Southwest Adventure - LA to LA

Itinerary

DAY 1 Los Angeles to San Diego, California. 

Our Topdeck Southwest Adventure departs today from the ‘City of Angels’, Los Angeles! If you’d like to explore this famous city before your trip begins, you can book some pre-trip accommodation with Topdeck. Venice Beach, Hollywood and Beverly Hills are some of the famous parts of LA you might want to check out. 

Leaving LA behind, we head down the California coast to the incredible city of San Diego. Here we’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the sun, sand, surf and sights of a southern California beach, so get your bathing suit and sunscreen ready! In winter it may be a bit too cool to swim, but San Diego still enjoys a mild climate thanks to its southerly location.

We can finish the night with a visit to the Gaslamp Quarter, the historic centre of San Diego with buildings from the Victorian era. The Gaslamp is also the centre of San Diego nightlife, with great dining, events and music to be found here. (D)

 

DAY 2 San Diego, California

Today is ours to explore this amazing city. As fictitious local news ‘Anchorman’ Ron Burgundy put it; “San Diego. It's a fact, it's the greatest city in the history of mankind”. See if you agree with him!

There are a range of options available today. We can visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo, renowned for its open-air habitats, and Sea World, which is home to killer whales, dolphins, polar bears and more. We may also be able to catch a Major League Baseball game if the San Diego Padres are playing at home.

Today we can also check out Mission Beach, a lively southern California beach community with an eclectic mix of people strolling, biking or skating along the boardwalk. Whether they’re on their way to the nearby rollercoaster, a volleyball game, bar or cafe or doesn’t seem to matter – it’s more about being part of the scene. The beach here offers another chance to catch some sun and go swimming during the summer, and you can even try surfing or biking if you fancy it.  (B)

DAY 3 San Diego to Lake Havasu, Arizona.

We swap the sun and surf of San Diego for the endless horizons of the Mojave Desert today as we drive inland through southern California. As the city recedes, a majestic desert landscape dotted with Joshua trees opens up before us. We cross the Mojave Desert several times over the next few days as we visit other famous sites and cities within its borders such as Death Valley and Las Vegas, but for now we’re heading for the California-Arizona border and Lake Havasu, where we'll have the chance to swim – in summer it’s a blissfully cool contrast to the hot desert temperatures!

Lake Havasu is almost like a ‘desert oasis’ – it’s a reservoir created by the damming of the mighty Colorado River, the waterway which carved out the Grand Canyon. Where there's a river there’s often a bridge, and believe it or not, the locals went to London for theirs! Strange but true, the London Bridge has spanned both the Thames and the Colorado – not a bad CV! (B,D)

DAY 4 Lake Havasu to Grand Canyon, Arizona.

There’s a famous Chuck Berry song in which he implores those listening to “get your kicks on Route 66”, and today we’ll darn sure try our best! We follow this historic highway as we head to the Grand Canyon, a stunning natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There’s time to enjoy impressive views of the enormous gorge by walking between the many viewpoints along the rim of the canyon. We’ll be able to see over 2 billion years of colourful geological history, and we can learn more about the geology, animal life, Native American history and exploration of the Canyon by joining a Ranger talk or visiting a museum. Then we can cap the day off with what we like to call a ‘Totally Topdeck’ experience – by taking in an unforgettable golden sunset over the Grand Canyon itself. (B)

DAY 5 Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, Utah.

The gorgeous views of yesterday can only be topped by taking an optional helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon before we depart. This once-in-a-lifetime chance to savour bird's eye views of such an iconic location is sure to be a highlight of your Topdeck North American trip.

We then make our way to the Navajo Nation, a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory. First we'll visit Cameron Native American Trading Post where you can buy Native American jewellery and art, before moving on to spectacular Monument Valley.

Here we’ll find a unique culture and stunning natural beauty - a series of impressive sandstone buttes dot the landscape, the largest towering almost 300m tall. It may seem familiar, having featured in countless movies such as Forrest Gump and Mission Impossible II. Whilst here we have an included Navajo guided jeep tour of the Valley, which will give us an amazing up-close look at the buttes and some other special places shown to us by our local Navajo guide. (B)

 

DAY 6 Monument Valley to Lake Powell, Arizona.

Today we pay a visit to Page, Arizona, close to the Utah border. Here we can take an optional visit to Antelope Canyon, the Navajo name for which translates as “the place where water runs through rocks”.  Navajo guides can escort us and show us this amazing slot canyon where soft sandstone has been sculpted by water into incredible flowing walls – it makes for some fantastic photos.

Another stop in Page is the Glen Canyon Dam, a remarkable feat of engineering which enabled the creation of the enormous Lake Powell. Straddling the Arizona and Utah border, Lake Powell’s 1960miles of shoreline is longer than the entire west coast of continental USA! The sparkling blue waters, sheer red rock canyons and sandy beaches have proved a hit with visitors, and it’s lovely to swim in during the summer months. (B,D)

 

DAY 7 Lake Powell to Zion NP, Utah. 

We have a relatively short drive to our next stop, beautiful Zion National Park, which is known for its spectacular canyons and hikes. We make for its highpoint, Zion Canyon, where the Virgin River running through the canyon has a distinctive red tinge due to the erosion of the surrounding sandstone.

Here we have the opportunity to enjoy a hike or two and there’s something to suit all abilities, from easy walks along the canyon floor to a more challenging hike up switchbacks and ridges to the frankly magnificent viewpoint known as Angel’s Landing. Zion will be a memorable stop on our trip – this stunning and accessible park is sometimes overlooked for more famous neighbours such as the Grand Canyon, but it’s a special place which we believe no-one should miss! (B)

 

DAYS 8-9 Zion NP to Las Vegas, Nevada.

From red rocks to bright lights, we move on from Zion to ‘Sin City’, Las Vegas! There’s time to cool off by the hotel pool before diving head first into the nightlife of the Las Vegas Strip. The dazzling lights of the incredible hotels and casinos are just the beginning, and the sheer scale of the attractions will make your jaw drop! People-watching and free outdoor shows are fun, cheap, and will get you in the mood for the night ahead.

We can kick start our Vegas party experience with an optional Party Bus tour of the strip – it’s like a private nightclub on wheels! Otherwise the night is ours for the taking – why not take in one of the world famous Las Vegas shows or visit one of the legendary casinos for a flutter. Just make sure to leave some energy for the rest of the trip!

We then have a full day to make sure we get the complete Vegas experience. It’s impossible to run out of things to do here - world class shopping, helicopter rides, art museums, indoor shooting ranges and an included buffet dinner await us, while our base is at the heart of the action on the strip itself. Viva Las Vegas! (D)

DAY 10 Las Vegas to Sierra Nevada, California.

If you thought you were hot on the dance floor in Vegas, think again. Things are about to get really hot as we head down (literally) to Death Valley National Park - the lowest point in North America and one of the hottest places in the world. There are opportunities for some short walks to take in the amazing desert landscapes, salt flats and nearby mountain ranges. Even though this place seems dry and lifeless, you might just catch a glimpse of a pupfish in the spring or a roadrunner dashing in the distance – but we can’t guarantee that Wyle E Coyote will be in hot pursuit!

Summer: We leave Death Valley and continue to the east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This impressive mountain range holds the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, Mt Whitney, and the area is known for world class skiing. We finish the day with a soak in a natural hot spring and look forward to the natural wonders awaiting us tomorrow. (D)

Winter: We leave Death Valley and continue around the southern end of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This impressive mountain range holds the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mt Whitney, and is known for world class skiing. We’ll finish the day off with a visit to an 'all American' bar for a game of pool and an included Western dinner.  (D)

 

DAY 11 Sierra Nevada to Yosemite NP, California.

Summer: Today we'll see the gem of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as we drive over the Tioga Pass and into Yosemite National Park. Our climb of 3000ft /914m over Tioga Pass will transport us to a picturesque world of granite peaks, alpine meadows and lakes, and giant Sequoia trees… and that's before we get into Yosemite Valley itself!

In Yosemite Valley you'll be awed by stunning waterfalls, massive granite monoliths and alpine rivers. We stay in tented cabins in the heart of the park at Curry Village, an unbeatable location which means we don’t have to drive in and out of the park during our free day tomorrow, giving you maximum freedom to explore. There will be a chance to discover this beautiful area this afternoon with some short walks or an optional bike ride.  (B)

Winter: Today we'll see the gem of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as we climb the up the west side of the mountains on our drive to Yosemite National Park. In picturesque Yosemite Valley you'll be awed by stunning waterfalls, alpine rivers and massive granite monoliths. In winter Yosemite gets cold but the scenery is incredible as the huge peaks are often capped with snow – ‘stunning’ just doesn’t do it justice! There will be a chance to explore this beautiful area with some short walks in the afternoon. (B)

DAY 12 Yosemite NP, California. 

Today we have a full free day to soak up the natural beauty and grandeur of Yosemite Valley. Options include hiking up to some of the towering falls or exploring the valley floor by foot, bike or free valley shuttle. The park is also full of amazing wildlife – keep an eye out for the bears!

The day is free to spend how you wish in true Topdeck style, but don’t hesitate to ask for advice or suggestions from your Topdeck Crew. Make sure you cameras are well charged because once you’ve seen the beauty of Yosemite you won’t be able to stop taking photos! Oh, and don’t be afraid to work up an appetite, because after a day of exploring we can look forward to a tasty included dinner. (B,D)

 

DAY 13 Yosemite NP to San Francisco, California. 

Today we leave the mountains behind and head to the delightful ‘City by the Bay’, San Francisco. As we walk across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge we'll enjoy great views of the gorgeous San Francisco Bay, notorious Alcatraz Island, and the impressive city skyline.

This evening we can wander around Fisherman's Wharf with its famous restaurants and harbour, before heading out into the bay for an optional sunset catamaran cruise to finish off a memorable day. (B,D)

 

DAY 14 San Francisco, California.

There’s plenty of time to explore liberal San Francisco today. It’s a dazzling city which is compact enough to explore on foot, by trolley bus or on the famous cable cars (trams), which are perhaps the best option for those famously steep streets! There’s so much to see and do here – take a cable car ride to China Town, explore the bohemian North Beach neighbourhood, see the heart of the city around Union Square, or visit Alcatraz and act out scenes from the Sean Connery movie The Rock!

You might also feel like a walk in Golden Gate Park, a 3 mile/5km long urban park bordered by Ocean Beach on the west. Here you’ll find the Botanic Gardens, science and art museums, walking trails and plenty of people-watching opportunities. We’ve got no doubts that you’ll succumb to the charms of San Francisco, one of the coolest cities in North America. 

 

DAY 15 San Francisco to California Coast.

We head south through the great state of California and follow its famous coastline. We spend time in Monterey where we visit Cannery Row, a historic waterfront district made famous in the novels of the great American author John Steinbeck. Shopping, restaurants, the docks and scenic Monterey Bay are all part of the attraction.  We then continue down the central California Coast via the scenic Highway 1, passing through Big Sur on our way to San Luis Obispo.

Big Sur is famous for dramatic coastal scenery as the mountains of the Santa Lucia Range rise straight up from the Pacific Ocean. The wild surf, dramatic cliffs, coastal fog and knockout views make driving along this impressive highway one of the quintessential North American road trips – listen to California band the Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ song ‘Road Trippin’ and you’ll get the idea! San Luis Obispo is a small college town of around 45,000 and thanks to its student population has a relaxed vibe. It’s a great place to mingle with some young Californians after we enjoy an included dinner this evening. (D)

DAY 16 California Coast to Los Angeles, California.

Our Topdeck Southwest Adventure trip finishes today as we make our way back to the City of Angels! Upon arrival in LA it’ll be time to say goodbye to friends and Topdeck Crew alike.

If you didn’t get chance to explore LA before the start of the trip, you can also book post-trip accommodation with us. Our hotel is excellently located for airport transfers and it’ll give you chance to see all the sights of Los Angeles before you jet off – the cherry on top of an unforgettable Topdeck North American adventure! (B)