The United States of America are on my journey schedule yearly. As with most long-haul journey I add per week of leisure to a enterprise journey. This “bleisure” journey is my lifestyle. My journey this 12 months was not totally different and my daughter joined me on a 14-day west coast street journey beginning in Los Angeles. In this text I present you my itinerary on the west coast. I visited Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Las Vegas. I stayed just a few days in Los Angeles too, however that was primarily for the enterprise a part of the journey. Enjoy this street journey with me.
Preparing a west coast street journey
Let’s begin with just a few sensible ideas for a west coast street journey within the USA. All about baggage alternative, all-inclusive vehicles and journey distances within the USA.
USA Visa / ESTA
If you don’t maintain a United States passport you in all probability want a visa or apply for an ESTA underneath the Visa Waiver Program. Today 38 international locations take part together with the Netherlands the place I’m primarily based. Getting an ESTA might be achieved simply on-line so apply to your ESTA now straight on-line. E-Visums processes each utility very fast and controls the info. They are quick, simple to make use of and dependable and I usually use E-Visums to use for e-visa world wide. If you aren’t a part of the 38 international locations underneath the Visa Waiver Program, then please seek the advice of your native US embassy for a daily visa.
Car rental within the USA
I’m very demanding if it involves vehicles. A west coast street journey within the USA wouldn’t be a street journey with out an enormous SUV. I desire to e-book an all-inclusive automotive that means that I’m certain I don’t have any shock prices. Sunny Cars provides this. They take over any extra insurances, personal threat charge, tire & glass injury and their helpdesk is there 24 hours a day to help. All-inclusive is one factor however I additionally desire a greatest value. Keep in thoughts whereas evaluating costs that their costs are all-inclusive; so no 10-20 greenback charge a day extra for potential extra insurances. Their service is the most effective and I must share this with you.
During the journey I had 2(!!) flat tires one in every of which in Death Valley. I didn’t use the roadside help as I can change the flat tire in simply 20 minutes ???? This saves time. No alternative SUV was obtainable close by so the primary time a alternative automobile was pushed in a single day to my lodge so I might proceed with the brand new automotive subsequent day. Two days later it was the identical drawback: no SUV obtainable to make a fast change on brief discover. I used to be supplied a pleasant muscle automotive, which was really the next class. I accepted this automotive as this might be good for my Las Vegas go to plus the truth that my daughter just like the automotive too as you’ll be able to see within the image under. Altogether I’m very constructive with the service of Sunny Cars and searching ahead to make use of them once more.
Keep in thoughts when planning!
One factor I do know from expertise is that distances are far within the USA. If the navigator says 5 hours, it is going to be 5 hours or much more should you make some stops. I all the time take sufficient drinks, a lightweight lunch and snacks in order that I don’t free time through the journey. I all the time purchase this initially of a street journey and simply depart it within the automotive. During busy summer time months the parks I visited can get crowded and a few would possibly ban vehicles so you need to park and take shuttles. Plan in a bit of additional time. If you go to a number of nationwide parks be sure to purchase the nationwide park go to save cash. It’s legitimate for a 12 months for all parks and can prevent cash. Now, lets begin with a daily itinerary.
West Coast Day 1 & 2 – Arrival to Los Angeles; to Merced
Actually day one was not day one for me. I already spend three days in Los Angeles for enterprise. This time I didn’t go to Los Angeles itself as I’ve been there earlier than. If you intend just a few days in Los Angeles earlier than this 14 days’ west coast street journey, then learn my recommendations on issues to do in Los Angeles for a primary timer. I drove to Merced the primary day after my enterprise. The Holiday Inn Express Merced was my dwelling for 3 nights and my gateway to Yosemite National Park.
In case you keep longer in Los Angeles see a (very brief) story I wrote 7 years again with some choices on what to do:
USA – Los Angeles and the wealthy and well-known
West Coast Day 3 & 4 – Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provides a singular panorama. Its panorama was fashioned by glaciers many million years in the past. You can see granite peaks, rock formations, waterfalls, pine forests and wildlife. Unless you wish to make full day hikes I like to recommend visiting it for 2 days. The first day go to Glacier Point and the varied locations in Yosemite Valley. The second day I like to recommend to drive the Tioga Road in the direction of Mono Lake (not a part of Yosemite National Park) which has some distinctive crystal formations. I drove each days from the Holiday Inn Express Merced to the Yosemite National Park. The space has actually distinctive nature and an important place with superb views.
Read all about these dasy within the detailed day articles:
USA – Yosemite to Mono Lake: The greatest stops on Tioga Pass Road
USA – The greatest Yosemite itinerary for first time guests (1 or 2 days)
West Coast Day 5 – To Pahrump and a little bit of Death Valley
Today the primary a part of the journey was a protracted journey within the automotive from Merced to the doorway of Death Valley at Panamint Springs. This a part of the west coast street journey could be very nice with good views should you take the street from Bakersfield to Lake Isabella. I handed Sequoia National Park which is a spot I wish to go to one other time. If you’ve got a day further it is a excellent place so as to add a further cease. The concept was to go to just a few locations in Death Valley however I ended up seeing solely two.
A flat tire made me drive slowly on the spare to Pahrump. I did handle to drive just a few kilometers on Saline Valley Alt Road. You can see there many Joshua Trees. Drive till the street splits and take the smaller street left for just a few lots of of meters for the most effective views. Further down the street you want a 4×4 off-road automobile. Further down freeway 190 which runs by way of Death Valley you see a car parking zone for some good views. It’s the place that I had the flat tire and I drove direct to Pahrump after. The concept was to drive down the Old Toll Road, go to the Charcoal Kills, see Mosaic Canyon and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes today too. Except the Old Toll Road, I managed to go to them on day 7 as an alternative. They had been nonetheless on the best way today which might have been way more environment friendly. I arrived late night on the Holiday Inn Express Pahrump which is a superb place to begin to go to Death Valley.
West Coast Day 6 – Death Valley off-road
All locations on this USA west coast itinerary might be visited by a daily SUV or perhaps a regular sedan aside from the 2 locations on today I like to recommend a 4×4. I first drove to the ghost city known as Rhyolite. It’s an previous mining city. From there I drove by way of the Titus Canyon which has magnificient views. The street goes steep up and down and I didn’t see anybody else there in any respect (on this canyon a 4×4 is a should).
I continued north in the direction of Race Track Playa with a small cease at an extinct volcano on the best way. Race Track Playa is the ground of an historic lake and it has transferring rocks. Rocks transfer over the sand when it’s moist leaving a monitor, therefore the identify. You might drive to Race Track Playa with an SUV and good tires, however most rental corporations solely have common tires and so they do get flat shortly. This day I drove a 4×4 with heavy responsibility tires which made the drive way more nice and enjoyable.
Read all about today within the detailed day article:
USA – Driving off street within the Death Valley: Titus Canyon & Racetrack Playa
West Coast Day 7 – Death Valley once more; to Springdale
The concept was to solely make a small circle by way of Death Valley and arrive in Springdale, Zion National Park, for dinner. However, I wanted to go to the locations I missed on day 5 first (see above) and a second flat tire plus an hour time distinction made me arrive at 1 AM. Early morning, I departed from the Holiday Inn Express Pahrump in the direction of Furnace Creek to drive the brief however lovely 20 Mule Team Road and to make a cease at Zabriskie Point. I continued to the missed objects of the day gone by. This was a 3-hour detour; I did pace.
Back in Furnace Creek I ended on the Borax Works and drove the small Mustard Canyon Drive earlier than I lastly began on Badwater Road. Here I drove the Artist Drive Loop which is properly price a go to and stopped on the Devils Golf Course. An superb surrealistic view. I continued on Badwater Road and exited Death Valley over that street again to Pahrump. It was already 6PM and I nonetheless needed to drive to Springdale. Just 10 kilometers earlier than my lodge in Springdale I bought the second flat tire. The good factor was the subsequent day I didn’t want the automotive so it may very well be exchanged through the day.
West Coast Day 8 – Full day Zion National Park
I visited solely the Zion Canyon, essentially the most well-known a part of the Zion National Park, throughout this journey. The precise Zion National Park is greater however that is essentially the most lovely place. In a day it’s potential to see most issues however the few day hikes you can’t do after all. I went as much as the Emerald Pools together with the highest one. When you come be sure in some unspecified time in the future you are taking a left flip to take one other means again down. The views are superb. From there go to The Narrows on the finish of the street on the Temple of Sinawava. Here the canyon will get smaller and smaller till there may be solely river left and you need to stroll by way of the river. Make certain to do that on the finish of the day as you don’t wish to stroll all day on moist footwear.
Read all about today within the detailed day article:
USA – Zion National Park day journey: The should see locations and should do hikes
West Coast Day 9 – Springdale to Grand Canyon
The drive from Springdale to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was one of many longer ones on this USA west coast street journey itinerary. I ended first for a brief hike in Zion National Park. This hike known as Canyon Overlook Hike is simply behind the tunnels you’ll drive by way of. It provides a lovely view in the direction of the doorway of the Zion Canyon. Just a few kilometers down the street you will see the Mesa Checkboard (2 photographs above). It’s a big hill with traces and carvings making it appear like a chess board.
From this level onwards it’s a protracted drive by way of a lovely altering panorama. I counsel to drive by way of Jacob Lake and cross the dual bridges however simply earlier than head to Lees Ferry touchdown to see the Colorado River up shut. I might have pushed straight in the direction of the Grand Canyon now however I made a decision to make a 20-kilometer detour to see the Horseshoe Bend. It’s an impressive view as you’ll be able to see within the image under. This detour did make me arrive late evening to my lodge, the Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon. It was nonetheless properly price it.
Read all about today within the detailed day article:
USA – The greatest route from Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon South Rim
West Coast Day 10 – Hike into the Grand Canyon
A go to to the Grand Canyon ought to embrace a day hike into the canyon. It’s not suggested to make a hike all the best way to the underside and up on a day however it’s potential to hike midway and again. The greatest path to hike is the South Kaibab Trail as much as Skeleton Point. This path provides an enormous number of views plus at Skeleton Point you’ll be able to see the primary glimpse of the Colorado River. The hike will take between 4 and 6 hours relying how fast you stroll. As my daughter of 11 joined me on the hike I didn’t rush it. It was an unforgettable hike which included numerous high quality time with my daughter. I did the same hike on the Tiger Leaping Gorge in China with my son two years again.
Read all about today within the detailed day article:
USA – Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point
West Coast Day 11 – Best views of Grand Canyon south rim; to Las Vegas
To get impression of the Grand Canyon one wants to go to a number of viewpoints. There are a number of in the direction of Hermits Point and in the direction of Desert View level. Towards Hermits Point I walked the primary 5 or 6 viewpoints over the rim path. From there I took the shuttle bus to every of the subsequent factors till the top as a result of the gap between the factors was fairly far and I didn’t have time to stroll all the best way. After lunch I continued to cease at just a few factors in the direction of Desert View Point and the watch tower. The watch tower is price a cease for certain. It was already later afternoon once I began my journey to Las Vegas the place I arrived late night. The final cease of this west coast street journey.
West Coast Day 12 – Full day Las Vegas
Las Vegas: you prefer it otherwise you hate it. I appreciated it for a day however was additionally comfortable to go away. As I travelled with my daughter I wasn’t capable of enter in all places and even sit on the terrace of a microbrewery. I visited Fairmont Street to do the zip line. Walked the strip to see the fountains and all of the unbelievable structure. I completed the day on the rooftop of a car parking zone, no not a hangover ???? however to look at the sundown. This was properly price it as you’ll be able to see within the following picture.
Read all about this Las Vegas day within the element day journey report:
USA – Top 5 issues you should do in Las Vegas in case you have a day
West Coast Day 13 & 14 – A bit extra Las Vegas and again to Los Angeles
Early morning, I had a scrumptious in room breakfast with my daughter on the Intercontinental Venetian Las Vegas. I then walked together with her to the M&M Store which she thought was heaven. After she completed chosing all the colours she wished I paid for the kilo of M&M’s. Today I drove again to Los Angeles from the place the return flight to Amsterdam departed early morning subsequent day.
The two weeks west coast street journey got here to an finish. I hope this itinerary helps you intend your west coast street journey within the USA. If you’re extra into metropolis journeys try my USA metropolis journey itinerary for two weeks. It was an exquisite journey with my daughter. I hope to make one other one together with her quickly. Where? I don’t know but however the future will inform.
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