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I've recently committed to getting a car, but don't have anywhere to put it. I live in the limbo that is Portland, Oregon's dreaded Zone N, the result of which is that I am apparently not eligible for any street permit parking. Worse still, all the lot/garage options I've been able to find even semi-nearby are upwards of $75–150 a month. This… isn't workable. How/where do people who live in inner SE park affordably? [more inside]
posted by caliche around Portland, OR at 10:54 AM - 6 answers

How can I safely travel from Ontario to Missouri this winter to help my 83-year old mother? The Air Canada flight I booked for December to February has been cancelled, leaving me unsure of my options. [more inside]
posted by prairiecatherine around United States at 8:13 PM - 14 answers

....for a mystery story I'm writing. Is there a mountain or escarpment that someone could "accidentally" fall off. The victim is fairly well off, so I'm picturing a big house near some dangerous plunges.
posted by storybored around Vermont at 10:59 AM - 13 answers

Where should I stay with my (small, clean, very good) dog near the First Hill Surgery Center in Seattle? He is super excitable around traffic so I need someplace calmish. Airbnb is fine but what neighborhood am I looking for? No more than say 20 minutes away very early on a weekday morning. Thanks!
posted by HotToddy around Seattle, WA at 5:30 PM - 5 answers

It’s probably about a 2009 Prius, it’s a grinding noise when starting up. Or shortly after starting up. Looking for a reliable mechanic south of the Bay Area, closer to San Jose or Cupertino. [more inside]
posted by tilde around San Jose, CA at 8:55 AM - 8 answers

I'm currently stuck at advanced beginner driving and trying to map out what are intermediary steps between my current skills and my goal, with some anxiety complicating the matter. [more inside]
posted by internet of pillows around San Francisco, CA at 8:44 PM - 15 answers

My adult son and I are headed to TN (from VA) in a couple of weeks to spend a week exploring civil war battlefields (he is a historian and civil war nerd). We'll be camping in Chattanooga for 2 nights, Shiloh for 2 nights, and Murfreesboro for 1 night. What shouldn't we miss in those areas, outside the obvious battlefields? [more inside]
posted by COD around Tennessee at 5:04 PM - 9 answers

A friend and I will be driving from NYC to DC tomorrow (Thursday, September 24) to pay our respects to RBG at the Supreme Court building. I'm looking for suggestions specific to DC driving/parking/public transportation for how best to navigate once we arrive. [more inside]
posted by Majorita around Washington, DC at 5:56 PM - 5 answers

Looking for a hotel in SF area that is open and has windows that open or--even better--terrace space.
posted by Rock 'em Sock 'em around San Francisco, CA at 8:37 AM - 7 answers

Earthquakes and volcanoes and tsunamis, oh my! Also wildfires. My husband and I have absolutely fallen in love with the state of Washington. We are seriously considering moving to the greater Seattle region. However, the more research I do, the more I keep reading about the potential for earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and wildfires. I'm having difficulty finding resources regarding how serious a threat these things actually are. Please help me understand if these things are serious risks that should legitimately dissuade us from moving to the region! [more inside]
posted by quiet_musings around Washington at 10:56 AM - 23 answers

I am planning to drive from Seattle to Tucson for Christmas, to see my family. Please help me plan a route optimized for natural beauty, safer winter driving, and good stopping points to camp each night. [more inside]
posted by cnidaria around California at 12:23 PM - 5 answers

If I was going to go on a walk in the next couple of weeks, in or around Seattle, where should I go to take photos? [more inside]
posted by baptismal around Seattle, WA at 9:39 AM - 8 answers

If we can go to the US next year, I'd like to check out Gary, Indiana. But the reputation of the city precedes it. Is it as bad as people say? [more inside]
posted by mippy around Gary, IN at 8:36 AM - 27 answers

What would you recommend to do in upstate NY, anywhere within a three hour drive of Hunter, NY. Open to anything available during coronavirus, but specific interests include modern/contemporary art, socialism/anarchism/antifascism/leftism, government/civics, (vegetarian) food, animals, factory/food tours (learning about how anything is made), architecture, nature, urban/abandoned exploring.
posted by andoatnp around New York, NY at 1:36 PM - 13 answers

I lived in Rochester, NY for a while. I always meant to visit Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Cafe and didn't ever get there before they closed. What songs would have regularly been in rotation there? (I'm generally familiar with the concept of the Great American Songbook and that "standards" exist. I'm looking for specifics where possible.) Are there other establishments like this, a cross between a piano bar, a participatory experience, and a time machine?
posted by knile around Rochester, NY at 1:05 PM - 1 answer

Next week my wife and I will be spending Labor Day week working our way down the Blue Ridge Parkway, north to south. What are the can't miss stops? [more inside]
posted by COD around United States at 6:24 PM - 8 answers

We will be on Cape Cod in Sandwich, MA with 3yo and 4yo kids for a low-key week of going to the beach and (cautious, socially distanced) exploring the cape. My understanding is that cape-side beaches are better for kids due to smaller waves and more tidal pools to explore. Any recommendations for specific beaches and/or other activities that are reasonably kid friendly and less likely to be super crowded? We will be there Monday-Friday so hopefully mid-week crowds will be more reasonable.
posted by jpdoane around Massachusetts at 7:11 AM - 11 answers

I have a dentist appointment in SF (near our mostly-shuttered office) coming up, and I'll have to come in from the East Bay where I've been working from home. I'm hoping not to deal with $$ garages (which could be full anyway) or 1-hour street parking, so I was just wondering if it'd be relatively safe (i.e. not a Covid hot-zone) to ride BART at the moment. (The office is on Sansome a few blocks from Market, if that helps).
posted by gtrwolf around San Francisco Bay Area, CA at 12:08 PM - 8 answers

Later this week I'll be in Cody WY with the kiddos (7 & 11) and I want to take them to Yellowstone for a day, probably Friday. I haven't been there since I was 7 myself. I need a plan. [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky around Yellowstone National Park, WY at 4:27 PM - 5 answers

I've never been to Yellowstone and have little idea what the experience is like. Haven't had a vacation in over eight years and am not going into a pandemic-riddled Midwest winter without some kind of minimalist trip. (If you feel judgey about that, please keep moving and don't harsh my squee.) [more inside]
posted by dancing leaves around United States at 9:56 AM - 8 answers