Hitching/train hopping through the states

Hi guys, I'm leaving London (England) in a week to go to Toronto for a couple of weeks, then I'm flying from Mexico City to Peru on April 10th, so I've got a good month and a half/2 months travelling round the states. I'm feeling pretty ignorant, I have no real plan, not that I want one, but some suggestions of cool places to visit, cities or rural areas, would be much appreciated. Also, some people tell me it's tricky hitching in some states now - is this true?

I'm not rich at all, and may run out of money pretty quick (I've got 3 months in South America after this), but I'm going to take my fiddle to busk on the way down. I've busked in Canada and it was great - is there a similar tradition of busking in most parts of the states? It doesn't really work if it's not part of the culture, some people think of it as begging.

Thanks in advance, hopefully I'll run into some of you on my travels!j

 

Why are you doing this? lol

 

It's all about the people man, you meet some amazing people you wouldn't normally when you put yourself in foreign situations. I had a great time busking in Toronto over the summer, plus I was getting into a bit of a rut in London - I love all my mates, but sometimes you end up doing the same old shit every day. And I'm meeting a beautiful girl in Peru in the middle of it. It's just about new experiences man, plus my dad's american, and I haven't spent much time there as an adult.

 

When hitching in the states. Most states will have signs " No pedestrians past this point" at on ramps to free ways and interstate hiways.
Jumping frieght trains can be tricky, you can be arrested for tresspassing, some states are worst than others. Could end up in jail, with a fine.
Happy journey.....Alaskan

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/Golgot38/video/x3ycgt_la-route-la-poussiere-et-le-sable_travel
This is a small film of my adventure in the States : 16000 kms hitching around the country in only six weeks, and so many adventures, just enough to make a book ! Just enjoy !
Sheumas

 

here's a great resource for you. They have a state-by-state breakdown of hitchhiking:
http://www.digihitch.com/

 

Thank you for the link !

 

No problem!

 

Thanks guys, all looks very useful. I arrived in Toronto yesterday, should set off soon.

 

if ya get down north georgia way look us up. wed be glad to have ya...

 

i wouldnt advise train hopping in america,, especially not alone... its just not safe anymore..

 

thanks guys. my dad's bought me a greyhound pass for a while, and a hippie friend of mine is driving to colorado on monday, so i'll do that, maybe a bit of wwoofing - working on an organic farm a few hours a day in return for food and board, found one with a strong emphasis on mother earth spirituality, sounds interesting. I wouldn't train hop on my own. I just met a friend who train hopped the states for a few months, did the copper canyon trail into mexico!

 

West coast.
If you're only going to be in the states for a few months you HAVE TO see San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

The weather might limit the amount of busking but there's way more to see in S.F than in the whole state of Colorado IMO.