The Ultimate 10-Day USA Road Trip

The ultimate road trip. A right-of-passage to some, an all-American dream for others. If you know me then you know I love a good road trip, and this one is one of the best. Departing from Los Angeles and finishing in San Francisco, this route encompasses tons of incredible highlights in between the two cities. Adventure is guaranteed (and food, lots of food).

Los Angeles is the city of angels, home to Hollywood Boulevard, dotted with a myriad of film locations and home to the Kardashians, it’s one of the glitziest places on earth (yes I said glitzy, no I’m not 80). LA -as it’s also known – is a great place to get your famous-fix. Traverse the Hollywood walk of fame, marvel at the Beverly hills sign and spot the huge Hollywood sign all on day one.

You can’t embark upon an American road trip without making a pit stop along route 66 and Seligman makes an epic rest-spot. This picture-perfect place is famous for being the ‘birthplace of route 66’. Head on over to the Snowcap Diner for the best thickshake of your life (so i’ve heard, I missed it… sob). Seligman has a variety of photo opportunities; motorbikes line the street, old American cars are parked up next to classic american street signs and the shops here look like they’ve come straight from an old western film.

It’s hard to miss, both on this list and in real life. The Grand Canyon is huge and is an epic place to camp. Perfect for adventure enthusiasts, the Grand Canyon has fantastic hiking opportunities for budding adventurers. If you look closely (not too closely… please stay away from the edge…) you can see nearly 40 different layers of rock, carved out by the Colorado river over millions of years. Head to the rim to watch the sunset with other travellers and then go back to the campsite to chill and eat s’mores.

So, Vegas isn’t for everyone, and it is a little bizarre, but it is somewhere that I think everyone should experience at least once in their lives. It is WILD and, if you are down to party, then this is your place. Check into one of the many extravagant hotels, don your ‘out out’ gear and hop on a party bus down the strip. Check out the bellagio fountain, dive in and out of the crazy-cool variety of casinos and embrace the madness. Party the night away in one of the many clubs – I recommend the Paris casino, there is a club upstairs and the vibe is really cool – just make sure you dress-up, they have a strict ‘no shorts and trainers’ rule. Don’t forget to check out Fremont Street; you can spot people zip-lining over head, grab some food at Denny’s and avoid being photographed with Chippendales ( AKA the half-naked men being paid to have pictures with them…or do…they’re very convincing…) also have a bit of a giggle that Trump couldn’t get his tower on the main strip, hehe.

Camp just outside of Yosemite National Park (leave any toiletries and food in cars to avoid a visit from curious bears!) and head into the park for some of the best hikes you’ve ever seen. Yosemite’s winding roads and far-reaching vistas look like they’ve been pulled straight from a cinematic film. A perfect stop for adventure-enthusiasts, it’s a good place to stretch your legs and challenge yourself. There are a variety of hikes ranging from very easy, flat terrain, to much more challenging climbs. I did the Mirror Lake Trail and found this really easy, then I did the Mist Trail up to Vernal Falls and this was much more challenging (although really rewarding when you make it to the top!) After your hikes, make your way to the Half-Dome village to grab some pizza (yum) and see if you can spot free-climbers ascending El Capitan, or, if you’re lucky, a bobcat (I saw one sneaking through the Half-Dome Village).

OH my god. I loved San Francisco. The general vibe of the city is excellent; it feels fresh and welcoming and there is plenty to explore, especially for the adventure traveller. Check into a hotel/ hostel and explore the city. Obviously you need to head over to the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a must-see and great for some insta-worthy shots. Next, I recommend heading over to Bi-Rite Creamery to grab yourself some delicious ice cream (salted-caramel is the best seller!) and chilling in Mission Dolores Park. For an excellent LGBTQ+ scene head to the Castro District and visit Twin Peaks – one of the first openly LGBTQ+ bars to feature big glass windows – a fantastic symbol of expression to show how people should never have to hide.

In the evening head down to Fisherman’s Wharf and straight to Pier 39. Resembling Brighton (UK) on steroids, Pier 39 consists of a variety of attractions, shops, performers, restaurants and some very vocal sea lions! Join the crowds and wander the pier to find a restaurant and refuel. We sampled tacos at Wipeout Bar & Grill, a surf-shack themed eatery (highly commended!). Lastly, and potentially one of my absolute favourite things on this itinerary, is the Adventure Cat Sunset Cruise. I cannot explain enough how epic this was. As a lover of adventure travel, this was a stand-out experience for me. Head down to the pier (check the meeting place on their website) and hop aboard the catamaran for potentially one of the best sunset cruises in the world. Stand on deck as you glide over bobbing waves with pelicans flying overhead and watch the crew navigate the boat past Alcatraz. Make sure you have your camera ready as the boat passes underneath the Golden Gate Bridge (and if you time it right and go in the evening) the pastel colours of the sky provide the ultimate backdrop.

An epic end to an all-American road trip.