I Need Suggestions For My California Trip, For next summer

[weba]

I am going to spend 3 weeks next (late)summer traveling around US, taking my g/f and 2 friends with me it, if everything goes as planned.

I can't join Bfest since i can't book my vacation to that time of the year it seems.

Anyhow, we are going to fly to NYC or Chicago, and after crashing there for a day or two, take a plane (OR a train from Chicago, 2400mile California Zephyr) to our main destination, California.

And then drive around something like this:
(link outdated, going to change it soon)

So planning to see: San Fransisco, Yosemite national park, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Los Angeles, using small roads where possible, like California 120 and 1.


Any suggestions about where we should go\stay\what to see\anything else are welcome! Since I don't know the area that well.

Thanks.

[Money pit Beretta]

Have fun man, wish your car was here. Where are the East Side boys at? Thought they would come here to help.

[weba]

Yeah, where are all the 3 Beretta owners from that direction....

[Wanako]

Have fun man, wish your car was here. Where are the East Side boys at? Thought they woould come here to help.

That would be West Side Boys actually. lol.

Weba, If you're going to take the trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you MUST take the Pacific Coast Highway 1 all the way up. It is a GREAT drive. It may get a bit treacherous in some places, specially nearing Monterey, and only recommended for the experienced driver. But then again, you're a Finn, so you probably could have done that when you were 10 years old.

On the drive between Bastow and Needles, I would bring some music or something to do because it's a LONG, lonely and boring drive through the desert. If you're planning on going to Yosemite, I would take some toilet paper. Most public restrooms in the Park have no plumbing, or lights for that matter and no toilet paper.

[weba]

Have fun man, wish your car was here. Where are the East Side boys at? Thought they woould come here to help.

That would be West Side Boys actually. lol.

Weba, If you're going to take the trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco, you MUST take the Pacific Coast Highway 1 all the way up. It is a GREAT drive. It may get a bit treacherous in some places, specially nearing Monterey, and only recommended for the experienced driver. But then again, you're a Finn, so you probably could have done that when you were 10 years old.

On the drive between Bastow and Needles, I would bring some music or something to do because it's a LONG, lonely and boring drive through the desert. If you're planning on going to Yosemite, I would take some toilet paper. Most public restrooms in the Park have no plumbing, or lights for that matter and no toilet paper.

Hmmh West yeah.. depends of how you think it from the other side of the globe
Thanks for the tip, we are most definitely taking the hw1, and spread it for 2 days, sleeping somewhere in the middle i think.

[1988GTU]

Have fun! Don't spend TOO much time in vegas unless you want to spend a lot of unplanned money!

[Money pit Beretta]

I have been to Needles. Damn hot there I think it was 117*F. Stay away from Vegas unless your just going to the water park on the strip(if it's still there). The house always wins even if you do.

[weba]

Haven't yet booked tickets (i can only find expensive ones)

But it looks like we are landing 8-9th August to Chicago.

If anyone is around our route, and wants to meet, we'd be delighted.

Btw, can anyone tell if 4 adults can fit to Mustang Convertible, or should we take like Caddy Sts as rental car?

[DTMAce]

4 adults can fit, but it would be snug. Mustangs aren't known for rear leg room. Better off in the caddy if you want to be comfortable.

[ErichZ26]

I want to go with Weba from Chicago to Cali. I can be the official translater...with Crazy people since your English(or 'American') is very good.

[weba]

My finnglish is only understandable when I'm not tired.

[Wanako]

I'll keep this in mind. I might be available at least to say hi.

[weba]

Under 3 Months to go, We have the plane tickets, rental car and most of the hotels booked.
Final travel plan looks like this:
(Damn it's hard to decide what to leave out since everything does not fit in, there is way too much to see on that corner of the continent!)

8th August. (Flight 10 hours)
4 nights in Chicago
Jetlag and see places, staying with Cack

(Flight 4 hours)
4 nights in San Francisco
2-day tour bus ticket and Alcatraz & Hotel booked. Shopping, seeing around..

(Picking up rental car)
2 nights in Yosemite national forest
Enjoying what nature has to offer, Yurts booked outside the park.

(Very long scenic route to see fantastic scenery and desert)
3 nights Las Vegas
Cirque du Soleil and many other attractions, spend quality time, resort booked. (not going to gamble that much)
Possibly see local Cars&Coffee

(Driving via Hoover Dam)
2 nights somewhere near Grand Canyon
Seeing Crand Canyon, Going to book cheap motel.

(Very long drive, possibly also taking scenic way: Route 66 and mountains)
3 nights in Los Angeles
Seeing around the city and spend a day in Universal Studios. Haven't booked anything from here yet.

1 night somewhere in Coast
Also see Laguna Seca Raceway while at it?

Next day we have to be at airport in 5AM or something, so not going to book any places for it, have to improvise that then.
And then 16 hour of flights home. Plane change at NYC.

Also we rented Cadillac STS, but it has gone out of production, so we can end up with something else I hope it's at least American.


And i totally can't wait! I have been dreaming about doing this trip from 2007 or so.. It's finally coming true.
Still bit disappointed that i could not fit Bfest to it.

[Wanako]

Local Farmer's Market in L.A. has great food, pick up local souvenirs and such. I'll try to meet up with depending on the day. Just please don't be too shocked at my lack of stature.

[weba]

We'd be happy to meet We'll arrive in LA at 23th Aug (Tuesday), after 11+ hours driving, most like too tired to go anywhere that night but let's see.
Leaving there 26th morning (Friday).