Finished planning my trip to the West Coast - check in

[jeromechickenbone]

Have fun on your trip, sounds dope. 

[JAZ]

whats up with the lamborghini dealership?

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

I finished planning my trip to the West Coast (summer 2009) about two weeks ago. I was gonna post my entire trip-schedule but forgot all about it.
So here it is. Feel free to give some feedback/suggestions about anything:

DAY 1: arrival at LAX
   at arrival: go pick up our rental car + drive to our hotel
-   walk on Hollywood Blvd. (Kodak Theatre & Walk of Fame) + Sunset Blvd. perhaps

DAY 2: Los Angeles – Universal Studios
-   Studio Tour + Attraction Park

DAY 3: Los Angeles
-   Melrose Avenue
-   Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive)
-   Hollywood sign
-   Beverly Center

DAY 4: Venice Beach – Santa Monica
-   morning: Venice Beach (Ocean Front Walk)
-   afternoon: Santa Monica (3rd Street Promenade)

DAY 5: Santa Monica
-   beach

DAY 6: Santa Monica – Long Beach – Orange County (Santa Ana)
-   Shopping: CityPlace, LB
-   Lamborghini dealership (Santa Ana, OC)

DAY 7: San Diego
-   Sea World (in the morning)
-   Belmont Park (afternoon)

DAY 8: San Diego
-   Balboa Park (in the morning) (San Diego Zoo)
-   Gaslamp Quarter
-   Restaurant (at night): Bertrand At Mister A’s

DAY 9: San Diego – Grand Canyon National Park (552 miles – 8h drive) (might stop by Palm Springs, not sure yet)
-   arrival at hotel: hotel: http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/el-tovar-409.html

DAY 10: Grand Canyon National Park
-   Grand Canyon National Park
http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

DAY 11: Grand Canyon NP – Bryce Canyon NP (289 miles – 5h30 min. drive)
-   Bryce Canyon NP: http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm
-   Lodging at Bryce Canyon Lodging
-   tour with shuttle bus (route duration: 50 minutes – excluding stops at facilities & overlooks: see website)

DAY 12: Bryce Canyon NP – Las Vegas (261 miles – 4h15 min. drive)
-   arrival athotel (somewhere around noon)
-   hit The Strip
-   visiting hotels/casino's: MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Caesar’s Palace, The Venetian, Bellagio, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Luxor, Wynn Las Vegas
-   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Strip
-   Fremont Street Experience (downtown LV) - at night


DAG 13: Las Vegas – Yosemite NP (380 miles – 7h drive)
-   Hoover Dam (morning)
   Hoover Dam Powerplant Tour ($15)
-   leaving for Yosemite NP in the afternoon

DAG 14: Yosemite Park

DAG 15: Yosemite Park – San Francisco (192 miles – 4h 30 min. drive)
- arrival in SF scheduled around noon
DAG 16: San Francisco
-   Fisherman’s Wharf
-   Chinatown
-   Golden Gate Bridge

DAG 17: San Francisco + departure

Keep in mind that I'm going on this trip with my parents, my brother & my grandmother. So I tried to put something in this trip for all of us.
Btw: I'm likely to skip Day 6 (Long Beach & OC) because the only reason I planned that day was because I wanted to visit the Lambo dealership. However, I sent the dealership an e-mail about two weeks ago in which I asked if it was possible to pay them a visit. I still haven't received an answer. They're probably not too keen on having tourists over there. Understandable, but still a pity.

I was wondering: on Day 9, is it worth it to stop by Palm Springs (grab something to eat perhaps) while we drive from San Diego to Grand Canyon National Park?

One more question: I'd like to stop by a swapmeet to scoop up some cheap Pro Clubs. From what I know swapmeets are located in the 'rougher' areas of LA: Slauson, Compton, etc... Does anyone know of a swapmeet in a relatively 'safe' part of town? Thx!

Doesnt Long Beach have some sick ass Aquarium or somethin?

Bertrand at Mister A's?? Baller...

It will be worth it to stop in Palm Springs to eat, just because youre on a long ass drive. But dont expect much in Palm Springs as far as site seeing or anything. During the summer, it should be a nice cool 110 degrees out there.

[CRAFTY]

I've made some slight changes to my trip-schedule. I've skipped our day at the Universal Studios (because of the fire) and I've dropped the day at Long Beach & Orange County.
I've added an extra day in Vegas and one extra day for Bryce Canyon (with my previous schedule, it was likely we would have to rush through Bryce, which is useless of course. You have to take your time to visit such a park).

I still need to squeeze in a trip to Monument Valley somewhere around Day 8. I'll see what I can do...

Keep the feedback coming.

[Sikotic™]

I live here and I havent seen half those places. Nice trip. Have fun and be safe.

[WestCoasta]

theres a swap meet in West LA, on Lincoln Blvd (sorta near Venice Beach, i forget the exact cross street, but i know its in between Venice Blvd and Rose Blvd)..i forget the name, but its " (something) Fox"  or "Fox (something)"...i havent been there in a long ass time, but its a safe part of town.

my friend lives down the street from Fox Swap Meet

the store is ghetto as fuck, some of the cheapest clothes and jewelry

we used to always fuck with the asian security guard

[daWappla]

I've added an extra day in Vegas and one extra day for Bryce Canyon (with my previous schedule, it was likely we would have to rush through Bryce, which is useless of course. You have to take your time to visit such a park).

I still need to squeeze in a trip to Monument Valley somewhere around Day 8. I'll see what I can do...

Keep the feedback coming.

From my experience you don´t need a whole day for Bryce. Basically this view (http://www.americanroundup.com/Bryce%20Canyon%202.jpg) is what Bryce is all about. Sure, you can go down, and see those "stalagmites" from the bottom but that wasn´t as impressing as the overview. That´s my opinion though. I was lucky enough to arrive at Bryce at sunset and I will never forget it. On the other hand, maybe I missed a lot of things becuse we didn´t have much time for it. Don´t really know.

Monument Valley is impressing though. If you can squeeze it in then go for it.

I know I repeat myself but try to see as much NP´s as possible. (and when you do then don´t forget to get yourself a NP card - a lot of money can be saved with that.)


EDIT: What might be an option for you is Dead Horse Point since it´s in Utah too. From what I remember it doesn´t offer more than a fucking nice overview though.

[smegma]

Why aren't you going to visit Sea World when you're in San Diego?

[CRAFTY]

theres a swap meet in West LA, on Lincoln Blvd (sorta near Venice Beach, i forget the exact cross street, but i know its in between Venice Blvd and Rose Blvd)..i forget the name, but its " (something) Fox"  or "Fox (something)"...i havent been there in a long ass time, but its a safe part of town.

my friend lives down the street from Fox Swap Meet

the store is ghetto as fuck, some of the cheapest clothes and jewelry

we used to always fuck with the asian security guard

Found this through Google:

Fox Indoor Swap Meet. 620 Lincoln Blvd. Hours Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm. Sunday-Thursday 10am-7pm. New merchandise, imports, gifts, souvenirs, used merchandise and lots of junk. (213) 392-3477.

the store is ghetto as fuck, some of the cheapest clothes and jewelry

Two questions:
1) Will they have Pro Clubs at this swapmeet?
2) By "ghetto as fuck" do you mean 'don't expect much from it design-wise' or in the sense of 'don't go there if you don't have to be there'?

[CRAFTY]

Why aren't you going to visit Sea World when you're in San Diego?

? Check Day 7 my friend.

[smegma]

my bad

by the way... does anybody know if Death Valley is worth visiting?

[CRAFTY]

by the way... does anybody know if Death Valley is worth visiting?

http://wikitravel.org/en/Death_Valley

From what I've read on the allesamerika.com message boards, it's something you should pass through if you've got the time and if it isn't out of your way. If you have to make a detour just to go to Death Valley, I heard it's not really worth it.
The allesamerika.com forums are great btw! Have helped me a lot the past few days...

[Elano]

Hey crafty,i suggest you to buy this guide :
http://www.notfortourists.com/losangeles.aspx

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

by the way... does anybody know if Death Valley is worth visiting?

http://wikitravel.org/en/Death_Valley

From what I've read on the allesamerika.com message boards, it's something you should pass through if you've got the time and if it isn't out of your way. If you have to make a detour just to go to Death Valley, I heard it's not really worth it.
The allesamerika.com forums are great btw! Have helped me a lot the past few days...

just remember, youre gonna be there in the summer. The shits gonna be like 120 degrees +. Dont run your AC...