San Fran -> LA : 18 days July 2008 - suggested route

[KennethM]

Is your timeframe for Los Angeles set in stone?
Between GCNP maybe drive through Mojave desert via Amboy and stay the night in Twentynine Palms. You could add a bit of Joshua Tree NP to your trip and also see some of the Twentynine Palms murals.
Yeehaw

Thanks for the suggestion. Our Los Angeles timeframe is not yet set but we want to make sure and have a restful break with (relatively) little driving to relax before flying home, hence the 5/6 nights on LA coast ...... but I'm all ears to any suggestions how to spend last 5/6 days ! :)

[Eris]

Relax in Los Angeles – is that an oxymoron :-)

Seriously, one tip, particularly as a first timer, would be to partake in an organised city tour(s). That is of course if you want to visit the many tourist landmarks.

I’ve done it and it cuts out the hassle of driving and importantly parking in a city where it can be difficult to get around as a visitor. And the Americans are very good at making such trips informative and pleasurable.

But my knowledge is not currently up to date about who does what these days in city tours.

[KennethM]

Seriously, one tip, particularly as a first timer, would be to partake in an organised city tour(s). That is of course if you want to visit the many tourist landmarks.

Thanks - great idea - will do. We've done city tours in most large US cities we've been in but we hadn't thought of taking in LA but I'll add it to the to-do list :)

[KennethM]

Our plans are coming together nicely but were not sure about one leg of the trip (grand canyon -> los angeles).

Can anyone suggest a good village/town for a one night stopover on the drive between Grand Canyon & Newport Beach, LA ? We'd like somewhere scenic, safe and not too far off the beaten track? :)

Thx again.

Ken

[W. Larrison]

From GC to the Orange County area, there are a couple of options --

The usual places you can stay are

Needles

Lake Havasu City

29 Palms

Blythe or ...

Palm Springs/ Indio area

Needles and Blythe don't have anything amazing to recommend them -- other than a selection of hotels. I've stayed in both -- no problems or issues, other than they were places to stay because we were passing through or doing other things in the area that day.

Lake Havasu City has the London Bridge (moved from its original location). That hasn't been a draw for me, but there are selection of hotels there, and its right on the Colorado River.

29 Palms sets you up to pass through Joshua Tree National Park on your way out. On the road there from the north, you can go over part of old Route 66 (now called the National Trails Highway in that area), and visit Amboy Crater, and a few other areas. There are several small towns in this area, and there's a major Marine Corp training base there, so there are a reasonable selection of hotels.

Palm Springs/ Indio area is the largest set of towns in the area, with lots of hotels. That's probably the furthermost of your options, but the most hotels and things to see (in the area).

There are lots of places you might look at, or stop and visit along the way
- Indian Italagios along the Colorado north of Blythe
- Old Indian ceremonial spot (a labryinth) near Needles (but unmarked -- you have to know where to look)
- Lots of desert scenery along the way, including old mining towns and ghost towns/ vanished town sites if you know where to look
- Gen George Patton musuem at Chiraco Summit
- Amboy Crater
- Joshua Tree National Park (several interesting places there...)
- Palms Spring Tramway (but a multi-hour stop, minimum)
- Several real desert oases -- the one near Thousand Palms is one of the better.
- Big wind farms in Cabazon area/ Whitewater Pass west of Palm Springs
etc

[KennethM]

Thanks for your suggestions, Larrison - I'll check them out :)

[KennethM]

Another question .... we won't have time to go to Sequoia National Park but is there any parks near the route south of San Francisco to Monterey (or Monterey to Yosemite) where we could see some giant Sequoias?

Thx.

Ken

[Southwest Dave]

Mariposa Grove near the south entrance of yosemite is home to some rather large sequoias which you could visit whilst exploring the park.

[KennethM]

Yo gommy! We're staying a night near Mariposa !

Thanks. :)

Ken

[Southwest Dave]

no problem, have a great trip,it's such a lovely area i want to go back right now!! lol.