West Coast USA

Mrs_Moore_To_Be

Hi OP sorry to hijack...

We are looking at similar...
Fly into SF then 2 nights there, then 1 night Yosemite, 3 Nights Vegas, 1 night grand canyon, 1 night pheonix, 2 nights San Diego and 4 nights LA. (the 4 nights LA can be adjusted if we want extra nights other places along teh way.

Thanks for the tip on Ballarat, that place looks v. interesting.

Ive been told that the crater east of Grand Canyon is worth seeing, anyone vouch for this?

Apologies again OP but maybe we can help each other out with suggestions on the west coast? :-)

northwest1965

No problem Mrs Moore, we both seem to want similar info.

When are you looking to go?

iltisman

northwest1965 wrote: »

Can I ask why San Diego? The beaches?

San Diego has become one of my favourite places in the US ,yes there is a cracking beach on Coronado which is only a $5 ferry ride.Balboa park is full of museums and the famous zoo.Point Loma is a 15 minute drive and gives great views over the town and harbour. The down side is the cost of Hotels which can be a bit pricey unless you stay at the Motel 6 on 2nd ave.

Mrs_Moore_To_Be

northwest1965 wrote: »

No problem Mrs Moore, we both seem to want similar info.

When are you looking to go?

We are going to fly out on 1/5/11 or 2/5/11.

photome

Mrs_Moore_To_Be wrote: »

Hi OP sorry to hijack...

We are looking at similar...
Fly into SF then 2 nights there, then 1 night Yosemite, 3 Nights Vegas, 1 night grand canyon, 1 night pheonix, 2 nights San Diego and 4 nights LA. (the 4 nights LA can be adjusted if we want extra nights other places along teh way.

Thanks for the tip on Ballarat, that place looks v. interesting.

Ive been told that the crater east of Grand Canyon is worth seeing, anyone vouch for this?

Apologies again OP but maybe we can help each other out with suggestions on the west coast? :-)

You mean the meteor crater? http://www.meteorcrater.com/ I think it is worth it but it is just a very big hole. We went there on way to Sedona from the G canyon.

4 nights in LA is to long IMO

C_Mababejive

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Depends on which airline you're talking about, but Virgin definately fly direct to San Francisco from Heathrow.

I know that AA used to fly out of manchester to SFO via Chicago but dont know if that is a current route.

dickydonkin

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I must be one of those odd people who thought that two nights in Las Vegas was long enough. I'm glad I went there, but I doubt I'll be hurrying back.

No you are not the only 'odd one'- certainly 3 nights max in my opinion.

Gloomendoom I agree with you in suggesting it is a place you have to see, but I would certainly not shed any tears if I never went back.

One mans meat and all that........... and I respect those people who enjoy LV and stay much longer, but it just does not do it for me I'm afraid.

flyingscotno1

Mrs_Moore_To_Be wrote: »

Hi OP sorry to hijack...

We are looking at similar...
Fly into SF then 2 nights there, then 1 night Yosemite, 3 Nights Vegas, 1 night grand canyon, 1 night pheonix, 2 nights San Diego and 4 nights LA. (the 4 nights LA can be adjusted if we want extra nights other places along teh way.

Thanks for the tip on Ballarat, that place looks v. interesting.

Ive been told that the crater east of Grand Canyon is worth seeing, anyone vouch for this?

Apologies again OP but maybe we can help each other out with suggestions on the west coast? :-)

Some of those drivers are quite long to be frank, and having done it in US, not sure it is the best vacation knowing you have to get on to another place. Sometimes less is more if you see my meaning- we did a lot of California and Arizona / Nevada over 4 or 5 trips!

I certainly think Yosemite can be a 2 nighter. Las Vegas-Grand Canyon ranks high on tedious boredom from the Hoover Dam to I-40 from memory. I haven't been since 1997 now (just after terrible flooding by chance only reopened just in time!)

Grand Canyon is however worth seeing- quite enjoyed it, but unless you walk into it etc (which is impossible really during summer) 1 day is enough. It is an hours drive from I-40 at Williams and indeed you can get a train from there.

Phoenix is one US city I like strangely enough- not a great number of things to do in all honesty- it is probably quiet boring for that, but nice hotels that in summer get cheap (due to 100F heat) and you can sit and relax and get some golf in! Not a great deal of tourist attractions or such like, granted.

San Diego is worth it, but we cut Phoenix-LA to Phoenix-Palm Springs for 2 nights, San Diego then back to LA for a flight home. Did Tijuana but wasn't exactly great in my view for various reasons. Not a place I warmed too and I don't think Mexican border towns have exactly brilliant reps but I did it!

blindman

Mrs_Moore_To_Be wrote: »

Hi OP sorry to hijack...

We are looking at similar...
Fly into SF then 2 nights there, then 1 night Yosemite, 3 Nights Vegas, 1 night grand canyon, 1 night pheonix, 2 nights San Diego and 4 nights LA. (the 4 nights LA can be adjusted if we want extra nights other places along teh way.

Thanks for the tip on Ballarat, that place looks v. interesting.

Ive been told that the crater east of Grand Canyon is worth seeing, anyone vouch for this?

Apologies again OP but maybe we can help each other out with suggestions on the west coast? :-)

I hope you're not driving !
You are not alowing for the time to get from one place to another.

San Fran to Yosemite is not far but it takes time.

You need at least 2 nights in the park IMHO and that's with arriving on day one at 09:00!

Yosemite to Vegas is a long way!

Vegas to GC is a 5 hours drive (IIRC) They may have finished the new Interstate bypass so it may be quicker.

1 day at the GC means driving and stopping at the various laybys for the view. Not enough time to get into it.

And its very expensive to stay there:eek:

Stay at Williams instead.;)

LA is a dump with horrendous traffic.:cool: Only worht 2 days at most and that's if your return flight is from LAX

ferf1223

blindman wrote: »

1 day at the GC means driving and stopping at the various laybys for the view. Not enough time to get into it.

And its very expensive to stay there:eek:

I suppose it depends on your priorities - we paid $162 for Thunderbird Lodge right at the rim and thought it was totally worth it to be right there (we only stayed one night). We've certainly paid more for much less grand accomodation (location-wise at least) in the UK. The room was quite basic but we had a view of the canyon from our window and to get up and walk out of the room for sunrise was pretty cool. For me it was the night at the GC that made it most memorable - the stars were amazing.