r/travel • u/gsimanto • 23d ago
Itinerary First time USA itinerary. Please suggest
March 19 : Arriving at 10 am at Chicago, and will be staying in cousin's home. (Day to recover from jet lag)
20th: Navy Pier River walk Cloud gate Art institute of Chicago Lakefront trail
21: Field museum, Shedd aquarium, Chinatown
22: McDonald's HQ, WNDR Museum, Willis Tower
23: Free day: Chilling in home or exploring local area
24: woolly mammoth antique store and Lincoln Park zoo
25: Art on the Mart in the night
26: Departing Chicago on the night 10 pm by train
27: Arriving at Buffalo at 9am, and departing to Niagara by 3 pm (what to do while I'm here in buffalo?)
Arrival at Niagara by 5pm
28th; Cave of the wind and goat island and departing in the night 9pm to New York City
29th: Rest day in NYC
30th: Statue of Liberty Area
31th: Channels Garden, Great Gatsby show at 7 pm and Times square in the night
April 1: The high line, Summit one Vanderwall and The Vessel
April 2: Suggest?
April 3 : Depart and Arrive at Washington DC by 3 pm
April 4: what to do?
April 5: Smithsonian National museum of Natural history
April 6: National Mall and United States Botanical garden
April 7: Suggest me?
April 8: Depart in the night, what to do in the morning?
So, we've visited Singapore, Europe and Thailand, but this is the first time to USA from India.
Me, my sister and my mom will be travelling, My mom gets leg pain on walking long distances, so transport is available right? Should I buy any pass?
- Any other places you'd suggest us?
- What should be my transport option? 3 Are there any travel passes to travel frequently in any means of transport?
- Any shows or events that I should be seeing?
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u/Kevin7650 23d ago edited 23d ago
Buffalo is home of the buffalo chicken wing, Anchor Bar is where they started if you wanna check it out. You can also explore Canalside, a waterfront area with shops and restaurants.
I highly recommend the National Air & Space Museum (see the first plane flown by the Wright Brothers, NASA space shuttles, among other things) and National Museum of American History (flag that inspired the national anthem, has artifacts from former presidents) in DC. Also visit the Capitol Building visitor center and perhaps get a tour.
If you like art, MoMA (home to Van Gogh’s starry night) and the Met in NYC are worth visits, as well as the National Gallery of Art in DC (home to the only Da Vinci painting on the American continent)
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u/MinnNiceEnough 23d ago
I’m literally in a hotel right now in downtown Buffalo near Canalside. Everything seems closed and the area is quite desolate. We were able to see Niagara Falls earlier today - it’s only 20 minutes up the road by car. Cool to see, but I certainly wouldn’t plan a full day for it. It’s a 2-hour stop, at most, unless going to the Canada side, which seems much more touristy.
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u/WallabyPutrid7406 17d ago
Also, on the Buffalo front if you’re at all into history there is a bit to see. President McKinley was shot on the site of what is now Canisius High School (although there isn’t anything to see there but a sign on the side of the road). A little farther along Delaware Ave is the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site where Teddy Roosevelt became the president. You can visit, it’s run by the National Park Service and it’s worth about an hour.
I’m not sure what the rules currently are about getting into the courthouse, but that is where the guy who assassinated McKinley was tried and convicted. The specific courtroom is up on the second floor IIRC and is notable because there is a massive wrought-iron gate in front of the entrance. They had to specially construct it for that trial to keep the citizens of Buffalo from storming the court house, seizing Czolgosz, and killing him.
Another president, and the only one actually from Buffalo, is buried in the cemetery up next to Delaware Park.
Also over next to Delaware Park is the Albright Knox Art Museum—its a nice modern art gallery and is generally worth a couple hours.
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u/Practical_Heart7287 23d ago
DC mall is a LOT of walking. There is a trolley thing where you buy a pass and you can get on and off. I’d suggest that so the walking is just from where they drop you off to the monument. Your feet will thank you.
id stick to uber/lyft/cabs in NYC for your mom to reduce walking Instead of subway or buses.
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u/What_am_I_Doing9 23d ago
In nyc on the 30th if you’ll be by Statue of Liberty try to fit in 9/11 memorial/new tower and Brooklyn bridge. The statue can be nearly an all day thing though.
Your open day in NYC maybe check out one of the amazing markets (Chelsea just to name one) and if the weather is nice spend some time in Central Park. Or head up to the natural history museum or met. Just a few ideas. (Natural history & Central Park are right next to each other).
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u/RatticusGloom 23d ago
For transport - do you mean within the city? The big cities will all have public transportation / subway systems. For more comfort you can use an app like Uber.
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u/Naomi_10 23d ago
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Apr 4. And if you’re going to the Mall, might as well stop by and try an inside tour of Wash DC National Monument, takes an elevator all the way to the tippy top
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u/dumbbitchgill 23d ago
I would also check out the arboretum while in DC! It’s free and you can visit the national bonsai museum. You’ll have to take an uber or use a rental car to get there though.
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u/PhiloPhocion 22d ago
I wouldn't dedicate a whole day necessarily to Air and Space. It's still under renovation and over half the museum is still closed. Still definitely worth visiting but don't think it'll take a whole day. (You also need to pre-register for a time window that's pretty competitive).
A proper White House tour is pretty tough but the White House Historical Association did open a museum right across the street that's free that may be interesting (and pretty well done in my opinion). Capitol tours I'm actually not sure how they work for non-citizens but may be neat.
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u/gt_ap United States - 63 countries 23d ago edited 23d ago
I think this is a fine itinerary. You're not rushed, but yet not spending too long in any one place. There are also some open and rest days built in.
Chicago especially is very nice in the downtown area. Washington DC has some fine museums and history, with most of them being free.
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u/RatticusGloom 23d ago
This looks like a great trip! Personally I’d skip Buffalo/Niagara -but I also get that it’s an iconic American sort of thing to do. Just keep in mind it will likely be very very cold in these places - especially Buffalo - you could be dealing with snow and sub-freezing temperatures your whole trip.
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u/randomacct7679 23d ago edited 23d ago
For Chicago, make sure to explore the Wrigleyville neighborhood around the stadium. Even if you’re not a big baseball fan the area and bars around it are a fun little area to grab a drink and a meal and kind of people watch.
Chicago is a decent amount of walking but it’s luckily pretty flat so it’s not overly strenuous. If walking is a real problem, I’d buy weeklong CTA passes to use the trains. The CTA trains are very easy to get around and they’re simple to navigate.
Personal opinion, unless you have kids with you or are really into Zoos, Lincoln Park zoo is pretty skippable. It’s not a bad spot, but it’s nothing overly special unless there’s an event going on there.
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u/PhiloPhocion 22d ago
I'd also rearrange some of Chicago.
The McDonald's HQ for what it's worth, unless you have an insider who works there and will tour you around, is a letdown as a destination. The 'public-facing' side is basically just a regular McDonald's restaurant - not even a big one. It has a global menu of items available from around the world that gets a lot of attention on TikTok but frankly is just a rotating menu of a handful of options - and they're almost always quite similar (a different McFlurry flavour, a different type of fry seasoning, a variation of a burger or chicken sandwich with a different regional sauce). It's like a fun stop by if you're already in the West Loop for something but otherwise...
As always in Chicago, I'd recommend one of the architectural boat tours (ideally one that includes some time on the lake).
You can also book a tour at Wrigley (really at almost all MLB stadiums) which is neat and gives you a real behind the scenes look at the park.
I personally wouldn't recommend Chicago Chinatown as a high priority - I love it absolutely but if you're going to NYC anyway, you might as well go to Chinatown there.
Also an old staple but would recommend going to the Art Institute - people seem to not realise how many hugely hugely hugely important pieces are housed in Chicago at the Art Institute.
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u/Account-Forgot 23d ago
Was going to say the same thing on Lincoln Park. You can kill some time there but the Smithsonian National Zoo in DC is a much better zoo. The river architecture tour may be a good non-walking thing to do in Chicago.
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u/UncloudedNeon 19d ago
I agree Lincoln Park Zoo is fine, but not an international destination. I feel the same way about Navy Pier unless you have kids. If you have any interest in art, you can easily spend the whole day at the Art Institute and Millennium Park.
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u/ArticleNo2295 23d ago
We really enjoyed - Planet Word in DC.
I'm a big fan of finding lesser known things from Atlas Obscura.
In Chicago we did 3 great tours. Architecture Boat Ride, Frank Lloyd Wright and Chicago Food Tour
HTH. And Thanks for posting with a really good start on your itinerary. Makes it fun and easy to offer suggestions!
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u/thelittlefisch 23d ago
For DC, you're expected to arrive right after the end of the predicted peak bloom cherry blossom season. This means it will be CROWDED but absolutely beautiful. Spend some time down by the Tidal Basin (either by Jefferson Memorial or MLK Memorial) just don't get too close to water and enjoy the trees. Peak predictions are just that, predictions so you could get lucky and see them in full bloom. The Cherry Blossom race is also that weekend so expect some morning traffic near the race course.
Buy a pass for the hop on bus. You'll learn some things and it will save you a ton of walking. The National Mall (where most of the Smithsonian museums and monuments are + Capitol and White House) is much bigger than you think. I would recommend buying passes for multiple days and split up which parts of the city you each day.
Some of the museums are huge and can put you on your feet longer than expected. Recommend the Smithsonian American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery, Botanic Garden, Renwick Gallery and Postal Museum for smaller but still quality museums.
Please please try lots of food in DC. Do at least one dinner on 14th St (Le Diplomate, Compass Rose, Ted's Bulletin). Penn Quarter/Chinatown has some good options too (Zaytinya, HipCityVeg, Jaleo).
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u/doesntmeanathing 23d ago
You don’t need an entire day for the Statue of Liberty. Do that in the morning and then make your way up town on the east side and see the seaport and Brooklyn bridge. Check out Washington square park. Get lunch in the west village. Don’t forget Central Park and the natural history museum. Go to Times Square before Gatsby, not after. I would skip Summit One for Top of the Rock but do it at night.
Use the subway over taxis/ubers.
NYC has some of the best food in the world. You may not be a foodie since I didn’t see anything on your list about that but if you need recommendations, let me know what kind of food you like.
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u/Eric848448 United States 23d ago
McDonald’s HQ
Huh?
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u/gt_ap United States - 63 countries 23d ago
You'd be shocked at what I do. I make it a point to get something at McDonald's in each new country I visit. That can be a cultural experience. I think my favorites cultural foods so far have been in Greece and China.
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u/meatwhisper Puerto Rico 22d ago
When I was in Japan for nearly three weeks I ate at McDonalds a few times because it was the easiest way to get a cheap Diet Coke (which is my version of morning coffee). I was SHOCKED at how fresh and delicious their McDonalds food was there compared to at home. The breakfast sandwiches specifically were so fresh, so soft, and had real eggs/bacon.
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u/henryroo 18d ago
I try to do this with Subway. My favorite so far was Bulgaria, which had cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes as options. Also for some reason a lot of European Subways seem to have corn.
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u/gt_ap United States - 63 countries 18d ago
Yes it's probably a similar concept. Personally I'm not a big fan of Subway, I prefer McDonald's.
I used to live in Africa, and where I was there was Burger King and KFC, but no McDonald's. The food in both was exactly like at Burger King and KFC in the US, except they were more expensive. There was absolutely zero cultural experience lol.
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u/ArticleNo2295 23d ago
I'm actually quite keen to go here - they have a cool restaurant where they feature items from around the world.
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u/kmh0312 23d ago
I live in Chicago and our international McDonald’s literally just sell McDonald’s from other countries, but only a few items and it’s right near the HQ. It’s mainly just American food and probably something to skip. But it’s in west loop, which is amazing to walk around in! Trivoli tavern is my favorite restaurant in Chicago and it’s in that area!
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u/gsimanto 23d ago
Thought the Headquarters will be somewhat unique or a nice experience.
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u/RatticusGloom 23d ago
I think it’s fun. I do stuff like that when I travel as well. You can take a picture next to the sign that says “Hamburger University” 😄
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u/PhiloPhocion 22d ago
I wrote somewhere else but I wouldn't prioritise this at all - unless you're already going to be in the West Loop (which you won't be based on your itinerary).
It's really just a regular McDonald's - with slightly better trained staff (this is where they bring in the big league training students) and a menu with a handful of quirky international offerings. But the vast majority of it is just a corporate office that isn't accessible to the public.
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u/la_de_cha 23d ago
For the Statue of Liberty if you want to go to the crown you need to book your tickets 2-4 months in advance depending on the time of year. For the pedestal it’s 3-4 weeks. All other tickets are to walk the grounds of the island and visit the museum. Go to www.nps.gov/stli
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u/Excellent-Shape-2024 23d ago
If you're in Chicago I'd say Wrigley Field and a Cubs game is a must. The atmosphere is some of the best I've experienced and I'm not particularly a sport watching fan.
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u/arsenalgooner77 23d ago
I live in Chicago and I visit Buffalo once a year. That’s a pretty good Chicago list. I’d also recommend checking out Wrigley Field and Wrigleyville. Highly recommend having dinner on Southport Ave at Tango Sur (3763 N Southport). It’s an Argentine restaurant and is BYOB (bring your own beer/alcohol). It’s good food and can be a lot of fun. While you’re at The Zoo, if you want a weird food experience check out Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. They do pot pie type pizza. A lot of people love it. Get the Mediterranean bread and salad with both types of dressing and mix them together. It’s weird but delicious. I’m “meh” on the pizza but my wife loves it. Girl and the Goat is one of our favorite restaurants. It’s been around for a bit and probably isn’t on the cutting edge, but if you’re looking for a higher end meal it’s good.
Buffalo is a great town. Doesn’t sound like you’re going to be in town for long, so I’d recommend checking out Canalside and the Naval Park for a relaxing stroll. The Naval ships are cool to explore if you have time. Anchor Bar isn’t too far away. They aren’t the best wings in Buffalo but claim to be the first. Duff’s has several locations and is pretty good. Bar Bill has two locations and is very good. If you’re looking for something in the Canalside area, Souther Tier has a restaurant near the arena and can be fun.
Are you staying on the US side of the falls or going into Canada? The Canadian side is much more built up and touristy, the US side has a really nice park to walk around.
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u/ihavesensitiveknees 23d ago
Amtrak trains are notorious for being delayed. I wouldn't expect to arrive in Buffalo on time.
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u/thedrunkensot 22d ago
I’d go to the Hancock (now called 875 North Michigan) instead of Willis Tower in Chicago. Hancock is more in downtown, has spectacular views, and has a bar on the 94th floor with windows all around.
I’d add ground zero, the fountains, and the 9/11 museum in NYC. That’s the most traumatic national event of my life and the memorial and museum really bring it home. If you go, the fountains have names of the dead carved into them. You’ll see white roses in some of the names. That means it’s that person’s birthday.
In DC, I’d try to work in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. You’ll see people taking rubbings of their loved one’s name. It’s very powerful. Also in DC, the Lincoln Memorial, site of one of America’s greatest speeches and a seminal moment in the Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on the 18th step from the top (it’s marked). Stand where he stood and read the speech, while looking out at the mall where 250,000 people looked on. It is arguably the most famous speech in American history.
Also interesting is (still in DC) is Ford’s Theater, where America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The basement has a mini museum and you can also tour Petersen House across the street, which is where Lincoln succumbed to his wound the next morning.
Have a great time and let us know how much fun you’re having!
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u/WildMajesticUnicorn 23d ago
Some New York ideas: Central Park, 30 Rock for Top of the Rock or the NBC tour if you like tv, there are also just tons of museum options in NYC too.
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u/Adventurous-Change74 23d ago
Go to Lou malnaties and order the THIN CRUST LOU PIZZA
simply the best
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u/bevymartbc 23d ago
Good for you for putting in some rest days. But especially given you're traveling with your mom I'd be cautious on doing so much. This is a pretty punishing itinerary depending on her age and fitness level
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u/Competitive-Ad-3677 23d ago
In DC there is a home game at the National’s stadium (baseball) on April 4th. Grab a hot dog, beer, and watch the game.
Also explore the Wharf area in DC. A lot of fun shops / restaurants near the water. They have various boat rides on the river. (Take a taxi to Old Town Alexandria or a dinner cruise).
Lastly you are likely to miss the peek bloom of the cherry blossoms, but many should still be on the trees. Make sure you walk around and see them!
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u/corrne 23d ago
Check out https://www.citypass.com/
They have Chicago and New York. Not sure if it fits your itinerary but worth a look.
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u/freeze45 23d ago
Check out architect Frank Lloyd Wright's houses near Buffalo, eat wings too. In Niagra, most of the fun attractions are on the Canadian side. Definitely ride on Maid of the Mist in Niagra.
In NYC, go to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chinatown, Tenement Museum, Museum of Modern Art, eat good pizza
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u/EntropyPhi 23d ago
Atlas Obscura is always fun for finding some unique stuff aside from the major tourist attractions. I remember finding The Mansion on O Street (Washington D.C.) on there. It's a pretty weird spot where a block of apartments all got merged together and turned in to a maze-like hotel/museum you can freely explore. Every room has a unique theme and there's so many secret rooms it'd be near-impossible to see it all on a first visit. Neat place.
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u/walkintothelake 23d ago
I think it’s too ambitious to do the Field Museum and the Shedd in one day.
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u/OneQt314 23d ago edited 23d ago
If you have time to burn in DC or if you have a later departure, I recommend grabbing drinks at Ruth Chris in crystal city Arlington for an excellent view of our nations capitol. DC has some great happy hours during the work week & it's a great time to see the locals after work.
I also recommend in DC a swanky bar called "Off the record", it's a good place to spot politicians or just a fancy drink & small bites.
Uber is your friend & plenty in the USA unlike Europe.
You won't need a full day at the botanical garden, but the location is excellent & you can get some nice pics. It's also a few steps away from the air & space museums, one of my favorites in the area.
You might want to rent a wheel chair for your mom, not that she needs it but it'll give her time to rest & see things as you stroll her along. The USA is very handicap accessible. You'll be walking a lot in nyc & dc. Maybe get some compression leg tubes to help out the tired muscles after a long day.
In case your mom needs a pharmacy/drug store, there are plenty in most big cities. Big name drugstore you'll find plenty in the cities you're traveling up are Walgreens & CVS. You can also get the same stuff at Target or Walmart but these stores are mostly further out.
If you have time, there is an outlet shopping mall in Maryland called Tanger Outet & across from it is a big casino. You can go try your luck. Just be over 18yo. That's also where they built the ugly Ferris wheel.
Safe travels!
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u/Fabulous-Gas-5570 23d ago
I don’t think you’ll need the whole rest day on the 29th in NYC. There’s a lot to see in New York, maybe whoever needs rest can rest and you go out and make the time worthwhil
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u/corneliastreett 23d ago
NYC suggestions: explore/walk around Central Park, visit The Met, the MoMA, and/or the National History Museum, visit Chelsea Market, go on a food crawl in Chinatown, walk around the West Village. Also combine your Statue of Liberty visit with the 9/11 memorial. Manhattan is pretty small and the public transport connections are great so you’ll be able to do more than you think!
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u/RhythmNGrammar 23d ago
I'm from NY and I had to look up what Channels Gardens were. I never knew that the gardens at Rockefeller Center had a name! So thanks, I learned something new.
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u/No_Specifics8523 23d ago
April 2 - check out MOMA during the day, ride the Staten Island ferry at dusk to get a free and beautiful view of the NYC skyline. Go to a comedy show at the Comedy Cellar and then get a falafel next door at Mamouns for a late night snack.
April 4 - go on a hop on/hop off trolley tour. It’s a great way to see a bunch of DC sites without having to walk everywhere or plan and navigate. You can see the Arlington National Cematary this way as well.
April 7 - Chill and grab dinner somewhere. If I were a betting man, I’d say your feet are gonna hurt!
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u/moneypleeease 23d ago
A few people have suggested taking in a baseball game in Chicago but you'll be there before the season starts. Instead you could go to a game in Washington DC. The team isn't very good so you can often get very good deals on tickets if you walk up to the counter. It's a fun way to spend an evening after being on your feet all day on the Mall.
It's also super convenient to get there from the mall!
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u/DramaticBush 23d ago
My only suggestion is that the Canadian side is Niagara falls is way better than the American side. If you can cross over you are able (there is a crossing a few miles away from the falls).
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u/bigatrop 23d ago
Lots of good tips for DC. A few additional items outside of the museums - so much food in the city. Make sure to check out Eastern Market, Union Market, DuPont Farmers Market. Make reservations at restaurants ahead of time. Also take a stroll through rock creek park in the late morning and get a hike in. Check out Roosevelt island - bald eagles and cool views of the Potomac. Have fun and enjoy DC - one of the best cities in America.
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u/nelamvr6 22d ago
Suggestions:
April 2nd: top of the Empire State at least, Museum of Natural History or Metropolitan Museum of Art, or MOMA
April 7th: National Zoo
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u/geoffpz1 22d ago
Spend alot of time in upstate NY. Last time we went to Niagara falls we were debating going on the maid of the mist. Regret not going. We paid x to park, and walked around for an hour, then back to car. Would have been worth it if we did the boat thing, otherwise it is kinda run down and grey, just like buffalo itself... Lol..... Ca side looks more like a carnival in comparison.
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u/smh120585 22d ago
For the free day in NYC - grab breakfast at Barney Greengrass, spend time/walk thru Central Park then go to the Met.
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u/MauiGal12 22d ago
Hit all the Smithsonian’s in DC!!! We loved it and rode the rental scooters all over the place!
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22d ago
The Martin House Complex in Buffalo was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
The Albright Knox Museum is very nice.
Someone mentioned wings at the Anchor Bar. The other Buffalo treat is a Beef on Weck - roast beef with horseradish sauce on a kimmelweck roll.
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u/sagaciousdarkle 22d ago
For Chicago travel, there's the CTA which is like a subway system(which are colored lines: Red, Blue, Brown, Green...), the Metra, which is faster but runs less frequently, and the bus system. I feel like Google Maps does a pretty good job at showing you all the options. I would recommend downloading the Ventra app, which you can add to your apple wallet. You can add money to it, or just pay for each trip, or buy like a a day pass/3day pass etc. Depending on how much public transit you use, I think a 3 day or more pass could be useful. This will give you unlimited rides on the CTA and buses. For the metra, you'll have to buy separate tickets which you can also do on the Ventra app.
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u/Tight-Communication7 22d ago
In Chicago, you may want to consider river boat architecture tour. If you want to try the deep dish pizza, I recommend Pequod’s.
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u/ProlificPerspectives 23d ago
Is this a joke? Why dont u just play it by esr? How do u live like this. U must be some micromanager. I’m stressed out just reading this bullshit.
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u/rirez 23d ago
OP seems to have a healthy middle-ground planning mindset, with 1-3 key things a day, and some good rest days in between. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.
Also bear in mind that for those of us traveling far and on weaker passports, having a sensible default itinerary is almost a requirement, even if we flex a bit later.
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u/plastictoothpicks 23d ago
I’m honestly super impressed by your realistic timelines and itineraries. Usually posts like this are wanting suggestions for LA, New Orleans and NYC in 10 days. I don’t have any suggestions I just wanted to give you props.