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Golden Gate Bridge

USA

BACKPACKING THE
UNITED STATES

The USA is enormous and within its vast land mass are some of the most Iconic cities, beaches, countryside and tourist attractions in the world. It is a melting pot of music, film and fashion and home to some of the biggest sports personalities and venues on the planet. The USA is also the home of alien tourism and film tourism, after all, who does not want to rent an RV and pretend they are Walter White? 

Washington

English

United States Dollar

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OUR WEST COAST JOURNEY

BACKPACKING CALIFORNIA

Exploring San Francisco, Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Las Vegas and Arizona In 10 days.

California Dreaming? We don't stop! Known for Silicone Valley, the Golden Gate bridge, Napa Valley and Sonoma (Valley of the Moon), the stunning and diverse west coast. If you are thinking about a trip then let us help inspire you.

TAKE ME TO 0.1. GETTING OUT OF THE AIRPORT

TAKE ME TO 0.2. SAN FRANCISCO

TAKE ME TO 0.3. THE WINE REGION

TAKE ME TO 0.4. THE WEST COAST

TAKE ME TO 0.5. LAS VEGAS

TAKE ME TO 0.6. THE GRAND CANYON

TAKE ME TO WHERE NEXT?

0.1.

GETTING OUT OF THE AIRPORT

San Francisco airport

SFO 

Welcome

Arriving Into San Francisco

From San Francisco International (SFO)

Option 01

Public Transport take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport) 20 minutes to - Montgomery St.

Preload a Clipper Card

Option 02

Car rentals available at SFO

Better option when leaving the City/ Bay Area

Option 03

Don't forget, San Francisco is the home of UBER, so if you cannot get one from here ...

20 minutes later

San Francisco Tramline portrait photo

SAN FRANCISCO 

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BACKPACKING SAN FRANCISCO

For Backpackers it is easy to start your San Francisco Adventure. Simply jump on the BART and you will be on the bay coastline or in the thick of the city in no time at all. Once there there are a number of must see places, you will have plenty of accommodation options to choose from and and like all good cities, San Francisco will keep you busy all day and night. If you have three days here, you will be able to hit the majority of the famous sites at a relaxed pace. If you are a walker, and plan routes well, you don't have to set foot in a car. Get ready for an unforgettable stay in a city surrounded by water. 

0.2.

Eat

Seafood

Pastries

Drink

Coffee

IPA

Cocktails

Do

Museums

Parks

Architecture 

Bars

China Town

GG Bridge

Piers 

Travel

Walk 

Uber

Lime

Cable Car

Stay

Hostels

Backpackers Map of San Francisco

Time

3-5 Days

Where To Stay

Lets start with where to drop your bags. There are a lot of options in San Francisco. Budget between $30 - 50 Dollars a night for a dorm. 

Green Tortoise

A comfortable stay in a central location, and a great place to do laundry! At 29 dollars a night not only is it a good hostel it is also a good price point and close the night life of Broadway.  

HI San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf

An awesome location near Fisherman's Wharf, this hostel is right by the bay. 

HI San Francisco - Downtown

More expensive at around £45 a night Hi Downtown has been voted the most popular hostel in San Francisco in 2018 and 2020. 

ITH Pacific Tradewinds Hostel

Again more expensive around $50 dollars a night but highly rated and in a great location. Perhaps one where the staff elevate the experience over the design of the hostel.

Lombard Street Iconic View

SF

Lombard St

A view of Lombard Street

SF

Lombard St

What To Do

Golden Gate

Grab a bicycle from Unlimited Biking San Francisco to do the Golden Gate Trail and stop off at Palace of Fine Arts on the way back

Alcatraz

The iconic prison, book tickets ahead of time as this is a popular tourist attraction 

Lombard Street

The red brick flower laden road, this is a beautiful street, go early to avoid mass tourism.

Pier 39

A vibrant pier full of arcades, sweet treats and food outlets

An image of Fishermans wharf dock

Fishermans Wharf

San Francisco

Architecture Tour &

Day Itineraries

Fishermans Wharf

Grab a bicycle from Unlimited Biking San Francisco to do the Golden Gate Trail and stop off at Palace of Fine Arts on the way back

Salesforce Building

The iconic prison, book tickets ahead of time as this is a popular tourist attraction 

Ferry Building

Transportation hub with great coffee and bakeries as well as bohemian shops selling some great items

China Town

One of the most famous china town locations in the world, a beautiful place to stroll through 

Broadway

Evening drinks and theatre location find live comedy or music in this area

Where to eat

Once you have finished in the city a car is going to be very useful for exploring the coast and wine regions. Car rentals are available in the city center and back at the airport if you want to return a car at the airport. Lets get out of the city and see that beautiful Californian Countryside. 

Napa Valley mountains photo

NAPA VALLEY

0.3.

THE WINE REGION

Around 50 miles north of San Francisco you will come across two Valleys, the world famous Napa Valley, and the lesser known (but equally as beautiful). Sonoma is smaller, less 'touristy' and has a very picturesque square at the heart of the town which is great for food and wine tastings.

 

Napa town itself feels more like a spring board to the very long linear vineyard valley. There is an overwhelming quantity of vineyards which makes it incredibly hard to choose where to go. This has left owners not only cultivating grapes, but also cultivating innovative ideas in order to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.  

​In this ever-crowded marketplace, the fusion of tourism and inventive vineyard offerings has become a win-win, enriching the wine-tasting adventure for visitors while helping vineyard owners establish their brand's identity in the hearts of consumers.

 

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Eat

Charcuterie

Seafood

Drink

Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay

Merlot

Do

Wine Tasting

Shopping

Hiking

Travel

Drive from San Francisco

Car needed

Stay

Air BnB

Hotels

Backpackers Map of Sonoma Valley

Time

3-5 Days

Donum Estate Winery Entrance Photo

Donus Estate

Napa Valley 

A Few Vineyard Favorites To Explore

Donum Estate Winery

Combining contemporary wine with contemporary art, a truly unique experience. 

Kunde 

A modern place to visit, you can get a 90 minute long cheese and wine tasting, walk ins welcome and a good price point

Kenwood

Lesser known but an incredible bottle of fizzy white wine that will leave your palette refreshed

 

Matanzas Creek Winery

A beautiful building that has dedicated areas for lavender which smell divine when flowering

To the coast 

Jack London National Park

American author and journalist best known for his adventure novels and stories. Explore the cottage where Jack London lived. Hike trails that wind through the picturesque Sonoma Valley landscape.

Baltimore Canyon Preserve

A beautiful set of trails in the quaint town of Larkspur. These trails will take you through wood lands and open up to breath taking views. Once you are finished Larkspur will have you covered for a well earnt glass of wine and a bite to eat. 

Sonoma Town

The heart of Sonoma has a public square off which you will find shops, eateries and Sonoma State Historic Park for a bit of culture too. 

 

Jack London national park view

Jack London

National Park

Hiking Time

West Coast Peninsular image of rocks and blue sea water

WEST COAST 

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0.4.

THE WEST COAST

The West coat will blow you away. Just driving the coast road is a worth while activity. If you get your hiking books on then you will rewarded again, and if you really brave you can even break out the swimming trunks

Lets jump in the car and head away from the bustle of San Francisco and explore some stunning coastal spots

Eat

Seafood

Drink

Coffee 

Do

Hiking

Beach days

Travel

Car essential 

Stay

Air BnB

Hotels

Campsites

Backpackers Map of California West Coast

Time

2-3 Days

Maps and trails? Head to the blog

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area

A beloved destination for both residents and visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area, offering a mix of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and historical significance. You will need a car to explore this area. The peninsular has ample parking for free and many different fork roads to explore. Spend half a day walking some routes 

Larkspur

Larkspur is just up the road as mentioned about its a great spot, if you spend a morning at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, have lunch here before heading onto Point Reyes Peninsula

Golden Gate coastline view

Golden Gate

Fox Trail

Heading North From San Francisco

Point Reyes landscape picture

Point Reyes

Cape

 Point Reyes Peninsula

71,000 acres of land, including coastal bluffs, forests, grasslands, and estuaries this area is also home to Point Reyes Lighthouse and Point Reyes Light Station. These lighthouses have played a crucial role in maritime navigation along the California coast

Bodega Bay

Hiking, birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, and surfing. The Bodega Bay State Marine Reserve and Bodega Head State Marine Conservation Area are protected areas that support marine life and provide opportunities for wildlife observation. If you want to swim, the Doran Regional Park (paid entry) is one of the most protected places to do so along the West coast. It is also a camp site for those with an RV or wanting to pitch a tent. You also have a plethora of restaurants here.

Coffee Tip

If you need to top up you reusable cup then you will find Cafe Aquatica along the coastal road in a small town called Jenner. This is a great cup of Joe to accompany you along the scenic route

Sea Ranch 

Developed in the 1960s as an experiment in environmentally sensitive and modernist architecture. Integration with the natural environment and minimalistic design is the overarching concept of Sea Ranch. A stunning location you can stay here as a west coast get away or just visit for a coffee, some food and a walk around the stunning coast line. 

A picture of houses at sea ranch

SEA RANCH

Residential

Once you are done exploring the Californian coast, head back to the airport drop of the car and get ready for a flight to Las Vegas. I am not usually one to opt to fly as a first choice but this is perhaps one of the times to do so. Las Vegas is an hour from San Francisco or a 13 hour trip by bus with the costs not being dissimilar, especially if you are travelling light! Lets go to Vegas

Ready for Vegas?

Huge Hard Rock cafe neon sign

LAS VEGAS 

0.5.

LAS VEGAS

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A solo visit to Las Vegas is an unusual experience. But on your own, you can see a heck of a lot in a short space of time. A truly surreal place, sin city will leave you pontificating about the manipulation of human psychology and the effects of tourism on the environment. Fundamentally, Vegas is about removing yourself from the social norms. A mecca of gambling, a culinary adventure, a playground of memorabilia, a lay by the pool with cocktail, no matter what you want from Vegas, it will do its best to provide  Lets explore the fabulous Las Vegas. 

Eat

Seafood

Drink

Cocktails

Do

Casinos

Fremont Street

Walk the strip

Travel

Walk

Monorail

Uber

Stay

Air BnB

Hotels

Campsites

Time

2-3 Days

The Luxor Temple Hotel

Staying in Vegas

From the airport take an Uber! An Uber is far far cheaper than the taxi companies that line up waiting for the thousands of passengers. You do not need a vehicle in Vegas but you do need your walking legs. 

This is one place where a hotel is probably going to be a good option, however if you are solo, be prepared for a solitary trip, there is one highly recommended hostel (Sin City Hostel) in Las Vegas, click the house above to be linked directly to it. With hostel options you will be slightly further away from the main action of the strip. Do not underestimate how long it takes to get from one place to the next in this city. Luxor was a comfortable option for a 4 night stay.  

Luxor Temple hotel entrance

Luxor Temple

Hotel

Hotels have linking trams and there is a monorail that can get you from north to south.

 

I would recommend taking the Monorail just to experience Las Vegas. Take the complete journey north to south during the day and again at night to see the transformation of the city. Its possibly one of the cheapest and easiest ways to see Vegas, you also get to go past the recently completed 'Sphere' riding past it on the monorail in the evening is an enjoyable experience in itself.

Getting Around In Las Vegas

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Must Visits In Las Vegas

The Neon Museum

Book tickets early for a night tour old neon signs

The Mob Museum

A look at the history of this city and its players

Pinball Hall Of Fame

A great way to lose a few hours and next door to Harley Davidson, this is essentially a warehouse with machines of past and present! A lot of fun.

Fremont Street/ Downtown Vegas

If you head down town to the Mob Museum, then you are a stones throw away from Fremont Street where you will get what can only be described as a festival vibe!

Neon Museum photo

Neon Museum

Downtown

The famous Las Vegas sign of the fabulous Las Vegas

Las Vegas

The Sign

The Fabulous Las Vegas

You have to get one for the picture book no matter who you are, but once you have got a photo from the iconic sign, Harley Davidson is only 100 meters away and well worth a visit

Harley Davidson

If you are into bikes this shop is massive with merch and loads of bikes! It is extremely close to the iconic Las Vegas sign.

Helicopter Tour

If you are feeling flush you can get a flight straight down the strip at sunset or night time hours

Food & Drink

You can get free drinks I hear you say check out our blog post on this because it is true (kind of). 

Eating and drinking in Las Vegas

To the Grand Canyan

Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON 

0.6.

THE GRAND CANYON & HOOVER DAM

A short bus ride from Las Vegas you can get to Arizona where you will find the iconic Grand Canyon. A bucket list item for many and for good reason. This beautiful pieces of geology is vast and colourful. Booking tickets is easy with a large number of providers offering day tours. The majority will pick you up and drop you off from your hotel. The south rim tour with skywalk is a lot of fun, do NOT do the skywalk if you are not good with heights! I went with Sweetours (click the icon below for a direct link). The guide was extremely informative and funny, the day ran smoothly, lets look at how it went

A picture over the Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam

Arizona

A Day Trip To The Grand Canyon

It will be an early start with pick up between 6 and 7 depending on where you are located. After this it is a short drive to an Ihope for breakfast. Its big, so if you are not a breakfast eater (like me) it may be best to inform the company prior to the day. 

Hoover Dam View Point 

From Ihop its around an hour to the hoover Dam. You get a good photo opportunity, but personally as an Architect I could have spend t a few hours here getting as close as possible. 

Grand Canyon West Rim 

The Canyon is the next stop an hour and a half down the road. Here depending on your package you get to do the skywalk (optional) and get lunch (optional). You get around an hour and a half here before moving onto the final stop

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