Advises, must do, should see things in AL, Miami, NY

Hello there

I ll be visiting USA in september with a close friend.

First we will stay a few days in birmingham Alabama for a friends wedding and visiting him over there.

Then we plan to spend 3-4 days in Miami.

And then about 4-5 days in NY.

I wanna know what do you people reccomend for miami beaches, alabama places, ny places etc.

Any kind of feedback will be appriciated.

Thank you for helping.

Have a nice day.

Miami==South Beach
NY=Staten Island ferry

In Miami, South Beach. South Beach has really good nightlife. Don't forget to visit Mangos' The table top dancers are good. I think you can organise trips into the swamps of Florida from Miami too. Pretty good if you want to get up close and personal with an alligator!

Key West is something special also for a day trip. Driving across the Overseas Highway is spectacular though it is a long journey for just a day trip. We had 5 days in Miami and spent the fourth night in Key West. We checked into Crowne Plaza la Concha on Duval Street and the whole trip was amazing.

Birmingham is a beautiful place. We toured the city and it brought us back to Dr. Kings era and the amazing fight for Civil Rights.

In New York, all the tourist spots are good, though i particularly liked the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islands. I also enjoyed Central Park.

I think Coney Island in Brooklyn will still be in operation and it's worth the 45 minutes journey out on the train.

The Empire State Building was a big disappoinment for me, and i did it by day and night.

Hope this helps.

Quoting sparky2009

In Miami, South Beach. South Beach has really good nightlife. Don't forget to visit Mangos' The table top dancers are good. I think you can organise trips into the swamps of Florida from Miami too. Pretty good if you want to get up close and personal with an alligator!

Key West is something special also for a day trip. Driving across the Overseas Highway is spectacular though it is a long journey for just a day trip. We had 5 days in Miami and spent the fourth night in Key West. We checked into Crowne Plaza la Concha on Duval Street and the whole trip was amazing.

Birmingham is a beautiful place. We toured the city and it brought us back to Dr. Kings era and the amazing fight for Civil Rights.

In New York, all the tourist spots are good, though i particularly liked the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islands. I also enjoyed Central Park.

I think Coney Island in Brooklyn will still be in operation and it's worth the 45 minutes journey out on the train.

The Empire State Building was a big disappoinment for me, and i did it by day and night.

Hope this helps.

It is wpnderful sparky thank you very much.

I know it will sound arrogant but I still have to ask, do they let people smoke on top of empire states? and why was it disappointing?

Hiya, glad i could help. I'm not a smoker myself, but as far as i know, smoking is prohibited in most if not all public places in the USA.

I just felt it was a disappointment because after all the queuing, we basically only got to see the tops of the surrounding buildings, and by night, i found it not to be great either.

I haven't done Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Centre but i hear that this is better than the Empire State Building.

Times Square is chaotic but a must see also. You should also make time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and check out South Street Seaport. Both offer panoramic views in my eyes.

Quoting sparky2009

Hiya, glad i could help. I'm not a smoker myself, but as far as i know, smoking is prohibited in most if not all public places in the USA.

I just felt it was a disappointment because after all the queuing, we basically only got to see the tops of the surrounding buildings, and by night, i found it not to be great either.

I haven't done Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Centre but i hear that this is better than the Empire State Building.

Times Square is chaotic but a must see also. You should also make time to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and check out South Street Seaport. Both offer panoramic views in my eyes.

I got your point maybe I will cancell empire states and go to rockeefeller centre. by the way ı will stay in new yorker manhattan, did you use subway for these in-city trips ? is it gonna be easier to hold a weekpass or sth like that to travel in the city?

I don't think South Street Seaport is what it used to be. The Empire State wait is forever long and not worth it. Better to go to the Rainbow Room (at Rockefeller Center as mentioned).

Also visit the Guggenheim, and Wall street in NY--and take a Airboat ride in the Everglades area--it is fantastic.

Enjoy

Quoting Calcruzer

I don't think South Street Seaport is what it used to be. The Empire State wait is forever long and not worth it. Better to go to the Rainbow Room (at Rockefeller Center as mentioned).

Also visit the Guggenheim, and Wall street in NY--and take a Airboat ride in the Everglades area--it is fantastic.

Enjoy

thank you so much

Birmingham has some of the best food!

First of all, Jim & Nick's, even though it's a regional chain, has the best BBQ, but really, I go for the cheese biscuits.

There is also a fantastic mom & pop Italian joint at Five Points called Ranelli's Deli. It looks almost like a gas station, but it's just good, very inexpensive Italian and sandwiches. Reminds me of the Hill in St. Louis. John's City Diner is also one of my favorite places (on Richard Arrington Blvd at 1st Ave N). Great gyros at Al's (on 10th Ave S at 17th St S).

There is a good rock climbing gym that just opened up called First Ave Rocks, if you're looking for something different. It's not far from John's City Diner. The art museum is very nice, and if you have access to a car, the Tannehill Iron Works (state park) is outside of the city and is a great place for a hike. It's very beautiful, and they have some fantastic archaeology going on there, both more recent and prehistoric.

ETA: Smoking is not prohibited in most of the US. It's just a few states that have bans in effect.

[ Edit: Edited on 12-Aug-2009, at 11:06 by rbyslipahs ]

Quoting rbyslipahs

Birmingham has some of the best food!

First of all, Jim & Nick's, even though it's a regional chain, has the best BBQ, but really, I go for the cheese biscuits.

There is also a fantastic mom & pop Italian joint at Five Points called Ranelli's Deli. It looks almost like a gas station, but it's just good, very inexpensive Italian and sandwiches. Reminds me of the Hill in St. Louis. John's City Diner is also one of my favorite places (on Richard Arrington Blvd at 1st Ave N). Great gyros at Al's (on 10th Ave S at 17th St S).

There is a good rock climbing gym that just opened up called First Ave Rocks, if you're looking for something different. It's not far from John's City Diner. The art museum is very nice, and if you have access to a car, the Tannehill Iron Works (state park) is outside of the city and is a great place for a hike. It's very beautiful, and they have some fantastic archaeology going on there, both more recent and prehistoric.

ETA: Smoking is not prohibited in most of the US. It's just a few states that have bans in effect.

thank you very much for food tips. we will stay for 5 days so we will definetly have chance to try the places you mentioned. and we will rent a car because we have a flight to atlanta not birmingham, so I think we will look for Tennehill Iron works , it sounds very interesting that they have archeology over there. I have to see that. thank you for all reccomendetations.