Some of us are programmed to explore, others are programmed to dream. Regardless of which category you fall into, there is a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered.
Her.ie’s new weekly travel guide brings you to some of the most inspiring places in the world and dares you to turn those dreams into an adventure of a lifetime.
As the saying goes, ‘home is where your passport is’ – so where will your passport end up next?
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Road tripping
We’ve all seen images of stunning beaches in California, the slot machines of Vegas, the breath-taking views from the Grand Canyon and the world-renowned Route 66.
For most of us though, a trip like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and planning such an adventure can take time, patience and a lot of time on Google.
With that in mind, we’ve done some of the hard work for you, and planned a road trip in the States that you will never forget.
San Francisco
Kick your trip off by flying from Dublin to San Francisco and picking up your car from there. The laid-back city is the perfect place to begin your trip with brilliant food and amazing nightlife. Take one of the famous walking tours of the city – but bear in mind, there are a lot of hills – stop out to its most photographed site, the Golden Gate Bridge, and book a trip out to Alcatraz.
Handy hint: Spend at least three nights here, it’s worth every second.
Muir Woods
Heading north out of San Francisco, Muir Woods are a must stop for visitors to California. Take the time to explore and see the spectacular old growth Coast Redwood trees.
Handy hint: Leave San Francisco early and make a day of it. Have the camera ready as you take a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.
The road to Santa Maria
Head down the coast south of San Francisco towards Santa Maria. Stop off in San José for lunch along the way. Be sure to stop off and visit Hearst Castle, famously owned by newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst who died in 1951. He christened his home ‘La Cuesta Encantada’ the ‘Enchanted Hill’ and it is a must stop.
Handy hint: Take your time going around the grounds of the castle, and take in the informative cinema screening too.
Santa Maria
Famous for its wine and laid back atmosphere, Santa Maria is the place to be. Make an overnight stay here, and take a trip to the Santa Maria Valley where the scenery should look pretty familiar having been used for a number of Hollywood movies.
Handy hint: A stopover in Santa Maria is all about the wine, so make sure to pay a trip to one of its many vineyards.
Santa Barbara
The next stop down from Santa Maria has to be Santa Barbara. Chill out on the beach, relax with the locals and all-in-all, take life easy – California style. Now might be a good time to start pumping some of the dozens of songs with California in their title as you head on the road for L.A.
Handy hint: Continue down the coast to stop off in Malibu and Santa Monica before hitting L.A.
Los Angeles
The home of the movies, Los Angeles is a city where you will see iconic backdrops to films, the famous multi-lane highway that boggles Dione in Clueless (we can see why – it’s terrifying!) and the enormous Hollywood sign that towers over the city. Walk the Walk of Fame, hit Rodeo Drive to relive Pretty Woman and basically, go to as many tourist spots as you can – there are A LOT!
Handy hint: Anaheim is also home to the first ever Disney Land, but you can also spend your time at Universal Studios and be sure to take a trip to Venice Beach and Muscle Beach to soak up the true L.A. atmosphere.
San Diego
Just down the coast from L.A., San Diego is known as a more chilled out (if that’s even possible) version of its neighbouring city. Make a pit stop into San Diego Zoo, sample some stunning local sea food and enjoy the brilliant night life.
Handy hint: Leave enough time to spend a few nights here as you won’t want to leave!
And now for the big one…
You’ve soaked up the Californian sun, you’ve climbed the hills of San Francisco and spotted zebras (yes, really) outside Hearst Castle. There’s only one thing left to do now and that’s to get on the road and make your way for some of the most breath-taking sights you will encounter.
Yosemite National Park
Heading from San Diego, you can stop off in Death Valley and make your way to Yosemite National Park which is one of the world’s most famous national parks.
The Grand Canyon
It will be a long drive, and it’s certainly worth booking somewhere to stay close to the Canyon, but there really are no words to describe the Grand Canyon. You just have to see it.
Handy hint: This will be the highlight of your trip.
Route 66
You can pick up Route 66 again between the Grand Canyon National Park and Las Vegas – the last stop on the road. Famous the world over for road trips, Route 66 is worth every second of the trip. Get a ‘Route 66 Passport’ from any of the tourist information centres and get it stamped at each famous stop.
Handy hint: Enjoy every second, but be sure to bring plenty of water and have a ‘tank full of gas’ before you set off.
Vegas Baby!
And finally, kick back your heels, load up on dollar bills and prepare to be dazzled by Las Vegas. Home to the whackiest hotels, the weirdest shows, the Bellagio fountains and of course, the Chippendales, Las Vegas has to be seen to be believed.
Handy hint: Any of the hotels in Vegas are worth a look, even if you are not staying there. They all have something whacky and unique about them. The rest… we think you can figure out yourself!
As a bonus…
If you want to add an extra twist on to the end of what is already a pretty phenomenal trip, fly from Vegas to Chicago and spend a few days in the Windy City before heading home to the Emerald Isle.
It will certainly be a trip you won’t forget in a hurry!
