Vegas, Hawaii & San francisco
Discussion
doing an 3 stopper in april any recommedations for trip/experiences etc welcomed 
i went vegas last year so have seen most of the strip, i'm gonna rent a car and try and do death valley, freemont street and the hoover dam... anything else?
i'm staying 7 nights in Waikiki Hawaii and then 3 nights in San francisco... gonna do Alcatraz and try an get to the GG bridge in SF... not got a clue about hawaii though (that bit was for the missus lol)
i went vegas last year so have seen most of the strip, i'm gonna rent a car and try and do death valley, freemont street and the hoover dam... anything else?
i'm staying 7 nights in Waikiki Hawaii and then 3 nights in San francisco... gonna do Alcatraz and try an get to the GG bridge in SF... not got a clue about hawaii though (that bit was for the missus lol)
In SF, the Golden Gate can be done from the open top bus tour, they have stops both sides of the bridge so you can hop off, walk across and then catch the next bus to continue your trip.
Alcatraz tickets need to be booked ages before, book a trip at about 4pm then stay for the evening tour as they do some extra bits in the evening that are well worth seeing, but if you don't go across until the official evening sailing then you'll run out of time (I went at 6pm and saw less than half of Alcatraz)
Also when in SF, remember to visit crooked Lombard Street and Taylor Street (Bullitt)
Take a ride on the Powell-Hyde street car line - you can hang off the sides like you see in the movies.
In Vegas, if you head to Death Valley then make sure you go to Scotty's Castle, Artists drive and furnace creek, you'll also drive through Badwater which is the lowest place in the US
Also head to the Titanic exhibition inside the Luxor and the Auto Collection at the Imperial.
For a good night out go to the Times Square bar within New York New York and enjoy the dualling pianos - they really are excellent.
Avoid the Legends show at Harrah's, it's crap
Alcatraz tickets need to be booked ages before, book a trip at about 4pm then stay for the evening tour as they do some extra bits in the evening that are well worth seeing, but if you don't go across until the official evening sailing then you'll run out of time (I went at 6pm and saw less than half of Alcatraz)
Also when in SF, remember to visit crooked Lombard Street and Taylor Street (Bullitt)
Take a ride on the Powell-Hyde street car line - you can hang off the sides like you see in the movies.
In Vegas, if you head to Death Valley then make sure you go to Scotty's Castle, Artists drive and furnace creek, you'll also drive through Badwater which is the lowest place in the US
Also head to the Titanic exhibition inside the Luxor and the Auto Collection at the Imperial.
For a good night out go to the Times Square bar within New York New York and enjoy the dualling pianos - they really are excellent.
Avoid the Legends show at Harrah's, it's crap
Just returned from San Francisco. Alcatraz is unmissable. The audio tour is fantastic. They also had a ex-inmate giving a talk. He's ancient now, and looks harmless, but was a bank robber back in the day (obviously not a very good one).
Cable car museum is good if you like engineering-type things.
You'll end up going to Fisherman's Wharf, but it's over-rated, and as big a tourist trap as you'll find anywhere. One place worth looking for while you're down (up?) there is Jack's Bar in The Cannery. 85 beers on tap, and fantastic bar staff. Owner is heavily into Studebakers, and there is generally one parked up outside.
Chinatown's worth a wander. It's worth starting off with an open-top tour of the city, which will give you a lot of pointers as to what else to do. Prices are pretty reasonable, although some of the downtown restaurants can be expensive. Buy a Muni passport for $20, which gives you unlimited travel on cable cars and buses. We also hired a car and drove over the bridge to Sausalito for a day, which was excellent.
On top of that, the people were some of the friendliest you'll meet; even the customs guy who gave me a shakedown was amiable and jokey. Just keep out of The Tenderloin after dark....
Cable car museum is good if you like engineering-type things.
You'll end up going to Fisherman's Wharf, but it's over-rated, and as big a tourist trap as you'll find anywhere. One place worth looking for while you're down (up?) there is Jack's Bar in The Cannery. 85 beers on tap, and fantastic bar staff. Owner is heavily into Studebakers, and there is generally one parked up outside.
Chinatown's worth a wander. It's worth starting off with an open-top tour of the city, which will give you a lot of pointers as to what else to do. Prices are pretty reasonable, although some of the downtown restaurants can be expensive. Buy a Muni passport for $20, which gives you unlimited travel on cable cars and buses. We also hired a car and drove over the bridge to Sausalito for a day, which was excellent.
On top of that, the people were some of the friendliest you'll meet; even the customs guy who gave me a shakedown was amiable and jokey. Just keep out of The Tenderloin after dark....
Not been to Vegas, but all the SF advice is good.
Regarding Hawaii, Waikiki is a little bit brash for my liking. Try to travel out, down to Diamond Head. there used to be a fantastic Hilton there; I think its now a Four Seasons.
The North Shore of the island is particularly beautiful and far less crowded.
You used to be able to do a light aircraft tour to the other islands. This was expensive but brilliant. Some superb sightseeing.
There's loads to do, you'll have a great time.
Regarding Hawaii, Waikiki is a little bit brash for my liking. Try to travel out, down to Diamond Head. there used to be a fantastic Hilton there; I think its now a Four Seasons.
The North Shore of the island is particularly beautiful and far less crowded.
You used to be able to do a light aircraft tour to the other islands. This was expensive but brilliant. Some superb sightseeing.
There's loads to do, you'll have a great time.
Waikiki is a bit like the Vegas of Hawaii. Definitely hire a car and do a lap of the island.
Get lunch on the Northshore then watch the guys surfing the Bonsai Pipeline.
Visit the beach at Diamond Head - avoid public holidays and get there early to avoid a long queue as its a restricted National Park.
There are some great beaches along the East Coast near the Naval base.
Drive the LikeLike highway just becuase its got a cool name (pronounced 'lickylicky').
Get lunch on the Northshore then watch the guys surfing the Bonsai Pipeline.
Visit the beach at Diamond Head - avoid public holidays and get there early to avoid a long queue as its a restricted National Park.
There are some great beaches along the East Coast near the Naval base.
Drive the LikeLike highway just becuase its got a cool name (pronounced 'lickylicky').
shakotan said:
K50 DEL said:
Alcatraz tickets need to be booked ages before
They really don't, I walked up and bought a ticket for the next boat leaving.I was in SF for 4 days and wouldn't have been able to go to the Island if I hadn't booked a few days before getting there.
I would not spend more than 3 nights on Oahu. Do Pearl Harbour, drive round the island err.... there's really not much else to be honest. It's a bit of a dump. Grab an internal flight to the Big Island and look at the Kona Coast and Kilauea. Or go to Kauai way off to the north west, as it is very beautiful and has incredible scenery... Internal flights in Hawaii are really cheap.
Not sure if it's still there as we went a few years ago but the Cheesecake Factory on top of Macey's in San Francisco is worth an evening meal just for the dessert
Just my own opinion but Las Vegas was a hole - we arrived at 1am and left at 6am and I was still there too long - It's 250-300 miles from LV to the Grand Canyon, instead of spending time in LV I'd book one night over there and get up early to watch the sun rise over the canyon - It's something that'll stay with you for the rest of your life...
Just my own opinion but Las Vegas was a hole - we arrived at 1am and left at 6am and I was still there too long - It's 250-300 miles from LV to the Grand Canyon, instead of spending time in LV I'd book one night over there and get up early to watch the sun rise over the canyon - It's something that'll stay with you for the rest of your life...
Edited by the_lone_wolf on Thursday 18th February 13:16
the_lone_wolf said:
Not sure if it's still there as we went a few years ago but the Cheesecake Factory on top of Macey's in San Francisco is worth an evening meal just for the dessert
Just my own opinion but Las Vegas was a hole - we arrived at 1am and left at 6am and I was still there too long - It's 250-300 miles from LV to the Grand Canyon, instead of spending time in LV I'd book one night over there and get up early to watch the sun rise over the canyon - It's something that'll stay with you for the rest of your life...
The Macy's SFO Cheesecake Factory was there last January - get in very early to get a decent seat (or any seat). You only need to order a starter and desert, the portions are huge.Just my own opinion but Las Vegas was a hole - we arrived at 1am and left at 6am and I was still there too long - It's 250-300 miles from LV to the Grand Canyon, instead of spending time in LV I'd book one night over there and get up early to watch the sun rise over the canyon - It's something that'll stay with you for the rest of your life...
Edited by the_lone_wolf on Thursday 18th February 13:16
We stayed the night in Grand Canyon Village, and woke up to see the sunrise over the Canyon. Our room was about 15 feet from the edge...
The view from the top of the (free) Bellagio parking lot is pretty good.
We needed to book Alcatraz in advance, but you can do it over the net, and the call on the open top bus round SanFran is right on the money. We rented bikes to go over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Sausilito, it's a great way to work up an appetite...
If you're renting a car, don't take it into SanFran, it's not worth it. Try Budget, they seem to be doing some good deals at the moment. If you're going through the desert, keep an eye on fuel, it can be 150 miles between gas stations in places.
The view from the top of the (free) Bellagio parking lot is pretty good.
We needed to book Alcatraz in advance, but you can do it over the net, and the call on the open top bus round SanFran is right on the money. We rented bikes to go over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Sausilito, it's a great way to work up an appetite...
If you're renting a car, don't take it into SanFran, it's not worth it. Try Budget, they seem to be doing some good deals at the moment. If you're going through the desert, keep an eye on fuel, it can be 150 miles between gas stations in places.
louiebaby said:
If you're going through the desert, keep an eye on fuel, it can be 150 miles between gas stations in places.
Good call, there is no fuel at Scotty's either, despite what the guidebooks say..... the pump has broken and they've no plans to replace it.There is fuel in Furnace Creek, but it's about $1 a gallon more than anywhere else.
K50 DEL said:
louiebaby said:
If you're going through the desert, keep an eye on fuel, it can be 150 miles between gas stations in places.
Good call, there is no fuel at Scotty's either, despite what the guidebooks say..... the pump has broken and they've no plans to replace it.There is fuel in Furnace Creek, but it's about $1 a gallon more than anywhere else.
louiebaby said:
K50 DEL said:
louiebaby said:
If you're going through the desert, keep an eye on fuel, it can be 150 miles between gas stations in places.
Good call, there is no fuel at Scotty's either, despite what the guidebooks say..... the pump has broken and they've no plans to replace it.There is fuel in Furnace Creek, but it's about $1 a gallon more than anywhere else.
I think I spent about $600 to do 6000 miles, if I did the same trip over here, I dread to think!!
K50 DEL said:
shakotan said:
K50 DEL said:
Alcatraz tickets need to be booked ages before
They really don't, I walked up and bought a ticket for the next boat leaving.I was in SF for 4 days and wouldn't have been able to go to the Island if I hadn't booked a few days before getting there.
We did Tokyo - Hawaii- San Fran last April.
As has been said above, Waikiki/Oahu 3 days is plenty.
We went over to Big Island for 3 days, did a heli tour onto the volcano (actually landed at a guy's house and walked for a few miles over the old lava to some lava tubes - fantastic and very hot!).
Only one heli company is able to land here, all the others were circling above us.
Then went over to Kauai (Lihue) for 5 days and did another heli tour over the Jurassic Falls.
April gave us some dodgy weather - tropical storms, loads of rain at times but also some very hot days - not sure if April in Hawaii is always like that.
As has been said above, Waikiki/Oahu 3 days is plenty.
We went over to Big Island for 3 days, did a heli tour onto the volcano (actually landed at a guy's house and walked for a few miles over the old lava to some lava tubes - fantastic and very hot!).
Only one heli company is able to land here, all the others were circling above us.
Then went over to Kauai (Lihue) for 5 days and did another heli tour over the Jurassic Falls.
April gave us some dodgy weather - tropical storms, loads of rain at times but also some very hot days - not sure if April in Hawaii is always like that.
Hi Pete.
As you seem to like your Fords, then a tip I got from on here is to go to the FREE Shelby factory tour and FREE museum about 15 mins from 'The Strip' in Vegas. ( http://cam1.teamshelby.com/ ) - see contact us for address - http://www.shelbyautos.com/index.asp
The factory has a really good (but smallish) museum and the tour is a bit of a 'selling/advertising' tour of the Shelby products, but it's a great morning out, nevertheless. You may even see some testing on the race car track next door. I have an AC Cobra type kit car, so it was superb for me.
If you're into the outdoor/scenery and a bit of hiking, then the 'Red Rock Canyon Conservation area' is great for a day out.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rock_Canyon_Natio... )
Just come back from there.
Have a great time.
Cheers, Jon
As you seem to like your Fords, then a tip I got from on here is to go to the FREE Shelby factory tour and FREE museum about 15 mins from 'The Strip' in Vegas. ( http://cam1.teamshelby.com/ ) - see contact us for address - http://www.shelbyautos.com/index.asp
The factory has a really good (but smallish) museum and the tour is a bit of a 'selling/advertising' tour of the Shelby products, but it's a great morning out, nevertheless. You may even see some testing on the race car track next door. I have an AC Cobra type kit car, so it was superb for me.
If you're into the outdoor/scenery and a bit of hiking, then the 'Red Rock Canyon Conservation area' is great for a day out.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rock_Canyon_Natio... )
Just come back from there.
Have a great time.
Cheers, Jon
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