THE HAWAII & ASIA SERIES PT5
L.A. – SAN FRANCISCO
The west coast was part of my first ever solo trip when I drove from San Fran down to San Diego. It was so good that I knew I wanted to return when I appreciated things a little more!
THE LIFESTYLE ON THE WEST COAST IS WHAT PEOPLE DREAM ABOUT
Unfortunately, this leg of my trip didn’t get off to the best of starts as my bag didn’t make it from Vegas.
WHERE IS SAN FRAN?
L.A. & San Fran
VENICE
There is only one place to stay in L.A and that’s Venice Beach. You will see it all here. I checked into Venice Beach Hostel which was the same place I stayed 9 years before. Just a quick one that Venice Beach doesn’t have the best reputation and it can get a little shifty at night.
WALK OF FAME & RODEO
If you have been to the walk of fame you will know it’s not all it’s made out to be. The streets are dirty and shops are generally shut, not to mention the hordes of vendors who constantly give you hassle and offer an apparently free CD.
If you are at all into your high-end cars & fashion or just want to make believe for the day then you must go to Rodeo Drive. I am 99% sure that there is some sort of criteria for driving through this street. For the hour I was there I must have seen over £2millions worth of car with the cheapest being a Range Rover!
L.A. & San Fran
SANTA MONICA
Back to Venice and the walk from here to Santa Monic would make anyone hate where they live. It has everything, huge beaches, surf waves, outdoor gym and aerobic areas. The peir however can be busy but still worth a visit and some fish and chips! This is actually the end of the famous route 66!
RELATED READ: MY FIRST PING PONG SHOW
SAN FRANCISCO
I can’t wait and hope any longer for my bag so I pray that it chases me up to San Francisco in the next few days. Like L.A., San Fran has it’s nice areas and it’s not so nice areas. I remember being here 9 years ago and making the wrong choice on location, The European Hostel in the south side. The area was clearly dodgy but there was never an issue, the worst we got was being called a couple of fags, which I laughed at but I tend to pick my arguments and this was not the time
If you have paid for a hotel in San Fran you will know they don’t come cheap and neither do hostels. I stayed at Hostel International in Downtown for $60 a night! This is a perfect example of how different locations can allow your money to last longer or shorter. I have stay in decent enough places in South East Asia for less than £3!
L.A. & San Fran
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
What do you do in San Fran? Rent a bike and head to the Golden Gate Bridge! It’s a lot smaller than a lot of other bridges but America has this skill of making anything into something and eventually turning it into something iconic.
Instead of doing what the majority of people do; cycling to the bridge, getting a photo and turning back, it’s best to keep going. Head downhill after the bridge and to Sausalito the small seaside town across the bay. 9 years ago my Nana told me about her trip to Sausalito where she had fish and chips at the bay and it almost seemed to be her highlight. I somehow managed to find that very shop and I’ve made a conscious effort to visit it every time I return. I would highly recommend it as there’s nothing better after a few hours on the bike!
L.A. & San Fran
RELATED READ: A NAKED SWEDE AND ANGKOR WAT
FISHERMANS WHARF
The good thing about getting to Sausalito is the boat back which leaves you right next to Fisherman’s Wharf, one of San Fran’s busiest areas. It has everything here, from clam chowder & souvenir shops to sea lions and ships to tour. From here it was off the San Fran’s most iconic street, Lombard Street. It is famous for it’s 8 hairpin turns within just one-block section, cycle it!
TRAMS
After leaving the bike of at the rental shop it was time to check out the trams and is the world’s last manually operated cable car system. Out of the 23 lines built in 1873 only 3 remain. They are used by locals but the vast majority of the 7million users are tourists so expect queues if your visit during peak times.
RATINGS….
- PEOPLE – 7.5/10
- BACKPACKING – 8/10
- WEATHER – 8/10
- THINGS TO DO – 8/10
- VALUE – 7.5/10
- SAFETY – 7/10
SUMMED UP….
- HIGHLIGHT – Cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge
- LOWLIGHT – Losing my bag obviously
- VISIT AGAIN – Yes
- RATING – 8/10
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s true when they say you appreciate things so much more when you are older. I loved the west coast in 2008 but knowing what I know now just makes it a much better experience
NEXT UP
Pearl Harbour, Hawaii! Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
85/229
This post is part of The Hawaii & Asia Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
