West Coast Road Trip: Iconic Itinerary

Day 1 and 2, Los Angeles

Arrival in Los Angeles to begin your West Coast road trip. Have a first look at the city, and settle in at your hotel for 2 nights. 

Teebsi tips:

Learn about the heritage and history of the city:

• Olvera Street, the ''birthplace of Los Angeles'' displays several museums, old structures, restaurants and other merchants. Enjoy mariachi music and authentic Mexican food. You can also join a historic walking tour by Las Angelitas del Pueblo every Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon  (check schedule).

• The California African American Museum conserves more than 3,500 objects of arts, historical artifacts and maintains a research library, all in the interest of preserving and interpreting the history, art and culture of African Americans.

Shop, eat, and visit to support the community and the environment:

• Enjoy fresh, local, plant-based food at Sage Vegan Bistro, and discover plant-based comfort food. In addition to their 4 locations around Los Angeles, they offer free delivery via their app. 

• Shop at Eso Won Books, an independent Black-owned bookshop that displays a range of books about and written by African American people. The store has seen an inspiring increase in business in June 2020 with the need for people to educate themselves on anti-racism.

• A cool way to explore the area is to go fruit picking in the city! One of Endless Orchard’s projects is to map all the fruit trees that grow in or over public space. 

Accommodation: Best Western Plus Dragon Gate

 

Day 3, Laughlin

Drive towards the southernmost tip of Nevada, Laughlin.

Teebsi tips:

Get off the main tourist path at Grapevine Canyon, located in the Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area, is a short 15 minutes drive from Laughlin. You will discover hundreds of petroglyphs on the large boulders at the entrance of the canyon.

Accommodation: Aquarius Casino Resort

 

Day 4, Grand Canyon

Morning drive to Grand Canyon, superb geological phenomenon. 

Teebsi tips:

• Walk along the South Rim to see one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring wonders in the world. Find more hikes on the official National Park website.

• Listen to or read some of the Native people's stories and what the Grand Canyon means to them to get an understanding of their cultural connection to the area. 

Accommodation: Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel

​

Day 5, Monument Valley

Leave for Monument Valley in the morning and drive along the Desert View Drive.

Teebsi tips:

• Experience Monument Valley on a horseback riding tour with a Navajo guide

• Get off the main tourist path in Valley of the Gods which offers the same kind of scenery without the crowds (it's a fun 17 miles dirt road!)

Accommodation: Monument Valley Inn

 

Day 6, Page

Page is your getaway to Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon.

Teebsi tips:

• Take a cruise on the Lake Powell to get a better view of this man-made reservoir on the Colorado River

• Visit Horseshoe Bend, a canyon formed in the shape of a horseshoe by the Colorado River. The overlook is 1,280 meters above sea level and the Colorado River is at 975 meters above sea level making it a breathtaking 305 meter drop.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Page - Lake Powell Area

 

Day 7, Bryce

Drive towards Bryce across the Dixie National Forest.

Teebsi tips:

• Go on a scenic hike to admire the Hoodoos on the Navajo Loop trail, that you can combine with the Queens Garden trail for a longer experience

• Drive past Bryce Canyon to Anasazi State Park Museum and step back in time to learn about the Ancestral Puebloans who were likely occupying the area from A.D. 1050 to 1200.

Accommodation: Ruby's Inn

 

Day 8 an 9, Las Vegas

On your way to Vegas we recommend a stop in Zion National Park, the oldest park in Utah.

Teebsi tips:

• Join the locals and get off the traditional tourist path in the Las Vegas Arts district. Still little-known among visitors, the neighborhood has seen a cultural explosion recently with new galleries featuring local artists, antique shops, and an impressive food scene.

• An unexpected view in the desert, the Seven Magic Mountains, seven towers of colorful, stacked boulders standing more than thirty feet high, by artist Ugo Rondinone, are a fun trip not far from Vegas.

Accommodation: Excalibur Hotel and Casino

 

Day 10, Mammoth Lake (or Bakersfield)

This morning, cross the Nevada desert on the way to Pahrump and Shoshone and enter California.

Teebsi tips:

• Inyo National Forest abounds with lakes; choose one or a couple and spend some time relaxing or rent a kayak, and get on the water. We recommend Lake Mary close to Mammoth Lakes for its easy access to water, or Lake Sabrina and Convict Lake on your way to Mammoth.

• Drive to Bodie State Historic Park to witness a real-life setting of the California gold rush. Peak inside the almost 200 abandoned structures of what once was a bustling town with more than 10,000 residents.

Accommodation: Mammoth Mountain Inn (or Hampton Inn & Suite Bakersfield North before June 30th 2021 and after October 6th 2021 and if the Tioga Pass is closed)

 

Day 11, Yosemite

Access to Yosemite National Park from the Tioga Pass if you're staying in Mammoth Lakes.

Teebsi tips:

• Once in Yosemite valley, park your car and switch to a bike, a fun and sustainable way to visit the park on the easy valley loop trail.

• Visit the reconstructed Indian Village of Ahwahnee, located on the former site of the largest Indian village in Yosemite Valley. 

• Take the time to cool down in the river or find a good spot to look for climbers on the famous El Cap!

Accommodation: Miners Inn Mariposa

 

Day 12 and 13, San Francisco

Drive down from the mountains and across the fertile agricultural lands of Central Valley then towards the Pacific to reach San Francisco.

Teebsi tips:

• Rent a bike near Fisherman’s Wharf and cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Enjoy the local galleries, shops and restaurants and when you’re ready, head back to San Francisco via the ferry. 

• Discover some of the hidden staircases streets of the city; the Filbert Steps in Telegraph Hills (look for the parrots!) to Coit Tower, Harry Street near Glen Park, and Pemberton Place on the way to Twin Peaks.

• Experience a diner show at AsiaSF, the world famous restaurant, cabaret and nightclub and a visionary pioneer in supporting the transgender community for over 20 years in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. 

• Shop for clothing, books, art, and furniture at Community Thrift Shop to find unique items while helping raise money for 200 Bay Area charities.

Accommodation: Hotel Vertigo

 

Day 14: check out and last day of your West Coast road trip

 

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. The final hotel list will be sent to you 15 days before your departure.