San Francisco - Yosemite - Death Valley - Las Vegas
- Thread starter Walter Sobchak
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Definately not, a convertible makes the trip even more awesome.
I spent time at each place but didnt do any 3 hour hikes. It depends what you are into - if you are big on hikes you'll want more time in places like DV and Yosemite, but to categorically state you cant do it in a day isnt right - you can, and you can get a great feeling for the place as well. You just cant do any 3 hour hikes
Great thread!Thanks
Think we are going to go in September now to make sure the Tioga Pass is open. Thanks for the Lake Tahoe suggestion, I shall check it out later!
Be aware that In September a lot of th waterfalls in Yosemite run dry, especially the main Yosemite falls. Mirror lake is also gone and the wild flowers are mostly over.
However, it is still a very nice time to visit, less busy than the summer months and good weather.
Depending on the time of year and weather, walking to the dunes is incredibly dangerous unless you have a lot of experience in desert trekking. People die there, frequently.
DV is best visited in the early spring, then there is some great hiking. In the heat of the summer short strolls is about all most people should do. And don't say this as some kind of sloth who vegges out in front of a TV (I don't own one), I spend every minute of my spare time hiking, climbing, trekking. I have trekked across the Atlas mountains and desert, walked the west highland way several time, climbed dozens of 4000m peaks in the alps, sierra nevada, cascades and rockies, raced in the infamous Patrouille des Glaceirs form Zermatt to Verbier, and frequently go on 4-5 day hiking trips through rough mountainous terrain.
I have no problems with heat and have walked 18 miles in 40*C temperatures in the Mojave. I still wouldn't walk to the dunes on any given summer day without some good planning and talking with the park rangers.
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Yeh I know, we initially chose to go in May, but then then the Tioga Pass might be shut.
I don't plan on being too far away from the car in Death Valley tbh. We are not big hikers, but plan to do a bit of walking and cycling in Yosemite.
[TW]Fox, My missus is a little bit worried about sharing some of the driving with me. How did you find driving in the US and long distances in the Mustang?
My girlfriend wouldnt drive either, I did all the driving and it was fine and I've got quite OTT standards when it comes to cars The Mustang was fine for the long distances.
If you dont have the roof down in Death Valley, then you are DOING IT WRONG!
The Mustang was fine for the long distances.
If you dont have the roof down in Death Valley, then you are DOING IT WRONG!
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[TW]Fox;18320915 said:My girlfriend wouldnt drive either, I did all the driving and it was fine and I've got quite OTT standards when it comes to cars
If you dont have the roof down in Death Valley, then you are DOING IT WRONG!
Awesome! Mustang it is then! 
Ignore this terrible advice!!!!
Get either a Mustang or splash out and get a lovely Vette!
[TW]Fox;18321766 said:The Vette just doesnt work for this sort of holiday as there isnt enough room for 2 weeks of luggage, especially if you take a girl
Who said anything about a girl?
Meet you down at Heathrow on Saturday and we can go do it in a Vette!!!!!
When I post my thread up you will laugh at my truly epic fail to start with, all down to me letting the girl have too much choice. But it was all sorted in the end!
[TW]Fox;18316884 said:I spent time at each place but didnt do any 3 hour hikes. It depends what you are into - if you are big on hikes you'll want more time in places like DV and Yosemite, but to categorically state you cant do it in a day isnt right - you can, and you can get a great feeling for the place as well. You just cant do any 3 hour hikes
Ok i'll rephrase that then, can't do it properly in a day.
You did however miss a few of the things on the list.
As you say though it really depends on what you're into. With me cities are boring after a day or so (LV especially because it really has nothing but a few pretty facades if you don't gamble). On the other hand if there is a carpark near a beautiful natural feature doing it is only doing it if it includes clambering all over it.
Good point made. If going in summer it probably wouldn't have happened. Walking in sand is one of the hardest things you can do (a couple of months in the Sahara in summer taught me that, 40+ whilst clambering up dunes is not cool!) Spring and autumn it's not as bad, with temperatures more aligned to a warm summers day in the UK. Still, I think the star dune is about a mile from the road (the dune field is relatively tiny) yet it took over an hour to get to it...
[TW]Fox;18320915 said:My girlfriend wouldnt drive either, I did all the driving and it was fine and I've got quite OTT standards when it comes to cars
If you dont have the roof down in Death Valley, then you are DOING IT WRONG!
Lies! If you're not in a minibus with a load of good friends then you're doing it wrong!
Campfires, Coyotes barking in the night and sandstorms are where it's at, all can be had in DV.
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[TW]Fox did you book your mustang through Herz over the phone or online?
The Hertz website for the fun collection Mustang tells me its sold out for the dates I want it in Sep. Not sure if its because I'm trying to book way to early, I tried a few later dates and it was sold out but available in the next few months. I should give them a ring I suppose.
I'm worried like you were about getting a sebring if I don't book the fun collection Mustang through Herz. I think Id rather pay the extra cash to make sure.
The Hertz website for the fun collection Mustang tells me its sold out for the dates I want it in Sep. Not sure if its because I'm trying to book way to early, I tried a few later dates and it was sold out but available in the next few months. I should give them a ring I suppose.
I'm worried like you were about getting a sebring if I don't book the fun collection Mustang through Herz. I think Id rather pay the extra cash to make sure.
Also search for the mastercard CDP and go through quidco. Double discounts!!!!
The Sebring isn't too bad, when it comes down to it and the roof is put down, you won't really care anyway. Would have preferred the mustangs but the Sebring did seem to have more space.
Man of Honour
Benidorm ?
A Sebring is that bad ?
A Sebring is that bad ?
Did similar on a couple of holidays in my early teens with the family.
However, we went from San Fransisco all the way down the coast to San Diego. It was only on a second trip that we took a different route to see Vegas and Phoenix before heading to San Diego for a week.
Personally I thought the best trip was from San Fransisco down to LA. The coastline, particularly the area known as the 'Big Sur' from around Monterrey Bay to Santa Barbara is amazing and is the route they recommend you drive if doing a road trip. We stopped off at a different place each night along the route and there are places you can even go for a swim in the rivers.
The Desert driving, although the views are quite impressive when you see the Grand Canyon and the long roads near Vegas, the odd dust devil and cacti just isn't quite as interesting as the coast is.
I also spent three weeks in Carmel which is a small town South of Monterrey Bay which is beautiful and well worth a visit. It's where Clint Eastwood used to be Mayor and features in 'Play Misty For Me'.
However, we went from San Fransisco all the way down the coast to San Diego. It was only on a second trip that we took a different route to see Vegas and Phoenix before heading to San Diego for a week.
Personally I thought the best trip was from San Fransisco down to LA. The coastline, particularly the area known as the 'Big Sur' from around Monterrey Bay to Santa Barbara is amazing and is the route they recommend you drive if doing a road trip. We stopped off at a different place each night along the route and there are places you can even go for a swim in the rivers.
The Desert driving, although the views are quite impressive when you see the Grand Canyon and the long roads near Vegas, the odd dust devil and cacti just isn't quite as interesting as the coast is.
I also spent three weeks in Carmel which is a small town South of Monterrey Bay which is beautiful and well worth a visit. It's where Clint Eastwood used to be Mayor and features in 'Play Misty For Me'.
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It's pretty bad but I doubt Fox has driven one, I think he would probably explode into a shower of vauxhall parts if he did
When going down the PCH and trying to turn a corner, the vagueivity
confused of the steering did have me wondering if this corner would be the last. But it really didn't matter as when that top was down I really couldn't give a rats ***!
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[TW]Fox;18490517 said:I booked it online - I just went for 'Sebring or Mustang Convertible or Similar' and then just asked at the desk
Ah ok, I thought you paid extra to guarantee a Mustang! Still not sure what to do.
Yeh Monterey has been added to our trip after extra research! The revised itinerary is now :-
San Francisco 4 nights Mayflower Hotel (has good reviews on tripadvisor for the price £260)
Monterey 2 nights ( Americas Best Value Inn Stage Coach Lodge £95)
Yosemite 3 nights ( Yosemite View Lodge £340 Finding somewhere close or inside the park or near by at a decent price is impossible unless you fancy staying in a heated tent for £60 a night
)Lone Pine 1 night (Motel for £60 can't remember the name of it now)
Vegas 5 nights (still not sure of where to stay, don't really wanna spend more than £500)
Add to that a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon south rim and the missus fancies a wine testing day tour to the napa valley.