US help.

[genie47]

Another place to go if you heading to California enroute to Las Vegas or Las Vegas to Nevada.

Death Valley.

Death Valley - a set on Flickr

 

[Shiny Things]

Another place to go if you heading to California enroute to Las Vegas or Las Vegas to Nevada.

Death Valley.

Yes, this, though be careful if you're coming in summer (June, July or August): there's a reason the main village is called Furnace Creek.

Death Valley in general, and Furnace Creek in particular, is the hottest place on earth. Literally. It's in the Guinness. In the summer of 1913, the temperature at Furnace Creek reached fifty-seven degrees Celsius, which is about when you stop saying "at least it's a dry heat!" and start booking flights to Alaska. It came achingly close in 2013 as well, coming within a couple of degrees of breaking the record just in time for the 100th-anniversary-of-the-record celebrations.

So if you come in spring or autumn, it'll be gorgeous; if you come in winter, it'll be great in the valley but bitterly cold on the surrounding mountains. But if you come in summer, bring water. Gallons and gallons of water. And don't plan on any hiking.

 

[genie47]

Yes, this, though be careful if you're coming in summer (June, July or August): there's a reason the main village is called Furnace Creek.

Death Valley in general, and Furnace Creek in particular, is the hottest place on earth. Literally. It's in the Guinness. In the summer of 1913, the temperature at Furnace Creek reached fifty-seven degrees Celsius, which is about when you stop saying "at least it's a dry heat!" and start booking flights to Alaska. It came achingly close in 2013 as well, coming within a couple of degrees of breaking the record just in time for the 100th-anniversary-of-the-record celebrations.

So if you come in spring or autumn, it'll be gorgeous; if you come in winter, it'll be great in the valley but bitterly cold on the surrounding mountains. But if you come in summer, bring water. Gallons and gallons of water. And don't plan on any hiking.

Friends visited Death Valley from my recommendation. They went in fall and checked out Dante's Peak. They love it. Was their honeymoon.

 

[patryn33]

Didn't have gallons of water went in aug I think ok what
Lived 2-3 yrs in az that isn't too bad esp it's only 1-2 hr Death Valley visit.
Now I am up north and Californians weak man, come out visit us on biz trip in temps -20c to -30c end up hiding in hotel. For us work as usual though school are closed. Sign...

 

[genie47]

Didn't have gallons of water went in aug I think ok what
Lived 2-3 yrs in az that isn't too bad esp it's only 1-2 hr Death Valley visit.
Now I am up north and Californians weak man, come out visit us on biz trip in temps -20c to -30c end up hiding in hotel. For us work as usual though school are closed. Sign...

Californians not weak. Californians are soft. Remember the Baz Lurhman song, Everyone is free to wear sunscreen?

Stay in Southern California once, leave before it makes you soft.
Stay in New York City once, leave before she breaks your heart.

Live too long in the cozy surrounds of California already become lembeh.

 

[Shiny Things]

Californians not weak. Californians are soft. Remember the Baz Lurhman song, Everyone is free to wear sunscreen?

Stay in Southern California once, leave before it makes you soft.
Stay in New York City once, leave before she breaks your heart.

I'm gonna be That Guy: you got those lyrics wrong. It goes:

"Live in New York City once - but leave before it makes you hard;
Live in Northern California once - but leave before it makes you soft."

Live too long in the cozy surrounds of California...

Hmm: nice weather, four seasons, great pay, phenomenal food, cheap cars, cheaper housing than Singapore (though that's not exactly a high bar to jump); Tahoe and Santa Cruz both within four hours' drive; Las Vegas and San Diego and the nice bits of Utah within two hours' flight; Hawaii five hours away; Miami five hours; Hawaii five hours; New York six hours; Yellowstone six hours... nope, the only way I'm leaving the Bay Area is in a box.

(Unless I get a transfer back to Australia.)

 

[grandmaster33]

Thanks Shiny Things for pointing out to me the existing US thread.

I will be in the US for 3 weeks. The first half of the week is pretty much gone as I have to attend my friend's convocation in NY. There, I could probably spend some time explore the NY city and of course pay a visit to Niagara Waterfall. So that will leave me 2 and a half weeks to spend at US west coast.

I would like to go visit LV, SF, LA. Not sure how best I can arrange for this. Please advise if the below itinerary is doable. We will be in a group of 6 pax. Is there any recommended tour? Probably can reduce the driving time.

Road trip
NY-LV - LV Strip
LV-Canyon-LV
LV-SF - Via Death Valley and Yosomite
SF-LA - Scenic Drive via Cambria
LA-SG - Return Flight

Do I miss any must visit places?

 

[maggoth]

Road trip
NY-LV - LV Strip
LV-Canyon-LV
LV-SF - Via Death Valley and Yosomite
SF-LA - Scenic Drive via Cambria
LA-SG - Return Flight

you sure you want to drive from new york to las vegas?? it's gonna take more than a couple of days which is totally a waste of time since you are not making any stops along the way.

just fly to vegas and drive from there.

 

[grandmaster33]

you sure you want to drive from new york to las vegas?? it's gonna take more than a couple of days which is totally a waste of time since you are not making any stops along the way.

just fly to vegas and drive from there.

I'm sorry...It will be flight from NYC to LV.
I'm still considering which one should be the starting point for The Triangle Trip. I have seen people start the journey from SF.

 

[RoLanTo]

Hi all,

from SF to LA self-drive.
i will be passing to the gilroy premium outlets.. after that, which way do u guys suggest? highway 1 or 101?

Also, during the way, can you all suggest some stopover locations in between and hotel recommendation in these stopovers?

After i reach LA, my plan is return car, take domestic flight to las vegas (with return air tix) because my home trip is from LA

 

[ceecookie]

Thanks Shiny Things for pointing out to me the existing US thread.

I will be in the US for 3 weeks. The first half of the week is pretty much gone as I have to attend my friend's convocation in NY. There, I could probably spend some time explore the NY city and of course pay a visit to Niagara Waterfall. So that will leave me 2 and a half weeks to spend at US west coast.

I would like to go visit LV, SF, LA. Not sure how best I can arrange for this. Please advise if the below itinerary is doable. We will be in a group of 6 pax. Is there any recommended tour? Probably can reduce the driving time.

Road trip
NY-LV - LV Strip
LV-Canyon-LV
LV-SF - Via Death Valley and Yosomite
SF-LA - Scenic Drive via Cambria
LA-SG - Return Flight

Do I miss any must visit places?

Why not drive north to Oregon and Washington instead of south to LA? The Pacific Northwest has beautiful nature to admire. And if u have spare days after Seattle, u could cross the border to Vancouver,BC.

From Seattle/Vancouver, fly south to LA for ur return flight to Singapore.

 

[Shiny Things]

from SF to LA self-drive.
i will be passing to the gilroy premium outlets.. after that, which way do u guys suggest? highway 1 or 101?

Also, during the way, can you all suggest some stopover locations in between and hotel recommendation in these stopovers?

OH MY GOD HIGHWAY 1.

CA-1 is literally the most famous road trip in the world (except maybe Route 66, which is all interstates these days anyway).

Stop at Santa Cruz for the beaches (and stay at the cute Dream Inn or the Sea and Sand Inn); Monterey (if you're too fancy for Santa Cruz, stay at the Intercontinental; and see the aquarium); Big Sur (stay at the Glen Oaks Motor Lodge, do two nights here because Big Sur is magical, and eat at Nepenthe Restaurant just down the road); Pismo Beach (stay at the Best Western on the cliffs north of town, and rent a quad-bike and go riding on the dunes); and Santa Monica if you're fancy or Venice Beach if you're not.

After i reach LA, my plan is return car, take domestic flight to las vegas (with return air tix) because my home trip is from LA

Yeah, that works. Fly Virgin America.

 

[Shiny Things]

Is there any recommended tour? Probably can reduce the driving time.

Nooo, don't do this. If you've got even one or two remotely competent drivers in your team of six, it'll work out a hell of a lot cheaper and more fun to drive yourself. Six is a bit of a tough number - you'll probably have to rent two full-size cars, because you won't fit three adults and their luggage in a Mustang, which is what I'd normally recommend - but it's totally doable.

Road trip
NY-LV - LV Strip
LV-Canyon-LV
LV-SF - Via Death Valley and Yosomite
SF-LA - Scenic Drive via Cambria
LA-SG - Return Flight

Do I miss any must visit places?

Yeah, you can probably bulk this out a bit if you've got two-and-a-half weeks. Your general itinerary is great, but here's a couple of thoughts:

1) Death Valley and Yosemite is a bit tricky. The road over Yosemite usually opens in May or June (probably May this year because there's not a lot of snow), by which time Death Valley is already stinking hot.

If you're coming late enough to get over Tioga Pass (check this page for historical opening dates), you might be better off skipping Death Valley and getting to SF via US-95 north to NV-266 to CA-168 to Bishop, which takes you over the White Mountains where the four-thousand-year-old Bristlecone Pines stand.

If you're coming too early, then you can do Death Valley, but you won't be able to get to SF over Yosemite; you'll have to loop down through Bakersfield and then up I-5 to San Francisco, which is a bit of a boring drive.

Let me know if you want me to draw you a map of either of these.

2) You've got enough time that you can tack some of the Utah national parks onto the Grand Canyon loop. Instead of going straight to Grand Canyon Village and back, try this: from Las Vegas, go north on I-15 into Utah, then up to the little town of Springdale; you're at the bottom of Zion National Park, which is phenomenally beautiful and easy to get around. From there, it's only a couple of hours (of spectacular mountain driving) to the eerie Bryce Canyon National Park; and from there, it's a straight shot down US-89 to Grand Canyon Village (you're basically looping around the top of the Grand Canyon).

Again, let me know if you need a map.

 

[grandmaster33]

Why not drive north to Oregon and Washington instead of south to LA? The Pacific Northwest has beautiful nature to admire. And if u have spare days after Seattle, u could cross the border to Vancouver,BC.

From Seattle/Vancouver, fly south to LA for ur return flight to Singapore.

My return flight out to Singapore will be from LA. So, it makes sense for me to travel back to LA.
I think time is not a constraint, I will go as you suggested.

 

[grandmaster33]

Nooo, don't do this. If you've got even one or two remotely competent drivers in your team of six, it'll work out a hell of a lot cheaper and more fun to drive yourself. Six is a bit of a tough number - you'll probably have to rent two full-size cars, because you won't fit three adults and their luggage in a Mustang, which is what I'd normally recommend - but it's totally doable.

I guess we will be hiring a Toyota Previa or the similar type of family van. Luggage will be minimal hopefully. We did a road trip in NZ, same number of pax. No issue.

Yeah, you can probably bulk this out a bit if you've got two-and-a-half weeks. Your general itinerary is great, but here's a couple of thoughts:

1) Death Valley and Yosemite is a bit tricky. The road over Yosemite usually opens in May or June (probably May this year because there's not a lot of snow), by which time Death Valley is already stinking hot.

Thanks Shiny Things. Very useful information. We will likely start travelling in the last week of May. Hopefully, the Tioga Pass will be open by then

If you're coming late enough to get over Tioga Pass (check this page for historical opening dates), you might be better off skipping Death Valley and getting to SF via US-95 north to NV-266 to CA-168 to Bishop, which takes you over the White Mountains where the four-thousand-year-old Bristlecone Pines stand.

I don't the see the possible route to get to SF. Can you draw out for me? Many thanks

If you're coming too early, then you can do Death Valley, but you won't be able to get to SF over Yosemite; you'll have to loop down through Bakersfield and then up I-5 to San Francisco, which is a bit of a boring drive.

Hmm..here comes the questions; what can you actually see in Death Valley. Some dry up lands?

2) You've got enough time that you can tack some of the Utah national parks onto the Grand Canyon loop. Instead of going straight to Grand Canyon Village and back, try this: from Las Vegas, go north on I-15 into Utah, then up to the little town of Springdale; you're at the bottom of Zion National Park, which is phenomenally beautiful and easy to get around. From there, it's only a couple of hours (of spectacular mountain driving) to the eerie Bryce Canyon National Park; and from there, it's a straight shot down US-89 to Grand Canyon Village (you're basically looping around the top of the Grand Canyon).

Again, let me know if you need a map.

Yes. I would love to follow your suggested itinerary. This will be in line of what I'm actually planning. I have heard that it is pretty long wait to get into Hoover Dam. Is it true?

Once again, thank you very much for your advice.

 

[RoLanTo]

Thanks shiny. As it is below gilroy instead of driving up back to Santa Cruz. I think skip. For Monterey, stay where ah. Intercontinental?

If next stop San Luis obiispo, Santa barara. Good choice? Or pismo beach better scenic then San Luis?

OH MY GOD HIGHWAY 1.

CA-1 is literally the most famous road trip in the world (except maybe Route 66, which is all interstates these days anyway).

Stop at Santa Cruz for the beaches (and stay at the cute Dream Inn or the Sea and Sand Inn); Monterey (if you're too fancy for Santa Cruz, stay at the Intercontinental; and see the aquarium); Big Sur (stay at the Glen Oaks Motor Lodge, do two nights here because Big Sur is magical, and eat at Nepenthe Restaurant just down the road); Pismo Beach (stay at the Best Western on the cliffs north of town, and rent a quad-bike and go riding on the dunes); and Santa Monica if you're fancy or Venice Beach if you're not.



Yeah, that works. Fly Virgin America.

 

[stonedx]

any recommendation for few hours stay since i'm driving from LA to LV? Traveling in end May. Still cant decide which route to take.

I will be staying in yosmite too. curry village. anyone stayed there before?

looking at airfare now and i'm tempted to wait for pre-NATAS / NATAS fair promo. Anyone with experience can advise?

 

[Shiny Things]

Advice for everyone: look at a map before you start asking trip questions. You're not going to, say, hit the Mojave Desert on the way from SF to Vegas, or Yosemite on the way from Vegas to LA.

any recommendation for few hours stay since i'm driving from LA to LV? Traveling in end May. Still cant decide which route to take.

If you're travelling from LA to Las Vegas, unfortunately it's a pretty boring drive. All the intermediate towns are awful (I made the mistake of spending a night in Baker once; learn from my fail), and you have to slog all the way through LA's hellacious traffic. I'd recommend just flying, but if you absolutely must drive and want to spend a night somewhere on the way, take a detour to Palm Springs and spend a night in the Saguaro, then head off to Vegas the next morning.

 

[Shiny Things]

Thanks shiny. As it is below gilroy instead of driving up back to Santa Cruz. I think skip. For Monterey, stay where ah. Intercontinental?

In Monterey, stay at the Intercontinental or the Spindrift Inn if you're fancy, or the Best Western Victorian if you're not. Either way, pick something within walking distance of Cannery Row, where the Aquarium is.

If next stop San Luis obiispo, Santa barara. Good choice? Or pismo beach better scenic then San Luis?

Pismo Beach is on the beach, and has hotels like the Shore Cliff Lodge (which is surprisingly cheap, and their in-house Ventana Restaurant is great). SLO has... nothing.

 

[Shiny Things]

I guess we will be hiring a Toyota Previa or the similar type of family van. Luggage will be minimal hopefully. We did a road trip in NZ, same number of pax. No issue.

Boo, boring. Seriously, I'd be a little reluctant to wrangle a minivan through Yosemite, especially if it might still be a bit icy - go for two family cars if you can.

I don't the see the possible route to get to SF. Can you draw out for me? Many thanks

Option 1: through Yosemite.
Option 2, if option 1 is closed: through Bakersfield.
There's also option 3, US-95 north to Reno then I-80 west to San Francisco, but if the Yosemite route is closed then the I-80 route is probably going to be miserable too.

Update: if you choose Route 1, don't miss the White Mountains bristlecone pine forest, east of Bishop (follow this here map). Bishop itself is also a really cute little town: stay at the Creekside Inn, and eat at (no kidding) the bowling alley.

Hmm..here comes the questions; what can you actually see in Death Valley. Some dry up lands?

Oh dude, Death Valley is magical. It's hot and dry and deserty, but at night it's crisp and clear and has some of the best stargazing in the world. It's got hills, painted deserts, valleys, a huge salt pan, and you can stand below sea level and look up at the "this is sea level' line painted on the hills two hundred feet above you. And the Furnace Creek Ranch is really cute (and surprisingly comfortable to stay in, too).

I have heard that it is pretty long wait to get into Hoover Dam. Is it true?

Nah, but you'll want to get there early. It's only about an hour's drive from Vegas, though, so if you're up early that won't be a problem.