WEST COAST MAXXING – How to make the most of your time in the USA pt. 2

By Lucy Kyle, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, USA

In the second part of my guide to maximising your time in the US, here are the must see and do things for the west coast! 

SAN DIEGO, CA

San Diego was the first trip I went on with friends in the US, we went in November and although it wasn’t the typical California heat it was still very beautiful! La Jolla is a must see with dozens of sea lions and a beautiful beach, there is also a very cute shop called Smugglers Cove perfect for buying gifts and souvenirs. 

The old town is also beautiful, I recommend going to see the buildings in the late afternoon sun before grabbing food there. San Diego has incredible Mexican food as it is so close to the border. 

A walk along sunset cliffs is perfect for watching the sunset over the pacific and there are lots benches to sit on. Beware though, there are many low flying pelicans which have a tendency to poo on passersby!

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

The rest of this guide will be based on my friends and my west coast road trip at the end of our year abroad. We travelled to San Francisco on the California Zephyr Amtrak, a 52 hour train ride from Chicago to Oakland, with incredible views of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and so much else on this journey across the Midwest. 

In San Francisco we stayed in Fisherman’s Wharf which although hilly, was very walkable. There is great seafood here as well as many gift shops, and Pier 39 – a must see San Francisco attraction. I also recommend checking out the underrated Musée Mécanique for vintage arcade games and photo booths! 

We did a couple of day trips, firstly to Alcatraz island which was incredible taking a guided tour of the prison as well as learning about the history of the island and it being reclaimed by Native tribes after the prison was decommissioned. Also from Fisherman’s Wharf we walked to the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts, stopping in the Marina District for brunch, before continuing to walk up to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and getting coffee from Roundhouse Cafe. It is a lovely walk and the views of the bridge both from the beach and from the cafe are unbeatable.

LAS VEGAS, NV

The bright lights and desert heat of Las Vegas are unlike any other! Sin City has more to offer than just casinos and clubs, the Neon Museum and Fremont Street Experience are both fun evening activities.

I also recommend going to watch some live music while you are there, many musicians and DJs do Vegas residencies so it is a great opportunity to see an artist you love. We saw the Jonas Brothers perform which was so much fun! 

LOS ANGELES, CA

LA has so much to see and do so here are just a few unmissable highlights if you’re visiting! First of all sunset at Santa Monica, the palm trees, skaters and sea all look so beautiful together. You can walk or drive here from Venice beach and there are plenty of places to grab some food while watching the sunset. 

Secondly you can drive up surprisingly close to the Hollywood sign for pictures, just a quick drive through the hills and you will get unparalleled views of the iconic sign. Be careful though, parking restrictions are tight so make sure to park facing the direction of travel and close to the curb to avoid a ticket!

Driving through Beverly Hills you will feel like you’re in the movies surrounded by mansions and palm trees. Finally, make sure to head up to Griffith Observatory to see the city from above! The skyline of downtown LA is beautiful and get free parking in the amphitheatre parking lot.