West Coast (USA) Travel Guide for Couples
In this West Coast (USA) Travel Guide for couples:
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Why Couples should visit West Coast USA
USA’s West Coast is the perfect destination for couples who love a road trip. The roads are long and mostly quiet, and the scenery makes you feel like you’re in a movie. We rented a Ford Mustang convertible for our West Coast USA road trip, and we loved every minute of it.
The other thing that makes USA’s West Coast so perfect for a road trip is that it is so diverse. Whether you’re into amusement parks, nature or partying, the USA’s West Coast has it all.
Things to do in West Coast USA as a Couple
There are so many things to do for couples in West Coast USA, that I will have to break up this section by the places we stayed overnight:
Los Angeles
There’s never a dull moment in Los Angeles, because it is full of amusement parks and studio tours. These are the things we’ve been up to while in Los Angeles:
Amusement Parks and Studio Tours
- Universal Studios
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Warner Bros Studios
- Sony Studios
Sightseeing
- Beverly Hills
- Rodeo Drive
- Santa Monica Pier
- Malibu Celebrity House Tour
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Hollywood Sign
- Union Station
- China Town
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Long Beach / Queen Mary
- Venice Beach
Day Trip
- Indian Canyons (2 hour drive)
Most of the attractions and tours we’ve visited were included in the Go City pass, so I highly recommend to get one for Los Angeles.
Here's a selection of my favourite couple activities in Los Angeles:
Las Vegas
Obviously Las Vegas is famous for its party scene, an whilst we enjoyed the parties, we also did a lot of other couple activities while in Vegas. How about a visit to the Grand Canyon, dinner in a rotating restaurant, watching a magic show or getting lost in a ghost town?
Clubbing / Pool Parties
Pretty much every hotel in Las Vegas has its own club and pool parties, so I would just check which artists are performing in which club or pool. That way, we’ve seen Avicii at the Encore Beach Club and Calvin Harris at Omnia.
- Encore Beach Club
- Omnia at Caesars Palace
- Hakkasan at MGM
Romantic couple things
If you’re looking for something different than the party scene, these are the perfect activities for a romantic date in Las Vegas:
- Helicopter tour over Grand Canyon (even better with champagne and sunset)
- Dinner at Top of the World – a rotating restaurant with Las Vegas viewsΒ
- Watching a show –Β think magic or circus
- Rides at the different hotels –Β Big Apple ride at New York, New York or different rides at the STRAT tower
- Gondola Cruise at the Venetian Hotel
Day Trips
Las Vegas is surrounded by nature and ghost towns, so these are the perfect couple day trips from Las Vegas:
- Grand Canyon (4.5- 5 hour drive)
- Horseshoe Bend (4.5 hour drive)
- Calico Ghost Town (2 hour drive)
- Badwater Basin / Death Valley (2.5 hour drive)
Here's a selection of my favourite couple activities in Las Vegas:
Yosemite Park
After having spent time in big cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Yosemite park was quite the change of environment. Instead of sleeping in a hotel room, we now slept in a tent in the middle of a forest. It also cools down quite a bit in Yosemite Park at night, so definitely bring a jumper and sweatpants to keep you warm in your sleep.
We loved all the hikes in nature, and the peace and quiet that comes with walking in nature.Β Yosemite Park was the perfect place to recharge.
Hiking
These are just a few ideas for hiking in Yosemite Park:
- Tunnel Tree and Grizzly Giant
- Vernal Fall
- Chilnualna Falls
- Rancheria Falls
- Eagle Peak
- Gaylor Lakes
- Panorama Trail
- Sentinel Dome and Taft Point
Check out this website for all the hiking trails in Yosemite Park.
Here's a selection of my favourite couple activities in Yosemite Park:
San Francisco
San Francisco was the only big city on our West Coast USA roadtrip where we didn’t feel safe at all times. Due to some altercations we had on the streets with homeless people and drug addicts who got quite aggressive when we refused to give money, we avoided the streets of San Francisco at night.
We did have an amazing time in San Francisco during the day though, and I’m glad we made this city a part of our road trip.
Sightseeing
These are the San Francisco sightseeing highlights you can’t miss:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Alcatraz – Book in advance!
- “The Crooked Street” / Lombard Street
- Pier 39
- The Palace of Fine Arts
- Golden Gate Park
- Union Square
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- China Town
Romantic Couple Things
As a couple, I’d definitely recommend to do these romantic things in San Francisco:
- Sunset photo shoot at Baker Beach
- Take the cable car from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf
- Take a boat tour from Fisherman’s Wharf
- Enjoy the views from the SF State Observatory
- Try the soup in a sourdough bread roll
- Drive down the Pacific Coast Highway
Here's a selection of my favourite couple activities in San Francisco:
Also check out our West Coast USA photo gallery!
Romantic Accommodations in West Coast USA
Disclaimer:Β This section contains affiliate links, meaning that I will earn commission when you buy from my link. This comes at no extra cost to you, and supports me with sharing my best travel tips with you.
Accommodations we've personally stayed in:
To be honest, the accommodations we’ve stayed in during our road trip in West Coast USA were all cheap options to fit our budget. I’m listing them here for reference, but don’t expect too much luxury from these hotels:
- Los Angeles – Hollywood Stars InnΒ – Free parking, near Hollywood walk of fame, air conditioning and fridge in room.
- Las Vegas Β – The STRAT Hotel –Β On the Las Vegas Strip, casino, rotating restaurant, gym facilities, pools, free parking, air conditioning in room.
- Yosemite Park – Curry Village – Unheated canvas tent, authentic experience, free parking, inside Yosemite National Park.
- San Francisco – Motel 6 – Near Union Square, used to come with free parking (not sure if they still do).
Accommodations we'd love to stay in:
If we could do it all over again with a little more money to spend – these are the accommodations in West Coast USA we’d love to stay in as a couple, based on pictures and other guests’ reviews:
Los Angeles
- Pendry West Hollywood – On the Sunset Strip, lovely (instagrammable) decor, amazing city views, fitness facilities and pool.
- Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel –Β Iconic views over Santa Monica Pier, beach front hotel, pool and rooms with sea views, rooms with fire pit on balcony available, beach inspired decor, fitness facilities and spa.
- Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel –Β Amazing pool area with city views, Moroccan-inspired decor, each room has its own colours and patterns, fitness facilities, award winning hotel.
Las Vegas
- The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – On the strip, rooms with Bellagio Fountain views available, pool with “Eiffel Tower” views, fine-dining restaurants and food court, sports bar, karaoke room, casino, spa, tennis court, ice rink, kitsch cosmopolitan interior.
- Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas –Β Rooms with jacuzzi available, Strip views and “Eiffel Tower” views from room, located on the strip, pool, spa, fitness facilities, modern decor.
- Β ARIA Resort & Casino – Suites with jacuzzi available, strip view, multiple pools and spa tubs, multiple restaurants, casino, nightclub, spa, fitness facilities, located on the strip.
Yosemite Park
- Yosemite Valley Lodge – Lodges with balcony and private bathroom, 15 minute walk from Yosemite Visitor Centre, gorgeous Yosemite Park views, two on-site restaurants.
San Francisco
- Fairmont Heritage Place – Located in Fisherman’s Wharf, rooms with bay views, free parking, gym facilities.
- Hotel Nikko – Rooms with city views, rooftop terrace, nightclub, indoor pool with transparent roof, located in Union Square, fitness facilities.
- Palace Hotel –Β Luxury hotel located in Financial District, fancy decor, wonderful pool area, fitness facilities with pool view, 2 restaurants and 2 bars, member of “Historic Hotels of America”.
Best time to visit West Coast USA
There are a few things to keep in mind when planning a trip to West Coast USA:
- Weather: August is the hottest month in California, while January is the coldest month. June to August is high season. April to May and September to October are shoulder seasons.
- Culture:Β Coachella Music Festival and San Francisco Film Festival (April), Memorial Day Holiday weekend (May), Pride festivals (June), 4th of July holiday (July), Labor Day holiday weekend (September).
- Amusement parks and studios:Β Some parks are open all year around (like Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios and Disney), but others are only open between Memorial Day Holiday Weekend in May and Labor Day Holiday Weekend in early September.
So the best time of the year to do a West Coast USA road trip would be anywhere between Memorial Day Holiday Weekend in May and Labor Day Holiday weekend in September. That way, you get the nice weather and all the amusement parks are open.Β
To avoid the large crowds, it is best to visit in May or early September. Just be aware that Memorial Holiday weekend and Labor Day Holiday weekend are crowded as well, so you might want to avoid those weekends too.
Our West Coast USA Map
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Our West Coast USA Photo Gallery
Our 20 Day West Coast USA Itinerary
Day 1 - Flight from London to Los Angeles
Before visiting the USA, we had to apply for an ESTA travel authorisation to enter the country. We both applied for our ESTA two weeks before our flight, and it was a very straightforward process.
We had a direct flight to Los Angeles, which took a little over 11 hours. By the time we reached the hotel with our rental car it was already night, so we went straight to sleep.
Day 2 - Universal Studios (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles is famous for Hollywood and its movies, so a visit toΒ Universal Studios was a great start of our California trip. I was very impressed with the movie decorations of this theme park and the shows we visited that day. The studio tour itself is also not to be missed. We easily spent the full day here as time flew by.
Day 3 - Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach (Los Angeles)
Distances in Los Angeles are huge, so we took the car to visit Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. From Santa Monica Pier we also did a Malibu tour to watch celebrities’ houses from the open tour car.
Day 4 - Hollywood Boulevard, Chinatown and Queen Mary (Los Angeles)
On Hollywood Boulevard we danced with “Marilyn Monroe” (an impersonator of course), strolled the walk of fame and visited the Hollywood Museum.
We then took the metro from Hollywood boulevard to Union Station, from where we discovered China Town and Downtown Los Angeles.
To get to Long Beach, we took a subway from Union Station, followed by a shuttle bus. We came to Long Beach for a tour inside the haunted ship Queen Mary, but unfortunately, the ship was closed to the public because of a festival inside.
Day 5 - Indian Canyon (Los Angeles)
We took a day trip to Indian Canyon , which is a 2-hour drive away from Los Angeles. Its rocky landscape full of palm trees and a narrow river makes it a beautiful place for a hike followed by a picnic. I was surprised at how quiet this beautiful Canyon was, so it’s a hidden gem for me.
Day 6 - Six Flags Magic Mountain (Los Angeles)
If you’re a bit daring when it comes to roller coasters (like we are), then Six Flags Magic Mountain is definitely for you. We purchased the flash pass to reserve our seats on roller coasters with a long queue so that we could enjoy the rest of the park while being on the waiting list. The All-Day drink bottle with free refills all day long was also a necessity in the hot Californian weather.
Day 7 - Warner Bros, Hollywood Sign and Sony (Los Angeles)
What’s more glamourous than being on the film set of your favourite series? I will never forget the day I got to visit Pretty Little Liar’s Rosewood in Warner Bros studios.
In between the two studio tours, we had enough time to hike up the hills and watch the Hollywood sign.
Although not yet on tv in the UK at the time, we visited the house of the Goldberg’s in Sony studios. Watching the Goldbergs on tv now is still a nice reminder of this day.
Day 8 - Los Angeles to Las Vegas
After an exciting few days in Los Angeles, it was time to leave for Las Vegas. Located on our way to Las Vegas was Calico Ghost town– a fascinating place to visit. It used to be a miner’s village, but it has been abandoned for a long time now. When we finally arrived in Vegas, we went to the Penn & Teller magic show in the Rio hotel.
Day 9 - Route 66 to Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon (Las Vegas)
We took the infamous Route 66 to cross the State line to Nevada, where we visited the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. The Hoover Dam is only a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas, after which the Grand Canyon’s South Rim is another 4-hour drive. We spent our time in the Grand Canyon hiking the Hermit Road and watching the sunset at Prima Point.
Day 10 - Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour (Las Vegas)
A few hours just isn’t enough to experience the Grand Canyon, so the next day we went back by helicopter. We went for the sunset champagne picnic tour with Sundance Helicopters, who also picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel by limousine. It was the most romantic part of our road trip and an experience to never forget.
Day 11 - Encore pool party and Omnia nightclub (Las Vegas)
The pool party at Encore’s Beach club definitely felt like a movie scene with party people throwing dollar bills in the air and splashing water from the pool. When we went in 2015, it was Avicii who kept the party going with his amazing tunes. Knowing he is no longer with us still makes me sad when I hear his songs, but I’m forever grateful for having experienced this party.
After the pool party, we had dinner at the Top of the World, which is a 360-degree rotating restaurant in the Stratosphere hotel, with amazing views over the Las Vegas strip. Don’t be surprised to see someone bungee jumping off the roof of the restaurant while eating your dinner here.
We had high expectations to see Calvin Harris at the Omnia nightclub, but this party was a big sell-out and guests were split up in zones. We were very lucky to have caught a glimpse of Calvin Harris. Unless you like to be stuck in the back corner of a nightclub – or have the money to go VIP – I wouldn’t recommend this place. Not at least because of the unfriendly bouncers inside who kept pushing guests into the littlest pieces of space to make room for more.
Day 12 - Bonnie Springs Ranch (Las Vegas)
Bonnie Springs was a replica of the mining town that used to be there, with shows representing what life in this town was like back in the days. We’ve seen cowboys, gunfights and hanging shows during our visit. It was an entertaining park only a 40-minute drive away from Las Vegas, but it has closed its doors in March 2019.
Day 13 - Las Vegas to Yosemite National park
On our way from Las Vegas to Yosemite Park, we made some short stops at Badwater Basin and Death Valley. It is a 7-hour drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite without any stops, but with the Californian heat we didn’t want to spend too much time in Badwater Basin and Death Valley anyway. Both are beautiful landscapes so definitely worth stopping for – even if for a little while.
Day 14 - Hiking in Yosemite National Park
We stayed in a tent in Yosemite Park for two nights, which was an adventure in itself because of the wild bears in Yosemite Park. We didn’t catch much sleep because of all the noises at night, so we started our hike in Yosemite park early in the morning and were easily entertained by its beautiful landscapes until the evening.
Day 15 - Yosemite to San Francisco
Our original plan was to make Sequoia National Park a stop in between Death Valley and Yosemite Park, but we ran out of time and had to head straight to Yosemite instead.
We therefore chose to take a little longer to get to San Francisco when leaving Yosemite Park by driving to Sequoia National park first. Totally worth it, as we didn’t want to miss out on those giant trees – some of which are cut into tree tunnels.
Day 16 - Discovering San Francisco & Baker Beach photoshoot
Super cliche, but the first thing we saw of San Francisco was the Golden Gate Bridge. We also visited Lombard street and Pier 39, which are very picturesque as well. None of these places came close to Baker Beach though, where Jordi had organised a romantic photoshoot for us.
Day 17 - Japanese tea garden in San Francisco
Another photo-worthy place in San Francisco is the Japanese tea garden inside the Golden Gate Park, where we even spotted a raccoon. Later that day, we walked from Union Square to the Port of San Francisco while enjoying some beautiful architecture.
Day 18 - Cable car and Alcatraz boat tour (San Francisco)
We took the Powell & Mason streets cable car from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf, which was such a fun experience. From Fisherman’s Wharf, we tried to take a boat to Alcatraz, but all of them were already fully booked for the next month. We got a boat tour around Alcatraz island instead, without embarking on the island.
Day 19 - San Francisco to Carmel by the Sea
San Francisco really is a city of art, which is evident from its many art galleries across the city. On our last day, we visited the Palace of Fine Arts, which I found especially impressive because of its gorgeous architecture and gardens.
We then made our way back to Los Angeles, which was the final leg of our West Coast road trip. Instead of the quickest route, we chose to do the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1). We stayed one night in Carmel by the Sea, which was halfway on our way to Los Angeles.
Day 20 - Carmel by the Sea to Los Angeles to London
From Carmel by the Sea, we took the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles. We then said goodbye to our convertible Mustang at the airport, before boarding our flight back to London.
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Blogs I've written about West Coast USA:
Day trip from Las Vegas: Grand Canyon by car
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