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

jackieblack

northwest1965 wrote: »

Thanks:)

I have already looked at the GCNP site for walks. I am a bit wary however. A 3 mile hike here may not seem a lot, but I know it is going to be really hard there!!:)

Yes, it is. Remember that you'll be going downhill on the way down (obviously ) and uphill on the way back (:o) so they tell you to allow twice as long to get back as on the way down, ie if you walk for half an hour down, allow an hour to get back to the rim.
We'd planned to do the first part of the Bright Angel Trail (to Mile-And-A-Half Resthouse), but the path was very steep and narrow and, of course, there are no hand rails - I bottled out at the first bend and DH & DD (who are roller-coaster mad adrenaline junkies) bottled out after about half an hour.
To be fair, it was April so there were still patches of ice on parts of the path.
(BAT is known as the safest trail in the park)

northwest1965

jackieblack wrote: »

We'd planned to do the first part of the Bright Angel Trail (to Mile-And-A-Half Resthouse), but the path was very steep and narrow and, of course, there are no hand rails - I bottled out at the first bend and DH & DD (who are roller-coaster mad adrenaline junkies) bottled out after about half an hour.
To be fair, it was April so there were still patches of ice on parts of the path.
(BAT is known as the safest trail in the park)

That is what I "had" got planned. Had read a few trip reports from people and they said it was a bit hard.

Might have to re think this one:)

trevor8

Hi i wonder if you could help looking to go mid May 2014 for 15 days with the wife 50th present have got a book out of the library but looking for advice would like time in San Fransisco vegas to a lesser extent LA and Yosemite.Can you think which Airport to arrive and leave and anything else we should go for at this time of the year. We like sights rather then crowds.Thanks Trevor

northwest1965

trevor8 wrote: »

Hi i wonder if you could help looking to go mid May 2014 for 15 days with the wife 50th present have got a book out of the library but looking for advice would like time in San Fransisco vegas to a lesser extent LA and Yosemite.Can you think which Airport to arrive and leave and anything else we should go for at this time of the year. We like sights rather then crowds.Thanks Trevor

Hi

You could fly into Vegas and home from SF.
Are you sure you want to do LA? When you say you like sights, is that countryside and cities?

Could you do Vegas, Death Valley (or omit this) then Yosemite and then up the coast - Monterey to SF:)

trevor8

Hi

You could fly into Vegas and home from SF.
Are you sure you want to do LA? When you say you like sights, is that countryside and cities?

Could you do Vegas, Death Valley (or omit this) then Yosemite and then up the coast - Monterey to SF:)

Hi thanks for your reply yes would prefer countryside to cities but wife wants to see Alcatraz grand canyon etc.Any other suggestions would be great as a bit of a novice.Thanks

northwest1965

trevor8 wrote: »

Hi thanks for your reply yes would prefer countryside to cities but wife wants to see Alcatraz grand canyon etc.Any other suggestions would be great as a bit of a novice.Thanks

Do you have any ideas as to how many days in each place you want. For some, Vegas has to be 3 or 4 days, for us it's an overnight stay:D

Do you want to stay overnight in Grand Canyon. I would suggest that as it's a long drive. You have to book accommodation in the National Parks very early.
We stay here, http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/bright-angel-408.html
they have others available at higher prices.

Alcatraz was brilliant, it made the trip to SF for me.

blindman

trevor8 wrote: »

Hi i wonder if you could help looking to go mid May 2014 for 15 days with the wife 50th present have got a book out of the library but looking for advice would like time in San Fransisco vegas to a lesser extent LA and Yosemite.Can you think which Airport to arrive and leave and anything else we should go for at this time of the year. We like sights rather then crowds.Thanks Trevor

Its a big area and you can't do everything in one trip.

I did a 21 day trip last year so some places there (click the blue words) may give you an idea.

Some MSE tips

Hire Car:
Not needed in San Fran, nor in Vegas
Usually no one way drop off fee between CA, AZ, NV

Flying into Las Vegas (LAS) tends to be more expensive than San Fran or LA
Also IMHO SFO is easier to get out of than LAX, though LAS is easiest!

So I'd fly into SFO-stay 3 nights
Pick up hire car-Drive to Yosemite:-Minimum 2 nights here.
Possibly drive back to the coast (Tioga pass:-May be closed that early in the season so you may have to back track top get out of the park
)and down to LA. Stop at least one night on the coast (Near Hurst Castle?)
Drive to LAX, drop off car and fly to LAS
3 nights min LAS-Fly home.

OR
Drive to Las Vegas via Death valley (maybe) Drop off car and spend 3 nights there.
Or keep the car and drive out to GC -Overnight there-it's a long way)

Accomodation
Yosemite :-In the park books up quickly so look NOW!
It's cheaper outside the park.

LAS is more expensive at the weekends (Fri+ Sat).

Have fun!

bilty

Can anyone suggest where to stay near to Yosemite Park, we are flying into San franscisco for 3 nights picking up a car and driving to Vegas for 3 nights then home from there. It's just the middle 3 days that as yet we have nothing planned, thinking about Monterey to Vegas via Yosemite

northwest1965

bilty wrote: »

Can anyone suggest where to stay near to Yosemite Park, we are flying into San franscisco for 3 nights picking up a car and driving to Vegas for 3 nights then home from there. It's just the middle 3 days that as yet we have nothing planned, thinking about Monterey to Vegas via Yosemite

We stayed here
http://www.stayyosemiteviewlodge.com/

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

Did they see the elephant seals on the beach at/around Cambria?
That was one of the highlights for my DD

Hi Jackie

Whilst having a piece of cake at Lins in Cambria, after looking at the elephant seals today, i thought of you and this thread !

Speak to you soon
Murph