My Best Holiday Ever! San Francisco to Vegas Along Highway 1!

Has got to be our Iconic Road Trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas, via the Pacific Coastal Highway 1 & the Mojave Desert driving a Mustang!

Me in the Mustang on the Big Sur

I’ve already touched on San Francisco, which I will tell you more about in another blog,  and our Helicopter Ride over the Grand Canyon, but not about the road trip itself, which was amazing!  After we left San Fran having done Alcatraz, a Bay Cruise, ridden a Cable Car & Street Car, eaten Sourdough Clam Chowder in Fishermans Wharf, and visited ‘Mrs Doubtfire’s House, we headed for Yosemite.  Now I didnt really know what to expect, except perhaps alot of pine trees, but ‘boy!’ was I mistaken!  If you’ve ever thought about visiting this huge National Park – do it!  I’ve never seen nature look so beautiful and awesome (no wonder the Americans use this term so much!)  The scenery quite literally took our breath away! Just  look at these photos!

Yosemite Half Dome

Yosemite National ParkHugging a Sequoia in Yosemite

Then onward to Monterrey and along the Big Sur.  Monterrey made famous by John Steinbecks Cannery Row books.  However all I really came away with was the strong smell of fish, and knowing its history, not at all surprising!  The Big Sur is a  30 mile stretch from Carmel along Highway 1 with stunning scenery along the way. Before our drive,  We stayed overnight in Carmel, a delightful picturesque town made famous by Doris Day and Clint Eastwood who used to own the Hogs Breath Inn Restaurant and was Mayor at one time. Its also the start of the Big Sur North to South  drive. The scenery along the road was spectacular and we were delighted to be treated to the sight of 3 Whales  blowing water from their blowholes just a few hundred yards from the shoreline!  As part of the Big Sur has been affected by landslides we drove along the coast and overnighted in Pismo Beach, a surfing town which has a newly built boardwalk. A great place to view the amazing sunsets.

Hogs Breath Inn Carmel

Big Sur

A fantastic place to walk along to see the glorious sunsets.  The next day we were up early and on the road, to Santa Barbara, Malibu,  Santa Monica and Venice Beach to have a look around before heading into Los Angeles for 3 nights.  Venice Beach was buzzing, probably because Marijuana had recently been legalised, and most people seemed to be very happy and upbeat!  I managed to get a photo opportunity with a genuine Venice Beach Police Officer who was very charming!

Me & ‘Marty’
We stayed in the Mondrian Hotel Sunset Boulevard, which was ideally located for the Hop On Hop Off Bus which literally stopped outside!We explored Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, and downtown Hollywood.  Visited Graumans Theatre to see all the famous Hollywoodstars hand and footprints, and walked along the Walk of Fame.  One of my highlights was the Hollywood Museum, $15 entrance, or if youpaid for a 2 day HOHO bus, you got free entry.  It was filled with memories from my childhood.  Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Lucille Ball and lots more memorabilia!  Of course, we had to have a photo taken with the famous ‘Hollywood’ sign in the background!  In the evenings we were able to walk to a variety of well priced restaurants, my favourite being the Saddle Ranch, where they encouraged people to ‘Ride The Bull’ a challenge I just couldnt resist I’m afraid! #YOLO!

Seeing The Bull…....Riding The Bull..

Onward to Las Vegas, through the Mojave Desert, a place I have never visited but always wanted to go, a bit of a ‘rites of passage’ thing.  Everyone Must Go to Las Vegas at least once!  So having studied whereabouts on ‘The Strip’ we wanted to be, in order to be central to all the attractions, we opted for Planet Hollywood Hotel. smack in the middle, with 2 theatres inside the complex and a ‘Miracle Mile’ of shops, outlets, restaurants, bars, and the obligatory casino.  We collected our keys to our massive room high up with a strip view, and a magnificent view of the Bellagio Hotel opposite, and its famous Dancing Water Fountain Show! We wanted to explore the famous strip, so with comfy walking shoes off we went!.   I wanted to see up close some of the more popular hotels I’d read about.  The Mirage, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Stratosphere.  New York New York, Paris, and lastly, the Mandalay.

The VenetianPlanet Hollywood Our Room in the Hotel The Bellagio

I particularly wanted to visit this hotel as 2 weeks previously the tragic event of the shooting  of 52 innocent victims took place. A beautiful and poignant memorial has been set up at the entrance to this part of the Strip to remember these poor souls. Very humbling.   We also visited Fremont Street, which is downtown Las Vegas, and a bit dog-eared.  Finally a stop at one of the Wedding Chapels, the Little White Wedding Chapel where Joan Collins was married.  We  would have had a Vow Renewal Ceremony but time literally ran out, as we had to make our way to the airport for our return flight.

The Little White Wedding Chapel Las Vegas

We packed in a huge amount of sightseeing and factfinding on our road trip and thoroughly enjoyed every last minute! So much so we are planning another road trip later this year on the East Coast!

I’ll keep you posted!

Gina