I am considering hiring an Rv vehicle and travelling the above route with my brother and sister in law next July. I am wondering wether anyone has done it and where they stayed and who to hire a vehicle from...
-- Edited by barina on Monday 17th of December 2012 07:16:34 PM
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Judy
"There is no moment of delight in any journey like the beginning of it"
I don't think so that goes from Chicago to LA but takes a long time and we only have about 8 nights to drive and stay at San Fran for a few days...would love to do it but the new road is mostly freeway bypass roads now. I you have ever seen Billy Connolly show when he did it on the old road was just amazing.
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Judy
"There is no moment of delight in any journey like the beginning of it"
I'd give LA a miss, maybe a day in Las Vegas to say you've been there although a flight out to the Grand Canyon is worthwhile. San Francisco is nice as is Northern California generally. There's some very pretty country north of SFO, also Yosemite Valley to the east. I've stayed at the Handlery Hotel in SFO a couple of times, it's very handy to Union Square and the cable cars.
If going from LA to SFO detour up the coast to include the Monterey Peninsula rather than just rushing up Interstate 5.
As you'll be staying with rellies you will get to meet some people. You'll find Americans generally really nice and very hospitable.
PS: A handy hint when packing to go overseas: lay out all the clothes you'll need on the bed, put half of them in the suitcase and the other half back in the wardrobe. You can tell the seasoned travellers from the newbies at the airport check-in, the newbies are the ones with the big heavy luggage!
-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 18th of December 2012 07:49:26 AM
We did that area a few years ago. We used a hire car & stayed in motels. After doing sums this was the more economical way to go. Accommodation in Las Vegas is fairly cheap. $50 gets you a room, sometimes (in the middle of week) even less. Pick up accommodation guide at most service stations. If I only had 8 days - I would drive Las Vegas to Grand Canyon, then Bryce Canyon (the best), then across to San Francisco. Los Angeles is good for Disneyland. I am flying to LA on 1/1 & have a motel booked in LA for less than $80.
Thanks for all your comments, I do really appreciate them.. The trip is as follows, Fly to New York for 2 nights, pick up an 9 day tour to Niagra falls, amish towns, washington monuments, Boston, then back to NY for 4 nights getting the 3 day on off bus pass. Then fly to Vegas for 7 nights meeting up with other family members and takeing in Gand canyon, casinos, shows, shopping, hoover dam etc etc. The drive to San Francisco, maybe stopping Rweno and Carson city but open to where we stop. 4 Nights in San Francisco, then drive to LA 2 nights stoping wherever. Then fly to Hawaii / Honolulu for 7 nights, rest, shopping, sightseeing then home.. Phew!!!!!!!
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Judy
"There is no moment of delight in any journey like the beginning of it"
The Amish towns will be interesting Judy, there was a show on SBS a few months ago about the Amish, very good too. It seems a peaceful and simple lifestyle. Enjoy OS.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
There's a town in Lancaster County in Pennsylvania (Amish area) called "Intercourse". I kid you not! Also one called "Bird in Hand". Visit a hardware store while you're there, you'll see all sorts of hand tools you thought no longer existed! (The Amish don't use any farm machinery or power tools). The major highways in that area have special lanes for the Amish horse drawn carts.
When in that area try to make time to visit the Gettysburg (Civil War) Battlefield. Also not far from Washington is the site of the two Manasass battlefields (aka "Bull Run")
Sounds great over there jimricho and sounds like you have spent quite a bit of time there, did you get to spend some time with the Amish people, if so must have been great experience.
Sorry Judy but I don't think these questions are straying too far from the topic, if at all. The more you know before getting there the better I think. You can go with a list of places instead of waisting time over there. Enjoy.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I was in Washington DC at the time staying with a cousin and she drove me plus some other friends up to Gettysburg and returned via Lancaster County. It was a most interesting day. I've had several trips to USA, including a couple that were work related. I find it a most fascinating country with much diversity. Like any country (Aus included) you need to get away from just the tourist traps and meet the people.
It helps to know a little of the history of a country to get to know it. That very much applies to our own country as well. USA's history is very different to ours.
