Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[alex_is_on_fire]

Sounds amazing - was in LA 2 years ago when Oregon beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl and the atmosphere is simply amazing.

Was at a Lakers game the night before and they has the Rose Bowl parade outside the Staples centre.

Las Vegas to San Fransico is 8 1/2 hours. LA to SF is only 6 hours.

Good luck. Sounds awesome.

 

[Tannehill17]

Happy for any feedback on a rough plan for the end of this year:

L.A (5 nights)
Austin, TX (5 nights)
New Orleans (5 nights)
Miami (4 nights)
Chicago (5 nights)
New York (10-14 nights over Xmas period)
Las Vegas (4 nights)
San Francisco (5 nights)

Tried to cut down on internal flights over the "holiday period" which means fitting in New York at that point in time.

Hopefully would be able to get some airbnb accommodation for 4-5 people for the New York leg but still a bit skeptical on the process and making sure the host is reliable.

sounds pretty awesome, if your in the East then i'd recommend a few nights in DC. Love that city was one of my highlights while I was in the States.

 

[NitroFan]

i leave on Thursday and i still havent decided what to do for half of my trip

new orleans april 3 - 9
charlotte april 11 - 15
driving between the two above cities and going to try to sneak in some time at six flags over georgia (atlanta) on the 10th

???


houston apr 24 - 28 (leave usa on 28th)

im attending events in those 3 cities which are pretty much what the trip is based around.

 

[Dirty Bird]

We did want to drive for a portion of the trip. At this stage for we were thinking of driving from Austin to New Orleans via San Antonio and Houston. Not sure what type of a drive it will be though.

The reason for starting in LA as it will be when USC vs UCLA football game will be on at the Rose Bowl which would be great to go to. We were then planning to make it to Austin for the Texas Longhorns vs TCU game. These were our two planned football games and we were trying to work around them.

Vegas to San Fran only 6 hours? Could be a good opportunity to drive again. Thinking we could be pretty spent after Vegas though and might not be up for driving...

Some old friends went to that USC-UCLA game a few years back (2010ish????) I think it was a USC home game though, and one said that the atmosphere was better than they expected and was better than the NFL they went to.
Good kickstart to their trip to as they landed on the day and went straight there I think before moving on elsewhere.

 

[Keys]

Sounds amazing - was in LA 2 years ago when Oregon beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl and the atmosphere is simply amazing.

Was at a Lakers game the night before and they has the Rose Bowl parade outside the Staples centre.

Las Vegas to San Fransico is 8 1/2 hours. LA to SF is only 6 hours.

Good luck. Sounds awesome.

My memory is that LA to SF in 6 hours would be tough given the number of stops you'd want to make along the way to soak up the scenery. Unless you go inland and not through big sur

 

[Iason]

My memory is that LA to SF in 6 hours would be tough given the number of stops you'd want to make along the way to soak up the scenery. Unless you go inland and not through big sur

And you really, really want to go through Big Sur.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

My memory is that LA to SF in 6 hours would be tough given the number of stops you'd want to make along the way to soak up the scenery. Unless you go inland and not through big sur

And you really, really want to go through Big Sur.

The Big Sur?

I don't know what that is. Is that slang for something?

 

[Iason]

The Big Sur?

I don't know what that is. Is that slang for something?

One of the most scenic areas in the entire country, and just incredible to drive through.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

One of the most scenic areas in the entire country, and just incredible to drive through.

From SF to LA?

Cool, will look it up and add that to our drive. Thanks.

 

[Keys]

The Big Sur?

I don't know what that is. Is that slang for something?

Big sur itself is rather small but I, possibly incorrectly, use it to refer to the coastal drive between SF and LA

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Big sur itself is rather small but I, possibly incorrectly, use it to refer to the coastal drive between SF and LA

We are going to fly into LAX and then stop in Santa Barbara for the night before going onto San Fransico.

Will investigate if we should take the coastline or go via Bakersfield.

 

[Keys]

We are going to fly into LAX and then stop in Santa Barbara for the night before going onto San Fransico.

Will investigate if we should take the coastline or go via Bakersfield.

You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you don't go the coastline route.

It is spectacular and can be done in a day (I did it) but I wish I spread it out over at least two days

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you don't go the coastline route.

It is spectacular and can be done in a day (I did it) but I wish I spread it out over at least two days

That's what we are thinking.

Anaheim - Santa Barbra - Santa Maria - Santa Cruz - San Jose - San Fransico.

And do it over 3 or 4 days.

 

[deck]

Did Highway 1 LA to SF over Christmas. All up stopping for Lunch and 1 or 2 stops along the coast and a stop in Santa Cruz for the boardwalk it took about 12 hours all up. I also thought highway 17 between Santa Cruz and San Jose was a nice scenic drive though a bit hectic in peak hour.

 

[Nelso]

The Big Sur?

I don't know what that is. Is that slang for something?

It is in Yosemite

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

It is in Yosemite

Isn't it on the Coast?

Sure others have said it's on the Coast between San Fransico and LA.

Maybe, you are thinking of the Los Padres National Forrest.

 

[Aussie Assault]

Isn't it on the Coast?

Sure others have said it's on the Coast between San Fransico and LA.

Maybe, you are thinking of the Los Padres National Forrest.

Yep its on the coast around the Carmel area. The Big Sur is basically only a small portion of the trip but you can basically drive from Santa Monica to San Francisco without leaving the coast.

Santa Cruz was our best stop, had awesome accommodation that felt like we were right on top of the beach. Awesome viewing to watch the surfers from the cliffs looking over Steamers.

Santa Barbara was pretty cool for a night although we got rather pissed early at a place called the Sandbar I think which had some great Mexican and drink specials, so that's all we really got to see other than the pier area that I can remember. Some of the scenery slightly inland just north of SB is pretty damn nice. Kind of like the high deserts driving to Vegas but with big lakes and more vegetation.

Mavericks big swell is pretty accessible if you're into anything surfing related up around Half Moon Bay basically right on an Air Force base. Its more of a winter thing though.

The drive itself is bloody amazing. I did get sweaty palms a few times being up so high on the edge of a cliff but well worth it. Its comparable to Maui's Road to Hana and as much as I love the Great Ocean Road in Victoria (I live 50m off it), it shits on it.

In LA, these plenty of things that I could go on about, but keep your car and do all the tours yourself. Much more freedom that way. Drive the entire length of Sunset from Malibu's shoreline to Hollywood and just take detours of the side into the hills of Beverly & Bel Air. Big Deans at the base of Santa Monica pier, Pinks Hotdogs & In N Out are the only 3 places you'll need to eat at

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Thanks Aussie Assault

I'm a huge advocate fir having a car as you can do so much more.

 

[Nelso]

Isn't it on the Coast?

Sure others have said it's on the Coast between San Fransico and LA.

Maybe, you are thinking of the Los Padres National Forrest.

Sorry my fault I was thinking of Half Dome

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Sorry my fault I was thinking of Half Dome

That's ok. No harm, no foul.

Just adds another thing to my list that I can investigate. Done Fisherman wharf, Union Square, Lombard Street and pier 39. So something different is always good.

 

[Aussie Assault]

That's ok. No harm, no foul.

Just adds another thing to my list that I can investigate. Done Fisherman wharf, Union Square, Lombard Street and pier 39. So something different is always good.

Eat at Ikes Place in SF. The best sandwich/sub you'll ever eat.

 

[NitroFan]

My favourite thing about america is the pharmaceutical ads that contain a disclaimer about all the awful things this medicine will do (anti depressants that make you more depressed and give you suicidal thoughts? ****ing lol) that runs longer than the positive part of the ad.

 

[stanga]

did LA-Atlanta-Savanah-FortWorth-OK City-Field of Dreams-St Louis-Kentucky-Nashville-Atlanta-LA-Home in 5 weeks driving and had the best time of my life , no touristy things just real salt of the earth people , going back in july for the wifes work for only a week tho but hell thats better than nothing

 

[KrakFiend]

Happy for any feedback on a rough plan for the end of this year:

L.A (5 nights)
Austin, TX (5 nights)
New Orleans (5 nights)
Miami (4 nights)
Chicago (5 nights)
New York (10-14 nights over Xmas period)
Las Vegas (4 nights)
San Francisco (5 nights)

Tried to cut down on internal flights over the "holiday period" which means fitting in New York at that point in time.

Hopefully would be able to get some airbnb accommodation for 4-5 people for the New York leg but still a bit skeptical on the process and making sure the host is reliable.

Can I come?

That's a similar trip to the one I just did:
LA - Austin - New Orleans - Panama City Beach - Boston - New York - Chicago - Las Vegas.

Anyways, from your list I would possibly:

• Cut down days on LA.
• Cut down on New Orleans (my least favourite city, which goes against what a lot of others have said).
• Cut a night off Vegas (the place is amazing but expensive, lol... I barely survived 3 nights).
• Re-invest the extra days in Chicago or even add a stop to Boston. Boston is frigging AWESOME.

I'm sure there are many other places that could be added, that's just from my experience visiting 8 places. So many more I need to hit.

 

[KrakFiend]

Agh I should not have come to this thread. I am suffering from some serious post travel depression

I loved the USA so much, and the people... ahhh the people. So so so so so friendly to us.

I can't think of a better place I have been as an Australian. Everyone is interested in you, ranging from at least mild interest to stop you in the street in amazement and not let you go interested.

By comparison to Australia, Americans seem to love a chat, even with each other. I mean every bus ride I got, there would be a group discussion of some sort going on between the driver and various passengers, with anyone jumping in to add their opinion to the mix. So throw in an Aussie accent, and you have people that will literally stop what they're doing and talk and ask questions and tell stories for as long as you will let them.

And the girls, oh the girls... it isn't exactly like if you have zero game here in AU you can go there and you're all of a sudden pulling 9s and 10s off the street with a simple "G'day mate", not at all. You still have to have some game. And they can be wary of the one night stand thing when they hear it is your last night in their city. But make no mistake, if you have some sort of game here in AU you are going to be upping your standards by 2-3 levels and getting the same results. Probably the only time in my life I have been in with a legit shot at 9s+. It is simply heaven. And you basically can't stuff up your approach. I recall walking up to a group of girls and seeing their body language straight away get defensive, like "omg another drunk guy, get away...". As soon as I talked, every single one of them are interested and drop the attitude. It's up to you from there, but you will have an audience with basically anyone you want.

I am now looking in to transferring to the USA (I work for a USA company), I loved it that much. I want that month to be my life. I want to be special again