NY and Westcoast in July for solo traveller

Welcome to the USA Branch.

Just a couple of spelling corrections:

• Niagara Falls
• Yosemite National Park
• San Francisco

These are my initial comments:

1. You're spending too long in New York relative to the length of your trip
2. You might be too long at Niagara Falls as well
3. Your Las Vegas / Grand Canyon NP / Los Angeles time is too short
4. Return from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas perhaps
5. Two nights in Yosemite NP is probably sufficient on a trip of this length
6. Aim not to be in Las Vegas Friday or Saturday
7. Aim not to be in Yosemite NP Friday or Saturday either

But it seems to me your biggest challenge (once you settle the genuine itinerary issues above) is securing accommodation at this late stage at the Grand Canyon NP South Rim, and in or near Yosemite NP.

Hey Ianw6705,

Thanks for your great feedback. Sorry for the spelling mistakes. Please see my questions and comments below

"You're spending too long in New York relative to the length of your trip"
I was thinking the same, i will amend this

You might be too long at Niagara Falls as well
Do you think it will be possible to fly into buffalo in the morning, see that wall and fly from buffalo in the afternoon (all in one day)

Aim not to be in Las Vegas Friday or Saturday
Whats the reason for this? Isn't the nightlife better on a Friday and Saturday?

Aim not to be in Yosemite NP Friday or Saturday either
Whats the reason for this? More expensive prices and crowds?

A few responses:

• yes, take two nights minimum from NYC at the start
• I have not been to Niagara Falls, so will leave this for others
• Las Vegas room costs are much higher Friday / Saturday
• however nightlife might also be much better, so your choice
• Yosemite is dearer and busier on weekends for sure

Good luck knocking it into shape, and once you do, you really must book all of this if you can. Many popular places book out months ahead.

One of the best party town in the US is NOLA and you are skipping it?

Maybe try this instead:

8 Jul - NYC
9 Jul - NYC
10 Jul - NYC
11 Jul - (rent a car) Saranac Lake or Lake Placid (or thereabouts in the Adirondacks)
12 Jul - Saranac Lake or Lake Placid (or thereabouts)
13 Jul - Buffalo or Niagara
14 Jul - Ithaca
15 Jul - Ithaca or NYC (return car in NYC)
16 Jul - NYC
17 Jul - Las Vegas
18 Jul - (rent a car) Grand Canyon
19 Jul - Las Vegas
20 Jul - LA
21 Jul - LA
22 Jul - San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, or Pismo Beach
23 Jul - Monterey
24 Jul - Yosemite
25 Jul - Yosemite
26 Jul - (return car) SF
27 Jul - SF
28 Jul - SF
29 Jul - NYC
30 Jul - NYC, leave

As noted, lodging in Yosemite can book months in advance, for any time of the week. A brief search currently shows nothing available in the park, which means you'll have to look outside for lodging.

You won't want to spend much time at Niagara. Take the boat tour, then move on.

Do not take day tours of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Most of the go to the "west" rim, which is on tribal land. This is still the "grand Canyon," but it's not as wide or deep as in the park, you're very limited as to what you're allowed to do, and it's more expensive--it's basically the "Las Vegas" version of the canyon, designed to separate you from your money. The south rim is where you'll want to go.
Day tours of the south rim will spend most of the time on the bus. Eight or so hours for a couple at the canyon.

Good advice from bzookaj, if you cannot find a place inside Yosemite try El Portal, Yosemite View Lodge appears to have some space for July. Otherwise you may have to keep calling daily to snag a cancellation.
If you can find the time, the drive up Highway 1 through Big Sur is one of the best the US has as far as drives go.

One of the best party town in the US is NOLA and you are skipping it?

Hey Katzgar, Thanks for your advice. But New orleans is some way from the west coast. How would you suggest i include it in my current plan?

I would pull 3 days from the lake placid, ithaca area and go to NOLA. there is nothing cooler than walking up Bourbon st with a cup o Joe at dawn.

http://www.neworleansonline.com/