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Old 15 Apr 24, 05:59 PM  
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TractorBoy
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We do love a good road trip especially as I am the only driver! Actually I really do love driving in the US!

We have completed many over the past few years and are off on another one this coming August/September.

As I wont drive to the airport we take the National Express from Ipswich to the Central Bus Station at Terminal 2. Bus ride to the Premier Inn in Bath Road, excellent hotel with good food and a comfortable bed.

We leave Heathrow on Monday, August 26 at the start of our 22 day trip. We are flying into San Francisco with Virgin and in PE both flights. We were going to stay in Monterey for a couple of nights but as we have been a couple of times before and if honest apart from a nice walk from Lovers Point to Fishermans Wharf, there is not a lot to grab our attention.

So instead after picking up our hire car I will drive to Cambria. With the Pacific Coast Highway still closed in various locations we will go down the 101 to Pasa Robles, over the mountains to get to our accommodation for a couple of nights - Sand Pebbles Inn - which is located right across from the Pacific Ocean!

From Cambria we have a long drive to Las Vegas for an overnight at the Carriage House, which sits behind the MGM. Not fussed about Las Vegas but using it as an overnight so we can visit the Valley of Fire on our way to Zion. Should arrive late afternoon so will have a stroll along the strip and find somewhere to eat.

We drive to Springdale in Utah for a 3 night stay at the Bumbleberry Inn. We aim to visit Zion for a couple of days. Stayed at the Bumbleberry before and will make use of the free buses to the park.

We have a National Park annual pass so intend to get our moneys worth out of it.

After leaving Zion we will drive to Moab and 3 nights at the Hyatt Place. We will visit Arches NP - have booked our timed entry and paid the $2 fee - and Canyonlands NP - no timed entry required. Both are new to us so looking forward to visiting them.

From Moab we drive to Monument Valley and a 2 night stay in the Valley itself at the View Hotel. It is a 3 floor hotel with all the rooms facing the mittens. The sunrise over the mittens when you open the curtains in the morning needs to be seen. Unbelievable!
Again stayed here before and the views are spectacular. We will book a half day tour with a Navajo Indian on our only full day. The $8 that you pay to enter the tribal land is a very small price to pay for the experience that awaits!

Next up is a decent drive to Williams in Arizona and a stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The hotel is situated right alongside the train track that runs into the Grand Canyon. This we have booked and at the moment we have a steam train pulling the carriages. Intend to visit Bearizona as well.

More driving onto our next stop - 29 Palms in California. We are staying for one night at the Holiday Inn Express. After breakfast the next day we will check out and make our way into Joshua National Park where will be spend the day. After leaving the park will drive to Palm Springs and 2 nights at the Best Western Las Brias. Aerial Tramway is down for a visit the next day.

Our last stop on this trip will be to our most favourite city - San Diego!

Our drive from Palm Springs will incorporate a stop in the desert at Borrego Springs and the metal sculptures!

We are staying for 4 nights at the Best Western Shelter Island. Stayed here before and great location the other side of the bay from the Coronado Naval Base. Plenty to see and do but nothing set in stone yet although the Cabrillo Monument is a must visit. That I would thoroughly recommend!

Might just sit and watch the aircraft taking off and the ships/boats going by!

Have now booked the 2 hour cruise. Not a great lover of boats but will bite the bullet and get some sea sickness tablets. Doing it as I want photos of the warships in port!

We fly back from LAX. We return home with the help of National Express from the Central Bus Station at Terminal 2.
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Edited at 08:21 PM.
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Old 16 Apr 24, 07:22 AM  
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Mortimer Mouse
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Sounds great. We're covering similar distances for our trip in 3 weeks time. Furthest east is Moab and flying home from SFO. Also staying at the Bumbleberry Inn for 3 nights, which looks lovely with a great breakfast and location.
Have a great trip.
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Old 16 Apr 24, 10:08 AM  
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stanleycamel
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Originally Posted by TractorBoy View Post
We do love a good road trip especially as I am the only driver! Actually I really do love driving in the US!

We have completed many over the past few years and are off on another one this coming August/September.

As I wont drive to the airport we take the National Express from Ipswich to the Central Bus Station at Terminal 2. Bus ride to the Premier Inn in Bath Road, excellent hotel with good food and a comfortable bed.

We leave Heathrow on Monday, August 26 at the start of our 22 day trip. We are flying into San Francisco and picking up a car for the journey to Monterey for a couple of nights, staying at the Wave Inn which is just a block away from Cannery Row - just to get over the long flight.

From there we drive to Cambria and a stay at the Sand Pebbles Inn for 3 nights, which is on Moonstone Beach Drive and literally over the road from the Pacific Ocean. Plenty to see in the area and Cambria is a lovely little town to stroll round.

An overnight in Barstow at the Best Western New Barstow Inn is next on the agenda to break up the long drive to Zion National Park.

We drive to Springdale in Utah for a 3 night stay at the Bumbleberry Inn. We aim to visit Zion for a couple of days. Stayed at the Bumbleberry before and will make use of the free buses to the park.

We have a National Park annual pass so intend to get our moneys worth out of it.

From Zion we drive to Monument Valley and a 2 night stay in the Valley itself at the View Hotel. It is a 3 floor hotel with all the rooms facing the mittens. The sunrise over the mittens when you open the curtains in the morning needs to be seen. Unbelievable!
Again stayed here before and the views are spectacular. We will book a half day tour with a Navajo Indian on our only full day.

Next up is a decent drive to Williams in Arizona and a stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The hotel is situated right alongside the train track that runs into the Grand Canyon. This we have book and at the moment we have a steam train pulling the carriages. Intend to visit Bearizona as well.

More driving onto our next stop - 29 Palms in California. We are staying for one night at the Holiday Inn Express. After breakfast the next day we will check out and make our way into Joshua National Park where will be spend the day. After leaving the park will drive to Palm Springs and 2 nights at the Best Western Las Brias. Aerial Tramway is down for a visit the next day.

Our last stop on this trip will be to our most favourite city - San Diego!

Our drive from Palm Springs will incorporate a stop in the desert at Borrego Springs and the metal sculptures!

We are staying for 4 nights at the Best Western Shelter Island. Stayed here before and great location the other side of the bay from the Coronado Naval Base. Plenty to see and do but nothing set in stone yet!

Might just sit and watch the aircraft taking off and the ships/boats going by!

We fly back from LAX. We are flying Virgin Atlantic as their prices were competitive plus they are our carrier of choice!

Don't forget that if you want to tackle Angels Landing in Zion between June 1st and August 31st you will need to apply for a permit. Information about this can be found on the Zion NPS website https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
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Old 16 Apr 24, 10:16 AM  
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TractorBoy
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Originally Posted by stanleycamel View Post
Don't forget that if you want to tackle Angels Landing in Zion between June 1st and August 31st you will need to apply for a permit. Information about this can be found on the Zion NPS website https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
Thanks for that but at my age getting up the stairs requires at rest!

Appreciate the heads up though!
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Old 16 Apr 24, 12:18 PM  
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Originally Posted by TractorBoy View Post
Thanks for that but at my age getting up the stairs requires at rest!

Appreciate the heads up though!
I know exactly what you mean even the thought of attempting Walter's Wiggles en-route makes my legs tired and I can't believe that I made it to the top of AL many, many moons ago.
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Old 16 Apr 24, 12:24 PM  
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A wonderful trip and I'm looking forward to reliving some of our stops last year. We only stopped at Williams for a short break but really liked the place. If we'd had more time I would have liked to do the train but decided against it as we'd been before to the Grand Canyon. Joshua Tree Park was just stunning - take loads of water as none available inside the park. Buy your aerial tramway tickets online to save $s and waiting. Sunset is a great time to be up there or descending See my trip report in signature if you've not already done so.
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Old 16 Apr 24, 03:41 PM  
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Originally Posted by Mortimer Mouse View Post
Sounds great. We're covering similar distances for our trip in 3 weeks time. Furthest east is Moab and flying home from SFO. Also staying at the Bumbleberry Inn for 3 nights, which looks lovely with a great breakfast and location.
Have a great trip.
You will love Bumbleberry Inn, rooms are immaculate and the breakfast is wonderful.
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