Road trip - California

Bodybuilding in Venice, Black Jack in Las Vegas & California Dreams - From LA to San Francisco

Exploring the west coast of the USA had been on our bucket list for some time. We had to cancel our well-planned road trip once before, but now the time had finally come and we embarked on a new adventure. The most important tip for a road trip of this size is to plan everything well. This is the only way to experience as much as possible on the long distances that awaited us on our trip.

Day 1: Arrival Los Angeles - flight - rental car - hotel

From VIE to the famous LAX

We were allowed to board the plane to Los Angeles at 9:55 a.m. and took off on time. After a 12-hour flight, we landed at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) and were taken by bus directly to the AVIS car rental office. We opted in advance for a more spacious car (mid-range KIA Sportage) so that we could stow our luggage safely in the trunk and have a more comfortable ride. The process with AVIS was quick and easy, so we were on our way to the hotel just half an hour after our arrival.

First Impressions of LA

We checked in near the famous Walk of Fame at the "The Adler a Hollywood Hotel" hotel. After a short break in our hotel room, we decided to walk to the Walk of Fame to overcome the fatigue we were feeling. On the way there, we saw more than just the sunny side of LA. Homelessness in LA is unfortunately real and was sadly visible here. Even the Walk of Fame itself didn't radiate the side of LA that you saw on TV. The stars were unkempt and there was no way to quickly find out where famous stars were located. We walked up and down for a while and tried to capture the flair anyway, which we unfortunately only partially succeeded in doing. After a lunch stop at a fast food chain, we went back to the hotel and were excited to see what LA had in store for us the next day.

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Day 2: Universal Studios - Griffith Observatory - Hollywood Sign

Super Mario and co. up close

Jet lag had us fully in its grip and we were up very early. However, as we had booked an Express Pass at Universal Studios Hollywood, which also included early access, this played into our hands. After a short search, we found a nice breakfast place(Sweet Lily Bakery Cafe & Catering) near the theme park. After a hearty and very tasty breakfast, we made our way to Universal Studios. The best decision was definitely to buy the Universal Express Pass, which was not exactly cheap at around $300, but well worth the money. The waiting times for the rollercoasters and attractions were usually an hour, if not longer. Thanks to the pass, we saved a lot of time at each attraction and were usually able to get on or experience the attraction after just ten minutes. An absolute recommendation is the tour bus through the studios themselves. It was exciting to experience the special effects in the containers up close and to see how different effects are produced in films. As we saved ourselves a lot of standing time, we were done with all the attractions in the park by early afternoon and were able to drive to the next destination on our list.

Griffith Observatory & Hollywood Sign

The Griffith Observatory not only offers a great view over LA but is also a real recommendation with its exhibition. Admission to the observatory is generally free, except for the planetarium, where there is a charge. But the Griffith Observatory is not only recommended for those interested in astronomy, it has also become famous thanks to films such as La La Land. We were particularly lucky! As it was the 4th of July, we could see jets flying overhead, with impressive clouds forming behind them.

To get the perfect view of the Hollywood Sign, we opted for a nearby Lake Hollywood Park. There were a few tourists there, but it wasn't overcrowded and you could take great pictures of yourself with the famous Hollywood Sign. To round off this great day in Los Angeles, we reserved a table at a Mexican restaurant in advance. KA'TEEN turned our taste buds completely upside down - great ambience, friendly service and unique dishes.

Day 3: Mulholland Drive to Santa Monica Pier

Mulholland Drive, Farmers Market & Pink Wall

As our internal clocks had still not adjusted to the time change, we were able to drive down the famous Mulholland Drive early in the morning after going to the same breakfast boutique as the day before. This offers a great view of the LA skyline, including several viewpoints. We then made our way to the Farmers Market, which is known for its regional and fresh produce and is really worth a visit! On the way there, we drove through several streets that exuded typical Californian charm - an avenue lined with palm trees, elegant villas and the flair of the west coast.

As we have often used e-scooters in European cities to get around quickly and avoid the constant search for a parking space, we decided to take the e-scooter from the Farmers Market to the next attraction on the "Pink Wall". Unfortunately, this decision turned out to be a mistake, as the e-scooter was very expensive for this short distance and there were many no-driving zones. As a result, we couldn't really explore the wider area and had to take the rather unfavorable path next to the road back to the car - a real letdown.

Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills & Getty Center

After checking out of our hotel and eating a Smash Burger(For the Win) in an adjacent burger joint, we drove along the famous Sunset Blvd. This is known for its legendary music clubs and elegant mansions just outside Beverly Hills. If you want to see the famous Beverly Hills Sign, you should pay attention. Because in Google Maps you will find "Beverly Hills Sign" but this is a simple sign in the middle of a crossroads, if you want to see the arch in the park, you should definitely enter "Beverly Hills Park". In Beverly Hills, there is no trace of the poverty that you often encounter on the streets of LA. Luxurious boutiques, expensive cars and high-priced restaurants - if you have the money, you can go shopping on Rodeo Drive and have your picture taken with your car.

After no shopping tour on Rodeo Drive, we drove on towards Santa Monica in our Ferrari aka KIA Sportage. Before heading to the sea, however, we stopped off at the Getty Center. The impressive art collection and the modern architecture of the building speak for themselves. The exhibition itself is free, you only have to pay for the parking lot. Due to the sunny day, we were not only able to enjoy the works of art, but also the garden with its beautiful plant arrangements. The only downside to this visit was the long wait to get to the center itself. Unfortunately, the awkwardly designed turning lane made it difficult to access the center and led to a slight traffic jam.

Santa Monica Pier

After our visit to the Getty Center, we drove to Santa Monica. Here we checked into the Hotel Carmel and walked to the Santa Monica Pier. There we had a Corona and enjoyed the evening sun. The pier itself was smaller than we expected, so we got through it relatively quickly. Loud music and lights lit up the evening hours, but as the day was already very long we decided to go to our room relatively early.

Day 4: Venice Beach - Palm Springs

Where Arnold pumped and waves roared

What would a trip to California be without the famous Venice Beach? Before we started the day, we enjoyed breakfast at Espresso Cielo, which was right next to our hotel. Unfortunately, the weather that morning left a lot to be desired, but we decided to hire a bike anyway and ride along the beach to Venice. Once there, it was full of energy, with sporting activities everywhere we looked. From basketball to skateboarding and the typical bodybuilders - you could see everything. After soaking up the atmosphere, we drove a few streets further in to visit Gold's Gym. Once there, all we had to do was sign up on a guest list and we could stroll through the gym for free. The multi-storey training palace not only offers an extensive strength and endurance area, but also an outdoor and crossfit area. You can admire the former Mr. Olympia on the walls and if you can't get training motivation there, where can you?

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Desert Days & Poolside Dreams

As we still had a two-hour ride to Palm Springs ahead of us, we returned the bikes to the bike rental shop in the late morning and checked out of the hotel. The ride itself was pleasant and the time flew by. When we arrived at our hotel,The Saguaro Palm Springs, we felt the Californian heat for the first time. We sprinted from the car into the air-conditioned hotel at almost 42° C. Once we had checked into our room and eaten our fill of tasty tacos from the hotel's own kitchen, we decided to head for the pool. The hotel itself was colorful and really funky - a real eye-catcher. As we entered the outdoor area of the hotel with the pool area, we could already hear the first bass music - Saturday was the day of the pool party. For us, it was the first day on which we were able to process the impressions of the last few days in peace and relax in the shade. When we got hungry in the evening, we went to a Vietnamese restaurant directly opposite the hotel. Viet Fusion looked inconspicuous from the outside, but the summer rolls and the rest of the food were indescribable!

Day 5: Palm Springs - Las Vegas

Palm Springs Air Museum - Where history takes off

As we were only going to Las Vegas today, we decided to visit City Hall and the Air Museum in the morning. Unfortunately, City Hall was closed, so the museum was all the more impressive. Many aircraft from various war missions were on display here, as well as the first Nighthawk. This was developed in such a way that it was virtually invisible to enemy radar systems. After the museum visit, we stocked up at Walmart with the most important snacks for a long drive, as well as plenty of water. It was incredible to see a supermarket of this size - it could almost be considered its own attraction. The product selection was huge, with the meat section alone taking up almost an entire supermarket wall.

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Viva Las Vegas!

Now it was off to another state - Nevada. The four-hour drive through the desert was a bit nerve-wracking. Nothing but dryness and Joshua trees far and wide. The road was good in places and then worse again. When driving, you should watch out for debris on the road. There were always small to medium-sized remnants of a car on the road. Halfway through the journey, there were signs repeatedly advising us to turn off the air conditioning to prevent the engine from overheating. Our gut feeling on this trip was therefore mixed. On the one hand, the landscape was unique and we were fascinated by the surroundings, but on the other hand we were worried about the car breaking down. What was important in any case was the sun visor we bought for the car. We bought it for a few dollars at Wallmart and it protected our car from the heat when we parked it. After the four-hour drive, we could finally see the sign of the signs - Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!

Even the drive to the hotel was indescribable. Everywhere you looked, there were twinkling lights - in the middle of the day. We could hardly wait to marvel at them at night. We spent the next few days at Caesars Palace. The foyer itself immediately reminded us of the movie Hangover - but there was no sign of Bradley Cooper anywhere. After the self-check-in, which went smoothly, we were able to move into our room. I had never seen such a gigantic hotel before. On the way to our room, we passed several stores, elevators, restaurants and even a chapel. After this long journey, we went to one of the hotel's seven pools for the first time. We opted for the "Venus Pool & Lounge" - this is for adults only. We would definitely recommend taking your pass with you to the pool, they are very strict about the age restrictions and we weren't allowed in at first without a pass.

After a relaxing late afternoon by the pool, we went out again in the evening to explore Las Vegas by night. We strolled through a few casinos to really feel the flair. We definitely found the indoor attractions unique. The ceilings of the hotels were designed in such a way that you thought you were outside. We were particularly captivated by the Venetian; if you know Venice and see the hotel, you can definitely recognize many similarities. The hotel even offered a gondola ride on one of the canals. After our exploration tour, we went back to our hotel complex and found a great bar for a nightcap - Vanderpump Cocktail Garden.

Day 6: Las Vegas

We also needed a recovery day after our daily program. That's why we used the second day in Las Vegas for a relaxing pool day. In the evening, we enjoyed a delicious steak at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

Day 7: Grand Canyon

After spending two relaxing days in Las Vegas, we felt like we were about to embark on an adventure within an adventure. Why? Because we were making our way to the famous Grand Canyon. It was anything but easy to decide how to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Firstly, the drive to the Grand Canyon alone was already over four hours and secondly, we then had to take another two-hour drive to reach the town of Page. The Grand Canyon is not a single point, but a huge area covering a total of 4,931 km² - which presented us with the next decision: Where exactly should we drive to experience the ultimate Grand Canyon feeling? Not so easy!

The path to the abyss - in the best sense

Helicopter flight
✅ directly to the spectacular postcard view, no long drive
✅ unforgettable aerial perspective, landing at the canyon possible
❌ expensive, difficult to find the right offer
❌ if only a sightseeing flight, then no possibility to explore the canyon on foot
❌ after landing often still long travel times to other destinations (e.g. 4 hours to Page)

South Rim (by car)
✅ typical Grand Canyon views with famous viewpoints such as Mather Point
✅ tourist infrastructure with visitor center, hotels, restaurants
✅ on the way to Page one of the shorter routes
❌ very touristy, often overcrowded
❌ approx. 4.5-5 hours drive from Las Vegas, to Page another 3 hours

North Rim (by car)
✅ quieter, less crowded, more nature and forest
✅ spectacular views from Bright Angel Point
✅ less well-known but impressive hiking trails
❌ only open from May to October
❌ longer drive from Las Vegas (approx. 5-5.5 hours)
❌ another 3.5-4 hour drive to Page

35 dollars for goose bumps

After some deliberation, we decided to drive to the South Rim. We set Maricopa Point as our destination in the navigation system, which was located directly in the Grand Canyon Historic Village. Like most national parks in the USA, we also had to pay an entry fee to the Grand Canyon. The costs vary depending on how you travel (motorcycle, car, on foot), a private car cost us around $ 35. We would recommend that you find out about entry fees before visiting a national park. Some require a reservation, otherwise you will not be allowed to enter the park. Due to the very well-developed infrastructure in the village, we were able to find a parking lot near Maricopa Point and then walk to the rim. The view literally left us speechless - breathtaking. We had never seen anything like it before. But as they say - a picture is worth a thousand words. ⬇️

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We initially enjoyed a hike along the rim, but later decided to take the shuttle for a few stages - a welcome relief in the warm sun. After about two hours, we bought a sandwich in the village and then continued on to Page. To avoid suddenly finding yourself without a sat nav, we recommend downloading all routes for offline use beforehand. Also, don't be alarmed if you've suddenly traveled an hour into the future. Due to the time zones, your cell phone will switch to Mountain Time. It's best to set a fixed time zone here so that this doesn't happen(note: only when traveling in summer!). After we left the Grand Canyon, we drove almost the entire route with offline maps as we rarely had reception. To be honest, we had a very bad feeling, as there was nothing to see far and wide except darkness and a few small lights here and there. Without the internet and no local knowledge, it was a pretty scary experience.

Day 8: Horseshoe Bend - Antelope Canyon

Horseshoe Bend - nature in perfect form

The next day, after a leisurely breakfast, we set off for Horseshoe Bend. It was just a few minutes from the parking lot to the viewpoint. It is an impressive natural spectacle as the Colorado River winds its way around the massive sandstone boulder. However, caution is advised as there are marked paths but no railings along the edge of the cliffs.

Play of light and red sandstone walls

At 1 PM we had our long-awaited Antelope Canyon tour. Antelope Canyon is known for its impressive play of colors. Depending on the time of day and the incidence of light, the curved sandstone walls glow in deep red, bright orange, soft pink and purple. Particularly fascinating are the rays of light that penetrate through the narrow crevices and bathe the canyon in an almost magical atmosphere. The Antelope Canyon was already a big topic when we were planning our trip, as there are several tours on offer locally and we had to decide which tour was best for us. No matter where we have traveled so far, we knew that tourist tours are not our thing and so far we have done very well with this attitude. This was also a deciding factor when booking the Mystical Antelope Canyon Tour. This is led by locals and also gives an insight into the significance of Antelope Canyon for the Navajos. On the tourist tours, the groups are huge and, according to our research, you are pushed through the corridors so that you can't take in the canyon for yourself. On the Mystical Tour, there were four of us plus our local guide. We learned more about the formation, spiritual and cultural history of the canyon. Our guide always stopped at the best photo spots and was even kind enough to take photos of us - tips and tricks for the best canyon photo included! It was a very special and great experience and we can highly recommend this tour.

After the tour, we drove back to Las Vegas, as we wanted to make our way to Yosemite National Park over the next few days and the length of the route didn't allow us to do so without a stopover. In the evening we really felt the Las Vegas flair - Black Jack Time! Here we can definitely recommend tables with low stakes. The minimum bets vary greatly at the tables, as well as at the hotels.

Day 9: Death Valley

Before we set off in the direction of Death Valley National Park , we had to go to the airport to change our car. Unfortunately, we had a huge stone chip in the middle of the front windshield and were unable to continue driving. Here we can praise AVIS Preferred, we were able to exchange the car quickly and at no extra cost and continue our journey.

The merciless silence of Death Valley

The drive through the so-called "Valley of Death" was a completely new experience. There was less vegetation and the landscape was covered with boulders and sand dunes. The thermometer recorded a temperature of over 52° C, which of course didn't leave us cold - 😅. We didn't dare turn off the engine and only got out for a few short minutes. As soon as we got out, we could already feel the sun's rays on our skin as if small pinpricks were penetrating it. Sometimes you could see people walking right up to the sand dunes and taking photos, which was too dangerous for us in this heat. An important tip in this respect is to make sure that the tank is 100% full. To our surprise, we drove really steeply uphill for a long time as we left the valley - over the Panamint Range mountain range. Since our new rental car was a hybrid, we also underestimated the loss of gas. Fortunately, we made it over the mountains and to the next gas station, but our hearts stopped more than once. The distance to Yosemite National Park was too far, so we stayed one night in the small Californian town of Bishop.

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Day 10: Mammoth Lakes - Yosemite National Park

Mammoth Lakes - A piece of home in the Californian mountains

On the way to Yosemite National Park, we stopped off in Mammoth Lakes to enjoy the impressive natural surroundings. In winter this is a famous ski resort and in summer there are great hiking trails and mountain bike routes. The area was such a contrast to the desert and rocky landscape of the previous days. Mountains, meadows, lakes and cooler air were really a pleasant change.

Lower Yosemite Fall and an unexpected bear visit

After a little refreshment, we drove to Yosemite National Park, where there are a few things to bear in mind. Tioga Road is closed until the beginning of June. This road makes it possible to drive directly into the park if you are coming from Las Vegas. Due to the closure, it is not possible to make an exact plan with Google Maps before the beginning of June, as it is not possible to access the park via this road. Updates can be found on this official page, where all information about the clearing and opening of the road is given: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm In order to be allowed to drive into the park, you need a reservation, which must be booked in advance, costs about $ 30 per car. As we drove into the park again and again over the next few days, we bought a 3-day pass.

As our hotel was on the other side of the park at the Arch Rock Entrance, we decided to explore part of the park before checking in. At our first stop, a sign warned us of the danger of bears. As we didn't have much time left that day, we drove to Lower Yosemite Fall, a breathtaking waterfall. There are several parking facilities nearby and the waterfall is easy to reach on foot. There are also several longer hiking trails to Yosemite Fall.

As we walked back to the car, we had bear contact in the wild for the first time in our lives. We were glad that the park rangers were already there to look after the bear. It was a baby bear and everyone knows that where there's a baby, there's a mama. However, mama bear remained hidden and so the rangers only had to deal with getting the little bear out of the trees and back into the forest. The visitors were asked by the rangers to move on and not to stop so that the bear would dare to come down from the tree. There are always signs in the park itself with the rangers' numbers. If you see a bear near a settlement, you can contact them.

Day 11: Yosemite National Park

Vernal and Nevada Falls: natural wonders in Yosemite

We drove back into the park very early to start with a hike to two waterfalls. Here we combined two hiking trails, the John Muir Trail and the Mist Trail. This allowed us to climb up to Vernal Falls (approx. 1.5 hours) and descend via another trail to the starting point of the Happy Isles Bridge (approx. 1.5 hours). The ascent itself was easy as far as the Vernal Falls Footbridge and easily doable even if you are not in good shape. After that it became steeper and there were some steps towards the end. You should really only continue here if you are sure you can manage it. The steps are wet and the stairs are rather narrow overall, so you really need to be careful here as there were a lot of people around on this day too. After taking a short break and pictures at Vernal Fall, we walked back via the John Muir Trail, as the ascent to Nevada Fall would not have been possible in terms of time. It wasn't just the nature and the views on this trail that were unique. But also the many animals that we encountered on the hiking trails. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any bears but rather smaller companions. The weather in Yosemite was much more pleasant than in Las Vegas, but even at 30° C we longed to cool off. So we decided to find a spot near the Merced River to cool off in. There are several swimming and picnic beaches by the river, and we found a special spot right in front of El Capitan - breathtaking!

Glacier Point: Where the sky suddenly changed its plan

After about an hour, we decided to drive to Glacier Point. This viewpoint is located at an altitude of around 2,200 m and offers a spectacular view of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley and the two waterfalls we had already visited in the morning. Half Dome in particular is one of the most famous landmarks in Yosemite National Park due to its striking half-dome shape. On the way there, we saw another animal that we had never seen in the wild before. A wolf trotted calmly across the road in front of us and then disappeared into the forest.

Just as we were about to visit another viewpoint, it started to hail. We'd never experienced hail like this before and we were really worried that our new rental car would have to be replaced afterwards. The temperature cooled from 30° C to 10° C and we tried to attach our sun visor to the outside of the car to protect the windshield from the huge hailstones. The few seconds when our hands were stretched out of the car hurt a lot. The parking lot and the road were completely covered in water, like a river. It wasn't until half an hour later that the weather had calmed down enough for us to dare to leave the parking lot and drive down the mountain. There was so much hail on the road and at the edge of the forest that it looked like it had snowed.

Day 12: San Francisco

A city you feel before you see it

The route from the national park to San Francisco was approx. 200 mi and therefore took 3.5 hours. Although we would have liked to drive over the famous Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, we had to make do with the Oakland Bay Bridge. Nevertheless, it was a very cool feeling to drive over the long bridge and listen to Scott McKenzie singing "San Francisco" - If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair ... 🎶. We checked into the hotel and first of all had to solve the "parking problem". Unfortunately, San Francisco is not only known for its openness, but also for car break-ins. Poverty has risen again due to the coronavirus pandemic. For this reason, you should never leave anything visible in your car anywhere in the USA, especially not at tourist hotspots. These places, as well as obvious rental cars, are particularly susceptible to break-ins. We were lucky enough to have a parking garage just around the corner. However, as in the other cities, parking was not cheap. The parking garages often cost $30-60/day, especially in central locations. In total, parking cost us around $400 during those weeks, and only rarely was a parking space included free of charge with the hotels. Once we had parked our car safely, we asked the hotel staff for their first tips for San Francisco and then went straight to one of the restaurant recommendations - Fino. This Italian restaurant was a perfect introduction to San Francisco.

Day 13: San Francisco

Steep stuff - how the Big Bus saved us from sore muscles

The best tip for San Francisco is the BIGBUS San Francisco, which was the most important means of transportation for us. When we were planning our trip, we opted for a combined ticket, which not only included the bus's daily route with the city's most important sights, but also a city walking tour and a trip to the famous Alcatraz prison including an audio guide. The "Explore Ticket + Alcatraz" cost us $160, but it was definitely worth the money. The bus saved us the additional cost of public transport and the strenuous walk. As San Francisco is built on steps, you are always walking steeply uphill or downhill. There was a bus stop just a minute's walk from our hotel, which was also handy. From there, we first drove through a district that should be avoided on foot: the so-called Tenderloin district. It would actually be quite interesting due to its theater and cultural scene, but unfortunately the streets are characterized by homelessness and drug addiction. As a tourist, it is therefore advisable to be particularly careful there and to think twice before visiting the district. Our first hop-off stop was Stop 8 "Alamo Square". Here we were able to reach the famous Painted Ladies in just a few minutes. The Victorian houses are also known from series such as Full House or the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.

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Karl - the secret star of the Golden Gate Bridge

We then made our first attempt at the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but unfortunately there was no sign of the Californian summer in San Francisco. The 20° C felt like an icy 15° C on the open top of the bus. You should definitely pack warmer clothes for San Francisco. A warm sweater and a windproof jacket are a must. According to the locals, the highest temperature, even in summer, is 22° C and the wind is almost always blowing, even Karl accompanies you day in and day out. "Karl the Fog" is the unofficial mascot of San Francisco and even has his own Instagram account. The city is often covered in a thick blanket of fog, especially in the morning - particularly in the summer months. The locals affectionately call this fog "Karl", which has since become a bit of a local legend. We decided to drive to the Golden Gate Bridge again the next day to see more sun.

Next, we stopped at the pier and strolled along the promenade. The pier is really recommendable, small stores, nice restaurants and cool artistic alleys can be discovered here. The last hop-off stop for us that day was Chinatown. It was relatively close to our hotel, so we were able to walk through the district and let all the impressions sink in. The design of the district is really something very special and well worth seeing. At the end of the day, we decided to go to a Mexican restaurant, which not only had delicious tacos on offer, but also cocktails and an amusing barman - we highly recommend the Matador!

Day 14: San Francisco

A high-security classic - a must-see program with goosebumps

On this day, our ferry departed early in the morning from BigBus Stop 15 "Pier 35" to Alcatraz Prison Island. Be careful - you have to pick up your tickets for Alcatraz at Pier 39 the day before. The ferry departed on time and the crossing was very pleasant and provided a great view of the city skyline. The day was very sunny and so the island with the prison didn't seem as gloomy as we had expected. You could buy an information booklet in your own language on site and were given an audio guide upstairs in the prison itself. Walking through Alcatraz and seeing the most famous inmates in pictures was on the one hand a strange and overwhelming feeling, but on the other hand it was also exciting to see what happened there. The cells were very small and contained only a rickety bed and a toilet bowl. Everything was very cold and in winter it was probably freezing temperatures. The audio guide told us about the most spectacular escape attempts and about life on Alcatraz. In our opinion, if you are in San Francisco, a tour of this island is a must.

Golden moments & curvy classics

As the sun was shining that day, we decided to drive to the Golden Gate Bridge again and try our luck. We went to the "Battery Spencer" viewpoint and as we climbed the small hill we could see signs warning of car thefts and pickpockets. You really should take care of your belongings here. Once we reached the top, the view was fantastic and we were able to take some great pictures of the bridge.

We ended the day with a visit to the most curved street in the world - Lombard Street. The street was full of tourists and much smaller than expected. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see how the cars squeezed through the narrow street.

Day 15: San Francisco

A day for the soul (and the memory card)

On this day, we decided to take it slow. We got a late start to the day after a hearty breakfast at Honey Honey Cafe & Crepery. In our opinion, they have the most delicious crepes and waffles in the whole city! What we can't recommend is a men's haircut, which costs a whole $60 for about 15 minutes. Afterwards we went back to the room and edited the pictures from the last few days and just rested a little. In the late afternoon, we decided to visit the Japanese Tea Garden. The garden itself was really beautiful and we really liked it, but even after the visit we were still divided in our opinions. The ticket cost $15 and in our opinion this was very expensive for the size of the garden. At the end of the day, we took a ride on one of the famous cable cars.

Day 16 to Day 19: Santa Barbara

California Cool-down

After a hearty breakfast, we set off early for Santa Barbara - after all, it was around a five-hour drive to our hotel. Once there, we headed straight to the beach. In contrast to the big cities, it was a pleasant change to explore a smaller coastal town. A local gave us a few restaurant tips and also told us the name of the "shopping street" in Santa Barbara - State Street. There we found a great bar with tasty cocktails - The Cruisery.

We spent the last few days of our trip relaxing by the hotel pool, walking along the beach and visiting cozy cafés. Slowly "winding down" before our journey home was important to us - to process all the impressions of the past weeks and to consciously get back into a relaxed state before everyday life at home caught up with us again. Here's a final tip from us: set a reminder for the flight check-in. Time flew by and so we missed checking in on time and had to make do with the remaining seats.

Facts

• Important: Before traveling to the USA, the ESTA must be applied for online!
• Period: July 3 - 21 (19 days in total until the return flight)
• Flight: Direct flight from VIE - LAX (Austrian Airlines)
• Car rental: AVIS middle class car
• Hotels:
  (Highest rating is 5-⭐️)
  • Los Angeles - The Adler a Hollywood Hotel (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [6141 Franklin Avenue 90028 Los Angeles (California) USA]
  • Santa Monica - Hotel Carmel (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [201 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA US]
  • Palm Springs - The Saguaro Palm Springs (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [1800 East Palm Canyon Drive 92264 Palm Springs (California) USA]  
  • Las Vegas - Caesars Palace (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV US]
  • Page - Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel (⭐️⭐️)
    [716 Rimview Drive 86040 Page USA]
  • Las Vegas - Bellagio (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South 89109 Las Vegas (Nevada) USA]
  • Bishop - Vagabond Inn Bishop (⭐️⭐️)
    [1030 N Main St, Bishop, CA US]
  • Yosemite National Park - Yosemite View Lodge (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [11136 Highway 140 95318 El Portal (California) USA]
  • San Francisco - Kensington Park Hotel (⭐️⭐️)
    [450 Post Street 94102 San Francisco (California) USA]
  • Santa Barbara - Best Western Plus Santa Barbara (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
    [2220 Bath Street, Santa Barbara]
• Restaurants, bars & more:
  • Los Angeles
    • Sweet Lily Bakery Cafe & Catering
      [3315 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles, CA 90068, United States]
    • KA'TEEN
      [6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States]
    • For the Win
      [6221 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States]
    • Espresso Cielo
      [1431 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States]
  • Palm Springs
    • Viet Fusion
      [1775 E Palm Canyon Dr STE 625, Palm Springs, CA 92264, United States]
  • Las Vegas
    • Vanderpump Cocktail Garden
      [3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States]
    • Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
      [3500 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States]
  • San Francisco
    • Fino
      [624 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States]
    • Matador
      [679 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States]
    • Honey Honey Cafe & Crepery
      [599 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States]
  • Santa Barbara
    • The Cruisery
      [501 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States]
      
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