 Day 204: Tips provided by Brooke and Pat (my boyfriend who drank too much wine on Saturday) |
On Saturday, I got to meet up with two Melbourne residents who have just started their round-the-world trip here in Sydney: Amy and Kieron of Don’t Ever Look Back.
Pat and I caught up with them, along with Caroline and Tommy, over at the Edinburgh Castle on Pitt Street. It was my first time to the Edinburgh Castle, and it was both good and bad (I love the place, but hate the bad karaoke).
Anyways, Amy and Kieron are just setting off on an open-ended world journey (so jealous!) and after Sydney, their first stop is AMERICA! How exciting! They’re spending some 90 odd days in my beloved home country, and both Pat and I had some suggestions from our own journeys just a month ago. Rather than email off the posts, I decided to link to our fave tips right here on the blog!
Tip #1: Eat Mexican Food
In L.A., eat Mexican food. In Chicago, eat Mexican food. Wherever you go, just eat Mexican food, if not for the free chips and salsa, do it for the giant burritos!
Tip #2: Get Free Drinks in Vegas
Whenever you sit down at a slot machine in Vegas, you get free drinks. Just tip the drinks lady nicely, and she might just keep coming right back. I took it upon myself to play penny slots and ordering up White Russians while Pat stayed sober over on the poker table. Or, you can take advantage of the Las Vegas Sports Book Tip (courtesy of Beers and Beans) to sit down in comfy chairs and get free drinks.
Tip #3: Skip the Criss Angel Show; See Jousting Instead
Ok, so we thought that Criss Angel might be both hilarious and amazing at the same time. However, when it came down to it, his show in Vegas was more like a big magic show and less about the street magic we normally see from him on TV. Go to the jousting show at Excalibur instead. We’re assuming that would be awesome regardless, haha.
Tip #4: Try Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
The day I put the picture up on Facebook, I received tons of comments of mixed reviews. Some people thought the cheese looked amazing, while others thought the cheese looked disgusting. I’m going to go with amazing on this one, so do eat some Chicago deep dish pizza, and loads of other delicious American pizza while you’re at it!
Tip #5: Drive on the Right Side of the Road
Hey, Aussie friends! We drive on the right side of the road, so be careful when renting cars or motor bikes!
Tip #6: Love Chicago
Chicago is one of those big American cities that too many overseas tourists pass by on their America trips. It’s cool! The architecture is unique, the food is to die for, and you won’t pay the same outrageous prices as in other major cities in America. Stay at the Chicago Getaway Hostel, visit Sheffield’s beer garden (eat pulled pork and drink Magic Hat #9), stop off at Russian Tea Time, watch a Cubs game and shop on Michigan Avenue.
I know this list barely scratches the surface of possibilities in America, but we just wanted to reiterate the points brought up at our meeting. Have a great trip!
American girl left to travel the world in 2007. Studied languages, slept in a yurt, taught English, met Aussie guy and fell in love. Moved to Australia. Calls Sydney home. Wants a puppy. Still loves to travel. Read more 
Love the Vegas suggestions. Sitting down, putting $1 in the slots, and taking your free drink is a thing of beauty indeed.
Thanks again so much for putting this together Brooke! We’re definitely gonna do everything on this list and can’t wait to get over there already!
Great tips! Happy to see so many Chicago-related things on this list
Great tips! Oh I hope they visit California and MA! I’ll have some tips for them – then of course there’s New Orleans, Wyoming, Utah, The National Park system, NYC – the list goes on and on!
We’ve got 2 weeks in California! 6 nights in San Francisco and then road tripping through Yosemite and down to LA (possibly SD).
Flying out of Boston in October so will spend a few days there too. Tell me about the list being endless! We want to travel slowly yet still can’t even come close to fitting everything in!