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

Crispy_Ambulance

We're going on our California Road Trip in July and I'm dithering about where to stay in the Gold country. We've got a couple of nights booked in Angel's Camp after visiting Yosemite but I'm wondering if that's the best place to stay? Has anyone got any recommendations for somewhere else in the area?

Bennifred

codo wrote: »

Hi, we are planning a holiday to San Diego (2 adults, 2 teenagers). Has anyone stayed in Oceanside (north of San Diego). I have seen a couple of nice rental properties in the North Coast Village but am not sure if it is too far from the main areas of San Diego.
Thanks.

We rented a house in La Jolla for our trip to San Diego last October and found that to be a perfect location, and beautiful in its own right.

We did take a trip up to Oceanside to visit the pier etc but wouldn't have wanted to be based there for San Diego.

John259

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

I'm dithering about where to stay in the Gold country.

A lot depends on whether you prefer small towns, bigger towns, or cities; chain motels or independents, or b&b's maybe; at what price point; and whether this will be a one night stop or longer.

So how about having a look at the area on Google Maps, then searching within Google Maps for:
motels near Angels Camp
etc for each town of potential interest, see what comes up, also have a look round the town on StreetView, and perhaps also search for restaurants if you wish?

We stopped briefly in Angels Camp once and thought it was quite a pleasant little town. FWIW we pressed on north on Ca49 to Placerville on US50, mainly due to the time of day. Placerville might be an idea if you plan to visit Lake Tahoe.

We've also stayed in Merced on Ca99 numerous times. It's a bigger place with a considerable range of accommodation and eateries but nothing much else to commend it. The huge transition in the country on Ca140 between Yosemite Valley (in the Sierras) and Merced (in the Central Valley) is astonishing and a great geography lesson.

Mariposa is also worth thinking about, unless it's a bit too close to Yosemite Valley for you. As it's somewhat of a tourist town (but in a nice way) it might be expensive (but I haven't checked that, it's just an impression).

If you plan to visit Sequoia then Oakhurst would be worth considering, or even Fresno maybe but that's a big place (but there's always the option of a motel on the outskirts).

Two bits of trivia:

Ca49's road number was chosen to commemorate the 1849 gold rush (miner, 49'er, darling Clementine).

The California state highway marker shield is a rounded triangle, meant to be a stylised depiction of a miner's shovel to also commemorate the gold rush. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/RP_HIGHWAY_49_SIGN.JPG

pebblesmax

Thanks for starting this Vikki. It is very helpful. Shame it's not a sticky.

We are heading to Reno and Lake Tahoe for a side trip today and tomorrow and have got some good info from here.

PurplePow

Hi,

Very early stages of planning but wanting to do out first road trip in America next year. So far I'm thinking San Fran (3 nights) - Yosemite - Vegas (2 nights max) - Grand Canyon - San Diego over 14 nights in total.

I know the Tioga pass may not be open so need suggestions of where to drive if we go in May... or might chance going late June/early July and hope its open. I'd like to book hotels before we go.

Any good car hire company suggestions? Any good website recommendations for reading up on how to drive in the USA?

John259

PurplePow wrote: »

Very early stages of planning but wanting to do out first road trip in America next year. So far I'm thinking San Fran (3 nights) - Yosemite - Vegas (2 nights max) - Grand Canyon - San Diego over 14 nights in total.

Sounds good!

Personally I'd very highly advise trying to also include Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in southwestern Utah if possible, at the expense of staying three nights in San Francisco, but that's just my opinion. There are details and photos of those parks on the US National Parks website and Wikipedia, plus videos on YouTube.

I know the Tioga pass may not be open so need suggestions of where to drive if we go in May... or might chance going late June/early July and hope its open.

Here's the dates for California winter road closures for recent years:
http://www.caltrans.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm

Ebbetts Pass and the Sonora Pass usually reopen around the same time as the Tioga Pass (and BTW so does the Glacier Point Road in Yosemite).

The alternative routes that are very likely to be open even if the other passes are still closed are:

US50 (which could easily include going round the southern side of Lake Tahoe, very scenic)

I-80 (Donner Pass, scenic)

Via Bakersfield and Barstow (not so scenic although not without its charms, largely desert after Bakersfield)

You can check those out on Google Maps (or similar).

I'd like to book hotels before we go.

That's unwise and unnecessary in the USA and Canada IMHO. However, it's obviously a very good idea to book the first night, and to keep provisional (automatically cancelled) bookings going two or three days ahead of yourself during the holiday especially at weekends. Being flexible allows for changes due to the weather and any other factors, plus the ability to opt for independent motels and/or the budget chains if you want to.

Any good website recommendations for reading up on how to drive in the USA?

Sit on the left, drive on the right.
Almost all rental cars are automatics.
Obey speed limits in towns, keep up with other traffic outside towns or if no traffic then obey limits.
Unless there's a sign to the contrary you can turn right on red traffic lights after coming to a complete halt and giving way to other traffic and pedestrians.
Don't pass (in either direction) a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing; this is to allow children to safely cross the road.
At four-way stops come to a complete halt and proceed across the intersection in the order vehicles arrived at it. Four-way stops are rare outside quiet residential streets but you might encounter them.
An outline diamond symbol indicates a lane on a freeway reserved for vehicles which meet a certain condition, usually having a minimum of two occupants, called HOV (high occupancy vehicles, or carpool lanes but you don't need to belong to a formal carpool).
That's about it. Driving in the USA and Canada is easy and relaxing except on multilane freeways with heavy traffic where you need to switch lanes quickly for directional purposes.

Have you seen Phil, Emma and Ben's excellent videos on YouTube? They did a very similar route to what you're planning:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb-8Gy55ZLXaVGaWY3_O_KUo2H5cgmb7P

John259

Update to the above post:

If you plan to stay in Yosemite itself then pre-booking accommodation would be very wise. There are plenty of alternatives in the various towns outside the park, but mostly some distance away.

US50 route:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Northside+Dr&daddr=Big+Oak+Flat+Road+to:CA-120+W%2FNew+Priest+Grade+Rd+to:S+Main+St+to:CA-49+N%2FCA-88+W+to:Missouri+Flat+Rd+to:US-50+E%2FEl+Dorado+Fwy%2FU.S.+Route+50+in+California+to:Lake+Tahoe+Blvd+to:US-50+E+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FN+Sierra+Hwy%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S&hl=en&ll=38.410558,-119.262085&spn=3.120402,6.696167&sll=37.5424,-118.086548&sspn=1.578841,3.348083&geocode=FXPcPwIdeXXf-A%3BFTkOQAIdTw3c-A%3BFd0OQQIdFFDU-A%3BFXn-RAIdcpfQ-A%3BFa8oSQIdzB3N-A%3BFVK1TgIdIRvM-A%3BFbBpUAIdLEHY-A%3BFTPPUQIdWPDY-A%3BFQPUVAIdazXc-A%3BFVCnTQId3CXg-A%3BFWJRSQIdWG_h-A%3BFZYpQwId_GPm-A%3BFVxPOgIdhRbx-A&mra=mi&mrsp=12&sz=9&t=m&z=8

I-80 route:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Northside+Dr&daddr=Big+Oak+Flat+Road+to:CA-120+W%2FNew+Priest+Grade+Rd+to:S+Main+St+to:CA-49+N%2FCA-88+W+to:I-80+E+to:I-80+E+to:W+4th+St+to:US-50+E+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S+to:US-395+S%2FHwy+395+S%2FN+Sierra+Hwy%2FU.S.+Hwy+395+S&hl=en&sll=39.074644,-119.767456&sspn=3.091529,6.696167&geocode=FXPcPwIdeXXf-A%3BFTkOQAIdTw3c-A%3BFd0OQQIdFFDU-A%3BFXn-RAIdcpfQ-A%3BFa8oSQIdzB3N-A%3BFd6TUQIdro7I-A%3BFWHgVwIdkMnR-A%3BFREnWwIdB6Xb-A%3BFQPUVAIdazXc-A%3BFVCnTQId3CXg-A%3BFWJRSQIdWG_h-A%3BFZYpQwId_GPm-A%3BFVxPOgIdhRbx-A&mra=dme&mrsp=7&sz=8&t=m&z=8

I-80/Donner Pass video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dldcom7qZKM

Bakersfield/Barstow route:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Northside+Dr&daddr=CA-41+S+to:CA-41+S+to:CA-99+S+to:CA-14+S%2FMidland+Trail+to:I-15+N+to:I-15+N&hl=en&ll=36.199958,-117.487793&spn=6.425583,13.392334&sll=35.955777,-115.084534&sspn=1.611828,3.348083&geocode=FXPcPwIdeXXf-A%3BFbifOQIdBDLe-A%3BFQjaMAIdQ13c-A%3BFdMBHAIdx4Xn-A%3BFQ90FwIdHSr1-A%3BFdxQFAIdpWAG-Q%3BFQd9JgId8Hsi-Q&mra=mi&mrsp=6&sz=9&t=m&z=7
BTW that choice would open up the option of Sequoia National Park.

Zion and Bryce Canyon map:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Co+Rd+215&daddr=I-15+N+to:UT-9+E%2FZion+Park+Blvd+to:UT-9+E+to:US-89+N+to:UT-12+E+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=36.90598,-113.90625&spn=3.184259,6.696167&sll=37.595192,-112.192039&sspn=0.19722,0.41851&geocode=FQFNJgIddm4i-Q%3BFbwPNgId9CU7-Q%3BFcCqNwIdPPFD-Q%3BFbruNwIdpmlI-Q%3BFRq5PwIdrjVN-Q%3BFbQqPwIdk5BQ-Q%3BFdeEPQId37JP-Q&mra=mi&mrsp=6&sz=12&t=m&z=8

Zion video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CIN-N5cNwk
The upper section of the hike shown on this video is extremely dangerous, as you'll see from the video itself. However, the lower section, up to the first superb view, is totally safe if somewhat strenuous. The park has a variety of other much flatter trails, all accessed in summer via the excellent free shuttle bus which is the only method of access to the most scenic road in the park.

Bryce Canyon video:
Have a search on YouTube, there are many to choose from.

This video includes both Zion and Bryce Canyon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meonQAFSH84

Budget motel chains:
If you prefer shopping in Aldi and Lidl to Waitrose, then you might prefer Motel 6 and Super 8, or at least give them a try. Both of those motel chains are less expensive than Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, etc but they're always clean, comfortable, safe and IMHO perfectly adequate for overnight stops on a road trip. Motel 6 is the simpler and less expensive of the two. http://www.motel6.com and http://www.super8.com

northwest1965

John259 wrote: »

Sounds good!

Personally I'd very highly advise trying to also include Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in southwestern Utah if possible, at the expense of staying three nights in San Francisco, but that's just my opinion. There are details and photos of those parks on the US National Parks website and Wikipedia, plus videos on YouTube.

Disagree, done them all, but San Fran, is a must. Zion is great, Bryce not so. Just my opinion:)

John259

northwest1965 wrote: »

Zion is great, Bryce not so.

FWIW of the two I also prefer Zion but as you say it's all about opinions.

John259

As a further update to the above posts, here are some more videos of national parks on your possible route:

Yosemite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTj2BF5HmXo

Sequoia/Kings Canyon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHS2Fqj3gKE

Zion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrF1cSzaeAY

Bryce Canyon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7kC0EpClCM

Grand Canyon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEVEsIW4OXo

Death Valley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6PRC6PYolk

Joshua Tree:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKdIeBsvOqQ