G'day! I'm Chris. I left my home in rural Australia back in 2007 to pursue a life less ordinary.
I specialize in ambitious travel - bucket list worthy journeys such as the Great US Road Trip, the ultimate African safari, and following the length of the Silk Road.
Disclaimer: My SF Adventure Tour was provided free of charge in exchange for a review. All opinions and photos are my own.
Tackling the Touristy Side of San Francisco
My first few days in San Francisco saw me hitting both the well-known and the less-frequented tourist stops in the City by the Bay.
Accompanied by first Cherie from Flight of the Travel Bee, and then my old amigo, Hogg – we ate junk food at Pier 39, rode the cable car, took in the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge, and wandered open-mouthed through the Palace of Fine Arts.
The Greek inspired architecture of the Palace of Fine Arts makes it a blast to photograph.
Getting off the beaten track, we ate burritos in Mission, looked at street art in Castro, and joined a bunch of San Francisco wrestling fans in Haight to watch Monday Night Raw.
The SF Adventure Tour Experience
Having covered so much ground already, it was a pleasant surprise when our guide at SF Adventure Tours called ahead of time to ask what we were looking for in a tour. Far from being a paint by numbers tour of San Francisco’s best known spots, SF Adventure Tours specializes in bespoke tours tailored to meet the guest’s desires.
With so much of the city already covered, our guide suggested we take a day trip out to Muir Woods to see its towering redwoods, take in Golden Gate Bridge from a few different angles, and finish up with the best burritos in America.
The peaceful trails of Muir Woods are a great escape from the city noise.
What is SF Adventure Tours
Born out of Urban Safaris, SF Adventure Tours continues the safari spirit with a twist.
Our guide explained it as a tour that takes you to where the action is on a given day, much as a safari on the plains of the Serengeti might. There is no set daily route – but instead an intimate knowledge of the city is employed to pick the best locations and activities to meet the needs of guests on a given day.
Photo courtesy of SF Adventure Tours.
The totally pimped out, wood-paneled safari truck speaks to that philosophy as well. It’s definitely a unique looking vehicle.
Muir Woods
Our first stop of the day would be a visit to Muir Woods to see the towering coastal redwoods that thrive on the thick fog that rolls in off the Bay.
True to form, it was a foggy morning that greeted us as we made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge and wound our way up through the hills.
The views on this side of the Bay were just spectacular.
While Muir Woods usually charges an admission fee, those who get there early enough can enjoy not only the peace and quiet – but also a free visit.
Rather than wax lyrical about the shady groves and sun-dappled clearings, I’ll let pictures do the talking.
One of several quaint bridges across the bubbling streams of Muir Woods.Looking up at the towering redwoods.The gentle singing of the streams and the moss-draped trees made Muir Woods feel like an enchanted forest.
Suffice to say, it’s something special after you’ve spent a few days in San Francisco’s colourful urban sprawl.
The Golden Gate
No visit to San Francisco is complete without an obligatory shot of its iconic bridge, and we certainly weren’t going to say goodbye to the City by the Bay without a few of our own.
Rather than photographing it from the city side, we instead made our way up into the hills on the Sausalito side for some more panoramic shots of the bridge.
A different side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Best Burrito in the US
We returned to the urban sprawl with empty bellies and full SD cards (I literally had to stop and buy a new one), and Eric was quick to take us to his favourite spot in Mission – La Taqueria.
Voted best burrito in the US a few years ago, this little hole in the wall burrito joint well and truly lived up to its name.
I might have came.
Off to Alcatraz
The last stop of the day is a popular one with many visitors to San Francisco, and while Eric and the SF Adventure Tours team don’t accompany you to the island, they do pre-arrange your ticket and make sure you’re on the right ferry.
The Alcatraz option is totally optional, and it’s an experience I’ll write about on a later date, as it doesn’t really tie-in with the experience we had with Eric, his Dad jokes, and that recognisable truck of his.
Coming soon: my encounter with the ghosts of Alcatraz.
A Fun Day Out
Most of the time, I find tours to be… well, touristy. This definitely wasn’t the case with SF Adventure Tours.
Had I been fresh off the boat and wanting to see the well-known SF spots, I’m sure Eric would have been able to accommodate me – but the beauty of a personalised tour is that it takes into account the client’s tastes and experience and adapts accordingly.
Eric isn’t only the CEO and the tour guide, he’s also customizing every itinerary on the fly to ensure that it’s what the client is looking for.
You can learn more about how you can have a personalised tour of San Francisco by visiting their website.
After five unforgettable weeks in the United States, I’m finally back on Australian soil with a whole wealth of stories, tips, and photos to share from the epic Great US Road Trip.
Stop #1 on the trip was one of my favourite cities in the United States – San Francisco. The City by the Bay is one of America’s most recognizable cities and was especially abuzz during my visit due to the upcoming Super Bowl festivities.
Accompanied by the lovely Cherie from Flight of the Travel Bee, I had a few days to explore this colourful, quirky city and tick off a number of bucket list worthy items along the way.
If you’re plotting your own visit to San Francisco, I’ve put together 15 things worthy of your bucket list.
Bucket List Focus: San Francisco
#15 – Visit Muir Woods
The hustle and bustle of San Francisco is one liberally interspersed with manicured parks and areas of quiet seclusion, but for those really wanting to get away from it all – the nearby Muir Woods National Monument is a must.
With its slender, towering redwoods and its vibrant greens, Muir Woods is located just a short drive from the city but feels a world away. This drive takes you across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and by some quaint Californian coastal towns as well, so it’s definitely worth the trip.
The peaceful trails of Muir Woods are a great escape from the city noise.
Whether you visit it on a mist-shrouded, rain bejeweled day like I did or on a busier summer day when the crowds are out en masse, there’s a number of hiking trails and hidden secrets to be discovered along the way.
Entry is just $10 for those over the age of 16, but get there before 9am and you’re likely to get in for free as well. It’s also a great way to avoid the inevitable crowds.
My own visit was facilitated by the very cool SF Adventure Tours, who I’ll write more about later this week.
#14 – See the Sea Lions on Pier 39
It’s true to Pier 39 is a bit of a tourist trap with its boutique stores, chain restaurants, and oftentimes tacky attractions, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a visit.
I paid a visit to Pier 39 back in 2012 and wrote about the various things to do on Pier 39, but a few highlights include:
A number of restaurants ranging from Mexican to seafood to fast food;
The supremely tacky but enjoyable Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze;
A double-decker carousel;
Live performances;
A huge variety of stores ranging from magic to high class fudge to western apparel;
The famous Aquarium by the Bay;
Nearby departure points for boat rides.
If none of the above immediately grab your attention, there is still one attraction that has become synonymous with the San Francisco experience, and that’s seeing Pier 39’s resident sea lions sunning themselves.
Pier 39’s resident sea lions enjoying a rare patch of sun on an overcast Saturday.
Anywhere up to 2,700 sea lions call K-Dock by Pier 39 home during the year, and it’s a rare day that the fascinating marine mammals are not in evidence.
Wander Pier 39’s left hand side for your opportunity to see them, and feel free to ask the naturalists from Aquarium by the Bay any questions you might have between 11am and 4pm on most days.
#13 – Wander the Streets
It must be said that San Francisco is a walker’s city. It’s a nightmare to drive, but a hell of a lot of fun to wander on your own two feet.
Trolling my nerdier friends at the Yoda Statue in San Francisco.
While there is no shortage of San Francisco walking tours for you to avail yourself of, I had the most fun when it was just two people wandering aimlessly and seeing what they discovered along the way.
During my four days in San Francisco, we wandered the foreshore from Pier 39 to the little known Yoda Fountain twice, wandered from Haight-Ashbury to the Tenderloin, and explored districts such as Mission and Castro to boot.
For some suggestions and routes for your walks, EveryTrail has a great list of San Francisco walks.
#12 – Visit the Palace of Fine Arts
Like something transplanted from ancient Europe to the American mainland, the Palace of Fine Arts is a sight to behold.
With its towering columns and manicured gardens, the Palace of Fine Arts is hands down one of my favourite spots in San Francisco and one I visited twice during my time there.
The Greek inspired architecture of the Palace of Fine Arts makes it a blast to photograph.
Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Convention, the Palace of Fine Arts is all that remains in San Francisco of the fair, and has become a popular spot for art displays, wedding photos, and as a stop for those wandering the San Francisco foreshore.
#11 – Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
While it’s possible to tackle the Golden Gate Bridge as a walk as well, San Francisco is such a fun city for cycling that it would be a shame not to take on its most iconic location from the saddle of a bicycle.
The Golden Gate looks beautiful even on a rainy day.
My 2012 visit to San Fran saw me cross the bridge and bike to Sausalito with Blazing Saddles, and it remains one of my fondest memories of my time in the United States.
After winding your way along the San Francisco foreshore (with obligatory stops for photos), you eventually cross the world-famous bridge before descending into quaint Sausalito for lunch before your ferry ride back to the city.
#10 – Eat a burrito in Mission
San Francisco isn’t Mexico, but it’s a city famous for the quality of its Mexican food. Specifically, it’s a city with a nationwide reputation for producing some damned fine burritos.
Don’t act like you’re not impressed. Image courtesy of Kin Lane.
San Francisco’s Mission district is undergoing something of a gentrification these days, but its roots as a predominantly Hispanic community remain in the form of a huge variety of little taquerias serving some of the best burritos in the United States.
It’s hard to go wrong in picking one of the many little hole in the wall establishments that line 16th and 17th street in the Mission district, but the general consensus leans towards the imaginatively named La Taqueria, which won Best Burrito in America for its mouth-watering carnitas burrito in 2014.
I’ve tried the burrito in question (and about five others in San Francisco) and it is good. Definitely worth the trip!
#9 – Eat clam chowder or crabs at Fisherman’s Wharf
Sticking to the theme of food, it would be hard to overlook San Francisco’s other touristy foreshore attraction.
True to form, there are a bunch of attractions such as Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Madame Tussaud’s, and the San Francisco Dungeon to cater to the easily amused, but it’s for the seafood that I’m suggesting a brief stop.
Whether you help yourself to a steaming serving of clam chowder served in a sourdough bowl or something more recognizably dead like crab, it’s one of those stops that any tourist in San Francisco should make before heading on to less well populated locales.
A delicious bowl of piping hot clam chowder from my 2012 visit to Fisherman’s Wharf.
#8 – Wander Golden Gate Park
San Francisco is blessed with a number of beautiful parks, but Golden Gate Park is an experience unto itself.
It’s the kind of place you can’t do justice to in a single day, with the park complimented by a number of museums and other attractions such as the De Young Museum, the picturesque Japanese Tea Gardens, or the Conservatory of Flowers.
I loved my brief visit to the Japanese Tea Gardens. Such a photogenic stop!
With a variety of terrains to explore and a selection of cafes and food carts to keep you in high spirits, a day in Golden Gate Park is definitely something I’d recommend to any visitor to the City by the Bay.
A special shout out to the beautiful Japanese Tea Gardens as well. While the $8 entry fee might seem a little steep, the manicured gardens and the famous Drum Bridge (shipped from Japan in 1894) are well worth a look.
#7 – Cruise to Alcatraz
One of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks is undoubtedly the former prison island of Alcatraz. Rated by TripAdvisor as the #1 thing to do in the city, it’s an experience that certainly lives up to the hype.
We visited on a cold and windy February afternoon that really emphasized just what a barren and unforgiving place it must have been for the criminals (and guards) who called it home for so many years, and the howling of the wind in the barred windows was a fitting accompaniment to the sometimes grisly audio tour that guides you through the cells and mess halls of the old prison.
An ominous shot of Alcatraz. Image courtesy of Daniel.
Learn from my mistake: budget plenty of time to do the island justice!
Our visit allowed only enough time to tour the prison, but the island itself is worth wandering around to take in not only its historic significance (it was also a Civil War era fort prior to being a prison) but it’s natural beauty as well.
#6 – Visit Lombard Street
I don’t really see the appeal myself, but people flock to the ‘Most Crooked Street in San Francisco’ for the opportunity to snap a photo of its eight hairpin turns and the gardens that adorn them.
The most crooked street in San Francisco. Image courtesy of David Yu.
Thankfully for you, most tours of the city will include passing by the well known street, so you won’t need to make a special trip unless bent streets really do it for you.
#5 – Visit the Oldest Chinatown in the Americas
San Francisco isn’t just home to the oldest Chinatown in the New World, it’s also home to the largest Chinatown anywhere outside of Asia.
A country within a city, San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest and largest Chinatown in North America.
So big that it has begun to encroach upon the territory formerly recognised as Little Italy, San Francisco’s Chinatown is a city within a city – a dizzying concoction of sights, smells, lights, and flavours that seems world’s away from the bustling, modern city that it exists within.
Chinatown draws more annual visitors than the Golden Gate Bridge, and while food is an obvious drawcard for visitors, the alleyways and architecture of this corner of the city are also worth a look.
#4 – Ride a Cable Car
As synonymous with San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the San Francisco Cable Cars are a landmark unto themselves.
Dating back to 1873, the San Francisco Cable Cars are more than just a way to get around town – they’re an experience that no visit to San Fran would be complete without.
Tickets are $7 for a one way trip and you’ll need correct change, but there’s something very fun about taking in the city from the rattling, clanking confines of a beautiful cable car.
The cable cars of San Francisco are a fun way to get around the city.
#3 – Run the Bay to Breakers
It’s not for everyone, but for those who like to challenge themselves with a little physical exertion, San Francisco’s annual 12k fun run is a great way to stay fit, raise money for charity, and see the city in the process.
Starting in the city and making your way through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach, the Bay to Breakers is open to everybody from serious runners to the zany ones who like to run/walk in costume.
Or, y’know, no costume at all… Image courtesy of Kelvin Chu.
A smidgen shorter than Sydney’s City 2 Surf, the race takes place each year in May.
#2 – Browse in the Ferry Building
Opened in 1898 as a ferry terminal, today the Ferry Building is a bustling farmer’s market alive with smells and flavours as local produce and cuisine take over the lower floor of the lengthy steel structure.
The Ferry Building plays host to more farmer’s markets than ferries these days. Image courtesy of Chris Chabbot.
History and architecture buffs will get a kick out of the building’s storied history, while foodies can sample locally made cheese, coffees, meats, breads, vegetables, and fruits.
The Ferry Building is open from 10am until 6pm on weekdays, and has slightly shorter operating hours on the weekend.
#1 – Attend a 49ers or Giants game
Sports fans will find plenty of options in and around San Francisco.
In addition to being home to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and the San Francisco Giants in the MLB, neighbouring Oakland also has teams in both leagues.
They didn’t exactly set the NFL aflame in 2015, but they have an Aussie! Image courtesy of Victor Lee.
Whether or not you’re a fan of either sport, there’s something quintessentially American about a day out at the baseball or football. I’ve had my day at the baseball in Seattle, but the NFL continues to elude me.
I couldn’t exactly afford Super Bowl tickets!
Football (soccer) fans will have to head farther afield to San Jose to see a local team taking part in the rapidly developing MLS.
Your Say
What is on your San Francisco to do list?
Have I missed something obvious? Included something that you think is infinitely missable?
It’s been a long while now since I’ve was lucky enough to call Australia’s greatest city (that’s Sydney, you sneaky Melbourne dwellers) home, but one of my favourite bonuses to my traveling lifestyle is that I regularly get to pass through the Harbour City on my way in or out of the country.
As I prepare for the Great US Road Trip at the end of next week, I’ve already started contemplating what I’d like to get up to when I touch down in Sydney again in early March.
I recently created the Definitive Aussie Bucket List of 95 things any visitor to Australia should consider checking out, and in doing so I had to exclude some of my favourite Sydney spots.
Never fear! I’ve highlighted them for you here.
My Favourite Spots in Sydney
#5 – The Inner West
While I have a deathly allergy to hipsters (I had a beard before it was cool, dammit!), it’s hard not to love the chilled out vibe of the Inner West. With its boutique coffee houses, only slightly pretentious cafes, and abundance of bars – the Inner West is more than just patchouli smelling King Street in Newtown.
With an ethnically diverse population, the Inner West is heaven for those wanting to find foreign foods that aren’t Chinese, Thai, and Indian (not that all three aren’t available in spades). Marrickville’s Vietnamese bakeries do amazing banh mi (pork rolls), Dulwich Hill has its own Little Portugal, there’s Polish in Ashfield, Turkish in Balmain, and passable Mexican to be found in Newtown.
Being tragically hipster at Cornersmith in Marrickville.
Batch might look like just another warehouse in a fairly industrial stretch of road, but step inside and you’re surrounded by fantastic beers. The Henson, on the other hand, has a truly orgasmic food menu of which the highlight is a softshell crab burger with Sriracha coleslaw and Old Bay mayonnaise.
Maybe it’s the fact it’s where I rang in one of the most life-changing years of my life beneath a sky afire.
Maybe it’s because it was where I brought my (ex) girlfriend on her first day in Australia as we started our new lives together.
Maybe it’s because it’s where I spent my last day in Australia before setting off on my first trip abroad?
Looking insanely awkward in my pre-travel days. Transition lanses, Chris? Really??
Whether you’re here to dine out at some of Sydney’s best restaurants, checking out tourist traps like the Sydney Aquarium, taking some time to explore the Chinese Gardens, or make like in the movies and try out the roulette tables at The Star – there’s something for all walks of life.
Whatever it is, there’s something about the chaos of competing sound systems, squawking seagulls, and shouting tourists that is just very zen for me.
#3 – Hyde Park
It’s hardly an undiscovered gem, but I’ve always loved Sydney’s Hyde Park.
Not quite as grand as New York’s Central Park, Hyde Park is nonetheless an island of tranquillity at the heart of Australia’s busiest city. The bubbling fountains, murmuring trees, and even the distant honking of traffic combine to at once take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and remind you that you’re still very much a part of it.
Transformed each year into an Asian street market for the Night Noodle Markets, Hyde Park becomes one of the best places in Sydney to sample cuisine from all across Asia, but for most of the year it’s a quiet escape for people snatching an hour’s respite from the rat race.
EAT ALL OF THE THINGS!
#2 – The Royal National Park
It’s a bit of a hike to get all the way down to the Royal National Park. You’re looking at a decent length train ride down to Cronulla before taking a ferry across to sleepy Bundeena.
It’s totally worth the commute though, and you’ll be hard-pressed to believe that this slice of paradise exists so close to a city of over 4 million.
One of the world’s oldest national parks, the ‘Nasho’ or ‘The Royal’ is a haven for hikers and kayakers. It was in this last capacity that I visited in 2010, and spent one blissful hour out on an isolated island enjoying a sun-dappled nap after a picnic lunch.
Kayaking in Bundeena in 2010. You wouldn’t believe it was winter!
Whether you’re in Sydney for a week or a year, it would be criminal to overlook the Royal National Park.
#1 – Shelly Beach
I’ve said before that I think Bondi is grossly overrated, and I’ll restate that here.
Is it a nice beach? Sure.
Is it worthy of the huge numbers that flock to it every year? Not on your life!
My personal pick for the best beach in Sydney is a bit out of left field, as you’re not going to find great surf or ideal sunbathing conditions at Shelly Beach.
How’s the serenity?
What you will find is a sheltered cove perfect for snorkelling, scuba diving, or for kids to paddle about it.
Up from the sand is a shady lawn perfect for barbeques and a little touch football. It’s just a great spot for mates to hang out or for a family to catch up.
For those wanting a more traditional stretch of beach, it’s a short but scenic walk to nearby Manly Beach – another beach that leaves Bondi for dead. In fact, nearly any of the Northern Beaches trumps Bondi in my eyes.
———-
As you can see, there’s a lot more to Sydney than the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. I know I’ve included some touristy spots on here, but this wasn’t designed to highlight hidden gems – it’s just a little exercise in self-indulgence.
With so many cool hotels in Sydney to choose from, why not plan your Sydney escape this weekend?
Preparations for next week’s Great US Road Trip continue to move along, with a few new partners joining the party including Park Lane Guest House in Austin coming to the party as an accommodation host and New York City tourism offering to show me the sights with a pair of complimentary CityPASS tickets. Looks like I’ll be seeing the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the 9-11 Memorial after all!
I’ve also been stocking up on random travel crap. Y’know – new selfie stick, SD cards, travel toiletry kit, 14 pairs of shiny new underwear, peanut butter Tim Tams for Where is Kait etc. etc.
The usual.
I’m sure I had something more interesting to talk about…
That’s right, you can now read the latest Aussie on the Road post, comment, follow the action of Twitter, or watch my YouTube channel right from your iOS or Android mobile!
Features
Up to date posts straight from the site. Read, comment, and share from your phone!
Live Twitter feed to keep up with my inane rambling!
In app access to my YouTube channel just in time for all of my US road trip adventures!
All of my Dubai adventures are there to see, and the US ones will be coming soon!
If you enjoy reading Aussie on the Road on the go, but perhaps don’t have the patience to load it up in your browser – you can now just open the app and see the latest.
The price? Free, of course!
Big thanks to Boom for making it happen.
Your Say
I’d love your thoughts on the app so I can improve your user experience!
Let me know what you love, hate, or don’t see the point of!
It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was writing about my daydream of someday driving across the United States, but that was last August and suddenly I’m exactly two weeks away from making it a reality.
That’s right – the Great US Road Trip from San Francisco to New York City is happening and it starts on January 29th!
Along with my trusty cameraman and drinking buddy, I’ll be spending five weeks across fifteen cities, tackling local landmarks and eating all of the things in the process.
The entire trip couldn’t have happened without the tireless work of Zorica from EuroTribe. She’s been a dervish contacting potential partners and helping me keep track of my comings and goings.
Want to follow along? I’ll be giving daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope with the #GreatUSRoadTrip hashtag!
The Great US Road Trip: January 29 to March 6, 2016
The process of driving from San Francisco to New York is a pretty daunting one at the best of times, but especially when you’re having to cram it into the five week Chinese New Year vacation so that your driver/camera man/friend can join the fun.
The itinerary in all of its squiggly glory!
With the help of hundreds of friends and well-wishers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we’ve come up with an itinerary that we think covers the best that the US offers without the aid of snow chains or extra layers.
I’ve managed to link up with a number of fantastic partner tour operators and hotels along the way to help bring the trip to life, and I can’t wait to share the highs and lows of five weeks of virtually non-stop travel with you!
If you’re inspired by this post and want to emulate our feat, don’t forget to insure your rental car and keep your vehicle clean. There’s nothing worse at the end of a vacation than being hit with cleaning fees!
Oh yeah, and we got a Mustang!
January 31 – February 3 – San Francisco, California
I last visited the City by the Bay back in 2012, spending an afternoon on Pier 39 and riding to Sausalito with Blazing Saddles. I felt an immediate attachment to San Francisco, which very much reminded me of my own favourite city in Australia – Sydney.
Taking a break from my ride from San Francisco to Sausalito.
My San Francisco return not only sees me spending a few days with the enchanting Cherie from Flight of the Travel Bee, but will also see me exploring the city and nearby Alcatraz on a pair of tours courtesy of The Urban Safari and Streets of San Francisco.
While in the city, I’ll be spending a few nights at the swank Hotel Carlton before re-visiting HI San Francisco City Centre to learn more about how HI is encouraging inclusive, tolerant travel through its fun tours and unique hostels.
A drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to photograph Big Sur and Bixby Bridge might add a few more hours to our travel time, but I speak from experience when I say that the views are totally worth it.
America’s second or thirst most photographed bridge, Bixby Bridge.
Our next port of call will be the couch of the divine Where is Kait?, who will also be acting as our guide for our time in the city recently voted the Happiest in America.
February 5 – 7 – Los Angeles, California
We make our way to the City of Angels with low expectations, as travellers have been almost universal in their dismissal of Tinsel Town as a stop on our trip.
I spent my last trip to LA dining with Disney Princesses and visiting the beautiful Leo Carrillo Beach, so this time around we’ll be seeing all of the iconic LA sights with the All of LA in a Day tour.
Sleeping Beauty teaches me how to stand like a prince at California Adventure
It might be a bit of cliche, but I can’t make my second visit to LA and not have seen the Hollywood sign, Venice Beach, or Beverly Hills. It just wouldn’t be cricket!
With a few extra days to kill thanks to the Super Bowl forcing us to rearrange our trip, we thought we’d duck down to San Diego to see whether the famous San Diego Zoo is all it’s cracked up to be.
While in San Diego, we’ll also be taking a food tour and, if time allows, ducking across the border to Tijuana.
I’ve written at length about Las Vegas in the past, but despite having spent almost a week there in 2009 – our couples trip of live shows and sight-seeing didn’t quite do Sin City justice.
I’m sure they’ve missed me as much as I’ve missed them.
This time around, you best believe we’ll be doing our best to emulate The Hangovcr with the able guidance of Dani from Going Nomadic and Diane from D Travels Round.
Based out of the Tropicana and right on The Strip, you’d best believe we’re going to be enjoying every shrimp cocktail, buffet breakfast, and cheap drink we can get our hands on.
It won’t all be debauchery and dice however, as we’ll be heading out of the city for a day to see the ghost towns such as Chloride and El Dorado.
February 13 – 15 – Flagstaff & The Grand Canyon, Arizona
I’ve spoken recently on Facebook about how I was a tad underwhelmed by the Grand Canyon during my visit in 2009, and it seems that the general consensus is that it really needs to be hiked to be appreciated.
In hindsight, the Grand Canyon wasn’t half bad…
With snow falling on the canyon and creating some pretty photos of late, I’m not sure hiking is a possibility – but I’m definitely prepared to give the world’s largest canyon a second chance.
February 15 – 16 – Sante Fe, New Mexico
When I asked for pit-stops for the long drive between Flagstaff and Austin, the cries of Sante Fe were hard to ignore. The New Mexican capital has been heaped with praise by my readers and friends, so it had to be included on the itinerary.
While we’ve really only got time for dinner, breakfast, and a quick look around, I’m excited to see what all of the fuss is about.
February 16 – 17 – Carlsbad, New Mexico
Will Carlsbad Caverns match up to Australia’s Jenolan Caves? We’ll soon see!
Another popular recommendation for a stop along the way to Austin, Carlsbad’s famous caves are firmly in my sights.
February 17 – 20 – Austin, Texas
My travel companion originally wanted to visit Dallas, but the hype surrounding Austin’s hipster vibe were just too hard to ignore. We’ll be breezing into the home town of Over Yonderlust and Nick’s Travel Bug with a pretty empty dance card, so I’d love your recommendations.
We will (of course) sample the local food and beer with an Austin Detours tour.
We arrive just a week or so late to enjoy the Mardi Gras, but I’m still very excited to wander Bourbon Street and soak in the ambience of The Big Easy with a few leisurely days in the city.
We’ll be working off some of the beer and food calories with a Free Wheelin’ Bike Tour of the city, but the rest of our time there is a bit of a blank slate.
Atlanta wasn’t a popular inclusion on the itinerary, but I’m excited to have the chance to meet up with some of my favourite bloggers and travel photographers along the way.
We’ll also be taking a bicycle tour in an effort to fight the inevitable US road trip weight gain.
The country music capital of the world is one I’m really excited about visiting.
While others have insisted we instead visit Asheville or Greenville, I couldn’t resist the chance to indulge my long-distance love affair with country music by visiting the city where it all gets made.
We’ll be taking a tour of music row with Nash Trash Tours, but otherwise have a full day to enjoy the sights (and sounds) of the city.
The final stop is the City That Never Sleeps, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Nomadic American and I preparing to explore Central Park on a tandem bike.
While the Big Apple is likely to be cold and miserable when we breeze into town, I’m still determined to catch a show on Broadway and see a bit more of the city that so enchanted me when I last spent 24 hours in New York.
From there, it’s time to pack as much Captain Crunch into my suitcase as possible for the long trek back to Australia.
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