California

[Panda Eyes]

3 weeks and counting! 

 

Have since organised some activities for while we're there:

 

Going to Universal studios Hollywood & Disneyland obviously while in LA area.

Also booked a cheesy Hollywood open top bus tour to the stars homes etc. Didn't feel I could go that way and miss out on that...

 

We're going to see a ball game in Dodgers stadium one night (dodgers vs Arizona diamondbacks)-  got to do the whole flat beer/ cold hot-dog thing.... 18yo daughter said she'll go for whoever has the coolest looking cap to buy.  solid strategy...

Seeing Cirque Du Soleil 'Michael Jackson 'One'' in Mandalay Bay casino in Vegas. Will also do a day trip to see some desert around Vegas: Red Rock Canyon/ Hoover Dam etc. 

Heading to Page in east grand canyon to do a Colorado river rafting trip while in GC area. 

Alcatraz night tour, and cycling across Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito then ferrying back across, plus trolley cars while in SF.

 

looking forward to it- I'll likely need to come home for a rest like is often the case with this type of holiday...

[Rab]

2 minutes ago, Panda Eyes said:

3 weeks and counting! 

Now that sounds awesome

 

You should join us this weekend to tell us more

[EvilDaifu]

Mate you can borrow my USA Lonely Planet if you have not got one yet.  But to be honest - you prolly won't need it now and it does weigh a ton after awhile.  Your all set from what I can see - I bought mine across a few times but used the Internet more than the Lonely Planet.  Cash is king but generally used my Amex everywhere (yeah no stigma or extra charge with Amex in the good ol US of A - its just like using Mastercard or Visa over there).  Even for small purchases like gum and stuff - just use your credit card - its insane.  But if you want cash - easiest is ATMs.  Try to do some research ahead of time and find out which ATMs allow withdraws with least cost - they will always charge something but some can really sting you with their charges.  Forget thinking you can walk into any bank to change Aussie into Greenbacks - you need to have a bank account to do that in most town banks and to have a bank account you need to be a resident and there are generally monthly fees - but I'm not 100% sure cos I never went that far to open a bank account.  Best to find a proper money changer in a Mall somewhere and change money there.  Problem is you have to find that Money changer - there not as common as banks.  Generally its a flat fee which at least helps.

 

May be to late now - but if you have Hertz Gold (free here in Australia) you get free full insurance cover in Hertz over the US and you get a separate building to goto.  Don't underestimate the full insurance cover as they are pretty litigious I hear and when you are Gold in US - there really is a difference from those that just walk up.

 

night 1,2,3: Los angeles (hollywood)
[Definitely reserve 2 days for Universal if you can - when you get there and buy the day ticket I think we could go again 2nd time for free which was definitely needed cos it's so BBBIIIIGGG.  The Simpson ride is way cool - but I see you have older kids than when we did it.  So is the visit through the old movie sets back of the studios - from memory you can take little trolley train to do it..  If you have a car maybe check out the Premium Outlets.  When ever I go I usually go over with 2 suit cases and one is completely empty.  If your misses lurves shopping she ought to like the Premium Outlets.   They can be a little pricey some places and the exchange rate does not help - but the quality of the clothing is much better in my opinion and you can still pick up bargins -bought 3 Ralph Lauren jeans for US $10 each that fit me exactly without shortening - bargain.  I actually found the shopping in Rome better though - those Italians really know style    Don't forget to try genuine Maccas - sooo much better than anywhere else on Earth  ]

night 4,5,6: anaheim (disneyland)
[I had intended to go but never went inside - just drove by to at least see the front - it's impressive from the outside.  If you tire of Disneyland you can always have a litle drive through along no. 2 Road thorugh Angeles National Park north of LA - here's a vid of the Dodge Challenger I took through there in 2015   

] 

then picking up a nissan maxima (premium car)

night 7,8,9: Las Vegas

night 10,11,12: Grand canyon

night 13,14: Sequoia national park

[Yosemite National Park is fantastic - Americans really know how to camp in luxury as someone else also said.  The drive out to it is really good as well - nice an twisty.  I stayed at the Curry Village (named after Mr Curry who setup some campsites there I think) in tent over night but it was more than $25 - I paid about $100 for 1 night there.  Don't leave food outside as the bears come around rummaging sometimes so they have special metal lockable food safe boxes outside the tents.  I did drive though a big red wood forest park near Yosemite - farrkk me they are sooo impressive - huge huge trees - definitely worth a visit.]

night 15: barstow (just a break to shorten the drive)

night 16,17,18: San Francisco (dropping the car off when we get o SF)

[Looks like you ticked off 2 big attractions there - Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge (which is actually red).  Leave about 3-4 hrs for Alcatraz.  it is soooo eerrie.  I did it during the day and the bay views are glorious.  I walked across the bridge - leave about 2 hrs each way if walking.  If riding you have to ride on one side of the bridge only  but if you walk - you can walk both sides to see the views either side.   There are toilets either end of the bridge - believe me - most people normally don't walk 2 hrs but there is absolutely no where to do no. 2s or 1s if you are on the bridge - its crowded during most of the day and totally ummm open   so go before or hold it well ...   Don't forget Lombard street which zig zags down - don't queue up theres a trick to avoid the queues - I think come from the south and turn right into it.  Also Haigh Ashbury area is good for gander if you your into hippy 60s stuff - but that area is a bit more commercialised now than from visit.   Golden Gate Park is also worth a visit on the weekends - so much stuff happening there - its such an oasis of a place.]

then picking up a Cadillac xts (luxury car)

night 19: driving highway 1 along coast- Big Sur- to Monterey 

[that's such a nice drive - I've done it twice now - once each way.  Here's a vid I did in a Mustang GT I hired in Mar 2016.

night 20: Pismo Beach

night 21: Santa Monica

[theres a Premium Outlet on the way to Santa Monica at Camarillo - well worth a stop - it sprawls 3 huge car parks and you almost need to drive to each section there that far apart.  Great if you want some inexpensive name brand clothing and footwear (and caps for that matter).  The aftershaves are not bad either.]

then flying out from LAX

If I can think of anything else I'll post up.

 

Yeah as Rab said - we'll be in Radelaide this weekend so if you have time maybe pop around for a brew or 2  

[Panda Eyes]

3 hours ago, EvilDaifu said:

Mate you can borrow my USA Lonely Planet if you have not got one yet.  But to be honest - you prolly won't need it now and it does weigh a ton after awhile.

 

yeah Trip Adviser Forum has more real world info than anyone could need... 

 

3 hours ago, EvilDaifu said:

Even for small purchases like gum and stuff - just use your credit card - its insane.

 

I did research this quite a bit- citibank 28degrees card is the way to go here. 10k limit approved in 2 minutes- the card was in the mail 4 days later. no currency exchange fees, minimum spend fees or account keeping fees, 55 days interest free etc.

 

3 hours ago, EvilDaifu said:

Yosemite National Park is fantastic

 

I would have loved to, but theres always something just nearby, then just nearby to that- unfortunately we couldnt do everything. so squeezed in as much as we could. 

 

3 hours ago, EvilDaifu said:

don't forget Lombard street which zig zags down

 

we are staying on Lombard st- a bit further down the road from the zig zag part though

 

3 hours ago, EvilDaifu said:

night 19: driving highway 1 along coast- Big Sur- to Monterey 

[that's such a nice drive - I've done it twice now - once each way.

 

Big Sur is actually partially closed due to extreme rain events last month- one of the bridges actually had a pylon slide down the hill so they had to knock it down. there are quite a few detours along this route now. I'm still gonna do it, but there will be several double back points in order to see as much of it as possible.

 

great info mate- well done. 

 

3 hours ago, EvilDaifu said:

we'll be in Radelaide this weekend so if you have time maybe pop around for a brew or 2  

 

where youz hanging out?

Edited 21/03/17 10:21 AM by Panda Eyes

[Rab]

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