Need some advices on my itinerary
Replies: 18 - Last Post: Nov 7, 2012 11:18 AM Last Post By: asolitarywalker
jump to
Need some advices on my itinerary
Hi all,Please excuse me if I post this in a wrong section. And please let me know if I do.
I am planning to cross the country by Amtrak. Here is my first version of Itinerary
Time span: Nov 17 ~ Nov 27 (11days)
Transportation:
East to west: Amtrak 15 day pass
West to East(back) : flight
Itinerary:
stay overnight in Chicago: 18, 19 -- sightseeing during 18, 19
- Chicago 20 - 2pm ~ Salt Lake 21 11:05 pm (1 Segment)
- Salt lake 23 - 11:30 pm ~ Sacramento CA 24 2:13pm (1 segments)
crush somewhere in Sacramento？
- Sacramento CA 25- 6:35 AM ~ Los Angels 25 - 9:00 PM (1 segments)
- Fly back from Los Angels on Nov 27
Does this Itinerary make sense at all? Any comment or suggestion is highly welcome. Thank you very much.
3
From Denver, you could take a skier's shuttlebus to one of the closer ski resorts, maybe Breckenridge, to spend your time in the mountains. There already is snow. Have you already seen Yosemite Valley? Sacramento is about 2-3 hours' drive from the Valley. There is an Amtrak shuttlebus from Merced. I think that there already is snow.4
Four-five cities in 15 days is perfectly reasonable.I’m not sure I’d choose Salt Lake City. My thoughts tend toward the Wyoming or Colorado Rockies although I’m not sure about (Amtrak and other) transport there. I have traveled the Rockies, but not enough to really know them. Others here know the Rockies and the desert better than I do.
Chicago is a cool place to visit but there are few/no major sites. It’s about people, places, culture and atmosphere, so plan accordingly. I love it, but I'm the kind of person who skips Paris (Eiffel tower, arc de triomphe, Notre Dame) and focuses on the left bank and hiking the French alps.
6
Four-five cities in 15 days is perfectly reasonable.
It would be if they were flying.The four days on the train take a big chunk of that time.
Chicago is a cool place to visit but there are few/no major sites
You're completely wrong on the "no" major sites.Whether you are right about "few" depends on your definitions of "few" and "major."
7
To gawkabout:Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I heard of that a lot. I will try to bring some dry food with me.
To bzookaj:
Thank you, bzookaj.
xSLC sounds more familiar to me. But I will reconsider between SLC and Denver since most ppl actually have the same suggestion as you.
I have been to Chicago before. But didn't really spend any time there. And I haven't been to LA.
I know my plan is tight, but I have short vocation this year. But still thank you for your advices and I will see whether to cut one place and spend more time in one city.
To trekker502:
I will check out Denver. Mountains sounds lot of fun though I don't really ski.
Yosemite Valley is definitely an good option. I didn't know that's so close to Sacramento. So I am quite like to spend more time there. Thank you so much.
To LongIslandBob:
Thank you for bringing up another two options. I love the Rockies, just not sure how much I can see with short stay. But yes, I am expecting to explore from the ppl, museum itself from Chicago.
To Kahua:
After all these valuable feedback. I will modify my itinerary.
Thank you so much, everyone.
8
Because I've been to San Frans, I am not gona spend time there.
crush somewhere in Sacramento？There are some hotels within walking distance of the AMTRAK station in Sacramento, in or near the historic Old Sacramento area. There is a hostel that you can walk to or take transit to. Old Sacramento area is worth a visit. There is a great railroad museum, a history museum with information on the Gold Rush, restaurants and bars, a nearby art museum, and more.
9
Thanks to everyone's suggestions. My updated plan is as below:Version 2:
Time Span: From Nov 16 afternoon ~ Nov 28
Itinerary:
Chicago: stay overnight in Chicago: 17, 18 -- sightseeing during 17, 18
Chicago 19 - 2:00 pm ~ Denver 20 7:15 Am (1 Segment)stay overnight in Denver 21 sightseeing during 21
Denver 21 - 8:05 Am ~ Sacramento CA 22 2:13pm (1 segments) (1 night, 2 days at least, I might spend two night here)Stay in the station for next train
Sacramento 23 - 6:40AM ~ Merced, CA 23 - 8:51AM, then minibus to Yosemite park
How should I spend the night
Sacramento CA 24- 6:35 AM ~ Los Angels 24 - 9:00 PM (1 segments) Sacramento 23 - 6:40AM ~ Merced, CA 23 - 8:51AM, then minibus to Yosemite park
How should I spend the night
stay overnight in LA 24,25,26 -- sightseeing during 25,26,27 (Save more time for LA in case of any delay in first part of journey)
Fly back from Los Angels on Nov 28Edited by: asolitarywalker
Edited by: asolitarywalker
10
To nutraxfornerves:Originally, I mistook the time when I arrive Sacramento 2:13 pm as 2:13AM. That's why i thought i would crush in the station.
But I do need a close place to stay cuz I am gonna take the 6:35Am train.
Thanks for your information. Do you happen to know that whether I need reservation for those close hotel or hostel as you mentioned or I should be able to find one by walking in?
Thank you very much.
Edited by: asolitarywalker
11
I would book ahead. Although the hotels or the hostel may not be full, you might not be able to get a room at the rate you want.There is baggage storage at the AMTRAK station if you don't want to carry all your bags around. You couldn't have slept there anyway--the station is closed between midnight and 4 AM.
Here are the nearby hotels.
If you do your own searching, do NOT select a hotel with an address on Jibbom St. Although it is close to the AMTRAK station, due to train tracks and a freeway, you need a car to get there.
12
Sorry if we disagree bzook,I really am.
But I've been to Chicago 4 times, It's a great town, but it's like New Orleans or Nashville or the left bank. No matter which site you skip you haven't "missed one."
The entire south of France (French Riviera included) could be described the same way. Great place to visit, a ton of fun and well worth it, but pretty much devoid of major sites.
I'm not dissing Chicago, I'm just explaining it.
13
Thanks again for everyone's opinion. I feel so lucky to find this site. Hopefully when I am back from the trip, I can share something as well.To bzookaj:
Sorry that I didn't notice your second reply at first. Yes, I understand that my schedule is tight. i actually understand that Chicago and Los Angles worth a dedicated visiting. But I don't have much time for that. So as long as my interinary can fit in, I would spend a rush time there for a first impression and visit them later wither friends.
To LongIslandBob:
Thanks for more information. Chicago is not far from NYC so I might stay more time next time I visit it.
To nutraxfornerves:
Thanks for the head up. That would be really helpful for ppl like me trying to book online.
For everyone, I've been wondering how people handles the conflict of the train delay and booking hotels. Cuz it looks like the delay could be really bad, in that case, how do you or other ppl reserve hotels? any good suggestion? I would spend more time doing research tonight. But if you can point me to some post or if you have some thought. I would be really appreciate.
14
Lucky you're not taking Amtrak from Houston to Austin and north. A 5 hour wait for connections middle of the night in San Antonio.Next trip, go to Austin, Texas.
