If you are arriving by train from Flagstaff, you will likely being coming into Union Station, not the airport. From there public transportation to your hotel is easy and cheap.

Go to metro.net and use the "Trip Planner" to plan your route. It looks like you'll take the Metro Red Line to the Vermont/Beverly station and the catch the #14 bus to the corner of Beverly Blvd & Genesse Ave. Then just walk one block to your hotel.

The airport is more tricky. I would spring for the Super Shuttle which quoted your hotel at $25 (supershuttle.com). But maybe someone who travels from that area to the airport regularly will have a better suggestion.

I agree that your hotel is in a good location to see the sights. Make sure to check out the Farmer's Market right near your hotel. Have fun!

Bulldog and chazas, thanks for that - I thought it stops right at the airport. I'll take those 30min into account then.

obscure2k, thank you!

777-100SP, I've been doing and re-doing this trip so many times, I thought this one was perfect for me now. I know it's rushed and everything, but there's also stuff I want to see in San Francisco, and there's not much I want to see in other places other than what I already decided on. I kind of prefer it this way, to be honest...

hedur, thanks big time for this detailed response! That definitely will help me.

I had a hotel booked near station first, but after I researched all the places I wanted to visit, I changed it to Beverly, as it's like you said right in middle of everything. And it was quite cheap as well, just a few of them for this price. I'm pretty happy with that choice too, just need to successfully transfer myself from train station and then to airport, but now it shouldn't be a problem...

If people don't mind, I'll post my "things to do" list here, maybe someone wouldn't mind sharing their experience or dropping a tip or two.

I know Philadelphia is worth seeing, but I'm on a tight schedule, so I can't do much more than that. Also, all of these are just a plan - I'll do as much as I can, hopefully all, but if I can't make it, so be it. Most of the stuff doesn't take much time, because it's just coming to a place, taking a picture of it and moving on (especially in LA). San Francisco seems busy, but I'll be there from 1pm on 18th till around 4pm on 20th.

Please feel free to bash it if you'd like, I need to figure out the ideal "to-do" list, as the schedule is pretty tight and I need to keep up with it (I like it this way though).

THANKS for chipping in everyone!

NEW YORK CITY (buying City Pass - $89)
- Statue of Liberty, ferry [city pass]
- �Friends� building
- Empire State Building, skyline [city pass]
- Broadway
- Museum of Modern Art [city pass]
- Central Park
- Metropolitan Museum of Art [city pass]
- American Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Plaza [city pass]
- Times Square

PHILADELPHIA
- Philadelphia Museum of Art [$16]
- Try Chese Whiz
- Check out city center

WASHINGTON DC (going through all the National Mall)
- National Gallery of Art
- Lincoln Memorial
- National Museum of American History
- The White House
- The Capitol
- International Spy Museum [$20]

If there's enough time:
- Georgetown
- National Cathedral
- National Zoo Park
- Meridian Hill Park

GRAND CANYON
- Air Plane tour / Sunsent Jeep tour (depending on $)
- Some hiking, maybe a bus tour or rent a bicycle

LOS ANGELES
- Grauman�s Chinese Theatre
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Hollywood Sign
- Griffith Park
- Olvera Street
- Staples Center
- Venice Beach
- Third Street Promenade
- Westwood Memorial Park
- Rodeo Drive

If there's enough time
- Runyon canyon Park
- The Getty Center
- Universal Studios Theme Park/Studio Tour (depending on $)

SAN FRANCISCO (buying City Pass - $69)
- Cable car around the city
- Museum of Modern Art [city pass]
- Coit Tower
- Beat Museum
- Mama�s Diner
- Telegraph Hill steps
- Blue & Gold Fleet Cruise, incl. Alcatraz [city pass]
- Pacific Heights
- Exploratorium [city pass]
- Haight Street
- Twin Peaks Photo spot
- Golden Gate Park
- Golden Gate Bridge

If there's time
- AT&T Park
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Fine Arts Museum [$10]

Want to gain some extra time by flying to the west coast first and flying a red eye (overnight flight) from Phoenix to New York or Washington?

Bring a GPS if you are driving unless you rent a Hertz car. You can't afford wasting time by getting lost in L.A.

I don't live too far from Parsippany. If I'm off, I'll take you out to breakfast. I know a great pancake house in Ridgewood.

As a general comment, I think that you're making it difficult for yourself by only staying one or two nights in each place. I occasionally do business trips where I go to see five customers in a week; and you spend more time on travel related things than you do anything else.

I think that by just removing a couple of the stops on your trip, you will significantly increase your enjoyment of the whole experience.

I see what you mean, but that is why I planned my "things to-do" to a tee. I tried to keep everything I'd like to see in central location, and going in one direction. It's harder in Washington DC, as it's more scattered, but it was easier with stuff I want to see in New York, as I just start from Statue of Liberty and work my way up towards the Central Park - between them two is more than half of stuff I planned to check out.

I also enjoy walking, and am a very fast paced walker, so I have high hopes to make it to everything I want to. However, you never know... But thanks for the tip! I still want to keep all my stops, as I feel greedy and want to see a lot of the stuff in a very short time!

Keep in mind that it takes time to get through lines and security checks in NYC. The statue of liberty boat ride takes about 2-3 hours. I have not done it in a long time but had to take some friends to see the statue and they took 3 hours(maybe they were slow). If you just want a look at the statue then take the Staten island ferry...it's free and gives you a ok view. If the lines for empire state building is too long then skip it and do the "top of the rock" view at the Rockefeller center(check times and it's better at night). Lots of other things to do in NYC. Don't forget to try out the street food.

In DC pretty much all the museums are close to each other so walking should not be an issue. Check out air and space and Newseum too if you have time. I live in DC so drop a PM if you need some specific help.

I'm on my phone so ignore the typos etc.

Why Pheonix? Why not just press straight onto Flagstaff and the GC?

Although I'm not a big fan of LA I'd give yourself an extra day there, you've barely got 24 hours before you have to be back at the airport for your flight to San Francisco.

Universal Studios needs at least 4 hours - it's not cheap. An alternative may be to look at one of the other studios that offers just the studio tour without the themepark (Warner brothers?)

I'd rent a car in PHX and head straight to Flagstaff. Spend a night there and go to the GC next morning. Return to PHX for cheap flight to LAX after the GC (see some sights on the way (e.g. Prescott, Arcosanti, Montezuma, or make a detour via Cameron on the way back - well worth it ). At the GC I'd go for Kachina lodge on the rim - even if a bit more).

I agree that your itinerary is awfully rushed. You'll be spending more time traveling than sightseeing.

Personally, I'd recommend cutting Philadelphia. Cheesesteaks and an art museum are available anywhere. You're going to see several of the best museums in the country in NYC and DC. Cheesesteaks are available anywhere in the USA...and having had a cheesesteak at one of "the best" places in Philly, I can say that they're all pretty much the same.

Better to spend an extra day or half day in NYC so you have time to do the myriad of things you want to do here - or use that time to enjoy LA and SF more. I'd also recommend flying to LA from Arizona instead of taking a train. Amtrak is not known for timeliness.

Finally, no matter how fast a walker you are, you will struggle to do all the things on your list as-is.

New York seems a bit full, you say you're a fast walker but things take time to see, the statue of liberty ferry takes at least 90 minutes, museums can easily take a day to see and as mentioned you are likely to encounter waiting times for The Empire State Building and Top of the Rock depending on the time of day (i've found the best time to miss queues for the empire state building is to go up late at night or early morning)
Sane for Washington DC really although the hostel is well placed, if you're actually planning to spend anytime in museums rather than just looking at them you might want to do a little rethink, i spent 4 days in washington dc last year with fewer things to see than you have and didn't manage to do everything

+1 for an extra day in LA if possible

I'm a big fan of Amtrak and have done two coast to coast train trips but if you're really that short on time i'd also recommend flying

am I reading this right? You are coming in on a Sunday night at 4 and I would assume you would go to Jersey for that night. On Monday the 9th are coming into the city and going to do everything on the list? And then come back for a bus out on the 10th in the morning?

If that's the case, you can scratch off the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as they are closed on Mondays. The line at the Empire State can be hours long in the summer. Though it's possible the skip the line feature of the city pass may help, it depends on how many other city pass people are in line.

Also in New York, the speed you walk has little to do with how long it takes to get from point A to point B. You still need to wait for the lights to change on just about every intersection, you can't zip around people if the sidewalks are packed, etc. Get a subway pass, you will cover much more ground in less time.

I don't see how you can possibly do all you have planned in a day unless you literally go in the front door of a museum and walk right out the exit.

Also double check your Megabus departure point, they move them around quite a bit and I don't think they depart from Penn Station any more for Philadelphia. Of course, check again closer to the trip.

Hi..... I agree about skipping Phoenix.....unless there is something you want to see there (and it will be very hot in July).....go on ahead to Grand Canyon and add a day in LA at least.....

An option that has been useful for friends coming from overseas is to use Las Vegas (LAS) as an airport with low prices to almost everywhere.....and Vegas, baby, is certainly a unique American city.....should be there for at least one night.....many low price hotels available, especially Sun-Thurs nights.

Perhaps, fly DCA or BWI to LAS...... there are many package bus or air trips from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon (or drive yourself, 4-5 hrs)....could go to the Skywalk glass balcony suspended over the edge of the Canyon. (From Vegas, trips go to the North Rim.....Flagstaff area is on South Rim)

Back in Las Vegas, there is likely frequent bus service to Los Angeles, or low-cost flights on many airlines.

For your LA sights, there is likely a sightseeing bus that takes you past many of the things on your list, which would save you driving around.
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For the start of your trip..... coming into JFK, how are you getting over to NJ?
If you are taking trains, with a change to NJ Transit trains at Penn Stn in Manhattan....... Penn Stn puts you in a prime place for some evening sightseeing in NYC, if your friendcares to join you there. A reputable place to check your bags so you can walk around that first evening after the long flight is:


Schwartz Travel Service 212.290.2626
355 W 36th St. (Between 8th & 9th Ave. on 2nd floor)
Close to Penn Station & Port Authority
8am - 11pm

Their website:
http://schwartztravel.com/
provides excellent walking directions (see bottom of their webpage)..... which exit from Penn Station to use to minimze sidewalk time, etc.

As you walk from 8th Av along 36th St, it's about three-fourths of the way to 9th Av...... pass the Wyndham Hotel....and look for sign above sidewalk and on glass door..... enter a narrow hallway to an elevator....go to 2nd floor and the doorway-desk is in friont of you. Allow extra time for a slow elevator and consideraion for non-English-speaking travelers.

......Seems to be a lot of chatter about this place on yelp.com, so perhaps check there for recent experiences (good or bad)......it is basically an extra room of an office.....no special security or receipts, but I felt confident because there's just one person at the doorway-desk of the baggage room, so you talk to the person who is storing it, and see where they put your bags in this little room.....to second what another poster said---do chat-up the person at the doorway-desk, make a personal contact and tip well......lots of international travelers using this place with huge suitcases.....prices for storage run $8 to $15 per bag, but it's fairly informal.....my regular size 22" rollaboard+briefcase was "oh, let's say $15 for both" and I tipped $5.
enjoy!

Are you sure that this is the only trip to the U.S. that you will ever take in your life?

If not, I'd suggest going to fewer cities and spending more time in them. Even if you're a fast walker, you're schedule will leave you exhausted.

I agree with skipping Philadelphia. It has its attractions, but mostly for people interested in American history. You can get cheese steak at any Subway franchise outlet, and believe me, you will have no problem finding a Subway in any part of the country.

Each of the schedules that you have laid out for New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, would take a minimum of two, or better yet, three or four days, unless you want to race through each museum on roller skates.

Perhaps you could do the East Coast on one trip and the West Coast on another.