After experiencing the many highs of the adult playground many refer to as Sin City, if you are planning a road trip from Las Vegas to LA, you’re in for a relatively short (approximately 300 miles) but rather dull trip.
If you have a car full of tired, restless kids, a four hour trip can feel like a lifetime. Why not break up your trip by stopping off at some of the many gems you’ll find en route to the City of Angels? Here are some recommended hot spots you and your family may want to check out.
Some like it hot
Death Valley National Park is just a few hours’ drive from Vegas, and is seriously hot, regularly breaking heat records, so don’t forget to stock up on sun block and bottled water. Beside the stunning scenery, you can explore abandoned mines, ghost towns, and pay a visit to Furnace Creek, the parks headquarters.
Here you can take a look around the visitor centre, grab a bite to eat and even play a game of golf if your schedule allows it. The Furnace Creek Golf Course claims to be the lowest in the world, at 214 feet below sea level.
Moving onto Badwater Basin, you can see the magnificent beauty of the salt flats, and enjoy the lowest and hottest point in the Western Hemisphere. From here you can see the snow-capped Sierra Mountains, which may seem a touch surreal in such extreme heat.
View with a chill
If the desert heat has begun to take its toll, head to Big Bear, where acres of lush green pine forests surrounds the glistening lake. During winter, avid skiers flock from all over Southern California, but in summer it’s the perfect spot to check out the awesome views from Mount San Gorgonio. Enjoy a family picnic whilst you take in the views of the Palms Spring desert and surrounding mountains.
San Francisco has a pretty comprehensive public transport network. When driving, trams, trolleybuses and buses get right of way, so make sure to stop for them. Like neighbouring Los Angeles, San Francisco suffers from extremely heavy rush hour traffic. However, driving at any time except early mornings and evenings should be fine. Main tourist office is at 900 Market Street. According to Mike Callaghan a spokesperson and Head of Argus Car Hire.
Alternatively, you could treat your family to a decent, all American combo meal at The View Haus BBQ, where you can enjoy Wild Bill’s Cheeseburger or the Blazin’ Pulled Pork. If you want to cool down and experience a small piece of history, hop aboard the Time Bandit Pirate Ship (featured in the 1981 movie Time Bandits) which cruises along the big Bear Lake between April and October.
A spot of historic luxury
If you don’t mind splashing out and want to stay somewhere which oozes class, The Mission Inn Spa in downtown Riverside is the place to see and be seen. The five-storey structure is incredibly grand and has a guestbook including such names as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Barbara Streisand and Betty White.
