USA trip
After a bout of grandchildren being born we are back travelling again.In May we are going:
LA for a few days then flying to San francisco.
A few days and hiring a car to drive back to LA.
Meet cousin and drive to LV and a show.
Then hire a car and Zion, Bryce, North rim for a few weeks hiking and saying Wow!
Death Valley and back to LA and home.
3.5 weeks.
Is San Simeon really worth it as it seems very pricey?
Is Cannery Row still evident?
Any tips for 5 mile hikes with a wow factor, especialy slot canyons.
Any other ideas please?
Accommodation is booked we just wondered what ideas people might have
2
San Simeon is worth it. The lavish recreation of rooms stolen from Europe and the pools will seem familiar, and suddenly you will remember seeing them in some film. Then, a few years from now, you will see them again in another film. Just go into it as if looking at Mad Ludwig's castle.3
Yes, San Simeon is definitely worth a visit. Most people love the Hearst castle site, but even if you don't like house tours, you can do a garden tour. Anyway, it's on CA route 1, which is arguably the most scenic drive in the USA. There are lots of accomodations there, so it doesn't have to be expensive, no need to prebook.http://www.trails.com/ for hiking info.
4
Near Hollywood is Petersen's Automotive Museum. Full of '50s cusomized cars, midget racers, early Bonneville Salt Flats racers a monster truck. and more Automobilia of yor.Its near the La Brea Tar Pits, where ancient animals fell in. Great museum there.
have fun. don't join a gang.
5
If you're going as far as Bryce, go a bit further to Capital Reef, Escalante, Canyonlands, and Arches (Major Wow factor). Hell, toss in Mesa Verde as well. If hiking in May, take water. Lots and lots and lots of water.6
No, Cannery Row is not what it was; it's touristy but does have one thing of note: the Monterey Bay Aquarium...truly unique and well worth seeing. If your interest is in Steinbeck, spend the 15 minutes to drive east into Salinas and see the National Steinbeck Center and have lunch at his birthplace, The Steinbeck House, a lovely Victorian that's been turned into a terrific restaurant.I agree with portreeslim: Capital Reef and Escalante don't get the press of Zion and Bryce but are among our favorites for hiking, photography and silence.
7
As part of our coast to coast trip of the US we camped at 8000 feet in Yellowstone from there we traveled toWest Yellowstone town
Jenny Lake
Thayne
Garden City
Salt Lake City
Price
Canyon Lands
Mesa Verde
Bicknell
Panguitch
Bryce Canyon, this is an amazing area for hiking
Springdale
Hurricane
Grand Canyon North Rim
Grand Canyon South Rim
Oak Creek
Boulder City
Vegas
These were the town and cities we stayed at and during the day we looked around the areas hiking and walking and generally had a great time.
Enjoy it's a wonderful part of the world to travel in the mountains, lakes, waterfalls, animals etc are well worth the visit.
Jean
