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

Murphy_The_Cat

itsanne wrote: »

We're heading over in November. I'll have other questions, but a quick one for now is to do with satnav. We have a Garmin Nuvi and can buy US maps for it (I have 10% discount for another couple of weeks) or use a smartphone app (basic smartphone). We're not sure which to go for so would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

We did both
If you go down the smartphone route, buy a winscreen sticky mount for your phone, to keep it in your sightline.
If you follow Crispys suggestion and pick up a satnav from Walmart (or similar), check to see if they are offering life time map updates for free.

stphnstevey

Were in San Fransisco soon for 2.5 days and want to do a 3 day MUNI pass (definite) and bay cruise (depends on weather, last time it was foggy whole 2 days!) but also traveling down to LA after and want to visit Monterey Aquarium

Using various discount sites (eg Goldstar etc) cheapest I can get it is £48.75 with bay cruise or £37.80 without

Seen San Fran CityPass (9 days to use) which includes (various combinations, this is what we choose):
MUNI 7 day pass
Monterey Aquarium
California Academy of Sciences
Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise
Exploratorium

for £52.68 on Expedia and with 12% quidco cashback comes to £46.36

Citypass seems a no brainer, but my only concern is we have plenty to see outdoors in San Fran over 2.5 days and know we will feel obligated to do the Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences

Are the Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences worth a visit? Is it worth going if we only want to spend just a couple hours each as we have so much to see?

Any other way of getting cheap Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets?

Thanks for your help!

Crispy_Ambulance

We never found a way of getting them cheaper - tried for ages as it is an expensive place. However, the Aquarium is fantastic - the huge tanks are awesome to watch and the sea otters are seriously cute! Make sure you watch the short film about Luna when you are there as well!

stphnstevey

On another topic - anyone find a cheap way to shoot a gun! (legally) for the first time in New York, Las Vegas or California?

photome

stphnstevey wrote: »

On another topic - anyone find a cheap way to shoot a gun! (legally) for the first time in New York, Las Vegas or California?

dozens of choices in Vegas, all start at about $100, cant tell you any more than that as it does not appeal

Crispy_Ambulance

I can recommend Battlefield Vegas - free hotel pick up in a military Humvee and a good choice of guns to shoot - very helpful with total beginners. We had a great time & the kids loved it.

gracie10

Flights all booked for next July, flying into LA and back from Vegas. Now just need to finalise our route and start looking at hotels. So expensive compared to last year though but it is the kids school holidays!!

gracie10

Can I ask if anyone has stayed in Manhattan Beach area before? Thinking of spending our first night here as not too far from the airport and the beaches look lovely.

Bri1

gracie10 wrote: »

Can I ask if anyone has stayed in Manhattan Beach area before? Thinking of spending our first night here as not too far from the airport and the beaches look lovely.

We have stayed near Redondo beach which was fine, but to be honest the whole coast is a beach, you can't really go wrong if you like that kind of stuff

Get a motel slightly inland as the prices drop dramatically if you do, what's a few minutes drive to save multiple $'s

glenbois

Has anyone gone to the USA and just for a couple of weeks, lived like a local, i.e. watch TV, go to the supermarket, just relax and do a couple of trips in the area?

Been to Vegas, Arizona, San Francisco, Utah, Colorado for the national parks etc... Not been to the west coast and fancy somewhere where we can make base and make day trips.

Probably flying in to LA (as it seems cheaper to fly into there), but not keen on staying more than a couple of days.

Around 15 days stay.

Any suggestions?