How would YOU do California/Nevada/Arizona?
Discussion
Hi all.
This summer i'm in the lucky situation where i'm spending the summer mountain biking in whistler near vancouver, i fly out on the 4th of June. It turns out the weather's a bit crappy in June, so the 3 of us decided we'll go see California, and Nevada etc. The original plan was to drive down from Whistler but it turns out petrol has got expensive in the states too. So now we're gonna fly to LAX, hire a car, and spend a week to 10 days ish driving around.
We have a few places we want to visit but as we're aged 22, 19 and 19, and are all quitting our jobs/students for the purpose of our 3 month jolly money is a big issue. So we really need to work where we should try do it ourself, and which touristy bits we should do the organised tours etc.
So far, we've decided we would like to see...
Hollywood, i was going to just drive around to explore but is it worth going on any tours etc, suggestions would be nice.
Disneyland, should be a laugh
Universal studios, ditto.
San-fransico, all i really know is i should see the bridge, alcatraz, and the steep street. Anything else?
Las vegas, is it even worth going to if everyone bar me will be too young to get in anywhere?
Hoover dam, would you take the tour or just have a nose around?
grand canyon, again, take the tour, in which case which tour? or just drive around it?
And i'm told i should drive the pacific highway, is it as good as people say?
Any other suggestions? I kinda fancy seeing some car stuff, but no-one else particularly car geeky, so it'd have to be good.
Thanks
Nick
This summer i'm in the lucky situation where i'm spending the summer mountain biking in whistler near vancouver, i fly out on the 4th of June. It turns out the weather's a bit crappy in June, so the 3 of us decided we'll go see California, and Nevada etc. The original plan was to drive down from Whistler but it turns out petrol has got expensive in the states too. So now we're gonna fly to LAX, hire a car, and spend a week to 10 days ish driving around.
We have a few places we want to visit but as we're aged 22, 19 and 19, and are all quitting our jobs/students for the purpose of our 3 month jolly money is a big issue. So we really need to work where we should try do it ourself, and which touristy bits we should do the organised tours etc.
So far, we've decided we would like to see...
Hollywood, i was going to just drive around to explore but is it worth going on any tours etc, suggestions would be nice.
Disneyland, should be a laugh
Universal studios, ditto.
San-fransico, all i really know is i should see the bridge, alcatraz, and the steep street. Anything else?
Las vegas, is it even worth going to if everyone bar me will be too young to get in anywhere?
Hoover dam, would you take the tour or just have a nose around?
grand canyon, again, take the tour, in which case which tour? or just drive around it?
And i'm told i should drive the pacific highway, is it as good as people say?
Any other suggestions? I kinda fancy seeing some car stuff, but no-one else particularly car geeky, so it'd have to be good.
Thanks
Nick
In answer to some of your questions:
LA. Didn't bother doing the Hollywood thing as it didn't appeal so can't help there. Disneyland, probably not as big as you think.
Vegas. Might be a bit sticky with the age thing. If you do go though, car museum fifth floor of the Imperial Palace, Shelby automotive, and if GM have still got their test track it's worth doing.
Hoover Dam. Do the tour. You'll hardly get to see anything otherwise.
Grand Canyon. I stayed at Williams for two nights and took the train to the South Rim.
San Francisco. Loads to see and do. If you want to go to Alcatraz book tickets in advance or you won't get a space. And make sure you do the audio tour, or it's just like walking round an old building otherwise.
Pacific Coast Highway. Well worth driving, but better if you can do it North to South.
If I think of anything else I'll post it.
LA. Didn't bother doing the Hollywood thing as it didn't appeal so can't help there. Disneyland, probably not as big as you think.
Vegas. Might be a bit sticky with the age thing. If you do go though, car museum fifth floor of the Imperial Palace, Shelby automotive, and if GM have still got their test track it's worth doing.
Hoover Dam. Do the tour. You'll hardly get to see anything otherwise.
Grand Canyon. I stayed at Williams for two nights and took the train to the South Rim.
San Francisco. Loads to see and do. If you want to go to Alcatraz book tickets in advance or you won't get a space. And make sure you do the audio tour, or it's just like walking round an old building otherwise.
Pacific Coast Highway. Well worth driving, but better if you can do it North to South.
If I think of anything else I'll post it.
bigfatnick said:
Hollywood, i was going to just drive around to explore but is it worth going on any tours etc, suggestions would be nice.
Disneyland, should be a laugh
Universal studios, ditto.
San-fransico, all i really know is i should see the bridge, alcatraz, and the steep street. Anything else?
Las vegas, is it even worth going to if everyone bar me will be too young to get in anywhere?
Hoover dam, would you take the tour or just have a nose around?
grand canyon, again, take the tour, in which case which tour? or just drive around it?
And i'm told i should drive the pacific highway, is it as good as people say?
Any other suggestions? I kinda fancy seeing some car stuff, but no-one else particularly car geeky, so it'd have to be good.
Thanks
Nick
Disneyland - kind of cool bigger (but not much) than eurodisney, much more crowded
Universal - not much there to be honest, probably not worth it unless you have a free ticket
Sanfrancisco - big drive from LA but a pretty nice one all the same, takes you through some pretty clasic california coastline - Big Sur, monterrey, Carmel.
Vegas - it its a lads tour is probably a must, but if you have no cash may not be the best place to be
Grand canyon - staying in williams and taking the antique train sounds good, it's on my list of must do's
No idea about the hoover dam
how about heading up to Tahoe, you might get some biking in - might be worth a google
Also there are loads of cool places along the coast - surf dudes and dudettes abound, places like huntingdon beach, where modern surfing was invented.
San diego is a cool place too, much more relaxed than LA
s
sawman said:
how about heading up to Tahoe, you might get some biking in - might be worth a google
s
Been to Tahoe a few times now. The first time was to do the Rubicon Trail. Look that one up on google.s
sawman said:
places like huntingdon beach, where modern surfing was invented.
San diego is a cool place too, much more relaxed than LA
s
Got three days in Newport coming up, followed by four days in San Diego then four days in Palm Springs.San diego is a cool place too, much more relaxed than LA
s
Can't wait.
Los Angeles bit weird to drive round, not alot to see! - Mann Chinese theatre and Kodak theatre/shopping centre on hollywood will have all the tourists and freaks so worth a look. The Griffith Observatory is worth visiting, free and just been refurbished so now fully open, gives you amazing views of the city and hollywood sign and interesting to look around [if you like the sky at night].
You could also visit the http://www.thegrovela.com/ really nice place to shop in the sun, catch a movie, farmers market next door has some great cheap food too. For a great meal go to http://itachorestaurant.com/ I love eating there. Reasonable and pretty cool.
The http://www.moca.org/ is also great it has three galleries that are always worth a visit. If you go to the Geffen gallery you are in little Tokyo which is a nice place to wander around, lots to see and eat! Bumped into Keanu Reeves last time I went.
There is a car museum here http:/http://www.petersen.org/
With the places you are going you can also visit Palm springs on your route, [look out for a few windmills
] some cheap motels there. Get the cable car up to the top of the mountains and be awestruck. It takes you from baking desert to primordial forest with ice and clouds in a few minutes, I want to go there again it was very impressive. Joshua tree is nearby too never been but heard it's good.
I wouldn't bother with universal or disney land but that's just me.
AND REMEMBER ALWAYS TIP YOUR WAITERS! About 10% is the norm/acceptable it's how thye earn money out there.
You could also visit the http://www.thegrovela.com/ really nice place to shop in the sun, catch a movie, farmers market next door has some great cheap food too. For a great meal go to http://itachorestaurant.com/ I love eating there. Reasonable and pretty cool.
The http://www.moca.org/ is also great it has three galleries that are always worth a visit. If you go to the Geffen gallery you are in little Tokyo which is a nice place to wander around, lots to see and eat! Bumped into Keanu Reeves last time I went.
There is a car museum here http:/http://www.petersen.org/
With the places you are going you can also visit Palm springs on your route, [look out for a few windmills
] some cheap motels there. Get the cable car up to the top of the mountains and be awestruck. It takes you from baking desert to primordial forest with ice and clouds in a few minutes, I want to go there again it was very impressive. Joshua tree is nearby too never been but heard it's good.I wouldn't bother with universal or disney land but that's just me.
AND REMEMBER ALWAYS TIP YOUR WAITERS! About 10% is the norm/acceptable it's how thye earn money out there.
Edited by hoganscrogan on Saturday 5th July 14:26
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