West Coast road trip USA

Not sure if this should be here or in the USA forum, but it is about travel so.....

I'm heading to the west coast of america towards the end of the year.
Staying 4 nights in San Francisco, then have a minivan/SUV hire for 6 nights, then las Vegas for 4 nights.

So we will be doing the usual touristy things but just looking to see if there's any boardsies that have been off the beaten track? Anything unusual or not the normal touristy things that you would recommend seeing?
Crazy American stuff, like the worlds biggest hotdog etc. Or some fabulous crazy towns, or anything really you could recommend?

fricatus

I loved Carmel and Monterey, about 100 miles south of San Francisco.

If you're into nature, Zion National Park is a few hours' drive from Vegas, and is very beautiful.

Zebrano

The pacific coast highway is an amazing drive lots to see

castlebarian

bubblypop wrote: »

Not sure if this should be here or in the USA forum, but it is about travel so.....

I'm heading to the west coast of america towards the end of the year.
Staying 4 nights in San Francisco, then have a minivan/SUV hire for 6 nights, then las Vegas for 4 nights.

So we will be doing the usual touristy things but just looking to see if there's any boardsies that have been off the beaten track? Anything unusual or not the normal touristy things that you would recommend seeing?
Crazy American stuff, like the worlds biggest hotdog etc. Or some fabulous crazy towns, or anything really you could recommend?

Hi do you mind me asking what company you booked your suv with as im planning a similar trip down southern states and what price did you get it at ? Ive been quoted for about 1100 euro all in for a suv for 12 days.

Thanks

Paul_Hacket

castlebarian wrote: »

Hi do you mind me asking what company you booked your suv with as im planning a similar trip down southern states and what price did you get it at ? Ive been quoted for about 1100 euro all in for a suv for 12 days.

Thanks

That rate sounds pretty high. I rent all the time in this region, an SUV shouldn't be more than about $50 a day if dropping off to same location where you picked it up and maybe $80/day if it's a different location. Insurance will be extra unless you have a plan that will cover you in the USA, it usually comes to around $20 per day, maybe a little more if it's a more valuable SUV.

The best way to search for car rentals in the US is sites like kayak.com

castlebarian

castlebarian wrote: »

Hi do you mind me asking what company you booked your suv with as im planning a similar trip down southern states and what price did you get it at ? Ive been quoted for about 1100 euro all in for a suv for 12 days.

Thanks

I don't know the cost of just the car rental because I got the whole trip together.
But I will tell you that flights to San Fran, home from las vegas, 4 nights hotel in San Fran, 4 nights in Vegas & the SUV hire cost 1165euro.
So your quote does sound expensive!!

InTheTrees

bubblypop wrote: »

So we will be doing the usual touristy things but just looking to see if there's any boardsies that have been off the beaten track? Anything unusual or not the normal touristy things that you would recommend seeing?
Crazy American stuff, like the worlds biggest hotdog etc. Or some fabulous crazy towns, or anything really you could recommend?

You dont mention it but I'm going to assume you're gettng to las vegas by driving down highway one from SF to LA and then over the LV?

So here's a few unusual stops on the way from SF down to LA via highway one.

The Mystery Spot - Dont miss this one. Its in Santa Cruz county. Very strange place. ps: Buy the bumper sticker, its a cult item.

http://www.mysteryspot.com/

Ana Neuvo state park. On highway 1 south of SF. An Elephant Seal mating area. Kind of fascinating. You drive right past it so its worth a stop if you have time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%B1o_Nuevo_State_Park

The Madonna Inn in San Louis Obispo. Hotel at the south end of Big Sur. Its a "honeymoon hotel" from the 60's with crazy bizarre decor. And every room is different. Its been a tourist attraction since the 60's:

http://www.madonnainn.com/features.php

Solvang. Its a Dutch town in southern california. Between SLO and LA. Odd place. worth a look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvang,_California

Nepenthe. Its on Big SUr south of Carmel. Not really odd in any way but I've always liked the place. It was a house built by orson welles for rita heyworth back in the 1930's now its a restaurant on a bluff looking out over the pacific. Absolutely spectacular setting and a great place to stop for a snack on the way down highway One.

http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The oldest amusement park in California. Built in 1907. Its a curiosity. I wouldnt go out of the way to find it though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_Beach_Boardwalk

That should get you started!

Thanks in the trees, that's exactly the type of thing I'm looking for.
Santa Cruz is my first stop, huge Lost Boys fanðŸ˜

Mystery spot looks cool.
I'm going to spend all evening googling now!
Thanks very much.

InTheTrees

bubblypop wrote: »

Thanks in the trees, that's exactly the type of thing I'm looking for.
Santa Cruz is my first stop, huge Lost Boys fanðŸ˜

Mystery spot looks cool.
I'm going to spend all evening googling now!
Thanks very much.

Lol!! I was going to mention Lost Boys but I thought it may be too obscure and people tend to be slightly underwhelmed by the Santa Cruz boardwalk, really just because its old and small. But I think that gives it charm. Theres great seafood in the resturaunts on the pier, you can drive out onto it. Santa Cruz is a nice town too. If your there around lunchtime go to the little twin of Capitola, right next to Santa Cruz. There's a pretty beach in a cove and lots of resturaunts. More relaxed than Santa Cruz.

https://goo.gl/maps/9KEa7

This probably means you'll spend some time in Santa Cruz county, so youd probably need to spend the night in Monterey or Carmel before tackling Big Sur.

I had included some info about the Fog that can hug the coast in the summe but if you're heading over after august it wont be too much of an issue. SF can get it more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_layer

Enjoy!

Just another question, I was told to book Alcatraz tours before we go.
Does anyone know which website is the official one? I'm finding a few and not sure which one is right.

iusedtoknow

bubblypop wrote: »

Just another question, I was told to book Alcatraz tours before we go.
Does anyone know which website is the official one? I'm finding a few and not sure which one is right.

http://www.alcatrazcruises.com

If you can, book the night tour - it's much better, and quieter too. We did it on a cold rainy evening - very creepy and a lot of fun.

cocoman

San Fran is great.
I can highly recommend hiring a bike and cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge. The trip will lead down to the lovely village of Sausalito. Takes about 40-50 mins and you can take the ferry back if you don't fancy cycling. Myself and the OH did it and I hadn't cycled a bike in about 10 years.
Alcatraz is cool too.