US West Coast - What to see
Discussion
Hi all,
My other half and I will be flying over to San Fransisco later this month, and returning via LA 2 weeks later. Thats all we have booked.
We're hoping to take in Vegas, and the Grand Canyon (standard tourists!), but we're looking to recommendations as to what to do in the middle.
We're looking for advice on places like Napa Valley, Yosemite National Park, and Death Valley etc, but can anyone recommend places to stay here, or alternatives?
Many thanks,
Mark
My other half and I will be flying over to San Fransisco later this month, and returning via LA 2 weeks later. Thats all we have booked.
We're hoping to take in Vegas, and the Grand Canyon (standard tourists!), but we're looking to recommendations as to what to do in the middle.
We're looking for advice on places like Napa Valley, Yosemite National Park, and Death Valley etc, but can anyone recommend places to stay here, or alternatives?
Many thanks,
Mark
we did a trip some years ago the other way (start LA, end San Fransisco)
We went to:
LA: stayed in Beverley Hills - good base for wandering around
Vegas: stayed in the Venetian - wonderful hotel, actually Vegas as a whole was great. - we did a plane/helicopter trip to Grand Canyon which was fun - fly fixed wing over to the valley and over Hoover dam.
Death Valley: Stayed in the Ranch - nice, but weird swimming in a pool warm enough to have a bath in!
Yosemite: stayed in the lodge in the park, not wonderful, but at least it is all on your doorstep (including the wildlife!)
Then Lake Tahoo: - stayed in one of the casino hotels, not the best but was interesting to see a different casino towm (helps make you realise how special Vegas is) also good scenary on the way too/from
ended in SF: stayed in the centre (Union Square - can't remember the name of the hotel...but was great) - dumped the hire car as soon as we got here (nightmare to drive yourself around) - if you are starting here; perhaps pick up your car when you are leaving the city?
Could provide more details if required - although would probably require consultation with OH who has a better memory than me! hehe
We went to:
LA: stayed in Beverley Hills - good base for wandering around
Vegas: stayed in the Venetian - wonderful hotel, actually Vegas as a whole was great. - we did a plane/helicopter trip to Grand Canyon which was fun - fly fixed wing over to the valley and over Hoover dam.
Death Valley: Stayed in the Ranch - nice, but weird swimming in a pool warm enough to have a bath in!
Yosemite: stayed in the lodge in the park, not wonderful, but at least it is all on your doorstep (including the wildlife!)
Then Lake Tahoo: - stayed in one of the casino hotels, not the best but was interesting to see a different casino towm (helps make you realise how special Vegas is) also good scenary on the way too/from
ended in SF: stayed in the centre (Union Square - can't remember the name of the hotel...but was great) - dumped the hire car as soon as we got here (nightmare to drive yourself around) - if you are starting here; perhaps pick up your car when you are leaving the city?
Could provide more details if required - although would probably require consultation with OH who has a better memory than me! hehe
Likewise have done it bottom to top. Big Sur is worth a stop, as is Monterey - lovely place to visit, eat and great aquarium - also check out if its the time of year to go whale watching. Carmel is nice too.
You have mentioned Yosemite and Death valley already and both are worth going to imo - both staggering n their own way. We drove to Monument Valley from Grand Canyon (the place everyone stays & the buses stop - name escapes me) and back in a day and it was too far to be honest.
One word of warning when heading out the grand canyon way - fill up with gas more than you would over here as the stations aren't exactly frequent... half an hour of economical driving & coasting down hills isn't great fun in the dark when you don't know if you'll make it or not.
As someone who used to live in LA I'd spend the majority of your time away from it as there is so much more to see elsewhere in Cal.
You have mentioned Yosemite and Death valley already and both are worth going to imo - both staggering n their own way. We drove to Monument Valley from Grand Canyon (the place everyone stays & the buses stop - name escapes me) and back in a day and it was too far to be honest.
One word of warning when heading out the grand canyon way - fill up with gas more than you would over here as the stations aren't exactly frequent... half an hour of economical driving & coasting down hills isn't great fun in the dark when you don't know if you'll make it or not.
As someone who used to live in LA I'd spend the majority of your time away from it as there is so much more to see elsewhere in Cal.
San Francisco - I've stayed at the Radisson and Best Western Tuscan Inn both in Fishermans Wharf - if its your first time thats the area I'd stay in - you can do lots of nice walks to most things, or if you don't like to walk take the cable cars etc.....parking is expensive - can't avoid it....you could avoid having a car initially and be fine in SF.
PCH/Route 1 - fairly nice, but not as good as everyone says - unless you've got lots of time to explore and don't mind sitting behind grannies doing 30mph for 200 miles on a twisty single carriageway then I'd do other things.
Yosemite/Giant Sequoia - again, a bit disappointing - bad roads, lots of tourists and campers - not as much to see as you'd expect (maybe I'm spoiled being from Scotland, but the scenery was only so so)...if you're passing through then an overnight stay is OK, but limited expensive accommodation and food).
Death Valley - superb, I love the wide open spaces and remoteness....dusk/dawn simply awesome sights.
Southern Nevada roads - to/from Death Valley, the ET highway - and if you're lucky (like me) you'll catch a "Red Flag" event out of Nellis airforce base, and see proper dogfights in the skies above - absolutely stunning stuff.
Grand Canyon - go on a Sunday morning on a coolish day, the reason being that the smog which drifts over from LA has its least effect on visibility - truly amazing stuff. Drive from LV to Grand Canyon is a good one - parts of route 66 etc and good scenery - and you can get helicopter etc cheaper from Grand Canyon Village.
Las Vegas - so much more than just the strip - so amazing scenery surrounding, such as Valley of Fire and Lake Meade. Good shops, lots of outlets. Shopping - stop at the outlets at Barstow,CA on the way to LA for the best prices. Some good stuff also at Primm - just on the NV/CA border.
So much to see/do in Las Vegas - the casinos themselves are amazing, but its a huge city catering to everything you could want.
You could head across to Monument Valley (if you were an Airwolf fan like me, its brilliant) - fantastic scenery, but quite remote so you've got to be keen.
LA - again, lots to see and do - I reckon a good place to stay is Le Parc Suites http://www.leparcsuites.com/ - walking distance to Sunset/Rodeo/Beverly Center if you don't mind a mile walk....a good walk for celeb spotting...on one day I bumped into Katie Holmes (surrounded by paps) and the gorgeous madeleine zima amongst others....
In LA all the usual stuff - Disney, Universal etc...you could drive down to Orange County and do Newport/Laguna beaches etc and head further down to San Diego - which is a great city. You could walk over to Tijuana as well.
So much to see and do - I'm in the Southwest for at least a month every year and love it every time....would move there if I could....
PCH/Route 1 - fairly nice, but not as good as everyone says - unless you've got lots of time to explore and don't mind sitting behind grannies doing 30mph for 200 miles on a twisty single carriageway then I'd do other things.
Yosemite/Giant Sequoia - again, a bit disappointing - bad roads, lots of tourists and campers - not as much to see as you'd expect (maybe I'm spoiled being from Scotland, but the scenery was only so so)...if you're passing through then an overnight stay is OK, but limited expensive accommodation and food).
Death Valley - superb, I love the wide open spaces and remoteness....dusk/dawn simply awesome sights.
Southern Nevada roads - to/from Death Valley, the ET highway - and if you're lucky (like me) you'll catch a "Red Flag" event out of Nellis airforce base, and see proper dogfights in the skies above - absolutely stunning stuff.
Grand Canyon - go on a Sunday morning on a coolish day, the reason being that the smog which drifts over from LA has its least effect on visibility - truly amazing stuff. Drive from LV to Grand Canyon is a good one - parts of route 66 etc and good scenery - and you can get helicopter etc cheaper from Grand Canyon Village.
Las Vegas - so much more than just the strip - so amazing scenery surrounding, such as Valley of Fire and Lake Meade. Good shops, lots of outlets. Shopping - stop at the outlets at Barstow,CA on the way to LA for the best prices. Some good stuff also at Primm - just on the NV/CA border.
So much to see/do in Las Vegas - the casinos themselves are amazing, but its a huge city catering to everything you could want.
You could head across to Monument Valley (if you were an Airwolf fan like me, its brilliant) - fantastic scenery, but quite remote so you've got to be keen.
LA - again, lots to see and do - I reckon a good place to stay is Le Parc Suites http://www.leparcsuites.com/ - walking distance to Sunset/Rodeo/Beverly Center if you don't mind a mile walk....a good walk for celeb spotting...on one day I bumped into Katie Holmes (surrounded by paps) and the gorgeous madeleine zima amongst others....
In LA all the usual stuff - Disney, Universal etc...you could drive down to Orange County and do Newport/Laguna beaches etc and head further down to San Diego - which is a great city. You could walk over to Tijuana as well.
So much to see and do - I'm in the Southwest for at least a month every year and love it every time....would move there if I could....
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff