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#1
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USA December trip recommendations?
I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about
23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#2
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USA December trip recommendations?
In article ,
Terry Pinnell wrote: I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about 23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. How about visiting San Francisco for a few days, then drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from there to San Diego? There are amazing natural sights to see along the way and San Francisco is one of the world's most beautiful cities. |
#3
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USA December trip recommendations?
Shawn Hirn:
How about visiting San Francisco for a few days, then drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from there to San Diego? There are amazing natural sights to see along the way and San Francisco is one of the world's most beautiful cities. I second the motion -- if the weather permits. However, California has a complicated climate with significant regional as well as seasonal variations, and you may want to look into your chances of getting good weather on the coast highway at that time of year. I'm not sure, but they may not be so good. Navigational technicality: the Pacific Coast highway isn't all called the Pacific Coast Highway; as an official name that term applies only to the southern section. The signs you want to follow are mostly for California route 1. However, there are gaps in CA 1 where you follow US 101 instead, and sometimes the places where you exit from US 101 to get onto the next section of CA 1 aren't clearly marked as such. -- Mark Brader | "Do UNIX users ever think about the fact that most of Toronto | their financial dealings are processed in languages that | they wouldn't be caught dead in?" -- Carol Osterbrock My text in this article is in the public domain. |
#4
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USA December trip recommendations?
Terry Pinnell wrote:
I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about 23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. Here's the most efficient routing for the majority of the destinations you list. Leaves out Boston, New York, Niagara, New Orleans, Miami. All East Coast ciities and all about 2600 miles (4000 km) from San Diego. Fly directly into San Francisco and spend a few days seeing it and the surrounding areas. Then, depending on the weather: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas. Using Vegas as a base: Zion and Bryce and return to Vegas. Can't visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's closed from mid-October to mid-May. South Rim open year-round. Depart Vegas for Grand Canyon (South Rim), Flagstaff, The Meteor Crater is about a hour east on Interstate 40, return to Flagstaff to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Phoenix, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and finally to San Diego. This is an ambitious trip for 7 to 10 days. Also, the days are short in December: the sun sets about 5pm. So take that into account. I'll leave it up to you to pick the various sights you want to see in each location. Study those maps and guides. Have a nice trip. Stef |
#5
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USA December trip recommendations?
"Stef" wrote in message ... Terry Pinnell wrote: I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about 23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. Here's the most efficient routing for the majority of the destinations you list. Leaves out Boston, New York, Niagara, New Orleans, Miami. All East Coast ciities and all about 2600 miles (4000 km) from San Diego. Fly directly into San Francisco and spend a few days seeing it and the surrounding areas. Then, depending on the weather: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas. Using Vegas as a base: Zion and Bryce and return to Vegas. Can't visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's closed from mid-October to mid-May. South Rim open year-round. Depart Vegas for Grand Canyon (South Rim), Flagstaff, The Meteor Crater is about a hour east on Interstate 40, return to Flagstaff to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Phoenix, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and finally to San Diego. This is an ambitious trip for 7 to 10 days. I'll say ISTR I spent 3 weeks doing the same and everybody thought that I was doing too much Also, the days are short in December: the sun sets about 5pm. So take that into account. And if you go as far inland as Grand Canyon, it does snow. It fell overnight though the main roads were completely clear by lunchtime, but there was lots of evidence that early in the morning conditions were too severe for some US drivers :-) And I missed out on Bryce completely because that was absolutely covered (though Bryce is definitely a step to far in this itinerary) tim |
#6
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USA December trip recommendations?
"tim....." wrote:
"Stef" wrote in message ... Terry Pinnell wrote: I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about 23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. Here's the most efficient routing for the majority of the destinations you list. Leaves out Boston, New York, Niagara, New Orleans, Miami. All East Coast ciities and all about 2600 miles (4000 km) from San Diego. Fly directly into San Francisco and spend a few days seeing it and the surrounding areas. Then, depending on the weather: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas. Using Vegas as a base: Zion and Bryce and return to Vegas. Can't visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's closed from mid-October to mid-May. South Rim open year-round. Depart Vegas for Grand Canyon (South Rim), Flagstaff, The Meteor Crater is about a hour east on Interstate 40, return to Flagstaff to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Phoenix, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and finally to San Diego. This is an ambitious trip for 7 to 10 days. I'll say ISTR I spent 3 weeks doing the same and everybody thought that I was doing too much Also, the days are short in December: the sun sets about 5pm. So take that into account. And if you go as far inland as Grand Canyon, it does snow. It fell overnight though the main roads were completely clear by lunchtime, but there was lots of evidence that early in the morning conditions were too severe for some US drivers :-) And I missed out on Bryce completely because that was absolutely covered (though Bryce is definitely a step to far in this itinerary) tim Thanks all but I obviously made a crucial mistake in my wording, sorry! By "Those included..." I meant my PREVIOUS TRIPS, not places I'd missed. In other words a list of places I DON'T want to visit on this next trip. And also indicating the sort of places I've enjoyed in the past. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#7
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USA December trip recommendations?
Terry Pinnell wrote:
"tim....." wrote: "Stef" wrote in message ... Terry Pinnell wrote: I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about 23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. Here's the most efficient routing for the majority of the destinations you list. Leaves out Boston, New York, Niagara, New Orleans, Miami. All East Coast ciities and all about 2600 miles (4000 km) from San Diego. Fly directly into San Francisco and spend a few days seeing it and the surrounding areas. Then, depending on the weather: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas. Using Vegas as a base: Zion and Bryce and return to Vegas. Can't visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's closed from mid-October to mid-May. South Rim open year-round. Depart Vegas for Grand Canyon (South Rim), Flagstaff, The Meteor Crater is about a hour east on Interstate 40, return to Flagstaff to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Phoenix, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and finally to San Diego. This is an ambitious trip for 7 to 10 days. I'll say ISTR I spent 3 weeks doing the same and everybody thought that I was doing too much Also, the days are short in December: the sun sets about 5pm. So take that into account. And if you go as far inland as Grand Canyon, it does snow. It fell overnight though the main roads were completely clear by lunchtime, but there was lots of evidence that early in the morning conditions were too severe for some US drivers :-) And I missed out on Bryce completely because that was absolutely covered (though Bryce is definitely a step to far in this itinerary) tim Thanks all but I obviously made a crucial mistake in my wording, sorry! By "Those included..." I meant my PREVIOUS TRIPS, not places I'd missed. In other words a list of places I DON'T want to visit on this next trip. And also indicating the sort of places I've enjoyed in the past. Well, that certainly changes things, doesn't it?. ;-) Okay. Go crazy. Go to Hawaii! Find a three island, 10 day package. I suggest Oahu, Maui, The Big Island. Or book a 7 or 10 cruise to the Eastern Caribbean out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Or maybe a cruise from Miami to LA through the Panama Canal? Or get out the old guide book and see what just Southern California from Santa Barbara to San Diego has to offer. At least, go to Disneyland. Everyone should visit it at least once in their life just to put on the resume. Stef |
#8
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USA December trip recommendations?
Stef wrote:
Terry Pinnell wrote: "tim....." wrote: "Stef" wrote in message ... Terry Pinnell wrote: I'm visiting my son and grandsons in San Diego for a week or so from about 23rd December. Before that I'd like to take 7-10 days on my own elsewhere and would much appreciate recommendations please. Basically I'd like to fly from London Gatwick to an initial destination and then hire a car and work my way to San Diego, sightseeing en route, staying at motels. Or if the initial destination was too far away, do *some* driving but then fly the remainder. If it wasn't winter then I'd probably elect to visit Canyonlands, Moab, Yellowstone etc, places in the West that I missed on previous trips. Those included Boston, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, LA, Las Vegas, Meteor Crater, Miami, New York, Niagara, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sedona, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Zion - and I may have missed some. I haven't got the maps and guides out yet so I'm wide open to all suggestions please. Tentative thoughts include maybe New Orleans (if it's no longer too depressing after the flood catastrophe?) or starting at some mid America location and traveling via a southerly (warm!) route westwards. If I wasn't on my own then I'd want to do some hiking but I reckon on this trip I'll stick to a 'drive and stroll' style. All ideas warmly appreciated please. Here's the most efficient routing for the majority of the destinations you list. Leaves out Boston, New York, Niagara, New Orleans, Miami. All East Coast ciities and all about 2600 miles (4000 km) from San Diego. Fly directly into San Francisco and spend a few days seeing it and the surrounding areas. Then, depending on the weather: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Las Vegas. Using Vegas as a base: Zion and Bryce and return to Vegas. Can't visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's closed from mid-October to mid-May. South Rim open year-round. Depart Vegas for Grand Canyon (South Rim), Flagstaff, The Meteor Crater is about a hour east on Interstate 40, return to Flagstaff to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Phoenix, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and finally to San Diego. This is an ambitious trip for 7 to 10 days. I'll say ISTR I spent 3 weeks doing the same and everybody thought that I was doing too much Also, the days are short in December: the sun sets about 5pm. So take that into account. And if you go as far inland as Grand Canyon, it does snow. It fell overnight though the main roads were completely clear by lunchtime, but there was lots of evidence that early in the morning conditions were too severe for some US drivers :-) And I missed out on Bryce completely because that was absolutely covered (though Bryce is definitely a step to far in this itinerary) tim Thanks all but I obviously made a crucial mistake in my wording, sorry! By "Those included..." I meant my PREVIOUS TRIPS, not places I'd missed. In other words a list of places I DON'T want to visit on this next trip. And also indicating the sort of places I've enjoyed in the past. Well, that certainly changes things, doesn't it?. ;-) Okay. Go crazy. Go to Hawaii! Find a three island, 10 day package. I suggest Oahu, Maui, The Big Island. Or book a 7 or 10 cruise to the Eastern Caribbean out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Or maybe a cruise from Miami to LA through the Panama Canal? Or get out the old guide book and see what just Southern California from Santa Barbara to San Diego has to offer. At least, go to Disneyland. Everyone should visit it at least once in their life just to put on the resume. Stef Thanks, but that's some way off my tentative ideas as described! No thoughts on itinerary to reach San Diego by car from the east? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#9
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USA December trip recommendations?
"Terry Pinnell" Thanks all but I obviously made a crucial mistake in my wording, sorry! By "Those included..." I meant my PREVIOUS TRIPS, not places I'd missed. In other words a list of places I DON'T want to visit on this next trip. And also indicating the sort of places I've enjoyed in the past. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK Here's a road trip I did in fall of 2006. Skip Mt Ranier and Yosemite due to snow. ( Roads heading to Ranier from Cougar,WA close in winter) http://tinyurl.com/PNW2006 Depending on time, fly into Seattle,WA or Portland,OR. Lewis and Clark trail, if history buff To give idea of time to allow, I spent 6 days and made a loop from Portland,OR to Columbia River Gorge Hotel, Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, to the coast,down to Joshua Redwoods,back up thru Crater lake, Oregon Caves, to Mt Ranier Astoria,WA, Timberline Lodge, back to Portland for a day. ( guessing now at exact itinerary flow) Days of driving beautiful coastline, sunsets. MANY places might/will ?? require reservations that time of year. From the Redwoods then hop onto I-5 highway down to San Francisco. Then head to San Diego via Pacific Coast Highway. Stop in Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, then for the most scenic drive of your life, head to Hearst Castle via Pacific Coast Highway. Money not a problem ? - stay in Monterey on the water. Seven Gables and other big,old houses are B&B's and nice to chat with others there. In San Simeone stay across from Hearst at the Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront - on the ocean with firepit in back. Same price as others - excellent place to stay AND , if you like apple pie, in their restaurant they have THE best homemade apple pie you'll ever eat ( IMHO). At Hearst you can buy a tour - there are several options so review the options rather than just getting the standard tour - you might like the upgraded ones for a few bucks more. From there, if you want to play tourist with the crowds: Malibu, LA and Anaheim, Disneyland, Hollywood are on the way on your final drive to San Diego. If you have the time, I'd recommend taking PCH down to Malibu, then hop onto I-5 for rest of ride, avoiding rush hour. Enjoy. |
#10
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USA December trip recommendations?
On Sun, 25 Aug 2013 10:47:42 -0400, "- Bobb -"
wrote: From the Redwoods then hop onto I-5 highway down to San Francisco. Then head to San Diego via Pacific Coast Highway. Stop in Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, then for the most scenic drive of your life, head to Hearst Castle via Pacific Coast Highway. Money not a problem ? - stay in Monterey on the water. Seven Gables and other big,old houses are B&B's and nice to chat with others there. In San Simeone stay across from Hearst at the Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront - on the ocean with firepit in back. Same price as others - excellent place to stay AND , if you like apple pie, in their restaurant they have THE best homemade apple pie you'll ever eat ( IMHO). At Hearst you can buy a tour - there are several options so review the options rather than just getting the standard tour - you might like the upgraded ones for a few bucks more. From there, if you want to play tourist with the crowds: Malibu, LA and Anaheim, Disneyland, Hollywood are on the way on your final drive to San Diego. If you have the time, I'd recommend taking PCH down to Malibu, then hop onto I-5 for rest of ride, avoiding rush hour. For the record, California Highway 1 between San Francisco and Santa Barbara is *not* the Pacific Coast Highway, it is the Cabrillo Highway. But Ca-1 is the PCH from near Santa Barbara south to San Onofre, but does not extend to San Diego. |
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