USA 2004 Planned Itinerary

	DAY 9 Say "goodbye" Lake Powell and Arizona, and drive into Utah, via the Vermillion Cliffs*, Atl Route 89 and Lee's Ferry, to Bryce Canyon*. (Utahtea's wonderful Bryce photos). Spend an hour or two here, before wending our way back down to Mount Carmel and, via the Zion-Mt Carmel Road, to Springdale, just outside of Zion National Park*.
	We are staying the night in paradise! The Desert Pearl Inn*, in Springdale, just outside the entrance to the park. Our room, which has a microwave and fridge, has a balcony or patio, overlooking the Virgin River*, surrounded by the high cliffs of Zion!
	DAY 10 *Must* have breakfast of bumbleberry pancakes in the Bumbleberry Motel* this morning! (Hope we won't giggle too much! :)). Then onto the Zion shuttle bus, into Zion Valley. (Actually, we should try to do this the evening before as, that way, we get to leave our cases at the hotel). OR, it is possible that we might drive straight here (yesterday) and 'do' Bryce Canyon this morning and drive to Vegas from there. It's a 'play by ear' thing.
	Then, a short hop of about 2.5 hours - returning briefly to Arizona, through the Virgin River Gorge, to Nevada and Las Vegas*.
	We decided not to stay on the Strip, as we don't have time to be wasting with queueing to check-in and park car, so we are booked into the Westgate Flamingo Bay* - a condo with 2 bedrooms, a couple of miles from the Strip (better pictures on Expedia). I suppose we'll have to trawl The Strip tonight though. White tigers, and volcanoes* (both at the Mirage) spring to mind. Must look around the Venetian too (and the Belaggio fountains).
	DAY 11 Everything has changed enormously, since the June bookings - now it's south from Vegas, instead of north! After, perhaps, a quick visit to Red Rock Canyon, and/or the Hoover Dam, it's down through the Mojave Desert, no doubt, stopping for a nose at Calico Ghost Town* (and here and here [check out the crumple!]) - on our way to Los Angeles! I know I said I'd never go there, but you have to, I suppose!
	We have two nights in Hollywood, booked into the BW Sunset Plaza Hotel* (and here), on Sunset Strip (West Hollywood) - certainly an interesting area - Interactive Map here) and probably a lot safer than Hollywood proper. We have tickets for the Hollywood Bowl* for tonight - where there is "Paradise Calling: A Night in the Tropics" (?) showing. Only $6 a seat (on a bench at the back!) - and you can take the shuttle from the Hollywood and Highland Center and even take a picnic!!
	DAY 12 All day to explore LA and environs. Will either have to take a taxi or a DASH bus to Hollywood Boulevard. (Or drive and park at the Hollywood and Highland underground car park), where we'll take a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard: Mann's Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame etc. Mustn't forget the Build-a-Bear!! Maybe a bus trip of the stars' homes? Or a one hour trolley tour with Starline Tours? Nah, probably not - we can stroll most places. Hopefully, we will have time to drive down to Santa Monica (which is really nice and has oodles of parking lots!) and Malibu, so we can touch the Pacific Ocean! Oh, and mustn't forget La Brea Tar Pits* (more pictures on here) . Perhaps the Hard Rock Cafe for some eats?
	DAY 13 Out of LA and up through the San Joaquin Valley, as far as Visalia and then we will turn off up into the Sierra Foothills, to Sequoia National Park*. We will be staying at the Wuksachi Lodge* (as featured in Chapter 4 of Abdul the Great's "Bear in the Wood"). We should pick up something to eat on the way here, as it's remote and the restaurant is expensive! Climb Moro Rock? (And here).
	DAY 14 To Yosmite - and first of all, a side-trip to Mariposa Grove* before reaching our 2-bedroomed duplex in Yosemite West - Cozy Bear Cottage* for two nights. Mustn't forget the groceries - but nothing for the bears!.
	DAY 15 A whole day to explore Yosemite National Park! It's going to be fabulous! What to do? The Valley Floor*, of course - and Glacier PointV (eek)* - and, whatever else we can fit in! (Roadside Geology of Yosemite Valley and USGS Geology of Yosemite NP).
	DAY 16 We will have to wend our way around Yosemite Valley* again this morning; that'll be hard - before exiting the park (probably dropping in on Groveland) and making our way to San Francisco*. I'm rather hoping that we shall have time to do a loop over the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge, to Sausalito and Muir Woods*, before, crossing the Golden Gate and having our first glance of San Francisco - and a quick sample of the city - probably at Fisherman's Wharf. Then we will continue down to our hotel for two nights, the The Pacifica Beach Resort*, (at Pacifica!) with a Pacific Ocean view, balcony and in-room jacuzzi! How wonderful to finish our long trip at the Ocean!
	DAY 17 To San Francisco for the day! (Interactive Map of SF). Probably, we might've driven quickly through here yesterday evening, but what to see? Oh we'll have to drive over the Golden Gate bridge* again, of course, for starters (we have to)! The 49-Mile Scenic Drive (and here) might be worth having a go at - not forgetting Ocean Beach*.
	Maybe back to Fishermans Wharf* (even if we already did it last evening). I am rather keen on seeing (and eating at) Ghirardelli Square*. Possible places for quick bites, include Frijtz Fries (strawberry crepes), Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop (hot fudge sundaes), Rainforest Cafe, Lori's Diner, Hard Rock Cafe and any number of other restaurants and seafood stalls on Pier 39. A 1-hour Bay Cruise would be nice!
	This evening, the short drive up to Chabot Space and Science Center, in Oakland, would be great! The have the biggest public telescope in the USA and they're open until 10:30.
	DAY 18 Breakfast at Denny's perhaps (if we can find one - ah here - 500 Linda Mar Boulevard!!). Then time for some last-minute shopping, or a drive to Half Moon Bay and to San Francisco International Airport via Highway 280 [and here],(yes, the San Andreas Fault runs right through the centre of the valley), for the 16:45 flight (BA284) to Heathrow, London.
	DAYS 19 and 20 Somewhere across America, or the Atlantic, we will enter a new day and land at Heathrow at 11:00am. From there we collect our car and return to the Sheraton - and the next day, we will drive home.

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