Hello,
I've got easter break this March (26th to April 10th) and my mother's called me to visit her and her family in Illinois. The thing is I don't really want much to do in Illinois. I was thinking I could split the trip in two and dedicate the latter half to family. The former half is what I need help with.
I've done little research and I wanted to go to California and do some national parks and some of the cities, so let's say I give it 8 days, in your experience how much do you think I could cover in terms of nature? I will be traveling alone and most probably couchsurfing, hitchhiking, etc. Should I stay in just San Fransisco or move around the state? What should I carry regarding the weather and how much could I see in 8 days? Which is flexible.
Terrible question, thanks for any response x
So hitchhiking is illegal and completely impractical. Couch surfing requires work. You will be in the most popular travel destination in the US and a city with really high housing prices.
There have been several posts this week asking about California and national parks. Read them and come up with plans. Short answer: without a car, nature is very difficult. Look at Green Tortoise. With 8 days, you can do 3 to 4 in SF and then the rest in Portland, LA or exploring nature.
Thanks, love. Didn't know the hitchhiking/illegal part, although I wouldn't say it's too impractical judging from the people I know who've done it. I'll try and dig up some friends :)
You do realize it's 3400 kilometers one way by road from Chicago to San Francisco? How much time were you thinking that would take to hitch?
Set your 'big' ticket up so you fly into Chicago and out of San Francisco. Right now, I'm looking on the ITA Matrix search engine and seeing a one way ticket on United from Chicago to SFO on United for $64 on March 31 (and a few other days in early April in the $89-$64 range). Jump on that today because that fare probably won't be there tomorrow.
Hi! I wouldn't be too scared of hitchhiking - particularly if you find the person off websites like craigslist - who have a rideshare section, and can talk a little bit/do a bit of chit-chat to get to know them in advance. For security; Insist on knowing the name of the person who is driving you, make a song and dance of taking a picture of the person's license plate & posting it on facebook, twitter, etc... If you want to go the extra mile, insist on only hitching with female drivers, or otherwise drivers with women(or children) in the car. Always hitch from a safe location that is public - a restaurant/diner at the side of the road, gas station, etc... Practicality in terms of getting to a specific destination CAN be a problem though, particularly if you're doing roadside hitching
I have been to Yosemite and San Francisco - both are beautiful places. Getting between one and the other can be a challenge without your own car but it's totally worth it to make it happen. 4 days each in San F & Yosemite is a good idea - but plan to do a day of travel between one & the other.
I would suggest (whatever you do) to make 4 days for out in nature and 4 days in a city - so you can see both. New York, the state and the city has some beautiful natural parts to it that are often ignored in favour of the city.
Any more advice or anything I'm missing just ask!
Hi! I wouldn't be too scared of hitchhiking - particularly if you find the person off websites like craigslist - who have a rideshare section, and can talk a little bit/do a bit of chit-chat to get to know them in advance. For security; Insist on knowing the name of the person who is driving you, make a song and dance of taking a picture of the person's license plate & posting it on facebook, twitter, etc...
A. Hitchhiking from Illinoise (Chicago?) to San Francisco is not the best idea I've heard today. Especially in late March and early April when it is still winter on parts of the route. Especially for a naïve young lady who is unfamiliar with the U. S. distances and culture. Hitchhiking has a REAL "image problem here."
B. How many of her available 8 days would you expect her to spend waiting for a ride? 6, 7, 10?
If you want to go the extra mile, insist on only hitching with female drivers, or otherwise drivers with women(or children) in the car.
B. I wouldn't pick up a hitchhiker of any description when I'm by myself and "carrying." You think I would stop when I have my grandkids with me? American women and especially American women with kids are less likely to pick her up.
Always hitch from a safe location that is public - a restaurant/diner at the side of the road, gas station, etc...
C. A lot of "roadside" diners and gas stations are clustered around big commercial truck stops on the interstate highways. Truckers even have a name for women who "hitchhike" this way. The O.P. REALLY does not want to be mistaken for a "lot lizard." The only way the O. P. would have any chance of pulling this off this trip by hitchhiking would be to take I-80 west to San Francisco.
I don't know how hitchhiking works in the Great Frozen North but that is how it works down here.
Appreciate the response although the hitchhiking part really wasn't the most significant. I have some friends down in Berkeley and I wasn't going to hitchhike cross country anyway... But I must admit this isn't the first time I hear about the "image" problems. Hitchhiking is much more prominent in Europe. Thanks again :)
O.P. the only reasonable way to take the trip you want is to fly to and from California. Even then, that will eat up most of two of your 8 days. Talk to your friends in Berkeley and see what they can arrange for you before you arrive.
Happy trails.
You do realize it's 3400 kilometers one way by road from Chicago to San Francisco? How much time were you thinking that would take to hitch?
Set your 'big' ticket up so you fly into Chicago and out of San Francisco. Right now, I'm looking on the ITA Matrix search engine and seeing a one way ticket on United from Chicago to SFO on United for $64 on March 31 (and a few other days in early April in the $89-$64 range). Jump on that today because that fare probably won't be there tomorrow.
since metric is useless in the US here is a converter for you...
http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/miles-to-kilometers.htm
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