Fly Drive is becoming more and more popular these days, with people wanting to explore more and more places in a short amount of time. An easy way to describe air travel is to book a plane ticket somewhere, pick up a car at the airport, and set off. Staying in hotels on the road because you can’t drive for a week or two without stopping!
There are many different types of flight boosters. You can stay in one city and drive to other nearby cities, or you can start in one city and end in another. This would be particularly good if you plan to go to the US, as you can see many more cities on your vacation, rather than staying in one.
One really wonderful fly trip is the west coast of the US Drive to places starting in San Diego, California and ending in Portland, Oregon. Before leaving, I advise you to read guides on the different areas of this trip and get some maps and study them, finding the best routes to follow. The guide below is a rough guide, so to get the most out of your trip, do some study!
Get started in San Diego, pick up your rental car, and voila! I recommend that you watch the sunset over this city, there are not too many huge skyscrapers, but only enough to give a wonderful view. There are plenty of places to stay here as well, which is where your guides will come in handy as they provide information on different types of places to stay, from the cheapest to the most luxurious. Some of the attractions in San Diego are the variety of museums such as the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and the District of Columbia, which has a variety of historic ship exhibits. There is also SeaWorld, Legoland, and the San Diego Zoo to visit.
Your next stop is a wonderful 2-3 hour drive along the coast on Highway No.5 towards Los Angeles. Before heading into town, if you feel like relaxing along Long Beach, there are some wonderful stretches of beach along this strip. This is a must-see city. You will definitely want to spend a few days here as there is so much to see. Head to Disneyland and Universal Studios for a fun-filled family park. Or go to Beverly Hills and Hollywood Boulevard and see the star-studded walkways, look inside the Kodak Theater where the famous Oscars are held, and indulge in some luxury shopping. Just make sure you have enough room in your suitcase for your next destination!
Next, we take a short detour up the coast, 4 to 5 hours in fact, to Las Vegas, Nevada. Now you will have to cross states, from California to Nevada, so have all your documents from your car rental company, driver’s license and insurance documents in case you are stopped and searched. It is also advisable to have your passport handy. Now Las Vegas is a sight to see in itself. The beautiful lights of the city at night are something to see. Also eat and eat in good restaurants and stay in some very elegant hotels like the Bellagio or the Ceaser’s Palace. Enjoy some of the many theatrical shows, such as the Blue Man Group, or you may have the opportunity to see performances by the Pussycat Dolls. Las Vegas is a wonderful city and you can even drive outside and see the Hoover Dam.
Once you are ready to leave Las Vegas, head down Route 95 for about 2-3 hours, again cross the border back to sunny California and you will find yourself in Death Valley National Park. Here you can enjoy walks and hikes. Keep in mind that it can be very hot, so take plenty of water with you! You can also camp at some of the May campsites and enjoy some inspiring views! It’s definitely worth staying the night, if you can cut through the heat.
The next destination is about 5 and a half hours away in a beautiful city called Fresno. Here are some wonderful things to do. If you go in season, you can enjoy the Fresno Country Blossom Trail, which is home to some of the best peaches, nectarines, plums, orange and almond trees in full bloom. Also a must see is the Forestiere Underground Gardens, which were built over 40 years and have some amazing trees growing underground. There is also a selection of hotels to stay in, after a 5 hour trip I think you will need it.
Now we will head back towards the coast towards San José. It should take about 3 hours. In San José there are many parks to relax and have a coffee and there are also many trails around the city to enjoy. You must visit the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph which is the oldest parish in California and also Raging Waters, the largest water park in Northern California with 23 acres and millions of gallons of water.
Now a nice short trip to San Francisco, you should be there in less than an hour traffic permitting, and there are plenty to do here. Play a round of golf if you’re on the road with the lads, then head to River Rock Casino or see Fishermans Bay and go to the Aquarium. A must see is the Golden Gate Bridge and a tour of the Jelly Bean Factory! There are many more attractions to see in San Francisco, but the ones I let you find are part of the fun of a Fly-Drive vacation.
Hit the roads again for an hour or two to Sacramento, the capital of California. There are many things to see and do in Sacramento, some of them include drinking and dining at some fabulous restaurants, visiting the many art galleries and museums, or simply taking a tour of the city. A must see is the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, which is a sundial but only 100% accurate on the summer solstice on June 21 or 22. Also the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which has 300 acres of tranquil gardens.
Another 2 hours straight, passing the Oregon border, you will stop in the town of Medford. This is the time to relax with Alba Park, Medford’s oldest, and also head over to Vogel Plaza to see if you attend one of the many events held here.
Back on the road, you will drive for another 3 hours or so until you reach the town of Eugene. It is home to a number of cultural organizations, so you will have many different shows that you can enjoy here. From dances to concerts to opera, it will suit everyone. You can also meet some outdoor enthusiasts here!
Go away again! We are getting closer to our destination. Drive for just over an hour to Salem. Bush’s Pasture Park, a 90.5-acre urban public park and botanical garden located just south of downtown, or the Enchanted Forest, a fairytale land where you visit medieval castles, walk along wooden sidewalks in the Wild West, Or maybe bump into a ghost in the haunted mansion. This is a small theme park and has attractions for children and adults with an alpine roller coaster, bumper cars, trains, and more. In one of its many restaurants there is a magnificent water show with colored lights that bounce off the water currents. Next door is another attraction, Thrillville.
Portland is only an hour away, which is filled with wonderful parks and open spaces. Visit Mt Tabor Park which is located on an extinct volcano, Forest Park which is the largest natural park spanning over 5000 acres, and also Mill End Park which is the smallest park at 2 feet in diameter . Besides this, Portland has many cultural attractions. Visit the Portland Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and History. Also go see the Opera or the Ballet.
Finally a wonderful 3 hour drive to Seattle and you have reached your destination. Here is the birthplace of grunge music, mainly famous from Nirvana and Pearl Jam, also from great coffee drinkers, Starbucks was born. Seattle is a regional destination for the performing arts. That is why it is worth going to Fifth Avenue to enjoy some of the musicals. Go see the Jimi Hendrix statue! Here you can lay your head down to rest before finally flying home from such a wonderful plane ride all over the West Coast.
I recommend that you spend a few days in each city if you can so that you can absorb everything and see everything you can see, if not, you will spend 7 to 10 days spending a few hours in each city and in a few cities overnight.
It’s also a good idea to have more than one driver so everyone can switch between cities. In this way, one person does not drive all the way.
Total distance: 1933 miles (3111 km)
Total driving distance time without stops: 1 day 9 hours.
I advise you to plan your trip thoroughly, making sure you have enough stops to rest, eat, and gas (which is very important, otherwise you won’t get anywhere!), And plan overnight stays in advance. Also, as I said before, learn the routes! Make sure you know exactly where you are going, gas stops, and all border lines.
Auto Europe offers a great car rental service for driving in the US and allows you to pick up your car at one destination and drop it off at another.