Southwest USA & The West Coast (California, Arizona etc) - General Thread

travellerboy

jackieblack wrote: »

(yet! Monument Valley definitely on the 'to do' list!)

We have very recently returned and have great memories of Monument Valley, the place is awesome! Definately the highlight of our long tour of the Southwest.

We stayed at the View Hotel, very expensive ($260 pn), and if I were to re-visit I would stay in Kayenta, it is only 30mins away, significantly cheaper and you will not miss anything.

The view from the View Hotel restaurant veranda area is unbelieveable and you can stay as long as you like as a visitor. You get no preferential treatment or advantage if staying at the hotel.

After sundown you can even watch John Wayne's film " She Worn a Yellow Ribbon" projected on the outside restaurant wall.

travellerboy

NOLOLLY wrote: »

so looking for suggestions for more attractions.

Alcatraz, is falling apart, it is getting a bit dangerous in parts, a large part of the site is now closed to visitors, due to decaying concrete (I visited last month) Although it is worth the trip across the Bay, but don't be too disappointed.

The best trip you could take from SF is the day-trip to Yosemite, I think it costs about $120pp but definately a day to remember. You will visit all the sights and be amazed at the beauty of this, probably the best National Park in America.

nvh

Ok, I'm all booked up and due to fly (for the last ever time perhaps?) to San Francisco, but the aim is to go and stay a night or two in / around Napa Valley

Has anyone ever stayed @ Napa, and if so, have you any recommendations for accommodation? - Bit of a long shot as most seem to stay San Fran and do day trips but thought i'd have an ask!

Cheers guys

Vikki_74

BUMP

For no other reason than I guess it's holiday planning season because all the same questions are being asked all over again!

Rahven

I'll join in then

We've now started booking our honeymoon (yay!). We're flying out 24th June and so far we have 5 nights in vegas at the Bellagio (got an awesome deal!), one night at the Grand Canyon (Bright Angel partial view cabin) and then one night in Boulder City (Boulder Dam Inn) booked. Plan at the moment is see the Dam then drive to San Francisco via some overnight stays in pretty places. So far thinking of Santa Barbara and Carmel but open to opinions as SB is proving pricey!
4 nights in San Fran then over to Yosemite then back to San Fran for the flight to New York (last bit of honeymoon) - thinking of maybe staying a night in San Jose on the way to airport - worth it?

Any comments very welcome, we're newbies at this (never even been to the States before!).

Awesome thread btw

Vikki_74

Rahven you'll love it!

I can make some suggestions for your route (and hopefully others will chip in ) but can't work out how many days you have to do it in...

5 nights Las Vegas
1 night Grand Canyon
1 night Boulder City
???
4 nights San Francisco
???

Also what do you have booked so far - flights, car hire, any hotels which can't be cancelled? Are you flying into LAS and out of SFO and what time do you leave for New York on your last day?

When you mention "pretty places", my first thought would be driving the route along the coast, particularly the part around Big Sur - it's STUNNING- but depending on how many days you have, you might need to do some re-jigging if that's something you'd like to fit in.

northwest1965

Rahven wrote: »

I'll join in then

over to Yosemite
Awesome thread btw

How long have you got for Yosemite?

Rahven

Hey again
Ok so far booked we have:
5 nights Vegas (non-cancellable)
1 night GC (non-cancellable)
1 night boulder city (to then see the Dam the next day)

We have from 1st July (the day we see the Dam then start to head to the West coast) to 9th July (fly out at 3PM from SFO) and nothing booked as of yet. We were thinking either 1 or 2 days in Yosemite, and I think we'd like to spend 4th July in San Fran but otherwise we're pretty free and easy

northwest1965

Rahven wrote: »

Hey again
Ok so far booked we have:
5 nights Vegas (non-cancellable)
1 night GC (non-cancellable)
1 night boulder city (to then see the Dam the next day)

We have from 1st July (the day we see the Dam then start to head to the West coast) to 9th July (fly out at 3PM from SFO) and nothing booked as of yet. We were thinking either 1 or 2 days in Yosemite, and I think we'd like to spend 4th July in San Fran but otherwise we're pretty free and easy

Yosemite is beautiful, you can easily spend 2 days there, but it all depends on what time of people you are. We're outdoors people and love walking. The views are amazing

travellerboy

Yosemite is breathtaking, you definately need 2 days. We stayed in Mariposa at the Miners Inn, one the best hotel stays we had, although you need to avoid W/E of the 4th July as it will be gridlocked.

Boulder City and the Dam, is it worth seeing? We were unimpressed and it will be like a furnace. Stop for half an hour en route to GC is all you need, afterall it is just a lump of concrete. Consider a slightly longer route back to vegas from GC via Springdale (Zion NP) stay the night near Zion, highway 9 into Zion is the best drive in the SW, absolutely awesome.

You mentioned previously travelling to SF then onto Yosemite. In SF stay outside the city near the Airport as a car in SF is a bad idea. Use the BART to travel in, very simple easy and cheap.
Look on EBay for a America the Beautiful NP pass, it will save you a fortune. You will need it for GC and Yosemite which are $25 entry each, and Zion if you choose that route.