2022 travel plans

[maureeng]

Heading off to Usa next month. LA, Palm Springs, Prescott AZ, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Aspen, Laramie, Cheyenne, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, Custer, Cody, Yellowstone, Jackson and Tetons, Twin Falls Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Napa, SFO, then coast road back to LA over 3 days then Maui and finally Honolulu. Big trip and can’t wait as been grounded for over 2 years . Any recommendations will be appreciated

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Some countries still need a PCR test to enter for a visit, NZ for one.
Aud$140 in Adelaide, if the reason is for overseas travel, for NZ this puts me off going there for the snow in this July.
Will make a coming back trip, BNE - ADL probably with QF for July, already booked a $364 in VA J for July school holidays.
Paws crossed I don't get cancelled on!
VA asking for $364 (edit: thought booking with FB travel would include fees, but no, no fees), so $361 for ADL - BNE, QF asking for $853 or so.
Will probably pay that, just to try out the BNE QFd J lounge.

 

[Flashback]

Heading off to Usa next month. LA, Palm Springs, Prescott AZ, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Aspen, Laramie, Cheyenne, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, Custer, Cody, Yellowstone, Jackson and Tetons, Twin Falls Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Napa, SFO, then coast road back to LA over 3 days then Maui and finally Honolulu. Big trip and can’t wait as been grounded for over 2 years . Any recommendations will be appreciated

My cousin owns a house in 3 of those locations - they spread their time out around them over the year. What kind of recommendations are you after? Sightseeing? Food?

 

[Scr77]

Heading off to Usa next month. LA, Palm Springs, Prescott AZ, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Aspen, Laramie, Cheyenne, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, Custer, Cody, Yellowstone, Jackson and Tetons, Twin Falls Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Napa, SFO, then coast road back to LA over 3 days then Maui and finally Honolulu. Big trip and can’t wait as been grounded for over 2 years . Any recommendations will be appreciated

Definitely allow some time for sightseeing/hiking around Moab, Utah. And the needles at canyonlands national park. Will be on your way after monument valley.

 

[maureeng]

My cousin owns a house in 3 of those locations - they spread their time out around them over the year. What kind of recommendations are you after? Sightseeing? Food?

My cousin owns a house in 3 of those locations - they spread their time out around them over the year. What kind of recommendations are you after? Sightseeing? Food?

Things we shouldn’t miss also restaurant recommendations and where to stay in Wyoming as haven’t booked accom there yet.

 

[Flashback]

Things we shouldn’t miss also restaurant recommendations and where to stay in Wyoming as haven’t booked accom there yet.

It's probably worth buying the annual national parks pass, you should get value out of it. Would be worth going to Joshua Tree NP from Palm Springs, allow half a day (minimum) for that.

Lulu California Bistro in PSP is good.

In Lake Tahoe, Bert's Café is a solid breakfast option.

In SFO, it really depends where you're staying. Alamo Square is good to get a photo of the painted ladies. Restaurant wise Harvey's in to Castro district is pretty good and of course across California you've got good old In-N-Out Burger - don't forget the secret menu. As to something to do that's a little more unique....... they have the Antique Vibrator Museum in downtown SFO too.

 

[Scr77]

Things we shouldn’t miss also restaurant recommendations and where to stay in Wyoming as haven’t booked accom there yet.

There’s a website that shows USA manufacturers that do tours. ie Boeing, Fender musical instruments, intel etc.

 

[drron]

An Annual NP pass will save you heaps where you are going. There is a Seniors Annual pass for $US20 Used to be $10 when we travelled. Is meant to be for US citizens or Permanent residents but we were able to get it through AARP. Need to be over 62. In subsequent years we showed our previous NP pass at the first park we visited and never got questioned re being a citizen.
The ordinary NP annual pass is $US80 but can be used in many other places besides NPs.

 

[woodyren]

Off to Singapore on Monday for the first of our OS travels since the pandemic began. 3 days in Singapore and then 18 on Spectrum OTS doing circles at an as yet unknown part of the Ocean.

Chemist Warehouse pre departure RAT just completed as well as the Singapore arrival health declaration. One more local supervised RAT to be done on boarding day next Thursday.

 

[maureeng]

An Annual NP pass will save you heaps where you are going. There is a Seniors Annual pass for $US20 Used to be $10 when we travelled. Is meant to be for US citizens or Permanent residents but we were able to get it through AARP. Need to be over 62. In subsequent years we showed our previous NP pass at the first park we visited and never got questioned re being a citizen.
The ordinary NP annual pass is $US80 but can be used in many other places besides NPs.

We will get the pass thanks.

 

[Townsend]

Heading off to Usa next month. LA, Palm Springs, Prescott AZ, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Aspen, Laramie, Cheyenne, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, Custer, Cody, Yellowstone, Jackson and Tetons, Twin Falls Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Napa, SFO, then coast road back to LA over 3 days then Maui and finally Honolulu. Big trip and can’t wait as been grounded for over 2 years . Any recommendations will be appreciated

Great trip! We had a fun dinner at a wine bar in Cody. Sat next to a farmer who had a huge stetson on, and who talked all night!

If you decide to stop near Palm Springs, may I suggest Frontiertown in Joshua Tree National park. Not luxurious but great fun with a terrific bar with live music. We loved it.

Jackson Hole has a huge number of restaurants. We haven’t been there for a few years but Rendezvous Bistro was always a favourite with the locals. Not a great place for dinner but you must go to the Cowboy bar for a beer ( do not buy wine as it is way to expensive!)

Monument Valley is one of our favourite places on earth but the restaurant at the motel is terrible. If you are staying there, and the motel is good, take drinks and antipasto for dinner, sit on the verandah and be stunned by the view!

Very jealous! Try and do the walk where Custer’s last stand was. You will come away feeling very impressed with the Indians!

 

[maureeng]

Great trip! We had a fun dinner at a wine bar in Cody. Sat next to a farmer who had a huge stetson on, and who talked all night!

If you decide to stop near Palm Springs, may I suggest Frontiertown in Joshua Tree National park. Not luxurious but great fun with a terrific bar with live music. We loved it.

Jackson Hole has a huge number of restaurants. We haven’t been there for a few years but Rendezvous Bistro was always a favourite with the locals. Not a great place for dinner but you must go to the Cowboy bar for a beer ( do not buy wine as it is way to expensive!)

Monument Valley is one of our favourite places on earth but the restaurant at the motel is terrible. If you are staying there, and the motel is good, take drinks and antipasto for dinner, sit on the verandah and be stunned by the view!

Very jealous! Try and do the walk where Custer’s last stand was. You will come away feeling very impressed with the Indians!

 

[maureeng]

thanks for the tips. We are staying at The View-hotel in Monument Valley. Will take your advice and pick up nibbles on the way. Can we take alcohol as would like to have a glass of champagne on the balcony at sunset . Will go to Custers last stand too. Thanks again .

 

[luxury-lizard]

thanks for the tips. We are staying at The View-hotel in Monument Valley. Will take your advice and pick up nibbles on the way. Can we take alcohol as would like to have a glass of champagne on the balcony at sunset . Will go to Custers last stand too. Thanks again .

Mr LL and I did a big trip to many to the national parks you plan to visit and a few more. Two important recommendations - book accommodation either close to or in the park ASAP - they book out 12 months in advance and book restaurant reservations well in advance - we ended up eating home made sandwiches in our room on our first night in Yellowstone as we did not realise you needed to pre-book restaurants. A portable esky is great to have - bring drinks, snacks, sandwich makings.

 

[Townsend]

thanks for the tips. We are staying at The View-hotel in Monument Valley. Will take your advice and pick up nibbles on the way. Can we take alcohol as would like to have a glass of champagne on the balcony at sunset . Will go to Custers last stand too. Thanks again .

Yes you can if you drink it in your room, or on your verandah. Lovely place for a late afternoon drink. Would recommend going for an early morning walk around the Mittens

 

[maureeng]

Mr LL and I did a big trip to many to the national parks you plan to visit and a few more. Two important recommendations - book accommodation either close to or in the park ASAP - they book out 12 months in advance and book restaurant reservations well in advance - we ended up eating home made sandwiches in our room on our first night in Yellowstone as we did not realise you needed to pre-book restaurants. A portable esky is great to have - bring drinks, snacks, sandwich makings.

Thank you. Will hook Yellowstone restaurant now. Already booked a few restaurants. Will buy a small esky in LA.

 

[maureeng]

Thank you. Will hook Yellowstone restaurant now. Already booked a few restaurants. Will buy a small esky in LA.

Just called and booked Old Faithful Inn to stay and have dinner and got in for both

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2022

Yes you can if you drink it in your room, or on your verandah. Lovely place for a late afternoon drink. Would recommend going for an early morning walk around the Mittens

Thank you Will do

 

[kookaburra75]

Heading off to Usa next month. LA, Palm Springs, Prescott AZ, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Aspen, Laramie, Cheyenne, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, Custer, Cody, Yellowstone, Jackson and Tetons, Twin Falls Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Napa, SFO, then coast road back to LA over 3 days then Maui and finally Honolulu. Big trip and can’t wait as been grounded for over 2 years . Any recommendations will be appreciated

MrsK and I did a much smaller version of your road trip a few years ago, driving the old coast road from LA to SFO.

In SFO we stayed at the Union Street Inn, which is in the middle of Cow Hollow and has a stack of bars and restaurants in that area. It's an old fashioned three storey timber house, that has a different vibe to a hotel. There's also a parking station a couple of hundred metres away which had a discount deal for parking. We visited more than a few bars, including Rose's Italian, and the Balboa Bar & Cafe.

UNION STREET INN: 2023 Prices & Reviews (San Francisco, CA) - Photos of B&B - Tripadvisor

Book Union Street Inn, San Francisco on Tripadvisor: See 644 traveller reviews, 310 candid photos, and great deals for Union Street Inn, ranked #2 of 79 B&Bs / inns in San Francisco and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

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BSF

www.balboacafesf.com

Rose's Cafe | 2298 Union Street, San Fransico

While we were there, we bought a day pass for the public transport, which included the buses and trains, although you pay extra for the cable car. On the vintage tram route near the harbour, they have a range of trams/railcars from the 1930s, including one from Melbourne.

On the way from LA to SFO, we stayed in San Luis Obispo - which is a real foodie and wine centre, and also in Monterey. Three days is a good amount of time to take in the old road, as there are a lot of good places to pull up and have lunch, and just cruise along.

Looking forward to your trip report.

 

[coriander]

Unashamed tram- train tragic, so I'll offer SFO and Northern California recommendations from that biased point of view. I've visited SFO about 20 times since 1978 and it's my favourite city in the US though NY is a close second).

Our favourite hotel is the "Inn at Union Square" on Post Street a couple of doors from Powell Street and Union Square (Saks Fifth Avenue, Macys, Tiffany, Gap, Victoria Secrets etc). The cable car stop is at Post/Powell and you are far more likely to get on a cable car than attempting to join the car down the hill at the Market Street terminus; the wait line there can be 60 minutes. Cable cars leave the terminus with a few spare spots (usually to hang on outside) and there's never a queue to board at Post.

Whilst on the topic of cable cars, be aware that a single ride is $8 - no transfers, no hop-on hop-off. Yet I see (gullible) tourists pay this fare over and over again. You really need to purchase a 1,3 or 7-day Visitor Passport which gives you unlimited travel on all Muni vehicles -bus, trolley bus, trams (streetcars in US parlance), light rail AND CABLE CARS. It's available on your smart device (check out Muni Mobile) or as a paper passport. Fares are $13/$24, $31/$36, $41/$47 for 1/3/7 days on Muni Mobile/Paper.

The Visitor Passport is unlimited which mean you CAN hop-on hop-off where ever you like so you can see it's outstandingly good value for money. We would regularly commute back and forth from Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square or go cable car one way and F-line historic streetcars Embarcadero-Market at Powell the other way. The cable car museum and power house is also worth a visit. You really don't need a car in SFO as all the sites are easily accessed by public transport.

A filling breakfast can be enjoyed at Hollywood Cafe (one block towards Fisherman's Wharf from the Mason-Powell cable car terminus).

Brilliant seafood lunch at the Hog Island Oyster Company inside the Ferry Building - oysters (of course!) shucked right in front of you, clam chowder (of course), and a brilliant, filling sensational "rustic seafood stew" that makes my taste buds tingle and mouth water just typing its name.

Also in the Ferry Building is Blue Bottle - a coffee shop that makes decent coffees (a rarity as the US seems to do their best to destroy one's taste for coffee with that brown sludge they serve up in hotels and restaurants). I complimented the barista on my cafe latte remarking how hard it was to get a decent coffee in SFO: he replied he'd spent two years in Lygon Street learning his craft!

Alcatraz is a must (my kids remarked how realistic Alcatraz was compared to the Tony Hawke Pro Skater game they'd been playing at home on their Playstations and knew their way around the prison perfectly).

Also take a ferry across to the lovely little town of Sausalito. Opposite the carpark and ferry terminal on the main drag and opposite a pedestrian crossing is a small hole-in-the-wall hamburger joint that serves the most juicy, flavoursome hamburgers cooked on a rotating grill in the window. Mrs C found it back in 1984 whilst I was at a conference in SFO and dragged me across the Bay to sample their burgers - she said she'd watched the local police and postman all pull up and order their burgers there so figured they have to be good. We make a point of having a burger there every time we visit SFO (it's much better than that other AFF favourite In-n-Out on Jefferson at Fisherman's Wharf). Order your burgers (usually a queue out the door) and sit in the park to eat them - on your Spotify app play "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding (written by him about Sausalito in the late 60s and released after his death in a plane crash) to complete a most memorable visit.

I'm pleased to see you'll drive the Cabrillo Highway from north to south (I think it's a better option than south-north) - it makes diving off the road and parking at every photo location so much easier. The Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad near Santa Cruz is a lovely train trip up into the Redwoods if you haven't allowed time in SFO to go to Muir Woods for example.

Monterey, Bixby Bridge and Big Sur - see Monterey report link in my signature (report came to sudden halt as I was unable to upload ant further photos as I had hit my limit - must've been when I was a newbie report writer). What I would have added in the report was a visit to the Monterey Bay aquarium in Cannery Row in Monterey (yes, there's a sculpture of John Steinbeck on Cannery Row which is now a much more upmarket tourist hub than John Steinbeck's depression era setting ever envisaged). I found the "Open Sea" exhibit the most remarkable - a huge 25m high glass walled aquarium with schools of tuna, sharks and a massive sunfish. The jellyfish exhibit, the kelp forest, the seals were all awesome as well. I even got to pat a stingray!

About two hours south of Monterey is Hearst Castle near the township of San Simeon, well worth a visit on your journey to LA. Named after Randolf Hearst the publishing magnate it's an example ofWest Coast over-the-top excess and extravagant wealth that characterised the magnates of the early 20th Century and their need to outdo each other (like the east coast's Vizcaya Museum in Miami or Flagler Museum in Palm Beach).

I'll add more as I think of it.

 

[maureeng]

Unashamed tram- train tragic, so I'll offer SFO and Northern California recommendations from that biased point of view. I've visited SFO about 20 times since 1978 and it's my favourite city in the US though NY is a close second).

Our favourite hotel is the "Inn at Union Square" on Post Street a couple of doors from Powell Street and Union Square (Saks Fifth Avenue, Macys, Tiffany, Gap, Victoria Secrets etc). The cable car stop is at Post/Powell and you are far more likely to get on a cable car than attempting to join the car down the hill at the Market Street terminus; the wait line there can be 60 minutes. Cable cars leave the terminus with a few spare spots (usually to hang on outside) and there's never a queue to board at Post.

Whilst on the topic of cable cars, be aware that a single ride is $8 - no transfers, no hop-on hop-off. Yet I see (gullible) tourists pay this fare over and over again. You really need to purchase a 1,3 or 7-day Visitor Passport which gives you unlimited travel on all Muni vehicles -bus, trolley bus, trams (streetcars in US parlance), light rail AND CABLE CARS. It's available on your smart device (check out Muni Mobile) or as a paper passport. Fares are $13/$24, $31/$36, $41/$47 for 1/3/7 days on Muni Mobile/Paper.

The Visitor Passport is unlimited which mean you CAN hop-on hop-off where ever you like so you can see it's outstandingly good value for money. We would regularly commute back and forth from Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square or go cable car one way and F-line historic streetcars Embarcadero-Market at Powell the other way. The cable car museum and power house is also worth a visit. You really don't need a car in SFO as all the sites are easily accessed by public transport.

A filling breakfast can be enjoyed at Hollywood Cafe (one block towards Fisherman's Wharf from the Mason-Powell cable car terminus).

Brilliant seafood lunch at the Hog Island Oyster Company inside the Ferry Building - oysters (of course!) shucked right in front of you, clam chowder (of course), and a brilliant, filling sensational "rustic seafood stew" that makes my taste buds tingle and mouth water just typing its name.

Also in the Ferry Building is Blue Bottle - a coffee shop that makes decent coffees (a rarity as the US seems to do their best to destroy one's taste for coffee with that brown sludge they serve up in hotels and restaurants). I complimented the barista on my cafe latte remarking how hard it was to get a decent coffee in SFO: he replied he'd spent two years in Lygon Street learning his craft!

Alcatraz is a must (my kids remarked how realistic Alcatraz was compared to the Tony Hawke Pro Skater game they'd been playing at home on their Playstations and knew their way around the prison perfectly).

Also take a ferry across to the lovely little town of Sausalito. Opposite the carpark and ferry terminal on the main drag and opposite a pedestrian crossing is a small hole-in-the-wall hamburger joint that serves the most juicy, flavoursome hamburgers cooked on a rotating grill in the window. Mrs C found it back in 1984 whilst I was at a conference in SFO and dragged me across the Bay to sample their burgers - she said she'd watched the local police and postman all pull up and order their burgers there so figured they have to be good. We make a point of having a burger there every time we visit SFO (it's much better than that other AFF favourite In-n-Out on Jefferson at Fisherman's Wharf). Order your burgers (usually a queue out the door) and sit in the park to eat them - on your Spotify app play "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding (written by him about Sausalito in the late 60s and released after his death in a plane crash) to complete a most memorable visit.

I'm pleased to see you'll drive the Cabrillo Highway from north to south (I think it's a better option than south-north) - it makes diving off the road and parking at every photo location so much easier. The Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad near Santa Cruz is a lovely train trip up into the Redwoods if you haven't allowed time in SFO to go to Muir Woods for example.

Monterey, Bixby Bridge and Big Sur - see Monterey report link in my signature (report came to sudden halt as I was unable to upload ant further photos as I had hit my limit - must've been when I was a newbie report writer). What I would have added in the report was a visit to the Monterey Bay aquarium in Cannery Row in Monterey (yes, there's a sculpture of John Steinbeck on Cannery Row which is now a much more upmarket tourist hub than John Steinbeck's depression era setting ever envisaged). I found the "Open Sea" exhibit the most remarkable - a huge 25m high glass walled aquarium with schools of tuna, sharks and a massive sunfish. The jellyfish exhibit, the kelp forest, the seals were all awesome as well. I even got to pat a stingray!

About two hours south of Monterey is Hearst Castle near the township of San Simeon, well worth a visit on your journey to LA. Named after Randolf Hearst the publishing magnate it's an example ofWest Coast over-the-top excess and extravagant wealth that characterised the magnates of the early 20th Century and their need to outdo each other (like the east coast's Vizcaya Museum in Miami or Flagler Museum in Palm Beach).

I'll add more as I think of it.

Fabulous. Have taken note of all your suggestions and will do all of them. Husband loves a good burger and I love seafood . Thanks so much for all your recommendations. Much appreciated. Originally we were going to go in the opposite direction but as there was a music festival at Napa the accomodation was pretty much booked out so going reverse. Booking Alcatraz tickets now