My 3-week road trip in the American West

Ah the American West, a childhood dream

I could talk to you about it for hours.

As soon as I had a fairly permanent job that allowed me to plan my first trip, I didn't hesitate for a minute. The destination had always been there.

I've dreamed of walking the Grand Canyon since I was little, of walking the Hollywood Walk of Fame and so on.

For my first long-haul trip, I went alone, but I joined a group of people from all over the world who didn't know each other either.

And I must say that I have met some wonderful people and I still have contacts all over the world today, a few years later.

This tour was semi-free: a fairly organized part with accommodation or camping places, meals and another fairly free part where we could choose to do the activities we wanted.

Being a very small group of 10 people in a mini-van, with an American in my age group as driver & guide, allowed us to discover places off the beaten track of the classic circuits (My crush from that summer by the way, but that's another story ;-))

Four states in three weeks: California, Nevada, Arizona & Utah.

Experience the laid-back vibes of the West Coast and the glitz and glamour of Vegas. Experience the best of the American Southwest where out-of-this-world canyons, mountains and national parks dominate the landscape. That’s how I would sum up this journey.

Highlights:

• Visit the famous Alcatraz prison with a ferry ride in San Francisco Bay
• Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
• 4x4 ride in Monument Valley with the Navajos
• Relax on the beaches of San Diego, Venice Beach, Laguna beach, Santa Barbara
• City tour of major cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego
• Driving the iconic Route 66
• Savor the nightlife of extravagant Las Vegas
• Take numerous hikes through the most beautiful American national parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, Capitol Reef, Arches)

D1 – PARIS – LOS ANGELES:

 After an 11-hour direct flight from Paris, I arrived in Los Angeles early in the afternoon, local time.

To the hotel with the shuttle. I'm pretty jet-lagged but I hold on until a decent hour to go to bed.

The booked tour doesn't start until the day after tomorrow but I arrive a day early. So I can plan activities that aren't on the tour program in Los Angeles the next day.

So I naturally booked the same hotel as the meeting point at the start of the tour for this first night.

It has a restaurant and even a nightclub, on the outskirts of the city center.

D2- LOS ANGELES:

Got up very early to visit the Warner Bros Studios this morning.

As a fan of US cinema and series, I couldn't come to this city without doing this type of excursion.

And I was not disappointed. The tour lasted 3 to 4 hours. Trays from the series Pretty Little Liars who were in the middle of filming, at the museum of the most famous cars and accessories in cinema, everything was there.

And the cherry on the cake is to finish with a reproduction of Central Perk by Friends, in which we could take pictures of ourselves, it was great!

To continue to make the most of this first solo day in LA, after the studios, I headed to the Chinese Theatre, where many excursions were departing.

And off we went for a 2-3 hour tour of the city, Mulholland Drive, Hollywood and its steep hills, where the roofs of the stars' houses loomed, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach. Before returning to the hotel, exhausted but delighted to have given myself this extra day.

D3- LOS ANGELES- LAGUNA BEACH – SAN DIEGO:

Start of the tour, meeting with my "buddies" adventure during these three weeks.

Some came with friends, sisters or couples but there were 2-3 of us who came solo. We got on well during this first trip in a mini van, to explore the city quickly. (I realize that I did well to take an extra day to discover it more in depth)

Heading to San Diego for the first leg

On the way we stop for lunch facing the sea at Laguna Beach. There are few people on the beach - We sit on a hill overlooking the beach, facing this calm and this expanse of sea. Really beautiful spot to start this tour.

Arrival in San Diego in the middle of the afternoon after having done some shopping on the way to last us 2-3 days. Because yes we are camping during these 2 days in San Diego.

We spend the late afternoon on a beautiful beach in Jolla Beach, full of tanned bodies and bikinis. Welcome to California 😉

Early evening between setting up camp and a home-cooked meal to share our first evening together

Looking back, spending ¾ of this trip camping was great fun, those moments of conviviality around good meals, sleeping under the stars.

It wouldn't have had the same flavor if we were separated in hotel rooms. It also promotes communication between us and makes me practice my English as much as possible, as the only French speaker in the group.

D4 – SAN DIEGO

Today we head to the San Diego Zoo where we spend a few hours.

It was a first for me to see certain species like pandas, giraffes and even elephants.

It is huge and it takes time to go all the way around it.

In the afternoon, some of us go for a stroll in the city center, others go back to the beach. Everyone does what they want. We all meet up in the evening to watch a baseball game. It's Saturday night and it's a habit.

San Diego versus San Francisco.

What struck me the most was the atmosphere around us!

It was incredible, super fair play, a lot of people seemed to know each other and meet up every Saturday. Even the fans who weren't for the same team were patting each other on the back. I didn't understand the rules our guide was trying to explain to us but I have great memories of it.

What a way to end our stopover in San Diego in the best possible way.

D5/6 – ROUTE 66 – LAS VEGAS

And here we go to Vegas, baby!

Along the way we stop in the small town of Seligman, the start of the iconic Route 66 that we will follow for the majority of our tour.

Arriving in Las Vegas in broad daylight, I must say I am disappointed. Even though I know that the city lives at night, during the day, the Strip really doesn't look like much.

And in the end, apart from the casinos, there is not much to do I personally found, well not my thing.

Plus it was almost 42 degrees. So during the day several of us stayed at the hotel pool rather than wandering down this street that we were going to be walking on for a good part of the evening in the end.

In the evening, there is a flood of lights and neon lights. The excitement in the casinos, the spectacle of the Bellagio fountain, we don't know where to look first.

I'm not necessarily drawn to basic casinos but like everyone else, you can't be in Vegas without at least trying the slots.

Well, clearly luck was not with me and it was not the beginning of fortune.

On a second visit to Vegas a few years later, with two of my Danish friends from that tour, we saw a Chippendale's show and got tickets to see Steve Aoki play a big club.

Clearly we felt old-fashioned in front of these American women's outfits (a knee-length dress was already much too long ;-))

The three of us stayed in a suite at the MGM Grand for next to nothing. There I had the full Vegas by night experience.

D7/8 GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

When I imagined the parks of the American West, I projected myself to the Grand Canyon.

So to find myself facing this expanse, with this silence around me, I have to say that it was a shock.

Arriving in the afternoon, we just enjoyed the view at that time before going to our campsite for these 2 nights.

The next day, get up super early to go for a few hours of hiking in its depths.

Being on a trip in the middle of summer, the hikes had to be done early in the morning when it was not too hot yet, otherwise it quickly became unbearable and dangerous. The rangers kept a watchful eye at the entrances to the parks.

Lots of viewpoints along the way.

You feel so small in the face of this immensity, it's crazy.

On my second trip to the West, 2 years later, I went back through the Grand Canyon, at a different entrance this time. I still felt the same sensation as the first time. A must-see park to do.

D9- LAKE POWELL – WESTERN HOMESTEAD

Departure for Utah.

Along the way, we enjoyed the iconic view of Horseshoe Bend before taking a quick swim in the crystal clear waters of Lake Powell.

Arrived at our place for the night, a western farm, where we were able to pitch our tents.

Before being served a nice meal (barbecue rib of beef, corn etc.), we had the chance to go for a horse ride at sunset. Indescribable.

A true Wild West experience.

D10 – MONUMENT VALLEY

Certainly the experience that marked me the most from this trip and my favorite park (with that of Bryce Canyon)

Before arriving at the start of our guided jeep tour in the Navajo reservation, a stop was essential.

We stopped to take a photo of the legendary road that Forrest Gump takes in the eponymous film between two passing cars.

For me, for whom it is my favorite film, I was over the moon to immortalize this moment.

The guided jeep tour was super interesting. We went to discover the history of the Navajo Indians, the names given to each geomorphological formation.

We ended the day with a meal prepared by our Navajo hosts, dancing with them around the fire in the middle of the reserve.

Sleeping under the stars in the middle of this park, with the sound of wolves in the distance, will remain etched in my memory forever, I think.

Woke up at dawn to watch the sunrise at 5am in the heart of the reserve

A picture is worth more than a thousand words...No comment, one of my most beautiful memories to this day

We take the fairly long road to our next campsite for the night and to relax a little.

D11/12 – CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK – ARCHES NATIONAL PARK – MOAB

We're off to the peroglyphs of Capital National Reef Park before heading to Arches National Park. Where some 2,000 gravity-defying sandstone arches strike a pose. The red rock landscapes are magnificent.

The next day, we set off hiking again early in the morning to explore this magnificent park a little further, far and wide.

With as a final backdrop, before hitting the road again the next day, a superb sunset over these red rocks. Magnificent!

D13 – BRYCE CANYON

The road to Bryce Canyon is short, which allows us to start exploring it right away. With its rocky spires arranged in rows mixed with greenery in some places, it is part of one of the most beautiful parks in the American West in my opinion.

We move along strange and wonderful paths. We are transported out of time.

After these images full of our heads, we enjoy a free afternoon at our campsite.

D14-15 – ZION NATIONAL PARK

Before heading to Zion National Park, stop in the small town of Rachel. For a close encounter of the alien kind at the little A'Le'Inn.

And off we go for a hike of several hours in a colorful canyon to the summit ofAngels Landing for a 360 degree view of the incredible national park.

This hike is the one that left the biggest impression on me, because it was very steep and there was no protection or rope to climb (there were more for the descent).

You definitely don't need to be afraid of heights, but the view from the top is just incredible.

A must do if you stop in this park.

I did another hike when I came back two years later. It was also intense but no climbing this time. The reward at the top was worth it there too.

D16/17 – YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

After arriving the night before at a new campsite, here we are at Yosemite National Park. With its imposing giant sequoias, thundering waterfalls and granite peaks.

There is the option to either take a boat tour on the Merced River or hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls for breathtaking views every step of the way.

Of course, as I have been a hiking enthusiast since the beginning of this trip, I chose this option.

We were free to choose what we wanted, because it was quite physical and lasted quite a few hours, so not everyone necessarily felt like doing it.

We spent the day there in the end with a picnic stop, with a view of these magnificent waterfalls with rainbow colors at times.

D18/19 – SAN FRANCISCO

Back to civilization with the "City by the Bay", San Francisco, for 2 free days.

This is the opportunity to visit its must-sees: From the busiest street in existence, Lombard Street to Fisherman's Wharf.

Strolling across the Golden Gate Bridge

Visit the infamous Alcatraz prison after a bay cruise.

Board one of the "cable cars" from the city to explore further

Everyone gets what they want

Although we were treated to the famous "frog" During our stay, even in the middle of summer, it remains a city that I would like to return to discover in more depth.

We are staying in a fairly central hotel, and how can I tell you the joy of finding a bed after several nights sleeping in a campsite, it seemed like luxury to me.

J20 – MONTEREY

Beginning of our route along the California Coast.

We spend the day in Monterey, a small coastal town where we will spend the night in a small forest.

Monterey has a harbor that features a popular row of souvenir shops, seafood restaurants and bars housed in abandoned factories.

I even discovered a Breton creperie there! As you can see, we are really all over the world, Bretons, I see them everywhere I go in the world 😉

Our guide suggests that we go and watch the sunset from a place off the beaten track, little known. We have to climb a little bit, but since we are already at altitude, there is not a big climb to do. We find ourselves at the same level as the clouds, it is very special. This sky split in two: this expanse of foamy white and this yellow-orange sky which contrast with each other.

Like when you're in a plane and you see the clouds below you.

It was so quiet around us, no one said a word to soak in this extraordinary moment.

D20 – BIG SUR – SANTA BARBARA – LOS ANGELES

End of the circuit.

Before returning to Los Angeles, the last stop on this journey.

We go along Big Sur, on Highway 1, with its seascapes, which really remind me of my native Brittany.

We stop in Santa Barbara, where we enjoy the beach and stroll along the Pier.

Return to the hotel at the start of the tour in Los Angeles, for a last evening all together, enjoying the nightclub next to the hotel.

D21 – LOS ANGELES

Unlike my fellow travelers who were flying home, I once again allowed myself one last day in Los Angeles.

Indeed, still wanting to visit the studios and film sets, I spent a good part of the day at Universal Studios.

My goal was mainly to see the plateau of Desperate Housewives who were turning at that moment. I was a little disappointed because we couldn't get close to them (I don't remember why)

I did a few rides of course, even if I was there. I'm not particularly a fan of amusement parks, but there were several that were really nice.

Last solo evening so quiet at the hotel.

D22 – LOS ANGELES – PARIS

Return to Paris by direct flight again.

Tired from these three incredible weeks, but a good kind of tiredness of course... Images in my eyes, telling myself that I'll be back very soon.

And it didn't fail, the following year I did a tour along the entire East Coast of the United States from New York to Miami via Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans and so on.

And 2 years later, I returned to the parks of the American West, where I had the chance to visit again the places that had left such an impression on me during that first trip.

If you ever dream of taking this type of trip, definitely do it, it's a trip you have to do at least once in your life.

I want to go back again and again, I will never get tired of these landscapes which are among the most beautiful I have seen so far.

One of the best decisions of my life