When a delayed flight forces you to take an overnight stop in NY and the hotel room is filthy, it is best to skip sleeping and to explore the city that never sleeps. In one night you can enjoy the brighter than daylight Times square, pass by the Empire State building and the Rockefeller center, imagine yourself shopping at the 5th avenue, enjoy a burger at Hard rock café and party at the meat packer district till the sun comes up again.
Trip Overview
Highlights & Details
Hotel Nights
The Mosser
A boutique Hotel in the center of San Francisco. In an old victorian building this hotel offers you small and cozy rooms with a unique feeling of San Francisco.
> Explore this Hotel
The Eagle Inn
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Best Breakfast with Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel. We recommend you arriving early in the morning to get the private space on the small balcony with the sun shining in your face.
> Explore this Hotel
Se San Diego
Unfortunately this wonderful hotel is closed today – but there is a new one at the same location: Palomar Hotel. Modern and stylish pool area. It’s a wonderful area near to the Gaslamp Quarter for a stay of a few days in San Diego.
> Explore this Hotel
Cameron Trading Post Lodge
If you would book earlier than we did, you’ll probably find an accomodation inside the Grand Canyon NP. There are only a few hotels inside, the Cameron Trading Post Lodge is close to the Gates and a good alternative.
> Explore this Hotel
Quality Inn
In the Zion NP on the way to the Bryce Canyon you find this rural and basic hotel for a night or two. It’s unspectacular but nice in the beauty of the surrounding Nature. There are some nice dining restaurants around.
> Explore this Hotel
Aria Resort
One of the most spectacular rooms we ever had. Welcoming by a lightshow and the opening curtains which give you a view over the main strip of Las Vegas and you are blown away. The hotel has everything you need: Pool Area, Casino, Restaurants, Bars and more. And the best part – even the very luxury hotels are so affordable in Las Vegas!
> Explore this Resort
Hyatt @Fisherman’s Wharf
Central located hotel in San Francisco in walking distance to the famous Fisherman’s Wharf where you can spend your eveninigs fine dining sea food. For rainy days the hotel whirlpool is a nice attraction if the winds are too freezing cold in SF,
> Explore this Hotel
Transportation
Zurich – San Francisco
San Francisco – Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara – L.A.
Tipp: with traffic jam calculate a lot more time for this travel.
L.A. – San Diego
San Diego – Grand Canyon
Tipp: Calculate with some stopps for drinks and food
Grand Canyon – Monument Valley
Monument Valley – Zion NP
Springdale – Las Vegas
Las Vegas – Yosemite NP
We missed Death Valley due to our Navigation System
Yosemite NP – San Francisco
Activities
San Francisco
Route N°1
Beach @Santa Barbara
Fun in L.A.
San Diego
Grand Canyon NP
Tipp: It’s very hot, you need a lot of water and enough food
Monument Valley
Horseshoe Bend
Bryce Canyon NP
Las Vegas
Yosemite NP
Go top
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US West Coast
Stop over in NYC
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US West Coast
Up and down in San Francisco
“The coldest winter I ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco”. Even though this quote is not from Mark Twain as many believe, it has a basis in reality. The cold wind makes you shiver while riding up and down with the antique cable car, but latest when visiting the picturesque Pink Ladies, you realize that you nevertheless burned your face. Crossing the famous Golden Gate bridge, enjoying a clam chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf and imprison yourself at infamous Alcatraz are just some of this cities amazing highlights.
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US West Coast
A long the way of Highway N°1
For sure one of the world’s most scenic highways. A beautiful coastline and spectacular bridges but one element beats them all – Sea Elephants. What unreal, monstrous but fascinating creatures crawling from the sea to the shore. It is unfair to say that an animal disgusts you but when they sneeze it is pretty hard to find that compelling.
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US West Coast
Santa Barbara &
Malibu Beach
On your way south you cross a truly unique little town – Carmel-by-the-Sea. It is home to many creative people and that is probably one of the reasons why it looks like they all live in gingerbread houses. Unfortunatly it is not documented if Clint Eastwood also lived in one of those houses during the time he was the major of the city.
Further on your trip you enter the beautiful city of Santa Barbara. It inhabits a lot of mexican feeling and has just the perfect size, beach and atmosphere to stay for a few days.
When continuing on Highway Nr. 1 you reach Malibu Beach home to many TV stars and itself a star in shows like Baywatch or Two and a half men.
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US West Coast
Stars & Strips in L.A.
A highway with some houses alongside is a description of LA which is not completely wrong. But one of its suburbs is also the center of the American movie production – Hollywood. There is the famous Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre and of course the Universal Studios. Even though Hollywood is not the center of the world anymore when it comes to films, it still plays an important role and when it comes to movie history it is still the best place to go.
Besides many other things L.A. is also home to one of the most spectacular amusement parks in the world – 6 flags magic mountain. We simply recommend not to go there with a huge hangover – just saying.
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US West Coast
Stop Over in San Diego
Even though criticized from many sides because of their dolphin and orca shows, SeaWorld is worth the trip. Because what you see in those aquariums is simply outstanding.
At the same time San Diego is also famous for its Zoo which covers a variety of animals rarely seen in any other place.
These two parks alone are worth the trip but unfortunately people then sometimes forget about the city itself. This is particularly sad as it seems to be one of the cities with the highest quality of life all over the U.S.
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US West Coast
Hiking the Grand Canyon
The 10h drive is an event itself. You’re driving straight through a desert of sand and stones and its ever changing colors lull you in. After taking over several dozens of RVs you finally arrive at the biggest crack in the world – the Grand Canyon.
Hiking down the Bright Angel Trail until you finally reach the lowest point is for sure not the worst way to spend a day but make sure you protect your head and don’t skip one of the water stations as you may otherwise spend a less pleasant evening.
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US West Coast
Driving Adventure Monument Valley
In so many wild west movies this landscape has been the secret main character and now you are finally driving through it. Having a SUV definitely is a smart choice when driving on sandy roads by those majestic giants.
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US West Coast
Zion NP & Horseshoe Bend
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US West Coast
A view over Bryce Canyon
A long your way to Bryce Canyon you pass by the Horseshoe Bend which is absolutely fascinating and certainly worth standing the heat.
Zion national park and Bryce Canyon are two other remarkable parks. In case we had to chose between Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon we would have gone for the later. Its hikes are beautiful and diverse and will not bore you for a second.
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US West Coast
Vegas, Baby!
Vegas is a must see. The city is intriguing with all its casinos, shopping centers, parties, shows and restaurants. But it is also fake. It has a fake Venice, a fake New York, a fake Paris, a fake Rome etc. So, in the end, the strip is simply a big amusement park for adults.
For some it’s the amusement park and they will always come back, for others it is just a fascinating one-time experience.
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US West Coast
Nature Experience at Yosemite NP
What a change. After fascinating but fake Vegas it feels great to go back to nature again. Crossing the Death Valley is definitely an experience, especially when you are running low on gas.
After surviving that, Yosemite National park rewards you with some of the purest rivers, trees and mountains you have ever seen. It is so pure that smokers are sent to the parking lot while the healthy have to choose between clumsy burgers and greasy pizza. But taking a hike or a ride with the kayak the next day will make you lose those extra calories.
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US West Coast
San Francisco –
Island of Prisoners
