Ultimate Travel Guide to The West Coast, USA

Everything you need to know before a trip to the West Coast

Planning a trip to the United States can be pretty daunting considering the huge number of places and activities that can be covered. But don’t worry! We have made a note of everything important that you should do during your trip in our ultimate travel guide to the West Coast, USA.

Travel costs for your trip:

Best time to visit:

The United States is a huge country and the climate varies across places. The North sees harsh winters and amazing summers. However, in the South, summers can get very hot and winters are dry and warm. Spring and autumn may be the best time to visit when the weather is more pleasant. So pick your dates according to the places you want to see and other activities you are interested in.

How to get around:

Within a city, both subways and buses are pretty economical. Taking a bus is one of the cheapest options apart from hitchhiking and sharing rides. Trains might not be the cheapest way but they are definitely very comfortable and will give you a lot of scenic views. Our recommendation is to rent a car throughout your trip and is the best option for your trip to the United States.

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San Francisco

This is the first and probably the best stop to start your trip in our ultimate travel guide to the West Coast, USA. The first place to visit is the signature spot of San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge. Before you walk or bike across the bridge, visit the welcome center. Here you can learn more about the bridge before taking tons of great photos of this beauty.

The Golden Gate Park is a great place for a pleasant day trip. Home to a museum, an arboretum, and lots of walking trails, you could spend a good part of your day here. San Francisco is also known for its Chinatown, one of the oldest in America, with markets, shops, and restaurants. If you are visiting in the fall, then you can attend the Autumn Moon Festival when Chinatown is at its most festive. There’s also lots of art to feast your eyes on. Walk down Mission Street and check out all the colorful graffiti and tapestries.

Alcatraz

When in San Francisco, you must take a ferry to the former federal prison on Alcatraz Island. Due to the area’s immense popularity, reservations for the site and tickets for the ferry should be made in advance (Tickets can be bought 90 days in advance.). Of course, everyone is welcome to wait in line to buy a ticket. Tickets include an audio-guide tour; people who choose to skip this option can get a refund of the cost.

Muir Woods National Monument

After spending some time in the city, you might enjoy driving over the Golden Gate Bridge and head towards Muir Woods for a long walk. Tip: Watch out for the gigantic redwood trees! This tip came from one of our insiders.

Yosemite National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this one is a jaw-dropper and spans over 3,108 square kilometers. The Yosemite National Park has much to offer, and here are the must-sees: 

• Yosemite Falls
  • The Yosemite Falls is a must-see but rather than just gazing at it from afar, you can hike up to the tallest falls in the United States. The Yosemite Falls Trail is pretty difficult but totally worth it once you reach the top and enjoy the amazing view.
• Half Dome
  • You’re into trekking? Half Dome is the ultimate trek for adventure enthusiasts. The climb is long and arduous but there are stunning views along the way of Liberty Cap, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall.
• Tunnel View
  • Another postcard-worthy location inside Yosemite National Park is “Tunnel View”. You can go for a small walk here and laze around as the sun starts to set. It’s such a delightful sight that you’ll never forget.

• Mariposa Grove
  • Most visitors miss out on the Mariposa Grove located in the southern part of the park. Here you will be surrounded by giant sequoias, two of which are considered among the largest in the world.

Tip: Make sure to get there before visitors start pouring in. If you don’t have a car, you can use the free shuttle that makes a circuit around the park. 

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 Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is called the American Riviera because of its serene, blue waters of the Pacific. There isn’t a bad time to visit because every day is a good time here. Here’s our list of everything you should do when in Santa Barbara:

• Mission Santa Barbara
  • You can learn all about the city’s Spanish roots by paying a visit to the “Mission Santa Barbara”. Downtown Santa Barbara, State Street, in particular, has a lot of shops and boutiques for the shopaholic in you.
• Butterfly Beach
  • Later in the day, you can catch some waves at the beach. Butterfly Beach is a beautiful one where you can just lay back and enjoy the sun.
• Santa Barbara Harbor
  • Those who want to do something a bit more adventurous can head to the Santa Barbara Harbor for kayaking and biking. From November to April, you can observe the migration of Pacific Gray Whales. You can go on whale-watching excursions and hike along the bluffs and try to spot them.

• El Presidio Historic Park
  • You can take a history lesson at the El Presidio Historic Park. It is the only Spanish military site remaining on the Alta California coast.
• Old Spanish Days Fiesta
  • Santa Barbara also holds an Old Spanish Days Fiesta in August. Join in the celebrations with the locals if you’re there.
• Stearns Wharf
  • At Stearns Wharf, you can enjoy beautiful sunsets as you drink wine from Santa Barbara County. You can also see the Pacific coastline and Santa Ynez Mountains from here.

 Los Angeles

Next up on our travel guide to the West Coast, USA, is this sunny city of Los Angeles. The second-largest city in the United States. It’s buzzing with movie stars, art, and restaurants, all of which make Los Angeles pretty otherworldly.

• Griffith Park
  • First on the agenda should be an early morning trip to Griffith Park. Follow the trail up to the Griffith Observatory, from where you can see the Hollywood sign and just about the entire city.
• The Broad
  • Los Angeles also has its fair share of art. Head on over to The Broad, an art museum that has big names like Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Keith Haring, and Kara Walker.
• Relax at the beach
  • Los Angeles has some pretty nice beaches to see. You can go for a walk or just laze around at the beach. Two of the best ones are Venice and Santa Monica Beach.

• Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Don’t leave the city without a tour of the famous Universal Studios Hollywood. There’s a theme park, studio sets, and even the recently-opened “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”. So, do visit for a movie-like experience. Some other must-sees of the film world are the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood Boulevard.

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Las Vegas

Glitz, glam and pop — it’s Vegas, baby! How can we not mention Las Vegas in our travel guide to the West Coast, USA? With 24-hour casinos, hotels serving exquisite meals and entertainment around the clock, you won’t even have time to stop and stare, so let’s go right ahead and see what you can do in Vegas:

• Las Vegas Boulevard
  • You can take a walk along the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip) and see the replicas of famous buildings: the Empire State Building, a Luxor pyramid, and the Eiffel Tower.
• Bellagio Conservatory
  • Include a bit of green with a trip to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden for their floral displays. They have great seasonal themes which you can explore.
• Iconic casinos
  • Visit some of the iconic casinos on The Strip and pray that luck is on your side that night. Some of the ones you can go to are Caesars Palace, The Venetian, ARIA Resort & Casino, The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod, and Bellagio. Be sure to watch the fountain show at Bellagio from the sidewalk. 

And some more…

• Neon Museum
  • The Neon Museum is a must-visit, where a lot of Sin City’s history lies. Here you can see retro signs, relics, and lots of amazing art.
• Cirque du Soleil
  • Vegas knows how to entertain better than any other city. Watch one of the famous Cirque du Soleil shows at six of the casinos. 
• Downtown Las Vegas
  • You can also explore downtown Las Vegas. It’s is buzzing with excitement, day and night with zip lines, casinos, live entertainment, and other activities.
• Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Before you leave, don’t forget to get a good snap of the classic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” sign.

Grand Canyon 

Your next stop is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World — the Grand Canyon. Stretching 446 kilometers and cutting a trench about 1.6 kilometers deep, the Grand Canyon will definitely take your breath away.

Hiking below the rim is an adventurous activity. You’re sure to have great views of the Colorado River and the canyon. Your hiking expertise will decide which trail you take. Kaibab Trail is more strenuous than Bright Angel Trail. The Grand Canyon is also famous for the sky being full of stars that visitors can behold most nights. The park was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Park. Every June there are star parties where visitors can camp under the stars, learn more about them and gaze at them through telescopes.

There’s a lot more that each of these places has to offer, so start planning your trip to make sure you hit all the great destinations with the help of our travel guide to the West Coast, USA. Bon Voyage!

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