California Dreamin'
We collected our car and drove south down the Pacific Coast Highway via Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara and Malibu to our next stop in Santa Monica. We were keen to avoid the freeways as we wanted the journey to be as much a part of our trip as the stopping points were. We also decided that we would undertake this trip using only road maps and atlases, no Sat Nav required! Only time would tell if this was a good idea.
We arrived in Santa Monica to our hotel the Courtyard by Marriott, a brand-new hotel with a very individual style in a great location. The service here was first class and the rooms were huge, we couldn't fault it. It was here that we enjoyed the 4th July celebrations, it was such a great atmosphere! Santa Monica is a beautiful city by a very long and wide sandy beach and well worth the extra cost of your stay. We hired motorised scooters and travelled on the beach promenade to Marina del Rey, highly recommended. We took the time to explore Los Angeles, taking in Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, the Griffith Observatory and Hollywood sign and ended our stay with a fabulous meal at the celebrity restaurant, Pump.
The next day took us out to the Grand Canyon. It was a long day in the car, but we made several stops and included a deviation via the original Route 66, which proved to be a real highlight of our journey and one that should not be missed. We spent two nights at the El Tovar hotel, which is situated on the rim of the canyon itself, you really can't get any closer! It has an old-world charm about it and you feel like you have stepped into a piece of history. It was from here that we took a Mule Trek into the canyon, this was a 'Bucket List' to do and it did not disappoint. There is complimentary shuttle transport to take you to all the best viewing points if you don't want to hike. We got up at 4am to drive to Grandview Point, the sunrise didn't disappoint and the view of the Colorado River from here is quite something. In the evening, we took the shuttle to Hermits Rest and marvelled at the spectacular colours that the sunset on the rocks creates. For me, the Grand Canyon is simply breath-taking.
After the relative peace and tranquillity of the canyon, we moved on to Las Vegas via Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is a magnificent feat of engineering, you can't fail to be impressed by the sheer scale of it. Arriving in Las Vegas for our 48 hours of living like Rock Stars; we checked into the Bellagio, where we had a Fountain View High Floor Room. From our room we could see the entire strip in all its glory and watch the fountains as they danced to the music. it was spectacular! During our stay we reserved luxury loungers at the Cypress Pool, this was a real treat and offers access to a private adult only pool and all-day VIP service. We followed this with a trip to Cirque du Soleil, Love (The Beatles) at the nearby Mirage. It was a fantastic show, full of energy and humour and I would happily see it again. On our final morning we dined in the Conservatory restaurant, pancakes the size of which, we have never seen before! a fitting end to our luxury stay.
Our journey onwards took us to Sequoia National Park, where we spent two nights at Wuksachi Lodge. Situated right at the top of the park, its elevation provides some stunning views of the landscape. Sequoia is like a real-life Jurassic Park, everything is huge! To see the Redwoods in real life was quite spectacular. We walked the Big Trees Trail to view the General Sherman and saw huge waterfalls During our stay here we climbed Moro Rock, which is a little tricky to navigate but worth the effort when you get to the top. We even drove through a Redwood Tree! The views are incredible, and we all agreed that Sequoia was our favourite National Park. Leaving Sequoia, we travelled via Kings Canyon National Park, a brief stop to see the famous General Grant tree and onwards to Yosemite.
Our arrival in Yosemite and stay at the Yosemite Valley Lodge by the Falls was impacted by a forest fire. The site of the blackened trees on the way in gave us some insight into how devastating these fires can be. The lodge is modern, yet rustic and our room was in one of the blocks closest to the Falls, it was just a five-minute walk!
Our time here was spent visiting all the main sites, which can be done easily using shuttle buses, walking or bicycle hire. We saw Bridlalveil Falls, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Half Dome and of course Yosemite Falls. The park is postcard pretty, with rivers and streams galore and far more to see than you imagine. There are even beaches here! It’s a little touristy and our only disappointment here was the quality of available food.
After an all too brief stay in Yosemite, we headed to our final stop on the coast at Monterey. Monterey is a pretty seaside town located to the south of San Jose and San Francisco. It is now known for its whale watching tours, but its history lies in port services. The original Customs House, the oldest building in the state, has been preserved and sits immediately next to the pier. The towns Spanish/Mexican heritage has been preserved and the local people have embraced the tourist industry. Our hotel, The Portola, was just a two-minute walk from the pier, with its array of restaurants, bars and shops; perfect for our early morning departure to see the wildlife. The hotel is vast and is nautically themed. The rooms were beautiful with pretty balconies and the service was first class. The Whale Watching trip did not disappoint, we saw plenty of sea lions and dolphins and a few whales too. Seeing them in their natural habitat and learning about their behaviour from the experts onboard made out trip really memorable. From here we visited Pebble Beach for lunch and ended our stay with a famous Ghiradelli ice cream on Cannery Row.