Small California Roadtrip - Advice please
Discussion
As ever with these things, there are far too many great places than will fit in any single trip. Having now done 3 trips (itineraries below), I still feel like I've only scratched the surface.
1. San Francisco - South Lake Tahoe - Yosemite - Bishop - Furnace Creek - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon (South Rim) - Las Vegas
Highlights: San Francisco (nice city); Yosemite; Death Valley; Grand Canyon
2. San Francisco - Monterey - San Luis Obispo - Santa Barbara - Pasadena - San Diego
Highlights: Monterey (whale watching); Hearst Castle; PCH scenery; Nethercutt Collection & Museum (LA); San Diego Zoo; USS Midway (San Diego)
3. Las Vegas - The "Mighty 5" Utah National Parks - Monument Valley - Page, AZ (Antelope Canyon) - Williams, AZ - Cottonwood, AZ - Tucson
Highlights: All the National Parks; seeing sunset & sunrise over Monument Valley; Antelope Canyon; Bearizona and Out of Africa wildlife parks; Pima Air & Space Museum, plus the "Boneyard" tour.
1. San Francisco - South Lake Tahoe - Yosemite - Bishop - Furnace Creek - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon (South Rim) - Las Vegas
Highlights: San Francisco (nice city); Yosemite; Death Valley; Grand Canyon
2. San Francisco - Monterey - San Luis Obispo - Santa Barbara - Pasadena - San Diego
Highlights: Monterey (whale watching); Hearst Castle; PCH scenery; Nethercutt Collection & Museum (LA); San Diego Zoo; USS Midway (San Diego)
3. Las Vegas - The "Mighty 5" Utah National Parks - Monument Valley - Page, AZ (Antelope Canyon) - Williams, AZ - Cottonwood, AZ - Tucson
Highlights: All the National Parks; seeing sunset & sunrise over Monument Valley; Antelope Canyon; Bearizona and Out of Africa wildlife parks; Pima Air & Space Museum, plus the "Boneyard" tour.
Another (rather obvious) note of caution - almost anywhere to anywhere else in California/the West Coast is a long way away !
Example - just a few weeks ago, I was in San Francisco and a business colleague I needed to meet was in Los Angeles. For various reasons we decided to meet half way between the cities, - which meant a 31/2hr drive, lunch, then a 3 1/2hr return drive.
[Commuter flights didn't make sense on that occasion ....]
Example - just a few weeks ago, I was in San Francisco and a business colleague I needed to meet was in Los Angeles. For various reasons we decided to meet half way between the cities, - which meant a 31/2hr drive, lunch, then a 3 1/2hr return drive.
[Commuter flights didn't make sense on that occasion ....]
Edited by AAGR on Thursday 25th May 11:34
It was a long while ago (1980s) when I was last there but a couple of things I really enjoyed were The Mystery Spot and renting a beach buggy:
https://www.mysteryspot.com
http://www.sunbuggy.com/pismo
Overall, I think Hearst Castle was the most amazing single attraction.
https://www.mysteryspot.com
http://www.sunbuggy.com/pismo
Overall, I think Hearst Castle was the most amazing single attraction.
p1stonhead said:
AAGR said:
Which airline to choose ? British Airways, Virgin, United and American all cover that itinerary. As an old hand, I'd recommend Virgin over British Airways, and either of them in preference to United or American.
To save you hours at immigration, I recommend flying in to San Jose (about 50 miles south of San Francisco International) where there is MUCH less queueing. British Airways now fly daily/non-stop, using Dreamliners - I used the service just weeks ago, and it is very successful.
Oh and yes - don't ignore San Francisco and the surrounding area. Choosing between there and - say - Las Vegas. No Contest.
Dreamliner is incredible!To save you hours at immigration, I recommend flying in to San Jose (about 50 miles south of San Francisco International) where there is MUCH less queueing. British Airways now fly daily/non-stop, using Dreamliners - I used the service just weeks ago, and it is very successful.
Oh and yes - don't ignore San Francisco and the surrounding area. Choosing between there and - say - Las Vegas. No Contest.
This is our latest route.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/San+Francisco,+Kali...
Edited by Adenauer on Friday 2nd June 08:39
200 miles a day? So that'll be 3-4 hours driving a day without seeing anything other than the view at 60mph.
Personally I'd scale that down a bit. By comparison this is basically what we're doing in September over 15 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/pCkjM3V5WsH2
650 odd miles with plenty of time to see the sights. But then again it depends how much you want to see I guess.
Personally I'd scale that down a bit. By comparison this is basically what we're doing in September over 15 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/pCkjM3V5WsH2
650 odd miles with plenty of time to see the sights. But then again it depends how much you want to see I guess.
Dal3D said:
200 miles a day? So that'll be 3-4 hours driving a day without seeing anything other than the view at 60mph.
Personally I'd scale that down a bit. By comparison this is basically what we're doing in September over 15 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/pCkjM3V5WsH2
650 odd miles with plenty of time to see the sights. But then again it depends how much you want to see I guess.
Thing is we have to go to Vegas as we have relatives living in Henderson and I'll be mince if we don't pay them a visit. We'd also like to see the Grand Canyon and San Francisco.Personally I'd scale that down a bit. By comparison this is basically what we're doing in September over 15 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/pCkjM3V5WsH2
650 odd miles with plenty of time to see the sights. But then again it depends how much you want to see I guess.
How about this?
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/San+Francisco,+Kali...
Just seen you're going in January - that scrubs out some of the parks as the roads will be closed.
Big Sur route might be back open by then perhaps?
There's so much to see and do that you'll never fit it all in really. My first plan ended up near Eureka north of SF but that turned into a cannonball run of driving when working out the mileage. lol
Big Sur route might be back open by then perhaps?
There's so much to see and do that you'll never fit it all in really. My first plan ended up near Eureka north of SF but that turned into a cannonball run of driving when working out the mileage. lol
Dal3D said:
Ah, OK.
If it were me, I'd go up to the Sierra or Yosemite NP route then over to the coast at Monterey rather than the LA route as that doesn't interest me at all. That coupled with the Monterey > SLO road closure doesn't make that way attractive.
Don't suppose I could trouble you to post a quick Google link of the route could I? #flutters eyelashes#If it were me, I'd go up to the Sierra or Yosemite NP route then over to the coast at Monterey rather than the LA route as that doesn't interest me at all. That coupled with the Monterey > SLO road closure doesn't make that way attractive.
Bearing in mind that it will be in January.
Dal3D said:
Just seen you're going in January - that scrubs out some of the parks as the roads will be closed.
Big Sur route might be back open by then perhaps?
There's so much to see and do that you'll never fit it all in really. My first plan ended up near Eureka north of SF but that turned into a cannonball run of driving when working out the mileage. lol
Big Sur route might be back open by then perhaps?
There's so much to see and do that you'll never fit it all in really. My first plan ended up near Eureka north of SF but that turned into a cannonball run of driving when working out the mileage. lol
Maybe something like this?
https://goo.gl/maps/vhpiPJhVZ8w
Into SF and fly home from LV - that way there's no need to go all the way back to SF for no real gain and more time to stop appreciate?
That's assuming you want to see the Grand Canyon as previously mentioned in the thread. I know some of the roads near Yosemite close over winter, I think the Sierra NP doesn't close as much - need to check.
https://goo.gl/maps/vhpiPJhVZ8w
Into SF and fly home from LV - that way there's no need to go all the way back to SF for no real gain and more time to stop appreciate?
That's assuming you want to see the Grand Canyon as previously mentioned in the thread. I know some of the roads near Yosemite close over winter, I think the Sierra NP doesn't close as much - need to check.
Dal3D said:
Maybe something like this?
https://goo.gl/maps/vhpiPJhVZ8w
Into SF and fly home from LV - that way there's no need to go all the way back to SF for no real gain and more time to stop appreciate?
That's assuming you want to see the Grand Canyon as previously mentioned in the thread. I know some of the roads near Yosemite close over winter, I think the Sierra NP doesn't close as much - need to check.
Thank you.https://goo.gl/maps/vhpiPJhVZ8w
Into SF and fly home from LV - that way there's no need to go all the way back to SF for no real gain and more time to stop appreciate?
That's assuming you want to see the Grand Canyon as previously mentioned in the thread. I know some of the roads near Yosemite close over winter, I think the Sierra NP doesn't close as much - need to check.
There's a problem with flying back from Vegas which I have yet to understand, for some reason I can easily get direct flights to and from Germany to SF or LA, but not LV?
Sorry for thread hijack but following this wth great interest as my wife and I are planning a trip to Cal next summer. I've never been to America and have always wanted to go- California in particular.
We're gonna be Air BnB'ing where we stay.
So far we have roughly planned:
2 nights in Texas, Corpus Christi, staying with Aunt and Uncle
> Fly from Texas and into San Fran
1 night in San Fran
> Drive to Yosemite
2 nights near Yosemite
> Drive to LA
2 nights in LA
> Fly out of LA to Hawaii
3 nights in Hawaii
> Hawaii to home
(Unsure of what to do with relatives in Corpus Christi yet- Shooting range perhaps? Eat in a proper local diner)
(Golden Gate and Alcatraz in a day at San Fran)
(Hikes and exploring in Yosemite)
(Couple of Museums in LA, walk of fame, watch a big icehocky or baseball game, beach)
Volcanos in Hawaii and beach
What do you think?
We're gonna be Air BnB'ing where we stay.
So far we have roughly planned:
2 nights in Texas, Corpus Christi, staying with Aunt and Uncle
> Fly from Texas and into San Fran
1 night in San Fran
> Drive to Yosemite
2 nights near Yosemite
> Drive to LA
2 nights in LA
> Fly out of LA to Hawaii
3 nights in Hawaii
> Hawaii to home
(Unsure of what to do with relatives in Corpus Christi yet- Shooting range perhaps? Eat in a proper local diner)
(Golden Gate and Alcatraz in a day at San Fran)
(Hikes and exploring in Yosemite)
(Couple of Museums in LA, walk of fame, watch a big icehocky or baseball game, beach)
Volcanos in Hawaii and beach
What do you think?
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 2nd June 10:21
Adenauer said:
Thank you.
There's a problem with flying back from Vegas which I have yet to understand, for some reason I can easily get direct flights to and from Germany to SF or LA, but not LV?
That's annoying!There's a problem with flying back from Vegas which I have yet to understand, for some reason I can easily get direct flights to and from Germany to SF or LA, but not LV?
Looks like Condor fly direct from Las Vegas to Frankfurt in January '18 on Thursdays and Sundays?
https://www.condor.com/tcibe/eu/flight/flights
Dal3D said:
That's annoying!
Looks like Condor fly direct from Las Vegas to Frankfurt in January '18 on Thursdays and Sundays?
https://www.condor.com/tcibe/eu/flight/flights
I appreciate your efforts, really, and you found a flight that I couldn't. Looks like Condor fly direct from Las Vegas to Frankfurt in January '18 on Thursdays and Sundays?
https://www.condor.com/tcibe/eu/flight/flights
Problem is, that is give or take a few pennies exactly double the fair of Air Berlin from Düsseldorf to SF or LA, and they are also direct flights
Adenauer said:
I appreciate your efforts, really, and you found a flight that I couldn't.
Problem is, that is give or take a few pennies exactly double the fair of Air Berlin from Düsseldorf to SF or LA, and they are also direct flights
Another option might be to take a cheap (and quick) internal flight from LV to LAX or SFO?Problem is, that is give or take a few pennies exactly double the fair of Air Berlin from Düsseldorf to SF or LA, and they are also direct flights
Or
Or just drive your original route and see how it goes?
Regardless of a route, try to weigh up if you want to be on the road all day, or actually stopped and looking at something. I got a nice big OS style map and laid it out on the dining room table to see routes with laptop and google maps next to me for accurate mileages. Makes you realise how big the place is!
What car are you hiring too? That could make a bit of difference too. In winter I'd go for a nice big comfy truck.
Am in SF next week, 4 days there including a visit to San Quentin. A live prison is much more interesting than Alcatraz which didn't impress me much.
Then over to Auburn and Downieville for some MTBing, Then Tahoe for some more riding. Yosemite for some hiking, unfortunately didn't get passes in the lottery for Half dome and then have about a week of whatever we fancy, maybe have a long drive to San Diego for some warm water SUPing.
I prefer to have longer journeys but less of them.
Then over to Auburn and Downieville for some MTBing, Then Tahoe for some more riding. Yosemite for some hiking, unfortunately didn't get passes in the lottery for Half dome and then have about a week of whatever we fancy, maybe have a long drive to San Diego for some warm water SUPing.
I prefer to have longer journeys but less of them.
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