Ive never been on a train and Im going to NYC and I live like 12 hours away, so how is a train ride? -

I m a little concerned cos I have never ridden on a train before so is it safe? I don t mean like will we get there in one piece...I m embarrassed to ask this...but would there be a chance I d get mugged or raped or murdered on there? I keep hearing horror stories from my family telling me it is so dangerous and I shouldn t go! I m in my early 20 s and I ve never traveled alone. Do you think I ll be safe? Thanks in advance for the answer(s) and for hopefully try to ease my mind. I m live in a really small town so I don t know how much of the danger stories I heard are true and false. Thanks!!

that s none sense. My roommate rode the train from Chicago to NYC, and he was still one piece when he got to NYC, but someone got arrested in his train because of a stolen purse. You re just worrying way too much, just relax, everything is going to be fine. But when you re in the NYC, avoid taking the subway after midnight. There are some crazy fools after midnight.

I ve never heard a horror story. I took a train from IL to FL and was fine. Its long and there isn t much to do. But take a book with you and you ll be fine. If your that worried about getting into trouble take some pepper spray. They sell small ones for your key chain and it can make you feel so much better about being on your own.

My friend, inter-city train travel is one of the safest form of transport in the nation. I ve travel on Amtrak when I was a teen (on school outing) and I never had a problem. I would recommend taking the train over the plane any day.Good luck

Your 12-hour Amtrak ride is likely to be very safe, but inner-city subways are slightly dangerous.

its pretty boring,at the beginning u might enjoy the view,but then you will get so bored.make sure u take a book or a magazine with u.

Is there anything new to do in Chicago at Christmas? -

I have been there for 50 years and need to know if there is anything new to see, do, etc. It just seems like its the same old thing every year and its boring. Need some new adventures.

Blues Heaven Foundation at 2120 S Michigan Ave. The site of the old Chess Studios. A small museum, but a chance to stand where the greats stood. Greats like Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Otis Spann, The Rolling Stones.....They all recorded there.The museum is not new, but I bet that you never been there.

Theres tons of stuff to do! You can go to Navy Pier and go to their winter festival or whatever they call it, there is ice skating in millenium park, there is the macy s windows, and the macys store itself is all decorated for christmas, you can go see the Daley Plaza christmas tree and the little Chicago Christkindlmarket that has little shops and food, you can go look at the lights on Michigan Ave, you can try to catch the holiday subway. It is a red line train that is all decked out to look like santa s train, with lots of christmas decorations and stuff, very fun.

What is it like to live in Texas? -

i currently live in San Diego, CA but ive always wanted to live out of state. And i like more open areas with room to roam, and i know about the heat i can handle it. I just want to know what its like to live there rather than here, like traffic weather the people things like that.

I have been here for about three months, just outside of dallas. The weather is very unpredictable. There are no hills or mountains, just flat land. The people here seem to be a mix between ignorant and unintelligent. Everyone carries a gun on their hip which is a good thing that causes crime to be very low. Honestly what I have seen so far has been kind of disappointing. If I were you I wouldn t move here. Hope my honesty helps!

Are there any haunted places in Northwest Indiana? -

check this outhttp://www.angelfire.com/theforce/haunted/hauntedplacesofindiana.htm

Yes, there are haunted places in N.W. IN. Cedar Lake has MacArthur Woods. There s the IN Dunes State Park in Chesterton. Crown Point High School and the Old Lake County jail are said to be haunted. Reeder Road in Griffith, Reaper s Relm in Hammond, Hebron Train Depot and High School, Highland High School, The Abandoned Haunted House in Hobart, River Forest Jr. High School Gym in Lake Station, Grand Kankakee Marsh in Lowell, Devil s Bridge in Michigan City, The Bieker House in Munster, Old Porter Road and Crisman School in Portage, The Haunted House in Porter, Scherwood Lake Apartments in Schererville, Valpariaso has Haunted Bridge, Duey s House, and Alumni Hall at Valpo University.Read these very interesting links for more information:http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/haunte��http://www.chaostrips.comhttp://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/in/c��http://www.hoosiergazette.com/News/Dec20��

At one time in Michigan city Indiana there was a light house that was supposed to be haunted by old sailors and shipmates form afar. I am not sure it even exists anymore this has been years ago.

Visit first or just move there (NYC)? -

Ok, so I have not yet ever been to NYC in my life. And, I m planning on moving their soon. Should I visit there first before I move there or should I just go and move there?

You really shouldn t move anywhere without visiting first, and that s especially true for NYC, because the cost of living and other aspects of the lifestyle in NYC are different enough from other parts of the US that you really can t assume it will work for you. You might love it, but you should try it out before you commit.

I guess the big question is why are you moving here? Is something bringing you to NYC that is unavoidable, or do you just have this idea about NYC that you are trying to fulfill?If it s something that s going to happen no matter what, then just come. But if you just have a yen to move here, visit first! Look, I love it here. I couldn t live anywhere else.And many people feel as I do. But not everyone! Some people just hate it here. (And they are really unpleasant to be around, for most New Yorkers, let me tell you!) It s not like it looks in the movies. And it s not for everyone. You might be that kind of person who just fits in here. I was. I loved it the day I got here. But find out a bit more about it here first, if you can.

As the above poster mentioned, visit first unless you know you ll be living in NYC for sure - if that s the case, might as well save the money from the trip. I love it here (as do most), but it s definitely not for everyone. It can be pretty overwhelming if you re from a small town in a rural (or even suburban area). Hope this helps.

Definitely visit first. It is easier, less expensive and less traumatizing.

Try to visit it before going there. It helps a lot. Good luck!

Hotels in los angeles? -

So I m going to la in a week to visit USC and UCLA and I m not too familiar with where these schools are located in LA, but I found a few hotels and I was just wondering which areas you think would be closest to either of these schools? Thanks.Radisson at LAX, LA Westside, Whittier, or Buena ParkHoliday Inn in Torrance, Rosiemiead, or La Mirada

Jen, UCLA has a few guest houses and apartments for visitors....Call UCLA and see if you can get one.You will want to stay near UCLA, not USC (ghettoish). If you can t get a guest house ask them what a good place to stay would be....maybe there is some little thing in Westwood (the UCLA neighborhood)..

As already mentioned, using Google maps (or Yahoo Maps) will help a lot. Buena Park is in Orange County, too far unless you want to go to Knott s. If you stay there, you ll get a great look at infamous LA traffic. Whittier, Torrance, Rosemead, and La Mirada are also pretty far away. Your best choice among those would be the Radisson LA Westside. I hate to recommend any hotel around LAX, since there s nothing there but hotels, fast food, and strip clubs. One very nice option is to stay at the UCLA Guest House:http://www.photonics.ucla.edu/_direction��Once you use Google maps, you ll see that UCLA is on the west side, and USC is close to downtown. The neighborhood around UCLA is nicer, but I would have to say that USC is more prestigious.

You would be better served to stay closer to UCLA as Paris suggested. It s a MUCH better section of town. UCLA is a state sponsored school located in the Westwood area. It s a few miles north of LAX, and not far from the coast.USC is a private school located slightly southwest of the downtown section of Los Angeles, and while the campus is relatively safe some of the areas nearby are not.

None of those areas are anywhere near either USC and most definitely many miles from UCLA. If you want to stay at the Radisson at LAX that would be an accessible choice for both schools by freeway or major boulevards but still not close to either. If you are going to visit USC, the immediate neighborhood is not too good. However, the immediate around UCLA is very nice.I recommend staying near Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles to be in between the two schools but still a long, long drive.

Rather than giving you a long detailed answer, please use the Google Maps feature - you can just put in usc or ucla or wherever you wan to see where they are located in reference to the schools :]

Go to maps and get UCLA up then ask for hotels near UCLA, then USC and ask for hotels. Pick in between. Guest rooms is a good idea too, ask the answer is no unless you ask.

the hotels on westside would be close to UCLAand downtown is closer to USCall the other hotels you menations are miles from those universities

if you re going to check out the schools I wouldn t spend a lot of money. google a motel 6, super 8 or travelodge centrally located between them.