HELP!!! Visiting LA, Las Vegas, Washington and NY.

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I'm with Jeff G. I really enjoy L.A. and thinks it's a very with-it place. My sister has lived in L.A. proper for nearly 25 years and now describes the Bay Area, where she moved from, as "provincial" in comparison. I tend to agree. The only thing L.A. lacks is the setting of natural beauty we have here in the Bay Area, but that is definitely something that's in the eye of the beholder.

Thomas, follow Jeff's advice and your boss and his family will have plenty to do and get a good feel for the area. Some of the simplest pleasures will help them relate to where they've been when they see it on TV or in a movie after they've visited.

Meanwhile, if they love a visual assault via uninspired diamondvision, they are going to enjoy Vegas. They should forget about seeing any artful and magical neon displays. They have all but vanished and have been replaced by boring jumbotron advertisements up and down the strip. The most fun aspect of Vegas is gone, and traffic on and around the strip has become ridiculous. I hope they haven't budgeted a lot of time for Vegas. It's better spent elsewhere.

Ralph
 
Provincial is a good word for the Bay Area, although if you step beyond S.F., "cultural wasteland" is how I prefer to describe it, at least compared to southern CA.

As for Lee's sideswipe at L.A., I wonder how many tourists have traveled from Germany to see Ft. Worth Texas. In fact I wonder if any tourists have ever traveled from Germany to see Ft. Worth Texas.
 
Did not say Ft Worth was worth visiting

if is was not for work I would NOT be here for sure!
 
Las Vegas

We went to Las Vegas last month and stayed in the Paris Hotel, booked through Expedia.com. You can book on line or call them up. I love the Paris, the pool area is really nice, and the rooms are above the standard of some Vegas Hotels. It is located on the Strip pretty much in the heart of things. Be prepared to walk, each block is one mile long. There is a bus line, a monorail and taxis to get around too. It is fun to see the various hotels each designed to represent a theme. One downer, the Paris charges $15.00 for wi-fi access, as do most hotels there. One thing I loved is the Hover Dam tour. The dam is close by and you can take an elevator all the way down and see the generators. You can also go for a quick trip to the Grand Canyon, although we went there and stayed for two nights.

Martin
 
P.S.

Being into car culture, it's hard not to like L.A. and there is plenty to see and do in that regard not only in museums.

One thing they might want to do is go on line and pull up the so-called "secret menu" for In-N-Out Burger and hit one of those while they're in the L.A. area. There are better burgers to be had, but In-N-Out is an icon and institution, very symbolic of L.A., and they have souveneir tee shirts and other stuff. Cheap thrills if that's what they're looking for.

Ralph
 
Thanks, Martin

After reading your post, I realized I forgot about Hoover Dam--well worth a side trip and a tour. To get to the dam, you'll have to go through Boulder City--one of the few Nevada towns where gambling is illegal! But it has a Mayberry small town feel that's a different vibe from Las Vegas.
DogBoy's comment that Vegas is pretty "normal" once you leave the Strip is right. During the 1990's and early years of the new century, there was a building boom and new communities went up almost overnight--including Summerlin (northwest Vegas), Mountain's Edge (southwest) and the Green Valley area of Henderson, in the southeast Vegas Valley. Most visitors stay on or around the Strip, so they never get a chance to see where we normal folk live.
 
Thomas - Try This

Having lived for many years in all the places you mention (Except Vegas) and 17yrs in the travel business, here is a suggested Itinerary for your boss's trip to the US
Plans to make before you go:
Hotel Reservations for All Cities
NY - Look to see what Broadway Shows might be of interest / Entrance times for Statue of Liberty / Behind the Scenes tour for Radio City Music Hall.
Wash DC - Check with the American Embassy to make arrangements for a White House Tour - must be done in advance.

NY - Transportation - Cab or Subway, Buses are ok in NY but tend to be victims of traffic and take forever.

Day one NYC - Suggested Hotel - Sofitel 57th St - Good Value, Central, we should talk about the expectation for the hotels chosen

NY in Summer is hot and humid - plan to be comfortable. -
a good thing to remember as well when you are sight seeing, Hotel Lobbies are an oasis. Beautiful, comfortable, and a nice restroom available. Gauge your first day depending on your flight times, here is an example:

10:45 pm Depart Rio de Janeiro (GIG)
Arrive New York (JFK) 7:00 pm +1 day Wed 24-Jun
Duration: 21hr 15mn

Start with your immediate surroundings in Mid Town, walk around and see your neighborhood

Trump Tower 57th and Fifth
Bloomingdales 59th and Lex
Central Park South same as 59th st
Wolf's Deli for Lunch 57th and 6th
Drop off any shopping back at the hotel

Then off to time square to get Broadway tickets:
TKT Booth in Times Square
Located "under the red steps" In Father Duffy Square on Broadway and 47th Street.

Hours:
For evening performances:
Monday - Saturday: 3pm - 8pm Sundays: 3pm until one-half hour before the latest curtain time being sold.

For matinee performances:
Wednesdays and Saturdays: 10am - 2pm (Please note: no evening tickets are sold from 10am to 2 pm at Times Square) Sundays: 11am - 3pm
Plan your time around the tickets you get.

Suggested Days:

Option 1
Downtown - Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Ground Zero, Battery Park, Century 21 Original Discount Clothing Store is there. A MUST!!!
Depending on how much you buy, you can go back to the hotel and drop everything off and then go to Rockefeller Center and Radio City Tour
Or go over and have lunch in China Town, back to hotel to rest, then dinner and or theater that night.

Option 2
Gauge your day depending on your theatre arrangements - Pick up with Rockefeller Center, check our Saks Fifth Avenue across the street, St Patrick's Cathedral next door, then miander up Madison Aveune. Check out all the little stores, very fancy, making your way up the the Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Mueseum, The Whitney Museum.

Option 3
Columbus Circle, see the Time Warner Center, Beautiful, then a walk up Columbus Ave and see the West Side. Walk up see everything in all the little shops, when you get to 79th street, cut over to Central Park, 79th and Central park West is the sight of the Dakota, famous Apartment Building in the City, when John Lennon was shot, walk into the park and see Strawberry Fields memorial put together by Yoko Ono.
Dinner perhaps:
At 67th and Central Park West (CPW), Café Des Artists - you won't be sorry

Option 4
A night in the Greenwich Village! - A must, walking around seeing the crowd, all the small crooked streets. Real City History. Really fun.
Washington DC - The subway is KING in DC - it is clean, safe, and fast. Cabs are ok too, but they can be expensive.
The Train Accela train from NY Penn Station to Washington DC Union Station
Hotel recommendation - The Willard, The L'enfant Plaza, - very central location for sight seeing.
Comfortable Shoes and a metro pass are all you need to see the our Nation's Capital. It is hot and humid in the Summer.
More museums and Govt institutions that you can imagine, Take a ride to Georgetown, Bars, Restaurants
and if you go anywhere, go to Sequoia 3000 K St. NW, Washington, DC | 202-944-4200 Giant Glass Restaurant overlooking the Potomac
River - food is great and you will have a memorable experience.
To see the Dept of the Treasury and the Mint, you need to go very early to pick up tickets, go early get the tickets and get in line.
Plan on 2 days to see the Smithsonian if you want to go in every Gallery, there are many, it takes time and you will want to sit down and eat at some point.
The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery, American Craft Museum, The Old Post Office (good for a snack) Library of Congress. All worth a visit.
Hopefully you can get in to see the White House. It is beautiful and worth the trouble.
DuPont Circle is a great part of town with many shops and restaurants.
There is so much to see.

Then a flight to Las Vegas.
The Hilton is a little removed from what you want to see there you may spend a lot of time going back and forth, I have stayed there and found that to be the case. Try the Venetian, or the Bellagio if you want the real Vegas treatment. Dripping in gaudy opulence. Makes the stay worthwhile. There are a million great shows and restaurants there, lay out at the pool, enjoy yourself, skip the gambling, save your money for the credit card bill when you get home! The Eiffel tower restaurant in the Paris hotel is fantastic if you are in a touristy mood. If sushi is your thing, Sushi Roku, in the Caesar's Forum Shops is amazing

The a short flight to Los Angeles. - plan on renting a car and using it. The subway here is great, but very limited
(If you have been to Disneyworld in Florida, you might want to Skip Disneyland, and there is enough to see without going there as well. If not, you should plan 1 long day to go see Disneyland and California Adventure Parks)
I would check out what events are happening at the Hollywood Bowl, the Greek Theatre, and the Universal Ampitheatre.
These are all open air venues PERFECT for an evening concert or play.
1hr later, land LAX, pick up a rental car and off to you hotel in Santa Monica.
Recommended - Casa Del Mar - on the ocean, or Sheraton MiraMar.
Spend a day walking around town, going to the beach, shopping. A beautiful city on a great stretch of beach. Take the car to Venice to see the boardwalk with all the Mr. Universe wannabees.
Suggested Days:

Option 1
Hollywood and Highland Center for lunch (The sight of the Academy Awards) many good places to eat with Grauman's Chinese Theatre next door, walk Hollywood Bl and see what stars you recognize, across the street is the Max Factor Hollywood Museum. If you happen to be there on Sunday, The Beverly Hilton for Brunch. The International Ballroom is the sight of the Golden Globe awards. It is never locked you can walk in a see what is going on. The brunch there is not to be believed. The Hotel was recently redone to the original 50's décor, and for a crowd that appreciated vintage, you will not be disappointed. You may even want to stay here instead, it is very central. Just a stone's throw from Rodeo Drive! Park and walk and check it all out!
Also just driving thru the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, the houses are beautiful.

Option 2
The Getty Museum and Malibu can be a day. There are 2 Getty Museums, one atop a mountain, breathtaking and fabulous as a structure, not to mention the collection. And another on Pacific Coast Hwy in Malibu. I would suggest:
First to the Adamson Tile house on Malibu Beach

Welcome to Adamson House

Adamson House
www.adamsonhouse.org
- first settlement in Malibu, owners of the original Malibu Colony. Built in 1920's it is a True gem on the shores of the Pacific
Then on to the Getty Villa in Malibu
Then up Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) to Gladstones for Lunch
Then on to the Getty Museum on Getty Center Drive off the 405 Frwy.
Dinner later and then rest up for the next day

Option 3
Warner Bros VIP Studio Tour Burbank CA
www2.warnerbros.com

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood | Los Angeles, California

Explore Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood with tours from $70. Experience Hollywood history, enjoy our new Storytelling Showcase, and celebrate diverse storytelling.
www2.warnerbros.com www2.warnerbros.com
Info on their Website. I would suggest an early tour there and lunch,
then on to Pasadena (Home of the Rose Parade) to the Huntington Library and the incomparable Gardens and Museums there.
www.huntington.org

Welcome to The Huntington | The Huntington

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a tourist attraction and collections-based educational and research institution.
www.huntington.org www.huntington.org

There are a million more things to do in all these great cities, this is just off the top of my head. I would be happy to entertain any questions you might have.
 
Gee I dunno.

In my younger travels, I've been to LA, Long Beach, etc. I NEVER felt unsafe on the streets there. There are definitely some places in SF I would not go after dark - or even in broad daylight. Way back in the 70's I visited Manhattan, and learned that in some areas there was even a safe and a dangerous side of the same street, and I observed that one fine evening (the thugs were on the other side of the street, a wide street, but I had my tennis shoes on and knew I could outrun them, they knew it too).

There are also places in Dublin I was warned not to venture into after dark (the main park, as I recall).

Japan, I felt safe anywhere, although I did get some strange looks when I boarded a tiny antique (pre wwii) trolley car in Matsuyama. I later learned that it was a treasured remembrance as it was one of the few pre-wwii relics that escaped the near total bombing we subjected Japan to during that war.

American greyhound buses? I think they are ok once you get out of the big cities. But I would prefer Amtrak if one is not going to go by car or plane.

And I'm not sure that anyone coming from Brazil would be bowled over by the summer heat in LA, Chicago, New York, etc. Maybe Phoenix, but they'd probably love the fact that it's a dry heat.
 
Safety is to a large extent something

You create for yourself - or you don't. When my boyfriend found out I was walking from the library in Chestnut up through Lincoln Park to meet him every evening I got a lecture delivered at 120db that basically consisted of:
Wrong skin color
Wrong language
Wrong caliber gun (apparently anything smaller than an 18" turret mounted was too small)
Definitely wrong place, wrong time and just plain wrong.

So we compromised. I waited for him at the library. He never walked through the park except in uniform and armed and with two other policemen who lived in our direction...

But sure, every American city has its safer and less safe areas. A consequence of treating minority groups like dirt for too long.

Still, San Francisco felt safe. I stayed out of Franklin Heights after everyone told me I was a nut case. I didn't go walking by the Presidio at night alone (there was a group of soldiers who were luring and beating up on gay men at that time around there). I never, ever made the mistake of spitting out chewing gum or throwing anything down on the sidewalk in the Marina...those Italian housewives could have taught the Green Berets a trick or two...

But the dangers in San Francisco were manageable. Now, when I lived in NYC, I did pay attention to what my colleagues told me and never went out alone. But we were in a not so safe area of the city.

I don't think anyone from Brazil will be overwhelmed by the heat and humidity, that is true - but I think many visitors underestimate it, so it is always worth mentioning. Just like people traveling from sea level to over 2,000M should take it easy the first day or so.
 
At the risk of annoying people, I will say that Brazil is a very large country with many different climates. And yes, people from there *can* be overwhelmed by the heat/humidity here. It just depends on where in US we're talking about and where in Brazil they came from.
 

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