We wanted to go for another round through San Francisco. But then we were stuck in a traffic jam at the Oakland Bridge because of the street festival.
With some delay we could continue our trip via Silicon Valley to Monterey.
US – The West
Our tour US – The West led us from May 14th to June 6th 2015 from Frankfurt with stopover London to San Francisco, Monterey, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Brice NP, Grand Canyon, Moab, Lake Dillon via Denver back to Frankfurt.
US – The West – Click here for our blog on the Google platform
US The West – Picture gallery – Impressions from the trip US The West
Table of Contents
San Francisco! We have arrived!
Outbound flight to San Francisco with stopover in London
The flight to San Francisco from Stuttgart with a stopover in London: During the landing approach to Heathrow we were lucky to be able to do some loops over the city of London with a magnificent view of the city.
During the landing approach to San Francisco we could enjoy the vastness of Silicon Vallay.
After successful landing we took the BART from the airport to the Civic Center BART Station.
To buy a ticket for a one-way trip you have to pay at least the exact amount to the desired stop before you pay. You will then receive a so-called debit card, which will be collected at the destination stop. If the amount on the debit card is too small, you will not get out! If you use the BART more often, then you should charge a higher amount of money.
From the Civic Center BART Station we walked the 1000ft. to our hotel in 7th Street – BW Plus Panamericania.
Afterwards we did a little sightseeing from the City Hall to Powell Street.
Striking were the many homeless people near the City Hall.
On the second day a Cable Car Exclusive ride was on the program. With the bus 30/28 we went on to the Golden Gate Bridge. After a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge we took bus 28 to Daly City and then BART to Lost and then to the famous Lombart Street.
On the third day we took the Cable Car to Lombard Street. From there we walked up Telegraph Hill and on to Pier 39 to see the sea lions. We took the tram to the Twin Peaks. Back to Fisherman’s Wharf and dinner at Apple Bee’s.
The fourth day led us to the Transamerica Pyramid and the Columbus Tower. Further to Little Italy and China Town. and to the ferry port. Afterwards we visited the Painted Ladies. With the cable car we went to Fisherman’s Wharf for dinner.
Drive from San Francisco to Monterey
In the morning at around 6:30 a.m. we were picked up by a driver of the hotel with a Lincol limousine and chauffeured to the airport! There we picked up our rental car. Unfortunately it was not a Lincoln but only a Nissan.
We wanted to go for another round through San Francisco. But then we were stuck in a traffic jam at the Oakland Bridge because of the street festival.
With some delay we could continue our trip via Silicon Valley to Monterey.
We wanted to go for another round through San Francisco. But then we were stuck in a traffic jam at the Oakland Bridge because of the street festival.
With some delay we could continue our trip via Silicon Valley to Monterey.
Monterey, Carmel – 17-Mile-Drive
Carmel, Mission San Carlos Borromeo Del Rio Carmelo, 17 Mile Drive, Lunch in Montery Fisherman´s Wharf
Travel from Monterey to Redondo Beach (LA) – CA 1
Our drive from Monterey via Highway 1 to Redondo Beach (LA). 370 miles!! Or one tank of gas!
Drive from Redondo Beach (LA) to San Diego
Today the journey continued from Los Angeles to San Diego with a little detour – well for 20 miles we needed about 2 hours – in Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory. From up there we had a great view over Los Angeles. Our drive to San Diego was rewarded with a beautiful old town. First conclusion: San Diego is absolutely worth a trip.
San Diego
Tour of San Diego.
- Take the ferry to Coronado
- Old Gaslamp Quater
- Balboa Park
- Santa Fe depot
- Cheesecake Factory
Drive from San Diego to Las Vegas
We are back in the internet world. The management of our hotel Treasure Island in Las Vegas wanted to charge $29 for WLAN per day, of course. So we practiced our internet skills and left early in the morning. We had to cover a distance of about 340 miles. The whole distance from San Diego to Las Vegas (LV) we were on a highway. Without construction sites and especially without traffic jams, which is rather rare for the highways around Los Angeles. In the early afternoon we arrived in Las Vegas. Our GPS led us right through Las Vegas Boulevard – a part of it internationally known as Strip. What a miracle our hotel was right in the middle of it. Our first impression was confirmed in the evening: Shrill, Crazy, just crazy Strip. Well! Once seen, that should be enough!
Las Vegas – Trip to Death Valley
Wow, well worth seeing! 300 miles there and back and from north to south through Death Valley! By US standards these distances are normal.
We reached the heat record of our US trip with 96°F in Death Valley near Badwater. With 85,5 m below sea level Badwater is the lowest point of North America.
We reached the heat record of our US trip with 96°F in Death Valley near Badwater. With 85,5 m below sea level Badwater is the lowest point of North America.
A little excursion: Subtract the number 32 from the Fahrenheit value. Divide the rest by 9 and multiply the obtained value again by 5.
The conversion(;-)96 – 32 = 64 / 9 = 7,1 * 5 = ca. 35,5° C is finished very fast.
or
96 – 32 = 64 / 2 = 32*1.1 = approx. 35.2° CIt is more difficult when refuelling. More on this later.
or
96 – 32 = 64 / 2 = 32*1.1 = approx. 35.2° CIt is more difficult when refuelling. More on this later.
Las Vegas – Trip to Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam – Origin of Las Vegas with its gambling houses!
There was the gas station:
We drove 380 miles and filled up with 9 gallons of gas at $3.99 / gallon in Las Vegas.
How many gallons of gasoline per 100 km did our Nissan need?
By the way, we also filled up for 2,79 $ / gallon.
There was the gas station:
We drove 380 miles and filled up with 9 gallons of gas at $3.99 / gallon in Las Vegas.
How many gallons of gasoline per 100 km did our Nissan need?
By the way, we also filled up for 2,79 $ / gallon.
Drive from Las Vegas through Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon
Zion and Bryce Canyon
Without words – simple magnificent!
Red Canyon – Glen Canyon Dam – Grand Canyon
Red Canyon – Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam and Grand Canyon
Without words – simple magnificent!
Drive from Grand Canyon to Monument Valley
Grand Canyon – Monument Valley
Without words – simple magnificent!
Monument Valley
The entrance fee is $20. By showing our “Beauty Anual Pass” we got a strong scolding from the cashier. It must have been written on the cashier that the pass is not accepted. Unfortunately the writing was so faded that we could not read it.
In Monument Valley we drove through the 2nd “17 mile drive”. Everything on gravel roads. The name comes from us, because the route is 17 miles long.
Drive from Monument Valley to Moab
Drive past Monument Valley.
Visit the Ark Nationl Park
Drive from Moab to Dillon/Colorado
- Moab
- Colorado – Rocky Mountains – Beautiful!!
- Aspen
- Independence Pass – Avalanche after the descent from Independence Pass
- Sapphire Point – Fantastic view of the surrounding area like the Dillon Reservoir
- Breckenridge – dinner with Kay and Al
Trip with Kay and Al – Colorado – Silverthorne, Vail, Redcliff, Dillon
Today we made a trip with Kay and Al to the nearer surroundings of their new home Silverthorne. Vail and Redcliff, where the Wild West still has a home, were among the destinations. It was simply terrific! We enjoyed the conclusion together with the children Anna, Hans with Diane in Dillon.
- Vail – Trip with Kay and Al to Vail. Meeting with son Hans in Vail!
- Mintum – Ghosttown – Redcliff
- Silverthorne – By the Grabensteins.
- Dillon – Closing, dinner in Dillon with the Grabenstein family.
Trip with Kay and Al – Colorado – Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)
Today we went on a trip with Kay and Al to the Rocky Mountain National Park – terrific! Afterwards we visited Grand Lake – a city like in the “Wild West”. Shootouts were probably the order of the day here – well, 100 years ago. The end of our visit with Kay and Al was celebrated in Dillon at Pug Ryan’s. Many thanks to Kay and Al for the great days and impressions of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain we were allowed to take with us! Many Thanks!
- Dillon – Rocky Mountain National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park – Holzwarth Historic Site
- Grand Lake – On the way to Silverthorne, Dillon
- Pug Ryan’s / Dillon
Drive from Dillon/Silverthorne to Denver
Today we went from Dillon to Denver. Because of the really great landscape and the very very nice hospitality of Fam Grabenstein we leave the place with a lot of wistfulness. After a breakfast at the Arapahoe Cafe & Pub Down Under and a walk at Lake Dillon we started around 1:00 pm via Frisco – short shopping – on the I70 to Denver. After a stopover at Lookout Mountain we reached our hotel in the late afternoon. Then we went by bus to the Civic Center at 16th Street Mall.
Denver – Foray through the city
Denver surprisingly beautiful!
Wandering through the city. Visit of the Colorado State Capitol.
Take the bus 83/L ($2.25 each way) directly to the Civic Center.
Flight home with stopover in London
All in all it was a nice and eventful holiday.
We learned to appreciate the hospitality of the Americans once again.
Great meeting with the Grabenstein family: Kay and Al with children Anna and Hans and girlfriend Diane. The trips with Kay and Al to the Rocky Mountains as well as the graduations at Pug Ryan’s – the next beer was always the best!
Thanks also to the travel agency Discovery for the best recommendations of locations and bookings. Flights, rental cars and hotels/resorts – everything worked out great.
Summary
After driving over 3000 miles on the free/highways and refuelling 9 times – what about calculating how many litres our Nissan needs per 100km (9 gallons / 330 miles / 27 $) and how much the litre costs?
We will be back!!
Goodbye!
