'Merica

hurfdurf · 2 Jan 2013 at 18:45

D.P. said:
The convertible I saw last weekend that slid on ice and flipped outsides own when it went off the verge probably weren't so happy about the soft top.

Besides which, in the mountains 4wd is a blessing and means you don't have to put chains on at the police blocks.

This is a real thing I too would be concerned about when going on a simple driving holiday to California with a partner.

Also OP, have you considered the fact that IED's may be placed along the roads? Probably worth renting an amoured car of some sort because once in a computer game, Battlefield 3, I saw a car get blown up.

[TW]Fox · 2 Jan 2013 at 19:10

agnes said:
Would ideally like to stick to one location

Boston is a very strong contender and is currently competing with 2 weeks snowboarding trip and California

California > Boston.

Boston is nice. California is better and has more to offer the first time visitor.

agnes · 2 Jan 2013 at 19:28

Ok, so what is there to do in California? Haha, sell it to me, I'm a backpacker, what will I find fun?

toshj · 2 Jan 2013 at 19:48

For a road trip I reckon the East Coast is just as good as West. NYC - Atlantic City - DC - North Carolina - South Carolina - Savannah. All really fun, but the time of year you're going may have average weather.

If you're looking to stay in one State I'd recommend Colorado as much as California. CA has San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Barbara which are all fun, but LA is a bit like Marmite - you like it or hate it. I didn't like it, but some of the surrounding country is very decent.

Colorado - decent places like Boulder, hiking in the Rockies, also skiing, white water rafting, some of the best food I ate in the States was there and you're feasibly close enough to other places like Arches and other National Parks. You can be camping at 8,000 sq feet surrounded by snow-capped mountains one day and driving through stunning desert a day or two later

[TW]Fox · 2 Jan 2013 at 19:50

agnes said:
Ok, so what is there to do in California? Haha, sell it to me, I'm a backpacker, what will I find fun?

Big cities.
Small cities.
Deserts.
Mountains.
Coastline.
Forests.

I can think of almost no type of landscape that isn't available in California. Thats what is so great about it.

McB · 8 Jan 2013 at 17:14

How's the trip planning going?

Starting to look at a Honeymoon for late September / Early October to California maybe Hawaii and not do the extortionate week in Maldives thing. Did the pacific coast highway on a trip with grandparents as a kid and it was pretty amazing, would love to do same again in a cool car.

[TW]Fox · 8 Jan 2013 at 17:58

Hawaii is approaching 'extortionate week in the Maldives thing' cost wise sadly.

D.P. · 8 Jan 2013 at 19:00

hurfdurf said:
This is a real thing I too would be concerned about when going on a simple driving holiday to California with a partner.

Also OP, have you considered the fact that IED's may be placed along the roads? Probably worth renting an amoured car of some sort because once in a computer game, Battlefield 3, I saw a car get blown up.

I lived in California for a year and drove in to the mountains every weekend, I now live in Oregon (for over a year now) and drive into the mountains every weekend. Whenever there is snow (which is very common, these are some of the snowiest mountains on the planet) the police setup checks. 4WD + snow-tires means you can go straight through, 2WD will require chains to be installed. That is the law!

Putting on chains in a blizzard when is -10*C is really not fun, nor is driving a RWD sports car on thick snow and ice. The snow was over a foot deep on the road the other weekend, last sunday you could go ice skating on the black ice.

estebanrey · 8 Jan 2013 at 19:04

agnes said:
'Merica

It's spelt "Murka"

D.P. · 8 Jan 2013 at 19:06

McB said:
How's the trip planning going?

Starting to look at a Honeymoon for late September / Early October to California maybe Hawaii and not do the extortionate week in Maldives thing. Did the pacific coast highway on a trip with grandparents as a kid and it was pretty amazing, would love to do same again in a cool car.

I just booked flights to Maui last night, was tempted by some cheaper flights to Honolulu which were $99 one-way, inc taxes, and then getting some internal flights ($140 return, so would be $340 all flights PP).
But since this is a honeymoon I wanted an easier time traveling, and could also extend an extra day so Booked with Alaska, $850 return PP.

Hotels are not cheap, nor is food. Since I have a US license and car insurance car hire is relatively cheap.