Sunday 27 May 2012

2012 Summer Adventure... USA Road Trip Itinerary


I recently mentioned in a blog post that I'm heading to the United States with G Adventures for between four and five weeks. I'm going to be flying out to Los Angeles on the 21st of June and won't be flying back until the 27th of July so I have to fill that time with lots of fun things! My G Adventures tour begins in San Francisco on the 30th of June and lasts until the 22nd of July traveling across the country hitting up big cities and national parks alike. So as you can see, I have about a week either side of my tour, one in Los Angeles (some of which time I'll be traveling to San Francisco in time for the tour) and one in New York city where my uncle is currently living so I hope to share some time with him there! I'll probably do a post about the things I'd like to do either side of my tour. HOWEVER, this post is all about my actual Coast-to-Coast Road Trip Eastbound itinerary, so check out what I'll be doing...

30th June 2012
5.00pm Arrive at Best Value Inn 505 O’Farrell Street For G-Adventures Tour!
Day 1 San Francisco



1st July 2012
Day 2 San Francisco/Yosemite NP (L,D)
3 hours travelling

2nd July 2012
Day 3 Yosemite NP (B,L,D)


3rd July 2012
Day 4 Yosemite NP/Bishop (B,L,D)
4 hours and 30 minutes travelling

4th July 2012
Day 5 Death Valley NP/Las Vegas (B,L)
7 hours and 30 minutes travelling

5th July 2012
Day 6 Las Vegas
FREE DAY



6th July 2012
Day 7 Las Vegas/Grand Canyon NP (L,D)
5 hours travelling

7th July 2012
Day 8 Grand Canyon NP/Monument Valley (B,L)
3 hours and 30 minutes travelling



8th July 2012
3 hours 30 minutes travelling
Day 9 Monument Valley/Mesa Verde NP
1 hour travelling
Mesa Verde NP/Durango

9th July 2012
Day 10 Taos/Santa Fe (B,L,D)
4 hours travelling

10th July 2012
Day 11 Santa Fe (B)
FREE DAY

11th July 2012
Day 12 Carlsbad (B,D)
6 hours 30 minutes travelling

12th July 2012
Day 13 Fort Stockton/San Antonio (B,L,D)
7 hours 30 minutes travelling

13th July 2012
45 minutes travelling
Day 14 The Alamo (B,L,D)
3 hours 30 minutes travelling
Houston

14th July 2012
3 hours 30 minutes travelling
Day 15 Lafayette/New Orleans (B)
2 hours travelling

15th July 2012
Day 16 New Orleans
FREE DAY



16th July 2012
Day 17 Memphis (L,D)
6 hours 30 minutes travelling

17th July 2012
Day 18 Memphis/Nashville (B,L,D)
3 hours 30 minutes travelling

18th July 2012
Day 19 Wytheville (B,L,D)
6 hours travelling

19th July 2012
Day 20 Shenandoah NP/Washington DC (B,L,D)
5 hours 30 minutes travelling



20th July 2012
Day 21 Washington DC (B)

21st July 2012
3 hours travelling
Day 22 Philadelphia/New York City at Manhattan Hostel at 891 Amsterdam Ave (at West 103rd St) New York
2 hours travelling

22nd July 2012
Day 23 New York City


END OF TOUR

As you can see, I am going to be spending A LOT of time traveling in the mini bus which G Adventures are using to transport us from one destination to the next, however, I don't mind because the views are supposed to be amazing AND the mini bus has wifi also, so I should hopefully be able to blog my experiences. I think I'm most excited about the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas (as it will be the 4th of July!!!), Yosemite, New Orleans, Nashville and Memphis. These are places where I may never get to go again, so I'm really excited and eager to make the most of my time. 

I booked the tour through STA travel and I have paid for the tour, my flights, and my insurance all by myself with savings from my past three years of university loan. HOWEVER, STA did give me 15% off my tour, £100 off my flights with British Airways and £50 off my travel insurance as I mentioned that I hope to blog about my summer and inquired about any discounts they may possibly be able to offer. The lady at my local STA, Dawn, was absolutely lovely and more helpful than probably anyone else I know. In fact, she even calls me every now and then to make sure I'm as organised as I should be (organizing my accommodation pre and post tour, applying for my ESTA form which is necessary to enter the USA, booking my Greyhound bus and more) and I almost feel like I speak to her as often as I speak to my friends. 

If you guys are crazy, book an outrageous long tour across America like me! Haha. And if not, I'll try and blog often enough that you can live vicariously through me. Expect posts about packing my backpack, planning my weeks in Los Angeles and New York, writing up wish-lists of the beauty bits I'm going to try and buy while I'm away. I'm actually not planning on buying many clothes this year, as I won't have much suitcase space, but lipsticks and eye shadows and blushers and... ahh you know the deal!

Are you going away this summer? Have you ever been backpacking? Is there anything I ought to know?

Love and snuggles
gabriellasofia
x

18 comments:

  1. Woaah! This is so awesome! This is like the first thing i'll do when I finish high school. (still 4 years to go!) I'm already saving some money.. Haha, I sound so stupid right now! ;p I hope you have loads of fun!

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    Replies
    1. No its not stupid at all! Dream big and plan for it babe, that's what I've always done and its never led me astray :)
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  2. What an amazing trip! So jealous you're going to New Orleans, would love to go there :) I visited San Fran and Yosemite in March this year, was amazing! I'm actually flying out around the 20th June to also go to LAX and will be in Vegas on July 4th :) Can't wait to get back there! Hope you have a wonderful summer

    xx

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    1. Ahh no way! Maybe we could plan to meet up or something? I'll be in LA for about a week, so let me know if there's anything you'd be up for doing :)
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  3. Wow! I'm extremely jealous! I will defiantly be living vicariously through you I can't believe you're going to The Alamo! Ever since I watched Miss Congeniality I've wanted to go. Defiantly looking forward to your posts even more now!
    xo

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    1. Haha, I actually don't know much about The Alamo but I'm going to go watch Miss Congeniality again now you've said that! I can't wait :) Will try and post often for you.
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  4. oh this is so annoying! you are going to be in washington the day after me and new york two days before me!! x

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    1. No way! But I don't leave New York until the 27th of July though so we can probably go shopping or do something right??? ARGH SO EFFING EXCITING!!!
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  5. Oh my, that is simply fantastic. Well done for mentioning your blog, that was clearly worth it. I can't wait to hear all about your trip. I am really excited for you!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Daisy! I always mention my blog because I basically write about my entire life on her anyway, so I may as well get a little cheeky something in return for it :) Having all you guys comment and being as excited as me makes me feel almost like I'm not going all alone. I can't wait now!
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  6. Good luck! I'm sure it will be amazing!! NYC IS MAGNIFICIENT! There are a lot of things to do that stick to your budget! Tons of museums that take donations of any mount to enter. NYC is the only place I've been to on this list, so you're a lucky gal!!! Enjoy!

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    Replies
    1. I cannot wait for New York! I'm definitely going to do the bus tour so I can see as much as possible and the museums sound fabulous. Of course I'm going to be doing some epic beauty shopping when I'm there too... Sephora is my heaven.
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  7. Whoa. I'm insanely jealous! This really is a trip of a lifetime. I've been to LA, San Francisco and NYC but to go to Vegas and New Orleans would be incredible! Have an amazing time and I can't wait to read your posts about it! xxx

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    1. Thanks for the comment Helen! I'm buzzing at the moment. Tell me about LA and San Francisco please!
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  8. Sounds like an amazing trip! The perfect respite after all your final exams!

    Jen@www.pret-a-style.com

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    1. YES definitely, I needed this to look forward to during my crazy final year at uni. Really can't wait right now.
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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  9. This looks and sounds amazing! What an incredible way to spend vacation!

    New follower :) Found you on the #bbloggers Facebook <3

    xo, Jersey Girl

    hairsprayandhighheels.blogspot.com

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    1. Oooh thanks for following baby, I'll head over and check your page out now. I love the #bbloggers facebook way more than I like the Twitter hashtag, find it a lot more personal.
      Thanks for being excited about my holiday haha :) I'm such a ball of excitement myself.
      Love
      gabriellasofia
      x

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