Mon road trip dans l'Ouest Américain : que voir, que faire ?
17 September 2013, the day I left for the American continent, one of the most beautiful regions of the world : Western America ! If I had to describe this trip in one word it would be “diversity”: large cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, national parks, fantasy villages and Indians territories. In summary, whether you enjoy staying in nature or city escapes you will definitely find happiness over there! A little bit of retrospective on this trip which has been rich in emotion !
Arrival in San Francisco and relaxing discovery of the city. Talk a walk to the Ferry Building : this is a really great place, a vast shopping arcade with small shops with things to eat, american cupcakes, mushroom vendors of all kinds, teas, oils, and even more. Go for a cable ride but be careful to choose the correct time as the wait can be sometimes be very long (my own experience ^^).
After a lovely lunch in a city “diner”, head off in the direction of the Fisherman's Wharf quarter and more specifically, Pier 39, which is famous for its sea lions drying out in the sun on wooden platforms. Admire the little shops and then visit the Mechanical Museum : this hangar is filled with old gambling machines from another era, it's really a lot of fun ! When returning to the centre, make a stop in Lombard Street, the most winding street in the world.
In the afternoon, head towards Downtown, San Francisco's historical district.
Take a trip in a topless City Bus. This is a cliché but as the city is quite vast, this allows you to see the remote quarters that you would not have had the time to see. On the agenda : cross the Golden Gate, the hippie quarter, and do a brief tour of the city's horizon. The afternoon will be dedicated to discovering Chinatown.
Visit to Alcatraz (it is essential to book your visit in advance on their site web as if you book on the day it will probably be full!). Get your audio guides and enjoy yourself for a good hour visiting the old high security penitentiary, all while following the story of a fictitious prisoner who describes to you his living conditions. You will also discover famous prisoners like Al Capone. This is a visit not to miss ! For lunch, you must definitely taste the local speciality “chowder bread bowls” (the famous crab soup served in a bowl of bread) at Boudin which is one of the must-see places to try this local recipe.
In the afternoon, visit the hippie quarter, Haight Ashbury, a very colorful area filled with totally wacky shops.
It is time fetch your rental car and leave the city for some, let's say, less urban areas. You have 4 hours on the road to connect your second step, Yosemite National Park. The road trip begins, a gulp of coffee in one hand and the other on the steering wheel in the direction of your first park. Take advantage of this short afternoon to discover the points of interest not too far from the park's Visitor Center and then reach your hotel.
The day will be dedicated to visiting Yosemite : begin with Glacier Point, an outlook point situated at 2200m altitude which dominates the valley 1000 meters lower. Think about covering up because you will descend around a ten degrees in the valley at 0°C height where you may even have a few snowflakes ! But the view is fantastic ! About thirty photos further on, you will be back on the road in the direction of Mariposa Grove, the giant sequoias forest.
Next direction is Yosemite Falls, a waterfall ten minutes walking distance away. However, there are many things to see here, it is really up to you to choose what you like and the time you have to spend there. Night in your hotel.
Leave in the direction of Mammoth Lake. Cross the park to come out on the East side, the countryside changes quickly, this park is so huge that one can see completely different things on one side from the other. You will spend amongst others the front of lake Tenaya which is situated in the park, the backdrop is magnificent. The snow is still normal for this road which winds between snowy peaks.
A definite stop is in the fantasy city named Bodie. This is one of my most beautiful souvenirs of this stay ! We could think we were back in time in this western-themed village ! Night at Mammoth Lake with view of the ski slopes.
300km separates you from your next step, and it's no mean feat : the valley of death ! You progressively travel from 11° to 38°C in a few hours ! We stop at the Sand Dunes and you could think that you were in the desert with these sand dunes. Night in the middle of Death Valley for a complete immersion !
Discovering the valley of death is over ! While you drive, you you will see colors in full view while Devil's Golf Course and Badwater are large expanses of salt ! We are 86 meters below sea level: impressive ! Zabriskie Point will be your last stop in Death Valley and will leave you with a wonderful memory.
However, the ambiance is going to very quickly change : you arrive in Las Vegas, the gaming and excess capital. I advise you to spend the night in the Aria Hotel with a room overlooking the strip. Once settled in, head off to the various mythical casinos : the Bellagio and the Venetian. In summary, this is complete superficiality ! Although opinions on this city are very mixed, I have amazing memories because it is unique and in keeping with what it is ! Why not read my article on the 10 things to do in Las Vegas !
The day begins with the discovery of the casinos that you have not yet seen the day before as well as a stroll on the strip. For those who like poker, this is the ideal place to play ! And for the others, there is shopping ! To admire the sunset, head to the Mandarin Oriental bar which offers a magnificent panorama over the city.
• Day 11 : Zion Canyon
Leave the hustle of Las Vegas in the direction of Utah and specifically, Zion Canyon. You will visit unforgettable national park and then it will be back on the road towards Zion Montain Ranch where you will spend the night. This immersion amongst bisons, horses and canyons is fantastic ! On the program of this late afternoon: relax, read on the terrace with a view of these animals and then dine in the hotel restaurant !
Early morning horse ride (activity offered by the ranch)! In the late morning, it is already time to leave in the direction of Bryce Canyon 120 km from here. Next enter the park which actually forms a loop around the canyon. 20 km further on, we are at the end of this route in a place called Rainbow Point. It's time for an improvised picnic with a view to take your breath away ! After lunch, get back into the car to climb back onto the loop stopping at each outlook point. Night in a bungalow near the park.
Leave at 7h30 in the morning in the direction of Bryce City to have an excursion, a horse ride in this enviable post code area. After 3h in Red Canyon, you get off enchanted ! Even if you are a novice, do not miss this activity. After a quick lunch, return to Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon to go on a hike in the Navajo Trail (we have chosen this among several but this seemed to be not too difficult for us, if you are more sporty there are others which would be more suited for you !) The view over the canyon from the top is very different, more immersive and it is a great experience ! Night in the bungalow.
Head towards Capitol Reef taking the famous Scenic Drive 12, one of the most beautiful roads in the United States. The countryside changes gradually and you pass an arid landscape for an countryside covered in trees. The useable part of the Capitol Reef park is actually very small, only one road or around 15 kilometers where you can do a round trip to observe the natural red and white mural. It is very beautiful to see, but the trip goes by very quickly. Night close by to the park.
250 km separates you from your next national park, Arches Park. Explore the various spots and then head towards your ranch where you will spend 3 nights having a break. 3 days without a car, just the superb natural spaces close to the small city of Moab. The Sorrel River Ranch is splendid and I will allow you to discover it here in my article.
Day at the ranch. On the agenda, relax next to the pool, a few lengths, read, horses: in summary, life made in USA. This break is welcome because you have already covered 2700km.
Today on the program, an excursion in a 4*4 as you leave Moab. You will discover the Canyolands park via the small trails. You will also see plenty of small wild animals, arches carved in the rock, drawings left by pre-historic Indians, traces from dinosaures on rocks, and a really full program ! And because the best is often left for the last, you arrive at Dead Horse Point . So as not to spoil this, it is the most beautiful outlook point that we have seen since the beginning of our stay ! Night at the ranch.
180km from Moab the Mesa Verde site is found. Famous for its troglodytic homes which were built into the cliff. Night close to the park.
Leave for one of the most mythical sites on your route : Monument Valley ! The natural structures have already been gradually visibles as you have been approaching. In the afternoon, you will leave for an group excursion in a mini bus ! If you are like me, the “group” does not enchant you too much, but you will soon understand that your car will have great difficulty traveling on the park's gravel roads (except if you have rented a 4*4).
In the end, the drive is very pleasant, the guide will explain to you many things regarding the Indians who still live here. Cherry on the cake, you may come across a pack of wild horses ! In the late afternoon, don't miss the sunset, it is quite simply splendid !
Leave early in the morning in the direction of Page in Arizona. The afternoon will be dedicated to Lake Powel ! The best way to discover it is to rent a boat ! Night in Page.
A more peaceful morning where you can go on a drive and take your time admiring Lake Powel while taking dozens of photos. At the beginning of the afternoon, go to the meeting point of your excursion for Antelope Canyon. Obligatory guided visit as there are many many people and the site in itself is quite vast. Rather be psychologically prepared for the influx of tourists !! You will embark in your enormous truck in the direction of the canyon. Once you are inside, your Indian guide will show you the things to see and the good photos to take. You will advance, one behind the other, and this is the only way to see this exceptional natural site ! Night in Page.
Back on the road in the direction of Tusayan, a city situated next to the Grand Canyon (south bank) from where the majority of helicopter flights leave. After a quick lunch, you arrive at the aerodrome for your 25min flight (or more). This is without a doubt the best way to discover this canyon. You can find out more in my article which is all about it ! Night in Tusayan.
Today you will discover the Grand Canyon's west bank ! It is here that the famous Skywalk, an enormous horse shoe above which is a glass walkway : guaranteed sensations ! Obviously, it is unnecessary to specify that it is very touristy! Back on the road for another 200km to reach Las Vegas to spend the night there. On the road, stop at Hoover dam.
You have reached your last step : Los Angeles ! This mythical city has surely been your dream since forever and now you can finally discover it ! On your arrival, don't do what we did and explore your hotel surroundings on foot. Clearly this is not a city for pedestrians ! Having a car here is essential !
In the direction of Santa Monica to walk along the seaside ! The Santa Monica Pier, the famous fun fair zone created in 1904 installed on pier and even the beach, you you can spend an hour and then head towards Venice Beach, one of the places you should definitely not miss in LA. The promenade bordered with various shops, clothes, and decor, but the theme is very original !
Morning at the automobile museum, really great for those who are interested in cars. In the afternoon it's the famous Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame where you will do a quick tour before climbing up the Griffith observatory situated high up with a very clear view over the entire city and on the famous HOLLYWOOD sign.
Begin the day with a small tour in Downtown, the historical district of the city. This is the oldest quarter of the city with its hispano-mexican roots. If, like us, you are there at the end of October, it will soon be Saints' Day (or Dia de los Muertos) and the Mexican shops have decorated their signs with the famous death tare!
It is impossible to leave LA without going down Rodeo Drive, a mythical avenue with its luxury boutiques, for a shopping spree reminiscent of Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” !
Return flight to France with your head full of memories !!
