I have three questions for you:
1. We want to go from Vancouver to Toronto and see some of
the Rockies on the way. It can't take more than 3/4 days and
needs to be cheapish. Is it best to Amtrak to Edmonton and
fly? Any ideas
2. Where do I find good walking shoes in US that look decent
- for Australians like R.M Wiliams. I am in LA currently..
3. We are looking for groovy coffee places, bookshops, art
and eats in San Fran, N.Y., Boston anytthing different even
a favourite chain like the Coffee Bean and the Tea Leaf in
California.
If you can answer one or all - thank you!
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driving from vancouver to toronto is severely difficult with 3-4 days, and i believe even the most direct train takes more than that. for train info, keep in mind that amtrak is the US national rail service; for canada it's VIA (i don't know the site address but i think i've just made it easy to search for). taking a train to edmonton (or calgary) then flying sounds sensible. check out canada 3000 airlines, a charter company that has pretty good airport standby fares of probably about 200cad for that trip (canada3000.com).
Dear Sally:
Aside from a few minor over the border forays, Amtrak does
not serve Canadian cities. For rail travel to and from
Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto contact:
http://www.viarail.ca/
Rail travel is pricey here, so you might want to take a
bus. However, 3 to 4 days by bus or train won't get you
from Vancouver to Toronto. If you are going to divide the
trip between ground and air travel, perhaps fly east from
Edmonton or Calgary.
I don't know why my countrymen don't understand your
question. That is a fine plan - ground transport Vancouver
to Alberta than fly east from here. Which city, Edmonton or
Calgary, depends on what you would prefer to see. For this
section i would defintitely recommend renting a car - even
if you can't afford it - charge it and then worry about it
when you get back home. I'm actually not even sure if there
is a train anymore. ANd it really is a spectacular area.
Edmonton maybe a better choice simply because you can drive
from Van through Revelstoke, Yoho, stop and Lake Louise, and
then head north on the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, and then
cut over to Edmonton. Very nice drive, with lots of places
to check out along the way. If you chose Calgary the trip
is the same to Lake Louise, except you would continue to
travel west through Banff to Calgary, instead of NOrth. You
may want to book you flight in Canada asap if you haven't
already as flights here tend to be costly for no known
reason.
In SF, hit Valencia and 16th Streets. There we have Pancho Villa for cheap burritos (16th bet. Val. and Mission), Ti Couz crepes for dessert (16th bet. Val. and Guerrero), on 16th towards 17th an Indian grocer that has to die for ice cream (my favorite is cardamom ice cream). There are several funky/quirky bookshops on the same row along Valencia, along with a great thrift store at 17th/Mission and another at 17th/Valencia. See SF at its gentrifying best! Watch out for the Yuppie Eradication Squad and the dog shit, and eat your damn heart out. Oh, and We Be Sushi is okay, get a superfalefel or shawerma at Truly Mediterranean and you will be ready to ascend to heaven. Slanted Door for chi chi Vietnamese. Muddy Waters cafe is on Valencia.
I hate to do this to you tourists, but try North Beach. City Lights bookstore, and eat a sammich from Molinari's deli or the one at Stockton and Green Street(?), rather than eating at the Stinking Rose or some other Destination Restaurant.
Another great bookshop is Green Apple Books on Clement Street in SF, but I can't think of others to make that area a critical mass. Clement runs parallel to Geary and the 38 bus line.
Local coffee chains are Peet's Coffee & Tea and Pasqua. Starbucks is a Starbucks is a Starbucks...
Another vote for Vancouver to Edmonton by land. Trains are
extremely expensive, but you could look into doing part of
the trip that way. I would take a bus (same scenery as the
car, but cheaper and someone else is driving). If you can
find a route that avoids the Coquihalla Highway (great to
drive, not as good for sight seeing), for example going to
Whistler/Pemberton and up the "back way" to Kamloops you'd
probably see more.
Another vote for Vancouver to Edmonton by land. Trains are
extremely expensive, but you could look into doing part of
the trip that way. I would take a bus (same scenery as the
car, but cheaper and someone else is driving). If you can
find a route that avoids the Coquihalla Highway (great to
drive, not as good for sight seeing), for example going to
Whistler/Pemberton and up the "back way" to Kamloops you'd
probably see more.
Trans Am is 100% correct. Rent a car in Vancouver, and make
for an entrance to the National Parks in the Rockies. You
can go in on the TransCanada, or through Kootenay Park.
Either way, you'll see some great landscapes on the way, and
be able to stop, look and enjoy whatever you find
spectacular. By all means, drive the Banff-Jasper, and then
fly to TO from Edmonton.
-
You'll thank yourself for every day you allow for this part
of the trip. At least 4 days would be best.