A Geek's Tour Of North America?

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A Geek's Tour Of North America?

Posted by timothy on Wednesday July 23, 2003 @08:15AM from the you-better-write-a-book-afterward dept.

PlanetThoughtful writes "Later this year I'm taking advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to backpack around the U.S. and Canada (Sept 2003 to whenever I have to come home again). Being a lifelong Australian geek (think of Steve Irwin and then stop, because I'm nothing like that and neither is anyone else, Steve Irwin included) I'm desperately curious: what would make it to the travel itinerary of Slashdot's all-time geek-tour of North America? Think electronics, architecture, astronomy, enlightenment! Think gadgets, bookstores, software, comics, The Library Of Congress, The Smithsonian, Wanting To See Really Amazing Things! Think travelling on a budget, then forget about that if it's a 'You Must See This Before You Die' sort of suggestion. And then stop thinking about these things, and actually tell me!"

21 of 1,335 comments (clear)

Graceland by Muerto · 2003-07-23 08:17 · Score: 5, Informative

You must go to graceland/Memphis. There are so many neat things to see there.. not really a techie mecca, but it will give you ideas on what to spend your money on... make a waterfall in your tv room!
Burning Man by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-23 08:17 · Score: 5, Interesting

http://www.burningman.com

you will not be disappointed
Cape Canaveral, Florida! by ClippyHater · 2003-07-23 08:17 · Score: 5, Insightful

Of course, there are many, many other places to see, but I'm a space program nut and highly recommend seeing NASA, and do your best to time your arrival during a launch (of course, they launch may not happen, but you can check in "Florida Today" to see when the next launch is due).
Something to see- by IWantMoreSpamPlease · 2003-07-23 08:17 · Score: 5, Funny

At Washington DC, it's the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. See them now before they go away completely.

--
So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
Washington D.C. by Chambers81 · 2003-07-23 08:18 · Score: 5, Informative

Be prepared to spend LOTS of time in this city. The museums alone can take weeks to really get through well. I'm kinda partial to Cleveland as well, but that's because i'm from there. The Rock Hall is quite interesting to go through, and the Great Lakes science center is next door.
Forget the big sights, Fry's is where it's at by sk1tch · 2003-07-23 08:19 · Score: 5, Funny

What you want to see if Fry's Electronics. They have them in Texas and California and a few states in between. Imagine something the size of that big desert you guys call Australia, and imagine it full of electronics at a decent price. It's not quite so big as the great aussie desert, I guess, but Fry's is huge. I'm not ashamed to admit I shed tears of joy on my first visit to this mecca of geekdom.

--

when I find myself you'll be the first to know.
1. Re:Forget the big sights, Fry's is where it's at by tinkertank · 2003-07-23 08:25 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  The Deifenbunker!
  
  http://www.diefenbunker.ca/
  
  See the only Cold War, atomic bomb proof, command centre completely open to the public.
  
  By far the coolest thing I've ever seen!
  
  I'd put it number one on the geek tour! A key part of NORAD... mainframes and all....
  
  --
  ___Abuse of power comes as no surprise___
2. Re:Forget the big sights, Fry's is where it's at by justMichael · 2003-07-23 08:29 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I'm not ashamed to admit I shed tears of joy on my first visit to this mecca of geekdom.
  
  Wait until you have to return something to them... You'll really shed some tears. ;-)
  
  I quess lots of others think so as well.
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum by tybalt44 · 2003-07-23 08:19 · Score: 5, Informative

You could spend a whole year just in Washington alone. But if you only have a short time there, go to the Air & Space Museum first. I've been there three times now (I'm from Canada, don't get to DC much) and every time it just blows my mind.

My law firm had a dinner there one evening last year in the great foyer hall, under all the oribters and rockets and planes, and we got hours of uninterrupted time in the museum. I've never been happier with my job, not ever.
1. Re:Smithsonian Air & Space Museum by CoasterFamily · 2003-07-23 08:25 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The Smithsonian A&S Museum is great. But, even better (but much less refined) is the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. It's kind of like your crazy aunt's attic. It's full of old planes, spacecraft, and other historical oddities.
  
  Check it out: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/.
  
  Dayton is a nice city too. I should know, I live there. Besides, all of the world's greatest inventions come from here: powered flight, electric starter, Teflon, those insulated heat bags that Domino's pizza uses, home of LexisNexis (the world's best search engine. Hey, it's got twice the docs as the internet, or so I'm told by those higher up in the company), even the pop-top can.
In rural Ohio by forged · 2003-07-23 08:19 · Score: 5, Informative

Come visit Cedra Point ! The mecca of roller-coasters with many of the biggest ones in the world ! Very nerdy stuff.
DON'T FORGET!! by Dorothy+86 · 2003-07-23 08:19 · Score: 5, Funny

Whatever you do, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT forget to bring along the most important piece of equipment.
...
a towel!

--
Game Overdrive - Gaming News
Portland OR by notcreative · 2003-07-23 08:20 · Score: 5, Interesting

In Portland, you need to visit Powell's Bookstore. It is huge (a couple of city blocks in downtown) and has all kinds of cheap used books to read on your travels. Portland is also generally a cool place to visit, and if you're in the Northwest anyway it would be a good time.
The Secret Stash by sys$manager · 2003-07-23 08:23 · Score: 5, Insightful

Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash

35 Broad St
Red Bank, NJ
There be fun in Nevada! by Leme · 2003-07-23 08:23 · Score: 5, Funny

May I suggest the many fine establishments located in Nevada.

Very geek friendly.
The coasts by DNS-and-BIND · 2003-07-23 08:26 · Score: 5, Funny

Whatever you do, absolutely do not venture outside of America's two coasts. Visit Los Angeles and New York City, make a stop in San Francisco, and that's it, really. You can't find good coffee or free WiFi access anywhere outside these places, not to mention quality people. All Americans who could have moved to one of these three cities, as they have the reputation of being the only places in America where the people don't drool while watching "Survivor". You might want to visit Las Vegas, but rest assured there's nothing there but corporations. The people who produce American culture call the wasteland between New York and Los Angeles "flyover territory" for good reason. There's nothing there except armed rednecks.
At least, this is what my friends in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco tell me. It must be true, because they're the elite of America.

--
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
Re:don't come here! by Lee+Horrocks · 2003-07-23 08:27 · Score: 5, Funny

Really no problem with that, since we know that Idaho does not exist.
Re:Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry... by orange_6 · 2003-07-23 08:28 · Score: 5, Informative

Great fun in Chicago, and often overlooked in lieu of NY or LA. You can also hit the Art Institute of Chicago and the Adler Planetarium, and why not go up in the Sears Tower while you're at it? There are a ton of fun, geek, cheap things to do in Chicago.

Who needs technology, we have beer and deep dish pizza!
Re:Bay Area! by Sposh · 2003-07-23 08:32 · Score: 5, Funny

Have you seen the Nuclear Wessels?
Why not visit Egg Troll's apartment?! by egg+troll · 2003-07-23 08:51 · Score: 5, Funny
Come visit my lovely flat, in glorious Oakland. While staying in my cramped studio, you can experience:
- The thrill of my cats, Manny and Linus wrestling over you in the middle of the night. Perhaps you'll even get to hear the Siamese serenade you at 3am with his beautiful and magistic song, entitled "Yowling at the Leaves Just Outside the Window".
- The sound of random gunfire as MC Hammer narrowly escapes another crack deal gone bad.
- My glorious kitchen, where you'll have your choice of over a dozen different varieties of Top Ramen!
- A post-op transsexual neighbor guarenteed to give ya "da willys".
- A cable TV where, during the daytime, you too can watch over a half-dozen judge shows! Accompany Egg Troll as we watch Judge Judy straighten out someone who claims that he had a right to wreck his girlfriend's Camero after he suspected her of cheating on him.
- A huge collection of obscure, pretentious music that Egg Troll uses to convince himself he's really a hipster...a hipster who spends six hours a day on Slashdot.
- And much, much more.
Book your reservation now, before its too late!!
--

C - A language that combines the speed of assembly with the ease of use of assembly.
Re:can someone explain what Burning man is? by Red+Storm · 2003-07-23 09:44 · Score: 5, Informative

LOL... what is Burning Man... It's like explaining to a blind person what the color teal green is without using the colors blue and green.

However I have found one statement to be true for almost everyone you speak with in the community.

Burningman IS what you make it.

Is it a music festival? Maybe, there are a lot of neat bands out there and some really interesting musicians.

Is it a Crazy art festival with lots of nekkid people? Maybe, if you wish to be clothing optional yourself and see lots of neat art you can do that too!

It's much easier to answer what Burning Man is NOT.
Burning Man is NOT a festival where you go to see nekkid people, that's what Marty Gra is for.
Burning Man is NOT about buying and selling trinkits. Gifts have no price.
Burning Man is NOT a place where you can just show up and hope to pay X number of dollars to get a bed, some food and watch the whole thing. We WILL laugh and make fun of you at the gate if you try this, and we have.

Participate )'(

--
---- Fight to protect your right to keep and arm bears! ummmm... ya I think that's right....