Vancouver to San Diego for two first time roadtripers

Hi All!

I was hoping that I could get some advice off of some knowledgeable road tripers!

My boyfriend and I have started to plan a trip flying into Vancouver, driving down to San Diego and then flying home. We have 16 days (17 if you count the day we leave the UK). I'm cabin crew for BA so I thought some driving would make a nice change to flying!

What I would like to know is how realistic those in the know think this time scale is? I've never been this far west in the US and never to canada so I would like to see things from outside the car too!

There are some things and places I have heard about and would really like to see:

The pacific rim of Vancouver Island
Mt St Helen
Seattle
Carmel (my name sake)
Miami art deco
etc etc

but I would be extremely grateful for any suggestions of things to see or do. I really love the chance to see and experience new things.

We want to start our journey around the last week of August.

One last piece of advice - my boyfriend (Alex) is absolutely set on driving around in a classic convertible !! What are your thoughts? And if it's something that can be done where on earth do you get one from!

I look forward to your wise words!

Carmel x

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Originally Posted by Carmel

My boyfriend and I have started to plan a trip flying into Vancouver, driving down to San Diego and then flying home

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is this Vancouver, BC or WA? Actually, if you are flying in on British Airways, it must be BC? Anyway, there are very few (read zero) Canadian car rental firms that will let you rent a car in Canada and drive to San Diego -- they might allow you to drive as far as Seattle -- but that is the extent. It would better to ferry over to Seattle or puddle jump to the airport and start your car rental there. Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! As far as getting a convertible -- there are specialty firms who supply such things -- but it is going to be very expensive -- off-hand I don't know of any -- but if you can budget a couple thousand US dollars -- I am sure you can find some options.

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We have 16 days (17 if you count the day we leave the UK). I'm cabin crew for BA so I thought some driving would make a nice change to flying!

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Alternatively to San Diego is Las Vegas is some direct BA flights.... Now the total distance is somewhere between 1500 and 1900 miles (depending how much of the coast you wish to travel) and so 16 days is very reasonable -- you can spend some time resting and wandering and other days drive longer distances.

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Miami art deco

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This one surprised me -- Miami Art deco is usually found in Miami, Florida -- obviously this can't be what you meant?

Here are some suggestions for much of your route:

An overview about insurance issues for your rental car
Craig Antil is on a world tour -- here is a report in the Seattle area
Olympic Peninsula and other ideas from Judy
Crater Lake and Mt. St. Helens
California Redwoods and points north
Points south of Carmel along the Pacific Coast Highway
One of the most sees on the Big Sur coast
Some tips about visiting Los Angeles
And finally some ideas between Las Vegas and San Diego (if you go that way)

Hope this gets you started!

Mark

Mark, thats wonderful! Thank you for your reply. I'm not suprised you were suprised about Miami!! I didn't mean to write that I was on auto pilot and thats a trip for another time!!

I was thinking about getting the train from vancouver to seattle as I saw it mentioned on this site somewhere but I think that might cause problems with the US authorities?

I really really want to go to Vegas so maybe thats a better plan.

ANy other suggestions from anyone would be brill. Right I'm off to look at those links!

Carmel x

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Originally Posted by Carmel

I was thinking about getting the train from vancouver to seattle as I saw it mentioned on this site somewhere but I think that might cause problems with the US authorities?

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Why would taking the train cause problems with US Authorities. I can't think of any "problems" that you'd run into taking the train that you wouldn't have by taking a car. In fact, since you wouldn't be dealing with a rental car, I'd bet it would be a fair bit easier. Otherwise, the rules crossing the border by land, be it by car, train, or even on foot are all the same.

I actually think taking the train would probably be a very good option to get between BC and Seattle, and as Mark mentioned, you'd be in a much easier position to rent a car for the rest of your trip. Finding a convertable shouldn't even be too hard, although it wouldn't be a classic. Classic cars are fun to drive and ride in, but they are also a lot of work to maintain, thus they don't work well in a rental fleet setting.