We wrapped up our trek in the Big Apple spending our last day checking out the some tourist spots on offer. Number one on the list was Times Square, the hub of entertainment and the iconic landmark of the city. The first thing that hits you is the immense size of the billboards and flashing lights from the vibrant advertisement. After spending about five minutes here it is hard to come away not craving a Coke Cola after being coaxed in by the ads begging you to cash on in the American Dream. The Square seemed like it was bulging at [View Full Entry]

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Heading South from Boston we stopped off in Provincetown a small fishing town in Cape Cod. Benji had given us the choice to either go to the beach for the day or go on the Whale Watching boat trip that alighted in the harbour. I was disappointed because out of the group only myself and one other decided to go. The trip cost $35 that lasts 3-4 hours but I was hesitant to hand over this much money because I knew these animals were not performing moneys in a zoo and viewings are not guaranteed. I was reassured by the pledge [View Full Entry]

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My sole reason for wanting to visit Boston was because it was the home of my beloved program Ally McBeal. However there is no set destination for fans of the television program to visit, but simply walking the streets is enough to get a feeling that you have seen it before due to Boston’s distinct architecture. Cheers is another television program that the city is famed for ‘the bar where everyone knows your name’. You can visit the location that inspired the setting of the show and where the exterior shots were filmed. This can be found on Beacon Hill and [View Full Entry]

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www.maidofthemist.com Driving towards Niagara Falls was one of the most thrilling times of the trip. On the ride over from Pennsylvania it was my turn to ride in the front seat of the bus with Benji. It had been a very long six hour drive third day in the excited talk from the first two had died down and things had long turned stale riding in the bus. Driving on the New York State Thruway we passed over the Niagara River it was me who spotted the mist of the Falls in the distance creating a small rainbow in its [View Full Entry]

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We were not eased gently into travelling and it took 5 hours to reach our first destination. My first impression of the city was not what I expected. It could be compared to an American going to visit London, expecting Buckingham Palace, the streets to be paved with gold and then being dumped in Hackney. This maybe an unfair comparison but this is how it seemed. I had visions of white picket fences and mini mansions due to the city’s title of the country’s capital. Benji gave us a brief overview stating that Washington was a predominantly poor black community and [View Full Entry]

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The next stop on the itinerary is Gettysburg, the place that played host to the three day battle between the Southern Confederates and the Northern Unionists from July 1st -3rd 1863. The war started solely because southerners wanted to keep their way of life, using slaves to work on their farms and plantations. The people up North were in favour of freeing the slaves and using factories and trade to make their money lead to the war that started June 3rd 1863. The battle that took place here did not end the war but it holds the record for the most [View Full Entry]

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After leaving the safe confines of camp, I was unsure of myself and the vast expanse of America that lay ahead of me. With a lack of travelling experience I thought the safest way to travel America should be with other inexperienced travellers. To get a chance to meet other like minded people who also wanted to resist the repetition of just shopping in each city we visited. Suntreks concept is that you travel with a small group of people by mini bus and visit some of America’s most scenic spots, historic landmarks and learn the basics of camp living. The [View Full Entry]

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A great form of exercise or torture, you decide Since San Francisco is renowned for it steep streets and sloping hills, choosing to bike around the city's bay seemed like an unlikely mode of transport but alas, is a popular one. If you are cooped up in a in bus or car you simply won’t get the same effect as going over the Golden Gate Bridge with hoards of other bikers and having the unique feeling of freedom and being able to go off the beaten track. Me and my travelling partner Rain stopped off at Bay City Bike Hire situated [View Full Entry]

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San Francisco San Francisco is like a country within a country; with so many places and cultures this makes it one of America’s biggest melting pots. The cultural background is diverse spanning from the Chinese to Italians and this is reflected in the various museums, music and festivals around the city. The city's rich history dating back to the first pioneers of the California Gold Rush in 1849 and by 1869 San Francisco had grown into an international city with as many as 100,000 people taking up residence here a year to find their fortune. Many famous landmarks such as the [View Full Entry]

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San Francisco Downtown Hostel 312 Mason Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 788-5604 The Hostelling USA group has built itself a reputation in the backpacking world and with good reviews passed down by word of mouth they have to be doing something right. I decided to stay in one of the chains in San Fran was because after staying in independent hostels I found if a problem arises there was usually no higher authority to complain to, sometimes employees are left to their own devices and it seemed they saw customers as intrusion on having fun. Also after living in [View Full Entry]

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