USA West Coast Help

[Nuggette]

Hi all,
Am planning with my girlfriend to go on a trip to USA and explore the west coast for the first time in mid-Oct or early Nov this year.
We will most likely get a round trip ticket to SFO so that will be the start/end point with a max duration of ~2weeks to spend.
Anyone can provide some rough ideas on what we can accomplish in these 2 weeks time?
Thanks!

 

[sendtolee]

Are you driving?

Depends on what you like. Nature? City walk? Shopping? Hiking? Mountains?

Hi all,
Am planning with my girlfriend to go on a trip to USA and explore the west coast for the first time in mid-Oct or early Nov this year.
We will most likely get a round trip ticket to SFO so that will be the start/end point with a max duration of ~2weeks to spend.
Anyone can provide some rough ideas on what we can accomplish in these 2 weeks time?
Thanks!

 

[Coolman]

casino....

 

[lastkopek]

2 weeks if u drive can slowly go south towards san diego can even cover vegas.

Depend on what activities u like. IMHO San diego is a must visit. Not many singaporeans venture there but i reconmend u go.

LA 2-3 nights.
SD 4 nights
Vegas 2 nights

 

[yxerin]

Hi all,
Am planning with my girlfriend to go on a trip to USA and explore the west coast for the first time in mid-Oct or early Nov this year.
We will most likely get a round trip ticket to SFO so that will be the start/end point with a max duration of ~2weeks to spend.
Anyone can provide some rough ideas on what we can accomplish in these 2 weeks time?
Thanks!

2 weeks means you can definitely finish the classic SF to LA to LV route. San Diego is a nice city, but it likely means that you will have to give Vegas a miss. If it's your first time to the West Coast, then I think it's a no brainer to pick Vegas (and the Grand Canyon) over San Diego.

Do make time for Yosemite National Park, Monterey, Disneyland/Universal Hollywood, Death Valley National Park, etc. It really depends on what you prefer. E.g. Culture, nature, cities, theme parks, food, vineyards, scenic drives? 2 week is enough time but we can help better if you can describe your preferences. Better still if you have a few must visits in mind already. Doing a round trip to SF is okay, but you should also considering taking a one way flight between Vegas and SF.

Alternatively, if you aren't into LA and LV, the drive up to Seattle and Vancouver/Canada is nice too. Seattle and Vancouver are very different and attractive cities in their own right.

Source: used to work in the West Coast and can drive around the Bay area and Vegas without needing a GPS.

 

[ronanzc]

2 weeks if u drive can slowly go south towards san diego can even cover vegas.

Depend on what activities u like. IMHO San diego is a must visit. Not many singaporeans venture there but i reconmend u go.

LA 2-3 nights.
SD 4 nights
Vegas 2 nights

Hi I am also travelling to West Coast in May..
I have the following qns.

What are the recommended activities at San Diego? 4 nights seem like a lot
Is it safe there considering the proximity to Mexico..

 

[yxerin]

Hi I am also travelling to West Coast in May..
I have the following qns.

What are the recommended activities at San Diego? 4 nights seem like a lot
Is it safe there considering the proximity to Mexico..

San Francisco has a higher crime rate than San Diego... Opinions will defer, but I personally wouldn't spend more than 2 nights in San Diego. But the San Diego Zoo is a must visit if you are in the area. The San Diego Zoo and our Singapore Zoo are considered the best two zoos in the world. The USS Midway Museum is popular as well.

With a car, you will see and do a lot more in the San Francisco Bay area, as compared to San Diego County.

 

[lastkopek]

Hi I am also travelling to West Coast in May..
I have the following qns.

What are the recommended activities at San Diego? 4 nights seem like a lot
Is it safe there considering the proximity to Mexico..

Activities are plenty.
San diego has lots of intresting musuems. If u a military fan do visit midway aircraft museum.Seaworld for shamu,zoo see gorilla,point loma,old town san diego for the mexican feel,julian for the cold weather pick apple eat apple pie.black beach for the special beach. La jolla village cove . And plenty more.

I would not reconmend u to cross over to tijuana unless u took the day tour. That place controlled by the cartels.

If u need more info can pm me. I used to work there,i try to help as much as i can.

 

[lastkopek]

San Francisco has a higher crime rate than San Diego... Opinions will defer, but I personally wouldn't spend more than 2 nights in San Diego. But the San Diego Zoo is a must visit if you are in the area. The San Diego Zoo and our Singapore Zoo are considered the best two zoos in the world. The USS Midway Museum is popular as well.

With a car, you will see and do a lot more in the San Francisco Bay area, as compared to San Diego County.

Yes agree. San diego not that dangerous compare to the san fran. Bay area too many homeless people. Here in san diego more asians. Just dont mess with mexicans, they carry guns .

Less black people here mostly asian and mexicans.

 

[Shiny Things]

Hi all,
Am planning with my girlfriend to go on a trip to USA and explore the west coast for the first time in mid-Oct or early Nov this year.
We will most likely get a round trip ticket to SFO so that will be the start/end point with a max duration of ~2weeks to spend.
Anyone can provide some rough ideas on what we can accomplish in these 2 weeks time?
Thanks!

Sure!

Two weeks is a bit of a squeeze, but you should be able to do a few days in SF, a few days in Los Angeles, and a couple of days driving in the middle, seeing things like the San Luis Obispo wine country; the Mojave Desert; and Palm Springs.

Tell us what you're into: city or country? Museums or shopping? Outdoors or indoors?—and we'll be able to come up with some specifics.

Hi I am also travelling to West Coast in May..
I have the following qns.

Is it safe there considering the proximity to Mexico..

Yep, it's fine.

 

[Nuggette]

thanks all!
still working on the the timing first... coming back soon with more specifics!

 

[crunsik]

head to Yosemite too, splendid place

 

[yxerin]

thanks all!
still working on the the timing first... coming back soon with more specifics!

This is my tried and trusted itinerary that I provide my friends and family whenever they come visiting. Might want to tweak (or heavily tweak!) the itinerary to suit your preferences.

Day 1 and 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Start car rental; Napa Valley. I tend to bring my friends to Castello di Amorosa but there are other equally beautiful wineries.
Day 4: Yosemite National Park
Day 5: Stanford University, Silicon Valley notable spots (e.g. HP garage, Google HQ, Apple HQ), Gilroy Premium Outlets. Apple HQ has a company store that's publicly accessible.
Day 6: Santa Cruz (Boardwalk, Mystery Spot), Monterey (Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17 mile drive, Carmel-by-the-sea)
Day 7: Big Sur (hikes). Overnight at Cayucos
Day 8 and 9: Los Angeles
Day 10: Disneyland / Universal Hollywood
Day 11: Las Vegas
Day 12: Downtown Las Vegas
Day 13: Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon

 

[yxerin]

Just to add, if you decide to stay at a hotel along the Strip in Las Vegas for a night or two, it is worth trying the $20 trick (google 'Vegas $20 trick'). There is almost no downside to the $20 trick because if there are no upgrades/perks available, your money will be discreetly returned to you. I've succeeded at this trick at least 5 or 6 times at 4 different hotels. My best result was when I tipped $50, and got an upgrade to a suite facing the strip + $100 gaming credit + a couple tickets to the blue man show.

However, don't bother with the trick if you stay at the Palazzo. Every room at the Palazzo is a suite, so room upgrades are not worth as much.

 

[GenuineSeller]

If open jaw is the same price, I would suggest to go to SFO and return from LA. Or the other way round... will save you some time.