We're finally taking off! Today is the day!
It's way too early for me, I don't like getting up early, but this is it.. At long last, we're going to America!
Let's hope we won't get into any trouble... :-)
Friday, August 31, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Almost there!
Alright everyone! D-Day is approaching and I can hardly wait!
Almost everything is ready :-) Here's hoping we'll get a good car.. Like the Ford Escape in the picture.
Probably lots of cards to send to people, still have to write down all the addresses. GPS is ready, camera and camcorder are ready, all the paperwork, tickets, reservations, passport and so on is all set so almost ready to go!
For those of you who will follow the blog, our plan departs around 11h, Belgian time. I still want to post photo's in the first evening when we're there, but counting that we get to the hotel around 20h in the evening local time, which will be 5h in the morning in Belgium, most of you won't see the first pictures until Sunday, so don't worry if there's nothing on Saturday, that's just because of the time difference.
Almost everything is ready :-) Here's hoping we'll get a good car.. Like the Ford Escape in the picture.
Probably lots of cards to send to people, still have to write down all the addresses. GPS is ready, camera and camcorder are ready, all the paperwork, tickets, reservations, passport and so on is all set so almost ready to go!
For those of you who will follow the blog, our plan departs around 11h, Belgian time. I still want to post photo's in the first evening when we're there, but counting that we get to the hotel around 20h in the evening local time, which will be 5h in the morning in Belgium, most of you won't see the first pictures until Sunday, so don't worry if there's nothing on Saturday, that's just because of the time difference.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Updated Tourism plan!
Got some more info for tourism from a wonderful friend who unfortunately won't be able to meet us in San Francisco since at that time she'll be in Belgium (talk about a freak coincidence...).
So here is some more stuff added to the various days that we consider doing while we're there!
Day 1:
Departure: 11:00 at Brussels to Chicago at 13:03
Transfer from 15:28 at Chicago to Los Angeles at 17:40
Pick up car at 9217 Airport
Boulevard, Los Angeles at 18:30
Rental car reference number: <redacted>
Staying at Hacienda Hotel at
LAX
525 N Sepulveda Blvd
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 615-0015
LAX is close to Venice Beach
and Santa Monica Beach. Maybe a visit to one of them before or after going to
the hotel.
Take a dive in the hotel
pool to recover from flight?
Day 2:
Stay in Los Angeles.
Time for tourism:
Hollywood
Hollywood
Pacific Palisades
Getty Museum
Malibu
Beverly Hills
Walk of Fame
Mann’s Chinese Theatre
Other stuff
Driving late to Palm Springs.
Approximately 120 miles (193km), 2 hours 5 mins drive.
Staying at Shilo Inn Suites
Palm
1875 N Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 320-7676
Day 3:
Staying in Palm Springs.
Time for tourism:
Desert and Joshua Trees
Aerial Tramway
Art Museum
Village Green Heritage Center
Moorten Botanical Gardens
Smoketree Stables
Indian Canyons & Trading Post
Air Museum
Spa Resort Casino
Driving late to Laughlin.
Approximately 213 miles (343km), 4 hours 10 mins drive.
Staying Tropicana Express
Hotel & Casino
2121 S. Casino Drive
Laughlin, NV 89029
Phone: (702) 298-4200
Laughlin, NV 89029
Phone: (702) 298-4200
Day 4:
Driving early to Flagstaff.
Approximately 178 miles (286km), 2 hours 53 mins drive.
Meet up with <redacted>.
Tourism:
Grand Canyon?
Red Rocks of Sedona
Meteor Crater
San Francisco Peaks
Glen Canyon Dam
Wupatki Ruins
Sunset Crater Volcano
Native American communities
Staying at Radisson
Woodlands
1175 West Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 773-8888
Day 5:
Staying in Flagstaff.
Tourism:
Continuing from before
Driving late to Page
Staying at Best Western Plus
Lake Powell
208 N. Lake Powell Blvd.
Page, AZ 86040
Phone: (888) 794-2888
Day 6:
Morning really early: Boat
ride over Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge (6 hours, quite expensive).
Drive to Zion National Park.
Approximately 107 miles (172km), 2 hours 5 mins drive.
145 Zion Park Blvd.
Springdale, UT 84767
Phone: (435) 772-2400
Tourism:
Emerald Pools
Weeping Rock
Angels Landing
Other POI's
Driving late to St. George.
Approximately 50.8 miles (82km), 1 hour 13 mins drive.
Staying at Best Western
Abbey
1129 S Bluff Street
St George, UT 84770
Phone: (435) 652-1234
Day 7:
Drive early to Las Vegas.
Approximately 121 miles (195km), 1 hour 56 minutes drive.
Tourism:
It’s Las Vegas!
Bellagio
Venetian
Excalibur
Bellagio
Venetian
Excalibur
Other casinos
Green Valley Ranch
Green Valley Ranch
The Strip
Go see a show!
Grand Canyon (Helicopter?)
Staying at Best Western
Mardi Gras Inn
3500 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Phone: 702-731-2020
Day 8:
Staying in Las Vegas.
Tourism:
Do you even need to ask?
Day 9:
Leaving early for Sequoia
National Forest. Approximately 292 miles, 5 hours 12 mins drive.
Kern River Ranger District - Kernville Office
105 Whitney Road
Kernville, CA 93238
Phone: (760) 376-3781
Kernville, CA 93238
Phone: (760) 376-3781
Tourism:
Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National
Monument
If not much, drive through to Yosemite already
Driving late to Three Rivers.
Approximately 110 miles (177km), 2 hours 36 mins drive.
Staying at Comfort Inn &
Suites Sequoia
40820 Sierra Drive
Three Rivers , CA 93271
Phone: (559) 561-9000
Toll-Free: (800) 331-2140
Day 10:
Visiting Yosemite National
Park. Approximately 131 miles (211km), 2 hours 27 mins drive.
Yosemite National Park, Northside Dr
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Phone: (209) 372-0200
Tourism:
El Captain
Glacier Point
Yosemite Lodge
Vernal/Nevada Falls
Bridal Veil
Yosemite Falls
Other POI’s
Driving late to Modesto.
Approximately 84.5 miles (136km), 1 hour 43 mins drive.
Staying at Best Western Town
House Lodge
909 16th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: (209) 524-7261
Day 11:
Driving early to San
Francisco. Approximately 91.5 miles (147km), 1 hour 41 mins drive.
Tourism:
UC Berkeley
Golden Gate Bridge
Legion of Honor, maybe..
Union Square
Chinatown
North Beach
Fisherman’s Wharf = tourist trap, so not sure
Sausalito is better for sitting on the bay
Top of the Mark is pretty special for a late night drink
Cable cars are best in the evening, last runs when not many people on
them
Muir Woods
Golden Gate Park
Arboretum
Japanese Tea Garden
Stow Lake
Cliff House
Alcatraz
STAY AWAY FROM Oakland and Mission District
Staying at Warwick Hotel
490 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: ( 415) 928-7900
Day 12:
Staying in San Francisco.
Christophe's 25th Birthday.
Tourism:
Contuining from previous day.
Day 13:
Driving to Santa Maria.
Approximately 262 miles (422km), 4 hours 33 mins drive.
On the way there:
Visit Monterey
17 Mile Drive
Cannery Row
Santa Cruz
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Probably arriving late.
Staying at Marriott
Fairfield Inn
2061 North Roemer Court
Santa Maria, California 93454
Phone: (805) 925-8500
Day 14:
Driving early to Los
Angeles. Approximately 164 miles (264km), 2 hours 57 mins drive.
On the way there:
Visit Santa Barbara
Hearst Castle
Pismo Beach
More tourism in L.A.
Staying at Hacienda Hotel at
LAX
525 N Sepulveda Blvd
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 615-0015
Day 15:
Driving early to San Diego.
Approximately 123 miles (198km), 2 hours 11 mins drive.
Meeting up with <redacted>.
Tourism:
San Diego Zoo
Sea World
Other nice stuff
Staying at Holiday Inn San
Diego On The Bay
1355 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-3861
Day 16:
Staying in San Diego.
Continuing from yesterday.
Day 17:
Drop off car at 3180 North
Harbor Drive, San Diego at 05:30
Rental car reference number: <redacted>
Early leaving to airport
Departure: 07:03 at San Diego to New York at 15:28
Transfer from 18:12 at New York to Brussels at 07:45
Day 18:
Arrival at Brussels at 07:45
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Countdown!
Alright! Only 3 weeks left now!
Both Christophe and I are really counting down the days now. We can't wait until we leave!
If anyone has any suggestions for places to visit or pictures to take, please let me know now!
Also, if anyone wants a post card from a certain place, let me know the address and I'll make sure to send you one :-D
Both Christophe and I are really counting down the days now. We can't wait until we leave!
If anyone has any suggestions for places to visit or pictures to take, please let me know now!
Also, if anyone wants a post card from a certain place, let me know the address and I'll make sure to send you one :-D
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Travel plan
Alright, so here's a first draft of a rough schedule that we can follow on our roadtrip :-)
Any suggestions for tourism or places to visit along the route are always welcome!
This is still just preliminary and can be subject to a lot of changes.. But it's a good starting point to know where we want to go and what we want to see..
Any suggestions for tourism or places to visit along the route are always welcome!
This is still just preliminary and can be subject to a lot of changes.. But it's a good starting point to know where we want to go and what we want to see..
Day 1:
Departure: 11:00 at Brussels to Chicago at 13:03
Transfer from 15:28 at Chicago to Los Angeles at 17:40
Pick up car at 9217 Airport
Boulevard, Los Angeles at 18:30
Rental car reference number: <redacted>
Staying at Hacienda Hotel at
LAX
525 N Sepulveda Blvd
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 615-0015
Not sure about any tourism
anymore in the evening. Have to check.
Take a dive in the pool to
recover from flight.
Day 2:
Stay in Los Angeles.
Time for tourism:
Hollywood Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills
Walk of Fame
Mann’s Chinese Theatre
Other stuff
Driving late to Palm Springs.
Approximately 120 miles (193km), 2 hours 5 mins drive.
Staying at Shilo Inn Suites
Palm
1875 N Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 320-7676
Day 3:
Staying in Palm Springs.
Time for tourism:
Check for tourism at Visitor Information Center
Aerial Tramway
Art Museum
Village Green Heritage Center
Moorten Botanical Gardens
Smoketree Stables
Indian Canyons & Trading Post
Air Museum
Spa Resort Casino
Driving late to Laughlin.
Approximately 213 miles (343km), 4 hours 10 mins drive.
Staying Tropicana Express
Hotel & Casino
2121 S. Casino Drive
Laughlin, NV 89029
Phone: (702) 298-4200
Laughlin, NV 89029
Phone: (702) 298-4200
Day 4:
Driving early to Flagstaff.
Approximately 178 miles (286km), 2 hours 53 mins drive.
Visit Grand Canyon on the
way?
Meet up with <name
redacted>
Tourism:
Grand Canyon
Red Rocks of Sedona
Meteor Crater
San Francisco Peaks
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Wupatki Ruins
Sunset Crater Volcano
Native American communities
Staying at Radisson
Woodlands
1175 West Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 773-8888
Day 5:
Staying in Flagstaff.
Tourism:
Continuing from before
Driving late to Page
Staying at Best Western Plus
Lake Powell
208 N. Lake Powell Blvd.
Page, AZ 86040
Phone: (888) 794-2888
Day 6:
Morning really early: Boat
ride over Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge.
Drive to Zion National Park.
Approximately 107 miles (172km), 2 hours 5 mins drive.
145 Zion Park Blvd.
Springdale, UT 84767
Phone: (435) 772-2400
Tourism:
Emerald Pools
Weeping Rock
Angels Landing
Driving late to St. George.
Approximately 50.8 miles (82km), 1 hour 13 mins drive.
Staying at Best Western
Abbey
1129 S Bluff Street
St George, UT 84770
Phone: (435) 652-1234
Day 7:
Drive early to Las Vegas.
Approximately 121 miles (195km), 1 hour 56 minutes drive.
Tourism:
It’s Las Vegas!
Casinos
The Strip
Grand Canyon (Helicopter?)
Need to look up the rest…
Check with <name redacted> for more info on
tourism, though no meeting
Staying at Best Western
Mardi Gras Inn
3500 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Phone: 702-731-2020
Day 8:
Staying in Las Vegas.
Tourism:
Do you even need to ask?
Day 9:
Leaving early for Sequoia
National Forest. Approximately 292 miles, 5 hours 12 mins drive.
Kern River Ranger District - Kernville Office
105 Whitney Road
Kernville, CA 93238
Phone: (760) 376-3781
Kernville, CA 93238
Phone: (760) 376-3781
Tourism:
Sequoia National Forest & Giant Sequoia National Monument
Driving late to Three Rivers.
Approximately 110 miles (177km), 2 hours 36 mins drive.
Staying at Comfort Inn &
Suites Sequoia
40820 Sierra Drive
Three Rivers , CA 93271
Phone: (559) 561-9000
Toll-Free: (800) 331-2140
Day 10:
Visiting Yosemite National
Park. Approximately 131 miles (211km), 2 hours 27 mins drive.
Yosemite National Park, Northside Dr
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Phone: (209) 372-0200
Tourism:
El Capitan
Glacier Point
Other POI’s
Check it out later
Driving late to Modesto.
Approximately 84.5 miles (136km), 1 hour 43 mins drive.
Staying at Best Western Town
House Lodge
909 16th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: (209) 524-7261
Day 11:
Driving early to San
Francisco. Approximately 91.5 miles (147km), 1 hour 41 mins drive.
Tourism:
Golden Gate Bridge
<name redacted> will provide list of interesting
visits.
Still trying to convince for a meeting.
Staying at Warwick Hotel
490 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: ( 415) 928-7900
Day 12:
Staying in San Francisco.
Christophe's 25th Birthday.
Tourism:
Continuing from previous day.
Day 13:
Driving to Santa Maria.
Approximately 262 miles (422km), 4 hours 33 mins drive.
On the way there:
Visit Monterey
17 Mile Drive
Cannery Row
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Probably arriving late.
Staying at Marriott
Fairfield Inn
2061 North Roemer Court
Santa Maria, California 93454
Phone: (805) 925-8500
Day 14:
Driving early to Los
Angeles. Approximately 164 miles (264km), 2 hours 57 mins drive.
On the way there:
Visit Santa Barbara
Need to check on tourism
Otherwise drive ahead to Los Angeles and more there.
Staying at Hacienda Hotel at
LAX
525 N Sepulveda Blvd
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 615-0015
Day 15:
Driving early to San Diego.
Approximately 123 miles (198km), 2 hours 11 mins drive.
Meeting up with <name redacted>.
Tourism:
San Diego Zoo
Sea World
Other nice stuff
<name redacted> knows a lot to visit
Staying at Holiday Inn San
Diego On The Bay
1355 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-3861
Day 16:
Staying in San Diego.
Continuing from yesterday.
Day 17:
Drop off car at 3180 North
Harbor Drive, San Diego at 05:30
Rental car reference number: <redacted>
Early leaving to airport
Departure: 07:03 at San Diego to New York at 15:28
Transfer from 18:12 at New York to Brussels at 07:45
Day 18:
Arrival at Brussels at 07:45
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)