16 Days in the US - first time - what to do

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.

Going to have to ask - where in Illinois? Because if it's anywhere near Chicago, and you haven't been to Chicago, it's a pretty awesome city to visit with plenty to do. Now, if your mom lives out in the sticks somewhere, I could see you not wanting to spend two weeks staring at flat farmland or something.... but if that's the case, maybe you could suggest getting away for a few days to Chicago for museums, shopping, restaurants, sport events, concerts, whatever.

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? I will be traveling alone and most probably couchsurfing, hitchhiking, etc. Should I stay in just San Fransisco or move around the state? how much could I see in 8 days?

You can see a lot of California in 8 days, assuming that you have a car. (Like other posters, I wouldn't recommend hitchhiking around CA, and assume you'd fly between the two locations (IL & CA). If you wanted to get out to any of the national parks, I'd honestly just recommend renting a car vs. attempting to hunt down rides.

The exception is Yosemite - it's rarely mentioned here, because most posters have a car rental and want to know about this that or the other itinerary with Yosemite worked in - but it's possible to take Amtrak + a bus to get to Yosemite. Maybe not the most convenient, but it's possible. Since you'd be visiting in late March/early April, you might even be able to luck out and get a hotel reservation on the valley floor for a night. (Camping via one of the Camp Curry tents might be chilly - I've camped in Yosemite in late October, and while the days were beautiful, the nights were frigid!)

You could fly into San Francisco, spend a couple days there, then fly or take a bus/train down to Los Angeles (or vice versa) and see a lot - the two cities are very culturally different. There's certainly plenty enough to do in either city to fill up 8 days, if you wanted to focus your energy on just one city. (Do you feel like you might not be in California ever again? In which case, free yourself of the transportation worries, rent a car, and see as much of the state as you can.)

Personally, I love San Francisco so much that I could easily spend 8 days there, even without heading out of the city to see things like Muir Woods, Napa, etc. There are also companies that offer day trips to these places that might be of interest to you.

There's 3 affiliated hostels in San Francisco, including one on the grounds of historic Ft. Mason - that one is in easy walking distance of a lot of touristy places, but it's also on the bay front. Don't miss taking a tour of Alcatraz while you're there.

What should I carry regarding the weather?

Illinois in late March is a mixed bag. It might be freezing & snowy, it could be balmy and spring-like. So far, our (Chicago's/Illinois) winter has been pretty mild by our own standards, not too much snow, and warmer than usual. March averages between 28-46°F (-2 to 8°C), and chances of rain hovers around 40-50%. (We get rewarded for a damp spring by getting a totally gorgeous summer. It's really hard to beat a Chicago summer!) You'll want to layer up here - a waterproof outer layer and shoes; hat/gloves; something warm underneath. If you don't already own something like this, well, it's a good time of year to pick up those type of items at good sale prices here.

San Francisco in April tends to be cool - highs in the low to mid 60˚Fs, lows around 50˚F (8-9˚C). It's actually a great time of year to visit. Los Angeles in April is very slightly warmer - highs average around 60-70˚F (16-20˚C) and lows about 50˚F. Rain is unusual in LA in April.

thing is: I don't drive

If you don't drive then stick to SF and take a tour to Yosemite, have seen Extranomical recommended, just make sure it is a tour that stays overnight. Personally I would visit your relatives in the summer when the weather is nicer but I am a "weather wimp".

check amtrak and greyhound, their routes will tell you where you can go.

Hitchhiking in America is not common, and few people do it. It is illegal on the main interstates. Hitching locally is a tad more common depending where you are, but overall, there is a issue with safety, as this country has a lot of nuts, and people go missing all the time. Being a female makes the suggestion of such a risk even more a issue. Considering you have to go across 3/4 country, its is a terrible option too, as I-80 is desolate and few if any towns for miles once you get to Nebraska. You then have winter to contend with once you get to mid section from the Dakotas/Wyoming areas west, which can see the interstates shut down due to heavy snow or blizzard conditions. Trucks this time of year, normally take a southern route via Arizona and I-40 or I-10. Juts driving from Chicago to SF with stops for a nights rest would take most 4 days minimum....vs a 4 hour flight....

So flying from Chicago or St Louis would be your best bet and if bought 3 weeks in advance, cheap too. San Francisco is the easiest city to explore and no car needed. Keep in mind it can be rather cool there in March, so it won't be warm and sunny like you think...you can train or bus down the coast to various areas depending on your interest, LA is not so user friendly for getting about, though downtown San Diego is very easy...

If you want warmth, consider going to Miami/Southbeach, where its very nice and a very hip/trendy club scene if that is your thing, though its not cheap either, hotels are in high season and clubbing is expensive drinks and cover charges in the swanky places.

You could also consider New Orleans, the last bastion of southern culture, great food and gorgeous architecture in the Historic Garden District. You can train or bus there from Chicago/St Louis areas... (The train follows I-55 most the way)...

Needless to say, Chicago has a lot to offer, it is very fun city to explore on foot or via train/transport. It has a very good nightlife for all lifestyles, and also has great hostels in good areas, unlike most cities in America where Hostels tend to be in the least desirebale locations. The hostel network in the USA is terrible compared to EU, so don't hunk you can get a nice hostel everywhere. Many have less than nice locations, or people in them...

But hitching, is not really a option IMO. Your perceptions are a tad naive.

Hitching hasn't been common in the US since the early 80s and women generally didn't hitchhike alone in the old days. March is a transitional month over much of the country, in terms of weather. Fortunately, Chicago has many indoor things to do. San Francisco is always unpredictable and also has plenty of indoor things. Both are very walkable. You really don't have a lot of time to load up the destinations. I don't know why people recommend flying here and there---16 days really isn't that long and even a short flight can eat up half a day given time for security checks and getting to/from airports.

The train/bus to Yosemite from San Francisco takes about 6 hours. Parts of Yosemite will be closed for winter but enough will be open to make it worthwhile. Accommodations are an issue year round and require reservations. The heated tents will be you best buy--bring a sleeping bag because the bedding is a bit thin. You also can stay in a town that's a bit West of there which has a hostel--search on Yosemite here to find info.

thing is: I don't drive

Should have time to get a license, if not consider starting the trip in Illinois and finish in California. Fly to SF, easy city to hang without a car. Then do a tour or travel to Yosemite, the falls will be pounding in April.

www.greentortoise.com
They also have a hostel in SF.

Green Tortoise doesn't have any tours for when you will be in the US. Their hostel is the party hostel in SF.

You might want to check with your friends in Berkeley. They may be interested in an overnight trip to Yosemite or maybe a day trip to Muir Woods.

Look into flights into Oakland as well as San Francisco. Oakland is close and you can get to either Berkeley or SF by transit. If you will be staying with your friends in Berkeley, you can easily get to SF by transit for a day trip.

There are three HI hostels in SF. The Fisherman's Wharf hostel (which is better known as the Fort Mason hostel) is the only hostel in town with free parking. You might meet someone there who has a car and would like a travel companion.

Late March- early April is still the rainy season.There probably will be rainy days, but in between, it can be gloriously clear. High temperatures will be about 16-18.

As mentioned the weather could be iffy in SF at that time. But go ahead and see Yosemite and consider taking AMTRAK down to someplace warm like Laguna Beach after the national park. You can take a bus from the park to Fresno where you can catch a train. You'll have to change trains in LA.

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