11 March 2024
An epic road trip through USA’s West Coast cities
USA’s West Coast is ready made for a road trip that connects its captivating cities, landscapes and culture...
USA’s West Coast is ready made for a road trip that connects its captivating cities, landscapes and culture...
All images: Shutterstock
With some of the most stunning scenery in the world, the best way to savour the USA’s West Coast is with a leisurely road trip. Start at the top, in Seattle, and work your way down through San Francisco and LA to Greater Palm Springs; read on for the best must-do experiences, places to eat, and where to stay...
Plan your USA adventure with American Holidays
The city where Starbucks was founded, Seattle’s the perfect place to beat the jet-lag and start your trip. Get a bird’s eye view from the top of the distinctive Space Needle, fuel up at Pike Place Market, and marvel at the delicate, hand-blown sculptures at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Appealing to, well, practically everyone, MoPOP, as it’s known, is home to the world’s most immersive pop culture experiences. Whether your bag is punk, sci-fi, video games, or obscure sitcoms from the 1980s, this innovative museum takes you behind the scenes of your favourite fandoms via immersive exhibitions and fascinating artefacts. You’ll find everything from Dave Grohl’s drum kit to props from A Nightmare on Elm Street, all housed in an extraordinary, Frank Gehry-designed building encased in thousands of individually-cut, shimmering steel panels.
Located on the Puget Sound, Seattle has got access to delicious seafood - look out for fresh Alaskan salmon and tasty bowls of chowder. For something relaxed, head to hipster-chic Oddfellows Café + Bar in the city's Capitol Hill district, its menu a laid-back mix of fresh seasonal dishes, craft cocktails and coffee from Middle Fork roasters. Head slightly out of the city to Herbfarm, considered by many to be the most unique restaurant in the entire Northwest, whose innovative nine-course menu focuses on local, seasonal ingredients.
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is not only one of the city's most historic hotels, celebrating its centenary this year after opening its doors in 1924, but is also one of the best located, within walking distance of the waterfront and Pike Place Market. Italian Renaissance in style on the outside, its mid-century modern rooms still ooze old-world charm.
Known for rolling fog and steep, steep hills, San Francisco is also considered one of America’s hippest, most diverse, and forward-thinking cities. With a wealth of sights from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz, it’s a pleasant place to spend a few days.
This buzzy, vibrant area on the city’s northern waterfront is a magnet for visitors, thanks to attractions such as Pier 39, and the Cannery Shopping Centre. Pier 39 is one of the best-known fishing spots in America, and home to a regular mob of barking sea lions, as well as an aquarium and an old-fashioned carousel. Navigate the street performers and souvenir sellers, and head to the fascinating Musée Méchanique - the world’s largest collection of vintage mechanical machinations - or stock up on chocolate at Ghirardelli’s.
Settle in for a big helping of award-winning clam chowder, served in a sourdough bread bowl, at the Fog Harbor Fish House on Fisherman’s Wharf. Hotly contested to be the best in the city, it’s made with clams, potatoes, bacon, sherry and cream. Or head to Chinatown, one of the biggest outside Asia, for delicious dim sum, dumplings, and more - bag a table at House of Nanking for old school eats such as pork potstickers and sesame chicken.
Conveniently located downtown, a few moments’ walk from Union Square, The Marker has a warm and welcoming vibe. Housed in an elegant Beaux Arts building, it’s been a hotel since 1910 and mixes old school service with contemporary decor.
Vast and sprawling, Los Angeles can seem daunting to the first-timer. Orientate yourself by its neighbourhoods and you can’t go far wrong; Venice is home to miles of sandy beach and cool counterculture, Beverly Hills does upscale designer shopping like no other, while hip West Hollywood appeals to the LGBTQIA+ scene.
Get a unique view of the city from elevated Griffith Park; at its peak, it rises to 1,625 feet above sea level. Its 4,210 acres include both wild, natural terrain and landscaped parkland, and much is largely unchanged since the times Native American villages occupied the area's lower slopes. It offers miles of hiking and horseback trails, golf and a zoo, while one of the best views of the Hollywood sign comes from near the gleaming white Griffith Observatory.
For affordable eats, head Downtown to Grand Central Market; home to dozens of stalls and traders, it offers everything from sushi to lobster rolls,tostadas, and steaming bowls of ramen. Make like a celebrity and eat at one of the city’s branches of In-N-Out Burger - you might spot a Kardashian or even Prince Harry, scoffing one of its delicious buns. Fancy something more high-end? Head to Musso & Frank in Hollywood, a classic grillhouse known for its steaks.
Serving up a slice of slightly kitsch Americana, The Garland has been a North Hollywood fixture since the 1970s. It combines a retro-chic ambience, and an enviable swimming pool, with all mod cons.
Head into the desert for sunny, scenic landscapes, thermal springs, and chic hotels and restaurants. Made up of nine different cities, Greater Palm Springs in California still retains a charming sense of the 1950s and 60s, the era the region was made famous thanks to the Hollywood stars who bought homes here. It’s the ideal place to end your trip.
The area offers everything from classic paintings to groovy street art, with public installations and Native American artworks in between. Head to the Palm Springs Art Museum for modern and contemporary art exhibits by the likes of Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor, then admire “Forever Marilyn”, the 26ft high pop art statue of Monroe located round the corner. In nearby Coachella and Indio, you’ll find a collection of colourful, vibrant murals, many politically or historically-inspired.
Brunch is a popular meal in GPS, so head to a locals’ favourite like Farm, in downtown Palm Springs, for freshly-made omelettes, crepes, and brioche French toast, or get a classic 50s diner experience at Keedy’s Fountain and Grill in Palm Desert - sit at the counter sipping a shake, and order a pancake stack. For dinner with epic views of the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains - and a sunset - book a table at Pacifica in Palm Desert, which specialises in seafood.
Backed by the rugged San Jacinto mountains, the mustard-yellow architecture of the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel is in keeping with the desert modernism design throughout the rest of Palm Springs. Rough rock walls inside echo the mountain scenery outside.
To make your all epic West Coast road trip dreams come true, put yourself in the capable hands of American Holidays, who specialise in the USA, and have over 35 years’ experience. They have several fantastic Fly Drive itineraries, including a classic California adventure, a Pacific Coast explorer, and one which showcases the Best of the West. Now all you need to do is get that motor running!
For more information, visit American Holidays' website.
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