Best of the West USA

Los Angeles

Take some time to get your rent car for the upcoming days and, if you want, drop your bags at your hotel. Now it's time to explore Los Angeles. My advise is to use this first day to see some specific hotspots of LA. You'll be in LA on the last day of your trip. Use that last day for visiting the themeparks. But if you want to go to Disney Land, than this is your opportunity because Disney Land is in Anaheim and that is on your way to Palm Springs (your next stop). I suggest you visit the Hollywood Signs, make a tour through Beverly Hills and go to the walk of fame.

Palm Springs

If you want, you can visit Disney Land (Anaheim) before you are heading to Palm Springs. When you are in Palm Springs, cou can take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which will take you to the Mount San Jacinto State Park at 1800 meters high. On your way to Scottsdale, you will have the chance to visit Joshua Tree Park. Make sure you enjoy the ride through Arizona desert.

Scottsdale

Scottsdale is a very modern city with a lot of new luxury places like restaurants, shops and other facilities. There are not much highlights in this city but if you like, you can drive through Phoenix, which is very nearby Scottsdale. My advise is to leave early and head for the lovely city Sedona. It's a great place which is surrounded by a lot of red rocks and canyons. After you leave Sedona, you will drive through the Oak Creek Canyon and you can make your way to Flagstaff before you are heading to Grand Canyon village.

Grand Canyon Village

This day you will have to get up early. This is your moment to see the sun rise up in the Grand Canyon. The upcoming sun make the colours of the Canyon change every minute. There is a lot to do in the Grand Canyon. You could go hiking, take a boat trip over the Colorado river but my advise is to take a Helicopter flight over the Canyon. It is really great and you'll see the most of the Canyon.

Las Vegas

Vegas baby! You can have two days of fun in the most crazy city I have ever been. It's great. Make sure you visit all the casino's. Every casino has it's own theme. The crazier the better. There are a lot of shows in Vegas. Check if there is something you'd like to see. Also make sure you take time to visit the Hoover Dam. It's really impressive what the Americans built there.

Death Valley, CA

Caution! Depending the time you're there, It can be very hot in Death Valley. In the summer it can be up to 50 degrees celcius so make sure you have a enough water with you. Make sure you visit Dante's peak, Badwater and Zabriskie Point. The all give you a great view.

Oakhurst, CA

Take time to visit Yosemite National Park and see the great waterfalls and Sequoia tree's. The contrast between the beginning of your trip and your current location is huge. From flat sandy deserts to a green (maybe with snow) mountain environment. On your way to the visitor center of Yosemite National Park you can make some stops to make some great pictures.

San Francisco

You have two days to visit the highlights in San Francisco. This gives you a plenty of time to see Alcatraz, the Golden Gate bridge, Fisherman's Warf, take a ride on the cable cars and more. San Francisco is a unique city and you'll love it over there. If you have time left, try to get tickets to see a basketball game of the Warriors. They play in the Oracle Arena in Oakland.

Monterey

Monterey is a lovely village at the west-coast of America. The drive from San Francisco to Monterey will give you some great views. On your way to Monterey you can take the 17-Mile Drive. This is a great ride from the Pacific Grove to Carmel. Some nice places to stop are Sea Rock, Bird Rock, Lone Cypress and Cypress Point. You'll have to pay a small fee to enter the 17-Mile Drive.

Oxnard, CA

Make sure you take the right directions: choose the "Highway 1" road. This road will give a lot more great views of the coastline. Take you time to make some great pictures.

Los Angeles

This is your last chance to visit LA. I suggest you take some time to visit Universal Studio's. This themepark gives you a great view of how the movie scene work.