Myself, Mrs McK and our 16 yr old daughter will be touring the South West USA and Vegas next week and was hoping for recommendations for must do/see from frequent visitors to this area.
Our overnight stops will include, LA, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon, Vegas, Mammoth Lakes, San Franscisco and Pismo Beach.
I appreciate it is a large area will lots to do and have done quite a bit of library and online research and purchased a number of quality guide books.
I would welcome recommendations for must do/places to visit from anyone who has local knowledge of these areas.
Please remember we will be accompanied by a 16 yr old.
Hello, In Los Angeles, we always loved Santa Monica - great beach, people watching, some bizarre locals, but entertaining. Hollywood is always interesting - never fail to see 1 or 2 movie types, plus great scenery. Your daughter will love Universal Studios, forget Disneyland - too much hassle and expense. Phoenix will be hot as blazes this time of year (35-40C) bring water bottles, but elsewise visit Scottsdale for "old west". Las Vegas will be super hot as well but a walk on the "strip" is best done on foot, leave the car parked at the hotel. You can duck in any casino while walking/gawking and catch a show/eat like kings. Be forewarned: Las Vegas can be rather cheeky with adverts for prostitutes, complete with pictures! May want to forewarn the wife. Hoover Dam and Death Valley are great visits as well. Treasure Island casino has a great outdoor water show, Mandalay has the best pool/beach anywhere. San Fran is about my favorite city - perfect climate (15-22C daily). You must visit the waterfront, top notch seafood restaurants resonably priced, boat trip to Alcatraz I, chocolate at Ghiradelhi's, walk south to Golden gate bridge. Chinatown has great food, cheap. I always rent a comfort bike on Columbus Ave and cruise the city, parking is impossible, period, no exceptions. Not to be missed also - drive over Golden Gate bridge, Marin County and Sonoma Valley for wine tasting -noflyzoneFO
The main Vegas casino hotels on/near the Strip are pretty family-oriented and are basically theme parks with slot machines. You have to walk past the slots to see most of the attractions (the whole point of them), but you're never pressured to play them so it shouldn't be a problem. There were plenty of families having a great time when I was there.
My favourites were the aquarium in the Mandalay Bay and the "Star Trek Experience" at the Hilton. If you've ever wanted to be beamed aboard the Starship Enterprise, that's the place to be. It's a ride and a half. Take travel sickness tablets ahead of your visit, if you suffer from that problem!
If driving to/from Phoenix, Sedona ( and Oak Creek canyon) is a beautiful place with lots of majestic coloured rock formations surrounding the town ( which itself is a bit of a tourist trap) such as Bell Rock ( shaped like a bell ) and Catherdral rock ( also look out for Snoopy rock). Montezumas Castle ( not Revenge!) is close by and is fascinating.
In Las Vegas there is Red Rock Canyon close by and also the Valley of fire about 90mins drive from Las Vegas which are fascinating
I've lived in Vegas four different times, and I hate the place more every time I go back. I'd give it a miss.
In Phoenix, I can't imagine what there is to see, but a little north of here is the Grand Canyon, well worth the trip. Go a little farther and Bryce Canyon and Zion are close, also worth trip.
I second Santa Monica is a lovely place to go in LA...I would visit the pier and 3rd street, its a pedestrian street full of shops and restaurants. You can sit outside and have a nice meal while watching the entertaining street performers and various other characters. The hotels there are very expensive though, I would stay at the hotel hermosa in hermosa beach. Nice rooms, ocean view and when I stayed there a couple years ago it was only 90 dollars a night.
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) is close by and is fascinating.
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