3 Weeks in the USA

[JeRkY]

Hello all, I have decided to finally pull out my finger and go and visit my sister in LA. Actually I am just looking to escape the darkest/dullest month of the year in the UK.

I'll be travelling with my girlfriend, and am looking on tips of where to go, what to do and what to see.

We are planning to head over to the (quite possibly snow covered) grand canyon, stopping for a night or two in Vegas. Then getting a flight up to San Francisco before driving the coast road back to LA.

If any one local or otherwise has any tips on worthwhile stop off points, or any interesting events, please pass on your tips.

(Yes I am planning on taking a spare suitcase to top up on all those craigslist bargains!)

 

[Raging_Bulls]

You may want to talk to Incorrigible. He's from around there IIRC.

 

[unkleGsif]

Funnily enough, me and the newly crowned AuntyGsif are off on our 3 week honeymoon to California in January.....

We have 3 nights in San Fran, 2 nights in Yosemite, 3 in Vegas, 3 in LA, the rest is pretty much unplanned and of a "follow our noses" type format.

On my list (hers is the LA celebrity tour :roll: ) is Marin County... or Mecca as I like to call it

We have one of these

G

 

[sylus]

Went to vegas in april..for me two days was enough, pretty much of a muchness unless you take in a show in the evening, or one of the gun stores to fire an mp5 went to the pawn stars store and it's ..small although most of them drive rolls

Rv camping, many of the state parks that have rv sites on them close for the winter so might be worth checking that out in advance

San fran, use the trams, and stand down wind of the seals in the bay..man they honk

If your after riding there are plenty of good bike rental places in and around marin although a marinite will be able to give you the best local stuff

 

[JeRkY]

Would love the RV route, however on this trip is going to be hotel based since the mrs is not a fan of the great out doors (!)

Thought about heading out to Yosemite, but was under the impression it would be pretty much shut down that time of the year.

Marin is on my list, but on the unplanned end of it.

Congratulations on the wedding by the way

 

[suburbanreuben]

Make sure you check out Clint's sea otters in Carmel. Cracking little fellas!

 

[mkozaczek]

I live in LA, PM me and I can give you some pointers.

 

[uno-speedo]

Just some random thoughts:

Do not leave without going to Fathers Office for a burger and a brew in LA. And In-N-Out.

If you plan to ride, check out the San Juan Trail in Orange County.

Get some good fish tacos at Wahoos.

Decent Mexican food at Casa Escobar in Santa Monica.

Black Mountain Bikes in Marin for your vintage bike eye feast. You might bump into Steve Potts.

Take a hike through Runyon Canyon and check out the view of LA.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Might be better in General/Off Topic.

Think about Tijuana.

There is nothing like licking Tequila off the belly of a zebra painted donkey to make a trip stick in the mind years later.

 

[gdb2b]

As for your time in San Francisco, some suggestions..
stay downtown.
take the cablecar dowwn to the Embarcadero in the afternoon, have dinner down there - there are a number of pretty decent seafood places down there. Scomas comes to mind, or across the bay in Sausilito.
After dinner meander to Ghiradelli Square and get some of therir famous hot chocolate after dark as the fog rolls in.
Wait in the cablecar turnaround and listen to local musicians as you wait for for your car to take you back up the hill.
Next day, drive north across the GGB to the Marin headlands and to the John Muir National Forrest. Explore Cathedral Grove. Visit Point Reyes.
Explore. Watch the sunset on the Pacific from the cliffs above Pelican Beach.

If you've got your MTB with you... reply and I'll share some decent ride spots, both on the Bay side and on the ocean side. One thing to be mindful of - Cali is a state of mind....