btrotman85

Broad Street is probably Richmond's main east-west boulevard with the exception of Interstate 64. Just east of I-95, there are decent inner-city neighborhoods that line the streets. However, go too far and what is okay turns into being not so great. West of I-95, there are plenty shops and stores you can go to, as this used to be Richmond's main shopping district. Yet, nothing is upscale. You might be able to find a good price on a suit though. Further west, Broad Street turns into an automobile dealer's haven as almost every brand has a dealer on this street. With 3 lanes in each direction on the west side of town, Broad Street is rarely gridlocked for the most part. Traffic is not bad in Richmond anyway.

Constitution Avenue is one of DC's main arteries because along it is access to the Washington Monument, the Capitol building, many government buildings, much of the Smithsonian Museums, and the Mall. It's easy to travel because it's 3 lanes wide in each direction and many of the lights are synchronized. You can also park along the street and a space is not all that hard to find. It's easy to access to as it is right of I-66 for Virginia travelers.

Along Canal Rd runs the Potomac River. Directly adjacent to it is a trail where you can fish, rent bikes, or paddle boats and do other outdoor activities. No parking is allowed on the street however. Canal Rd is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of DC. Towards the Clara Burton Pkwy, Canal Rd passes quaint neighborhoods where houses sit on hills overlooking the river. Like Rock Creek Parkway, Canal Rd is a great therapeutic drive after a long stressful day at work.

M Street is Georgetown's main east-west street although only 2 lanes in each direction. Watch out for cars trying to back into parking spaces as you drive. There are many great places to eat along M Street such a Clyde's, which serves great food at a reasonable price. M Street is good for shopping too but stores are not as concentrated as they are on Wisconsin Avenue. The main problem I have with M Street is that if you're not paying attention when driving, you will get beeped off the road. It is very narrow and many people walk along it especially during the weekend so you want to make sure you don't hit anybody.

Wisconsin Avenue runs right through the shopping district of the Georgetown district of DC. Georgetown is a little exclusive but a lot of the shops have quality items for good prices. For instance, it's not all that hard to find a good suit along Wisconsin Avenue. Because much of the street serves shops, it can be hard to find a parking space on this street especially on Saturdays. Be careful when driving as the street can be a little congested and pedestrians will walk out anywhere.

Interstate 395 in DC is a great artery to get from one side of DC to the other in a relatively short time. It barely gets congested in DC because most people just use the main streets, so you can rarely go wrong by getting on it. It splits to become the Southeastern Freeway to put you out at Pennsylvania Avenue; or if you take the other direction, New York Avenue. A part of it runs underground so you don't get to do much site seeing, but it was well designed to service a highly developed part of DC without destroying its landscape with overpasses.

Independence Avenue runs adjacent to Constitution but seems to be a little more heavily traveled mainly because the lights are not synchronized. It is also 3 lanes in each direction most of the way, but where it is two lanes, you get great views over the Potomac River and you can see the Lincoln Memorial. Further up Independence Ave., you can access the Capitol Building and see great views of it. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is also right off Independence. At the onset of spring, this street is also the main site for the Cherry Blossom festival which is just a block away along the Reflecting Pool.

Rock Creek Parkway is an amazingly peaceful, nature-filled, 4-lane parkway in Northwest DC. You will drive along the rushing Rock Creek and pass beautiful landscapes that make it seem as if you are driving along mountainsides. The cliffs are gargantuan as they separate the city from this beautiful street. Be careful though because the road is extremely windy and not particularly wide. If you can help it, drive a smaller vehicle along Rock Creek Parkway. Access various parks that seem secluded from the rest of DC, but don't try to walk or park on this street. You might get hit.

The neighborhoods along Connecticut Avenue are located on some of the more expensive real estate in DC. The further north you go, you drive along beautiful tree-lined streets, you pass 5-star hotels, and the Washington National Zoo is also right off Connecticut Avenue. The road is perfectly safe for families to walk along. There's always a place to eat anywhere along Connecticut Avenue whether it's fast food or fine-dining.

H Street is a much traveled street with two lanes in each direction, and it can get a little congested at times. It cuts right through the heart of Chinatown. One of my favorite restaurants on this street is Tony Cheng's. It is a Mongolian BBQ buffet where they cook the food in front of you. H Street is lined with various eateries and shops and is located in a safe neighborhood as long as you stay in Northwest DC.

7th Street is a great place to be...there are many great places to go such as the ESPN zone, Clyde's restaurant (great food at a reasonable price), and the Verizon Center. Further north on 7th Street, is the Washington Convention Center. Unfortunately, with the crowds of people and the many attractions, 7th street is just a 3-lane street. Northbound, buses reserve one lane, so during rush hour you might want to take an alternate route.

W. Pratt Street is a great street to walk for a night on the town and such. Watch out when walking though because the street is kind of wide and there is a lot going on as it's right off the Baltimore Harbor...one of Baltimore's main tourist attractions and hot spots. Yet, it cuts right through Downtown amongst the high-rises and office towers; so if you're taking a walk during lunch time a businessperson taking a break may be in a rush and not want to obey pedestrian laws. In the summer, breezes from the harbor always seem to keep the air cooler than other parts of the city. From Pratt Street you have access to the Hard Rock Cafe on the Harbor, the Cheesecake Factory, and other great eating places on the Harbor. Shopping is also prevalent as some higher-end stores line this street too. This is also one of the better paved streets Downtown...a rarity in Baltimore.

Interstate 895 was built to bypass the traffic and hustle and bustle of Downtown Baltimore served by Interstate 95. It works most times, but sometimes it can be just as bad as I-95 traffic wise. Because it's only 2 lanes in each direction, I-895 can be a nightmare especially when there is night construction. Oftentimes, I-95 is having construction so traffic updates on the road say to opt to take I-895. They both have the same toll anyway ($2.00) and practically take up the same amount of time to get across town. But going through the Harbor Tunnel doesn't make things easier...people always slow down more than they need to around the tunnel.

Greenmount Avenue is a street that reminds me of streets in Queens, New York, and Philadelphia. This is mainly because what lines the street in some areas are decent inner-city homes, but in other areas the street is heavily lined with Chinese Food and Chicken take out restaurants. They look illegitimate to out-of-towners, but locals flock to these restaurants. Additionally it also reminds me of up north, because is also a church on every other corner; which of course is a good thing in for inner-city life. Other than that, there is nothing all that special about this four-lane street.

I-95 through much of Baltimore is actually an overpass. Just about a mile after entering Baltimore City and passing Washington Blvd., you will be on the overpass until you go under the tunnel and then back on it again until it meets I-895 again. It's elevation off the ground is great because if you're traveling through towards DC or Philly, you will still get to see all of Baltimore's skyline from a close enough distance. It gets really backed up during rush hour around the Fort McHenry Tunnel. This is despite it being one of the few 8-laned tunnels in the country, if not the only one. But accidents are so prevalent around here. The speed limit is 55mph, but out-of-towners normally go 70 to 80mph. Be careful to keep your eyes on the road around here.

W. Franklin St. runs only west just north of Downtown. There are many nice little eateries that line the street as it skirts the upper part of Downtown. It's easy to drive as the lights are synchronized but don't drive too fast because the bumps in this road can be a killer. Many trucks travel it trying to make their way to rt. 40, another main highway in Baltimore, maybe that's why the road is a little beat up (but so are most roads in Baltimore). Because of this, be careful when crossing the streets. You might get hit if you're not careful.

If you are not a native of Baltimore, W. Baltimore Street can be a little scary west of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. The city is trying to renovate some old buildings and developments from east to west but otherwise, this street runs through one of Baltimore's ghettos. A positive though...this street is lined with many churches seeming to be located on every corner. W. Baltimore Street is not the safest street to walk with a family at night., again, especially if you're not a Baltimore native. You can get in a lot of trouble around here.

I like Harford Rd. because the speed limit is about 35mph around the northern part of Baltimore. This is good because it makes the road safe, but easy to travel as many of the traffic lights are synchronized. Near Lake Montebello you enter a very sophisticated "looking" neighborhood with pretty decent houses but from there, if you are traveling south, you can begin to see the Baltimore skyline. Makes me feel like Baltimore isn't such a bad place to be after all. However, the only retail businesses along this street are mostly fast food restaurants, gas stations, and salons. I guess this adds to the "quaintness" of the street.

Eastern Avenue is quite a diverse street. Closer to the harborfront, you will be sure to see a tour trolley pass you by. But as you travel east, the pavement gets worse and is in terrible shape, especially when the road opens up from a 2-lane street to the 4-lane highway. There are various shops, clubs, and restaurants that line the street as the neighborhoods go from good to average. I have used the street to escape the $2.00 toll at the McHenry tunnel, but that's not such a good idea. The lights are not synchronized and are too close together. It will take you forever. Eastern Avenue is nice to walk but you might want to have a friend walk with you the further east you go.

S. Howard Street is naturally busy because the beginning of it is the outlet for Downtown Baltimore's main interstate artery--Interstate 395. But it gives great views of the Baltimore skyline as it lowers from overpass level to street level once you cross over the water and into the city. Walking along S. Howard Street can be a little dangerous as traffic is still slowing closer to the I-395 side. It gives you easy access to the Orioles Stadium too but unfortunately you can't park on the street. I guess trying to parallel park while traffic is zooming by wouldn't be wise anyway. S. Howard Street is one of the better paved streets in Baltimore although that's not saying much.

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a 3-laned street just to the west of Downtown Baltimore. It is pedestrian friendly with easy to use sidewalks, street lights, and it's in a decent area. It also gives great views of Downtown. The problem is however, there's nothing spectacular about it. There are very few restaurants, no stores, and no attractions. It is just a quick access street to many cross streets that lead into Downtown Baltimore on one side and the ghetto on the other side. The lights don't seem to be synchronized so traffic flow is usually stop and go, although not all that congested.

I like City Hall Avenue mainly because it gives you quick, easy access to the MacArthur Mall. From I-264, you can sweep down the ramp, go through one light, and the entrance to the parking deck is there immediately on the right. City Hall Avenue is a great walk at night because it is well lit and is not heavily travelled. Its downfall is there the fact that you can not park on the street. If you miss the entrance, you have to circle the block to come back to it again. It also gives you a great view of the skyline from the northeast. Like E Main St., it's great to walk during Christmastime, seeing all the high-rises and towers lined with Christmas lights.

Granby St. is Norfolk's main north-south corridor. In midtown, famous, upscale restaurants and nicely lit streets dominate it's scene--a breath of fresh air in the middle of a city that's rough around the edges. Granby Street is only pedestrian friendly in midtown. Go a little further downtown and the lanes narrow as Granby parts from route 460. Downtown it's just a block from Norfolk scope and gives great views of the city skyline.

I-264 serves Downtown Norfolk giving it nearby access to the Tides stadium, Waterside, Town Point Park, Norfolk State University, and MacArthur mall. However, in less than 1 mile, it shrinks from 4 lanes to 2 as it is becomes the Downtown Tunnel. This creates horrible congestion especially during rush hour...it never fails. Christmastime is the worst because of traffic from the popular MacArthur Mall. I-264 gives a great view of the Downtown skyline as it soars high off the ground as it gets closer to Downtown coming from the east. From Downtown Norfolk all the way to Virginia Beach, it's 4 lanes of open highway that is not the least congested until rush hour. You can use this interstate to get from Suffolk, to Downtown Portsmouth, Downtown Norfolk, and the Oceanfront of Virginia Beach.

Ocean view avenue is now a cheap excuse for a waterfront. Long forsaken for its beach, the Virginia Beach oceanfront is now a much better place to be. I don't really care for this street because it can be a little dangerous to walk by yourself at night. There are mostly only houses and so the streets are not the best lit. Places to eat are few and far between. I don't know why it's called Ocean view because you can barely see the water anyway with all the houses blocking the waterfront.

Hampton Boulevard runs from the Naval Base in the northwest corner of Norfolk to Midtown. On this street you can pass by ODU and their beautiful new Convocation Center where the lady monarchs play. I like this street because it is easy to walk for a well traveled street. It is well lit at night, especially near ODU, and has several cheap places where you can eat. It passes through reasonably safe neighborhoods until you get closer to midtown.

I like E Main Street mainly because I like to see city skylines and how a city portrays its strength and growth through its skyline. E Main Street cuts through the center of Downtown, passing by some of Norfolk's tallest skyscrapers such as the Bank of America building, Main Street Tower, the Marriott Hotel and the Norfolk Southern building. During Christmastime, it's beautiful because all the towers are lined with white Christmas lights. A peaceful walk at night time.

Waterside Dr. is a nice walk in Downtown Norfolk. Off this street is access to Norfolk's currently tallest building, the Dominion Tower; it also gives great views of the skyline. Also you can access Town Point Park which is a great place on the Downtown Norfolk's waterfront off the Elizabeth River. Be sure to check out Nauticus too. It's a great place to go with your family and kids--kind of like a museum, but more fun and educational too. It has activities and games that are great for the whole family more geared toward nautical sciences.

N. Military Highway has a little too much going on. It's 3 and sometimes 4 lanes but it's lined with several strip malls, Military Circle Mall, and many hotels. This makes for a lot of people entering the highway in side entrances from stores and not from intersections. It's easy to get in an accident if you're not paying attention and it's not very pedestrian friendly. It's not located in one of Norfolk's best neighborhoods either.

Monticello Avenue is not one of Norfolk's best streets. It's not well paved (well most of the streets in Norfolk aren't), but it does serve as the front entrance of the MacArthur mall. There's only one lane in each direction Downtown which makes it worse...especially when the NorVA theater on the other side of the street is having a performance. It gives great views of the city skyline though.

Brambleton Avenue is mostly a 3-lane lighted street in Midtown Norfolk and one of Norfolk's main thoroughfares. It borders the Norfolk Scope which is used as a sports arena and cultural events facility. Surprisingly, it is easy to travel with minimum traffic (except near the Midtown Tunnel), however most of the lights are not synchronized. Brambleton Avenue seems to separate Downtown Norfolk (the nicer part) from the rest of Norfolk which is not so nice.