Idea for a first roadtrip around West Coast.

Hello Everyone !

I am glad that I found this forum. I am student at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. I am going to graduate this May, and would like to have a memorable trip with my parents around the West Coast. Though I have traveled around LA and also to Santa Fe and Lake Tahoe and San Francisco, my family and I havent ever take a road trip before. And my dad is really looking forward to this trip, since he likes driving cars, we will rent a full size SUV.

My parents will be visiting Newyork on their way to Los Angeles from Mumbai, India. We plan to cover as much as we can, but still not make it a hectic trip. We want it to be a trip filled with cities as well as national parks.

Following is a rough itinerary for around 15 days, I have come up with and would really appreciate any suggestions, comments, tips, links, anything that will make this trip a memorable one.

Thanks in advance.

Day 1 Arrive at LA
Day 2 Graduation
Day 3 Catalina Islands
Day 4 Around Los Angeles- HollyWood, Malibu (some suggestions needed here)
Day 5 San Deigo
Day 6 LA to Las Vegas
Day 7 Las Vegas
Day 8 Las Vegas to Grand Canyon
Day 9 Grand Canyon to Glenn National Pk/Lake Powell drive to Zion National Park
Day 10 Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon (if the drive is not long then drive towards Lake Tahoe)
Day 11 Bryce canyon to half way before Lake Tahoe
Day 12 Lake Tahoe
Day 13 Lake Tahoe to San Francisco via Napa valley, wine county
Day 14 San Francisco
Day 15 San Francisco
Day 16 San Francisco to LA via PCH 1, visit the Mysterious Spot on the way.

I would really appreciate any suggestions on the above plan.
Thanks

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Originally Posted by rocketsam

I am going to graduate this May, and would like to have a memorable trip with my parents around the West Coast.

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Congratulations on the pending graduation and welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

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Day 4 Around Los Angeles- HollyWood, Malibu (some suggestions needed here)

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Here is a great overview for visiting Los Angeles.

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Day 5 San Diego

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You don't need to travel back to LA to go to Las Vegas. Here are some ideas:
A possible route (read it in reverse)
Some suggestions for places around San Diego
DayTrips from the San Diego area using public transportation

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Day 7 Las Vegas
Day 8 Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

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You need to add an extra day here -- it can be a full day's drive to the Grand Canyon (it takes 5 hours of non-stop driving to reach the south rim).

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Day 9 Grand Canyon to Glenn National Pk/Lake Powell drive to Zion National Park

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This could be a long day

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Day 10 Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon (if the drive is not long then drive towards Lake Tahoe)

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You cold visit some of the old west of Nevada -- here is a route report that might work -- I would stay overnight in one of the themed rooms at the Nevada Hotel in Ely.

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Day 12 Lake Tahoe
Day 13 Lake Tahoe to San Francisco via Napa valley, wine county
Day 14 San Francisco
Day 15 San Francisco

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All seems reasonable

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Day 16 San Francisco to LA via PCH 1, visit the Mysterious Spot on the way.

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This would be a 16-hour trip.... You might be wise to stop for the night at Morro Bay or Cayucos and really enjoy the coastal route. There are hundreds of posts on this forum about the coastal road.

Happy Planning!

Mark

Thank you Mark for such a quick reply.