Help with The Amazing 100 USA Achievements Adventure

[Quilly]

Hi everybody,

Here's the deal: I'm Spanish, and I'll be traveling to the States for the first time in my life this December. I'll spend there the whole month: twenty days in the area of San Francisco and the remaining eleven at Orlando's Disney and Universal Theme Parks. I thought that was pretty awesome for a vacation already, but then I though, how could it be more challenging and fun? Specially considering I didn't want to come back and edit a boring video of me and my partner just visiting places.

And then my gamer inner voice said "Tuck some achievements in it".

I confess I am an achievement ho, and that I find the "achievement unlock" sound one of the most satisfying sensations in the gaming world. More than beating Seth on in SFIV. So the idea of turning my vacation into an Xbox game with plenty of achievements to unlock just seemed perfect, and a nice wrapping to make a vacation video a little less painful for my friends, too.

I decided my trip would have 100 achievements. Almost three a day seemed fair enough to have constant objectives. Then I came up with three simple rules to ensure it would be possible to unlock everything.

So far I've been able to come up with around 30 achievements, which cover the basic stereotypes I've always wanted to be able to say "I did it". And here's where I need your help. My knowledge of the States finishes where the movies and the news and the comics do, and I don't want to do much research because I just want to land and discover things rather than see the photos first and follow a predefined route. That's why I need you people of the States (or visitors, or just anyone with a great challenge-making skills) to help me out and fill the list up to 100 hundred achievements to unlock.


If you're game here are the rules I've set to make valid achievements:

1. It must be possible within the boundaries of common sense: It is possible to run naked in the Wizardy World of Harry Potter shouting "I'm wearing an invisibilty cape!", but I won't do that.

2. It must be specific: For instance, "Go and see a Monster Truck show" wouldn't be valind unless there really are (affordable) Monster Truck shows in the SF area in December.

3. It must be something I can't do in Spain: We have Mc Donald's, but we don't have the Double Chesse Burger, so having one is a valid achievement.

Also, you can consider I'll be traveling with another person (which opens the door to CO-OP achievements) from day 1 to 20 in San Francisco (and maybe LA and las Vegas, too, but we could consider that optional DLC) and from day 21 to 31 in Orlando's Disney and Universal theme parks.


And here's my achievement list so far:

1. Disney World - "CAPTAIN" Jack Sparrow: Have a picture taken with Jack Sparrow.
2. Disney World - You inner child with a credit card: Buy a toy
3. Disney World- OMG Turkey!: Have a turkey leg at Frontier's Land
4. Wizardy World of Harry Potter - Butterbeer: Have a glass of butter beer
5. Fast Food Tour - How the they call the quater pounder in Paris?: Order a McgangBang at McDonald's
6. Fast Food Tour - King of Fried Chicken: At KFC, eat something you couldn't find in the Spanish KFC's menu
7. Fast Food Tour - So how do they call the Whopper?: At Burger King, eat something you wouldn't find at Spanish Burger King's menu
8. Fast Food Tour - Quality is our recipe: Eat at Wendy's.
9. Fast Food Tour - In & Out: Eat at In & Out
10. Fast Food Tour - Founded in 1951: Eat at Jack in the Box
11. Fast Food Tour - From Philippines with love: Eat at Jollibee
12. Fast Food Tour - Think outside the bun: Eat at en Taco Bell
13. Fast Food Tour - Charbroiled: Eat at Carl's Jr.
14. Glu-Glu-Glu Tour - Happyness in a can: Drink Vanilla Coke
15. Glu-Glu-Glu Tour - At last, something healthy: Drink a Jamba Juice
16. American Movie Diner: Eat at a classical Diner
17 American Movie Breakfast: Have pancakes with maple syrup in a cafe
18. It's gonna blow!: Eat one of the The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States (according to heatlh.com)
19. SF - Mi name is Harvey Milk: Visit The Castro
20. SF - John Mason: "Escape" from Alcatraz
21. SF - Mandatory Visit: Visit the Golden Gate
22. SF - Rather than a cab: Travel by cable car
23. SF - Prophetron Zoltan Fortune Teller: Visit the Musée Méchanique and have a picture with Zoltan.
24. SF - I can't believe it!: Visita el Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum
25. SF - Flowers in your head: Visits Haigh and Ashbury.
26. SF - How cheesy is this?: Eat at the Sky Terrace of Cheesecake Factory
27. SF - It's my Mission: Find the Mission Wall.
28. CINEMA - So big: Watch a commercial movie at IMAX
29. CINEMA - Experimental Cinema: Watch while having something you wouldn't find in a Spanish cinema pop corn stand.


As you can see, more than challenges, so far I've covered up my "to do" list. Now it's time for real fun challenges, but nothing comes up.

So, What achievements can you think of? Any suggestions will be much appreciated!

 

[no oneder]

*sigh* Ok, here's what I'm going to do: I will tell you places that are fun to go, and places to see and stuff like that. I have been there 6 times ok.

What I'm NOT going to do is put them in achievement form. Because it's stupid.

• You definitely need to see the Golden Gate.
  If you want to go to Castro, your choice.
  You have to see the City Lights bookstore and the Piramid building, those two are on the same street.
  The Cable Car museum.
  Ride a Cable Car
  See Fisherman's wharf.

That's it. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Quilly]

Thanks! I am going to Castro, yeah. Actually, I came up with a fresh challenge out of that: since my partner's surname is Castro, we'll try manage to get a discount in any store under thre premise that "He's named Castro!"

 

[EchetusXe]

Culture swap: stop an American on the street and ask him if he knows where the train station is, ten minutes later watch his eyes glaze over as you tell him about the post office your little hometown for the second time. Then tell him he is welcome into your home should he ever be in the remote part of Spain that you live.

 

[no oneder]

Thanks! I am going to Castro, yeah. Actually, I came up with a fresh challenge out of that: since my partner's surname is Castro, we'll try manage to get a discount in any store under the premise that "He's named Castro!"

Use the quote button. Also, may I suggest drop the whole achievement idea. Simply make a list of things you want to do and see. Otherwise you may get massively beaten up.

 

[Tharwen]

[I can't think of a name]: Coax a random American into expressing their personal, intolerant opinion on a specific ethnic minority.

'cos all Americans are like that, right?
[sub]But seriously, that would be a fun achievement.[/sub]

 

[Thunderhorse31]

That sounds like an awesome trip and you've already come up with some good achievements (just reading your aspiration to eat In & Out has made me miss L.A.), the only ones I could add from my own experience would if you visit Epcot Center at Disney. In which case:

Disney World: Epcot Center - A Hangover in Any Language... Drink a beer from every country in the World (that's 11 different nations, IIRC).
Disney World: Epcot Center - Launch Aborted: After the above, ride Mission: SPACE without throwing up.

Best way to spend a day in Epcot, IMO.

 

[snowman6251]

Didn't read all the things but if you're going to be in San Fransisco then make sure you ride the little trolley things. We don't have those anywhere else really.

 

[Quilly]

Simply make a list of things you want to do and see.

Going to Alcatraz is just going to pay a visit there. Going there and coming back and, just after we step out of the boat, hearing in my head the achievement unlocked sound because i just "escaped" from The Rock is way better for me.

Now that I think of it... Maybe I could do a "Do X in every monument you visit" thing. I'll think about that.

Didn't read all the things but if you're going to be in San Fransisco then make sure you ride the little trolley things. We don't have those anywhere else really.

I am it's the "Rather than a cab" achievement.

[I can't think of a name]: Coax a random American into expressing their personal, intolerant opinion on a specific ethnic minority.

Well, I surely want challenges and this technically fits the requirements, but I'm not going to try to Mel Gibson random people!

Culture swap: stop an American on the street and ask him if he knows where the train station is, ten minutes later watch his eyes glaze over as you tell him about the post office your little hometown for the second time. Then tell him he is welcome into your home should he ever be in the remote part of Spain that you live.

Like above, I rather do this thing without pissing off people... at least, voluntarily.

Disney World: Epcot Center - A Hangover in Any Language... Drink a beer from every country in the World (that's 11 different nations, IIRC).
Disney World: Epcot Center - Launch Aborted: After the above, ride Mission: SPACE without throwing up.

Yeeeeeeeeah! Thanks! To the list they go!

Oh, and I've read that one of In & Out's burgers is listed as one of the most fattest foods in the States, so I may be able to get two achievements for the price of one!

 

[Jamash]

I've got an idea, but it's not really serious or within the boundaries of common sense, but you should...

Spoiler: Join the Westboro Baptist Church

OK, I'll admit I just wanted to use that picture... but here's a few slightly more serious suggestions.

Drawn and Quartered - (10G) - Visit Four Corners Monument [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Corners_Monument].

The Second Shooter - (20G) - Get a photo of yourself posing on the grassy knoll [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_grassy_knoll#Grassy_knoll].

Move along citizen, nothing to see here - (50G) - (Attempt to) Enter Area 51.

Through the Stargate - (50G) - Get a photo of yourself outside the North Portal of Cheyenne Mountain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne_Mountain].

Deliverance - (50G or 2 for 100G) - Go to the Deep South and have someone say to you "You ain't from around here boy" or "We don't take kindly to your type round here".

Californio - (100G) - (Attempt to) Recapture Los Angeles.

Rodney you Plonker! - (200G) - Take out 4 white cops using just the Nighstick melee attack.

Trading Places - (15G) - Buy a genuine Rolex watch from a street seller.

Big Bad John (Sweeny) - (50G) - Get yourself tailed by the Church of Scientology.

 

[Quilly]

I've got an idea, but it's not really serious or within the boundaries of common sense, but you should...

Spoiler: Join the Westboro Baptist Church

OK, I'll admit I just wanted to use that picture... but here's a few slightly more serious suggestions.

Drawn and Quartered - (10G) - Visit Four Corners Monument [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Corners_Monument].

The Second Shooter - (20G) - Get a photo of yourself posing on the grassy knoll [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_grassy_knoll#Grassy_knoll].

Move along citizen, nothing to see here - (50G) - (Attempt to) Enter Area 51.

Through the Stargate - (50G) - Get a photo of yourself outside the North Portal of Cheyenne Mountain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne_Mountain].

Deliverance - (50G or 2 for 100G) - Go to the Deep South and have someone say to you "You ain't from around here boy" or "We don't take kindly to your type round here".

Californio - (100G) - (Attempt to) Recapture Los Angeles.

Rodney you Plonker! - (200G) - Take out 4 white cops using just the Nighstick melee attack.

Trading Places - (15G) - Buy a genuine Rolex watch from a street seller.

Big Bad John (Sweeny) - (50G) - Get yourself tailed by the Church of Scientology.

I take Californio (in case I'm able to actually go there) and Trading Places into the list. The first four are impossible to do since i won't be near those areas, and regarding Scientology, I think I'll have it different. In London, they had this church and they gave free "tests" as a way to introduce you to the religion before allowing yo to sign up, so...

Worthy but unwilling - Get to sign up for Scientology and refuse to do so at the last moment.


Thanks!

 

[InnerRebellion]

Food-Baskin Robin's of Burgers-Eat at Red Robin. MUST DO.

 

[Quilly]

I didn't know that! To the list! Thanks