Webby
Wed 16 Apr 2008
I finally got around to booking my flight out of NZ. I actually booked a really cheap flight to Sydney last week with Emirates, which happened to be much cheaper than Qantas or Air NZ (frequent Tasman crossers take note!).
So from Sydney I was undecided which way to go but finally decided on going the pacific way and I will be flying onto Los Angeles after a short TEFL course (teaching English). From LA I plan to hire a car for a few weeks and explore California.
I am hoping to see Vegas, Death Valley, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon before heading North to one of the national parks and check out the Sierra Nevada range. Any other suggestions?
When I get back to LA I am either going to fly straight home (around mid to late May) or head down south of the border for a while.
As usual with me my plans are still not set in stone but I think a few weeks travel around California will be enough.
Having been in one place for nearly eight months now has actually not made me yearn for travel for the sake of travel like before.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:23 am
You can’t go wrong with Yosemite or Redwood national parks in California. Those are both gorgeous.
And if you’ve got some time while you’re driving, instead of taking the interstate to go from LA to the northern parks, definitely go up US Highway 101, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway.
It’s a highway that goes right along the beach for miles and miles. Tons of small, still small undiscovered beaches on it.
Have fun!
April 17th, 2008 at 7:04 am
There really is too much to see when you start looking into it, and that’s just one state.
No wonder many Americans are happy not to have a passport!
April 18th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Well, Hoover Dam is in Nevada, and the Grand Canyon is in Arizona. If you are going to go to Arizona, there is a lot to see there, too.
Definitely drive up the coast. I don’t know if I would go in the water at any deserted beaches, because they may be deserted because the rips are too bad. I assume you are planning to surf!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
doesn’t sound like you will be in town soon enough but if you are going to be in la by next weekend you should think about driving out to coachella if you are a music fan. http://www.coachella.com/event/lineup
otherwise i second the suggestion to drive up highway 1 from la to san fran, its amazingly beautiful and worth doing at least once (perhaps only once). although its alot better if you are not driving yourself and can look out over the cliffs instead of focusing on the curvey roads.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:23 am
It’s so great having the freedom to decide which way to go - Asia or The Americas. I’m sure it’ll be nice to have a change from Asia and do a bit of exploring across the pond. Is this your first time to the States?
April 21st, 2008 at 3:22 am
If you are into climbing Jerrico National Park is famous - a few hours out of LA from memory. San Diego is my pick of the big cities in CA
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I have been to most of the western parks and tourist attractions, and the most memorable to me were the national parks in Utah. Bryce, Canyonlands, and the rest truly have to be seen to be believed…
While driving north in California on US 1, near Santa Cruz you can detour inland a little through baby (!) redwoods to the Roaring Camp and Big Springs Railroad. Their ancient steam engine and cars came from the logging days, and you can ride through a lush green forest to a cathedral grove… it’s breathtaking!
And check your map for a central California ghost town named Bodie…
If you get to Canada and have the time, do the Rocky Mountaineer Railtour in a dome car through the Rockies. You can get on in Vancouver. You’ll always remember this one…
Have fun - I wish I were able to go with you!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I’m not sure if you are a Radiohead fan, but they are playing throughout the States during May. I’m going to catch them in St. Louis on my way back down to Ecuador!