http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/coast2coast/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from coast2coast en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:29:54 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:29:54 BST 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 cra http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-267428.html 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 34 hours but I was hesitant to hand over this much money b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Cape-Cod/blog-267421.html 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 Bostonrsquos distinct architecture. Cheers is another television program that the city is famed for lsquothe bar wh http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-267420.html www.maidofthemist.comDriving 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 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Niagara-Falls/blog-267419.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Gettysburg/blog-266488.html 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 fence http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-266484.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-266470.html A great form of exercise or torture you decideSince 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 wonrsquot get the same effect as going over the Golden Gate Bridge with hoards of other bikers and having the unique fe http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-266074.html San FranciscoSan Francisco is like a country within a country with so many places and cultures this makes it one of Americarsquos 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 1 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-263055.html San Francisco Downtown Hostel312 Mason StreetSan Francisco CA 94102Phone 415 7885604The 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 usu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-263047.html Tips and ideas from the people who have been there and done itName Rain GuoAge 23Occupation Freelance traveller1. What is the best thing about attending campI get to do my favourite sporting activities be 12 again hanging with the kids. I love the notion that I could actually inspire or motivate and somehow leave a footprint in their lives. The other bonus is that some of the kids parents i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-262419.html If you scrap the glitz and glamour of modern day California and look beneath you can discover the real events that made it the state it is today. It is easy to forget that the Wild West was won here over 150 years ago and that Sam Brannan first struck gold in 1848. The gun slinging days of cowboys that we see in films are now gone. Where cowboys used to cross the perilous wilderness of California http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-262305.html For the weak stomached wanting to take a break from the Boardwalk another destination is the Santa Cruz Wharf. Here you can see the sea lions and harbour seals that come up to lie on the beams of the pier at the end of the day. The best place to view the sea lions is at the end of the wharf. There are special viewing areas where you can peer down and see the seals relaxing from the last warmth of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-262127.html Scream if you want to go fasterThe first thing you notice when walking towards Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the intimidating figure of the Giant Dipper Roller coaster looming ominously out over the sea. Celebrating its 100th birthday this year The Boardwalk boasts of being the oldest major seaside resort on the West Coast and the thought that the rides are now more rickety only adds to their thr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-262120.html I'm not one to stereotype...Going to California and not surfing is like going to Paris and not visiting Disneyland.The Americans have a stereotype of us English being crumpet demolishing tea drinkers as we believe that all Californians live for the beach the latter is most definitely true. First stop on the surfing tour of North Cal was Capitola Beach the oldest seaside resort on the West Coast. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-262099.html History Although now it is mainly a tourist destination and most of the shops represent this a lot of the buildings retain the characteristics of the original town that was built in 1869. Before this the location was used by Native Americans of the Soquel tribe but they were pushed out when Santa Cruz County was established in 1791. The Mexican era followed a prestigious Castro family owned the la http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-262094.html