26, 2019 7:29:03 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. So's Portland by the look of it. But I'd still rather go there than Paris. Funny that doesn't get discussed either. Either way it's got to be better than suffering Europe and a sun lounger watching fat middle aged women scream at their kids whilst they're roasting themselves in the sun, trying to sleep off the night before and a full english. |
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Post by bathstoke on Aug 26, 2019 7:43:41 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. So's Portland by the look of it. But I'd still rather go there than Paris. Funny that doesn't get discussed either. Either way it's got to be better than suffering Europe and a sun lounger watching fat middle aged women scream at their kids whilst they're roasting themselves in the sun, trying to sleep off the night before and a full english. Whilst Paris may have its problems, they have guns in Yanksville & loads of fat women. Them Parisian women take V good care of themselves. I once heard a story that they cold shower their tities everyday to keep them perky! |
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Post by Northy on Aug 26, 2019 9:19:08 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. So's Portland by the look of it. But I'd still rather go there than Paris. Funny that doesn't get discussed either. Either way it's got to be better than suffering Europe and a sun lounger watching fat middle aged women scream at their kids whilst they're roasting themselves in the sun, trying to sleep off the night before and a full english. Didn't see any of that in Cologne or Dusseldorf recently, you're obviously going on the wrong type of holidays  |
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Aug 26, 2019 22:03:32 GMT
Fly out on Friday for 2 weeks. Got a city pass for Chicago. Stopping on the magnificent mile for 5 days. Got another 5 days in Portland, doing a couple of trips to the coast and mountains, got tickets for Portland Timbers and Iron Maiden. Finish up in Toronto, no real expectations just scouting it out as it's easy to get a direct flight from Manchester as a route into North America. Any advice greatly appreciated. Toronto is a great city, go to Toronto Islands and as you're so close if you've never been before do the Niagara Falls. A bit touristy but they are amazing. Niagara on the Lake is well worth a visit as well. Plenty to do in and around Toronto. All of the above plus wine country pretty close and the Bluejay's (baseball) are still playing. They could win or get pounded as they are young team going through a rebuild. Toronto FC still playing too. |
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Post by mtrstudent on Aug 27, 2019 15:53:17 GMT
Loved Portland, went outside footy season but a lot of the bars we went to had Timbers signs up so hopefully you'll get some good atmosphere. Americans always recommend: Voodoo donuts, food trucks, Stumptown coffee, Powell's bookstore. We liked Aria Gin (can walk there, they had $5 cocktail tasting), Forest Park (can walk or bus there, it has giant redwoods and made me think of Jurassic Park), driving the Pacific Coast Highway (the most beautiful road I've ever seen) and Deschutes Brewing (one of my favourite US brewers, they don't just do strong IPAs and they had some cask too). There are a bunch of other breweries and bike paths you can rent a ride to try out as well. People talk shit about Portland, but it's much safer than most US cities. Murder rate about half the US average, but the US is a dangerous and violent place compared with e.g. London or Manchester. |
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Post by harryburrows on Aug 27, 2019 16:14:09 GMT
My cartilage split in Toronto on the day of bandaid 1985 . On secondment there , came home on crutches after 1 week 😡
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Post by Mason_Stokie on Aug 28, 2019 4:45:59 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. Probably posting this too late for you to see it. But Chicago is a fantastic city. Been for a few weekends with the wife and family. Go to Nay Pier. Take a boat tour. Eat at Portillos and Giodarnos. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 2, 2019 9:46:15 GMT
Cheers to everyone who replied. Got a couple of days left in Chicago.
Can only reiterate what's been said so far (apart from Bath's utter scaremongering bollocks and politically motivated, small minded prejudices) it's an outstanding world city. Spotlessly clean, endlessly interesting, fascinating mix of old and new, very easy to navigate. Feels safer than places like Manchester or London and is ridiculously family friendly. The environment is a fantastic mix with the urban areas bordering the lake and beachfronts.
Without getting into any politics the locals are very proud of the place and their sports teams and there appears to be a genuine sense of community, in part generated by this.
I can't recommend it enough and will definitely make the time and effort to return. I'd go so far as to suggest it's a great alternative to try over NYC, less demanding and not as claustrophobic as there.
Got a few more things to tick off on here then on to Portland on Wednesday. Thanks again to everyone for their tips, great help with any pre-visit research.
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 2, 2019 9:49:30 GMT
Loved Portland, went outside footy season but a lot of the bars we went to had Timbers signs up so hopefully you'll get some good atmosphere. Americans always recommend: Voodoo donuts, food trucks, Stumptown coffee, Powell's bookstore. We liked Aria Gin (can walk there, they had $5 cocktail tasting), Forest Park (can walk or bus there, it has giant redwoods and made me think of Jurassic Park), driving the Pacific Coast Highway (the most beautiful road I've ever seen) and Deschutes Brewing (one of my favourite US brewers, they don't just do strong IPAs and they had some cask too). There are a bunch of other breweries and bike paths you can rent a ride to try out as well. People talk shit about Portland, but it's much safer than most US cities. Murder rate about half the US average, but the US is a dangerous and violent place compared with e.g. London or Manchester. Any experience on the tram system? Planning on using it to get about. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 2, 2019 9:54:28 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. I'll be completely honest here, so far from my personal experience there is absolutely fuck all for him to talk about. If you're that small minded that you believe everything you read in The Guardian or whatever leftist propaganda you swallow you must be an absolute ball of fun in real life. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 2, 2019 10:05:29 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. Probably posting this too late for you to see it. But Chicago is a fantastic city. Been for a few weekends with the wife and family. Go to Nay Pier. Take a boat tour. Eat at Portillos and Giodarnos. Did the Lobster Festival on the Navy Pier this weekend. Absolutely buzzing down there. The river architecture cruise was well worth the money too. I couldn't fathom why you'd do it at night, until I saw the skyline lit up in the evening driving in from the airport. Massive jazz festival in Millennium Park yesterday, a wander around MOMA and a trip up the John Hancock building took up most of the day. Anyone into their NFL the first College football matches have been played this weekend. The coverage is excellent. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 2, 2019 10:08:53 GMT
So's Portland by the look of it. But I'd still rather go there than Paris. Funny that doesn't get discussed either. Either way it's got to be better than suffering Europe and a sun lounger watching fat middle aged women scream at their kids whilst they're roasting themselves in the sun, trying to sleep off the night before and a full english. Didn't see any of that in Cologne or Dusseldorf recently, you're obviously going on the wrong type of holidays To keep Bath happy I'll just go on a Romanian Road trip in my Trabant like Jezza did this summer. I'm absolutely fucked come the purges and pogroms if McDonnell gets his puppet in power. |
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Post by musik on Sept 2, 2019 10:24:12 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. Now I'm glad I didn't go this summer. |
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Post by bathstoke on Sept 2, 2019 10:28:28 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. I'll be completely honest here, so far from my personal experience there is absolutely fuck all for him to talk about. If you're that small minded that you believe everything you read in The Guardian or whatever leftist propaganda you swallow you must be an absolute ball of fun in real life. It was a 60minute program that was covering it... |
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Post by felonious on Sept 2, 2019 11:20:21 GMT
Chicago is a warzone. Funny Trump doesn’t discuss it. I'll be completely honest here, so far from my personal experience there is absolutely fuck all for him to talk about. If you're that small minded that you believe everything you read in The Guardian or whatever leftist propaganda you swallow you must be an absolute ball of fun in real life. Don't knock it, a small mind still counts as a mind |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 2, 2019 12:29:56 GMT
I'll be completely honest here, so far from my personal experience there is absolutely fuck all for him to talk about. If you're that small minded that you believe everything you read in The Guardian or whatever leftist propaganda you swallow you must be an absolute ball of fun in real life. It was a 60minute program that was covering it... That's okay then, clearly it must be true because the program makers wouldn't have an agenda or anything. Anyway, just off to battle my way through the trenches and skip past the IEDs to get my breakfast. Mustn't forget my ID to get through the checkpoints. |
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Post by Not_Nick_H on Sept 3, 2019 11:41:20 GMT
Cheers to everyone who replied. Got a couple of days left in Chicago. Can only reiterate what's been said so far (apart from Bath's utter scaremongering bollocks and politically motivated, small minded prejudices) it's an outstanding world city. Spotlessly clean, endlessly interesting, fascinating mix of old and new, very easy to navigate. Feels safer than places like Manchester or London and is ridiculously family friendly. The environment is a fantastic mix with the urban areas bordering the lake and beachfronts. Without getting into any politics the locals are very proud of the place and their sports teams and there appears to be a genuine sense of community, in part generated by this. I can't recommend it enough and will definitely make the time and effort to return. I'd go so far as to suggest it's a great alternative to try over NYC, less demanding and not as claustrophobic as there. Got a few more things to tick off on here then on to Portland on Wednesday. Thanks again to everyone for their tips, great help with any pre-visit research. Cheers for this ICK. Glad Chicago was good - it was a neck-and-neck thing between there and NY as to where to go with the kids for a special trip this year. Chicago was an early contender and I still want to go - just couldn't get flights from Manchester to beat the deal we got for NY. Kids loved it and there is never enough time to see what you want to in NY, but Chicago is still a definite "one day we'll go" trip. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 3, 2019 12:36:57 GMT
Cheers to everyone who replied. Got a couple of days left in Chicago. Can only reiterate what's been said so far (apart from Bath's utter scaremongering bollocks and politically motivated, small minded prejudices) it's an outstanding world city. Spotlessly clean, endlessly interesting, fascinating mix of old and new, very easy to navigate. Feels safer than places like Manchester or London and is ridiculously family friendly. The environment is a fantastic mix with the urban areas bordering the lake and beachfronts. Without getting into any politics the locals are very proud of the place and their sports teams and there appears to be a genuine sense of community, in part generated by this. I can't recommend it enough and will definitely make the time and effort to return. I'd go so far as to suggest it's a great alternative to try over NYC, less demanding and not as claustrophobic as there. Got a few more things to tick off on here then on to Portland on Wednesday. Thanks again to everyone for their tips, great help with any pre-visit research. Cheers for this ICK. Glad Chicago was good - it was a neck-and-neck thing between there and NY as to where to go with the kids for a special trip this year. Chicago was an early contender and I still want to go - just couldn't get flights from Manchester to beat the deal we got for NY. Kids loved it and there is never enough time to see what you want to in NY, but Chicago is still a definite "one day we'll go" trip. Still here, it's my last day. Having experienced both I'd definitely make the effort to come back to Chicago, I'd only do NYC if it made sense for flights etc. Plenty to see and do here, people are friendly, food and drink is outstanding. Still struggling to find the warzone that Bath is insistent on existing here because 'he saw it on the telly.' Looks like you had decent weather there, been great up until this morning,now we've got a thunderstorm. |
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Post by Not_Nick_H on Sept 3, 2019 12:46:17 GMT
Cheers for this ICK. Glad Chicago was good - it was a neck-and-neck thing between there and NY as to where to go with the kids for a special trip this year. Chicago was an early contender and I still want to go - just couldn't get flights from Manchester to beat the deal we got for NY. Kids loved it and there is never enough time to see what you want to in NY, but Chicago is still a definite "one day we'll go" trip. Still here, it's my last day. Having experienced both I'd definitely make the effort to come back to Chicago, I'd only do NYC if it made sense for flights etc. Plenty to see and do here, people are friendly, food and drink is outstanding. Still struggling to find the warzone that Bath is insistent on existing here because 'he saw it on the telly.' Looks like you had decent weather there, been great up until this morning,now we've got a thunderstorm. Weather was very hot first couple of days: 31+c , the baseball game we went to got rained off in the 6th inning - torrential stuff. Last two days was just nice - around 25 degrees. Enjoy your last day in C-town mate. |
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Post by mattintheprem on Sept 3, 2019 22:35:57 GMT
Enjoy Portland, if your trip to the coast passes through McMinnville then the indoor Wings & Waves Water Park is worth a visit if you have kids in tow. You can't miss it as its just off the I-18 and has a Jumbo Jet on the roof with water slides coming out of the sides of the plane, amazing place. The Vineyards around McMinnville are vast as well, lots of the Californian growers brought big chunks of land up there & moved their operations due to the lack of rain in California.
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 5, 2019 1:41:59 GMT
Just got to Portland.
It's clearly where every Guardian reader wished they lived. Fixed gear bikes, motorised scooters for hire on every street corner. Every girl serving you wishes she was Wednesday Addams.
I'm surprised by their homeless problems, I'd have thought the bleeding hearts amongst them would have adopted and taken one in each then instacunted the shit out of it for likes or some other shit.
Bath's mangina would be all of a tingle just breathing the same air.
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