MangoCon 2017
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
Now that Trump keep coming up with new ideas on to block people from outside (i know that it is for now applicable to certain Muslim countries) i really hope it doesnt affect our trip. I will most probably book the flight tickets very soon. And need @Minion-Queen help on the ticket for Mcon and an invitation for us to get apply for the visa
Yeah, that's a bit scary. Even we are a bit scared about that as citizens that have to return for the convention. It's months away so could be way better, way worse or the same.
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
Trains are for those with nothing else to do...
Actually, quite the opposite. On the train you have Internet, power and plenty of space. You can be very productive on trains and they let you rest or sleep, which is a big deal, especially if you've just been flying a long way and might have jet lag or no chance to sleep. Driving completely takes your attention and requires that you be able to control your sleep schedule before and after.
I'm not sure if i need to open a new topic for this! As i might come back seeking more advice to fine tune the trip, as its my first time to the US.
We are still thinking about the train/drive. One thing is it would be our first longest flight trip ever (between 17 to 23 hours, depends on the flight i choose).
I plan to start from here on July 22nd so we get some time before MangoCon and leave back to the UAE on 5th Aug. So we are thinking of few options:Reach JFK on 22nd or 23rd depending on the flight and either stay in NY on 23rd and 24th and leave for ROC by 25th. Not sure if we get to see some good views on the train or the drive. I still need to research on the routes. If we rest well, a drive is an option and we can stop over some places and rest if needed.
Another option we are thinking of. to reach JFK and same day travel to ROC and since we had this long trip i would prefer the train mostly here.
My wife is thrilled to do the drive instead!
If we go directly to ROC, spend some time to go around nearby places then attend Mcon2017 and then back to NY, spend remaining days there and back to Dubai.
Anyways, I will proceed with the plan. I really want to meet you guys and attend this!
Please let me know your suggestions on the plan above please.
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The train route and the drive route are the same. If you drove at train speed, you'd see the train beside you about half of the trip popping in and out of the woods. There is one really obvious river valley based route through the state that runs north from NYC to Albany and then west from Albany to Buffalo and both modes take the same path. It is this path that was originally all waterways and built not just New York, but the American expansion west.
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The drive will technically have some better views, but if you are driving they are hard to see. It's not the best journey either way. Some amazing Hudson views if you do it right, but that's about it. If you drive, you can stop along the Mohawk Valley for some of the best pizza on earth, and yes I'm comparing the Mohawk Valley to Italy itself here. It's that good.
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I set the start point as Penn Station (Found that from tripadvisor; Take the AirTrain monorail from your terminal at JFK to Jamaica. At Jamaica take the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. You can get an Amtrak train there.)
I found 3 options on amtrak site (Although i didn't quite understand if the routes are different from the map given on the site https://www.amtrak.com/travelplanningmap)
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Empire Service-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Maple Leaf-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY-Penn Station Lake Shore Limited-Rochester NY
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
I set the start point as Penn Station (Found that from tripadvisor; Take the AirTrain monorail from your terminal at JFK to Jamaica. At Jamaica take the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. You can get an Amtrak train there.)
I found 3 options on amtrak site (Although i didn't quite understand if the routes are different from the map given on the site https://www.amtrak.com/travelplanningmap)
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Empire Service-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Maple Leaf-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY-Penn Station Lake Shore Limited-Rochester NY
All three lines go from and to the same place on the same tracks. So whatever one has the time and price that works for you. They don't really make any real difference. The differences are much further down the lines.
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Got it! For a tourist, what would be the best (views) drive or train? For us in India depending on the place you visit some places are awesome by road as it takes a different route and some by train. Hope this is the case there too
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
Got it! For a tourist, what would be the best (views) drive or train? For us in India depending on the place you visit some places are awesome by road as it takes a different route and some by train. Hope this is the case there too
The view really isn't much different no matter which way you decide to travel. The only difference is that you go slower when you drive it
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@Minion-Queen said in MangoCon 2017:
@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
Got it! For a tourist, what would be the best (views) drive or train? For us in India depending on the place you visit some places are awesome by road as it takes a different route and some by train. Hope this is the case there too
The view really isn't much different no matter which way you decide to travel. The only difference is that you go slower when you drive it
And you can stop anywhere along the way.
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@Ambarishrh It sounds like you want to see the sights etc. If you want to stop along the way as @dashrender said, then drive. If you want to make the trip easier for yourself take the train. There's apparently some pretty good food in Rochester which I'm looking forward to. You may not be a drinker as an individual but "we" as a collective are, so get ready
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Also depending on how long you will be in the Rochester area and how you are getting back to JFK you might just want to keep the car for the full week you are here. It might be cheaper than dropping it off and then getting another one if you plan on driving back.
You can enjoy all the activities as a non drinker I promise
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No real sights between NYC and Rochester.
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
No real sights between NYC and Rochester.
Depends how you go.
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@coliver said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
No real sights between NYC and Rochester.
Depends how you go.
There are actually lots of things to see. I have done the trip with someone from out of the country and they loved the trip up route 17 from NYC. We stopped a few times and got some great food.
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@Minion-Queen said in MangoCon 2017:
route 17
Yep, that's a good way to go. The one we take when going into the city, although we catch it in a different spot. There are some really nice views if you know where to look and some really good food if you know where to stop.
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@Ambarishrh If you're into naval history, there is a naval museum on the waterfront in Buffalo, NY that's worth checking out. That's a 1:15 bus/car ride west of Rochester. I stopped on my way to and from Mangocon last year, and will probably stop at least one more time next Mangocon. Of course, I'm driving right by it on the way anyway as well.
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@Minion-Queen said in MangoCon 2017:
@coliver said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
No real sights between NYC and Rochester.
Depends how you go.
There are actually lots of things to see. I have done the trip with someone from out of the country and they loved the trip up route 17 from NYC. We stopped a few times and got some great food.
That would be our own @MarigabyFrias
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Minion-Queen said in MangoCon 2017:
@coliver said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
No real sights between NYC and Rochester.
Depends how you go.
There are actually lots of things to see. I have done the trip with someone from out of the country and they loved the trip up route 17 from NYC. We stopped a few times and got some great food.
That would be our own @MarigabyFrias
Actually I forgot about doing that with her! But have done it with others as well.
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Has anyone made the drive from Toronto to Rochester? I'm probably flying to Toronto for a couple of days before MC17, and will probably rent a car and drive around the lake (~3 hours).
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@RojoLoco said in MangoCon 2017:
Has anyone made the drive from Toronto to Rochester? I'm probably flying to Toronto for a couple of days before MC17, and will probably rent a car and drive around the lake (~3 hours).
Ah yes, Toronto, and the almost completely unused highway. It's the only place I know of that put in a toll route, but the tolls only apply to local people. The drive isn't bad, the worst part is the stop at customs/immigration.
