California and Nevada

[mjjking]

Hi there,
IŽm planning alongside with my girlfriend to take a roadtrip in the US starting on Sep.23rd. Our plane will land at San Diego, and weŽll have time until Oct. 4th to make a road trip, with only one rule: the trip MUST end in Las Vegas, NV. Do you have any suggestion then about what to do and what to see?
Thanks guys for your help!
Roberto, Italy

[Mark Sedenquist]

IŽm planning alongside with my girlfriend to take a roadtrip in the US starting on Sep.23rd. Our plane will land at San Diego, and weŽll have time until Oct. 4th to make a road trip,

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! October is just about perfect for roadtripping in the west. I would take SR-78 east through the moutains and into Anzo-Borrego State Park and then zoom up to US-95 @ I-10 and travel up to SR-62 go east and cross the Colorado River (the river is prettiest from the Arizona side) and then go north to Lake Havasu City -- see the London Bridge and then follow old Route 66 up to Oatman and Sitgreaves Pass. From there go to Kingman and then Williams and go spend a couple of days at the Grand Canyon. Then north on US-89 to Marble Canyon and follow US-89ALt up to Freedonia and then north again on US-89 to SR-9 and go check out Zion and then return to Las Vegas on I-15.

Happy Planning!

Mark

[Quebec Gen]

Buongiorno Roberto e benvenuto alla tribuna RoadTrip America!

Do you have any suggestion then about what to do and what to see?

That's what we're here for! For starters, you could spend a couple of days visiting San Diego : take a guided walking tour of the Gaslamp quarter (10$) and the Embarcadero, visit the Basilica San Diego de Alcala (1769), shop at Bazaar Del Mundo and dine at Casa de Bandini, browse Point Loma, its visitors center, Cabrillo National Monument, the museum at Pt Loma Lighthouse and hike the Bayside Trail. You can also visit the many museums of Balboa Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art of SD that features a unique piece of art by L.A. sculptor Nancy Rubins and some interesting offbeat oeuvres d'art by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot and Stephen Atonakos (Incomplete Neon Square) among others. For a true Americana dining adventure, try the Corvette Diner on 5th Avenue. Just east of SD you will find Goat Canyon and its impossible railroad.

On your way to Las Vegas : Anza-Borrego State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Mount San Jacinto State Park, Death Valley National Park and the Furnace Creek Inn. There are also plenty of mineral hot springs (developped or not) in that area. For current Las Vegas info, check out this website.

Happy planning!
Gen

[packman]

Dang Gen, you hit the nail on the head. I was gonna offer some advice since I live in San Diego, but it seems like you know it better than me! Definitely dine at Casa de Bandini, that is my favorite restaurant in town and a must if you like mexican food. If you get out here and wanna try some really good Italian food (perhaps not as good compared to what you your used to) try Cafe Zucchero in Little Italy, the cannolis are amazing.

Brett