you have NOT been to the states until you've....

[PeppyGPhiB]

My bf and I went to Tenn. and Kentucky a few weeks ago, which was my first trip to those states. While there, I did the following for the first time:

Ate at:
Waffle House (nasty! But I talked them into letting me take my coffee cup home)
White Castle (so gross I couldn't eat even one slider)
Sonic (pretty good)
Cracker Barrell (loved!)

Visited:
Graceland!
Broadway in Nashville
Grand Ole Opry
Beale Street in Memphis
Civil War battlefield (Shiloh)

Saw:
Ohio River
Mississippi River

It was a great trip!!!

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I had my first In N Out burgers this past summer when we (me and BF) visited LA and San Diego. It was so good. We also went to La Jolla and enjoyed the beach. I fell so in love. I go to south beach all the time, but nothing compared to that beach because there were so many families all actively doing stuff and there were THOUSANDS of people on MILES of beach. It's way better than any Florida beach I've been to just the energy and the family element of it all was great. Plus they have a side just for surfers and flecks of gold particles in the sand that shine and make everything so magical. I also went to Disneyland and California Adventure (which was super fun) but NOTHING compared to Disney World (which I go to every year). I loved California but I think it's whack that the clubs close at 2. (That's when people ARRIVE at clubs in Miami! And we leave when we FEEL like leaving) Some clubs do sunrise sessions and people stay from 12-12! But anyways, I loved California, it was my first trip west of anywhere but I missed the Chicken 'n Waffles unfortunately...But In N Out is the s**t!!! I need someone to ship me that overnight cos I miss it!!

[Jill1228]

You missed Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles? You are SO fired!

But yeah In N Out is da bomb!

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I had my first In N Out burgers this past summer when we (me and BF) visited LA and San Diego. It was so good. We also went to La Jolla and enjoyed the beach. I fell so in love. I go to south beach all the time, but nothing compared to that beach because there were so many families all actively doing stuff and there were THOUSANDS of people on MILES of beach. It's way better than any Florida beach I've been to just the energy and the family element of it all was great. Plus they have a side just for surfers and flecks of gold particles in the sand that shine and make everything so magical. I also went to Disneyland and California Adventure (which was super fun) but NOTHING compared to Disney World (which I go to every year). I loved California but I think it's whack that the clubs close at 2. (That's when people ARRIVE at clubs in Miami! And we leave when we FEEL like leaving) Some clubs do sunrise sessions and people stay from 12-12! But anyways, I loved California, it was my first trip west of anywhere but I missed the Chicken 'n Waffles unfortunately...But In N Out is the s**t!!! I need someone to ship me that overnight cos I miss it!!

[honeychile]

I know this thread is ancient, but another "only in the USA" item is seeing the Amish, preferably in Pennsylvania Dutch country, and eating at a down home Amish or Mennonite run restaurant.

Actually, my favorite is in Grantsville, Maryland - The Penn Alps. Friday nights are especially yummy (try the dried corn!), but even you don't eat, the Artisan Village is amazing! I've yet to leave without buying something!


ETA: And for heaven's sake, please be respectful, and don't try to take their pictures! It's terribly rude, and there are plenty of postcards you can buy instead. Even their dolls don't have facial features.

[Dionysus]

Lambert's is the SHITTIEST restaurant ever!

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Saw:
Mississippi River

It was a great trip!!!

What's so exciting about the MS River? It is shit brown, smelly, and has really bad currents.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

What's so exciting about the MS River? It is shit brown, smelly, and has really bad currents.

Did I say it was exciting? No, I didn't. I merely said I saw it for the first time. Given that I'm from the pacific northwest, it's a bit of a novelty to see the Mississippi...especially since you read and hear its name regularly. Everything over here gets the "...west of the Mississippi" disclaimer (ie The tallest building west of the Mississippi). That's all.

And given the title of this thread, I'd say the Mississippi River fits in perfectly here. It's definitely a part of American history.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

My bf and I went to Tenn. and Kentucky a few weeks ago, which was my first trip to those states. While there, I did the following for the first time:

Ate at:
White Castle (so gross I couldn't eat even one slider)

You didn't come far ENOUGH South if you ate at a White Castle instead of the Krystal!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

You didn't come far ENOUGH South if you ate at a White Castle instead of the Krystal!

I don't even know what that is. White Castle's smell seriously made me sick...the smell alone made me lose my appetite, but my bf made me at least try a bite. One bite too many.

I regret that we did not get to stop at Steak & Shake, either. I have no idea whether the place is good, I just loved the name.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by lauralaylin

...eaten at waffle house. I wish they had them in New England, I'd live there.

Waffle House was SOOOOOOOOOOO overrated. give me IHOP anyday.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Why you gotta go make me hungry for In-N-Out?

Best hamburgers at a national chain. Their fries are cut on-site, using fresh potatoes, and their milkshakes are made from milk and ice cream, not that powder that places like Sonic use.

Waffle House--but only very very late at night. It attracts the funniest people ever.

IN-N-OUT and SONIC... again, overrated. Sonic was plain, nothing spectacular. maybe it was the mustard on the burger? (apparently NY is the only place that doesnt do this? so ive been told)

and IN-N-OUT... maybe it was a little too fresh? the milkshake was decent, but the rest of it was meh.

Originally Posted by queequek

Oh, by the way, since you might speak French - we pronounce Des Moines as "di-moin", not with any funky true French accent. And not many people outside midwest know this, either

would the average person pronounce it "Dez Moy-nez" vs "De-Moin?"

Originally Posted by MaMaBuddha

stopped at white castles on 125th street, grab like 5 chess burgers then walked down the street passing at least 7 pan handlers, each asking from anything and everything from spare changes to some food. then to pay $2.00 to on the A,B,C or D train going to china town to buy whatever hand bag or wallet ever made by louie, gucci, d&G, CD, or coach that is in style to then walk in the pissed smelly streets to pay another $2.00 to take the bus cross town stuck in traffic to go to the other trains on the east side each are the 4, 5, or the 6 to get pay $11.00 for a movie theater were popcorn is $5.00, a drink is $4.50 and some damn goobers are 4.25 and on top of that every freaking high schooler is talking and cursing doing the whole movie of johnson's family vacation.

i love new york!!!!


all this just on a sunday after noon....wait until the evening

i agree with fellow nycer/sistergreek... screw the empire state building/statue of liberty.

really, its all about the street performers and the street hustlas. that's real new york.

oh, and im not really a baseball fan, but watch a Yankee game in a city bar... or anywhere. its weird how NYCers come together. hell, i bonded with this middle-aged Irish guy last night over that suck-azz loss as we folded laundry.