Help with my trip

[bergs14]

Hello ISH Fam. I'm looking for some of your input to my road trip which will be done from 1st May til the end of May. Just asking for some pointers, and if someone else has done a relatively similiar trip...Or some of ISH folk may be residents of the surrounding areas and may be able to assist in nearby 'Things to do'. I'll have a rental car the whole time.

So i'll be driving down from LA to San Diego. Is it worth crossing the border down to Tijuana?

Then Heading toPhoenix. Will be in Scottsdale. Is it worth venturing off in to the downtown area or go elsewhere?


Then Grand Canyon and on to Vegas.

Then to Yosemite (I'll be staying at Curry Viillage. Anyone stayed there?)

Then to San Francisco Staying in Union Square somewhere, think there's only a couple things to do other than Alcatraz/GG Bridge.

Back to LA for a couple of days.

Throw your recommendations at me! Even if it's only for one city, all feedback appreciated!

PS - I'll be staying in each city for 3 days. (Besides Vegas, I'll be there for 5)

:cheers: :cheers:

[highwhey]

Thats one hell of a road trip!

I'm from Phoenix so I can tel you a bit about the area, so can my boy Rondooo.

Totally worth going to TIjuana if you're in the area, stay away from the donkey shows tho..unless you're into that.

As for Scottsdale, downtown or as it's referred to "old town scottsdale" is pretty cool, a lot of stuck up people tho. Pretentious, wealthy types. Phoenix downtown is decent, I'd say you should make the drive to at least look at the suns arena (the diamonbacks baseball stadium is literally like a block away from suns arena as well). Try the mexican food in phoenix, good gastronomy.

Great choice in visiting the Grand Canyon, it is awestrucking and humbles your soul as perspective is brought into your life.

Vegas is great too, I actually met an Aussie visiting the US when i first visited.

Suggestions: it's out of your way, but the sequoia trees in california are also a must see.

[highwhey]

Hello ISH Fam. I'm looking for some of your input to my road trip which will be done from 1st May til the end of May. Just asking for some pointers, and if someone else has done a relatively similiar trip...Or some of ISH folk may be residents of the surrounding areas and may be able to assist in nearby 'Things to do'. I'll have a rental car the whole time.

So i'll be driving down from LA to San Diego. Is it worth crossing the border down to Tijuana?

Then Heading toPhoenix. Will be in Scottsdale. Is it worth venturing off in to the downtown area or go elsewhere?


Then Grand Canyon and on to Vegas.

Then to Yosemite (I'll be staying at Curry Viillage. Anyone stayed there?)

Then to San Francisco Staying in Union Square somewhere, think there's only a couple things to do other than Alcatraz/GG Bridge.

Back to LA for a couple of days.

Throw your recommendations at me! Even if it's only for one city, all feedback appreciated!

PS - I'll be staying in each city for 3 days. (Besides Vegas, I'll be there for 5)

:cheers: :cheers:
Btw, of you want to stay in one area where you can eat and drink alcohol, I recommend "mill ave" in tempe (south of scottsdale and east of Phoenix, probably 15 mins away from where you'll be). Mill ave is a strip of a bunch of restaurants/bars/clubs, there will be a lot of University bros since it's next to the state university but it's a very lively place at night.

Do you like chicken wings??

[CakeorDeath]

Sorry if anything below sounds kind of douchey, not my intention. Just trying to give you honest feedback.

What's the overall point of the trip? Nightlife? Natural scenery? A mix of both? Are you visiting people?

I ask mostly because I'm not sure what the point of going to Phoenix is. Not a great city in my opinion, and by mid May it will be hot AF.

I also wouldn't recommend going to Tijuana. Kinda of cheesy, can be unsafe, and even if you enjoy it you will spend hours upon hours at the border trying to get back in to the U.S. If I were you I'd skip the sh!t out of TJ.

Also, assuming you are doing Vegas to Yosemite by way of I-15 to Barstow/Victorville and then either north by the 395 or through Bakersfield, you should know that large sections of that drive are perhaps the ugliest/most unscenic/most boring in the U.S.

Again, I don't know what your objectives are, but if I were you, I'd do LA to San Diego, San Diego to Vegas, Vegas to Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon to Utah's national parks (Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, or Monument Valley - take your pick or do a couple), and then make your way back to Yosemite either via Southern CA or up through Salt Lake City and then straight West to Reno. Fair warning though: if Las Vegas to Yosemite isn't the most boring drive in America, Salt Lake to Reno is. But if you want to do Yosemite (and it's worth it), you'll have to do one or the other.

[bergs14]

Btw, of you want to stay in one area where you can eat and drink alcohol, I recommend "mill ave" in tempe (south of scottsdale and east of Phoenix, probably 15 mins away from where you'll be). Mill ave is a strip of a bunch of restaurants/bars/clubs, there will be a lot of University bros since it's next to the state university but it's a very lively place at night.

Do you like chicken wings??

Hey man, thanks for the reply. Will definitely check out the Suns stadium, and probably the diamond backs now also, had no idea it was a block away. Love mexican food so will be sure to try that out. Mill ave sounds like my type of scene also. I'm staying at this place called Double Tree resort in Scottsdale, and a quick google search shows me its only 20 min away so that sounds good.

As for chicken wings, I'm not real sure haha. I'm almost positive there would be a massive difference between what I would call chicken wings and what you would call them, but I'm literally open to anything. :cheers:

[Hawker]

Skip LA altogether. It's a shit hole. I've pretty much done that road trip before and I would recommend a stop in Santa Barbara while on the way back from San Francisco to LA. Has to be one of the top 5 best places to live in USA.

Make sure to stay in a few hostels (if you're going on your own). Mix it up with the private rooms you've booked. I'd give Vegas a miss really but you aussies love that shit. I'd give Tijuana and Phoenix a miss as well and do a trip to arches national park in Moab like cakeordeath said.

The phoenix to vegas drive will be nice...I bet you're going to hit a big ass bridge that you had no idea really existed.

[highwhey]

I'm assuming he wants to visit Phoenix because he is a fan of the suns? I did forget to mention that in May it is very hot, not quite as warm as July but it's pretty warm in Phoenix.

[bergs14]

Sorry if anything below sounds kind of douchey, not my intention. Just trying to give you honest feedback.

What's the overall point of the trip? Nightlife? Natural scenery? A mix of both? Are you visiting people?

I ask mostly because I'm not sure what the point of going to Phoenix is. Not a great city in my opinion, and by mid May it will be hot AF.

I also wouldn't recommend going to Tijuana. Kinda of cheesy, can be unsafe, and even if you enjoy it you will spend hours upon hours at the border trying to get back in to the U.S. If I were you I'd skip the sh!t out of TJ.

Also, assuming you are doing Vegas to Yosemite by way of I-15 to Barstow/Victorville and then either north by the 395 or through Bakersfield, you should know that large sections of that drive are perhaps the ugliest/most unscenic/most boring in the U.S.

Again, I don't know what your objectives are, but if I were you, I'd do LA to San Diego, San Diego to Vegas, Vegas to Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon to Utah's national parks (Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, or Monument Valley - take your pick or do a couple), and then make your way back to Yosemite either via Southern CA or up through Salt Lake City and then straight West to Reno. Fair warning though: if Las Vegas to Yosemite isn't the most boring drive in America, Salt Lake to Reno is. But if you want to do Yosemite (and it's worth it), you'll have to do one or the other.


Yeah, I messed up, I definitely should have put at least what the overall point of the trip was. So I'm 26, going with a buddy, and we're just trying to get as much in as we can. So a mixture of everything, sight seeing, but also socialising pubs/clubs etc.

Heard a lot about Tijuana, and it's pretty 50/50. The waiting to get back over the border is enough to turn me off though.

As for Phoenix, aside from being a Suns fan, (And I am aware that they wont be playing in May) It seemed like a good stopover trip to get to the grand canyon. (Only 3.5 hrs) and appeared to be a scenic drive. And then on to Vegas, which we should be arriving at night time, which would be really cool in my opinion.

Now here's something I am not 100% set on, the Vegas to Yosemite drive. I should've asked in my first post, but I forgot.. And that's whether to drive to Death Valley? Is it really worth going there to say I've been to the hottest place on Earth? I understand there's nothing there and all..

I will have a look at Utah's national parks and drive times - I've heard Zion canyon is pretty wonderful. I can't muck around too much because I have reserved accommodation at Yosemite because that place books out really quickly (and from what I can understand, May-June is peak time due to the waterfalls)

[bergs14]

Skip LA altogether. It's a shit hole. I've pretty much done that road trip before and I would recommend a stop in Santa Barbara while on the way back from San Francisco to LA. Has to be one of the top 5 best places to live in USA.

Make sure to stay in a few hostels (if you're going on your own). Mix it up with the private rooms you've booked. I'd give Vegas a miss really but you aussies love that shit. I'd give Tijuana and Phoenix a miss as well and do a trip to arches national park in Moab like cakeordeath said.

The phoenix to vegas drive will be nice...I bet you're going to hit a big ass bridge that you had no idea really existed.


Yeah I've been to LA before, and didn't really go much on it. Just a big city, but I got to see Kobe and the Clippers, so that was fine by me. I've only been to LA, Vegas, and Orlando/Miami, but I flew everywhere.

Will definitely be stopping over at Santa Barbara for a look.

You say you've done a similiar road trip to this one.. Did you do the Big Sur drive from SF to LA? What's your opinion?

I got no idea what this bridge is that you mentioned, but I look forward to it haha.

[CakeorDeath]

As for Phoenix, aside from being a Suns fan, (And I am aware that they wont be playing in May) It seemed like a good stopover trip to get to the grand canyon. (Only 3.5 hrs) and appeared to be a scenic drive.

To me, this is the single biggest thing you have to figure out. The Grand Canyon isn't just a "drive to point X and you're there" type place. There is the north rim, the south rim, and the west entrance. The only thing notable at the west entrance is the skywalk, which is pretty cool but kind of a pain in the ass to get to, and so ultimately it may not be worth it to you. If I were you, I would spend a bunch of time on the internet and figure out what you want to do for your Grand Canyon visit, and from what direction you want to approach the park. If you want the south rim, by all means, go to Phoenix. If you want the north rim, Phoenix would be a gigantic waste of time because it is well out of the way of the north rim. Once you figure out how you want to do the Grand Canyon, do some map-based research to figure out what makes sense.


And then on to Vegas, which we should be arriving at night time, which would be really cool in my opinion.

There isn't really anything in the world quite like to fully lit up Las Vegas strip. A festival for the eyes, for sure. That being said, Vegas is kind of a love it or hate it destination. For some, it's an absolute playground. For others, its a tacky and tawdry waste of time and money. But I will say it is something that should be experienced at least once, if for no other reason than to form your own personal opinion about it.


Now here's something I am not 100% set on, the Vegas to Yosemite drive. I should've asked in my first post, but I forgot.. And that's whether to drive to Death Valley? Is it really worth going there to say I've been to the hottest place on Earth? I understand there's nothing there and all..

Google image it and see what you think. There is literally nothing there, but it is somewhat of a natural wonder and the absence of anything lends a bit of a surreal beauty to it. Like I said though, if you are going to Yosemite by car from the Grand Canyon, the only way to do it is that way or by going up to Salt Lake and then going west to Reno. Both ways are pretty devoid of life and scenery.


I will have a look at Utah's national parks and drive times - I've heard Zion canyon is pretty wonderful. I can't muck around too much because I have reserved accommodation at Yosemite because that place books out really quickly (and from what I can understand, May-June is peak time due to the waterfalls)

If it was my trip, I'd skip Phoenix, do the north rim of the Grand Canyon, spend the time I would have spent in Phoenix in Southern Utah, then make my way to Yosemite. So, LA - San Diego - Vegas - Grand Canyon - Utah - Yosemite. But I'm not sure what you're into, so just research the internet like crazy and feel free to post more questions here.

I've spent 1/3 of my life living in Southern CA and the other 2/3 living in Salt Lake City, so everything in between SLC and LA along I-15 I've done about a million times.

[Hawker]

Yeah I've been to LA before, and didn't really go much on it. Just a big city, but I got to see Kobe and the Clippers, so that was fine by me. I've only been to LA, Vegas, and Orlando/Miami, but I flew everywhere.

Will definitely be stopping over at Santa Barbara for a look.

You say you've done a similiar road trip to this one.. Did you do the Big Sur drive from SF to LA? What's your opinion?

I got no idea what this bridge is that you mentioned, but I look forward to it haha.



Just make sure you cross the neveda/arizona border when you drive to las vegas and not the california/arizona border and then the california/nevada border.

I never did Big sur but I've done Bakersfield to San Diego then San Diego to Santa Barbara and then to San Francisco and then back to Bakersfield. I then drove from bakersfield to Las Vegas and then to phoenix and back to Houston.

[CakeorDeath]

You say you've done a similiar road trip to this one.. Did you do the Big Sur drive from SF to LA? What's your opinion?

I got no idea what this bridge is that you mentioned, but I look forward to it haha.

Highway 1 from SF to Santa Barbara is awesome. Super cool drive. A few points of interest on the way as well, if you feel like a bit of sight seeing. The world class Monterrey Aquarium and Hearst Castle at San Simeon are a few options. If you end up going to the castle, watch Citizen Kane first. It'll set the appropriate mood.

As for the bridge, it's awesome. Might make your balls shrink if you are scared of heights though :D

[bergs14]

Well if you are staying at the doubletree, you will be pretty close to old town scottsdale, where most the bars/clubs are. In the red circle is where most all the bars/clubs are at, then at the other side of scottsdale road is shopping and food.


Since it will be may and pretty warm, I would suggest maybe going to the W hotel and going to a pool party there. Pool parties there are always pretty lit.

Like Highwhey said, mill ave is a good stretch of bars, and it is right next to ASU so it is a big college crowd, with a lot of good lookin girls ha.

The suns stadium and D-backs stadium are in a pretty good part of town, there are some good bars and restaurants in that area, so it wouldnt be a bad idea.

If you are going to be here for three days, I would say do each place one day. There really isnt anything to sight see in that area, so I would say just socialize while you are in scottsdale. Eat good food and meet some good lookin women, american girls love accents so im sure you wont have a hard time at all :lol


Thanks for the feedback. Will definitely be putting a thick accent on haha

[bergs14]

Also, assuming you are doing Vegas to Yosemite by way of I-15 to Barstow/Victorville and then either north by the 395 or through Bakersfield, you should know that large sections of that drive are perhaps the ugliest/most unscenic/most boring in the U.S.


I looked up what route I was taking, and yeah, you're right, I'm doing the I-15 and then north by 395. Don't know where I messed up, but in my notepad, I'd allowed 5hrs from Vegas to Yos. It will take no less than 8 hrs apparently :lol I must of misread or misspelled when I first looked.. But damn. I know you said the drive is boring, but is 8 hrs a fair estimate? and is bakersfield worth looking at or anything on that drive worth calling in and having a look? I done a bit of googling and looks pretty crap...which you already touched on.

[nathanjizzle]

congratulations.