It's a California Adventure! (with added Las Vegas) Pre-trip report

[Lizzybear]

I've posted this over on the UK Trip Reports section but thought I would cross-post it here aswell


First things first, the cast!

Me (Lizzy) 24 (just one more year of paying that blasted young driver's surcharge!) Very happy to be DONE with education having just graduated and currently working as a nursery nurse and in an office. I'm the main holiday initiator/planner which is how I like it! Addicted to Disney (but of course!), karaoke, the internet and sewing/fabric

That's me rockin' out in Reflex!

Steve 26 (our birthdays are actually a day apart!) Works for the city council and is currently the golden boy of his department so I guess he'll be an executive earning £100k soon enough and I can become a lady of leisure In his words he is 'along for the ride' on this holiday but has made one request: To see the Mighty Ducks stadium He likes shouty hardcore music, tattoos and technology/how stuff works

Could this picture be any more cheesy? Steve in a cheese and clog-making factory in Amsterdam!

We've been together for nearly 3 1/2 years and have been to Disneyland Paris, Orlando and Amsterdam together so far.

Us on the plane to Orlando last year


Next: Itinerary!

 

[Lizzybear]

I don't even really know how the idea to go to California first came about. I think we both already wanted to go (before we even knew each other) and just assumed that after Orlando it would be next on the list, and so the planning began Well, sort of! Since i've been working as well as doing my final degree year until recently, the planning was fairly minimal and we didn't actually book anything until a few months ago. We knew from the start that this would be a different kind of holiday to Orlando: For one thing we'll be travelling to several different places which will involve some long drives, theme parks aren't the main focus and ADRs aren't even a consideration. However, being the itinerary addict that I am (and although Steve laughed at me doing laminated itinerary cards last year, he agreed that they were a good idea when we were away!) i've felt compelled to do one. We may well mix things up a bit but I just know with my scatty personality I function much better with a plan of action My itinerary cards are more detailed but here is the basic outline:

18th September: Fly from Manchester to San Francisco. We'll be flying with Continental and changing in Newark which are both new to us. We plan to use the BART to get from the airport to San Francisco but may get a taxi instead. No plans for today other than find the hotel (Columbus Motor Inn), check-in and unpack.

19th-21st September: 3 full days to explore San Francisco! Golden gate bridge and Sausalito, Alcatraz, Chinatown, Fisherman's wharf and a tour with http://www.mrtoadstours.com/

22nd September: Pick-up hire car and drive to Monterey. Spend the rest of the day exploring Monterey/visiting the aquarium and spend the night at the Super 8.

23rd September: 17 Mile Drive, then drive down Highway One through Big Sur and finishing in San Luis Obispo. Spend the night at the Vagabond Inn.

24th September: Drive to Los Angeles, stopping at Pismo Beach, Solvang and Santa Barbara on the way there. Check in to the Hollywood Orchid Suites.

25th-27th September: Three full days in Los Angeles. Page Museum (tarpits!), the touristy stuff in Hollywood (Walk of Fame, Sunset strip etc), Universal studios, Santa Monica and Venice, Melrose for shopping and the LA Ink shop. I've also booked a tour with http://www.dearlydepartedtours.com/DDT/index.html and we're seeing Wicked in Hollywood

28th September: Six flags magic mountain (only open on weekends during our stay but oh well!) then drive to Anaheim and check in to the Fairfield Inn. First visit to Disneyland in the evening!

29th September-1st October: Anaheim for 3 full days. We'll be visiting Disneyland/DCA for two and San Diego Zoo for one

2nd October: Block of orange mall and the Honda stadium (for Steve!) then drive to Las Vegas, we plan to visit a 'ghost town' on the way Check in to the Gold Coast hotel.

3rd-5th October: 3 full days in Las Vegas. We definitely want to visit the Hoover Dam, possibly Red Rock Canyon and of course the strip. At the moment i'm finding it hard to grasp the scale of all the casinos so i'll probably spend a good amount of time just gawking

6th-7th October: (time difference means we get home a day later) Drive to Las Vegas airport/drop off car. Flight home to Manchester from Las Vegas (changing in Newark again)

So that's the plan! It's a bit of a monster and i'm sure we'll be zonked by the end of the trip. I'm already planning in my head what we'd do next time that I just couldn't fit in this time like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Death Valley, as well as Oregon and Arizona! We pretty much want to make the most of the long flight as well as the fact that we're not relaxing holiday types, we much prefer to be on the go and visiting interesting places

Thanks for reading and I hope you'll stay with me for the 'real thing' in October If anyone has any California or Las Vegas tips to share please feel free

 

[rocker123]

I hope i can find a cheaper ticket to get there. I'm an Asian.

 

[KimAshton]

Oh Newark airport. I live in NJ and use Newark all the time. The airport is one of the crowdest in the country and you can sit on the runway for awhile due to the fact that there are 20 planes in front of you taking off. That is my only gripe about Newark.